Rex Ryan didn’t waste much time turning his Monday morning ESPN appearance into a full-on endorsement of Aaron Glenn and the Jets.
After getting a close look at Glenn during offseason workouts earlier this summer, Ryan came back on Get Up and sounded thrilled with what he saw from the Jets in their 23-10 win over the Titans. He had plenty to say about Glenn, and just as much praise for offensive coordinator Frank Reich.
“You got a real coaching staff right there!” Ryan exclaimed.
“Frank Reich, man, congratulations, that offense was amazing. … This was a 32nd-ranked team in passing last year, didn’t look like it.”
The Jets backed that up with the kind of efficient day that made Ryan’s point easy to understand. Geno Smith completed 19 of 24 passes for 215 yards and didn’t turn it over, while New York outgained Tennessee 367-195 on the road.
Smith’s 215 passing yards were the most by a Jets quarterback since Tyrod Taylor had 222 in a 23-10 loss to the Ravens on November 23 of last year. It was also a rare level of production for the Jets in 2024, with only five games all season featuring at least 215 passing yards from a Jets quarterback. Taylor’s Week 12 outing was the only one after November began.
Ryan also used the moment to take a swipe at former Jets coach Robert Saleh, whose Titans were on the wrong end of the loss in his debut.
“And by the way, they bloodied their nose [and] they ran right down that old superstar coach of yours that everybody was like, ‘Why’d they fire him?’” Ryan said.
“I don’t know, [35 percent] win percentage. He got smoked right there by the Jets, and we’re back.
The Jets are back!”
Ryan’s jab appeared to be aimed at Titans defensive tackle Solomon Thomas, who criticized the Jets last week for firing Saleh in October 2024. Thomas had previously played for Saleh in New York and San Francisco.
Glenn’s offseason additions deserve a share of the credit too. He brought in Reich and defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, who had previously worked for Ryan in New York and Buffalo. The defense delivered its own firm response, finishing with four tackles for loss, three sacks, and five hits on Cam Ward.
New quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave had to like what he saw from Smith as well. Smith avoided an interception, something he had managed in only four games over 15 starts with the Raiders last year.
There may be one more wrinkle in Ryan’s enthusiasm: Glenn hired his son, Seth, as a passing game coordinator.
The next test comes when the Jets host the Packers, who opened their season with a second-half collapse against the Vikings. If Week 1 is any indication, Ryan may have even more reason to keep singing Glenn’s praises next Monday.
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Jets Cornerbacks Just Changed The Feel Around Aaron Glenns Defense
The first look at Aaron Glenns defense brought an encouraging sign for the Jets: the cornerback room looked ready to make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks. Against the Titans in Week 1, Brownlee led the group in coverage grade and did a strong job limiting the amount of attention he saw, while Brandon Stephens and Thomas also turned in positive outings. Stephens posted a 63.4 coverage grade, and Thomas finished with the second-highest mark on the team.
What made it even more interesting was how Glenn deployed Thomas throughout the game, moving him through different packages to keep Tennessee from settling in. For a defense trying to establish a new identity, that kind of flexibility matters, especially when the corners are holding up well enough to let the rest of the scheme breathe. The early returns were promising, even if the bigger test for this group is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
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Kenyon Sadiq is suddenly in the middle of that conversation. The tight end missed training camp and the preseason while recovering from a hernia, yet he has already flashed enough early in the season to make the Jets think his role can grow while Cooper is out. For a team looking for answers, the setback has turned into a chance to see how much more the offense can lean on Sadiq in the meantime. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Suddenly Need More From A Veteran Receiver Than Expected
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Receiver Tim Patrick also landed on injured reserve with a groin injury, which only adds to the pressure on the receiving group to stay afloat. Shepards arrival gives the Jets an experienced option to lean on in the short term, and the next stretch will show how much they need him to provide more than just emergency depth. [Read more 🡒]