The Jets defense has been one of the better units in the NFL the previous three seasons.
But a couple of Gang Green’s defensive standouts are pumped to see what new head coach Aaron Glenn will do to take the D to a new level.
Linebacker Quincy Williams and pass rusher Jermaine Johnson both expressed their excitement about having the former Jets star cornerback leading the way.
“I haven’t gotten to meet him face to face, but for him to start the press conference with ‘buckle up,’ I’m already all in, so let’s go,” Williams told the Daily News on Tuesday when promoting his partnership with Bounty House of Wingman. “The biggest thing is the culture that he preached about where he already showed it with the Lions.
“It’s one of those things where I believe what I say and watch what I do.”
Glenn is a homegrown Jet hoping to turn around an organization that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2010. He was selected in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M and spent eight seasons with the Jets.
Last season, Jets owner Woody Johnson fired both coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas amidst a disappointing 5-12 season. Despite their record, the Jets defense finished third in the league in yards allowed per game (313.8).
However, Gang Green’s defense collapsed following Saleh’s firing. From Weeks 6-18 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, the Jets were 28th in points (26.6) and 18th in yards allowed per game (337.9). That was a change from the first five games with Saleh when the Jets were fifth in points (17) and second in yards per game (255.8).
Before becoming the Jets coach, Glenn was the Lions’ defensive coordinator for the previous four seasons. Before Washington eliminated Detroit in the NFC divisional round, the team finished seventh in points allowed (20.1) despite having multiple key defensive players, such as defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, on injured reserve.
“I texted with him and talked to him since he’s been hired,” Johnson told The News. “I can’t wait to get there with him. I just told him I would be accountable.”
Glenn won’t be the Jets’ defensive play-caller. That responsibility will fall to Steve Wilks, who was hired as defensive coordinator last week. Williams and Johnson haven’t met Wilks in person yet, but each player has had conversations with him.
The Jets have 28 players scheduled to test free agency at the start of the new league year on March 12. But they have a good young nucleus, especially defensively, with Williams and Johnson returning, Will McDonald, former All-Pros Sauce Gardner, and Quinnen Williams.
“We have received a couple of tidbits from a couple of former players of his,” Williams said. “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 ready for OTAs in May after tearing his Achilles in Week 2. He suffered the injury against the Titans after pursuing quarterback Will Levis. He initially thought someone had stepped on his leg, but Johnson suffered a non-contact Achilles tear instead.
Many anticipated Johnson’s stellar season after he was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2023. That year, he registered 55 tackles and 7.5 sacks.
Without Johnson for most of the season, the Jets struggled to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks consistently after Saleh was fired. In their final 12 games, the Jets registered 25 sacks, which was 25th in the league during that stretch.
“I had never been injured outside of anything more than two weeks,” Johnson said. “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.”
Leave a comment