FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers put it up on the board in his meeting room, a not-so-subtle message to his players:
29th in run defense.
"That's not up to our standards," said New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, who perceived Rodgers' comments as a challenge to the defensive line.
At the quarter mark of the season, the Jets are allowing 144 rushing yards per game. That stings because, for the all their issues in recent years, they've always been able to stop the run. From 2009 to present, they've surrendered the third-fewest rushing yards in the NFL.