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New York Jets: Don’t read into Jace Amaro’s depth chart listing

By Kevin Parvizi

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New York Jets tight end Jace Amaro views the 2015 season as a potential breakout year after flashing his potential as a rookie, but those breakout expectations seem to have been tempered severely by the organization. As per Around The NFL (and others on Twitter), the Jets have listed Amaro as their third-string tight end on their latest depth chart, so he’s not only behind the reliable-but-unspectacular Jeff Cumberland, but he’s also listed after Kellen Davis, who has caught three passes in the last two years.

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Amaro finished his rookie year with 38 receptions for 345 yards and two touchdowns, but his six drops, according to Pro Football Focus. were incredibly frustrating. By all accounts, his drops haven’t subsided this offseason, and that lack of consistency is what could prevent Amaro from having a big enough second-year role to make the leap that some have been expecting in Chan Gailey’s spread offense.

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We all know how good Amaro was in college for Texas Tech in their spread offense, and he clearly has the size and physical tools to be a mis-match in the slot and a real weapon for the Jets. The issue is that Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker deserve to hoard targets as two top-notch receivers, and rookie Devin Smith might end up being a bigger factor than Amaro this season.

“Might” is the operating word here, because not only is Smith out with an injury right now, but the Jets are under a new regime and still have plenty to figure out in the preseason. As striking as it is to see Amaro listed behind both Cumberland and Davis, there’s no point in reading too much into this, which is what some people have been doing (because, of course, it’s Twitter, and all we can do is react).

But I find Amaro’s tentative depth chart listing from the Jets hard to believe, and it smells like an easy motivational ploy on the part of Todd Bowles and the coaching staff. I mean, do you really think I’m going to buy that Kellen freaking Davis is ahead of Jace Amaro? Do you really expect me to believe that Davis will have a bigger workload in 2015 than a former second-round pick who was tied for second on the team in receptions last season?

Even placing Cumberland ahead of Amaro raises my eyebrows, because Amaro clearly outplayed him last year despite his drops. Out of 39 qualifying tight ends, Cumberland was 37th in yards per route run, while Amaro was sitting pretty at 19th. Amaro’s 71.7% catch rate, per Advanced Football Analytics, led the Jets, whereas Cumberland averaged an absolutely pathetic 5.3 yards per target. Other than hands and maybe blocking, Cumberland has nothing on Amaro, who is better at moving the chains than the veteran despite his issues with drops.

The Jets decision to list the 23-year-old as a third-string player at his position is nothing to be alarmed about, because Amaro is basically a lock to lead the Jets tight ends in targets (and by some distance). The scheme fit is too good, and, well, he’s too good to sit behind two players who offer precious little in the passing game.

What Amaro should be worried about is his pass-catching role as compared to the other players around him, since he’ll be utilized more like a receiver and, perhaps, H-Back than an in-line tight end. Instead of competing with Cumberland and Davis, who should mostly be blockers for the New York Jets offense, he’s trying to earn a spot behind Marshall and Decker with Smith and Jeremy Kerley as competition.

May 27, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) makes a one handed catch during organized team activities at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

It’s unclear where Amaro slots in on the Jets target totem pole, but he’ll have to improve in the preseason if he wants to have the kind of season he envisions. If he can do a better job of catching passes, then he could be the team’s third target behind Marshall and Decker after being third on the team in targets last season. Amaro outplayed Kerley last year as a possession receiver due to Kerley’s grotesque 50.7% catch rate, so the opportunity is still there for him.

While it does seem like he’s having a poor training camp, it’s the same story we heard last offseason before he ended up with average-looking numbers as a rookie. I wouldn’t overreact, and I still think he has to be the team’s best option at tight end no matter what the depth chart listing says as of right now.

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