Jets believe the offense is close to taking off

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Four days later, the result still lingered.

Which is to be expected. It was neither what they wanted nor what they prepared for.

But from Robert Saleh to Breece Hall to Garrett Wilson, a positive came out of the Jets’ season-opening 32-19 loss to the defending NFC champion 49ers on Monday Night Football.

Which is?

The offense is close. Close to being the explosive, point-generating unit they believe it can be.

“I’m not disappointed at all with the offense and its performance,” Saleh said before practice Friday morning.

The question is: why not?

In the nationally televised prime-time showcase, the Jets finished with 266 total yards (198 passing, 68 rushing) on 49 plays and possessed the ball for only 21:20.

None of which is particularly indicative of a dangerous offensive attack. But Saleh and his team are choosing to look at different data points.

“Aaron was on the field for 37 plays and we orchestrated two scoring drives and Tyrod versus their ones orchestrated another, so we scored three touchdowns in less than 50 plays,” Saleh said, referencing quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor. “Against a top-five unit in their building on Monday night.”

All are fair arguments.

Which is why Wilson is looking forward to Sunday’s game at Tennessee in a matchup of 0-1 teams. The third-year wide receiver is curious to see if he and his offensive teammates can apply the lessons learned against a Titans squad that is decidedly not in the same weight class as the 49ers.

“Score points, be efficient, not go three-and-out, just play good football,” Wilson said of his expectations for Sunday’s game. “You know it when you see it. You know it when you’re out there. I know we felt like we weren’t playing good ball for a little bit out there.”

That was due in part to 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, according to Saleh and Hall. Warner had five solo tackles, two assisted tackles and a forced fumble against the Jets.

“The guy is a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Saleh said. “At times during the game, I felt like there were three of them out there, the way he was running around. It was a different feeling being on the opposite sideline for the first time ever in his career to watch it.

“There were a couple plays that were touchdowns against 25 other teams and he came out of nowhere to [stop them]. Credit to him. He’s an unbelievable football player.”

Still, Warner was aided by a not entirely crisp Jets offensive unit, in Hall’s view.

“We were just like a step off,” he said. “We’re getting better and better at just making sure we’re doing the little things right so we could hit the big one when they give it to us.”

Hall maintains that what ailed the Jets can be repaired.

“You feel a lot better when it’s stuff that you can fix instead of you just getting smashed in the mouth the whole game,” he said. “I feel like we just had to come in to fix a few things and worry about our fundamentals and details.”

Notes & quotes: Cornerback D.J. Reed did not practice Friday because of a knee injury suffered Monday night and is questionable for Sunday.