New York Jets: Versatility key to success on offense

The New York Jets have four players on offense who are extremely versatile, and that’s going to be the key to the success of that side of the ball in 2018.

Versatility is a very important word in sports, especially football. When a team has player who can do many things, it present quite a few matchup problems. Heading into training camp, the New York Jets have four players who are versatile enough to play in multiple spots on offense.

Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa and Jermaine Kearse are all valuable in one regard. They are all capable of playing the slot. Even though, over their careers, they typically play on the outside, they did spend significant time there in 2017, and proved to be valuable there.

Enunwa has spent almost 75 percent of his career snaps in the slot, but he’s capable of being a threat on the outside as well. A rare combination of good size, strength, and speed gives Enunwa a matchup advantage on the outside.

The other player who’s very versatile is an undrafted free agent from the 2018 NFL Draft class out of the University of Oklahoma. Dimitri Flowers gives the Jets a man who can line up in five different positions: fullback, single -et back (power run or short-yardage passing situations), H-back, wingback or tight end. He can block, run routes, catch passes and even give you a short yardage runner.

This versatility among the four players is key to the success of this offense. The Jets now have an offense that can pose an actual threat through matchups. Enunwa’s big enough to break tackles on the inside and strong enough to create separation on the outside. If they put Anderson Kearse on the inside, it presents a speed and quickness advantage against linebackers, and having Flowers on the field can disguise whether the play is run or pass.

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All in all, the Jets finally have an offense that can at least make defensive coordinators have to think and stay on their toes. New offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates has a lot to work with. Despite the “tough schedule,” the Jets should be able to find more wins in 2018 due to this dynamic, and be in the mix for the playoffs and even the AFC East title.