In his time as a New York Jet, DL Harrison Phillips has almost exclusively taken defensive snaps. But for the eight-year veteran, paying close attention to the other two phases of the game is still critical.
"I always appreciate getting the messaging for the entire team and organization," Phillips said Monday. "… I like to know what our punt return unit needs to work on just so when I see a teammate who's on that team and I'm in the sauna I can ask him, 'What are we doing to get 1 percent better?'"
Getting 1 percent better was HC Aaron Glenn's message ahead of a Week 8 matchup in Cincinnati, and the Jets delivered as they earned their first win of the 2025 season in dramatic fashion. The team then entered its Week 9 bye with a much-needed boost, but still plenty to evaluate.
And as players returned to 1 Jets Drive on Monday, HC Aaron Glenn shared a new, but similar, message.
"A little bit of the messaging is just what can we do better -- if we're about halfway through the season -- to carry the momentum of the win from two weeks ago to go 1 and 0 each week from here on out?" Phillips said.
Part of carrying that momentum forward, Phillips said, will depend on how well the Jets are able to build on the things they have done well while making strides in the areas they have struggled. Glenn said throughout the first half of the season, the Jets have played "supportive football" -- when one unit has struggled, others have found success. But as the Jets look ahead to the back half of the season, playing complementary football will be the point of emphasis.
"You've seen what our offense can do, you've seen what our defense can do, you've seen the consistency of our special teams," Phillips said. "Man, can we put it all together for a stretch of time?
"I am super excited and optimistic that we're going to see that form of this team from this organization moving forward."
For Phillips, who said he is a diligent note taker in team meetings, it begins with understanding the areas for growth in all three phases.
"To hear what [Glenn] had to say about the offense and the special teams as well as my side of the ball, I think it's great for accountability amongst the whole building."
