Jets must get ‘O’ going quicker across pond
The Jets offense exploded for a season-high 27 points against the Titans en route to their first win of the season.
In the first half, they scored only seven points, which was the highest first- half total of the year. But first-half woes have continued throughout the year. The Jets offense is averaging 2.5 points in the first half so far this season, which is the worst in the NFL.
They’ve been better in the second half, but they need to get their offense going early if they’re going to extend their winning streak on Sunday against the Falcons in London.
Robert Saleh acknowledged his team’s issue, but said the offense is close to having successful first halves.
“The one thing that we’ve been noticing is that our offense has been putting together drives in the first half, it’s just a matter of finishing,” the coach said. “Put together a really nice drive against Denver, and we had a chance to finish it. Didn’t work out the way we wanted on the angle route to Michael Carter, that could’ve got us... some points.”
The play Saleh referred to occurred in the 10:13 mark of the second quarter. Carter ran an angle route over the middle and was open, but dropped the pass. There was also an open field with Trevon Wesco and Ryan Griffin down the field ready to pick up blocks.
It would have been a gigantic play for the offense, which got in its own way with poor execution.
The offense has scored in the first half only twice this year — a field goal against the Patriots and a touchdown against the Titans. And while the seven points against the Titans signaled an improvement, that was the 25th fewest in the NFL last week.
“On Sunday, we finished the drive, and when we finish that drive, you could just feel the entire sideline just, ‘All right, let’s go,’ ’’ Saleh said. “When you have a young group and they get a little bit of success early, and that success can snowball, and these guys become invincible.”
Along with the lack of points, the yards in the first half have also been an eyesore for the Jets. They logged: 86 yards against the Titans, 55 against the Broncos, 117 against the Patriots and 82 against the Panthers.
It’s no wonder the offense struggles to retain possession in the first half.
Zach Wilson has thrown for under 90 yards in each first half of the season. He’s thrown five interceptions in the first half with zero touchdowns for 250 yards with a passer rating of 25, the worst in the NFL. He carries a 50% completion percentage and he’s been sacked eight times, the second-most in the NFL.
That’s not all his fault. The Panthers’ defensive line shut down the Jets offensive line. And in Denver, the Jets struggled with execution and play calling.
It was wheels up for the Jets Thursday and they’ve have today to iron out the rest of their game plan before Sunday’s 9:30 a.m. kickoff.
FRANKLIN-MYERS INKS EXTENSION
Rising star defensive end John Franklin-Myers signed a four-year extension with the Jets, sources tell the New York Daily News.
The deal comes after Franklin-Myers got off to a hot start in 2021 as he has caused havoc throughout the year by totaling 17 pressures according to Pro Football Focus. He’s logged three sacks, five quarterback hits, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble in four games for Gang Green.
The Stephen Austin standout was drafted in the fourth round by the Rams in 2018. Franklin-Myers appeared in Super Bowl LIII and logged a sack. But the Rams waived hims at the end of training camp in 2019 and the Jets claimed him on Sept. 1. He eventually landed on Injury Reserve and stayed there for the rest of the season.
Franklin-Myers showed promise for the Jets in 2020 when he registered three sacks and 13 quarterback hits in limited playing time. In 2021, he carried that momentum and turned it into a new deal