In-depth analysis - Jets at Steelers (Preseason Week 2): Offense

Over the course of the next few days, we'll be breaking down the performance of every player that took the field in the Jets' preseason game against the Steelers. We'll continue today with a look at the offense.

Quarterbacks: Geno what I am saying?

Geno Smith made his return to real game action in a Jets jersey and posted a 7-for-7 statline as he drove the team downfield for a touchdown on his only possession. It was a professional performance from Smith, who had a good mix of quick passes, hanging in the pocket and getting on the move to buy time.

His lone error was a pass that got batted and was ultimately caught by an offensive lineman for a loss. On that play, he looked to be forcing it into heavy traffic so the guy who batted the pass maybe did him a favor, although it's possible someone ran the wrong route to bring more defenders into that area.

With Smith's good drive in the books Cade Klubnik got to play the rest of the first half and one drive in the third quarter as he ultimately threw twice as many passes as last week and went 10-for-14 for 75 yards.

This was mostly straightforward stuff, although he put good zip on a throw down the middle to Isaiah Williams, which was promptly fumbled. Klubnik's best play might have been a decisive scramble where he took off for 16 yards.

In terms of negatives, he was again a bit rattled by pressure, as he was sacked twice and called for intentional grounding on one play. He also had a risky pass to the flat that was knocked down and potentially could have been intercepted.

Third stringer Bailey Zappe was much better than last week as he was 6-for-8 for 68 yards, although 44 of those yards came on a screen pass. He had one play where he tripped over his center and another where a pass was dangerously batted into the air.

Last up was Brady Cook who only completed one pass, but it was a good one as he went deep for a touchdown on fourth down to ice the win. His other attempt was an incompletion to the flat when he had a man running deep with a step on the defense down the seam.

DNP: None

Running Backs: Scott to be perfect

The Jets really struggled to get anything going on the ground this week, and didn't use their backs in the passing game much either. Take away Klubnik's scramble and New York gained just 46 yards on 23 carries.

Braelon Allen got the start but generated just nine yards on four touches so he was unable to build on last week's success.

After registering six yards on six carries in the first game, Kene Nwangwu had another unproductive game with 11 yards on seven carries. His patience let him down on one run which appeared to be well-blocked but he tripped hitting the hole.

More concerning than his lack of rushing production was how badly he struggled in pass protection as he was moved off his spot by blitzers a few times, including on one play where he was bumped backwards leading to a sack.

Undrafted rookie Sam Scott generated 16 yards on seven touches as his best run, a seven yard gain off the left side, was negated by a hold. He was also tackled short of the marker on a fourth down pass.

The other rookie, Chip Trayanum, had 20 yards on six touches, which doesn't sound like much, but means he was the most productive running back on the day. This was his best run and it was pretty well blocked with the left guard and center (Xavier Hill and Liam Fornadel) double teaming and the right guard (Marquis Hayes) and right tackle (Landon Young) driving their man laterally to create a lane.

DNP: Isaiah Davis, Breece Hall

Offensive Line: Hayes, baby

It's difficult to blame the running backs too much for the poor running game output. The offensive line really wasn't creating much room. They were better in pass protection though, although left tackle Olu Fashanu allowed a pressure around the edge and left guard Dylan Parham was bull-rushed into Smith here.

Parham also had a play where his man penetrated into the backfield to lead to a run being bottled up.

Right guard Joe Tippmann and center Josh Myers had one play where they both double teamed and one of them was probably supposed to stay home because the linebacker ran between them completely unblocked to stuff a run in the backfield.

As for Armand Membou, he again wasn't troubled, even shoving his man to the ground on one rush. They continue to mostly run away from him, though.

There was a line-up change this week, with rookie Anez Cooper promoted to the second team, replacing right guard Marquis Hayes. Tellingly, Cooper really struggled this week and Hayes was dominant.

Cooper gave up a sack on one play where he got his assignment mixed up and left a rusher free, but he was also overmatched in direct matchups like here:

Aside from his struggles in pass protection, Cooper had one good driving block in the run game but also allowed penetration a couple of times. He seems to be a year away from being able to contribute.

As noted, Hayes was dominant. He had three excellent run blocks and didn't give up anything in pass protection.

The rest of the second unit was the same as last week, with one other wrinkle as Kohl Levao saw half of his time at center this week with Xavier Newman moving to left guard to accommodate this. Newman, who recovered a fumble, had one play where he whiffed on his block at the point of attack and his man helped bottle up a run. Levao allowed penetration on one of his snaps at the center position.

The other two second unit players were left tackle Max Mitchell and right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor. After an almost flawless game last week, Okorafor was beaten on an inside move for a pressure and tripped the ball carrier on one run. Mitchell had one play where his man shed his block for a run stuff.

On the third unit, left tackle Courtland Ford did better this week after a mistake-filled first game. He had one good driving block, although there was one play where he got blown up and shoved back into the runner.

At left guard, undrafted rookie Xavier Hill had one good run block but allowed his man to get off his block to get in on the stop on one play.

Veteran right tackle Landon Young continues to be a disappointment as he blew one assignment, leading to a quarterback hit, got beaten outside for a pressure and allowed a run to be bottled up.

Finally, Liam Fornadel did well as the third team center, sealing his man off well on one run and just about getting in the way enough downfield to help spring a big gain on a screen pass. However, he allowed penetration on one run and Zappe tripped over his foot after the snap on one play.

DNP: None

Tight Ends and Fullbacks: Woods has the goods

Mason Taylor made a brief appearance this week but again showed good route running on an out pattern for a third down conversion on the opening drive. He allowed his man to beat him on the inside for a run stuff on one play though.

Jelani Woods was wide open on his touchdown catch but continues to make a run at Jeremy Ruckert's spot. Ruckert wasn't targeted and had one running play where he didn't sustain his block and a play in pass protection where he allowed a rusher to hit the quarterback on an outside stunt. However, Woods also had a negative run blocking play as a run was bottled up.

Andrew Beck was once again in the game until late, and was used almost exclusively as a tight end as he lined up in the backfield on just one of his 21 snaps.

Prior to getting injured, undrafted rookie Chase Curtis' main contribution was a third down catch where he was stopped shy of the marker.

Curtis getting hurt forced Beck to stay in longer than he probably would have, but also led to an increased role for Connor Hulstein, who caught a short pass and made a key block on a screen play that went for a big gain.

DNP: Kenyon Sadiq

Wide Receivers: No Skinn off my nose

Having not been targeted last week, Adonai Mitchell got involved this week with two nice early catches. He ran an excellent out route to lose his man on the second one.

Garrett Wilson only made one catch on his only target but it was a nice sliding catch for a third down conversion to keep the touchdown drive going.

Rookie Omar Cooper got the start ahead of Isaiah Williams this week but neither of them saw any targets until Smith was out of the game. Williams, who wasn't targeted last week, had three short catches including a leaping grab over the middle which he then fumbled away. Cooper had a nine-yard catch where he tried to get to the marker but came up just short of a first down. Williams had one missed block.

Veteran Tim Patrick was another player that got involved having not been targeted last week. He had a short leaping catch and a screen play for a first down on the next snap. He also had a bad missed block, though.

We already noted the special teams contributions from Malik McClain, but he also contributed on offense with a first down catch on the outside and a downfield catch to set up the field goal attempt just before halftime. He also made a nice block on a screen pass.

The leading receiver, however, was Quincy Skinner, who had four catches for 47 yards. Three of these were short catches but then he went deep for the game-clinching 31-yard touchdown.

Cam Camper wasn't targeted, and got called for a holding penalty but he could have had an impact if Cook had thrown deep on his first attempt because Camper had a step down the seam.

The newest Jet, Junior Bergen, was only in for three offensive snaps but he made one of them count as he took a screen pass upfield for a 44-yard play.

Finally, Arian Smith did not get any targets but did make a good downfield block.

DNP: Caullin Lacy, Jamaal Pritchett

We'll be back to cover the defense tomorrow...