FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) – The New York Jets have spent the last few days getting back to basics on defense.

Good thing it’s only Week 17.

With the playoffs coming up, better late than never. Especially for a unit that needs to improve in a hurry.

“We better, or we’ll be out quick,” coach Rex Ryan said Friday. “I believe we’ll play well. I really do.”

Aggressive, punishing defenses are Ryan’s bread and butter, and the Jets have been far from dominant. Sure, they’re ranked fourth in overall defense — not bad at face value. But, New York has had several disappointing lapses, particularly in the last few weeks.

That prompted Ryan to stand in front of his players and hold an hour-long meeting on the base defense. A refresher course, of sorts.

“It was good,” defensive end Shaun Ellis said. “It was one of those meetings where he was going through every little detail that we kind of forgot about, things we can do and get accomplished within the defense and why it’s called. Guys kind of got away from that.”

The Jets have allowed 14 offensive touchdowns in the last four games, and given up over 300 total yards in three games in December. Granted, one of their best performances came in a 10-6 loss to Miami three weeks ago, but the inconsistency has frustrated Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.

“We summarized some of the mistakes and when the mistakes start to show up as things that are from ‘Jets Defense: 101′ as opposed to 401, that’s when you need to go back and make sure,” Pettine said. “Sometimes as a coach, when you think guys know, you have to make sure. That’s one of those things where we thought this week was a good week to do it.”

The Jets (10-5) have already clinched a playoff berth, and take on a Buffalo Bills (4-11) team that is trying to end its season on a positive note. While some starters might be rested in the game, Ryan used the week of practice to get everyone back on the same page.

“You assume that you know it,” linebacker Bart Scott said. “I wouldn’t call it a sophomore slump, but whenever you’ve been in something for two years, then you become comfortable and sometimes relaxed and you assume that you know more than you know. What happens is that you forget those small, minute details that are important.”

Ryan started with having more individual practice periods, where techniques — pad levels, footwork, separating off blocks, pursuing the football and taking proper tackling angles — were all stressed. Just like back in training camp.

“Through the course of the season, with our style of play and with new things going in every week, you kind of get away from the base stuff,” Ellis said. “We’re just trying to get back to our base core and things we do good, and just bring that out in the game, penetration in the run game and just causing havoc. Instead of waiting on blockers, go attack them.”

Ryan said all season that the Jets would finish with the league’s top-ranked defense, as they did a year ago. But their play hasn’t matched their coach’s bold expectations.

“We became more of a read defense instead of attacking aggressively,” Ellis said. “Everybody realized that, and that’s why we were playing a little slow. So, now it’s like, ‘OK, guys, we’ve got to attack. Don’t wait for it to come to you. Force it.’ That’s what we did all last year, we were attacking the whole time.”

In the last two weeks, the Jets have allowed Chicago’s Matt Forte to run for 113 yards and Pittsburgh’s Rashard Mendenhall to rush for 99. Having players in consecutive weeks roll up that many yards on the ground is almost unheard of against a Ryan-led defense. Before Forte’s performance, New York hadn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher since Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew in Week 10 last season.

“For us, it’s all about stopping the run,” Ellis said. “We can’t allow teams to run the ball on us. That’s the main thing. We stop the run and get them into third-and-long situations, I think we win that every time.”

The pass rush has also been a glaring issue, with the Jets unable to generate consistent pressure on the quarterback. New York ranks 10th in the league with 37 sacks, but it’s not all about taking the quarterback down. Making them rush their throws and make faster decisions throughout games is the difference between being good and dominant.

“We’re not happy with it and we’re obviously not comfortable with it, but concerned? No,” said linebacker Jason Taylor, who has four sacks. “When you start getting concerned, you end up pressing and doing things outside of what you need to do. So, you just stick with it.”

Ryan said earlier in the week that he wanted his defense to get its swagger back, starting this week. That’s something Scott hasn’t worried about, even through the struggles.

“Do I seem unconfident to you?” Scott said. “We’ll be fine. Just watch and see.”

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets have spent the last few days getting back to basics on defense.

Good thing it’s only Week 17.

With the playoffs coming up, better late than never. Especially for a unit that needs to improve in a hurry.

“We better, or we’ll be out quick,” coach Rex Ryan said Friday. “I believe we’ll play well. I really do.”

Aggressive, punishing defenses are Ryan’s bread and butter, and the Jets have been far from dominant. Sure, they’re ranked fourth in overall defense — not bad at face value. But, New York has had several disappointing lapses, particularly in the last few weeks.

That prompted Ryan to stand in front of his players and hold an hour-long meeting on the base defense. A refresher course, of sorts.

“It was good,” defensive end Shaun Ellis said. “It was one of those meetings where he was going through every little detail that we kind of forgot about, things we can do and get accomplished within the defense and why it’s called. Guys kind of got away from that.”

The Jets have allowed 14 offensive touchdowns in the last four games, and given up over 300 total yards in three games in December. Granted, one of their best performances came in a 10-6 loss to Miami three weeks ago, but the inconsistency has frustrated Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.

“We summarized some of the mistakes and when the mistakes start to show up as things that are from ‘Jets Defense: 101′ as opposed to 401, that’s when you need to go back and make sure,” Pettine said. “Sometimes as a coach, when you think guys know, you have to make sure. That’s one of those things where we thought this week was a good week to do it.”

The Jets (10-5) have already clinched a playoff berth, and take on a Buffalo Bills (4-11) team that is trying to end its season on a positive note. While some starters might be rested in the game, Ryan used the week of practice to get everyone back on the same page.

“You assume that you know it,” linebacker Bart Scott said. “I wouldn’t call it a sophomore slump, but whenever you’ve been in something for two years, then you become comfortable and sometimes relaxed and you assume that you know more than you know. What happens is that you forget those small, minute details that are important.”

Ryan started with having more individual practice periods, where techniques — pad levels, footwork, separating off blocks, pursuing the football and taking proper tackling angles — were all stressed. Just like back in training camp.

“Through the course of the season, with our style of play and with new things going in every week, you kind of get away from the base stuff,” Ellis said. “We’re just trying to get back to our base core and things we do good, and just bring that out in the game, penetration in the run game and just causing havoc. Instead of waiting on blockers, go attack them.”

Ryan said all season that the Jets would finish with the league’s top-ranked defense, as they did a year ago. But their play hasn’t matched their coach’s bold expectations.

“We became more of a read defense instead of attacking aggressively,” Ellis said. “Everybody realized that, and that’s why we were playing a little slow. So, now it’s like, ‘OK, guys, we’ve got to attack. Don’t wait for it to come to you. Force it.’ That’s what we did all last year, we were attacking the whole time.”

In the last two weeks, the Jets have allowed Chicago’s Matt Forte to run for 113 yards and Pittsburgh’s Rashard Mendenhall to rush for 99. Having players in consecutive weeks roll up that many yards on the ground is almost unheard of against a Ryan-led defense. Before Forte’s performance, New York hadn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher since Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew in Week 10 last season.

“For us, it’s all about stopping the run,” Ellis said. “We can’t allow teams to run the ball on us. That’s the main thing. We stop the run and get them into third-and-long situations, I think we win that every time.”

The pass rush has also been a glaring issue, with the Jets unable to generate consistent pressure on the quarterback. New York ranks 10th in the league with 37 sacks, but it’s not all about taking the quarterback down. Making them rush their throws and make faster decisions throughout games is the difference between being good and dominant.

“We’re not happy with it and we’re obviously not comfortable with it, but concerned? No,” said linebacker Jason Taylor, who has four sacks. “When you start getting concerned, you end up pressing and doing things outside of what you need to do. So, you just stick with it.”

Ryan said earlier in the week that he wanted his defense to get its swagger back, starting this week. That’s something Scott hasn’t worried about, even through the struggles.

“Do I seem unconfident to you?” Scott said. “We’ll be fine. Just watch and see.”

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – The New York Jets have spent the last few days getting back to basics on defense.

Good thing it’s only Week 17.

With the playoffs coming up, better late than never. Especially for a unit that needs to improve in a hurry.

“We better, or we’ll be out quick,” coach Rex Ryan said Friday. “I believe we’ll play well. I really do.”

Aggressive, punishing defenses are Ryan’s bread and butter, and the Jets have been far from dominant. Sure, they’re ranked fourth in overall defense — not bad at face value. But, New York has had several disappointing lapses, particularly in the last few weeks.

That prompted Ryan to stand in front of his players and hold an hour-long meeting on the base defense. A refresher course, of sorts.

“It was good,” defensive end Shaun Ellis(notes) said. “It was one of those meetings where he was going through every little detail that we kind of forgot about, things we can do and get accomplished within the defense and why it’s called. Guys kind of got away from that.”

The Jets have allowed 14 offensive touchdowns in the last four games, and given up over 300 total yards in three games in December. Granted, one of their best performances came in a 10-6 loss to Miami three weeks ago, but the inconsistency has frustrated Ryan and defensive co-ordinator Mike Pettine.

“We summarized some of the mistakes and when the mistakes start to show up as things that are from ‘Jets Defense: 101′ as opposed to 401, that’s when you need to go back and make sure,” Pettine said. “Sometimes as a coach, when you think guys know, you have to make sure. That’s one of those things where we thought this week was a good week to do it.”

The Jets (10-5) have already clinched a playoff berth, and take on a Buffalo Bills (4-11) team that is trying to end its season on a positive note. While some starters might be rested in the game, Ryan used the week of practice to get everyone back on the same page.

“You assume that you know it,” linebacker Bart Scott(notes) said. “I wouldn’t call it a sophomore slump, but whenever you’ve been in something for two years, then you become comfortable and sometimes relaxed and you assume that you know more than you know. What happens is that you forget those small, minute details that are important.”

Ryan started with having more individual practice periods, where techniques — pad levels, footwork, separating off blocks, pursuing the football and taking proper tackling angles — were all stressed. Just like back in training camp.

“Through the course of the season, with our style of play and with new things going in every week, you kind of get away from the base stuff,” Ellis said. “We’re just trying to get back to our base core and things we do good, and just bring that out in the game, penetration in the run game and just causing havoc. Instead of waiting on blockers, go attack them.”

Ryan said all season that the Jets would finish with the league’s top-ranked defense, as they did a year ago. But their play hasn’t matched their coach’s bold expectations.

“We became more of a read defense instead of attacking aggressively,” Ellis said. “Everybody realized that, and that’s why we were playing a little slow. So, now it’s like, ‘OK, guys, we’ve got to attack. Don’t wait for it to come to you. Force it.’ That’s what we did all last year, we were attacking the whole time.”

In the last two weeks, the Jets have allowed Chicago’s Matt Forte(notes) to run for 113 yards and Pittsburgh’s Rashard Mendenhall(notes) to rush for 99. Having players in consecutive weeks roll up that many yards on the ground is almost unheard of against a Ryan-led defense. Before Forte’s performance, New York hadn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher since Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew(notes) in Week 10 last season.

“For us, it’s all about stopping the run,” Ellis said. “We can’t allow teams to run the ball on us. That’s the main thing. We stop the run and get them into third-and-long situations, I think we win that every time.”

The pass rush has also been a glaring issue, with the Jets unable to generate consistent pressure on the quarterback. New York ranks 10th in the league with 37 sacks, but it’s not all about taking the quarterback down. Making them rush their throws and make faster decisions throughout games is the difference between being good and dominant.

“We’re not happy with it and we’re obviously not comfortable with it, but concerned? No,” said linebacker Jason Taylor(notes), who has four sacks. “When you start getting concerned, you end up pressing and doing things outside of what you need to do. So, you just stick with it.”

Ryan said earlier in the week that he wanted his defense to get its swagger back, starting this week. That’s something Scott hasn’t worried about, even through the struggles.

“Do I seem unconfident to you?” Scott said. “We’ll be fine. Just watch and see.”

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP)—The New York Jets have spent the last few days getting back to basics on defense.

Good thing it’s only Week 17.

With the playoffs coming up, better late than never. Especially for a unit that needs to improve in a hurry.

“We better, or we’ll be out quick,” coach Rex Ryan said Friday. “I believe we’ll play well. I really do.”

Aggressive, punishing defenses are Ryan’s bread and butter, and the Jets have been far from dominant. Sure, they’re ranked fourth in overall defense— not bad at face value. But, New York has had several disappointing lapses, particularly in the last few weeks.

That prompted Ryan to stand in front of his players and hold an hour-long meeting on the base defense. A refresher course, of sorts.

“It was good,” defensive end Shaun Ellis(notes) said. “It was one of those meetings where he was going through every little detail that we kind of forgot about, things we can do and get accomplished within the defense and why it’s called. Guys kind of got away from that.”

The Jets have allowed 14 offensive touchdowns in the last four games, and given up over 300 total yards in three games in December. Granted, one of their best performances came in a 10-6 loss to Miami three weeks ago, but the inconsistency has frustrated Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.

“We summarized some of the mistakes and when the mistakes start to show up as things that are from ‘Jets Defense: 101’ as opposed to 401, that’s when you need to go back and make sure,” Pettine said. “Sometimes as a coach, when you think guys know, you have to make sure. That’s one of those things where we thought this week was a good week to do it.”

The Jets (10-5) have already clinched a playoff berth, and take on a Buffalo Bills (4-11) team that is trying to end its season on a positive note. While some starters might be rested in the game, Ryan used the week of practice to get everyone back on the same page.

“You assume that you know it,” linebacker Bart Scott(notes) said. “I wouldn’t call it a sophomore slump, but whenever you’ve been in something for two years, then you become comfortable and sometimes relaxed and you assume that you know more than you know. What happens is that you forget those small, minute details that are important.”

Ryan started with having more individual practice periods, where techniques — pad levels, footwork, separating off blocks, pursuing the football and taking proper tackling angles—were all stressed. Just like back in training camp.

“Through the course of the season, with our style of play and with new things going in every week, you kind of get away from the base stuff,” Ellis said. “We’re just trying to get back to our base core and things we do good, and just bring that out in the game, penetration in the run game and just causing havoc. Instead of waiting on blockers, go attack them.”

Ryan said all season that the Jets would finish with the league’s top-ranked defense, as they did a year ago. But their play hasn’t matched their coach’s bold expectations.

“We became more of a read defense instead of attacking aggressively,” Ellis said. “Everybody realized that, and that’s why we were playing a little slow. So, now it’s like, ‘OK, guys, we’ve got to attack. Don’t wait for it to come to you. Force it.’ That’s what we did all last year, we were attacking the whole time.”

In the last two weeks, the Jets have allowed Chicago’s Matt Forte(notes) to run for 113 yards and Pittsburgh’s Rashard Mendenhall(notes) to rush for 99. Having players in consecutive weeks roll up that many yards on the ground is almost unheard of against a Ryan-led defense. Before Forte’s performance, New York hadn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher since Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew(notes) in Week 10 last season.

“For us, it’s all about stopping the run,” Ellis said. “We can’t allow teams to run the ball on us. That’s the main thing. We stop the run and get them into third-and-long situations, I think we win that every time.”

The pass rush has also been a glaring issue, with the Jets unable to generate consistent pressure on the quarterback. New York ranks 10th in the league with 37 sacks, but it’s not all about taking the quarterback down. Making them rush their throws and make faster decisions throughout games is the difference between being good and dominant.

“We’re not happy with it and we’re obviously not comfortable with it, but concerned? No,” said linebacker Jason Taylor(notes), who has four sacks. “When you start getting concerned, you end up pressing and doing things outside of what you need to do. So, you just stick with it.”

Ryan said earlier in the week that he wanted his defense to get its swagger back, starting this week. That’s something Scott hasn’t worried about, even through the struggles.

“Do I seem unconfident to you?” Scott said. “We’ll be fine. Just watch and see.”

A day after the NFL fined the Jets $100,000 for a sideline wall orchestrated by Sal Alosi, New York coach Rex Ryan said that the strength and conditioning coach will remain employed by the team. For now.

“Right now, he is indefinitely suspended,” Ryan said. “Quite honestly, we’re looking to get through the season right now and then [team owner] Woody [Johnson], [general manager] Mike [Tannenbaum] and I will make a decision at a different time. Right now, our focus is on trying to beat the Bills and get ready to move forward in the playoffs.”

Players at the facility had heard the news. Some, like linebacker Bart Scott, said they felt bad for Alosi, who was fined $25,000 by the team for instructing players to stand in a wall.

“Sal is a good guy,” cornerback Darrelle Revis said. “The situation that he was in … nobody forced him to do it. He did that by his own will. But … the only thing we can do is support him and try to move on with what we got here.”

Jeff Cumberland was one of the inactive players who was told to stand in the wall when the Jets played Miami. The wall came to light when Alosi stuck his knee forward and made contact with Miami gunner Nolan Carroll, tripping him during a special teams play. Replays of the incident revealed a line of several players standing together in a way to deter opposing players from coming onto the Jets sideline.

Cumberland was interviewed by Jets security director Steve Yarnell and said that Alosi had been telling players to stand that way all season.

“What happened, happened. It’s over with. They’re settling it the best way they can, so now we’re just moving on with it,” Cumberland said.

Right guard Brandon Moore said that Alosi’s absence hasn’t had a huge effect on the team, if only because he was a coach and not one of the players.

“It wasn’t one of us, it has no impact on us being able to play and prepare for the game,” Moore said. “It’s not like a player and you need to plug someone in there and have an effect on the chemistry.”

Defensive lineman Trevor Pryce said that any group of people is going to have unexpected off-the-field issues crop up. His former Broncos coach, Mike Shanahan, used to address the team about it.

“Mike Shanahan used to say, ‘Everybody’s got some [stuff],’” Pryce said. “That was his thing. He used to say that all the time. ‘Everybody has some [stuff].’ Some guys are gonna get drunk and get DUIs during the season. Some guys are gonna go through divorce in a season. But as long as your teammates can support you through that [stuff] and when someone else has [stuff] and you can support him through his [stuff], you’ll be all right.”

One thing is clear: A number of players on the team are tired of the incessant questions about things that happen off the field.

“I don’t care about all that,” said offensive lineman Wayne Hunter. “All the drama, I’m just sick of it.”

So far the team has been able to play well despite the different issues that have cropped up all year long — from the Internet videos purported to be of Ryan and his wife, to Braylon Edwards’ DWI, to a harassment investigation stemming from the way players and coaches behaved around a television reporter.

The Alosi suspension and the NFL’s $100,000 fine is just another issue.

“We got distractions every day man,” Revis said. “You can just put them on the stack of the other distractions that go around here.”

Jane McManus is a reporter and columnist for ESPNNewYork.com. ESPNNewYork.com’s Mike Mazzeo contributed to this report.