Source Gardner deemed the Jets’ secondary performance “unacceptable.”
He described letting up 34 points as “depressing.”
While there were notable issues like Xavier Gipson’s fumble and some crucial penalties, these overshadowed an otherwise strong performance by the offense and a promising showing from quarterback Justin Fields in their season-opening loss to the Steelers.
The team really needs to bounce back quickly.
This Sunday, Josh Allen and the formidable Bills are set to visit Metlife Stadium.
In their first week, Buffalo put together an impressive 41 points and threw for 389 yards against the Ravens in a thrilling victory.
The Jets had difficulties containing Aaron Rodgers, despite the Steelers managing only 53 yards.
Rodgers, at 41 years old, connected for four touchdown passes.
A significant contributor to the Jets’ struggles was newcomer Brandon Stevens, who joined the team on a three-year, $36 million deal this offseason.
Stevens faced criticism after being targeted seven times, yielding five receptions for 60 yards and two touchdowns.
The Jets also saw defensive back DJ Reed flagged for a pivotal defensive pass interference during the Steelers’ game-winning field goal drive.
Coach Aaron Glenn expressed faith in Stevens, noting he performed well during training camp. “We just need to work on finding the ball and finishing,” he said. “He has potential, and I believe he can make those plays with the right adjustments.”
Yet, Stevens has had a shaky career, having been rated as the 100th cornerback out of 116 by PFF last season, allowing 72 receptions and five touchdowns for a total of 926 yards.
This pattern continued during the recent game.
Stevens wasn’t the only one struggling; teammates Tony Adams and Michael Carter II also faced tough moments, missing tackles and getting caught out of position.
Glenn noted that there were issues in zone coverage, pinpointing a lack of communication from internal linebacker Jamien Sherwood as a factor in their struggles.
“There are certainly areas we need to clean up,” Glenn remarked, acknowledging that despite some excellence, it wasn’t enough.
Gardner was the standout among the defensive backs, effectively covering star wideout DK Metcalf. According to PFF, Metcalf managed just one reception, an 11-yard catch that came after several deflections, with Gardner also breaking up two passes.
“I’ve had success against various receivers in my career, and it’s beneficial when you can really focus on the guy you’re facing,” Glenn said regarding Gardner’s approach. “While he’s effective, we need the rest of the secondary to step up, or else teams will just avoid him.”
This certainly worked out for the Steelers, but now the Jets face the challenge of Allen, who has four targets across various receivers. The Jets’ secondary is poised for regular tests against this year’s MVP-caliber quarterback.
