At last, the New York Jets turned back the clock and ran their offense around 12 personnel
When the New York Jets paid a combined $25 million in guaranteed money to sign free-agent tight ends C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin, it seemed like they had a clear plan: to run an offense that was predicated upon heavy usage of 12 personnel packages (1 RB, 2 TE).
It’s taken some time, but it appears the Jets are finally making 12 personnel packages a fixture in their offense. We saw New York enact a significant philosophy shift in Week 6.
Here is a look at the Jets’ 12 personnel usage in each game this season, per NFL Next Gen Stats:
- Week 1 vs. BAL: 14 plays (17.7%)
- Week 2 at CLE: 13 plays (19.7%)
- Week 3 vs. CIN: 9 plays (11.8%)
- Week 4 at PIT: 13 plays (19.4%)
- Week 5 vs. MIA: 12 plays (21.4%)
- Week 6 at GB: 18 plays (34.0%)
For reference, the NFL average this season is 17.9%.
In their 27-10 road win over the Green Bay Packers, the Jets used 12 personnel on 34.0% of their offensive plays, a new season-high by a wide margin.
The Jets experienced some of their best offensive success against the Packers while using 12 personnel.
Across five passing plays out of 12 personnel, the Jets picked up 48 yards (9.6 yards per play). They only gained 41 yards on their other 15 passing plays that did not feature 12 personnel (2.7 yards per play).
New York amassed 13 carries for 47 yards when running 12 personnel. The yards-per-carry average of 3.6 doesn’t look great, but the Jets were much more effective than that number lets on. They had a 38.5% rushing success rate (above the 2022 league average of 37.1% when using 12P) and averaged +0.07 Expected Points Added per play (above the league average of -0.07).
Throughout the game, you could see the Jets were gradually breaking the Packers’ will. Their methodical, physical approach – predicated upon heavy usage of two-tight-end run plays – allowed them to establish control of the line of scrimmage. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Jets started running the ball down the Packers’ throats with 12 personnel on every play, chewing the clock with ease.
It wasn’t just 12 personnel that saw a spike in this game. The Jets also increased their usage of a few other “heavy” packages.
Here is the Jets’ personnel distribution against Green Bay:
- 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR): 20 plays (37.7%)
- 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR): 18 plays (34.0%)
- 21 personnel (2 RB, 1 TE, 2 WR): 8 plays (15.1%)
- 13 personnel (1 RB, 3 TE, 1 WR): 4 plays (7.5%)
- 22 personnel (2 RB, 2 TE, 1 WR): 2 plays (3.8%)
- 02 personnel (0 RB, 2 TE, 3 WR): 1 play (1.9%)
The most notable aspect of that breakdown is the significant decline in 11 personnel, which is the go-to package in the modern NFL by a longshot. NFL teams are using 11 personnel on 62.0% of their offensive plays this year. New York used it just 37.7% of the time in Green Bay.
Take a look at the Jets’ 11 personnel usage this season:
- Week 1 vs. BAL: 59 plays (74.7%)
- Week 2 at CLE: 45 plays (68.2%)
- Week 3 vs. CIN: 64 plays (84.2%)
- Week 4 at PIT: 46 plays (68.7%)
- Week 5 vs. MIA: 32 plays (57.1%)
- Week 6 at GB: 20 plays (37.7%)
The Jets were an 11-heavy team over the first four weeks. In their Week 5 game against the Dolphins, the Jets began showing signs of a philosophical shift as they dipped under the NFL average in 11 personnel usage for the first time. They then took a complete nosedive in Week 6.
The decline in 11 personnel usage means that the Jets are taking away snaps from the wide receivers and giving them to the tight ends.
Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore has been the primary victim of the Jets’ recent slice in 11 usage. After playing 90% of the team’s snaps over his first four games, Moore played a season-low 66% in Week 5 and followed that up with a season-low 58% in Week 6.
Garrett Wilson is another receiver whose snaps have taken a hit. Wilson had played 67% of the snaps from Weeks 2-4. He dropped to 56% in Week 5 and then stooped to a season-low 44% in Week 6.
At tight end, Tyler Conklin has been a mainstay for the Jets offense all year, playing 83% of their offensive snaps this season. But Uzomah was a non-factor early on. In recent weeks, though, Uzomah has caught up to Conklin in terms of playing time.
Uzomah is the man who has taken most of Moore and Wilson’s reps. His playing time has increased on a weekly basis this year:
- Week 1: 23 snaps (27%)
- Week 2: Missed game
- Week 3: 27 snaps (35%)
- Week 4: 31 snaps (44%)
- Week 5: 41 snaps (69%)
- Week 6: 43 snaps (78%)
Uzomah is eating into Conklin’s reps, too, as Uzomah has actually out-snapped Conklin in two consecutive games. Conklin played a season-low 68% of the snaps in Week 5 and dropped again to 67% in Week 6. Over the first four games, he was at 88%.
It is easy to see why the Jets are gaining more confidence in Uzomah. The former Bengals tight end is starting to look like a real asset as a blocker. Check out his key block to spring this touchdown run by Braxton Berrios (Conklin has a key block as well on this 12-personnel masterclass):
Look at @T_Conk1.
Look at @cj_uzomah.
Look at @DuaneBrown76.
Look at @HNYNUT_BERRIOS.Beautiful.#NYJvsGB on FOX pic.twitter.com/qbpIHMZXPt
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 16, 2022
It’s an interesting quandary for offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. The Jets are winning games right now, and the 12 personnel packages are a big reason why. These packages are helping the Jets establish their desired identity as a physically imposing, run-first football team.
However, New York’s heavy reliance on 12 personnel is resulting in peculiar snap-count distribution. Uzomah – who is no more than a blocking tight end in his current role – is playing significantly more snaps than a pair of talented wide receivers in Moore and Wilson. Will that lead the Jets to their best success in the long run?
Keep an eye on the Jets’ personnel-package decisions going forward. It will tell us a lot about the type of football team they want to be.
I think the best approach for LaFleur would be to remain malleable. Be ready to pull out whatever works best for that particular situation.
In this week’s game against Green Bay, Zach Wilson and the Jets’ receivers were struggling while Breece Hall and the Jets’ run blockers were thriving. So, LaFleur leaned into what was working.
But there will be other games when Wilson is cooking and his receivers are consistently winning their matchups. When that happens, LaFleur must be ready to tilt the snap-count pendulum away from the tight ends and toward the wide receivers.
For now, though, there is little reason to fret. The Jets have found a formula that is working.
