Tanner Engstrand has made his mark as the official offensive coordinator for the New York Jets. This new position is a big step forward for him. At 42 years of age, Engstrand is entering his first NFL coordinator job. He definitely does, moving over with a QB’s wealth of experience, running an offense under titans like Jim Harbaugh and Ben Johnson. His unconventional route to the Jets, combined with a focus on rejuvenating an offense that has struggled with stability, sets the stage for an intriguing new chapter in the team’s history.
Engstrand’s journey has been anything but traditional. Before joining the Jets, he shared playcalling duties with coach Pep Hamilton for the D.C. Defenders in the XFL during the 2020 season. That combined experience gave him a one-of-a-kind view into game strategy which helped shape his ability to adapt week-to-week to different offensive styles. Now he faces the daunting challenge of making the transition from Jared Goff to Justin Fields. Fans are hoping to see Fields infuse a playmaking, innovative spark into an otherwise dormant Jets’ offense.
The Jets’ offensive struggles are well-documented. Over the past 15 seasons, the franchise has cycled through ten offensive coordinators and eleven playcallers, with an average shelf life of just 1½ years for coordinators. Engstrand knows the burden of this legacy as he takes on his new role.
Working alongside senior offensive assistant and passing game coordinator Scott Turner, Engstrand will benefit from Turner’s extensive experience as a longtime coordinator. Turner has a reputation for a physical and aggressive offensive philosophy.
“It’s going to be a physical system,” – Scott Turner
Turner made sure to stress the fact that this is still a team that likes to run the football and build explosive plays.
“We’re going to run the football, we’re going to be aggressive up front and try to chase explosive plays,” – Scott Turner
Engstrand is excited about being able to finally put his vision into play on the Jets’ offense. He certainly sounds up for the challenge.
“Tanner, look, he’s got some experience, he does,” – Dan Campbell
Engstrand will have to be clever and creative as he works in concert with Fields. The second-year quarterback built a reputation for surprising defenses with his electric running skills. Fields’ presence is sure to change the level of dynamic fun and versatility that Jets’ offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is able to implement to the Jets’ offensive scheme.
“Just talking to him, you can just tell he’s really smart,” – Justin Fields
Engstrand understands the exhilarating possibilities Fields brings to the team. For one, he’s on record as wanting to work him into the offensive game plan.
“Just opens things up more, that’s all. It just adds another layer to what we can do with where we’re going on offense,” – Tanner Engstrand
Even with the pressure of turning around a recently failed innovation unit, Engstrand says he’s ready for what lies ahead. He’s made it very clear that he’s “100%, absolutely prepared” for his new job.
Beyond the craft of figuring out how to run an effective offense, Engstrand emphasizes the need for collaboration among the coaching staff. Davis’ pledge His commitment to matching his philosophy with that of head coach Robert Saleh and Turner is not new.
“We’re going to do as AG wants,” – Tanner Engstrand
He takes pride in his flexibility to change his approach on-the-fly. For this one, he intends to adjust it depending on opponents and player strengths.
“But he’s also given me some freedom to do what we feel is best with our scheme and our players,” – Tanner Engstrand
With Engstrand at the helm, there’s a new hope on the team that has many fans and college football experts excited. They think the Jets’ offense is primed for a major turnaround. His success will be determined largely on how well he can maximize the talents of Justin Fields. He has to fit those skills into a single-minded offensive philosophy.
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