The Jets continue to work on situational football throughout the spring. After a scripted practice went in the offense’s favor on Monday, HC Aaron Glenn, who doubles as the team’s defensive play caller, foreshadowed a defensive rebound during Tuesday’s open workout.
“Yesterday, we focused on really our third-and-2 to [third-and-] 6-day,” Glenn said. “I expect our offense to win a lot of those, which is usually tough for a defense. Defense, if we can get within 50 percent of that, you really do a really good job. Today, it’ll be more third-and-7-plus, which, again, it flips. So the advantage should be defense in this situation and man, our offense got to work their [butt] off to really get first downs in this. I want to really work those situations [and] make sure we get good at those situations.”
Glenn proved to be prophetic as things started with a takeaway. Facing a third-and-8, Geno Smith took a snap out of the shotgun formation and threw down the middle of the field. Veteran LB Demario Davis had dropped deep into coverage and came down with an interception for the defense.
“Once we get into competitive periods, man, that’s when I have the mic and I’ll actually talk to our Mike backers as far as what I want to call on defense,” Glenn said. “I do the best I can in making sure that my time is shared on both parts, but once it comes to the part where we get into competitive periods, man I got to be dialed in on what I’m calling to make sure that I put our guys in a good position to win those reps.”
A play later, QB Bailey Zappe took over and had a third-and-9. The defense quickly applied pressure and Kingsley Jonathan recorded a would-be sack.
“A main proponent of AG’s defense is putting the quarterback in a blender, making it really tough on him whether that’s through disguises, through pressure, through drafting guys like David Bailey, who is an elite edge rusher,” safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said. “It’s just finding ways to put pressure on him and make him make mistakes, and I think that’s kind of the main proponent of it.”
