Yes, no Jenkins, no Thomas, no Ellis and no or very little practice...it all adds up. This is not the same team we had two years ago and it shows every Sunday.
There's another big factor here though. Rex Ryan's defense imploded in two straight AFC championship games. The swagger they had in 2009 is not there because every player on the field who played in those two games knows the defense came up short at the biggest times. A huge part of defensive fortitude is knowing that you're going to get the big stop when you need it. Knowing that you're going to get the ball somehow when you need it. Knowing that you're better than the best of the other side of the ball. The Jets don't have that any more. They know if they get on the field against the best they're just as likely to fold like a house of cards as anything else. The Jets are going to have to rebuild the heart of the defense inside before they get anything different in terms of swagger. That means another good ILB, a better NT or rotation there and a really good safety anchoring things behind them.
