Saleh: 0-1 with Rodgers higher than 1-0 in '23

A yr in the past, the New York Jets have been 1-0 however reeling within the aftermath of quarterback Aaron Rodgers‘ season-ending Achilles damage. All issues thought of, their present 0-1 begin really feels higher than final yr, based on coach Robert Saleh.

“You recognize what? Sadly, it does,” Saleh mentioned Tuesday, a number of hours after being dominated by the San Francisco 49ers in a 32-19 loss at Levi’s Stadium.

The 40-year-old Rodgers emerged unscathed from his first intensive motion in 20 months, maybe the one silver lining in a loss finest described by vast receiver Garrett Wilson: “They whupped our ass, and that is the fact of it.”

After being outclassed by the 49ers, his earlier crew, Saleh tried to place a constructive spin on the Jets’ scenario. He insisted the offense was higher than it regarded and vowed to get the protection — the hallmark of the crew — circled.

“It is undoubtedly going to get fastened,” Saleh mentioned. “I am not discouraged in any means. Clearly, they executed a hell of quite a bit higher than we did, and we’ll be higher for it.”

The Jets, who subsequent face the Tennessee Titans (0-1) on the street, allowed eight consecutive scoring drives — a surprising meltdown for a prideful defensive unit that completed No. 3 in yards allowed in 2023. It had been a minimum of 45 years since they surrendered that many scoring drives in a row, based on the Elias Sports activities Bureau.

Saved off-balance by the 49ers’ pre-snap movement and misdirection, the Jets have been shredded for 147 speeding yards by Christian McCaffrey’s understudy, Jordan Mason. Afterward, Saleh and the gamers have been fast to credit score the 49ers and their scheme.

“They seem to be a good soccer crew,” mentioned cornerback Sauce Gardner, who missed 9 snaps as a result of he acquired the wind knocked out of him. “You recognize, they only performed within the Tremendous Bowl.”

The Jets, with eight returning starters on protection, introduced Tremendous Bowl aspirations into the season. Apart from a seven-minute landing drive within the first quarter, they have been totally outplayed — a wake-up name, some gamers mentioned. They missed 18 tackles, per Professional Soccer Focus, and generated little move rush with out holdout edge rusher Haason Reddick.

The offense, too, was accountable, because it was unable to maintain drives. Their held the ball for under 21 minutes, 20 seconds, the bottom time of possession in Rodgers’ 225 profession begins. Rodgers threw an interception, Breece Hall misplaced a fumble and Allen Lazard dropped a third-down move — among the many largest miscues.

The Jets regarded out of sync, maybe as a result of not one of the starters performed within the preseason. Saleh insisted “there’s a whole lot of confidence on that facet” of the ball, including, “Our offense might be actually good this yr.”

It may possibly solely go up after final season, after they produced a league-low 18 touchdowns. On Monday night time, the beginning unit generated solely two touchdowns, together with a 12-play, 70-yard drive that lasted longer (7:07) than any drive final season.

“I feel our offense is in a very good place,” Saleh mentioned. “I believed it was a superb first outing by way of the quarterback hadn’t performed in so lengthy. However there was a whole lot of encouraging issues, and I do know it’ll be quite a bit higher as soon as we steadiness out this crew.”

Rodgers (13-for-21, 167 yards, one landing) wasn’t glad together with his efficiency, however was grateful to be again on the sphere. The crew echoed that sentiment, particularly after final season’s devastating damage.

“There is no panic in him, for positive,” Saleh mentioned of the longer term Corridor of Famer. “He was a peaceful drive on the sideline, and I feel [Monday] night time offered a whole lot of closure for him close to ending the sport and knocking that out.”

Really, Rodgers was pulled late within the fourth quarter with the sport out of attain. However a minimum of he was capable of stroll off the sphere.