FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets still haven't established their identity. Four games should be enough time to form a style -- a brand, if you will -- but they're still searching.
And that's troubling, especially as they embark on a four-game stretch (including three at home) that could define their season and the future of coach Aaron Glenn.
The Jets have said they want to be a physical team that controls the trenches, punishing opponents with their running game and disrupting quarterbacks with a combination of ferocious rush and sticky coverage.
Oh, they've had moments, maybe nine quarters of efficient football, but encouraging stints often don't equate to wins. And they haven't for the Jets (1-3), who have dropped three straight after a dominating victory over the winless Tennessee Titans in Week 1.
"To me, your identity is, 'What does the other team say about you?'" Glenn said in training camp.
Let's examine that thought. After pounding the Jets on Sunday, Chicago Bears linebacker Devin Bush told reporters, "Probably one of the easiest NFL games I done played in, and I'm not sore at all."
Glenn dismissed the comments, saying Bush probably was alluding to the lopsided time of possession and not directly criticizing the Jets. In fact, Bush did mention the staggering possession disparity -- 42:45 to 17:15. But even if he wasn't trying to throw shade at the Jets, it was perceived that way after the video clip went viral. When a player refers to an "easy" win, regardless of context, it's bound to raise eyebrows.
Such is life for the Jets.
"Three straight losses is tough to stomach," center Josh Myers said.
They have lost 17 of 21 games under Glenn, who is trying to eradicate the losing mentality that has enveloped the franchise for years. The fanbase has turned on Glenn, once a popular player for the Jets, and he needs to come up with answers -- quickly.
After going 0-3 against the NFC North, the Jets have reached the so-called "soft" part of their schedule -- but it's not nearly as soft as it appeared to be in August. They host the Cleveland Browns (3-1) on Sunday, followed by a road game against the New England Patriots (2-2), followed by home dates with the Miami Dolphins (0-4) and Las Vegas Raiders (3-1). The Raiders and Browns, both led by first-year coaches, are among the year's biggest surprises. Still, these are games the Jets can't afford to squander.
"We've got the biggest part of our season starting now," wide receiver Garrett Wilson said after the 23-12 loss in Chicago.
Glenn's challenge is to define the team's identity, something it can hang its hat on. He can start with the defense, his pride and joy.
After a promising start -- No. 1 in yards allowed after two weeks -- the defense has regressed over the last six quarters. It has allowed 44 points and 727 total yards over that span, in large part because of a pass rush that has disappeared. The Bears' Tyson Bagent, who started for the injured Caleb Williams, was barely touched.
The front four, which includes No. 2 pick David Bailey, has registered zero sacks and only four quarterback hits over the last two full games. Glenn acknowledged the issue, saying they must "improve" their rush plan.
"That's something that I have to do a better job at," Glenn said, "making sure that I get our guys to understand that."
The Jets invested heavily in their front, drafting Bailey, trading for nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat and signing Joseph Ossai to a three-year, $34.5 million contract. They haven't received much bang for the buck.
Glenn, who took over playcalling this season, has the seventh-highest blitz rate (38%) -- but they're still not affecting the quarterback. The first interception of the Glenn era came Sunday, when safety Minkah Fitzpatrick ended the longest drought in NFL history -- 20 games.
The Jets had gone 643 pass attempts without a pick. Mathematically, the odds of a defense going exactly 643 attempts without an interception are 1 in 1.63 million, assuming a standard league-average interception rate of 2.28%.
That's a damning trend for any coach, let alone a defensive-minded head coach whose philosophy is predicated on ball disruption.
Offensively, can the Jets rediscover the ground game? It looked so good in the opener, with Breece Hall rushing for 102 of the 152 yards, but they've managed 67, 58 and 59 yards in the three games since. They certainly miss Hall (quadriceps), who sat out Sunday, but the offensive line -- supposedly one of the team's strengths -- is underperforming.
When the ground game sputters, it ripples through the entire team, forcing adjustments.
"Obviously, we're all frustrated and disappointed," said Myers, who insisted, "We're going to win games."
Meanwhile, the pressure is mounting on Glenn, whose record after 21 games is the second worst in franchise history. Only Rich Kotite (3-18), who coached in 1995 and 1996, won fewer games in his first 21. Glenn knows the history; he played on those Kotite teams.
Glenn is convinced that he has the right winning formula, and that the team is making progress even though it's not apparent in the standings. Ultimately, he will be judged by owner Woody Johnson.
"There are some positives that came out of this [last loss]," Glenn insisted. "Sometimes everybody just focuses on the negative part of it, but our deal is we're going to make sure we try to continue to improve on that and hopefully, from the outside, our fans will see that."