Jets OC Frank Reich: 'We've Done Some Good Things'

The New York Jets coaching staff is trying to find any silver lining they can after a 2-7 start to the season.

The Jets chose to be cautious at the trade deadline, opting not to trade Geno Smith or Will McDonald IV. The reasoning for keeping those players is simple. New York wants Smith to help develop young pass catchers like Omar Cooper Jr. and Kenyon Sadiq. Keeping around McDonald would help the Jets if they fire head coach Aaron Glenn and have to sell the job to a prospective coach.

During his news conference on Thursday, Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich gave his analysis of where his unit is in Week 10. He said he believes they have "done some good things," but issues in the red zone are costing New York points. 

The Jets are trying to win in the margins, which is an accumulation of small decisions and plays. The offensive staff is trying to piece that together in game planning so New York can get "incrementally better" this season. Reich pointed to close games as proof of progress, but said the team needs to find a way to be 1% better so they can finish and win games.

Reich's comments echoed head coach Aaron Glenn, who said on Wednesday that most of the Jets' losses came to playoff-caliber teams and had tight finishes. That glossed over the fact that New York is coming off a 35-12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9. 

The Jets offense ranks No. 23 in the league in yards per game, averaging 309.9 yards per contest. They're No. 23 in scoring, averaging 20.2 points per contest.

New York's offense wasn't expected to carry this team. In some games, it has been the offense that's kept them in games. But Sunday's loss to the Chiefs showed how far the offense needs to improve.

The Jets settled for field goals. Four touchdowns would have kept them in the game.

It's a symptom of New York as a whole. The team has shown flashes of being good, but they're unable to finish.

At some points, the excuses are going to have to stop, and the Jets will have to show progress when it really matters. NFL games are won and lost on the margins. Progress means being able to execute when it really matters.

The Jets are nowhere close to doing that.