The Jets protection has been one of many higher items within the NFL the earlier three seasons.
However a few Gang Inexperienced’s defensive standouts are pumped to see what new head coach Aaron Glenn will do to take the D to a brand new stage.
Linebacker Quincy Williams and cross rusher Jermaine Johnson each expressed their pleasure about having the previous Jets star cornerback main the best way.
“It’s one of those things where I believe what I say and watch what I do.”
Glenn is a homegrown Jet hoping to show round a company that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2010. He was chosen within the first spherical of the 1994 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M and spent eight seasons with the Jets.
Final season, Jets proprietor Woody Johnson fired each coach Robert Saleh and normal supervisor Joe Douglas amidst a disappointing 5-12 season. Regardless of their report, the Jets protection completed third within the league in yards allowed per recreation (313.8).
Nevertheless, Gang Inexperienced’s protection collapsed following Saleh’s firing. From Weeks 6-18 underneath interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, the Jets have been twenty eighth in factors (26.6) and 18th in yards allowed per recreation (337.9). That was a change from the primary 5 video games with Saleh when the Jets have been fifth in factors (17) and second in yards per recreation (255.8).
Earlier than changing into the Jets coach, Glenn was the Lions’ defensive coordinator for the earlier 4 seasons. Earlier than Washington eradicated Detroit within the NFC divisional spherical, the workforce completed seventh in factors allowed (20.1) regardless of having a number of key defensive gamers, comparable to defensive finish Aidan Hutchinson, on injured reserve.
Glenn gained’t be the Jets’ defensive play-caller. That duty will fall to Steve Wilks, who was employed as defensive coordinator final week. Williams and Johnson haven’t met Wilks in particular person but, however every participant has had conversations with him.
The Jets have 28 gamers scheduled to check free company firstly of the brand new league 12 months on March 12. However they’ve a superb younger nucleus, particularly defensively, with Williams and Johnson returning, Will McDonald, former All-Professionals Sauce Gardner, and Quinnen Williams.
“We have received a couple of tidbits from a couple of former players of his,” Williams stated. “Him being with the Panthers and having a background with the 49ers and stuff like that — he has worked with top linebackers and being a linebackers coach.
“I’m excited to see what he decides to do because we have a stacked roster, so let’s see what he’s going to do with it.”
As for Johnson, he expects to be prepared for OTAs in Could after tearing his Achilles in Week 2. He suffered the harm towards the Titans after pursuing quarterback Will Levis. He initially thought somebody had stepped on his leg, however Johnson suffered a non-contact Achilles tear as an alternative.
Many anticipated Johnson’s stellar season after he was chosen for the Professional Bowl in 2023. That 12 months, he registered 55 tackles and seven.5 sacks.
With out Johnson for many of the season, the Jets struggled to get strain on opposing quarterbacks persistently after Saleh was fired. Of their last 12 video games, the Jets registered 25 sacks, which was twenty fifth within the league throughout that stretch.
“I had never been injured outside of anything more than two weeks,” Johnson stated. “So, it was a first and I never had to sit out of football for that long.
“That was the biggest thing that I missed. I didn’t miss making big plays as much, being in the spotlight, or hearing my name called, but I missed these guys looking at me and understanding that they had nothing to worry about on my side.
“That’s what I missed the most and I can’t wait to get back to that.”
