Four New York Jets Assistant Coaches Who Will Be Vital To The Team’s Success In 2022

Nine NFL teams are scheduled to have selections in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft on April 28. Of those nine, only the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets have the same head coach-offensive coordinator-defensive coordinator combo with which they began the 2021 season. 

The Jets went 4-13, but thus far, the only moves they have made to their coaching staff have been minor ones, and most have been because of people leaving of their own accord. The organization obviously feels it is on the right track despite the lack of victories, and that last season was a developmental year on the pathway to bigger and better things. 

And no, this is not to say that the Jets should be in the Super Bowl next February merely because the Cincinnati Bengals made it in the second year of quarterback Joe Burrow’s NFL career. After all, Zach Wilson will be entering his second season as New York’s QB in 2022. 

But it is not unfair to expect improvement. Here are four assistant coaches, two each on offense and defense, who will have to play key roles for the Jets to contend this season or at least climb to respectability. Mind you, none is on the proverbial “hot seat,” but all have room for improvement if the Jets are to improve significantly.

Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur 

LaFleur, who was calling plays at the NFL level for the first time, improved as the season went on. New York was last in the league in points scored through its first five games, but finished 28th. 

After averaging 3.3 points in the first halves of the first six games of the season, New York averaged 11.2 in the last 11. 

LaFleur will have to evaluate his own playcalling and his tendencies in the off-season, so that he doesn’t become too predictable. It also would be beneficial if he would open up the offense a bit for Wilson. One of the more curious things is that despite the Jets raving about Wilson’s arm strength, LaFleur almost never dials up downfield throws as part of the offense. 

It will be interesting to see if LaFleur changes his tactics, or continues to use a game-manager approach despite Wilson’s rocket arm and gunslinger mentality.  

Quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese 

Calabrese, who will turn 32 on March 5, will now be the other important voice in Wilson’s ear as the Jets have pared down that part of their coaching staff. As expected, Wilson’s personal coach, John Beck, left the team, which is OK, because now he can tutor him during the off-season. 

Senior offensive assistant Matt Cavanaugh also is gone, as first reported by Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. His one-year contract expired. 

The Jets have confidence in Calabrese. He was named offensive coordinator for the Senior Bowl, in which the teams utilized lower-level assistants in larger roles to prepare them for bigger jobs in the future. But the fact remains that Calabrese has spent one year as a QBs coach and before that was a quality control assistant with Denver. A lot is riding on his readiness for this position. 

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich 

Despite the praise Ulbrich and defensive-minded head coach Robert Saleh have lavished on certain players, such as third-year linebacker Quincy Williams and rookie cornerback Brandin Echols, the fact is the Jets ranked last in the NFL in total defense. And some critics felt that Ulbrich’s schemes, particularly on third down, were too predictable. 

Again, there must be improvement on this side of the ball, especially for Wilson’s sake. It’s unfair for him to often be behind early in games because the defense gives up a quick score. That can’t keep happening. 

Linebackers coach Mike Rutenberg 

Rutenberg, much like Calabrese, is thought of highly by Saleh and the Jets. He also had the honor of being a coordinator during the Senior Bowl, on the defensive side. 

But there were problems with the linebacker unit. Williams, although a tackling machine and a devastating hitter, often was fooled by misdirection and gadget plays. That was a problem not only for him, but for many Jets’ linebackers and linemen in 2021. 

Also, draft picks Jamien Sherwood (Auburn) and Hamsah Nasirildeen (Florida State) struggled in making the transition from college box safeties to NFL linebackers before both were injured. However, one also can question the wisdom of Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas for going with that plan in the first place, and trying to start them immediately. 

Everyone on the coaching staff must improve, from Saleh to the quality control people. But the progress of these four will go a long way toward determining whether the Jets are playing meaningful games in December for the first time since 2015.