At the start of the final week of training camp, Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense were having a dreadful day on the practice field. Little seemed to go right against a confident and tenacious defense.

Head coach Robert Saleh got straight to the heart of the struggles.

"Uh, there was a top-five defense on the other side," Saleh said with a laugh. "Credit to the defense because it was playing pretty tight."

That should come as no surprise to anyone who closely watched the Jets' defense last season. After four plays on opening night, the idea that the defense would have to carry the season slowly seeped in. And now, heading into the 2024 season opener at San Francisco on Monday night, little has changed. If anything, the Green & White's defense has grown even more formidable.

Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said the standard for his group is "that we find a way to win every single week. That's what it is, and we're the reason that we win. We put that on our backs. That's bigger than stats, that's bigger than analytics, that's bigger than all that. We find a way to win every week."

While the DC speaks about minimizing the stats and analytics, the numbers from the Jets' second straight 7-10 record do not lie: No. 1 in the league in total yards allowed/play (4.57), No, 2 in net yards/game (168.3), No. 3 in total yards allowed/game (292.3), No. 4 in net yards/play (5.48) and passes defensed (91). There's more, but you get the picture.

'Time to Take the Next Step'
The spotlight often shines, rightly so, on future Hall of Famer Rodgers, WR Garrett Wilson, RB Breece Hall & Co., but it is the lunch-pail defense that has grown together in recent seasons.

"This is our third year under the same staff, the same guys," said third-year S Tony Adams, an undrafted free agent. "You grow up with these guys. You grow up and you see these players transform into these unbelievable players. ... We took some amazing steps, but now it's time to take the next step. It's time to be a dominant defense. We have been before, but we all know what's at stake. We all know what time it is."

Front to back, the defense is imposing. It is unquestionably led by veteran "Mike" linebacker C.J. Mosley, who put together his third straight season of more than 100 tackles (152 in 17 games), working in tandem with AP first-team All-Pro Quincy Williams. Jamien Sherwood, in his fourth season, Zaire Barnes, in his second, and Chazz Surratt, in his third, are the young understudies at LB.

Up front, Williams' younger brother Quinnen has been a rock in the middle of the defensive line, joined by the veteran Solomon Thomas. And this season that four-man front will have a different look. Bryce Huff (10 sacks) and Quinton Jefferson (6) left in free agency while John Franklin-Myers (3.5) was traded to Denver. Combined, they contributed 19.5 of the team's 48 sacks. General manager Joe Douglas traded for edge Haason Reddick, who is seeking a new contract and has yet to join the team.

That puts the spotlight on All-Pro Jermaine Johnson (7.5 sacks, 55 tackles, INT-return TD) and opens up opportunities for Will McDonald, the top draft pick last year, and Micheal Clemons. Douglas also nabbed Javon Kinlaw and Leki Fotu in free agency and signed Takk McKinley, who made the 53-player roster along with undrafted rookies Braiden McGregor, Leonard Taylor and Eric Watts.

'We Love Our D-Line'
"We love our D-line, we love our depth, especially at the defensive end position," Saleh said. "We've got a lot of really good depth at the position and they're all taking advantage of the extra opportunities that they're getting. ... I feel like we've got a really good defensive line that's got a lot of depth, and yes, there's production that needs to be replaced, I'm not worried about where it's coming from."

On the back end, the coverage skills of the trio of Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II have enabled the front to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks and to get home. The coaching staff and players have been raving about Qwan'tez Stiggers, drafted after playing in the Canadian Football League, and Jarrick Bernard-Converse, who missed most of last season with an injury.

At safety along with Adams, Chuck Clark, who missed all of last season after sustaining a knee injury in the offseason, returns as does ballhawk Ashtyn Davis (3 fumble recoveries and 3 INTs last season).

"I feel our expectations will always stay the same," Mosley, the defensive captain, said. "Injuries and everything we dealt with last year, you can't control those. But you can control your attitude, how you work every single day. And we've added some great additions through our draft class and some great players through free agency to our talent pool."