Rex Ryan Barks On Defense

Rex Ryan's defense is hardly a statistical embarrassment, but the Jets coach delivered a message this week that hit home with a unit that ranks in the top five in total defense, rush defense and points allowed: It's not good enough.

"It's a little embarrassing being where we are right now," Ryan said Wednesday.

Talk about high standards.

Only two teams have allowed fewer points than their 150. The Jets are fifth in rush defense (89.6 yards) and second in yards per carry allowed (3.4).

But...

"We haven't dominated," linebacker Bart Scott said. "We haven't beaten a team into submission for 60 minutes. That's what we expect. That's what we got to get back to. That's what we're striving for."

The Jets have allowed 20 points four times - including each of the past two weeks - an unacceptable reality by their standards. Last week's 26-20 overtime road win over the Browns actually left some of the defensive players with a hollow feeling.

"We won the game, but if you look at the attitude around here and the feeling around here, it's almost like we lost because we didn't win the way we wanted to win," Scott said. "At the end of the day, we're not competing against the opponent. We're competing against ourselves to be the best defense that we can be. If that's No. 1, great. But we think we can be a lot more than No. 1."

The first order of business will be correcting what linebacker David Harris calls "the weak link" of the unit: the short-to-intermediate pass defense in the middle of the field. For the better part of the past few weeks, teams have eschewed Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie and attacked linebackers and safeties in coverage.

A Daily News game tape analysis revealed that Jets linebackers and safeties have allowed 13 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown in the past two weeks. They've also committed two penalties, including one that led to another touchdown.

"You got guys like Revis and Cromartie on the outside, so they take those (outside) throws away," safety Eric Smith said. "(Opponents) got to look inside and hopefully get a mismatch."

Said Harris: "Not too many teams are going to attack Revis and Cromartie on a consistent basis."

The Browns certainly didn't on Sunday. Eric Mangini's team used shallow crossing routes with tight ends and slot receivers to exploit the Jets' man-to-man coverage schemes. Revis said that the Jets defense will have to do a better job identifying which players are the crossers.

In a copycat league, teams will certainly use the Lions' and Browns' game plans sprinkled with pick, or rub, routes to try to take advantage of Ryan's penchant for playing man coverage. The obvious counter will be to mix coverages like the Jets did in the final two quarters in Cleveland. Ryan's defense played a blend of zones and man to help neutralize the crossing routes.

The Texans run plenty of inside breaking routes. For all the focus on premier wide receiver Andre Johnson, quarterback Matt Schaub makes a living throwing to his running backs and tight ends, who have accounted for 39% of his completions this season. Schaub will throw inside the numbers early and often.

"When you're facing two great corners on the outside, that's what you're supposed to do," Jets safety Brodney Pool said. "We have to find ways to take those things away."