During his Thursday media availability, the New York Jets’ offensive play-caller praised the newest member of the team.
Todd Downing spoke about adding Davante Adams to the Jets’ offense, calling him an “impressive guy” and a “pro’s pro” on the football field.
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“His preparation has already been noticeable. The way he carries himself and goes about his business is awesome. He’s a great human being and someone we are fortunate to add to the mix.”
The Jets’ play-caller also spoke about Adams’s play-making ability and how the Jets hope to utilize him.
“He’s obviously dynamic with the ball in his hands. So, finding ways to get him the football is going to be fun to do. He understands the game, has great savviness and football IQ, knows where he fits in zones, and knows how to attack defenses. I think it’s all a premium.”
Downing added that Adams “is ahead of the curve” in learning due to his work ethic and prior experience playing with Rodgers in the offense.
Regarding how the Jets will manage to get touches for everyone in the offense, Downing used a cooking analogy.
“Just tell Aaron to throw to the open guy. That’s the easy part. But no, as a chef, you would want a bunch of ingredients. You don’t want to be standing in the kitchen looking for something in the cupboard. So it’s a good problem to have. But you must be intentional about telling guys where they fit in the plan,” said Downing.
“They can get excited about certain plays and get excited about their role. That’s the challenge for the coaching staff. You have all of these very talented weapons. Now it’s about ensuring everyone feels like they’re getting their piece of the pie.”
Asked about the offensive line, Downing said he felt the unit “took some strides forward” in pass protection on Monday night.
“I think we took some strides forward on Monday night from some of the hiccups that we had. But I would say that there isn’t a man in that offensive meeting room who feels like there weren’t plays he wishes he would have played better. And so, as you go across the five up front, they battled their tails off and had some really good reps. But they also had some reps where I’m sure a few of them would wish they had a do over.
“That goes for me as a playcaller, too. I’m not going to be perfect, but if we strive to improve on the things that we identify as repeated issues, I think we’ll be OK.”
In preparation for the Steelers defense, Downing said that they have “elite” players at all levels of the defense. He also added that the Jets must play “fast” and with “a purpose.”
The play-caller also spoke about possible additions Adams could bring to the team’s existing offensive playbook.
“You know, every week, I ask the players for some input. I know I’ve only been in this role now for a handful of days, but we have always kind of stressed to the players to bring us thoughts. I would anticipate that’s no different with Davante, where he’s able to look over there and say remember, we did this against so and so. We can kind of relay on their experiences,” said Downing.
“But between the two of them, man, what a wealth of wisdom in the sport of football. It’s pretty cool to hear some of those conversations and maybe let that steer some thoughts along the way.”
In his first game as the play-caller, Downing made some great changes and displayed some intriguing concepts. With Adams in the fold, he can elevate the Jets’ offense to a new level by relying and building on the schemes and motions he utilized against the Bills.
