Jets' offensive game plan going forward: More balance

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur knew the numbers were hideous. When he actually saw that Joe Flacco attempted 59 passes Sunday against Baltimore, LaFleur was disgusted.

“It sucked for me looking at that at the end of the game when you get that stat sheet,” LaFleur said Thursday. “You look at it for about 10 seconds and you put it down. You know how it unfolded.”

Offensively, the Jets were a mess. They made plenty of mistakes, but their lack of balance might be what’s most disturbing. LaFleur knows that falls on him.

The Jets ran the ball well. They averaged nearly 6 yards per carry in the first half and were semi-balanced with 13 runs and 20 pass attempts. After halftime, Flacco attempted 39 passes and handed off just three times. The Jets were down 24-3 late in the third quarter, so they had to throw the ball. Still, LaFleur said that was no excuse.

“In the fourth quarter, you got to fight the urge to try to get it all back in one shot,” LaFleur said.

LaFleur won’t make the same mistake when the Jets play in Cleveland Sunday against a stout defense led by end Myles Garrett, whom LaFleur called “a man on a mission.” Flacco could be running for his life.

“You want to be balanced against any defense you’re going against,” LaFleur said. “There’s very few weeks that I’ve been ever been a part of in the NFL that you’re just like, ‘We’re literally going to throw the ball 50 times in the first half and run the ball five times. That usually doesn’t work.

“Balance might mean 50-50 run-pass or it might mean finding different ways to get [all our guys] touches and get the ball spread around so the defense can’t lock into it.”

The Jets were expected to be a more versatile and explosive offense this season after all the talent they added at the skill positions. They played right into Baltimore’s hands and scored just one touchdown — on their last offensive snap.

Michael Carter had a 19-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. He carried the ball nine more times after that. Rookie Breece Hall, who had a critical fumble in the red zone, rushed six times.

Tight end Tyler Conklin, who looked like he would be a weapon this season, caught just four passes. C.J. Uzomah wasn’t targeted once, and rookie Garrett Wilson was barely on the field in the first half.

LaFleur, in his second year as an offensive coordinator, said the plan was for Wilson to play more and he wants to get the ball in all of his playmakers' hands. But he also said the defense dictates that.

“Every week’s going to be a little bit different,” LaFleur said. “My job and the rest of the offensive staff’s job is to put together the best plan possible. The ball’s going to go where it goes based on what the defense is doing.”

LaFleur is still kicking himself for a play call after the defense made a big stop on Baltimore’s first possession after halftime and the Jets trailing, 10-3. On first down, the Jets’ first offensive play of the second half, Flacco was sacked.

Robert Saleh said the Jets should have ran the ball. LaFleur agreed.

“It really knocked us back and knocked some of the momentum back,” LaFleur said. “I called a play that in hindsight — they brought the pressure — I wish I wouldn’t have called that one. We had a miscue. We took the sack and couldn’t recover from it.”

The Jets’ offensive line allowed more than 20 pressures against the Ravens, which doesn’t have the pass-rush that Cleveland has with Garrett on one end and Jadeveon Clowney on the other. LaFleur said the still-developing offensive line needs to perform much better this week.

“Communication is key, but more importantly is manning up,” LaFleur said. “We got to switch it up. We got to keep them honest with mixing in different protections, mixing in different looks, getting the run game going — all those little things that can limit a pass rush.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.