Due to myriad offensive line injuries, with Connor McGovern, Alijah Vera-Tucker and Wes Schweitzer all on injured reserve, the Jets had to figure out an offensive line configuration to go with against the Los Angeles Chargers that might work.
A few days before the game, Jets coach Robert Saleh was asked about their offensive line plans for the Chargers’ game and said, “We’ve got to play our best five.”
So that philosophy perhaps led them to have offensive tackles Billy Turner and Max Mitchell on the field at the same time, moving Mitchell to right guard, and starting Turner at right tackle.
We all know hindsight is 20/20, but this plan didn’t work out as well as the Jets had hoped, as the team gave up 8 sacks.
Some might ask, “Why move Mitchell, a tackle by trade, to a guard, a position he has very little experience at? Why not leave him at right tackle, and just plug in somebody at right guard, like Xavier Newman, Chris Glaser or maybe even Turner?”
But the biggest issue with starting Mitchell at right guard, and Turner at right tackle, perhaps wasn’t Mitchell at his new position, but Turner at right tackle.
It’s not a lack of ability or know-how. Turner’s a consummate professional offensive lineman with many starts at right tackle. The issue might be related to Turner’s current weight of 295 pounds. He’s listed at 310 on the roster, but he’s 295.
Turner is somewhat svelte for an NFL offensive tackle right now and had some issues anchoring against the Chargers.
He got pushed back on a few plays by bull rushes, like on the Chargers’ third series, when Turner was beaten by Chargers defensive end Nick Bosa, causing a fumble by QB Zach Wilson, which was recovered by Bosa.
Once again, this has nothing to do with ability. Turner’s a pro’s pro. He knows what he’s doing out there, but perhaps he lost a little too much weight.
********
The new issue of Jets Confidential Magazine is out and loaded with inside information on the Jets that you won’t read anywhere else. To subscribe, click on the ad below . . .
