Jets trying to fix the offensive cracks
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Brian Schottenheimer isn't so sure there are a bevy of cracks within the Jets' offensive scheme, something suggested by Derrick Mason in the aftermath of Sunday's humbling loss to the Ravens in Baltimore.
The Jets' offense was way off its game from its very first play, when Ed Reed flew in unblocked to strip-sack Mark Sanchez and linebacker Jameel McClain scooped up the fumble and ran 6 yards for a touchdown. Schottenheimer acknowledged his unit has certain issues, but he believes it mostly boils down to one thing.
"The big thing for us has been consistency," the offensive coordinator said Thursday. "I wouldn't say there were cracks against Oakland, when we put up 465 yards of offense. I think there's been cracks throughout certain times of our play. This was kind of the perfect storm.
"You go into an environment like that -- it's national TV, Sunday Night Football. You start the game that way [and] we had a hard time fighting back through it. But yeah, there's room for us to improve in a lot of different areas, and that's what we've worked on this week."
Specifically by going back to boot camp. "Kind of just getting back to the basics, that's how I would define this week -- getting back to the things we do well," LaDainian Tomlinson said. "Not beating ourselves, stuff we know, and that's how we are going to get it done."
The Jets went back to emphasizing the fundamentals, such as the exchange between Sanchez and the center. They also focused on improving pass protection, because Sanchez has taken 25 hits and been sacked 11 times.
Their rushing attack hasn't gotten going, either, ranking 30th with only 284 yards on 92 carries, a 3.1-yard average. So the Jets worked on run blocking this week and tried to revert to their "ground-and-pound" approach, which Schottenheimer said isn't necessarily about changing up his play sheet or running the ball 50 times. It's about re-establishing a physical mentality up front, which he hopes will help avoid a repeat of Sunday's ugliness.
"The thing we were frustrated with was there were different things each time," he said, "and that's where the execution needs to come into play. But to give a team like that that many hits on your quarterback, that many points [24 on four giveaways], that's not good enough to win. I'll take that [blame].''
Schottenheimer also cut back on the number of plays in the game plan Sunday against the Patriots, eliminating a handful of runs and passes. "It's a subtle adjustment," he said. "But again, it's one of those deals where you want to put attention to doing the little things right.''
Little things that Mason thinks can be fixed. "We'll be fine," he said. "It's still early in the season. We've just finished up a quarter of the season. So we've still got three quarters left. We came out 2-2 and now we've got to start off the second quarter of the season on a good note."
Notes & quotes:C Nick Mangold practiced for a second straight day, taking more reps than anticipated, and expects to play Sunday . . . WR Plaxico Burress (elbow) returned to practice . . . Mike Westhoff said Joe McKnight, who ran back a kickoff 107 yards Sunday, will remain the primary kick returner.
