Before he embarked on his first training camp as general manger of the Jets, GM Darren Mougey wanted to make sure his team and his organization didn't have to worry about any external noise. Mougey and HC Aaron Glenn identified WR Garrett Wilson and CB Sauce Gardner as foundational pieces of their program and Mougey and Nick Sabella, the team's senior director of football administration, signed their young stars before practices began last month in Florham Park.

"Players that fit our culture, our brand -- we targeted those guys through free agency and identifying Sauce and Garrett as young, talented players that have produced in this league and done well and guys we want to be part of this for the long haul," Mougey said during the CBS broadcast of Jets-Giants Saturday night. "Getting around those guys when we first got here, seeing what they're about, how they work, how they lead -- it was important for us to make sure we had those guys around and really got that done in the offseason so we could avoid any distractions at training camp. And I'm glad it worked out."

Mougey, who also signed QB Justin Fields in April, has seen continued progression from QB1 and said his process will continue well into the season.

"You come into a new building, new faces, new players, new systems, new coaches – it takes time," Mougey said after Fields' short stint vs. the Giants. "But to see the operation each and every day get cleaner and cleaner and better and we're just in the preseason. Even as you go through the season, you kind of see your identity and how you're going to do things, evolve and then week-to-week based on your opponent. But it's been really good, his approach is awesome, and we've seen some good things."

Since they locked arms in January, Mougey and Glenn have shared the same philosophy in team building.

"Right away, the vision and the language that we were using for both sides of the ball, establishing the run and playing fast and physical on defense was a theme," he said.

Glenn has continually set the tone for the players throughout the summer. After his team's 31-12 loss to the Giants Saturday night, Glenn said his team was "sloppy" and "undisciplined" and that they need to rise to a standard.

"His passion, you feel it every day and you said it – he's direct," Mougey said. "When he said he's going to fix it, he's going to fix it. It's awesome to work with him every day, to see him lead these guys and they respond. He challenges them every day and you see these players respond."

Mougey and Glenn and their respective staffs are entering a critical nine-day stretch. The Jets will practice on Tuesday and Wednesday before breaking camp. They'll complete the preseason Friday night against the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles at MetLife Stadium. Next Tuesday (Aug. 26), all 32 NFL clubs have to reduce their rosters to 53 players. The following day (Aug. 27), teams can begin to form their practice squads of 16 players.

"We're evaluating everything and everybody top to bottom, and evaluating the rest of the league too," Mougey said. "So, it's a busy time of year but it's a fun time of year. These next two weeks are big for a lot of guys around the league."