NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Aaron Rodgers is now a man on the move.
The Jets quarterback had criticized the use of the pre-snap motion while in Green Bay, and it has been widely understood since then that he is against it.
But the Jets used motion on 49 percent of their snaps last week against the 49ers, a sign they’re willing to put receivers on the move more before and at the snap.
Rodgers said this week that his view of the move has changed because teams like the 49ers and Dolphins have made it extremely popular now.
“It’s in fashion,” Rodgers said. “I think there was a time when for me there was a love affair with what Peyton [Manning] been doing for so long, where they’re just lining up two-on-two or three-on-one and it’s all at the line of scrimmage, so I think there’s value in just being able to look at that, and then as we’ve run third downs a few times and been able to get to the right play, and as we’ve seen, there’s a lot of value in pre-snap motion stuff because it creates a lot of frustration for the defense, and it tests their gap control stuff. testing their rules.”
Rodgers said his comments against motion were a long time ago, and he has grown since then and now sees the value of motion as the game has changed.
“It can touch multiple guys on the same play — whether it’s nickel, or running backs, or safeties — so it gives them a lot to think about, and I think that’s an important part of the offense, but that’s because the league has changed “, Rodgers said. “When Peyton left when I was a younger player, the league was different. You can keep the base on the field. You can sit there and watch it and [figure] out what was to come.
“Now, my dismay at all the movement was coverage because of the West Coast quarterback, I was raised to begin with coverage, but as we’ve seen now with all this movement, teams are becoming less aggressive in putting pressure because you can get injuries, whether it’s in the run game or the boarding zone game. So long answer, but I said it at one point. And I appreciate you giving me room to grow and adapt to it.”
The Jets lifted DL Jalyn Holmes from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Titans.