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Joe Klecko was surprisingly critical of Mo Wilkerson during a recent appearance on WFAN.
“I think there’s a few too many plays he gives up on a little bit,” Klecko said on WFAN. “You know, he’s big enough to hunt bear with a switch, there’s no doubt. He’s an unbelievable talent, but he has to put it out there every single play. Now, sure, everybody is going to say, ‘Yeah, he does.’ No, he doesn’t, I’m telling you right now. He needs to put it out there every single play. Now, (Sheldon) Richardson does that.”
Honestly, I just didn’t see this problem last year.
Coming out of Temple, this was a concern. No question about it.
After the Jets picked Wilkerson in the 2011 draft, according to Nick Dawidoff, who was in the war room that year, Rex Ryan said to Mo on the phone, “Everything you’ve got Muhammad. None of this every other play bull-bleep.”
So this was an issue in college. But last year, he was such a monster, one of the best defensive players in football. I can’t remember one instance where I thought to myself –
“Wow, Mo is dogging it.”
I think that is an old narrative.
Wilkerson turned into a bonafide star last year.
In perhaps the Jets’ biggest win of the season, a victory of the New Orleans Saints, he was fantastic. He spearheaded this upset. This was a big game, and he came up big.
In the first quarter, Wilkerson shed OT Zach Streif and had a QB pressure.
In the second quarter, Wilkerson beat guard Ben Grubbs for a QB pressure.
In the third quarter, Wilkerson had a near pick.
In the third quarter, Wilkerson split OT Charles Brown and Grubbs to sack Drew Brees.
In the early fourth quarter, Wilkerson got by Grubbs, and drew an illegal hands to the face call.
On the Saints’ final possession of the game, Wilkerson drew a holding call, bringing back a 16-yard completion to Nick Toon.
On the Saints final possession, Wilkerson got by Grubbs, messing up pocket, making Brees move left, and Quinton Coples hit him as he attempted a flip pass – incomplete – that is all she wrote.
Does that sound like a player who takes downs off?
I’m not going to document all his big plays week-in, and week-out, which I could – I have a lot of notes.
And keep in mind, Wilkerson was such a force last year, teams were double-teaming him a lot.
So often-times, on downs he didn’t make the play, he was tying up blockers so the linebackers could. I can’t tell you how many times guys like Calvin Pace and David Harris had clear sailing to the ball-carrier or quarterback because Wilkerson was tying up linemen. This is a big part of the job of a 3-4 end – occupying two blockers so other players can make the tackle.
How about the season nose tackle Damon Harrison had next to Wilkerson? He got a ton of one-on-one blocking scenarios because of all the attention Mo was drawing next to him, and “Big Snacks” took advantage and had a break-out season.
Klecko is going after the wrong guy.
Maybe he’s trying to motivate his fellow Temple Owl by ticking him off.
But honestly, there are 52 other players from the Jets’ 2013 roster we could fine more things to criticize than Mo Wilkerson.
May 6, 2014
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