FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The Jets' defense took a big hit with the loss of Darrelle Revis, but Antonio Cromartie still loves the chemisty, especially in the secondary. Cromartie spoke candidly Wednesday, saying the current secondary is a closer unit than a year ago.

"I don't think we had that much trust in each other, because we were flipping so much in and out -- Jim Leonhard, Brodney Pool, Eric Smith," Cromartie said, referring to the 2011 safety troika. "Now we have a steady group. It makes things a whole lot easier."

Interesting remarks, for sure, because the now-departed Leonhard always was considered the glue to the group.

"One of the things last year that beat us was we were never on the same page on the back end," Cromartie said. "Even with Darrelle in the secondary, we never communicated the right way. I think we're doing a better job this year of communicating than the past two years.