Aaron Glenn vows to make Jets fixes — but the problems may run deeper

Aaron Glenn is the first Jets coach to start 0-5 with the team.

Despite that shaky start, Glenn said he is not deterred.

“We’re going to stay the course,” Glenn said Monday. “We’re not going to waver. We’re not going to let any of the outside noise to get us to have issues between each other. Coaches and players, we’re on the same page. Trust me when I tell you that. We’re going to continue to work our ass off until we get this thing fixed.”

Glenn’s words are all he has right now. The Jets have not produced any results. Sunday’s 37-22 loss to the Cowboys was the latest blow to Glenn and his team and the most embarrassing.

The Jets fell behind 30-3 before scoring some late touchdowns that made the score more respectable.

The Jets have started slow since their Week 2 loss to the Bills. The last time they scored a first-half touchdown was Week 1 against the Steelers.

They have fallen behind by two scores in their last four games before scoring their first touchdown.

Starting slow is not sustainable for any team, but it is even more detrimental to a team like the Jets that is built on running the ball. They are not a quick-strike offense and when you are down by 20 points at halftime, the game plan goes out the window.

On Sunday, the Jets drove down the field on their first drive and had to kick a field goal. This comes a week after an impressive opening drive ended in a fumble against the Dolphins.

The defense then gives up a score or two and the Jets end up in chase mode.

“The offense did a really good job driving down the field, and we ended up getting the field goal. We should have gotten seven on that, but we got points,” Glenn said. “Defensively, that’s when we have to make sure we end up stopping teams. I think the last couple of games, we have given up a touchdown or field goal in that situation. That’s an emphasis of ours.

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“Starting fast is something that we want to do. For us to play the way that we want to play, it’s important for us to do that.”

Another issue that showed up against Dallas was the team responded poorly to adversity.

Breece Hall fumbled in the second quarter when the Jets were only trailing 10-3. The defense then allowed two touchdowns in the final two minutes, and suddenly, the team was down 23-3.

Glenn said the team has to be mentally tougher.

There also was a question of whether the Jets players who have done a lot of losing are in “here we go again” mode.

“I know for a fact that our players have bought into what we’re doing,” Glenn said. “That’s why I know it’s not a, ‘here we go again.’ Every day, we emphasize it. Every day, we talk about it. We attack those things every day, and our players attack them, too. I am not worried about that part, the ‘here we go again.’ ”

Harrison Phillips, the veteran defensive tackle who joined the team in training camp, said if players still have scars from all the losing the Jets done in recent years, the team has to work through that.

“I think the word ‘scars’ might be a good one to use,” Phillips said. “I think all of us are molded and shaped by our past experiences. Let’s say that there were scars — I’ve had a few surgeries myself — the only way to get through that scar tissue is to break it up. It is a very painful process. Maybe that’s a good phrase for this thing. Our players and staff who have been here who might have some scars, it does take some time to break up that scar tissue.”

Phillips said the defense needs to shut opponents down after a turnover.

“We need to build a little bit of the mental toughness,” Phillips said. “I think after the turnover you’d like to see a more mature unit take the field, kind of a ‘hey guys, this is our opportunity to go make a big play, get the momentum back on our side.’ I think that’s an area we can improve on.”