Rick Gosselin

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The New York Jets needed a quarterback to compete with the New York Giants for attention in the Big Apple. That's why they traded up for Southern Cal's Mark Sanchez in the 2009 draft.

But the Jets needed defense to compete for NFL championships. That's why they hired Rex Ryan.

And defense is why the Jets are the talk of the NFL after two weeks. Ryan brought the same nasty defensive mentality to New York that he brandished in Baltimore and has the Jets alone atop the AFC East with a 2-0 record.

Even more surprising than New York's place in the standings is its place in the NFL's defensive rankings. First. And the Jets have achieved that spot in grandiose fashion with victories over two supercharged offenses – Houston and New England.

The Jets visited the Texans and their 3,000-yard passer, the NFL's leading receiver and a 1,200-yard rusher on opening day. New York held the Texans without an offensive touchdown in a 24-7 victory. The Jets limited the Texans to 183 yards and forced two turnovers.

Then the Jets hosted Tom Brady and the Patriots and held them without an offensive touchdown in a 16-9 victory. The Jets did not sack Brady but hit him 23 times in his 47 pass attempts.

Even though Ryan inherited the NFL's 16th-ranked offense, he brought great expectations into 2009. The son of Buddy Ryan knows no other way. In Ryan's four seasons as the coordinator in Baltimore, the Ravens never finished lower than sixth in the NFL in defense.

With Baltimore, Ryan's units have led the NFL in defense (2006) and interceptions (2008) and also allowed the fewest points in 2006. The Ravens led the AFC in run defense twice (2006-07) and takeaways (2006). Baltimore also set a franchise record for sacks (60) in 2006.

So Ryan knows his system works. He also knows what makes his system work.

"It's about the players," Ryan said. "It's not about driving a square peg in a round hole. It's the players over the system."

Ryan kept seven of the Jets starters from a year ago: ends Shaun Ellis and Calvin Pace, nose tackle Kris Jenkins, linebackers Bryan Thomas and David Harris, cornerback Darrelle Revis and safety Kerry Rhodes.

Then Ryan signed three of his former Ravens in free agency – end Marques Douglas, Pro Bowl linebacker Bart Scott and safety Jim Leonhard. He also acquired veteran Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard in a trade with Philadelphia and signed another cornerback, Donald Strickland, away from San Francisco in free agency.

Ellis missed the first game with an NFL suspension for misconduct and Pace is halfway through a four-game NFL suspension for substance abuse. So Ryan still hasn't been able to line up his 11 defensive players of choice yet.

This defense will get better. And so will the Jets.

rgosselin@dallasnews.com