Aggressive moves in free agency and a solid draft has Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich itching to get to work ahead of the start of the 2022 NFL season.

"Hey, I'm happy, it's been a good offseason so far," Ulbrich told reporters on Wednesday after one of the team's OTA sessions at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. "The additions from free agency and the draft ... I've been blown away by the character of the men and the players we've added. The guys are obsessed with the game and obsessed with being great teammates with the guys already here."

General manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh got right to work at the close of the 2021 season.

"You have to look at everything," Ulbrich said. "For us as coaches, we have to have the humility to look at ourselves and how we can do better, from a teaching and drill standpoint. That's where we devoted a majority of the offseason to acquiring guys, refining our scheme and all that we do."

A dividend was paid in mid-March with the signings in free agency of DL Jacob Martin and Solomon Thomas; S Jordan Whitehead; CB D.J. Reed. In the draft, the Jets selected CB Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner with the No. 4 overall pick and then traded up back into the first round to grab DE Jermaine Johnson. Add to them the impending return from injury of DE Carl Lawson, the continuing maturation of Quinnen Williams and the consistency of John Franklin-Myers.

"It's up to me and the coaching staff," Ulbrich said. "A huge part of it is taking advantage of our strengths and a big part of that is the guys who are here, like C.J. [Mosley] and Quinnen [Williams] to bring them along and absorb them into the locker room. I believe a good defense is about fear -- and now you've got guys capable of being a feared defense. They're connected at a deep level, there's a high level of trust and that's a huge part of the locker room absorbing these guys as well."

Ulbrich said that he is especially pumped about the Jets' deep group on the defensive line, even though Folorunso Fatukasi chose to depart in free agency.

"It's exciting," he said. "You watch practice and the OTAs, and they work at an uncommon rate. It's a testament to these guys and the makeup of the group. They are insanely obsessed with the room. This defensive line style is an attack front and it's best when they're playing 30-to-35 snaps a game. Last year, we didn't have that depth. Depth this year will let these guys rip it and jump off the ball. A lot of depth and competition, and it will be exciting to see who emerges from that group.

"Regardless of what style -- run stopping or pass rushing -- there's a level of fatigue in how we play. When we do things on our terms we play like we have hair on fire. Asking them to play more than 35 snaps is detrimental to their health and the quality of play."

For example, last season John Franklin-Myers played in 16 games and had a total of 716 snaps, an average of more than 40 a game.

In addition to the reinforcements on the defensive line, the Green & White's defensive backfield should benefit from an infusion of veteran talent in the form of Whitehead and Reed, plus the elite talent Gardner will bring to an already young and evolving cornerbacks room.

Ulbrich said that he is especially pumped about the Jets' deep group on the defensive line, even though Folorunso Fatukasi departed in free agency.

"It's exciting," he said. "You watch practice and the OTAs, and they work at an uncommon rate. It's a testament to these guys and the makeup of the group. They are insanely obsessed with the room. This defensive line style is an attack front and it's best when they're playing 30-to-35 snaps a game. Last year, we didn't have that depth. Depth this year will let these guys rip it and jump off the ball. A lot of depth and competition, and it will be exciting to see who emerges from that group.

"Regardless of what style -- run stopping or pass rushing -- there's a level of fatigue in how we play. When we do things on our terms, we play like we have hair on fire. Asking them to play more than 35 snaps is detrimental to their health and the quality of play."

For example, last season Franklin-Myers played in 16 games and had a total of 716 snaps, an average of more than 40 a game.

In addition to the reinforcements on the defensive line, the Green & White's defensive backfield should benefit from an infusion of veteran talent in the form of Whitehead and Reed, plus the elite talent Gardner will bring to an already young and evolving cornerbacks room.

Ulbrich, speaking about Gardner said: "He's ultra-competitive, has tons of swagger, confidence and plays with a different urgency. He's a high cut, a longer guy that typically don't get a good change of direction or have great foot speed. But it looks like he has that and I'm excited about what he could be.

On the other side of the field, at safety, Ulbrich said that the defense will benefit from the return from injury of Lamarcus Joyner and a contribution from second-year player Jason Pinnock, who is making a full-time shift from corner to safety.

"He's a guy who obviously came here as a corner, playing safety was new to him," Ulbrich said. "He's got all the stuff you can't coach -- long, fast, athletic, tough. He has limited experience there, but he's another guy thrown into the mix and brings more competition to the group."

Whitehead comes to the Jets from Tampa Bay and brings along a unique perspective after having faced QB Tom Brady in practice the past two seasons.
"He's an amazing human and teammate," Ulbrich said. "He's constantly bringing people along. He's a great communicator. He's as much as advertised coming from Tampa Bay. He improves what we do on the grass and in the locker room. It's huge. We talk about it all the time -- there is no wrong page, we're all on the same page. Communication from a safety elevates everybody and to have a guy like him ... it's huge for us."

Speaking about the expected contribution of Reed at CB, Ulbrich said: "He does not leave a stone unturned. Everyone uses the word 'dog,' but he is a dog, he epitomizes it in every way. He will only get better. I'm super-excited about him. He added a drive to that room. A lot of time corners, who are out on islands, sometimes are not the most inclusive of teammates. They can be loners on an island. He's not that way at all. He brings energy and passion that makes the entire team better."