EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDETROIT -- A look at what's happening around the New York Jets:1. On the clock: More than 20 years ago, the Jets assigned one of their assistant coaches, a silver-haired, bespectacled man named Dick Curl, to the clock-management role under coach Herm Edwards. Curl immediately became known as Grandfather Clock or Father Time.Once again, clock management is vexing the Jets. Coach Aaron Glenn has a modern-day version of Curl to assist him, but the issue flared up again last week in the overtime loss to the Green Bay Packers.Glenn has said the final four minutes of each half belong to the head coach -- and that's exactly where the problem lies. In 19 games, the point differential in the final four minutes of each half is minus-55, including minus-10 this season.The Jets have gone seven straight games without scoring in the last four minutes of the first or second halves, dating to last season's Week 13 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The past two games were especially alarming. They ran a combined 17 plays on their final drive of the first half, holding the ball for five minutes, 10 seconds, but failed to get past the opponents' 47-yard line.No Hail Mary. No long field goal attempt. No points.Offensive coordinator Frank Reich took the blame for last week's end-of-half stall, saying, "I've got to be better in those situations." He said Glenn's marching orders were clear: Milk the entire clock, setting up back-to-back possessions after receiving the second-half kickoff.They did the milking part, just not the scoring part.Reich declined to address the end-of-regulation scenario, when they allowed the Packers to use the last minute instead of calling a timeout to force them to punt."Yeah, that's not my question," Reich said.Glenn has received heavy criticism for the way he handled it, refusing to acknowledge any missteps. He expressed confidence in their process, saying he meets with game management coordinator Jon Berger on Thursday to formulate a plan. They meet again Saturday to fine-tune it. They communicate during the game as well."Listen, we talk quite a bit," Glenn said. "That's a huge factor in helping in those decisions."It hasn't shown up in the scoring column yet.2. The new Father Time: Berger has been around the NFL for a long time.The native New Yorker with bachelor's degree in computer science and applied mathematics from SUNY Albany, Berger was a member of the New York Giants staff for more than 30 years as a computer coordinator and later as the senior director of football information. He was the NFL's vice president of replay from August 2023 until May 2024 and joined the Jets last year."They have one of the best in the league -- the coach has to listen to him though," former Jets passing game coordinator Scott Turner, fired by Glenn after last season, said on X after last Sunday's game.3. Picky: Going into Sunday against the Detroit Lions, Geno Smith has no interceptions in 65 pass attempts. That's notable, considering he threw a league-high 17 last season for the Las Vegas Raiders.Smith pushed back against the notion that he's an interception-prone passer. His reaction came in response to a question about whether he's emphasizing ball security considering last season."You guys got to watch film," he told reporters. "You say interceptions; you got to watch film. You can't just go off the stat sheet. I think that's what a lot of people do. I'm very sound in my decision-making. I know what I'm doing out there, and I'm always going to try and protect the team and protect the football. ... That's something I'm always mindful of."A review of the film shows that five of the 17 were deflections, so perhaps there was some bad luck involved. He was off target on only four of the 17, per ESPN Research. As for the decision-making, it's impossible to quantify unless you have the coaches' evaluation.Every interception has its own story, as Peyton Manning used to say. With Smith, it's not an unfamiliar storyline. He was intercepted a league-high 52 times from 2022 to 2025 (on two different teams).4. Snail's pace: If it seems like the Jets are taking a lot of time at the line of scrimmage, using nearly all the play clock, it's because they are. Their average time from line set to snap is 7.5 seconds, according to Next Gen Stats -- the third-longest in the league.They've already been penalized three times for delay of game, and they're tied for the most pre-snap penalties (eight) on offense.Smith said they want to take their time at the line to cull as much information as possible from the defense, also noting there are instances where they want to move quickly. Overall, he acknowledged, "We're aware of the clock and there are things that we can do better, and I think that's one of them."5. Not-so-sneaky: Some folks might be wondering why Reich didn't use Smith on a QB sneak on last week's failed fourth-and-1 play late in the game. Smith has done it plenty of times in previous years.Since 2022, when tracking started, he has run on 25 sneaks/push plays and converted 15 of those for first downs.6. Most interesting roster move of the week: That's easy -- quarterback Will Levis, who was signed to the practice squad. Glenn called him "a good player that we feel like we can develop."Levis has good size (6-foot-4) and a strong arm, two traits that appeal to Reich, who was said to be high on Levis in the 2023 draft. He was the Carolina Panthers' coach that year, when they chose Bryce Young No. 1 overall. Levis, chosen with the first pick in the second round by the Tennessee Titans, has battled accuracy and turnover issues.7. Most noteworthy snap count after two games: Cornerback Nahshon Wright has zero defensive snaps. That might be a head-scratcher for some, considering he had five interceptions for the Chicago Bears last season, but he hasn't been able to overtake Azareye'h Thomas on the depth chart.The coaches are happy with Thomas, who has a pass defensed in eight straight games -- tied with Glenn and Darrelle Revis for the longest streak by a Jets player since 2000.8. Fumble! If there's a loose ball on the ground, the Jets probably won't get it -- well, based on recent history. Since 2025, they've forced 14 fumbles, recovering four. Players and coaches have no explanation, except the "funny-shaped-ball, unlucky-bounces" theory.On the flip side, the New Orleans Saints have recovered 11 of 12. Go figure.9. Lineup changes? With defensive tackle David Onyemata on injured reserve, Jowon Briggs is in line for a bigger role, maybe as a starter. He's coming off perhaps his best game. Another position to watch is nickelback, where rookie D'Angelo Ponds could make his NFL debut. Jarvis Brownlee Jr., the starting nickel, is coming off a subpar game.10. The last word: "There's so much history there. ... He's a really good friend, a really good person. That friendship will always last." -- Glenn on Lions coach Dan Campbell, a former teammate and longtime coaching colleague
