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When Rex Ryan said Mo Wilkerson could be “another Richard Seymour,” it sounded like typical Ryan hyperbole.
But maybe not.
Wilkerson finished the game with 10 tackles. For a 3-4 end, that is outstanding. Remember, 3-4 ends do a lot of dirty work to help out players make plays. They usually don’t put up gaudy stats.
The 6-4 Wilkerson is doing a great job of bending his knees, staying low and getting under defenders to stop the run.
Karl Dunbar is a tremendous defensive line coach, and he’s helped Mo with his technique a great deal.
Late in the Dolphins first possession, Wilkerson got real low, and stopped Reggie Bush around the line.
Aside from doing a nice job of staying low, Wilkerson is also very good at making tackles with one arm while being engaged. One the first plays of the Dolphins’ third drive, TE Tony Fasano had Mo engaged, and with one arm, he brought down RB Daniel Thomas after a gain of three.
This guy is really emerging. He looks like he’s going to be special . . .
Kyle Wilson now has an intense spotlight on him with Darrelle Revis out. How did he fair yesterday?
First, let me say, it’s hard to be critical of the 12-yard out he gave up to Fasano late in the third quarter (the play that was challenged, and the Jets lost the challenge).
Wilson had pretty good position, and went up for the ball with Fasano, but lost a tug-of-war. Fasano is 6-4, 255 pounds, and Wilson is 5-10, 189. Do you really expect him to win this battle for the ball with Fasano? No way, so I think we should cut him slack on this play.
Early in the fourth quarter, Wilson had Anthony Armstrong covered like a blanket on a deep pass down the left sideline. He did a very nice job on this play.
On the Dolphins’ final drive of regulation, Wilson had issues with Davone Bess, who has had his number in the past. Remember, they played in college against each other in the WAC – Wilson at Boise State and Bess at Hawaii. This has never been a good matchup for Kyle.
Early in the drive, on a third-and-seven, Bess best Wilson for a gain of 12 over the short middle. Later in the drive, Wilson was called for a 19-yard pass interference call over the mid-deep middle on a pass to Best. Wilson didn’t turn around. This play put the Dolphins in field goal range, and Dan Carpenter tied the game a few plays later.
The Jets can only hope the Wilson-Bess matchup is just one of those things, like Revis-Stevie Johnson.
They can only hope . . .
Speaking of hoping, the Jets are hoping Antonio Cromartie steps into the #1 spot and shines. They need him to be the Cro of 2007 in San Diego, when he was dominant (10 picks). He was All-World that year.
He’s got to be better than that out-route by WR Brian Hartline that he bit on in overtime. Hartline then headed up field, caught a deep bell, leaving Cro in the dust for a gain of 41. This could have lost the game for the Jets. It put the Dolphins in field goal range, but they missed the kick. That didn’t look like a veteran cornerback move. Cro is better than that.
PREMIUM WILL RETURN BY 9 PM ON WEDNESDAY.