The 2025 New York Jets have an extensive list of problems.
Their offense is among the worst in the league, featuring one of the worst passing units in modern history. The defense has set the NFL record with 13 straight interception-less games, and it can’t stop anybody in the red zone.
However, one particular issue seems to frustrate head coach Aaron Glenn the most. As he looks to plant the seeds of a rebuilt culture before the 2025 season comes to a close, it’s his main focus entering the final four weeks of the year.
Aaron Glenn’s focus for Jets
“It’s B.S.”
That’s how Glenn described the Jets’ run defense after it yielded 239 rushing yards to the Miami Dolphins in a 34-10 loss.
“You can’t give up 240 yards rushing. It’s that simple. You can’t give it up. So you have to fix it.”
Later in the week, Glenn continued harping on the subject. He wants to see much better from his young defense in that phase.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Glenn revealed the primary issue that he noticed on film, the same issue that Jets X-Factor’s Robby Sabo broke down earlier this week: gap integrity.
“Gap integrity showed up, and usually, in that type of run scheme, man you have to be able to get your hands on,” Glenn said. “You have to be able to move, get your feet going and man, those guys did a really good job. I’m talking about Miami in that aspect. But gap integrity is a huge issue, plus the missed tackles.”
According to ESPN data, the Jets missed 10 tackles in their 34-10 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday. Those whiffs caused the Jets to trail 21-0 with over three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Gap integrity has been an issue for the Jets all year. Following the trades of Williams and Gardner, there was some incremental improvement in that regard, but last week’s loss was a clear step back.
From their once All-Pro caliber linebackers to their struggling defensive line, the Jets did a poor job of maintaining their gaps defensively. Because of that, Miami ran for over eight yards per carry in the first half. Whenever a player would overrun his gap, the Dolphins would exploit it, time and time again.
With just four games left, the question is whether New York can solve the issue before adding reinforcements in the offseason.
Can the problem get fixed?
The one thing that Glenn and the Jets can hold their heads high on is the fact that they haven’t given up in-game. Very few times this season have fans and analysts noticed a lack of hustle or pride in the way New York goes about their business.
The issue is that they just don’t have the players needed to win on Sundays.
That is specifically true on defense, where the Jets’ lack of talent is apparent after dealing two All-Pros in Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams.
However, while tackling problems and a lack of interceptions can be chalked up to the Jets’ roster strength, the gap integrity issue is all about execution. Glenn believes it can be fixed through a team effort.
“It’s the whole defense. Run game consists of the whole defense,” he said. “Even if someone does get cut out of a gap, you have other guys to get ready to take control… That’s how we have to get ready to play.”
In the first year of a new defensive scheme and coaching staff, it’s usual to find execution problems across the board. The Jets wouldn’t be 3-10 if that was the case.
Improvement, though, should be expected late in the season. With just four games left in the 2025 season, that is something the organization is looking to show. On defense, the easiest way to achieve that is to do one of the first things taught to football players when they are playing in Pop Warner.
Stay in your gaps.
Reporting from the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, NJ.