Sheldon Rankins believes all new talent can make Jets' 'D' No. 1

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Sheldon Rankins is setting the expectations sky high for the Jets’ defense. He believes they can be the No. 1 unit in the NFL.

“The expectations to a man have to be the best defense in the league,” Rankins said Wednesday. “If we look at anything else or we put any other goal out there we’re selling ourselves short. What’s the point of showing up to the race if you’re going to say, ‘Third is cool.’ We want that target on our back. We want that challenge.

“To a man we put that on ourselves to go out there and be the best and we expect nothing less.”

Everyone is optimistic in training camp. After all the changes and upgrades the Jets made on defense it’s only natural to anticipate a big improvement. But being No. 1 overall would require a major jump for the Jets.

The Jets ranked last in total defense last season and points allowed, 30th in passing yards and 29th in rushing yards yielded. Leaks sprung everywhere last year for the Jets, but general manager Joe Douglas filled those holes.

That’s what has Rankins, the veteran defensive tackle, extremely confident about this year’s team and the line in general.

Aside from getting edge rusher Carl Lawson back after he missed last season with a ruptured Achilles, the Jets signed Solomon Thomas and Jacob Martin and drafted Jermaine Johnson and Micheal Clemons. They join a group led by Quinnen Williams, who is having a strong camp, John Franklin-Myers and Rankins.

“The amount of talent that we have in that room is pretty crazy,” Rankins said. “Coming from New Orleans, I played on a lot of talented groups, but top to bottom, man for man, this is probably as talented a room I’ve been in. Just everyone’s ability to win on three downs is special.

“We got a lot of guys who can really change games, can really wreck games.”

Robert Saleh believes the Jets will be better overall in eliminating big plays. He said they gave up too many “massively explosive plays that really skewed the numbers out of whack.”

In the Jets’ system, Saleh asks the line to attack the quarterback and the secondary to cover the gaps when there’s a crease. The coaches have been working with the defensive backs on teaching them the best way to close those gaps and save big plays.

The Jets’ secondary is improved.

They signed No. 1 corner D.J. Reed and safety Jordan Whitehead. Both came from winning teams. They have provided the Jets with leadership and have been playmakers thus far in camp. Whitehead has been good against the run. The Jets also drafted shut-down corner Sauce Gardner with the fourth pick in the draft.

They didn’t really address linebacker until last week when they signed Kwon Alexander. He has made a quick impact, lifting the level of play on defense. C.J. Mosley, Alexander and Quincy Williams gives the Jets a lot of athleticism and versatility at linebacker.

“It’s going to be scary,” Williams said.

Rankins, who is in his second season with the Jets, said being the No. 1-ranked defense is something the players have discussed “quite often.” He said it’s been a topic in the defensive line room.

In Saleh’s defense, everything starts with the front four. The Jets have depth up front and plan to come at offenses in waves. Saleh has said he expects all of his linemen to be on an NFL 53-man roster this year.

“I can speak more so for the D-Line room,” Rankins said. “Every time, the ball’s snapped we don’t expect any man across from us to block us. The guys behind us, C.J., Quincy. Kwon, those guys expect to make tackles for loss every play. When the ball’s in the air, Sauce and those guys back there, they expect to pick the ball off every time. Going through it with any other mindset would be flawed thinking.

“We’re going to go out there every day and expect to be the No. 1 defense in this league. We’ll let the chips fall where they may but that’s what we expect of ourselves.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.