Robert Saleh on Jets’ slow starts: ‘We gotta put up or shut up’

No more talking about the Jets putting their sluggish starts behind them. It’s time for action.

The Jets have scored a measly 13 first-half points this season, which is a big reason why the team is 1-4. New York’s offense is constantly playing catch-up as a result, a fact that brought Robert Saleh and company back to the drawing board during New York’s bye week.

Saleh spent the downtime diagnosing the offense’s first-half woes. He didn’t offer many specifics this past week, but Saleh made subtle changes to the team’s practice schedule and prepped a game plan better suited to Zach Wilson’s strengths.

Now, with the Jets looking for revenge against the Patriots after a Week 2 loss to New England, it’s time to see the results.

“We feel good about it. Obviously, we’ll see Sunday,” Saleh said Friday. “We gotta put up or shut up, right?”

Any changes with Wilson and the position he’s put in can’t hurt. The rookie is 30-63 for 330 yards, no touchdowns and six interceptions in the first half this season. He’s been a totally different quarterback in the final 30 minutes, going 64-101 for 740 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

Meanwhile, two of the Jets’ four losses were decided by seven points or less, highlighting the importance of quicker starts. Their only win required a second-half comeback and overtime.

Saleh is hopeful that the adjustments made following the bye week are going to put an end to all this. New England’s defense hasn’t been sharp lately, giving New York a real shot at gaining some rare first-half momentum on Sunday.

“We feel good about the soundness of everything,” Saleh said. “The guys have responded well to everything. Now it’s just a matter of going out and executing.”

List

4 things the Jets must fix following their bye week

List

9 burning questions for Jets vs. Patriots in Week 7