Jets cornerback D.J. Reed says improved secondary can be 'dominant'

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – D.J. Reed, one of the big pieces in the Jets’ much-improved defensive backfield, believes the secondary can be dominant and said a Super Bowl berth this season is not farfetched.

“It’s not,” Reed said Wednesday. “I don’t think it is because when you think about it it’s kind of like déjà vu. My rookie year in San Francisco we went 4-12. Got some guys in the draft, got some guys in free agency and we were in the Super Bowl.

“We went to the Super Bowl from being 4-12 the year before. I don’t think it’s farfetched, especially with the additions we brought upon.”

The Jets, who were 4-13 last year, have had a good offseason. General manager Joe Douglas addressed needs all over the field. He did some of his best work in the secondary.

It was critical for the Jets to address the defensive backfield. The NFL is a passing league and having a stronger secondary to cover receivers will allow the front four to be disruptive.

Reed and safety Jordan Whitehead were the main veteran free-agent additions. The Jets also drafted cornerback Sauce Gardner with the No. 4 pick. He was the best corner in the draft and is expected to start on the other side of Reed.

“I’m excited,” Reed said. “I think it’s special. I think we have the guys to do more than just get the job done. I think we can dominate. As far as the cornerback group, I feel like it’s the best group that I’ve been a part of.”

Robert Saleh said Gardner has to earn his spot. He’ll be competing with Bryce Hall, who was the Jets No. 1 corner last season. Reed likely takes over that spot this season.

Reed, who played two seasons in Saleh’s defense in San Francisco, signed a three-year, $33 million deal with the Jets. The coaches have been nothing but impressed with Reed’s effort and leadership throughout OTAs.

“You can almost him grunting on tape and the volume’s on mute with how hard he plays and how hard he’s getting in and out of his breaks and how important every single rep is too him,” Saleh said.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was even more effusive in his praise of Reed, who spent the past two years in Seattle.

“A lot of people throw that term around, ‘He’s a dog. He’s a dog.’ He is a dog,” defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. “He epitomizes it every way. He’s overcome a lot to be where he’s at today and he will only get better. I don’t think this league has seen what he can become.

“He’s a guy that drives that room … He’s a guy that’s constantly challenging the group, constantly bringing guys along, brings energy, brings passion. He will make everyone better. Not just the corners, he’s going to make our entire defense, our entire team better.”

The Jets were a very young secondary last year. Hall, in his second season at the time, was the elder statesman. They also lost their veteran safeties LaMarcus Joyner and Marcus Maye to injuries.

The young group had to grow up together and they did with rookies Brandin Echols and Michael Carter II starting most of the games at corner. The safety position was piece-mealed together with Port Jefferson’s Elijah Riley starting seven games at the end of the season and rookie Jason Pinnock sliding from corner to safety.

The Jets re-signed Joyner and added Whitehead, who spent four seasons in Tampa Bay where he won a Super Bowl two years ago.  Whitehead said he sees a “hungry” group in the secondary that could be just as good if not better than his Tampa teams.

“This group is very smart, a lot of hard workers,” Whitehead said. “I don’t see no difference between this group and the last team I was on and the group of guys I played with, Richard Sherman and all those guys.

“We got it here. We got everything we need: the ability, the toughness and the smartness to play this game, so there’s no doubt we should be the best group.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.