The Jets are hoping the addition of Davante Adams will improve the passing game

PITTSBURGH – A look at what’s happening around the New York Jets:

1. To the rescue? With Davante Adams joining Garrett Wilson, the Jets have their best one-two punch at wide receiver since Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker in 2015. Perhaps not coincidentally, that was their last winning season. The organization hopes Adams can bolster its inconsistent passing attack.

“If we play to our potential, it’s going to be about the Super Bowl,” No. 3 receiver Allen Lazard told ESPN.

There’s a lot to do at 2-4. The Jets’ receiving corps is ranked last by ESPN Analytics, which uses three components in its tracking metrics: getting open, making the catch and gaining yards after the catch.

Adams, who will make his Jets debut Sunday night at the Pittsburgh Steelers, can impact the offense in many ways — some obvious, others nuanced.

• A receiver Aaron Rodgers can trust: Nothing annoys Rodgers more than a player who isn’t in the right place at the right time. (Mike Williams has something to say about that.) Adams speaks Rodgers’ language and knows his hand signals, a collection of knowledge from eight seasons combined. The way they talk about each other, you’d almost expect them to finish each other’s sentences. But you get the point; He provides security for Rodgers.

• A playmaker in the red zone: Receivers must be precise and gain quickly inside the 20-yard line. This doesn’t happen regularly, which probably explains why Rodgers passes 50% of the time in the red zone. Last week we were 1:4 on offense. Come in, Adams. Since 2000, only two duos have scored more red zone touchdowns than Rodgers and Adams – Philip Rivers-Antonio Gates and Tom Brady-Rob Gronkowski.

• Force the defense to play more zone: The Jets had the highest man coverage percentage on passing plays, according to Next Gen Stats. In Wilson’s case, it’s often man-marking with an over-the-top security that has suffocated him at times. Adams’ presence should force the defense to fall back in the zone or perhaps drop Adams into coverage. More zone should mean easier finishes for Rodgers.

“I’m hoping that this will just allow me to have more one-on-ones and do things that I’m used to,” Wilson told ESPN. “(Adams) is such a dynamic player and the guy that Aaron has built a great history for, so teams have to respect that and protect it in a certain way and be accountable for it. I’m excited to see how everything will turn out.”

2. Did you know? Since entering the league in 2014, Adams has essentially outscored the Jets’ entire receiving corps during that span. He has 30 games with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown; The Jets’ wideouts have combined to play 29 such games during the same period.

3. Deceleration: If there’s one thing to worry about about the 31-year-old Adams, it’s his loss of speed. In 2020, he reached an average speed of 13.64 miles per hour on mountain passes. This season, according to Next Gen Stats, it’s 12.55 mph. Some will say he compensates for this with experience and skill. The Jets hope that’s the case.

4. Elusive 300: Maybe Adams can help Rodgers end that pesky 300-yard game drought – 28 straight games (Week 14 of 2021) with under 300, the longest active streak in the NFL and by far the longest of his career. He almost did it last week (294).

5. Wobbly Blind Side: Do the Jets have a problem at left tackle?

Tyron Smith, one of the league’s most decorated offensive linemen, is off to a shaky start. According to Next Gen Stats, he has already allowed five sacks, including two in last week’s loss to the Buffalo Bills. He was also sentenced to five sentences (two accepted).

Compare it to last season with the Dallas Cowboys: three sacks and three penalties (all accepted) in 13 games.

Clearly, Smith is not living up to the elite standard he has set for himself, which will likely one day land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Jets signed the 33-year-old Smith because they felt he had some gas left in the tank, but he wasn’t able to stabilize the position as they had hoped.

Todd Downing, the de facto offensive coordinator, said he wasn’t concerned. He said Smith was an “All-Pro player.”

“(Smith) knows how to troubleshoot small technical problems that arise,” Downing said. “… I believe he will make the necessary adjustments and we will be good to go.”

First-round pick Olu Fashanu is waiting his turn, giving them a realistic option if Smith continues to struggle.

6. Sobering statistic of the week: The Jets’ score after six games: 113 points. After six games in 2023 with Zach Wilson at quarterback – 113 points.

7. Quiet question: Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams admitted that he “doesn’t bother the line of scrimmage like I can on run downs.” He gets points for his responsibility. The numbers confirm him. His run-stop mark was 7% last season; Now it’s down to 4.4%, according to Next Gen Stats.

8. The next three: One of the things the Jets like about their defense is depth. Well, it will be tested in the second round as they will likely face the Steelers without three of their top five defensive backs – cornerback DJ Reed (groin), safety Chuck Clark (ankle) and nickel Michael Carter II (back). Reed is questionable, but her likely successors would be Brandin Echols, Ashtyn Davis and Isaiah Oliver.

Let’s say this for Echols, he is the only player on the team with an interception (two).

9. Outsmarted Wally? This is a big week for CJ Mosley, Jamien Sherwood and the middle linebacker/signal-caller position. Will Mosley get his old job back? Did Sherwood take it?

Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Sherwood’s performance over the last four games will make for a “good conversation” if Mosley (toe) is healthy. Well, that time has now come. For the first time in five weeks, Mosley does not appear on the injury report.

Mosley returned from his injury last week but was limited to nine snaps as the third linebacker in the 4-3 base front. Sherwood and Quincy Williams were the absolute supporters. The Jets don’t appear to be in a hurry to get Mosley back in his usual role; They are intrigued by Sherwood’s combination of youth and speed.

10. The Last Word: ““Sunday Night Football” means Cris Collinsworth will call the game. Collinsworth was also in the locker room (NFL Network) for the first significant game of Rodgers’ career – on November 27, 2007, when he replaced the injured Brett Favre and almost rallied the Packers from a big deficit against the Cowboys.

Rodgers looked shaky on his first drive (near an interception), prompting Collinsworth to say on air, “You’re not going to win many games with Aaron Rodgers playing quarterback unless things change drastically.” Rodgers never forgot it. When he talked about this game in an interview last year, he mentioned Collinsworth’s swipe and quoted it verbatim.

Collinsworth said in a text message to ESPN: “I bet Aaron I never said that. I lost. he finally told me about it.