FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets were 0-2, on their way to 0-7 and eventually 3-14, when Aaron Glenn delivered a line that still resonates. "Big ships turn slow," the coach said last September.
Translation: Don't expect an overnight miracle after more than a decade of losing and dysfunction.
Glenn inherited a team that seemed lost at sea -- a league-low.311 winning percentage from 2016 to 2024 -- but now he's had more than a year to implement his program, and there's no reason why it shouldn't look better in 2026.
"We're still turning that ship -- we're still turning it -- but I like exactly where we are," Glenn said last week.
Training camp ends Tuesday, the preseason culminates Friday against the New York Giants (7:30 p.m. ET) and soon Season 2 of the Glenn era will be underway.
Here's a look at 10 things we learned in training camp:
1. Glenn has changed
He seems more at ease than last year, not as edgy. Maybe it's because he's back in his comfort zone, calling the defense -- his "super power," as he noted in the offseason. Maybe it's because his revamped coaching staff is more experienced than last year, particularly with offensive coordinator Frank Reich on board -- a departure from first-timer Tanner Engstrand.
Maybe it's simply his natural evolution as a head coach. It's probably all of the above.
Glenn said his rookie year taught him the importance of being able to "pivot" -- changing on the fly if something (or someone) isn't working.
2. Speaking of a pivot...
Subscribing to load management, Glenn dialed back training camp in the interest of preserving players for the regular season. An extreme example: Linebacker Kiko Mauigoa received a veterans' rest day because his practice rep count was soaring, according to Glenn. Mind you, Mauigoa is only 23 years old. Typically, the rest days are reserved for the guys in the 30-and-older club.
Glenn, who last year made such a big deal out of having live tackling in practice, eliminated the drills from this year's script while claiming, "I want to be the best tackling team in the NFL." He believes "thud" tackling (hitting and wrapping up but not going to the ground) promotes better technique.
In his soul, Glenn is an old-school coach, but he is embracing new-school concepts such as sports science and artificial intelligence.
Geno Smith threw 17 interceptions for the Raiders last season, the most since his rookie season (21 in 2013). Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images 3. Geno Smith hasn't changed At 35, Smith still throws a gorgeous ball -- his upper-body mechanics are pristine, Reich said -- but he's still prone to interceptions, based on what he showed in camp. He threw a league-high 17 interceptions last season for the Las Vegas Raiders, and it'll be up to Reich and quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave to coach that out of him. He was sharp in his preseason debut Friday night against the Steelers, illustrating how good he can be when he's on.