Jets defense wastes no time proving Aaron Glenn right after Steve Wilks firing

The New York Jets made the justified and necessary decision to fire defensive coordinator Steve Wilks last week, replacing him with defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator Chris Harris.

The hope was that firing Wilks would provide a spark to a Jets defense that had been an unmitigated disaster in recent weeks, and through the first half of the team's Week 16 game against the New Orleans Saints, that has definitely been the case.

The Jets allowed just nine points to the Saints in the first half, as New Orleans failed to reach the end zone while averaging just 4.9 yards per play. New York even managed to record its fourth takeaway of the season while holding the Saints to 2.5 yards per carry.

Yes, the Saints' offense isn't very good. Yes, that likely has more to do with the Jets' defensive results improving, if we're being honest. But there has still been noticeable and tangible progress from a process perspective.

Chris Harris is already proving the Jets right for firing Steve Wilks

The numbers only tell part of the story. It’s hard not to notice a discernible difference between Harris’ Jets defense and Wilks’ unit through two quarters. It’s a small sample size, sure, but the improvements have already been noticeable.

The Jets look more prepared under Harris than they did for much of the season with Wilks in charge. Facing a 4th-and-1 earlier in the game, the Jets sniffed out a Taysom Hill sneak attempt, stuffing the Saints and forcing a turnover. Multiple Jets defenders were heard calling out the play before the snap even happened.

The Jets also recorded a sack on a designed, disguised blitz on the first play of the second quarter. That may seem like a minor detail, but it’s exactly the type of impact play Wilks struggled to scheme as the defensive play-caller.

You can even point to the Jets’ situational awareness on the second-to-last play of the first half. Harris had defensive ends Will McDonald and Jermaine Johnson line up five yards downfield along the boundary to prevent any quick five-yard outs that could have given New Orleans a shorter field goal before halftime.

The Saints would miss a 61-yard field goal to end the half instead. It's those types of plays that gave the Jets a schematic advantage despite their lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball.

Yes, it's still early. Yes, the Saints aren't exactly the "Greatest Show on Turf." But the Jets are showing signs of progress under their new defensive coordinator. The Wilks firing already looks even more justified.