Rex Ryan predicted Tuesday the New York Jets will finish with a top-five ranking in total defense, Rich Cimini of ESPN New York reports. "We will be," he said. "Right now, we're not there. Obviously, we have to make some improvements, especially after this past week. But I'm certainly confident that we'll be where we always are -- or better." Asked why he's so confident, Ryan replied, "My history." The Jets finished eighth in total defense a year ago, but they also ended 20th in points allowed for the second straight season. Under Ryan, the Jets have finished first, third, fifth and eighth in total defense, fattening up last year's stats on a bunch of horrible opponents at the end of the season. In the offseason, new GM John Idzik took a wrecking ball to the unit, letting some good players walk out the door, namely LaRon Landry and Mike DeVito. We have a lot of good players," Ryan said. "There’s going to be a lot of new faces in there, but I guess, you put that decal on the side of your helmet, it says ‘New York Jets,' so you have to be special. You have to understand there are expectations that come along with it. I expect our guys to play extremely well." Source: The Redzone
