First I think this comparing squad by position or position group is an exercise in futility. Positions and position groups don't play one another so it is irrelevant.
Second, I think the Jets' personell are living on reputation over production. People still think LT is the same guy who started the season in 2006 form and not the guy who is playing like he did the previous two years as of right now. They look at Shonn Greene as the guy who ran all over teams in the playoffs last year, not the one one who runs for two yards and a cloud of dust right now. They look at this defense as the blitzing defenses of last year that gave opposing QBs fits and not the one this year that has trouble putting pressure on the QB blitzing six players.
Third, football won by the team and not the sum of its parts. If Super Bowls were awarded to the most talented team every year, the Redskins would have won a few in this decade and the Chargers would have at least three in the past decade.
Fourth, people are not giving any player on this defense any credit. You go other team's board's site and mention Mayo as a Pro Bowl candidate, they laugh at you. You say that McCourty is a DROY of the candidate, they joke about how many points the Pats have given up this year (as if the LCB is responsible for every point lost). You say Chung is turning into one of the better safeties in the league and scoff how he is just another in a long string of Patriots draft mistakes (they still think the last two drafts were busts too). If fans think that, you gotta think a lot of the talking heads feel the same way.