The Jets unexpectedly have put together a solid season, and one of the key contributors has been receiver Eric Decker.
Fueling Decker’s solid second season with the Jets has been a move to the slot. Coach Todd Bowles told reporters on Wednesday that offensive coordinator Chan Gailey made the decision to slide Decker inside, in a move that began during offseason workouts and evolved through training camp.
"[Decker] going in the slot, being the heady player [he is], he’s smart, he’s already got size,” Bowles said. “He does it inside and outside and the minute you fall asleep on him, he’ll come up with some big plays. Every week you look at him, he just makes plays, he works hard, he blocks, he does the right things and the ball finds him. [Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick] trusts him as well and I think they have great chemistry there. What he’s doing this year is invaluable. . . . He’s just good in there. He’s good in there and he’s good outside. We have some slot guys that can go in there, but Eric is more heady than everybody else.”
Decker has 59 catches for 801 yards and eight touchdowns. He has a chance to finish with numbers comparable to those generated during his two years playing in Denver with Peyton Manning.