Over the past four years, the New York Jets’ defense has been recognized as one of the top units in the league. However, despite their impressive stats, some weaknesses began to emerge in this once-dominant group.
The new leadership aims to restore this defense to its former glory by 2025.
And…
Achieving that goal seems feasible.
New York boasts All-Pro talent at every level of their defense. With a fresh coaching team led by head coach Aaron Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, these coaches believe they can improve the team’s performance.
Wilks, in particular, is pleased with what he observes from his defense.
“I feel like we are moving in the right direction,” Wilks stated during Wednesday’s minicamp. “I always say it’s early since we’re still in shorts and t-shirts. You can see the identity of many players, but regarding effort, urgency, and tempo—what we’re asking them to do—I’m satisfied.”
There’s a reason to feel hopeful about the Jets’ defense. Although Glenn and Wilks have not yet discussed the game plan in detail, they are concentrating on several key principles for their playstyle.
This includes effective tackling and creating turnovers.
The current coaching staff has extensive experience in building strong defenses. Given the talented players available to him, Wilks might be just the right person to guide this unit.
While it’s still too soon to determine if the Jets can regain their elite status from recent years, Wilks feels confident about what he has seen so far.
