With the NFL season at its midway point, we have an idea where teams stand and what they may need to do in the second half of the season. We also have an opportunity to look at teams and see if any players have a chance to make some noise and help their teams make a late push for the playoffs or to end their season on a high note.
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report recently named one player for each team that can break out in the second half of the season and for the Jets, it’s a player that started the season pretty well but has been very quiet of late with a chance to turn things around. That player is Elijah Moore.
It’s been a frustrating season for Elijah Moore in the New York Jets offense. After compiling 538 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games as a rookie, he has been underwhelming in Year 2.
Through nine games, he is sixth on the team with 30 targets, catching 16 balls for 203 yards and no touchdowns. Moore has only played in eight games. He sat out against the Denver Broncos following a trade request that the team refused to honor.
Since then, Moore has only seen one target, but it sounds like the coaching staff is still working out ways for him to get the ball.
Robert Saleh told Josina Anderson of CBS Sports that the team plans on moving Moore to the slot, giving the sophomore a chance to shine on the inside.
That could be the switch that Moore needs to carve out a role in the Jets offense and finally flourish. He mostly played in the slot while at Ole Miss. His physicality made a move to the outside possible.
The explosive play-making he showed as a rookie is still there. The move to the outside just hasn’t worked out. Now that he’s returning to his natural alignment he could unleash his potential.
The move to the slot is certainly the key here. As Ballentine notes, Moore performed very well as a slot receiver while at Ole Miss, which helped him become a second-round draft pick. If offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur can figure out ways to scheme him open and Zach Wilson starts getting him the ball more, the offense can open up and perhaps the Jets can go from zero unhappy wide receivers to zero.
