3 key things NY Jets must focus on during OTAs

The New York Jets open their first set of OTA workouts this week under head coach Aaron Glenn.

While the organization has entered the offseason workout plan with a new sense of positivity thanks to a new coach and quarterback, they still have many things to improve on.

With one of the younger rosters in the league and plenty of problems from the following year to fix, the Jets have three things they need to focus on more than ever over the next few weeks.

1. Discipline

Here’s the primary issue that Glenn and the Jets need to resolve.

New York was a historically undisciplined team under prior management. The Jets led the NFL with 261 penalties over the past two seasons, 18 more than the closest team.

It won’t get any easier with Glenn, though.

With Glenn as their coach in 2024, the Detroit Lions defense tied for the most defensive pass interference penalties (17) and the most defensive holding penalties (10). The Lions played an aggressive brand of football under Glenn. Some would argue that they were too aggressive.

If the Jets want to be successful in 2025 and beyond, their head coach and roster will need to figure out how to minimize the penalties and mistakes.

2. Turnovers

The Jets believe Justin Fields’ unique ability as a runner can lead them to victories.

For it to work, though, Fields must curb one of the main issues plaguing his career: turnovers. He’s got 43 of them in 44 career starts (31 interceptions, 12 lost fumbles). This is a familiar issue for the Jets, who consistently struggle with giving the ball away.

There’s reason to believe Fields is on a path to fixing this part of his game. With the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, Fields threw a single interception in 161 pass attempts, resulting in a career-low interception rate of 0.6%.

If he can keep that turnover rate down, and the rest of the New York offense does the same, the Jets will find themselves in plenty of close games.

3. Trenches

The Philadelphia Eagles showed last February that having an elite offensive and defensive line can lead a team to a Super Bowl win against teams with superior quarterbacks.

Fields isn’t going to win many quarterback battles heading into Sundays. He is too inconsistent as a passer to be expected to go up against the Josh Allens or the Lamar Jacksons of the world.

That doesn’t mean New York is doomed, though. If they can get dominant play from their offensive line and see improvements in the defensive line, the Jets may well find a way to not only be competitive, but become the kind of team no one wants to play.

That group is in there somewhere. It’s up to the coaches to harness that.