Aaron Glenn isn’t too happy about the reaction quarterback Justin Fields has received so far in New York.
The Jets head coach sounded off on reporters and fans who have quickly criticized their new franchise quarterback after a very limited sample in their first two preseason games.
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“I mean, you have so many people that want to talk about a small amount of plays these guys get to go out there and play,” Glenn said, via ESPN. “And then everything is falling down because we throw six passes [on Saturday].”
“Then, I mean, he’s Johnny Unitas when we throw four passes [in the first game]. So, it bothers me, and I laugh at it quite a bit. But the thing is, I understand it because that’s the noise that happens on the outside.”
Fields is taking over in New York this season after the Aaron Rodgers era failed to produce much success. While he’s been deemed the team’s starting quarterback, he’s played only minimally so far this preseason.
Fields went 3 of 4 for 42 yards in the team’s preseason opener, and he went just 1 of 5 for 4 yards in their loss to the Giants on Saturday. That brings him to a total of 4 of 9 for 46 yards so far in the preseason, which by all accounts isn’t great. Fields has also failed to even attempt a pass that’s been longer than nine air yards.
That last stat, however, is something Fields isn’t worried about one bit.
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“We’re fine with taking eight-yard completions every play, if I’m being honest with you,” Fields said on Tuesday. “Of course, you want explosives, but like I said Saturday, we’re not going to force the ball downfield.
“If they want to get depth on the second level, we’re fine with taking the eight, 10-yard completion, taking time off the clock, and just driving down the field, and having 10- to 15-play drives. It gets the defense tired. It might not be as exciting on the offensive side of the ball for the fans, but like I said, it’s efficient ball.”
Glenn was much more adamant.
“Who says it’s a passing league?” he shot back at a reporter before referring to the Philadelphia Eagles. “The team that won the Super Bowl, what were they in passing? Twenty-ninth. What were they in running? First.”
Fields had 1,106 passing yards and five touchdowns in 10 games last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former No. 11 overall pick signed a two-year, $40 million deal to join the Jets this offseason.
The Jets will open the season against Rodgers and the Steelers on Sept. 7 at home. The franchise went just 5-12 last season and missed the playoffs for a 14th straight season.
Fields undoubtedly has time to prove himself as the Jets’ quarterback of the future. To his credit, he hasn’t even played in a real game yet. But at least so far, and with how the team has struggled over the past decade, it’s easy to understand why fans are anxious about the position.
