Breece Hall held two fingers together, leaving just a few inches between them.
The Jets’ rushing attack was that close to breaking out against the 49ers in a Week 1 loss.
“We’re just this far off, this little tick off,” the standout running back said Friday. “For me, personally, that’s huge, just knowing that once we do these little things currently we’re going to be getting everything we want in the run game, pass game with our play-makers. It’s just dialing in on our fundamentals and techniques for us to be flying on game day.”
Coach Robert Saleh, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and multiple offensive linemen echoed Hall.
The unit as a whole was just off enough that it was held in check by San Francisco, limited to 68 rushing yards on 19 attempts.
In watching film of the loss, they saw enough positives to be encouraged that the ground game can get going, starting Sunday against the Titans, if the necessary adjustments are made.
Of course, it helps that the Jets won’t be dealing with the 49ers’ stout front seven that is anchored by three-time All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner.
There were a few big runs that Warner nullified on his own, according to tight end Tyler Conklin.
“At times in the game, it felt like there were three of him out there the way he was running around, so it was a different feeling being on the opposite sideline for the first time ever in his career to watch it,” said Saleh, who spent three seasons with Warner in San Francisco before coming to the Jets. “There were a couple of plays that were touchdowns versus 25 other teams.”
The offensive line is mostly new.
The lone holdovers are center Joe Tippmann and right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Vera-Tucker only played in the first five games last season before suffering a torn Achilles tendon.
Tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses and left guard John Simpson are all new.
They didn’t use their first game together as an excuse, pointing to a full training camp they had together, although the unit’s chemistry remains an ongoing process.
One area of focus moving forward is aggression.
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The Jets felt the 49ers beat them to the punch too often.
“Figuring out how they were playing and adjusting, I think that was the biggest thing,” Simpson said. “Just getting on the linebackers and generating movement up front initially, that’s what it comes down to when it comes to running the ball.”
Hall wasn’t free of blame.
He lost a fumble on a shovel pass, dropped a pass and felt there was a potentially big running play on which he made an incorrect read.
There were plays he left out on the field.
That was the overwhelming sentiment from the Jets when it came to the running game.
They made correctable mistakes they plan to fix against the Titans.
“Going into that game, we knew that we could do it, and after that game, that’s still solidified, that we can do it,” Tippmann said. “We just need to attack it the right way and execute the right way.”
“It’ll set the stage,” he added, referring to the running game, “for the rest of the season.”
