The defensive line was not a position of prominence for many Jets watchers last season. But the unit did get better as the season grew older. Shaun Ellis could sense it.

"We were just going out and trying to execute our technique and play defense. It was new to a lot of people," said Ellis about his and his linemates' reintroductionel to the 3-4 front and two-gap technique. "At the beginning it was rough for us, but by the end we were playing better. A lot of us took it as a challenge and said we're going to make this work."

It wasn't a season-long Picasso. The Jets finished 24th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed, and the D-linemen totaled a modest 9.5 sacks.

But consider where the Jets were at midseason, and Ellis' contention holds up. Coming out of their Week 9 bye week, they were 31st in the league in rushing defense, yielding 143.0 yards per game and 14 rushing touchdowns.

In their last eight games, the Jets cut opponents' rushing success to 117.5 yards per game and — very impressive — one rushing TD. Further, while the line was limited in getting to the quarterback, the defense as a whole improved from 13 sacks in the first half to 22 in the second.

"We're 3-4 linemen now. We're not going to have stellar games, we're not going to make fancy plays," he said. "The way you have to grade us is how we're building the wall, setting the edge."

Or creating havoc in the middle. Dewayne Robertson didn't have gaudy numbers in his first year as predominantly a 3-4 nose, but while fans seemed underwhelmed by D-Rob, his teammates and his coaches raved about his impact.

"I'm pretty comfortable, pretty confident in what I'm doing and what they're asking me to do," Robertson said at midseason. "The numbers aren't showing it, but we've been getting better in our run fits, doing the things we're supposed to do, playing blocks the way we're supposed to play them. Everybody's just getting better at being where they're supposed to be."

Robertson did have an unofficial career high with 61 tackles. His 2.5 sacks were not a personal best, and he forced one fumble, the same as he had in each of the previous two seasons. He caused three penalties, a career high, and didn't commit any of his own.

"He had a tremendous year," Ellis said. "He never did that before [played 3-4 nose] in his life. He took it full-head. He worked hard, studied film. He said, 'If this is what I have to do for the team, then that's what I have to do.' "

Ellis did his part, coming up with two sacks of Peyton Manning in Game 4 and then the sack out of a three-man rush of Tom Brady that sealed the Game 9 upset win at New England.

Kimo von Oelhoffen had a quiet year after coming over from Pittsburgh as an unrestricted free agent, but KVO brought experience and professionalism with him from the Super Bowl Steelers that rubbed off on younger Jets and started all 16 regular-season games at right end.

And Bobby "Dawg" Hamilton showed he still had life by rotating in at 3-4 end and in the sub front. His biggest play was taking down J.P. Losman on a naked bootleg for a 9-yard loss, forcing the Bills to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown in the Jets' 28-20 upset in Game 3 at Buffalo.

The unit has already gotten some new blood this off-season, with Kenyon Coleman and Michael Haynes coming in at end. At nose, C.J. Mosley showed some giddyup when he finally saw regular action beginning with Game 13 vs. the Bills, and Sione Pouha returns after sitting out all last season with a knee injury.

And Ellis has become the consummate professional. He had a down year, along with a lot of other Jets, in 2005, then had to reeducate himself in his new role last season. But as he starts his eighth Green & White season and puts in his time in the off-season strength and conditioning program, he is the model of professionalism — not to mention optimism.

"As a lineman, you've got to find a way to incorporate your game into the scheme of the defense — and Coach Mangini will make sure you're doing your assignments," Ellis said with a laugh. "This is our second year in this defense. People know what to expect now. I'm expecting us to come out better than we did last year."