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Florham Park – This might be an example of coach-speak to the nth degree . . .
Todd Bowles was grilled today about the play of Leonard Williams and Mo Wilkerson
And he gave the media nothing.
There were a bunch of questions about their pass rush. I’m going to leave that alone. As I have said before, I don’t think we need to obsess over sack totals by 3-4 defensive linemen. To me, most of the sacks in the 3-4 defense should come from the outside linebackers. I’m not saying they shouldn’t get some. They should, but to me, you focus more on the outside linebackers in this system.
The run defense is more of an issue. Wilkerson had one tackle last week. That means he obviously didn’t have a lot of tackles in run support.
Williams had three tackles.
Here is an excerpt from the press conference –
Q)Are you disappointed that Williams and Wilkerson have not produced statistically as well as many observers would have predicted?
Bowles: They’re playing hard. They’re playing well and they’re doing everything we’re asking them to do. I’m not disappointed in those two at all.
Q)What specifically do you mean when you say ‘asking them to do?’
Bowles: Just play football, specifically.
Q)Do want Wilkerson and Williams to play the run more?
Bowles: I want them to play football and do just what we have been asking them to do.
Q)Why are you not disappointed in the performance of Williams and Wilkerson thus far?
Bowles: I’ve made my comment guys, take it or leave it.
I will leave it.
Look, I understand coach-speak, but this is a little over-the-top.
“They’re doing everything we’re asking” and “I’m not disappointed in those two at all.”
Come back to us, coach.
If they are doing everything you are asking them to do, you need to raise the bar.
Wilkerson had one tackle against New England.
The Jets’ run defense has been terrible, sans the first Miami game, and those two guys are part of the first line of defense.
It’s not all their fault, obviously, but not sure this pair is “doing everything we’re asking.”
That’s hard to believe.
And then he said, “I’m not disappointed in those two at all.” And he had to add “at all” for emphasis.
Both guys need to play better, especially Wilkerson.
Sometimes coach-speak is taken to an extreme where it makes you think you are living in a parallel universe.
One other thing on the Jets’ run defense.
Like I said, it’s obviously not the all the fault of Williams and Wilkerson.
I asked Wilkerson what can be done to improve the Jets’ run defense.
He talked about a problem being “filling gaps wrong.”
I think he’s totally right. I saw major gap integrity issues the last few games.
I mentioned Ed Stinson having issues last week, which I attribute to rust.
Also, the linebackers have had some issues in this regard.
I think one of the problems is all these new pieces, like Stinson, and three outside linebackers added late. There are chemistry issues.
No question the gap work needs to improve.
But also Wilkerson and Williams need to wreck more havoc up front.
It’s impossible to truly believe they are “doing everything” the team is asking them to do.
October 18, 2017
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