HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- The Jets have fallen so far, so fast that it seems like another lifetime when their players were making statements like these. quarterback Vinny Testaverde, Aug. 20: "I feel like I'm playing similar to (the way) I did in '98."

Strong safety Sam Garnes, Aug. 25: "Our offense has as much talent as any offense I can think of. As a defense, we just need to get them the ball. Once we start playing great, you're looking at a lot of teams getting blown out."

Four weeks into the season, the Jets were reeling with three consecutive losses by a combined score of 102-13, their worst three-game stretch since the Jets were called the Titans in 1962. Testaverde, 38, was benched in favor of Chad Pennington. The first-round pick in 2000 opened some eyes with his inspired play and excited head-butting, but the Jets lost again, 29-25, to the Kansas City Chiefs, dropping to an astonishing 1-4.

	12 Jan 2002: Quarterback Vinny Testaverde #16 of the New York Jets looks down field during the AFC Wild Card game against the Oakland Raiders at the Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Raiders win 24-38.

What went wrong for a team that talked openly and confidently about making a Super Bowl run this season? Here are the top five of many reasons:

1. Defensive makeover backfires
The Jets' braintrust gushed over bringing in five free-agent starters on defense, but it's been a disaster -- nothing like the Rams' success in 2001 with eight new defensive starters.

Linebacker Sam Cowart, cornerback Aaron Beasley and Garnes have all struggled. Garnes' lack of speed is exposed in the Jets' two-deep zones, Cowart has been slow to adapt to a new system, and Beasley's liabilities in coverage are more glaring than the Jets thought. Cornerback Donnie Abraham isn't making big plays, but he's shown the most promise.

Defensive tackle Josh Evans has been a force when in the lineup, but he lacks stamina and has to be rotated because he missed the offseason program due to a dispute with the league over a drug suspension (which he won). Another free-agent backup tackle, Larry Webster, has been a nonfactor.

In retrospect, the Jets would have been better off keeping cornerback Aaron Glenn with a restructured deal and cutting Marcus Coleman instead of packaging both cornerbacks with offensive right tackle Ryan Young in the expansion draft. But they jumped at a quick fix for clearing $14 million in salary-cap room.

"I don't know if it's too many changes," head coach Herman Edwards said. "Some changes were necessary. Some changes were going to happen anyway because of the money the guys wanted and the money we offered them. With some of them, we felt we were getting a pretty good player. Now we have to get them to play better."

The Jets wanted to keep weakside linebacker James Farrior, who was replaced by Cowart. But Farrior's agent made unrealistic contract demands, and he signed with Pittsburgh for less money. Strong safety Victor Green also took less money than the Jets offered, signing with New England for the veteran's minimum.

2. Martin's injury and Testaverde's demise
Testaverde might still be the Jets' starting quarterback if Curtis Martin hadn't severely sprained his left ankle in the season opener in Buffalo. Martin, who hasn't missed a start since 1998, was hobbled badly and rushed for only 98 yards in the first four games. He finally got on track with 119 yards on 21 carries in Pennington's first start, but it was too late for Testaverde.

The offense, which clicked in limited action against vanilla defenses in the preseason, became one-dimensional. The Jets' offense revolves around the running game, regardless of who is playing quarterback. Testaverde, for his part, didn't respond well to the blitzing and different coverages that teams were able to use because the Jets couldn't run the ball effectively.

Martin deserves credit for trying to help his team despite swelling in his ankle that reached the size of a fist. But a case can be made that Edwards should have forced Martin to sit in Week 2 against New England to get better, handing the ball to capable backup LaMont Jordan.

3. Offensive line struggles
Obviously, it was wrong to assume that the team could make a seamless transition up front after losing two starters (offensive right tackle Young and offensive left guard Kerry Jenkins) and veteran offensive lineman coach Bill Muir. Edwards and general manager Terry Bradway recognized this and signed free-agent Dave Szott to replace Jenkins at left guard. But Szott tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in a minicamp practice, pressing backup J.P. Machado into a starting role.

Young's replacement, second-year offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie, has played decently. And while the line was more consistent against the Chiefs, its early struggles across the board doomed the Jets' offense in the first four weeks. The biggest problems consistently have been on the left side, with Machado and offensive tackle Jason Fabini playing poorly.

It will be a big challenge for new offensive lineman coach Doug Marrone, who had no NFL coaching experience before this season, to get this group to play better. As teams start seeing more film on Pennington, they'll have a better idea of how to blitz him more effectively.

4. Pass rush vanishes
With first-round draft pick Bryan Thomas lining up opposite John Abraham in passing situations, the Jets were supposed to have one of the most fearsome speed-rushing tandems in the NFL. Through the first five games, they managed only eight sacks. Edwards aptly described Thomas as "a rookie trying to find his way, trying to figure everything out." It's been a slow learning curve so far, and Thomas had to deal with the distraction of an accusation from a woman who claimed he slugged her at LaGuardia Airport last month. The accusation turned out to be bogus, and charges weren't filed, but it weighed on Thomas' mind.

Abraham only recently has begun to shake off the effects of a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee, suffered in a training-camp practice. With little pass rush from his linemates, Abraham also is being neutralized by double-teams and chip-blocks. The other starting end, Shaun Ellis, has played well against the run and has pressured the quarterback at times. But he isn't a classic edge-rusher and has yet to recapture the success he experienced as a 3-4 end in his rookie season under Al Groh.

5. Training-camp schedule
It's fair to say that Edwards will have to re-evaluate his training-camp regimen next summer. His methods for keeping players fresh for the stretch drive -- few practices in pads, little contact and days off every Sunday during camp -- did not work this time. Toward the end of camp, it was a party atmosphere, with a Hawaiian luau capping the festivities on the night the team broke camp.

In fairness to Edwards, the days off were more noticeable because the Jets had two Thursday preseason games, meaning the players didn't work on Fridays in addition to their automatic Sunday off. Edwards has said he will always award them Sundays off during camp to spend time with their families. But with so many new players on defense still struggling to play together five weeks into the season, it's now obvious that this team couldn't afford any perks.

Next summer, bag the luau.

Ken Berger covers the Jets for Newsday.

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