Jets TEs Are Like Maytag Repairmen In Passing Game

The Jets don’t throw to tight ends very often. This is well-documented.

- Craig Thomas

We saw that last season, and it’s likely to continue in 2016.

First-off, the system of offensive coordinator Chan Gailey doesn’t feature tight ends much in the passing game.

But it’s more than that. The Jets have a plethora of passing game weapons at other positions, so it leaves very few throws for the tight ends.

“We have some excellent guys outside,” said Jets tight ends coach Jimmie Johnson. “So it’s hard to argue about getting balls, even though we want to be more involved in the passing game, when you have guys like Brandon Marshall and (Eric) Decker and the guys we’ve got in the backfield (Matt Forte and Bilal Powell).”

Would Johnson love for his guys to get more passes?

“I sure hope so,” he said. “Obviously I have no control over that, but we as an offensive staff we would love to have the tight ends a lot more involved than they were last year.”

One factor that could increase the tight end involvement a little is the presence of Brandon Bostick, a former Green Bay Packer and Minnesota Viking, who was on the Jets’ practice squad last year. He has soft hands and ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash.

“He’s a reliable passing receiving tight end, meaning when the ball comes his way, he catches it,” Johnson said.

But more importantly, he’s a very good blocker.

“Bostick is a big, athletic body — strong, has shown to be pretty good in the run game and with his pass protection,” Johnson said.

And in Johnson’s opinion, starting tight end Kellen Davis is one of the best blocking tight ends in the league. He was a force last year.