Aaron Glenn has repeatedly mentioned this season that these will not be the “same old Jets.”
It’s time for the Jets to show exactly that.
A month into the NFL season, the Jets are considered one of three groups which are winless getting into Week 5. At instances this season, the Jets have regarded unprepared, poorly coached, and flat-out undisciplined, committing a number of pre-snap and private foul penalties.
Doesn’t that sound acquainted? If it does, it ought to as a result of the Jets have been very related final yr after they led the league in penalties and completed with a 5-12 file.
“The thing that I think most people look at and try to focus on is the why, and you do have to address the way, and we do that quite a bit,” Glenn mentioned. “However the shift that we go to is the how, like how will we repair this stuff, and we talked about that immediately, we’ve talked about that on a number of events, and our gamers consider in that.
“To me, I think the frustration will be there, but the confidence and the belief is going to be there because now we have answers and solutions to how we’re going to get better. Does that mean we are going to get better right now? No, but you see it. You see it, and you see small glimpses of it, and that gives players the belief.”
The Jets weren’t anticipated to contend for a playoff spot, however there have been causes for optimism getting into the 2025 season. They have been returning eight starters on a protection that completed third in yards allowed final season. The Jets additionally function an improved offensive line and a robust operating recreation led by Breece Corridor and Justin Fields.
However to date, the Jets haven’t been in a position to end video games. They’d an opportunity to defeat the Steelers, however a muffed punt return by Xavier Gipson and a 60-yard discipline aim by Chris Boswell ended all hopes of a Week 1 victory. The Jets additionally had probabilities towards the Buccaneers and Dolphins to safe a win, however turnovers and errors plagued them.
Their protection, which completed within the prime 5 every of the earlier three seasons, has additionally been nonexistent. The Jets rank twentieth in yards (330.3) and are tied for twenty ninth in factors allowed (30).
Courting again to spring OTAs and coaching camp, Glenn emphasised self-discipline and aggressiveness. Throughout his introductory press convention, Glenn instructed followers and reporters to ‘put your seatbelts on and prepare for the journey.” He additionally mentioned on the mix that the aim is to “win now.”
However the journey is having hassle simply getting began after a 0-4 file. Just one group, the 1992 Chargers, has recovered from a 0-4 begin to make the playoffs.
Glenn understands that turning across the Jets wouldn’t be a simple repair. In spite of everything, they’ve the longest postseason drought in North American sports activities (14 years). Glenn and the Jets’ basic supervisor, Darren Mougey, deserve time to mildew the group with their imaginative and prescient.
However gamers like Corridor, Sauce Gardner, and Garrett Wilson have seen this story earlier than. They’ve been a part of the Jets program for 4 years and registered a shedding file every season they’ve been within the league. The Jets should begin to safe some wins starting on Sunday towards the Cowboys to make sure that their gamers stay dedicated to the general message.
One cause for hope is that the Jets have misplaced three of their 4 video games by six factors or much less. The Cowboys additionally function a protection that’s lifeless final in yards (420.5) and thirty first in factors allowed.
“There’s a lot of good stuff on that tape,” Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand mentioned concerning the group’s 0-4 begin. “There’s a whole lot of good issues on that tape from all of the completely different positions.
“Then we say, just like we have been talking about, we got to eliminate the turnovers, we got to eliminate the penalties. If we eliminate that, and we’re moving the ball. We’re moving ball and all of a sudden, we got penalties. So, we eliminate that and we’re going to be just fine. We’re going to be just fine. There’s a lot of stuff on the tape that you got to like.”
Jets followers will not be identified for his or her endurance because of the franchise’s historical past of struggles. Glenn hopes to keep away from turning into the primary Jets coach to start his profession with a 0-5 file.
Whereas it’s unlikely the Jets will make the playoffs in 2025, their remaining 13 video games are favorable. They are going to play simply three groups that made the playoffs final season. Additionally, the Jets have simply two opponents on their schedule who’re presently over .500 [Jaguars and Bills].
Glenn was the defensive coordinator for the Lions after they began 0-10-1 in his and coach Dan Campbell’s first season in Detroit in 2021. Additionally they began 1-6 in 2022 earlier than the group completed 9-8, which helped propel them to the NFC Championship the next season and a 15-2 file in 2024.
If a “breakthrough” goes to occur like Glenn expects it to, the Jets might want to start getting takeaways and cease committing bonehead penalties. They’re the one group that has registered a takeaway this season and are tenth within the league in penalties.
“I see it in phases, throughout games on Sunday each week,” Wilson mentioned. “It’s been, we’ve proven the glimpses. It’s about being constant.
“It’s about you know, doing when it’s needed the most, down a stretch. Third down. First drive, first drive of the game, stuff like that. So, I’ve seen it in glimpses throughout the season, you know, here and there, and now it’s about being consistent with doing it when it matters most.”
