Jets have to figure out a way to get Brandon Marshall more involved
New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) catches a pass for a touchdown as Houston Texans strong safety Kevin Johnson (30) defends on the play during the second half of a game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in Houston. Credit: AP / David J. Phillip
With 37 catches for 511 yards and four touchdowns in the first five games, Brandon Marshall was off to one of the best starts of his career this season. But his numbers have tailed considerably in the last five. As in, almost cut in half.
He has 25 catches for 289 yards and three touchdowns in his last five games.
Marshall certainly isn't the only one at fault for the Jets' recent struggles, but it is interesting to note that the Jets were 4-1 when he was the focal point in the passing game and have gone 1-4 during this difficult stretch for the 31-year-old receiver.
What gives?
"I see it, you see it," Marshall said. "I'm being double-teamed a lot more."
It was the Patriots who started doubling up in pass coverage on Marshall, and other opponents have followed suit. A handful of dropped passes in recent weeks haven't helped, either.
"They're doubling him regularly, and that's probably understating it," Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said. "It's probably more than regularly -- it's a high percentage of the time. They're doubling him and finding ways to take him away, and we keep trying to find ways to keep him involved."
Gailey knows finding a solution to Marshall's struggles is of paramount importance.
"We need him to be involved to be a successful offense," he said. "They're taking him away right now, and we don't have enough other people involved in the passing game to take that away from them."
It will be interesting to see what the Dolphins do Sunday in their second meeting against the Jets this season. In the first, Marshall had seven catches for 128 yards in a 27-14 win over Miami in London on Oct. 4. The Dolphins are expected to put cornerback Brent Grimes on Marshall but might also give Grimes help, just as the Jets' last five opponents have done.
Marshall knows it's on him to respond.
"Players like myself have to make plays," he said. "It's really simple."
Bob Glauber retired in 2022 after covering the NFL for nearly 40 years. He was selected in 2021 for the Bill Nunn Career Achievement Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, and is a three-time winner of the New York State Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. President of the PFWA for the 2018-20 seasons, he is the author of “The Forgotten First” and “Guts and Genius.”
