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Before I drop this truth bomb, I want to make to clear – Aaron Glenn is doing the right thing by having his players back publicly.
There is nothing to be gained by critiquing your players in the press.
Glenn was asked about the contributions of the rookie class and said, “All those guys have had to play a key cog in what we’re doing.”
He added: “When they play well, like Kiko’s done, man, that only helps your team.”
Is Kiko Mauigoa playing well?
Great kid, very nice young man from American Samoa. Tough as boot leather, a big hitter who gives you everything he’s got, but is he playing well?
But this is another example of how poorly football is covered.
Because the sport is so complex and has numerous moving parts, many details are often overlooked. I’m guilty of this also, but I try to be a little less by going over the game with a fine-tooth comb.
The coverage of Mauigoa is a little out of touch.
Most people, because they don’t have the time, or don’t want to be bothered covering linebackers (like defensive tackles), just repeat what the coach says.
Or they will see a nice play in run support, a big hit, and base their analysis on something like that.
And Mauigoa, in his defense, was forced into action before he was ready due to injuries. However, he has had issues in pass coverage.
And while his run defense has been better than his coverage, he’s also taken some bad angles on run plays and missed some tackles.
An example of a missed tackle was on third-and-two at the 11 against Cincinnati, Samaje Perine went up the middle for 10 yards to the 1 yard-line. Defensive tackles Harrison Phillips and Quinnen Williams got locked up at the point of attack (for those who care about DT play), and behind them, Mauigoa missed a tackle on the second level.
But Mauigoa’s run defense has been much better than his pass coverage. In coverage, he has too often been out of position, and late triggering, a “see-and-go” reactor as scouts often put in, as opposed to seeing things before they happen.
In five starts this year, Mauigoa has no PDs and no interceptions.
The lack of interceptions is no big deal. Linebacker interceptions are rare, but he has not gotten his hand on a football in coverage in five games, and he’s in coverage a lot.
Look, I’m not looking to pick on him, but just “going by what I see fellas” as Bill Parcells like to say.
But I have zero issue with what Glenn said.
That kind of support for his players is a big reason why they would run through a brick wall for him.
While Glenn still needs some work in some aspects of coaching, like all rookie coaches, his leadership and motivation are top-shelf. Doesn’t need any work there.
But anybody outside the building, who watched the rookie’s five starts and thinks he’s “playing well” it’s unclear what they are watching.
Like a lot of rookies, he needs a lot of work, and that is one of the reasons he went in the fifth round.
Just like safety, Malachi Moore needs a lot of work.
But my position has always been not to grade rookies on a curve who are playing in NFL games.
The stakes are too high.
If coaches want to do that, get them experience via a trial by fire; that is the coach’s right.
But that isn’t how a reporter should approach it in a results-based business.
And reporters should not be stenographers.
When Glenn benched Jamien Sherwood on defense for the first quarter against Cincinnati, if the Jets wanted a replacement with much more experience, who was better in coverage, that clearly should have been 28-year-old Mychal Walker, who is in his sixth year in the league.
October 30, 2025
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