If you have followed the New York Jets this offseason, it was no secret that Breece Hall would be one of the focal points, if not The The focal point of the Jets’ 2024 offense. In fact, a few months ago, head coach Robert Saleh went so far as to call Hall a “bellcow” running back, which is notable in a league that largely operates with a “running back by committee” approach.
#Jets HC Robert Saleh on Breece Hall’s expected workload after calling up two RBs:
“Breece is the undisputed leader, but even then it’s still 20, 25 touches.”
Saleh has a reliability rating of 45% on Usage/Workload coachspeak pic.twitter.com/wA7vjzMXTU
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) May 3, 2024
However, as the end of this tweet suggests, coaches don’t always tell the truth. Their actions usually do.
Still, Week 1 gives reason to believe Saleh was telling the truth with this plan, as Hall was essentially the only running back the team used until garbage time.
Breece Hall’s performance in Week 1 before Aaron Rodgers was eliminated:
30 of 31 snaps (97%)
12 of 12 backfield runs (100%)
5 out of 5 backfield targets (100%)
5 of 17 team goals (29%)This was the fifth most valuable usage (usage, not volume) of an RB in a week since the start of…
— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) 10 September 2024
For the Jets, this is further proof that the team appears to be “all in.” Week 1 showed that the team was willing to use Breece as often as possible to get the most value out of him, including using him as a runner, pass receiver and pass blocker.
If this trend continues, it is also possible that Hall could have the most remarkable season as a running back for the Jets since Curtis Martin won the rushing title in 2004. In that case, Hall’s effort and performance will definitely be one to watch as the season progresses.