One big question hovering over the New York Jets' new regime is what type of offense new coordinator Tanner Engstrand plans to employ.
The first-time OC came from Detroit, where he worked as passing game coordinator, but has never called plays at the NFL level. In his first media availability since his hire, Engstrand gave a basic overview of what he wants to see from his offense.
"Yeah, I think we just want to play fast," he said on Thursday, via the Jets' official transcript. "We want to be physical; we want to be aggressive, we want to be explosive, and we want to be detailed. We want that to show up on tape each and every week. When somebody looks at our tape, we want those things to show up, and that's what we're going to shoot for."
Engstrand called plays at the University of San Diego and briefly in the XFL under Pep Hamilton in 2019 with the DC Defenders. Asked whom the biggest influences on his career have been, the new Jets OC cited the Lions' Ben Johnson and Dan Campbell, Hamilton, and former San Diego coach Jim Harbaugh. From those names, we can surmise that a running foundation will be vital in Engstrand's offense.
Going from passing game manager in Detroit to the coordinator and first-time play-caller in New York is a big leap but one Engstrand says he's ready for.
"One hundred percent, absolutely ready," he said. "I'm excited to be in it. I've been in a coordinator role before at multiple different places, obviously not in the NFL, but I think nine years or something like that, as a coordinator, and so I feel 100% confident. I'm excited for this opportunity."
Aside from how he plans to scheme his offense, the other big question for Engstrand is how he intends to employ quarterback Justin Fields. Coming from Detroit with pocket-passer Jared Goff, he now has one of the best running QBs in the NFL.
"I think it just opens things up more, that's all," Engstrand said of Fields' running ability. "It just adds another layer to what we can do with where we're going on offense."
The 42-year-old OC said he views Fields as more than just a running quarterback.
"He is just a talented individual on all facets," he said. "He's obviously a physically talented player. Everybody talks about the running, well, the guy's got an arm, too, and he does a great job with that. And mentally, he's phenomenal. He's been absolutely phenomenal so far, and we expect more out of that, and it's just a lot of things that you can do with that type of player that is going to put stress on a defense and make that defensive coordinator stay up late at night as we get going into this thing."
Hiring a first-time play-caller to manage a unique quarterback who is entering a pivotal season is a gamble by head coach Aaron Glenn. Ultimately, the scheme will reflect the new Gang Green head coach.
"Yeah, A.G. is the head coach, right?" Engstrand said. "We're going to do as A.G. wants, but he's also given me some freedom to do what we feel is best with our with our scheme and our players."
