After a 26-3 loss to the New York Giants in the second preseason game, the New York Jets are still waiting for their "ground and pound" offense to show up -- or any offense, for that matter. When coach Rex Ryan brought in new OC Tony Sparano, the intention was to resurrect the Jets running game. There were glimmers of it when camp started. RB Shonn Greene appeared sharper, but as time has gone on, an inertia has set in. Against the Giants, Greene rushed 11 times for just 36 yards. RB Bilal Powell, who has looked solid in camp, had six rushes for 21 yards.

"They played a whale of a football game," Ryan said of the Giants. "This is one of the premier defenses in football. If you don't stay ahead of the sticks, you're in trouble."

In the first half, the Jets starting offense rushed for a total of 47 yards and had only 59 receiving yards.

Worse was the protection -- or lack thereof -- especially of QB Mark Sanchez. Sanchez finished the game (one half) with 9 of 11 for 59 yards and one interception. He was sacked four times. Of the interception on a pass intended for WR Patrick Turner, Sanchez said, "I threw it a little behind PT."

Sanchez presented a calm face. "It obviously wasn't our best," he said in the locker room. "We need to put our head down and keep working."

The lack of pass protection was probably the most glaring issue. If the Jets can't get the offensive line fixed, it's going to be a very long season for them -- and a brutal one for Sanchez. RT Wayne Hunter, who had all four sacks from from his side, said of his play, "I just have to do what I do in practice and do that in a game. I've got stuff to work on, but it's a preseason game." Hunter has been dealing with a back injury, but he shrugged that off when asked about it.

Questioned about Hunter, Ryan said, "I have a tough time believing it was one guy."

Both Ryan and Sanchez pointed to the penalties -- eight for 76 yards -- as being the ultimate game killers, "self-inflicted wounds." Sanchez, however, added with a smile, "It's not time to hit the panic button."

QB Tim Tebow, who played the entire second half, ended 5 of 14 for 69 yards and no interceptions, but with the exception of the first drive, he looked inaccurate and out of sync. On one pass to WR Stephen Hill, Tebow underthrew on a likely touchdown. Tebow said he underthrew it, but he also expected Hill to have come back for the pass. "I didn't want to throw it that low," Tebow said. "But, I know I had more room than I thought I did."

Not helping matters was the infirmary that is the wide receiving corps. With Santonio Holmes suffering from a rib cartilage injury, Jeremy Kerley with a torn hamstring and Chaz Schilens with an ankle injury, they are operating at half speed. Hill is still getting adjusted to catching passes and remains inconsistent. Turner is improving but also has issues with consistency.

There were a few bright spots: S LaRon Landry with an interception of Giants QB Eli Manning, WR Jordan White's four receptions for 28 yards less than two weeks after returning to action full time following a broken foot and three tackles, and another sack for rookie DE Quinton Coples. Best of all, the Jets finished the game without suffering additional injuries.

The Jets will be home again Aug. 26 when they will face the Carolina Panthers in the third game of the preseason.

Stay dialed in on the New York Jets by following correspondent Lisa Zimmerman on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLNYJ and @LisaZimmerman.