Robert Saleh Explains New Changes to Role in Jets Offense

Not every defensive-minded head coach is openly willing to assist with the offense throughout a regular season.

Most of those coaches aren't on the hot seat quite like Robert Saleh is with the New York Jets in 2024, though. As Saleh prepares for his fourth NFL season as head honcho in New York, he has understood this season is a make-or-break year for everyone involved in the organization.

13 straight years of postseason-less football will do that for an organization.

Due to the overall importance of this season being on his legacy as an NFL coach, Saleh has done more to help New York's offensive preparation entering the new season.

It's something that ownership has pushed for, and the 45-year-old coach has seemed natural with it.

"Saleh is slowly turning to an offensive coach," Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley said on Thursday.

There's a reason for that of course, and it has nothing to do with Woody Johnson's decree or the fact that New York's defense is elite without Saleh's help.

It's because with Aaron Rodgers fully healthy again, there's more that Saleh can provide for the entire group.

"It's just different, you know, and so learning a new system under Hack (Nathaniel Hackett) and just trying to understand the quarterback and now knowing all of it after being in it with for a year, I just feel like I can give them my thoughts from a defense perspective," Saleh explained after Friday's practice. "Certain concepts, formations, route concepts, run concepts that hurt us, that hurt three-four teams that hurt four-three teams, to help them kind of formulate this, this identity that we're trying to find, so it's been fun interacting, still working a lot with the defense in the offices, watching tape with them, making sure that we're crossing T's and dotting I's, but I think everyone's doing a really good job coming together to get this thing where we want to go."

It's not uncommon for defensive-minded head coaches to try and help use their unique mindset to help offensive staff. What is different is the fact that Saleh has not normally been a play-caller since joining the Jets.

With his openness to coach up the offense, and help provide a new look and opinion to the group, it could help the organization continue to succeed in the long run.

It's something that a quarterback like Rodgers fully appreciates.

"As a defensive coach, he's been in that room a lot, but he's been kind of sitting over to the left of me a good amount of the offseason so far. So we appreciate his influence," Rodgers said back in May. "He's brought some really good ideas to the table."

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Unlike the last few years in New York, everyone appears to be comfortable with their current role in the organization. It'll be up to the players and Saleh's in-game adjustments though that could determine how far the team ends up in 2024.

As of now, though, adding an offensive style to his coaching techniques appears to be bringing out the best in New York's head coach.