When an NFL team integrates a new offensive scheme, most of the attention goes to the passing game.
But it’s just as important to understand what a team wants to do in the run game.
To casual fans, every run play might look the same: just one guy carrying a ball through a giant pile of guys pushing each other. In reality, there is so much nuance in the midst of what looks like a chaotic blob of humanity.
There is a wide variety of schematic philosophies that teams can use to run the football. Some teams love zone plays, looking to get the defense on the move and beat them laterally. Even within zone-heavy offenses, there is variety: some teams prefer inside zone, and others prefer outside zone.
Other teams like to rely on man/gap-blocking, looking to go downhill and overpower the defense. Under this umbrella, teams can run anything from duo to power and everything in between.
Differences in run schemes are among the primary ways that NFL offenses set themselves apart from one another. It is the basis of each team’s offensive identity.
The run and pass games go hand and hand. Teams will use their identity on the ground to set up their identity through the air, and vice versa.
The New York Jets are debuting an entirely revamped coaching staff in 2025. Their offense will be led by a first-time offensive coordinator in Tanner Engstrand, who served as the Detroit Lions’ passing game coordinator over the past three seasons.
New York does not have a run game coordinator listed on the coaching staff, which means Engstrand is expected to have full say in the Jets’ run scheme. It is worth noting, though, that the Jets’ offensive line coach is Steve Heiden, who also comes over from Detroit.
With their OC and OL coach both coming from the Lions – along with their head coach, Aaron Glenn – it seems fair to expect that New York will draw inspiration from the Detroit run scheme that steamrolled the NFC over the last two seasons.
Detroit’s strength was its offense, and the run game was the strength of Detroit’s offense. Therefore, the Lions’ run game was the heart and soul of the entire team. With Glenn looking to lead a cultural overhaul in New York, it would not be shocking if he and Engstrand attempted to replicate the same principles that made Detroit’s run game such a powerful force in the Lions’ resurgence.
Using the Lions’ run game as a model, here are some things to expect from the Jets’ run scheme in 2025.
New York Jets’ 2025 run scheme
Interestingly, the Lions’ run scheme was very similar to the one New York was already running under Nathaniel Hackett and Todd Downing, at least based on the distribution of their concepts.
The folks at FTN Fantasy chart data for five different run concepts: inside zone, outside zone, man/duo, power, and counter. The terminology can get even more specific than that, but this is a solid group of five umbrella terms that can help us get a strong feel for each team’s style in the run game.
Below is a breakdown of the percentage of carries that fell into each run concept among the 46 running backs with at least 100 carries.
You can see that the Jets, much like the Lions, primarily relied on outside zone.
New York’s Breece Hall ranked fifth in the league with 44.3% of his carries coming on outside zone. Detroit’s top two running backs were not far behind him. Jahmyr Gibbs ranked only two spots below Hall (42.3%), while David Montgomery was another three spots down the list (36.9%).
When you compare Hall against the Lions’ two primary running backs, the overall split looks very similar – especially between Hall and Gibbs. The league-average rates among qualified running backs are displayed for comparison’s sake.
Hall’s distribution is the best indicator of the Jets’ priorities, since he was the clear-cut RB1 and responsible for 63% of the team’s running back carries. It is worth noting, though, that the Jets were much less outside zone-heavy with their other two running backs, Braelon Allen (92 carries) and Isaiah Davis (30).
Here is a comparison between the Jets’ RB trio (Hall/Allen/Davis) and Detroit’s RB duo (Gibbs/Montgomery). This is where you can really see how close the two teams were schematically.
What does this mean for the Jets?
Most of the main characters in the Jets’ run game will be returning from last season. Each of their top three running backs and four of their five offensive line starters are back. So, it’s not as if the Jets have brought new players into the building who may be a better fit for this style of play than last year’s players.
Unless Engstrand deviates significantly from Detroit’s tendencies, the fit between the Jets’ roster and run scheme will not be much different from what it was in 2024. That means the improvement will have to come from something else: execution.
Despite running similar schemes, the Lions’ run game was substantially more effective than the Jets’. Detroit finished second in rushing DVOA while New York was 26th.
This all starts with the offensive line.
Jets have the OL potential to run the scheme to its fullest
Detroit was graded as the NFL’s third-best run-blocking team according to Pro Football Focus’ grading system (78.4). The Jets were not too shabby in their own right, placing 12th (67.4), but they were not close to the Lions’ elite status. New York’s run-blocking grade was closer to Houston’s 26th-ranked performance (57.1) than it was to Detroit’s. The Lions’ dominant offensive line, along with a couple of other elite units, was in a different stratosphere from the rest of the league.
New York, though, has a realistic chance to reach Detroit’s level in the run-blocking department.
The Jets have an offensive line featuring five starters who are all 27 or younger, including three homegrown first-round picks and one second-round pick. After a much-improved 2024 season, coupled with the addition of first-round pick Armand Membou, the Jets’ offensive line is trending up and should push for an elite finish in the run-blocking department if it stays healthy.
The unit was already moving in that direction toward the end of last season. New York’s 2024 first-round pick, Olu Fashanu, did not debut at his natural left tackle position until Week 10. Once he did, the Jets began thriving. Across a six-game stretch with a healthy Fashanu at left tackle (Weeks 10-16), the Jets’ offensive line had the sixth-best run-blocking grade in the NFL (72.5), just three spots behind Detroit (76.0).
Best cumulative PFF run-blocking grade among offensive linemen, Weeks 10-16 (2024):
- Rams (78.8)
- Falcons (76.8)
- Lions (76.0)
- Eagles (75.2)
- Panthers (72.8)
- Jets (72.5)
That is one heck of a springboard for a line as young and talented as the Jets’. With more chemistry together as a unit, a Year 2 leap from Fashanu, Year 3 progress from second-round center Joe Tippmann, and the addition of Membou, the sky is the limit for this group.
But it’s not just about the offensive line
Here’s the catch: Those grades are solely from offensive linemen. The Jets’ skill position players blocked poorly all season. That is arguably the main reason why the Jets still were not running the ball well over that stretch of the season despite the offensive line grading well.
This is a critical separator between Detroit and New York.
In 2024, the Lions’ non-offensive linemen combined for a cumulative run-blocking grade of 56.8, per PFF, which ranked 12th in the NFL. The league average was 55.4, so the Lions were slightly above average. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the Jets, whose non-OL blockers ranked 28th with a 52.4 run-blocking grade.
While the Lions’ skill position blockers weren’t nearly as impressive as their offensive linemen, they were plenty good enough to ensure the offensive line’s efforts did not go to waste. They simply did their jobs, which is all you need when you have an elite offensive line.
Meanwhile, the Jets’ skill position blockers were colossal liabilities. New York frequently had reps in which the offensive line blocked well, but the run would be stuffed due to a blown block by a non-offensive lineman (usually a tight end).
Even if the Jets’ offensive line takes a leap, their skill-position blocking must improve if they are to properly execute Detroit’s style of running the football. That does not mean they need to unearth the next Rob Gronkowski or George Kittle, but they will be severely hamstrung if they have sieves at tight end and wide receiver.
Outside zone plays are designed to target the edge. When you are an outside zone-heavy team, you will be running behind the backs of the tight ends and wide receivers very frequently. The blocking ability of those two positions becomes much more vital in this type of scheme than in other run schemes that are more focused on running inside.
Thus, it is unsurprising that the Jets, an outside-zone heavy team, had one of the least effective run games in the NFL last season. It is hard to consistently run the ball outside when you have some of the league’s worst blockers at tight end and wide receiver.
Can the Jets change this in 2025?
There is hope, but the Jets are banking heavily on projection.
Jets’ skill-position blocking outlook
Second-round pick Mason Taylor brings potential to the tight end position, but his receiving is much more NFL-ready than his blocking. While he is capable of becoming a solid blocker in the NFL, it remains to be seen whether he can get there in his rookie season. Plenty of refinement is needed from him in that phase.
If Taylor is not an instant upgrade as a blocker, the Jets might be out of luck. They do not have any other tight ends with positive outlooks in the blocking game. Jeremy Ruckert has had three years to prove himself as a blocking tight end, and he was abysmal in that area last season. Stone Smartt is a converted quarterback who weighs 226 pounds and is not a viable option as an in-line blocker.
New York may have an unlikely hero in the form of Andrew Beck, who is listed as a fullback.
Beck played tight end for the first four years of his NFL career before converting to fullback in 2023, although he still lined up in-line on about a third of his plays since then. Despite being on a one-year deal with less than $200K guaranteed, Beck is a versatile blocker with great film who might be able to step in and save the Jets from their lack of blocking skills among the roster’s pure tight ends.
At wide receiver, things are looking rosier. The Jets made some good moves in this area.
Josh Reynolds spent three years in the Lions’ offensive scheme (2021-23) and was one of the league’s highest-graded blockers at wide receiver over that span. Reynolds is a little lanky and will not be caught flattening anyone, but he is a willing blocker and is experienced with the assignments he will be given in this scheme.
The wide receiver unit got another potentially useful blocker in fourth-round pick Arian Smith. Jets X-Factor’s Joe Blewett lauded Smith’s blocking in his film review of the Georgia product. It’s not a trait that people expect to see from a 179-pound receiver who is best known for his vertical game, but it’s all there on film if you watch the review.
It is also worth noting that 2024 third-round pick Malachi Corley, who has an opportunity to earn a bigger role this year (especially in a scheme that should maximize his playmaking), displayed solid blocking skills in his rookie season. In a limited sample, Corley earned a 74.4 run-blocking grade from PFF thanks to plays like this.
What about the running backs?
Staying in an outside zone-heavy scheme should be good news for Breece Hall. While he had a down year overall, Hall was very efficient in outside zone. It’s in the other concepts where Hall struggled.
When running outside zone in 2024, Hall averaged 4.8 yards per carry (12th of 46 qualifiers) and produced a DVOA of 4.4% (11th), per FTN Fantasy. In all other concepts, Hall ranked dead last out of 46 qualifiers in both yards per carry (3.3) and DVOA (-30.6%).
Given these splits, a smart strategy for the Jets would be to focus Hall’s usage on outside zone even more heavily than his sixth-ranked 44.3% rate from last season. With his explosiveness and long speed, he is a tailor-made fit for those plays, but there is no reason to hammer him into the ground on other concepts until he proves he can give you better than league-worst results.
The Jets are built to pull this off. They have two other running backs who can take care of business in the other concepts.
Neither Braelon Allen nor Isaiah Davis will win many footraces, but they can both grind between the tackles. Allen has the size (235 pounds) and pure strength to run defenders over, while Davis possesses the balance and short-area quickness to navigate tight spaces.
These traits translated to the numbers in 2024 (although the sample sizes were small). Davis had an incredible 34.5% DVOA on 18 non-outside zone rush attempts, while Allen had an above-average 1.9% mark on 58 tries. Hall was down at -30.6% on 105 attempts (a 0.0% DVOA is average).
To be clear, the Jets’ offense will be outside zone-heavy in all scenarios. It is unrealistic to expect Hall to exclusively run outside zone, or vice versa for Allen and Davis. But the Jets can optimize each player by slightly adjusting their splits to maximize their skill sets.
Look at Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in Detroit. The differences weren’t drastic, but the Lions clearly made an effort to alter Montgomery and Gibbs’ roles according to their skill sets. Montgomery ran inside zone 37.5% of the time (14th of 46) while Gibbs was down at 31.6% (31st). Meanwhile, Gibbs ran outside zone 42.3% of the time to Montgomery’s 36.9%. It makes sense, since Gibbs is the east-west speedster while Montgomery is the north-west mauler.
I would love to see the Jets pump Hall’s outside zone rate up to around 50%, while Allen and Davis carry more traditional, well-rounded splits between multiple concepts. Let Hall stay fresh and unload his energy for home-run swings to the edge, while Allen and Davis keep the offense moving methodically with consistent positive gains between the tackles.
As a matter of fact, there are already hints that New York is trending toward this strategy. When asked about Hall at the owners meetings in March, Aaron Glenn grouped him with the rest of the running back unit instead of giving a gushing response.
“I think, mentally, he’s in a good place, but I would say that we have three running backs on this team that we’re going to utilize as much as possible,” Glenn said of Hall.
The comment raised eyebrows, but after unpacking the outlook of the Jets’ run scheme, it aligns with what the Jets appear to be building.
New York is ideally constructed to replicate Detroit’s run scheme, and a three-man backfield could be an integral part of that. Hall’s outside zone prowess can be maximized in this scheme. He is weak in the other concepts New York projects to use, though. Fortunately, the Jets have two other backs who can make up for those holes in Hall’s game.
Projection is involved, but the Jets have the right pieces
To summarize, the Jets project to utilize a run scheme that will look somewhat similar to their previous one, at least from a stylistic standpoint. The differences have to come from execution.
New York has the necessary pieces to execute at a higher level. It will just require some projection for them to get there. It is not as if they are counting on a plethora of proven veteran additions who have done this before. They need players with potential to trend upward.
The offensive line is in an excellent spot. It is young, filled with premium investments, and showcased elite potential when it operated at full strength late in the 2024 season. With good health and the expected progression from its young pieces, the unit is a strong bet to perform at an elite level. Offensive line coach Steve Heiden (who has never held this role in the NFL) must ensure that the unit’s young players stay on the proper development track.
At wide receiver, the Jets’ blocking should be improved, although it is on the coaching staff to ensure that players like Arian Smith and Malachi Corley build upon the potential they have shown as blockers. Josh Reynolds, though, is a nice floor-raising addition in this area.
The running back unit is ideal for this scheme. The Jets have three young backs who each bring something different to the table, making them the perfect group to utilize in a complementary three-way fashion.
Hall is the perfect outside zone speedster to lead the unit. Allen and Davis are young, efficient runners who can keep the chains moving while giving Hall a rest. If appropriately optimized (unlike Tom Thibodeau’s rotations in the Eastern Conference Finals), the Jets can generate some excellent efficiency out of this unit.
The primary question mark is the tight end unit. As an outside zone-heavy team, the Jets will be leaning on their tight ends to make key blocks out on the edge. If they cannot hold their own, the run game will suffer, regardless of everything else the Jets have going for them.
The tight ends do not have to generate eye-popping highlight reels that make the rounds on social media. All they need to do is execute their assignments consistently. You don’t have to pancake anyone – just don’t get pancaked yourself. That is the mindset that must be coached into this unit by tight ends coach Jeff Blasko.
Remember, Detroit’s skill position players are not special at blocking. They’re just slightly above average – and that is more than enough with everything else the Lions have going for their run game.
We haven’t even discussed the Justin Fields of it all. Surely, Engstrand will take the basis of Detroit’s run scheme and integrate plenty of Fields-centric concepts. Off of those, Engstrand can cook up plenty of creative concepts that put the running backs in ideal situations. Jets X-Factor’s Andrew Fialkow already did a phenomenal job of breaking down some of the plays that Engstrand could add to the scheme for Fields, so be sure to check that out.
Regarding the basis of the Jets’ scheme, though, expect it to be outside zone-heavy. With their young, talented, athletic offensive line, a well-rounded young running back room, potentially improved blocking at wide receiver, and a dynamic runner at quarterback, the Jets have everything they need to field an outstanding run game this year.
The only daunting question is the tight end unit. It might seem like a trivial thing, but it really isn’t. It can sink an entire run game – we saw it with the Jets last year.
New York had a running back coming off a fantastic year, a respectable quarterback to eliminate the stacked boxes that plagued them in 2023, and an offensive line that played well. Yet, they finished 26th in rushing DVOA. The abysmal tight end unit was the only suspect that could have dragged the unit’s overall performance down that far. It is that important.
The keys to this Jets run game lie in the hands of Mason Taylor, Andrew Beck, Jeremy Ruckert, and tight ends coach Jeff Blasko. Everything else is in place for New York to build a stellar rushing attack in the mold of Detroit’s scheme. As long as the tight ends do not completely butcher it, this should be one of the better running teams in the NFL.
