The emphasis on takeaways and making statements
The Jets defense has a goal every day at practice to get at least three takeaways. If they don’t, “there’s some consequences,” cornerback Jarvis Brownlee said. The defensive players have to run gassers if they fall short of that mark in practice.
Last year, the Jets became the first team in NFL history to go a full season without recording an interception. It has been perhaps the biggest point of emphasis this camp.
“The sense of urgency, it’s all the way to a thousand percent,” Brownlee said. “I think I'm not the only one that feels that way. I think everybody on our defense, no matter if it's a coach or a player. I think we all got that sense of urgency that we need takeaways.”
Aaron Glenn will be calling the Jets’ defense this season and wants their identity to be a group that makes a statement every time they take the field and has opposing coaches making lots of complimentary statements about them.
“When that head coach watches tape, there are certain things I want him to say,” Glenn said. “I want them to say we’re going to disrupt the pocket. When I say disrupt the pocket, meaning we're disrupting the quarterback. I want them to say we're disrupting the receivers. I want them to say that we're attacking the ball. I also want them to say we’re not giving up explosive plays.
“If we can have that head coach saying that about us, then we’ve done a pretty good job.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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