NY Jets blowout loss highlights true pressure point for Aaron Glenn

Things were supposed to be different for the New York Jets this year.

They may not be able to win every game, but the days of uncompetitive contests against good teams were seemingly at an end when Aaron Glenn was hired. The former Pro Bowl corner was a disciple of Bill Parcells, and that “no-nonsense” approach meant that accountability was back with Gang Green.

After Sunday’s 30-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, though, there has been little to differentiate Glenn’s Jets from his predecessors’ versions of the team.

Glenn already under fire with Jets

It seemed that the Jets were turning a new leaf with their coaching staff this offseason. Throughout training camp, Glenn and his staff appeared prepared and ready for the challenges an NFL season can bring.

Through two games, though, it’s been more of the same that Jets fans have grown accustomed to over the last 15 years.

In New York’s 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a costly turnover was the catalyst in a fourth-quarter collapse. On Sunday, the Jets were down 10-0 before the end of the first quarter, and the outcome was never in doubt after that.

From a defense that couldn’t tackle or get off the field, to an offense that completed two passes in the first three quarters of action, New York was completely outcoached against their top rival in Buffalo.

Glenn rightfully knows he has to take a loss like this on the chin.

“I’ve been here before as a coach and I have to look at myself, all the players have to
look at themselves, and the coaches have to look at themselves also,” Glenn explained. “Apparently, I didn’t have the guys ready to play. So, whatever we see on tape, and we have to be honest with ourselves with what we see on tape, we have to fix those things.”

New York’s struggles go beyond the fact that they weren’t ready to play. One of Glenn’s calling cards entering the job was that he wanted to build a team based on accountability and discipline. Both were issues with the previous regime, after all.

In Week 2, the Jets had a chance to show both, and never did.

On Buffalo’s first drive, edge rusher Micheal Clemons was called for a clear roughing the passer penalty, erasing a Bills field goal attempt. Buffalo capitalized with a touchdown three plays later.

Glenn was seen given Clemons an earful on the sideline. After the game, he said as much as well.

“The thing is we know they call that call, when you hit the quarterback high, when you hit him in the head and neck area,” Glenn said. “That’s just what they’re calling now, so we have to be smarter than that.”

But during the heat of the contest, outside of clear screaming, Glenn had Clemons out on the field the very next possession. No accountability, no major changes.

Just the same old Jets.

After all the bravado and Parcells-like comments, the Jets look exactly the same as they did under Robert Saleh. That wasn’t supposed to be the case – even if the team lost both games to start the year.

It’s way too early to think Glenn, a first-year head coach, is on the hot seat. We’re nowhere near that point yet.

But for all the hype around Glenn’s cultural shift since he was hired, the results have yet to change. If the team does not turn words into wins soon, the fanbase will begin to detest the same things Glenn was loved for before the season.