Elijah Reset. We Need Him & It Sounds Like He’s Embracing New Role

[32EBoozer]

https://nypost.com/2022/11/16/elijah-moore-embracing-new-jets-role-feel-rejuvenated/

Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore went home to Florida during the bye week to spend time with family, and he returned with a smile on his face.

“I feel good. I got my spirit right,” Moore told The Post on Wednesday. “I reflected over everything. I had time with my family. I feel good. I feel rejuvenated.”

has been a tough season for Moore, the second-year wide receiver. He saw his role diminish over the first two months of the season, culminating in him asking for a trade on Oct. 20 and the Jets making him inactive for their game in Denver. Moore returned against the Patriots a week later but has only been targeted once in the past two games and has not caught a pass since Oct. 9 against the Dolphins.

The Jets made a subtle shift in how they used Moore against the Bills, having him play mostly in the slot. Since Moore was drafted the second round in 2021, he has been used him primarily on the outside. But against Buffalo, Moore lined up in the slot on 19 of his 27 snaps, per Pro Football Focus.

The move was not just about Moore. The Jets slid rookie Garrett Wilson outside to the “X” position that Moore had been playing more in the previous two games. Wilson has exploded with two big games, combining for 14 catches for 207 yards. The Jets have also been without Corey Davis (knee) in those games, leading to more playing time for Denzel Mims.

I still think Elijah will be good wherever he goes,” coach Robert Saleh said. “It’s a few things, there’s the emergence of Garrett on the outside also. Elijah, trying to get him some run on the inside where he can utilize his shiftiness and his separation and his route-running ability, so it’s a bunch of different things, and not that he’s going to be exclusive to just the slot. It’s just going to be more opportunities in the slot. So, he hasn’t, to be official with it and maybe, I know it’s been a big deal over the bye week, he’s not making an official move to the slot. It’s just a lot more opportunities in the slot. So, just trying to utilize him to put him in the best positions to be successful.”

When Saleh’s comments about playing in the slot were relayed to Moore, he smiled big.

“Hell yeah. I’m ready man,” Moore said. “I love hearing stuff like that. Moving to the slot, I feel like it’s going to be an adjustment as far as the playbook, but I’m super excited.”

It always has been a little curious why the team viewed Moore as more of an outside receiver. In his final season at Ole Miss, Moore played 77.9 percent of his snaps in the slot, per PFF. As a rookie, the Jets had Moore in the slot just 26 percent of the time.

This season his slot percentage has gone 28, 16, 18, 17, 17, 18, 50, 70 — with the big jump in the past two games.

Though Moore clearly got frustrated last month, he seems to have a more positive attitude entering the second half of the season. “I want to put my best foot forward and just be super positive,” Moore said. “Whenever stuff like this happens and the situation I’m in, everyone’s watching you. There are more eyes. You want to make sure you set an example, because someone else will go through this someday, too. You want to be able to say you handled it well, and that’s all I wanted to do.”

[BUM-KNEE]

Good for him and the team.

Would love to see him bust open a can of whoopazz on the filthy Rats

[Irish Jet]

Zero targets incoming.

[Dunnie]

1 minute ago, Irish Jet said:

Zero targets incoming.

More interested in drop percentage.

[Biggs]

Elijah's spirit is good to go.  Bob Cratchit gets the day off.  

[The Crusher]

9 minutes ago, Irish Jet said:

Zero targets incoming.

Free Elijah!

This is the week they zig when they been zagging. 
 

4 catches, 68 yards, 2 TD

[MR.GANGGREEN28]

This makes me happy. The culture shift is real, shoutout Saleh.

[Jet2020]

Man I wish he stays true. Such an excellent talent. 

[Augustiniak]

I can’t help but think that only one of mims/moore will stick next year.  

[slats]

This would be a nice week for him to have a breakout game. The Pats will likely sell out to stop the run (again) and, while I believe it’s imperative that the Jets stick with the running game this time around, having a speedy slot who can get past the 8 man fronts, or who can get some YAC from there, would go a long way towards keeping the scumbag as honest as possible. 

[LIJetsFan]

LOL @ player angst when a 2nd round pick is already a multimillionaire while still wet behind the ears.  Listening to these young men complain is insulting.  You're set for life so get your head right.  

[undertow]

The only people who buy this forgave their wives for going down on the mailman. 

[JustInFudge]

Meh, he's saving face.  I got a feeling that Moore sent out that tweet as an emotional response and despite his agent being representing Deebo and AJ Brown, his agents knows that you cant do this 20 games into your career.  He's walking it back as instructed so he can be attractive when future contracts on the table. 

That said, I hope he does have a resurgence in the slot.  That would be good for the Jets.  He's a talented player.

[WhartonJet]

Positive development, but I struggle to believe he will be a good soldier for 2+ years which is what it would take for him to get a 2nd contract with the Jets, especially if any adversity hits.  I could see him being dealt in the offseason

[Stark]

2 hours ago, Irish Jet said:

Zero targets incoming.

well thats been the norm... and if he got a target it was 30yds down field when he's double covered

2 hours ago, The Crusher said:

Free Elijah!

This is the week they zig when they been zagging. 
 

4 catches, 68 yards, 2 TD

should be easy to get him the ball, just have him run the routes that suit his strengths... 

 

6 catches 107 yds, 1 Rec TD ..... 11 yds rush 1 TD

[32EBoozer]

23 minutes ago, Stark said:

6 catches 107 yds, 1 Rec TD ..... 11 yds rush 1 TD

Hoping that Lefleur gets more creative with EM. Deep posts and more recently having him circling the Qb is not conducive to producing yardage. Quick WR screens, Jet Sweeps and 5-15 yard routes sitting down in zone coverage. 

[Sonny Werblin]

Elijah's change of heart has everything to do with the great culture created by Robert Saleh, who really may very well be the complete package as a HC. I am so excited for the future, and present, of this team.

[carlito1171]

42 minutes ago, WhartonJet said:

Positive development, but I struggle to believe he will be a good soldier for 2+ years which is what it would take for him to get a 2nd contract with the Jets, especially if any adversity hits.  I could see him being dealt in the offseason

I don’t necessarily disagree but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Right now for this season we could use his production and I hope they try to get him more involved with the offense. He’s good with the ball in his hands and gets a lot of YAC….we’ll need him in Foxboro as BB will for sure key in on the run and Garrett Wilson…

[JohnnyLV]

3 hours ago, Irish Jet said:

Zero targets incoming.

Nah I think Elijah Siberia thaws this week

[Warfish]

Our best future is Wilson, Mims and Moore as the top three guys.

They all have the talent.  The coaches need to find a way to make it work.

[Fantasy Island]

2 hours ago, undertow said:

The only people who buy this forgave their wives for going down on the mailman. 

Hey it's a recession.   Cheaper than a candle or a gift card.

[TuscanyTile2]

Ze Great Elijah Reset 

[nycdan]

Most of JN next year when Mims and Moore are starting at X and slot and racking up catches...

"I always knew these guys were going to be stars!"

[Larz]

Translation 

my fam told me don’t screw this up by listening to my agent and getting a reputation for being a me first headache when the team is winning for the first time in forever, shut up and work 

[Augustiniak]

I’m not convinced the jets want to keep moore or mims, but they do need wrs and guys get hurt.  I think they’re content to let it all play out and see which guys buy into the system and who produces.  Moore can be flipped pre draft for a 2nd rounder, he’s a good wr who has not been injured.  

[JoeNamathsFurCoat]

Apparently, it's not so easy to get out of LaFleur's doghouse.

Whereas Saleh doesn't even have one.

 

[JoeNamathsFurCoat]

20 minutes ago, nycdan said:

Most of JN next year when Mims and Moore are starting at X and slot and racking up catches...

"I always knew these guys were going to be stars!"

You're joking, but I'm on record that the WRs aren't the problem.   The talent is there.

They can't throw themselves the ball.

[Chewy and the Jets]

Well eventually other teams will start to overplay the run and doubling Wilson so hopefully the other Wilson throwing the ball can start seeing the field a little better and a little faster to get the ball to EM.  At least until Davis is back from his week to week to week to week injury than I don't care who gets it.   

[Beerfish]

I think he is a good player that does need to get involved and targeted.  Be creative, just get the guy the ball.

[hotrodcharlie]

LaFleur needs to get over himself and give Moore some touches. Grow up, do your job

[y2k8]

2 hours ago, Warfish said:

Our best future is Wilson, Mims and Moore as the top three guys.

They all have the talent.  The coaches need to find a way to make it work.

wouldn't that be something.

[Joe Willie White Shoes]

1 hour ago, JoeNamathsFurCoat said:

You're joking, but I'm on record that the WRs aren't the problem.   The talent is there.

They can't throw themselves the ball.

Good for you!  Are you competing for chairman of the "I'd rather be right" club?  

[jamesr]

More interested in drop percentage.

Can't have a drop if he isn't targeted!

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

[CanadienJetsFan]

Put him in the wildcat!

[GreenFish]

Moore in the slot is going to work. Just need to let this play out. Mims and Wilson are showing they can play on the outside. The future looks bright.