Glenn’s Approach to Roster Building
As a first-time head coach, Glenn has made it clear that he’s not afraid to incorporate young players into his lineup. Reflecting on advice he once received from Jeff Ireland, he shared his philosophy. “You can’t be afraid of young players,” Glenn said last week of Ireland’s guidance, via Rich Cimini of ESPN.
While some coaches may prefer to start their tenure with trusted veterans who are familiar with the system, Glenn is focused on finding the best players, regardless of their age. “Listen, do we want younger players? Absolutely. It’s a young man’s game,” Glenn said.
“It’s a young man’s game, but we want players that can help us win. So if those players happen to be 30 years old, we get those players. It just so happened that we got younger while we got players that could help us win.”
Jets Roster: A Shift Towards Youth
Last year, the Jets had 12 players over the age of 30. Currently, Glenn’s squad includes five players in that age range: quarterback Tyrod Taylor (36), long-snapper Thomas Hennessy (31), wide receivers Allen Lazard (30) and Josh Reynolds (30), and guard Zack Bailey (30).
By shifting towards a younger roster, the Jets hope to maintain better health and set a solid foundation under Glenn’s leadership. After finishing last season with a 5-12 record, the team believes that embracing youth can lead to better outcomes, especially since they haven’t posted a winning record since 2015.
