The most talked about questions heading into this new era of Jets football revolve around the offense.
Can new quarterback Justin Fields break through and establish himself as one of the better starters in the league by meshing his considerable arm talent with his historic running ability at the position? Does wide receiver Garrett Wilson, regarded as one of the best in the league, have have enough pass catching help? Can running back Breece Hall get back to being one of the best in the league at his position? Can a defensive coach in Aaron Glenn do what his predecessors couldn’t and put a quality offense on the field?
Ultimately, the answers toward those questions will go a long way toward defining success for Glenn and the Jets new regime. But in the shorter term, if the Jets are to have success in 2025 and exceed the low expectations most have set for them, it will come down to a completely different question: Can the defense recover from last year’s step back and return to being one of the better units in the NFL?
The Jets certainly still have many of the talented players that helped their defense put them on the edge of contention in 2022 and 2023.
Cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Michael Carter II are still regarded among the very best at their position. Quinnen Williams is playing at a high level in the middle of the defensive front, and edge rusher Jermaine Johnson returns from injury to join Will McDonald who had a strong second season as a pass rusher. And linebackers Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood have both shown they can be among the best in the league when they’re at the top of their game.
After an offseason of moving on from veterans and focusing on young, high-upside players, it’s clear that Glenn and new general manager Darren Mougey have a vision for this team. But this week, as the Jets began mandatory minicamp, Glenn revealed his defense’s greatest strength.
“They are fast,” Glenn said. “They are really fast.”
When the Jets defense was at its best in 2022 and early 2023, that speed was it’s most overwhelming and effective weapon. Even if they made mistakes, which they did, they could get away with it because someone would be flying in to make a play.
The focus seems to be on getting back to that, according to the new coach.
“We don’t have to coach this, which is a great thing,” Glenn said. “But we continue to stress it: being able to pursuit. We have men on that defense that understand that, and when you watch practice, you see it. It is freakin’ just that guys are going [fast].”
But Glenn knows that alone won’t be enough. They need to clean up on the shoddy tackling that cost them so many games in 2024, and the issue that the last regime never could solve: finding a way to consistently force turnovers.
“Once you have pursuit, tackle, and takeaways, that’s the essence of playing defensive football,” Glenn said, adding that he believes their speed gives them what it takes in the first category.
“The thing is,” Glenn said. “We got to make sure those other two traits that we’re trying to build, that we do a good job of those.”
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Andy Vasquez may be reached atavasquez@njadvancemedia.com.