FLORHAM PARK — The Jets’ defensive line was supposed to be the team’s greatest strength this season. Instead, through six games, the unit is still looking for its first sack.

That seems like a major reason for concern. But apparently, it’s not.

“It’s a long season,” defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said on Wednesday. “You can ask any defensive guy: sacks come in bunches. So it’s Week 6, Week 7, there’s no need to panic about sacks. Last I heard about this league, it’s about winning and that’s what we’re trying to do here.”

But what the Jets haven’t been doing is getting to the quarterback. They’re 31st out of 32 teams overall with seven sacks in six games. Most surprisingly has been the inability of Wilkerson and Leonard Williams, both former Pro Bowlers, to get to the quarterback. Both players are looking for their first sacks of the season.

But coach Todd Bowles defended his two star linemen on Wednesday, growing more and more annoyed as he faced a barrage of questions about the duo.

“They’re playing hard and they’re playing well and they’re everything we’re asking them to do,” Bowles said. “I’m not disappointed in those two at all.”

A few questions later, after Bowles refused to reveal specifically what he’s been asking Wilkerson and Williams to do, Bowles was asked if it’s acceptable that the Jets defensive line has yet to record a sack.

“Nobody is playing great when you’re 3-3,” Bowles said. “You’re playing average football. It has nothing to do with Mo or Leonard. It has to do with our entire team. I’m not going to sit here and make excuses about two guys when we’ve got 11 guys on each side of the ball. So, if you want to nitpick, go for it.”

After another follow-up question, Bowles made it clear that the topic was no longer up for discussion.

“I’ve made my comment, guys,” Bowles said. “Take it or leave it.”

No matter how Bowles or the defensive linemen try to spin it, the Jets are not getting pressure on the quarterback. And it’s problem. According to Pro Football Focus the Jets are 24th int eh NFL in combined quarterback hits and hurries with 74 — in addition to having the second-fewest sacks the league.

But Bowles insists it's not a glaring issue.

“I don’t know if you worry about it,” Bowles said. “As long as you’re getting turnovers and you’re hitting the quarterback you don’t worry about it too much. We’re trying to win ballgames, we’re not trying to pad stats.”

Whatever the issue is, the Jets defensive line is not worried about the lack of sacks. Defensive end Kony Ealy pointed out that the Jets have been forcing turnovers — nine so far this season — and winning the field position battle.

“When you’re out there getting sacks, it’s great and all,” Ealy told NorthJersey.com. “But if you’re not making a huge impact in making turnovers and putting us in a good position to score, what are the sacks going to mean?”

Bowles did admit that the defensive line “can do better,” but it’s clear he’s not making it a priority over other phases of the game.

“There are a lot of things that we have to get better at that are unacceptable to me,” Bowles said. “But winning games is the biggest thing for me. The other stuff comes with it. Sometimes you can get sacks and win games, sometimes you can get sacks and lose games. It doesn’t bother me. If we win ballgames it’s fine.”

And as for the lack of sacks. Everyone on the Jets defense agrees it’s only a matter of time.

“In this business, I know a lot of people are graded off stats,” defensive tackle Steve McLendon said. “But in reality, you need to graded off wins and losses. We’re 3-3, we’re .500 right now. We need to be focused on nothing but beating Miami. That’s it. The sacks are going to come, and when they come they’re going to come in bunches.”

“I’m not satisfied,” Ealy said. “Obviously we can always do better. We will do better. We’ve got too much talent on our d-line not to cover all ears, not to cover all phases of the stat game. But I’ve been in this league four years now, and I know what it looks like, I’ve been a part of it. They [the sacks] will come, and when they come they’ll come in a lot of bunches.”

Email: vasqueza@northjersey.com