Stop us if you’ve heard this before (actually, don’t), but we believe Jets running back Breece Hall is primed for a breakout season in 2025. Yes, we know it’s been said in each of the past two seasons with Hall coming up short, but just hear us out.
When Hall exploded onto the scene as a rookie in 2022, he was averaging a lofty 5.8 yards per carry through seven games before he landed on season-ending IR after suffering a torn ACL. Any hopes of a potential offensive rookie of the year award or pro bowl recognition went out the window.
Then it was on to 2023 when expectations for the Jets offense as a whole may have been at an all-time high. With Aaron Rodgers coming over from the Packers, defenses were no longer going to be able to stack the box.
The Jets would have a signal caller who would commanded respect and force defenses to back off and create running room for Hall. But we all know how that ended. Rodgers landed on IR before finishing his first series. Then a bevy of injures had Hall running behind a porous O-line on top of having poor quarterback play with Zach Wilson under center.
The Rodgers deal would go down as arguably the worst trade in team history, and Hall’s production was solid, but far from spectacular. He would log 997 yards on the ground with a 4.5 yard per carry average.
Looking back at Hall’s lack of production in 2024 is attributed by many to Hall himself, but in looking at his production following the removal of Nate Hackett as the team’s play caller shows it was lack of chances.
With Hackett calling the plays from weeks 1-5, Hall managed just 197 yards on 65 carries. That adding up to just 3 yards per carry. Following Hackett’s removal, that changed significantly. Hall would average at least 4.5 yards per carry in eight of his final 11 games and 4.8 yards per carry in six of those.
In total, over that eight game stretch, Breece Hall saw his average go from 3.0 per carry in weeks 1-5, to a more robust 4.7 yards per carry as he racked up 679 yards on 144 carries.
Now with Olu Fashanu slated to play a full season at left tackle where Tyron Smith faltered last season, and rookie first rounder Armand Membou slated to take over at right tackle, things are lining up well for Hall.
While his starting quarterback can only be viewed as a very talented player with questionable production as a passer at this point in Justin Fields, it’s the QB’s ability as one of the most electric runners in the NFL that may help Hall.
Expect offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand to dial up plenty of designed quarterback runs and RPOs to keep defenses on their toes and hopefully give Hall the room he needs to finally break out.
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