After giving up 41 points per game the last two weeks, Aaron Glenn decided to make a coaching change.
The Jets fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks on Monday morning, a day after an embarrassing 48-20 loss to the Jaguars.
Jets defensive backs/pass game coordinator Chris Harris will take over defensive playcalling duties for the final three games of the season. Glenn said he will help him progress through the week leading up to their game at New Orleans.
“This decision that I made late last night and I talked to him this morning and I felt like it was the best decision for this organization at this time,” Glenn said. “I’ve said this all along, I’m evaluating players, I’m evaluating coaches, I’m evaluating myself.
“I just felt like it was the best decision for right now for the team and this organization.”
After Wilks was hired by Glenn last offseason, he told reporters that the Jets defense would be a “collaboration of both of our schemes.” He also said, “It’s not really about our playbook, it’s about our play style.” Who knew at the time that the Jets’ defensive playstyle would be among the worst in the NFL this season?
Following a run in which they finished with a top-five defense three consecutive years, the Jets’ defense has been horrendous through 14 games. They are 21st in yards (337.4) and 30th in points allowed per game (28.4). In addition, the Jets have just three takeaways, which is the fewest in the league. The Commanders have the second fewest with eight on the season.
The Jets also have yet to record a defensive interception this season.
The defense has also progressively gotten worse since the trade deadline, when both Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams were dealt last month. However, last month, the Jets defense appeared to be on the upswing after the team won three of five games to end November.
But the Dolphins torched the Jets 34-10 in Week 14 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. Miami jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, and the game was basically over after undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook came into the game for Tyrod Taylor, who suffered a groin injury. As shameful as that loss was, it paled in comparison to what Jacksonville and quarterback Trevor Lawrence did to the Jets defense on Sunday.
Lawrence had a career game against the Jets after registering six total touchdowns — five passing and one rushing in a humiliating 28-point loss. Gang Green gave up scores on eight of their first nine series. They also barely even touched Lawrence after finishing with zero sacks and just two quarterback hits.
In their last two games, the Jets have allowed a total of 82 points.
“I just thought from last week going to this week that the improvement wasn’t there and I thought it was time to make a change,” Glenn said. “I’m going to make the decision that’s best for this organization at all times. It’s my job to continue to make sure we evaluate everything that’s going on. And I thought it was time to make that decision.”
The postgame locker room after the loss to Jacksonville was so subdued that you could hear a pin drop. Players hung their heads and many were at a loss for answers. Two of the locker room veterans, Quincy Williams and Jermaine Johnson, declined to speak to the media.
But Glenn continued to back Wilks during his postgame press conference.
“I brought Wilks in for a reason and I want him to run his system,” Glenn said on Sunday. “We have three games left. Three games left for our guys to go out there and play.”
Glenn clearly had a change of heart after watching the film on the way back to New Jersey. Wilks’ defensive scheme relied heavily on blitzes. The problem was that opposing offenses were not fooled and appeared to know exactly how they wanted to attack the Jets’ defense.
“This decision that I made late last night and I talked to him this morning and I felt like it was the best decision for this organization at this time,” Glenn said. “I’ve said this all along, I’m evaluating players, I’m evaluating coaches, I’m evaluating myself.
“I just felt like it was the best decision for right now for the team and this organization.”
At 3-11 and after going through what has been a nightmarish first season as coach, Glenn will need to make several key decisions this offseason. In addition to finding a new defensive coordinator, Glenn will also need to fill several key positions.
The Jets are expected to have over $71 million in salary cap space. They will need to repair a defense that has struggled with tackling, getting pressure on quarterbacks, and being in the proper position to make plays on ballcarries.
The Jets could use pass-rushing help, a new linebacker with Williams set to be a free agent, and maybe three new players in their secondary.
“I want to see consistent improvement,” Glenn said. “I want to see a structure that’s consistent. I want to see play that’s consistent and I want to see the culture of this football team come together.
“I want to see the culture of this football team in these last three games. And that’s something that I’m evaluating also. I don’t think we have a culture problem, but I want to make sure that the things that we’ve been buliding up to this point stays exactly where it is and even improve. But defensively, I want to see consistently with the way that we operate with the way that we play.”