Jets still seeking balance on offense- NJ.com

Jets still seeking balance on offfense Saturday, October 25, 2008
Last updated: Saturday October 25, 2008, EDT 11:11 AM BY TARA SULLIVANSTAFF WRITER, HERALD NEWS

FLORHAM PARK ? The Jets question of the day Friday was whether Laveranues Coles' latest concussion would allow him to play Sunday. The answer will be known by the 1 p.m. kickoff between the Jets and Chiefs.

But the question of the season, whether the Jets' up-and-down offense can find its permanent identity, well, that is one the team can only hope is settled by the end of Sunday's contest.

Are the Jets the run-first juggernaut that gained 242 yards (159 for running back Thomas Jones) in last weekend's loss to Oakland, or the pass-happy attack that saw Brett Favre throw a career-high six touchdown passes in an earlier demolition of Arizona?

Right now they are a bit of both, which is just how offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer likes it.

As Schottenheimer said Friday, the Jets are "a game-plan specific team," which means offensive play calls are tailored to meet the strengths and weaknesses of an opposing team.

The theory is sound, except when it leads to an outcome such as the 16-13 overtime loss to the Raiders.

If the strength of the run can't be translated into more points or more passing yards, then questions have to be raised about its effectiveness.

"I've never been in a game where we rushed for so many yards and we didn't win the game," tight end Chris Baker said.

"My philosophy is that everything feeds off the running game. If we keep doing it, it will open up more plays and an opportunity to score more."

Finding the right balance for the offense was a consistent theme this week, albeit one overshadowed early in the week by Favre and later in the week by Coles. Favre spent Wednesday answering allegations he helped the Lions with their game plan against his former team in Green Bay, a story that stole the national headlines from Sunday on.

And Coles, whom head coach Eric Mangini admitted Thursday sustained his third concussion in less than two years during the Raiders game, dominated the headlines the next day.

By day's end Friday, Coles seemed destined to play.

After meeting with doctors in the morning, he participated in the non-contact portion of practice open to the media and was then listed on the injury report as probable. Coles initially waved reporters away from his locker, saying "My teammates have spoken," as those teammates yelled that Coles would have nothing to say. Favre, whose locker is next to Coles', tried to lighten the mood with a sarcastic "Yeah, he'll talk," as he vacated the area.

Coles finally did take some questions, but at the risk of drawing a fine for talking about injuries, could say only "it's up to the doctors" about his availability. If he does play, that has to be good news for an offense still searching for consistency.

"Whatever is working you're going to try and feature, but whatever that is, you have to keep people off balance," said Schottenheimer, whose team has yet to have a 100-yard rusher and 200-yard passer in the same game.

Said Favre: "We are trying to find a balance. No one is at fault here. We have capable guys, not only in the passing game, but we obviously have capable guys in the run game. How we mix the two is a work in progress."

INJURY REPORT: TE Bubba Franks (hip) is doubtful; Baker (back), WR Jerricho Cotchery (shoulder) and OL Damien Woody (calf) are questionable and NT Kris Jenkins (back), OL Brandon Moore (foot), LB Calvin Pace (toe) and S Eric Smith (concussion) joined Coles as probable.

E-mail: sullivan@northjersey.com