Jeff Ulbrich cites one area where the Jets defense must improve this weekend

Following the first game of the NFL preseason, New York Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich saw some good things from his defense.

The one thing that he didn’t see quite as much of from his Jets unit as he’d like to? Tackling.

It is understandable, Ulbrich said, given how training camp is set up. Saturday’s preseason opener, a 20-17 win was the first time that his defense was unleashed against an opponent.

There was some rust, but it is part of the progression from training camp to preseason. Saturday’s game at the Carolina Panthers presents Ulbrich and his unit another chance to sharpen up.

He anticipates some starters getting more snaps in this game.

“We’ll see, that’ll probably be a game-time decision between coach Saleh (head coach Robert Saleh) and myself, and the position coach involved but just incremental improvement in every way,” Ulbrich told reporters.

“Game 1, typically from a defensive perspective, tackling is never the greatest because that is really our first real opportunity to get guys to the ground. If there was one thing I could absolutely point to that has to get better, that will get better, is our tackling, our tracking, our wrapping consistently, owning our leverage, using our buddy and getting guys to the ground at a more consistent rate.”

The Panthers lost their preseason opener last weekend 17-3 at the Buffalo Bills.