Breece Hall sputtering during Jets’ slide: ‘pressing so much’

The Jets’ home run hitter has barely been able to get the bat off his shoulder lately.

Running back Breece Hall is in a bit of a slump, along with the rest of the offense.

He had just 49 scrimmage yards in Friday’s loss to the Dolphins, with just 25 coming on the ground. Saturday, coach Robert Saleh said Hall needs to get more “grimy” yards.

“Breece is a special talent. We all agree, when the ball is in his hands, we’re better, but there’s grimy yards that a back has to understand he has to get,” Saleh said. “Right now, when you press, you’re trying to create explosives all over the place, and for the most part in the NFL, the O-line is going to block it for two or three, and he’s got to go find four or five. That means lowering your shoulder, getting dirty, getting grimy, finishing runs and not trying to find ways to bounce and make people miss at the line of scrimmage all the time, because these guys are hunting.”

Hall admitted after the game that he is pressing, trying to spark something in this offense.

“I take pride in being one of our A players,” Hall said. “I expect to almost be perfect every week and I’m trying, but it’s hard because I’ve been pressing so much. Part of me feels like I’m in the box a little bit. I’m still coming to work every day. I love our guys. … We’ve got to figure this thing out.”

Asked what he means about being “in the box,” Hall said defenses are zeroing in on him.

“When you’re the focal point of the defense, everybody knows where you’re at, everybody knows essentially what you’re going to do each play and everybody is trying to stop you,” Hall said. “It’s been hard.”

Hall has not rushed for at least 100 yards in a game since Oct. 8 in Denver. He has been held under 50 yards rushing in each of the past three games, all losses. The second-year running back is known for his “home run” ability, that is his ability to break long plays and score touchdowns, but defenses have been smothering him lately.

Saleh thinks Hall is trying to do too much.

“When you press, you are, you’re going to try to create an explosive every single play, and you’re going to lose that style of play that makes you special,” Saleh said. “He’s a big back, he’s 220 pounds, and he’s got elite speed, but he also has elite ability to lower his shoulder and get vertical when he needs to. Once he reconnects to that, I think we’ll start seeing him for what we know he is.”

Hall was clearly frustrated after Friday’s 34-13 loss to the Dolphins. The offense is stuck in such a rut that nothing they are doing is working. Hall’s longest run was 11 yards and his longest reception was 13.

“I feel like now I’m just trying to make a play,” Hall said. “It’s been hard to get open space and get some good looks. It’s just a lot of guys pressing and stuff right now, just trying press and make a play every time you get the ball, and that’s not good because that causes little mistakes. I’ve been making mistakes that I’ve never made in my career. It’s frustrating, bro.”

Hall’s longest play in the past two games has been for 15 yards. For the Jets to snap out of this funk, they will need to get Hall going.

“It does get hard when we’re not moving the ball and I’m trying to be the spark,” Hall said. “I know everybody is looking at me to make the play. That’s the worst thing when you’re trying to make the play but you can’t and you’re pressing so much that you make a little mistake.”