Matt Forte ( Image Credit:Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Matt Forte spoke his mind after the Jets lost their third straight game, the veteran running back had plenty to say.
Before the Jets go about the business of putting their season back on track, they better make sure everyone’s on the same page.
It certainly didn’t seem that way in the aftermath of their 25-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, this past Sunday at a rainy MetLife Stadium.
While the majority of the postgame centered around the Jets’ inability to finish off another opponent, Forte brought light to another potential issue worth looking at.
Of the 22 running plays the Jets called against the Falcons, he carried the football only four times for seven yards. Bilal Powell, Forte’s running mate, carried the rock 14 times for 33 yards.
Despite a driving rainstorm, which in most cases calls for teams to place more of an emphasis on the ground game, Jets’ offensive coordinator John Morton went with a strategic air attack.
Josh McCown passed his way towards a 26-for-33 day with 257 yards racked up along with two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Not bad, not bad at all.
It was an impressive performance by McCown, considering the weather conditions. But it wasn’t enough to keep the Jets from another ugly defeat.
Losing will eventually take its toll on anyone, including a veteran NFL running back in his 10th season. Forte, when asked for his thoughts, spoke his mind.
“I only had four carries this game, so I don’t really feel we ran the ball enough with it,” Forte said.
There were definitely opportunities for the Jets to run the ball more, especially late in the second half. Despite multiple opportunities to put the Falcons away in the third quarter, the Jets still managed to take a one-point lead into the fourth.
So why not run the ball and start working the clock? Forte apparently wondered the same thing.
“Yeah, definitely surprised by that,” Forte added. “We knew the weather was gonna be like this, and then it continued to rain the entire game, and I think we only ran the ball maybe, what 20 times, something like that? 18 times?”
Matt Forte looking for yardage against the Falcons. (Image Credit: Al Bello/Getty)
Forte had plenty more thoughts to offer on Morton’s game plan and made it clear the ground game was supposed to have been featured more.
The 22 times, according to the final stats, did seem odd, considering the weather. But was Forte’s postgame reaction the right way to go about addressing it?
The Jets could have had better balance between the run and pass. The case can be made it would have kept the clock moving. But I’m sure Morton knows this already.
Just as I’m sure Morton’s aware he has to know his personnel, as Forte alluded to in his postgame comments.
But Morton didn’t just change gears without having his reasons. The numbers justified his apparent change of direction with the game plan.
He tried to get Forte and Powell involved in the third quarter, the results signaled for more of a reliance on McCown’s arm.
There were plenty of other factors which played a part in the Jets losing. It wasn’t just Forte not getting the ball enough. The defense gave up a 52-yard run by Falcons’ running back Tevin Coleman. Chandler Cantanzaro missed two field goals, and Jeremy Kerley muffed a punt late in the game.
But Forte’s reaction was surprising, he’s highly respected around the league. He rarely goes the public route to air out any issues he has with his team.
Yes, Morton could have done more to get Forte touches. But Forte didn’t do his teammates or coaches any favors by publicly criticizing the team’s game plan.
Two wrongs don’t make it right.
The Jets have enough problems on their plate. They’re a young team struggling to figure out how to play a complete football game. They’ve lost three in a row and have little time to prepare for the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football. They need their team leaders now more than at any other point in the season, this includes Forte.
The day after, Forte alluded to frustration as what brought on his reaction. He also acknowledged speaking with Bowles and Morton about finding ways to win games.
That has to be the focus for the Jets going forward, with Forte’s help for as long as he’s still there. Yes, he’s 32 years old and may not be a Jet next season. But for now his presence is needed on the field and in the locker room … for the right reasons.
