kelly Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email print comment For two years, Muhammad Wilkerson chafed because he outplayed his rookie contract and wanted a new deal from the New York Jets. He finally got it and it was a whopper -- five years, $86 million. That changed things. When an athlete starts making top-of-the-market money, it raises expectations. Maybe it's not fair, but that's how it goes in our sports society. Wilkerson is making $22 million this year, second-highest among defensive ends, but he's not producing like a $22 million player.Wilkerson has gone four straight games without a sack, his longest drought since the first five games of the 2012 season. That was his second year in the NFL, when he was a young pup. He has improved steadily over the years, becoming one of the better defensive linemen in the sport. He deserved the big contract, especially after a 12-sack season a year ago Despite a shortage of impact plays (only 1.5 sacks), Wilkerson isn't playing poorly this season. Some people might look at his numbers and conclude that he has downshifted now that he has a ginormous bank account, but that would be unfair. He's playing at a solid level, just not an elite level. There are a couple of reasons why. He's overworked. Wilkerson has played in 299 out 309 defensive snaps, a ridiculously high number for a 300-pound defensive lineman. Coach Todd Bowles said the pass rush wore down Sunday against Ben Roethlisberger, who was sacked only once in his 380-yard, four-touchdown passing day. It's no wonder they got worn down. As usual, the Jets didn't rotate their linemen, which means they probably were on fumes by the fourth quarter. The scheme has changed. In case you haven't noticed, the Jets have played mainly 4-3 fronts, with Wilkerson at left end. Bowles has transitioned away from the 3-4 to accommodate the talent on the defensive line (and lack of talent at outside linebacker). As a result, Wilkerson is living on the edge -- literally. He has lined up 79 percent of the time at left end, according to ESPN Stats & Information. A year ago, Wilkerson split his time between outside and inside, depending on the front and down/distance. He enjoyed the best of both worlds, as he was able to beat guards with his quickness and overwhelm tackles with his power. They're not maximizing his versatility as much as they did last season; offenses know where he's lining up. In theory, Wilkerson should be thrilled with the scheme change because, traditionally, 4-3 ends produce more sacks than 3-4 ends. But I'm not convinced that applies here because he's not a natural edge rusher. He's a defensive tackle playing end. Basically, the Jets are playing with four defensive tackles on the line."He was doing a lot of the same things last year when he had 12 sacks," Bowles said. "That's not the issue at all. People are paying more attention to him. He's getting doubled a little more." In Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Wilkerson was double-teamed on 11 of 44 pass-rushing plays, by my count. He was chipped on another five plays. He was singled on 28 plays. Crunch the numbers, and you'll see that he drew extra attention on one-third of the passing plays -- not an overwhelming number.The most glaring example came on Leonard Williams' strip sack in the fourth quarter. The Steelers slid their protection to Wilkerson's side, doubling him. That left Williams singled up against the left tackle, and he bull-rushed him into Roethlisberger. Wilkerson indirectly affected that play. But there weren't enough of those plays. Roethlisberger's trigger was too quick for the Jets, as he exploited their overmatched secondary with a barrage of short passes. As a result, Wilkerson made little impact.Still, the great players find a way, especially in clutch situations. They find a way to overcome double-team blocks and scheme changes and workload. Wilkerson hasn't done that, and he came up small on a pivotal play in Pittsburgh.At the start of fourth quarter, down by only four points, the Jets allowed Big Ben to hold the ball for more than three seconds on his 5-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown-- an eternity that close to the goal line. Wilkerson tried a spin move on third-string right tackle Chris Hubbard, a former undrafted free agent who made his first career start. Actually, it was his first game ever at right tackle.Wilkerson's didn't get close to the quarterback. He was stoned by a nobody when his team needed a big play. Four games and counting. > http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/63822/jets-mo-wilkerson-mired-in-longest-sack-slump-in-four-years-but-why Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Blocker Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 I think that article is a bit too nice to Wilk. He was playing opposite a third stringer, and had very little impact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 The only reason to shift us to chiefly lining up 4 across is the coach's stubbornness. He and Maccagnan look at our roster and see 4 outstanding + talented DLmen. What he should be seeing is 4 outstanding + talented DTs. Wilkerson isn't going to do a big around-the-RT loop en route to pressure/contain the QB from outside in less than 4-5 seconds. He moves really well for a 315-lb man, but he doesn't move really well compared to a 255-lb man. David Harris can barely cover the ground needed with 4 linebackers, let alone as one of 3 (and amazingly, sometimes Sheldon Richardson is one of them as well), making it a joke to expect these short/intermediate passing lanes to be defended consistently. Then the added time the QB gets - a QB that is capable of delivering it - lets him stare down a receiver running deep without much fear of interruption. These are the types of breaks and good plays that seem to go our way when we're playing stiffs, but matched up against the league's better teams it should be obvious they aren't in that class.The poor coaching and present lack of player fire notwithstanding, we do have a lot of individual talent on the defense. The problem (or one of them, anyway) is they aren't all suited to play on the same defense with each other, let alone together in the scheme the coach wants to force-feed like Herm force-feeding his beloved Tampa-2. Despite the coach's preaching about speed, this is a defense that is singularly suited to stopping the run, plus one speedy rookie LB. It's a mishmash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augustiniak Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 the defense is better with mauldin and not richardson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sperm Edwards Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 They needed to pull the trigger on the best deal they could get with Mo early on, even if it seemed like poor value to the fans that overrate him, or re-sign him early on and instead take the best deal they could get from Sheldon (again, even if we're not getting back great value). OR resist the temptation and don't draft a third one with the 6th pick in the country no matter how great of a prospect he is and keep them all. And keep in mind, at the time we already had 3 of them plus Snacks, not 2. They had Mo, Sheldon, Coples, Snacks, and then they draft Williams with the 6th pick in the country. He's a super player and would be a great pick for a team that needed him. For the Jets, they had to unload 2 of these DE/DT hybrid linemen, not just one plus their NT. How many DTs does a team freaking need? The result has been 100% what one would expect: a devastating rush defense that relies upon shadow-perfect CBs and/or above-average coverage from safeties & LBers to do much more than that. The QBs simply have too much time with four 300-lb men out there - and that's when one of them doesn't regularly drop into coverage - plus a MLB that runs no faster than any of these huge linemen himself. While it sounds good as a cliché to say just bring in the best players we can get our hands on and we'll figure out how to use them all properly, it doesn't work in practice if we want to actually be a superbowl contender. To do that we need players who are suited to playing with each other in all aspects of the defense not just some, so we aren't forcing players onto the field out of position just to get them all out there at the same time. Drafting pure BPA at the position of single least need - or re-signing one to a $17M/year contract - means you're going to have to let go of redundancy with similarly-suited player(s) already here. Casual fans can see this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawk Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 "Roethlisberger's trigger was too quick for the Jets, as he exploited their overmatched secondary with a barrage of short passes." Hmmm, maybe they should play up on the receivers, perhaps even with inside position, and give the defensive line a chance to make a play. Is there any defensive player that get to the QB in less than a second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly12 Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Our defense is a mess our defensive coordinator is not using players to the best of his advantage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerfish Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 "In case you haven't noticed, the Jets have played mainly 4-3 fronts, with Wilkerson at left end. Bowles has transitioned away from the 3-4 to accommodate the talent on the defensive line (and lack of talent at outside linebacker). As a result, Wilkerson is living on the edge -- literally. He has lined up 79 percent of the time at left end, according to ESPN Stats & Information. " Dumbass Bowles.....talent on the line 100% equal Sheldon Richardson, lets ignore that we drafted two promising olbs in Mauldin and Jenkins who have no where to play and drafted a 3-4 ILB in Lee who is not suited to a 4-3 and a NT in mclendon in FA. WORST thing to happen to this team was Richardson coming back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASH1962 Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 On 10/11/2016 at 10:07 AM, Augustiniak said: The defense is better with mauldin and not richardson. How's about playing Richardson at his natural DT position instead of our idiot CS trying to fit a square peg into a round hole at LB? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Blocker Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 3 hours ago, Sperm Edwards said: They needed to pull the trigger on the best deal they could get with Mo early on, even if it seemed like poor value to the fans that overrate him, or re-sign him early on and instead take the best deal they could get from Sheldon (again, even if we're not getting back great value). OR resist the temptation and don't draft a third one with the 6th pick in the country no matter how great of a prospect he is and keep them all. And keep in mind, at the time we already had 3 of them plus Snacks, not 2. They had Mo, Sheldon, Coples, Snacks, and then they draft Williams with the 6th pick in the country. He's a super player and would be a great pick for a team that needed him. For the Jets, they had to unload 2 of these DE/DT hybrid linemen, not just one plus their NT. How many DTs does a team freaking need? The result has been 100% what one would expect: a devastating rush defense that relies upon shadow-perfect CBs and/or above-average coverage from safeties & LBers to do much more than that. The QBs simply have too much time with four 300-lb men out there - and that's when one of them doesn't regularly drop into coverage - plus a MLB that runs no faster than any of these huge linemen himself. While it sounds good as a cliché to say just bring in the best players we can get our hands on and we'll figure out how to use them all properly, it doesn't work in practice if we want to actually be a superbowl contender. To do that we need players who are suited to playing with each other in all aspects of the defense not just some, so we aren't forcing players onto the field out of position just to get them all out there at the same time. Drafting pure BPA at the position of single least need - or re-signing one to a $17M/year contract - means you're going to have to let go of redundancy with similarly-suited player(s) already here. Casual fans can see this. I had not posted much here in the 15 off season, but it did look to me like the Jets should have looked at trading Wilkerson if he was not going to sign a fair contract. I get that Richardson was facing the suspension, and Williams was a rookie. But they knew what Wilkerson was demanding. If it was really out of reach, or more accurately looked that way at the time, then a trade is certainly something they should have really pursued. From all reports, meaning lack thereof, it seems they did not do that. Given how the ensuing situation played out, is it really so hard to say what happened was all that unexpected? The Jet FO put themselves in a position where Wilkerson basically had to only sit there and not accept a contract for less than he got (assuming as I do that the contract he signed was better for him than what was offered last year - imo a very fair assumption(we would have heard if the contrary was true, one way or the other)). Meanwhile no real interest for a trade for him developed. WHy be surprised at that? From the outside it looked like Wilkerson was either asking for too much money, or the Jets were asking for/expecting too much in value. Here the key is the uncertainty provided by his contract situation made it too hard for anyone to put an accurate trade value on him. And also meanwhile the Jets were not going to just let him go. How then did the Jets benefit from not moving him last year? It's easy to say they at least got the use of him last season, but then they might have also gotten a player of equal value. But let's say they would have gotten picks for this year's draft instead - was waiting still a better deal for the Jets? I think not. Sure he played well last season, playing for his contract. But as of now? Nope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted October 14, 2016 Author Share Posted October 14, 2016 -- New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, mired in his longest sack drought since 2012, agrees with his critics. Asked to assess his performance through five games, Wilkerson said Thursday, "Sh---y." Come again ? "Sh---y," he said matter-of-factly. Wilkerson has come under fire for the first time in his career. He's coming off a 12-sack season and his first Pro Bowl selection, which helped him land a five-year, $86 million contract in July. He opened the season with 1.5 sacks against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he has gone four straight games without a sack. "I'm not about to make excuses," Wilkerson said. "We all have to play better." Indeed, the Jets have managed only five sacks since exploding with seven sacks in the opener. At the same time, the pass defense has struggled. They've allowed eight touchdown passes in the last two games, and now they go on the road to face Carson Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald and theArizona Cardinals on Monday night."It's getting thrown over our heads, we have to pressure, we have to get sacks, we have to play better defense," Wilkerson said. "Everything is hand in hand," he continued. "The DBs have to play better coverage, we have to get after the quarterback more. We've got a lot of talented guys up front. People are going to scheme us up and block us different ways. Like I said, it works hand in hand." Defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said the defensive line, which includes three former first-round picks, has performed better than any other position group on defense. The Jets are No. 2 in rushing defense (68.4 yards per game), but Wilkerson, Richardson and Leonard Williamshave combined for only seven sacks, including five by Williams. Richardson said opponents have adjusted after their seven-sack onslaught of Andy Dalton in Week 1. "The Bengals are a vertical team and hold the ball a little longer, so you get more time to get to the quarterback," he said. "That's the reason guys are getting the ball out quick. They noticed that and I'm pretty sure offensive coordinators don't want to give up seven sacks in a game. ... They've been hitting us with quick stuff and they've been successful doing it." Palmer is known as a vertical passer, so the Jets should have opportunities to sack him. "If we can't get to him," Rodgers said, "it's going to be a long day for us." > http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/63910/jets-de-mo-wilkerson-offers-blunt-self-evaluation-of-his-season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted November 5, 2016 Author Share Posted November 5, 2016 It's never dull around the New York Jets. This week, we turn our attention to what figures to be a hot story in the offseason. #jetsmail @RichCimini Is it possible that Wilkerson gets traded in the offseason now that he has a "team-friendly" contract and keep Sheldon 1:30 PM - 4 Nov 2016 @RichCimini: There is virtually no chance of trading Muhammad Wilkerson. His contract makes it prohibitive and his play this season won't attract many suitors. As Sheldon Richardson noted the other day, he probably will be the "odd-man out," not Wilkerson or Leonard Williams. From a salary-cap standpoint, the Jets would get hit with a $12 million dead charge in 2017 by trading Wilkerson, meaning they'd save $6 million because his cap charge is $18 million. But that's not even the biggest issue. They'd have to find a team willing to pick up the remaining four years of his contract -- a total of $64 million, including a fully guaranteed $14.75 million in 2017. That's not happening. Not only is Wilkerson playing below expectations, but he's dealing with complications from offseason surgery to repair a fractured fibula. He's playing through pain and missing a lot of practice time, and it has to be affecting him on the field. We didn't pay much attention to the injury when he signed his five-year, $86 million deal in July because we all assumed, "Everybody heals from a broken leg." Obviously, there have been complications. For the team's sake, you hope it's not a long-term problem. The first real opportunity to get out of the Wilkerson contract is March of 2018. His $16.75 million base salary for '18 becomes fully guaranteed if he's on the roster on the third day of the league year, so the Jets have to make a decision by then. They could cut him at that point and extend Richardson (or use the franchise tag), allowing the two defensive linemen to stay together for the '17 season and keeping Richardson for the long term. That plan, too, has its risks. It's a complicated decision. > http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/64592/could-jets-turn-the-tables-and-trade-mo-wilkerson-after-the-season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted November 8, 2016 Author Share Posted November 8, 2016 New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson skipped an Oct. 22 walk-through/defensive meeting in which there were plans to serve cake to celebrate his 27th birthday, a league source confirmed. The no-show, first reported by the NFL Network, came to light Monday -- one day after Wilkerson and fellow defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson were benched for the first quarter of the Jets' 27-23 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Coach Todd Bowles again refused to explain why he benched two of his best players, but a source said it was because they were late to a team meeting last week."It's a coach's decision," Bowles said Monday, repeating what he said after the game. "My decisions I make outside of injuries and football are usually handled in-house. I don't divulge that kind of information, one way or the other." Wilkerson's absence Oct. 22 was the day before the Jets faced the Baltimore Ravens at home. He missed that game because of an ankle injury and was back in the lineup the following week against the Cleveland Browns.Wilkerson and Richardson have been reprimanded on more than one occasion this season, a source said, but Sunday was the first time it resulted in the loss of playing time in 2016. The Jets tried to trade Richardson before last week's deadline in part because of concern about his attitude, sources said. Bowles said he has no problem with either player. Asked if he is satisfied with their level of commitment, he said, "Yes, I am." "I know how we handle things in here and everybody is accountable for their actions, and we handle things in here," Bowles said. "I'm perfectly fine with those two commitments." Neither player stayed in the locker room after the game to speak with reporters, an apparent violation of the NFL's media policy.The benchings, coupled with a Brandon Marshall-Ryan Fitzpatrick argument on the sideline Sunday in Miami, has cast the Jets as a dysfunctional team. Earlier in the season, Richardson and Marshall had a heated locker room exchange after a loss. Bowles said there are no problems in the locker room."Not at all," he said. "We had more turmoil going on last year when we won four, five in a row. This year is normal. Brandon and Fitz talk on the sideline all the time. That's just football talk. That goes without saying. Mo and Sheldon are fine." Marshall gave a lukewarm response when asked if every player is buying in."You never know. It's the NFL," Marshall said. "There are so many different personalities in the room." Bowles has come under fire for the 3-6 record and the Jets' perceived lack of discipline. He insisted the team is a "close-knit group," adding that he is "completely" certain he has control of the locker room."I know me, I know how I address the team, I know how the team responds," Bowles said. "I have no issues with that." This was Wilkerson's second known transgression. He was late for a meeting in December and benched for the first quarter of a win over the New York Giants. Before training camp, the Jets signed him to a five-year, $86 million contract.For Richardson, this has been another season tainted by controversy. He began the year with a one-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. He pleaded guilty to resisting arrest, stemming from a high-speed police chase in 2015. He served a four-game suspension at the start of the 2015 season for a marijuana violation. > http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17995729/muhammad-wilkerson-sheldon-richardson-new-york-jets-benched-first-quarter-vs-miami-dolphins-team-meeting-violations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted November 16, 2016 Author Share Posted November 16, 2016 — This past summer, the Jets gave defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson a five-year contract that includes $53.5 million guaranteed, with $36.75 fully guaranteed upon signing. So far in 2016, Wilkerson has not performed like a high-dollar player, though a lingering ankle injury has impacted his production. Wilkerson has just 2.5 sacks, after accumulating 12 last year, when he made his first Pro Bowl. Does he believe he has earned his lucrative contract so far? "Hell yeah, I feel like I earned it," Wilkerson told NJ Advance Media on Thursday. "I earned everything I have. Nothing was given to me. I earned everything that I have."Yes, Wilkerson's strong play in his first five seasons (36.5 sacks) resulted in his payday. But what about this season? Does his performance justify the money? Many fans look at his numbers and believe he hasn't been worth big bucks. "I go out there and do the best I can," Wilkerson said. Wilkerson counts $10 million against the Jets' salary cap this season and will count $18 million against their cap next year. Does it bug Wilkerson that some fans believe he hasn't been worth his contract? "Everybody is entitled to their own opinion," he said. "I don't worry about that." But he made it clear that he hasn't played to his own expectations in 2016. "It's not up to my standards," Wilkerson said. "I know I'm a better player. But it's the type of season I'm having. Still got six games left. I'm going to finish the season strong, as best as I can." The Jets are 3-7 at their bye week. Wilkerson said "of course" he expected more from himself in 2016 than just 2.5 sacks through 10 games, one of which he missed due to his ankle injury. "It doesn't [just] have to do with pass rush," he said. "Overall, I expected more of myself. I hold myself to higher standards. It's not what I'm doing right now out on the field. But I make sure I give everything I got when I'm out there."His off-field work ethic has been justifiably called into question, however. He has been late to meetings and missed the Jets' walk-through a day prior to last month's game against the Ravens, which he sat out due to his ankle. Wilkerson publicly acknowledged his ongoing tardiness problems, and promised they would not be an issue in the future. Jets coach Todd Bowles suspended Wilkerson and defensive end Sheldon Richardson for the first quarter of the Week 9 loss at Miami, due to their tardiness issues. On a whole, the Jets' defensive line has disappointed this season. The Jets had seven sacks in their season-opening loss to the Bengals. Since then, they have just 12 sacks in nine games.Second-year pro Leonard Williams is having a strong year (six sacks), and defensive tackle Steve McLendon ranks second on the team with 3.5 sacks. But in addition to Wilkerson's meager total of 2.5, Richardson has just 1.5. A mitigating factor for Richardson has been his frequent usage as an outside linebacker. And surely, Wilkerson's ankle has contributed somewhat to his limited pass-rushing production."I won't use the ankle as an excuse, can't use the ankle as an excuse," Wilkerson said. "I'm just going to do whatever I can when I'm out there. I'm going to keep going out there [in the final six games] and doing the best I can when I'm out there, in the time that I have. I always have confidence in myself. "We know we've got talent. We didn't expect ourselves to be 3-7 right now. We can't worry about the outsiders. But we're 3-7 right now, and we just have to continue to fight each and every week, and hopefully finish this thing strong." > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/11/jets_mo_wilkerson_during_down_year_on_big_contract.html#incart_river_index Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted November 16, 2016 Author Share Posted November 16, 2016 Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer Jets GM Mike Maccagnan declined to offer his take on Mo Wilkerson's recent disciplinary issues. The Jets gave him a five-year, $86M contact before training camp, and he hasn't produced. "I feel good about that going forward," Maccagnan said of the commitment to Wilkerson. > http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted November 22, 2016 Author Share Posted November 22, 2016 — Muhammad Wilkerson isn't happy. And it's hard to blame him. On the field, the Jets' new $86-million man has dealt with injuries that have led to a drop in production. He has just 2.5 sacks through nine games. Off the field? Things are even worse. After admitting to regularly missing and attending meetings late, many have questioned his work ethic, desire and leadership qualities. What does Wilkerson's positional coach think? Is he satisfied with the commitment of No. 96? "We won three games," Johnson said. "It's hard to be satisfied with anything we're doing." One week after a strange, bizarre media protest, Johnson ended his silence (after a talk with head coach Todd Bowles) and addressed reporters on Monday. He talked a bit about himself, the defensive line as a whole, and discussed Wilkerson.For obvious reasons, Wilkerson, who received a five-year contract extension in July, has been under criticism lately. His on-field struggles are one thing, but to be perceived as unaccountable off it? That's not the best look. Johnson, though, seemed to understand some of Wilkerson's actions. "It's hard coming to work given the circumstances," Johnson said. "We're not seeing the Ws, we're seeing the loses, but guys are still trying to hold their own and make it work. It's hard to be happy about our individual room or happy about a particular player or anything like that when you've only won three games."Wilkerson, meeting absences aside, has been particularly hard on himself as of late. Last week, he told NJ Advance Media he isn't playing "up to [his] standards," "holds himself to higher standards," and "expected more of" himself this year. Johnson wasn't aware of Wilkerson's exact quotes, nor would he comment much on them Monday. "If I start stepping on his toes, it's not going to be good for me and our relationship," Johnson said. "I'll leave that one to Mo. He should be hard on himself. I've been in a position where I wasn't playing as well, felt like I could have done a little more. That's good. "I want to hear that because I want all of us to do a lot better." > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/11/muhammad_wilkerson_commitment_an_issue_for_the_jet.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted December 1, 2016 Author Share Posted December 1, 2016 -- The New York Jets weren't concerned about Muhammad Wilkerson's surgically repaired lower leg or else they wouldn't have rewarded him with a five-year, $86 million contract in July. At the time, they downplayed the injury, insisting he'd be fine. On Wednesday, coach Todd Bowles admitted the injury probably hampered the Pro Bowl defensive end at the beginning of the season. Bowles said he expects a strong finish from Wilkerson, who finally is healthy -- or so the coach believes."Early in the year, I saw a little bit of it," he said, referring to Wilkerson's lack of explosiveness off the ball. "He was still getting the kinks out. He's feeling a lot better now, so I expect to see a lot better Mo." Actually, Wilkerson got off to a fast start, recording 1.5 sacks in the opener. The Jets feasted that day on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, as they sacked him seven times. Clearly, it was an aberration -- for Wilkerson and the entire defense, which has managed only 12 sacks in the last 10 games. Since Week 1, Wilkerson has virtually disappeared, managing only a single sack. Think about that: One. Sack. Quick math: In 575 defensive snaps, he has amassed only 2.5 sacks for the season. Numbers aside, Wilkerson simply hasn't been as disruptive as previous years, one of the reasons why the Jets have underachieved on defense. He underwent surgery last January to repair a fractured right fibula, which cost him the offseason and part of training camp."He worked hard to get back," Bowles said. "He was nicked up a little early on. He's trying to get in a groove. Balls aren’t coming his way. Some balls are coming out quicker. They’re paying more attention to him. (It's) a lot of things. He’s playing, he’s commanding the attention. Other guys have to start making plays." Bowles doesn't think Wilkerson's leg (specifically, the ankle area) is a factor, adding that he has been practicing fully for more than a week. He said he asked Wilkerson if his ankle is bothering him, and the answer was no. "He'll never admit if it's hurt or not," Bowles said. Wilkerson has five games to alter the perception of his season. > http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/65224/jets-coach-explains-why-he-expects-strong-finish-from-mo-wilkerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted December 9, 2016 Author Share Posted December 9, 2016 Muhammad Wilkerson: With tighter coverage, maybe we have more sacks In the first game of the season, the Jets sacked Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton seven times. They lost that game 23-22 on a late Mike Nugentfield goal, but their effectiveness in dropping the quarterback seemed to bode well for the defense as well as the Jets’ chances of securing better results in the weeks to come. The results for the 3-9 team haven’t come and the Bengals game represented a high water mark for the pass rush.They have 13 sacks in their other 11 games as opposing offenses have fared better than the Bengals. There have been a variety of reasons for their lack of sacks, including opposing teams getting rid of the ball quickly to negate the team’s defensive linemen. Muhammad Wilkerson, one of those defensive linemen said the secondary plays a role in that. “Maybe a little tighter coverage and we get those sacks,” Wilkerson said, via NJ.com. “It works hand-in-hand. We can get to the quarterback, but like I said, if [the secondary] isn’t holding them for that one second, the ball’s out.”Wilkerson said he wasn’t trying to push all the blame on the defensive backs and that the other defenders still need to get to the quarterback, but it’s been impossible to miss the drop in the quality of the play in the back end of the defense for the Jets this year. Restoring it will be on the long offseason to-do list for the Jets. > http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/12/09/muhammad-wilkerson-with-tighter-coverage-maybe-we-have-more-sacks/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirlancemehlot Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 Simple to me. Damon Harrison ate up two blockers and still collapsed the pocket consistently. he's gone, sacks are down across the board. JPP meanwhile, is having a career season with half a hand. As it turns out snacks was the more crucial player to keep than Wilkerson and would have cost less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted December 10, 2016 Author Share Posted December 10, 2016 Jets' Buster Skrine on Mo Wilkerson criticizing secondary: 'It's the truth' -- Jets cornerback Buster Skrine said Friday he has no problem with defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson criticizing the team's secondary. Wilkerson said Thursday the Jets might have more sacks if their secondary played "tighter coverage," which would make the quarterback have to hold the ball longer. "I mean, we could have more sacks if our coverage was tighter," Skrine said. "You'd probably have to go ask Mo why he said that. But it could be tighter on the back end. It's the truth. We should have tighter coverage on the back end. It hasn't been the best year for the secondary." Does it bug Skrine that Wilkerson said this ? "Nah, Mo is my guy," Skrine said. The Jets this season are tied for second-to-last in the NFL in sacks (20).They are tied for 26th in interceptions (six). They also have allowed the league's eighth-highest quarterback rating (98.5) and are tied for the sixth-most touchdown passes surrendered (22). All that adds up to a defense that currently ranks 27th in Football Outsiders' DVOA ratings. Skrine has seen progress from the Jets' secondary, but admitted Monday's 41-10 loss to the Colts was a fiasco of a game for the group."I feel like the last five or six games we played, the secondary has gotten better," Skrine said. "The last game, Monday Night Football, we laid an egg. We're just trying to get better every day. It just hasn't been as tight as we need it to be this year. We take full responsibility." > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/12/jets_buster_skrine_on_mo_wilkerson_criticizing_sec.html#incart_river_index Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted December 23, 2016 Author Share Posted December 23, 2016 While the special teams portion of practice was underway, Muhammad Wilkerson was in the corner of the end zone at the Jets’ indoor practice facility catching passes like a wide receiver. Wilkerson — the 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive lineman — was giving his best effort during a light moment before the full practice began. What was noticeable: Wilkerson was limping, his agility limited by an ankle/leg injury that has persisted throughout what has been a disappointing season for the Jets and Wilkerson personally.He enters Saturday’s game at New England with just 2.5 sacks on the season, a total he might get in a single game when he is healthy, something he never really has been in 2016. A source close to the Wilkerson camp told The Post early this week Wilkerson would have been better off sitting out the first half of the season while continuing to rehab from the broken right leg suffered in the 2015 season finale at Buffalo. But the source said Wilkerson felt pressured to play from the opening game because of the huge contract he signed in July. It was a five-year deal worth an estimated $86 million with $53.5 million in guarantees over three years.Wilkerson, entering his sixth season, seemed worthy of being among of the league’s highest -paid defensive linemen after earning his first Pro Bowl recognition in 2015, when he collected 12 sacks. But he has been a shell of himself while battling leg injuries since the opening game of the season. SEE ALSO Muhammad Wilkerson's $86M is busting in every way “He would have been better off waiting to come back,” the source said. “But it was hard for him to sit down after signing that contract. Plus he wanted to play. He has a big heart.” –– ADVERTISEMENT –– Wilkerson underwent surgery for the broken leg in January. There were no reports of complications during his rehab. Those in the know said he was dedicated to being 100 percent by the start of the season and felt ready. Plus he had signed a big contract on a team that has playoff aspirations. If Wilkerson were any other player, he might have been given half the season to fully recover. But that didn’t happen.Instead, he suffered a toe injury in the season opener against the Bengals and has been on the weekly injury report since. He confessed to reporters in October he was bothered by a sore tendon near his ankle that was “related” to the surgery he had to fix his broken leg. PointAfter | Graphiq His condition has seemed to deteriorate as the season has gone on. He was inactive for the Jets’ victory over the Ravens on Oct. 23, and despite being in on 39 defensive snaps Saturday, he was credited with just two tackles in a 34-13 loss to the Dolphins. He practiced on a limited basis Thursday but figures to give it another try against the Cheaters.Wilkerson was not available during the media session on Thursday as he tries to get himself through the final two weeks of the most difficult year of his career. The Temple product has been criticized not only for his lack of impact, but also being benched, along with defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, for the first quarter at Miami on Nov. 6 after they reportedly missed or were late for one or more team meetings. Wilkerson is viewed as one of the team leaders, and having to be benched for an off-the-field issue reflected poorly on Todd Bowles, who not only serves as the head coach but is the architect of the defense.Wilkerson’s willingness to play through pain is admirable, but the Jets might have gotten more from him if he had been given more time to recover. It might be wise to sit him for the rest of the year before he incurs another injury that causes a repeat of 2016. > http://nypost.com/2016/12/23/wilkerson-shouldnt-have-played-early-in-season-source/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted December 29, 2016 Author Share Posted December 29, 2016 Did Jets botch Mo Wilkerson's ankle rehab? He says there was 'no plan' 4:52 PM ET Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email print comment FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- This one is hard to figure. Reflecting on his disappointing season, New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson questioned the handling of his surgically repaired ankle, saying there was "no game plan" at the start of the season. That, he believes, may have hampered his recovery. "We just didn't have a game plan as far as myself and the training staff," Wilkerson said Thursday. "We didn't have a game plan going into the season. We didn't get one until maybe halfway through the season. I'm happy that we did find a plan. It's working, and we're going to continue to do that throughout the offseason." Wilkerson said he wasn't putting all the blame on the training staff. He said it was "mutual." Head trainer John Mellody is well respected in league circles, so it's hard to believe he didn't have a plan. Maybe it was just the wrong plan. Let's examine the facts. Wilkerson underwent surgery last January to repair a fractured right fibula (lower leg). He rehabbed on his own during the offseason (he was unsigned) and sat out part of training camp, but he was in the opening-day lineup. In the first six games, he played 96 percent of the defensive snaps (371 of 386) -- one of the highest playing-time percentages of any defensive lineman in the NFL. He missed the seventh game because of ankle pain. At that point, his playing time was scaled back. Over the first six weeks, coach Todd Bowles downplayed Wilkerson's condition, claiming it wasn't a factor in his performance. Bowles said repeatedly that Wilkerson wasn't being overworked. Evidently, Wilkerson believes otherwise. "I guess I thought I was good to go," he said, alluding to the start of the season. "Maybe I just needed more time, more rehab." The Jets, who signed Wilkerson to a five-year, $86 million contract in July, did a poor job of protecting their investment. At the same time, Wilkerson must take some responsibility, too. He should've been more communicative with the training staff. Maybe he kept quiet because he felt pressure to play because of the huge contract. "It was my first (major) injury," he said. "There should've been (a plan), but there wasn't. There's one in place now. That's all that matters. It's in the past. It's not like you can go back and change it." Wilkerson, who has only 3.5 sacks in 14 games after making the Pro Bowl last season, acknowledged his ankle didn't respond as well as he had hoped at the start of the season. He's confident he'll be 100 percent by next training camp. His surgeon told him it would take a year "to get back to being the player that I am." Along the way, Wilkerson has received criticism for his play. He brought some of it on himself by missing a team meeting, resulting in a one-quarter benching. "At the end of the way, people know who I am," he said. "People are always going to criticize me, regardless. I'm not concerned about that. I know the player I am and capable of being. People in the building know who I am and what I can do. I really doesn't matter what other people say or feel about me." > http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/66014/did-jets-botch-mo-wilkersons-ankle-rehab-he-says-there-was-no-plan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRONX DUDE Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OH THE PAIN Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 Who is this kelly chick anyway ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinstar Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 A blind Man could see that this cat didn't have the strength in his legs to push huge OLmen around like he was accustomed too . Wilkerson is on my watch list for next season thou and it's because of his tardiness . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southtown24th Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 This guy is really starting to show his true colors. In my business, ANYONE can smile and act happy as sh*t when things are going great...it's when things are not going so good that folks really begin to show their true colors and we are seeing that first hand here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted December 30, 2016 Author Share Posted December 30, 2016 Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer Jets coach Todd Bowles said he spoke to Mo Wilkerson about his criticisms of the training staff. He declined to elaborate. Bowles didn't sound pleased that Wilkerson was so open when discussing his surgically repaired ankle. > http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted January 9, 2017 Author Share Posted January 9, 2017 Jets don't regret giving big money to big Muhammad Wilkerson Jets outside linebacker Darron Lee (50) and defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (96) celebrate after a defensive stop during overtime against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. The Jets defeated the 49ers 23-17 in overtime. (Kyle Terada | USA TODAY Sports) PrintEmail By Connor Hughes | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on January 08, 2017 at 7:30 AM, updated January 08, 2017 at 7:33 AM FLORHAM PARK -- The Jets had two defensive linemen whose contracts expired at the end of last season: Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson and nose tackle Damon Harrison. Takeaways as Jets' Woody Johnson, Mike Maccagnan speak General manager Mike Maccagnan elected to invest in Wilkerson, who he signed to a five-year, $86 million extension. Harrison went and joined the cross-town rival Giants for $46 million over five years. The 2016 regular season is now over. Harrison earned first-team, all-pro honors for the 11-5 Giants. Wilkerson finished with just 4.5 sacks for the 5-11 Jets. Still, Maccagnan doesn't regret his investment. "I'm happy," the GM said last week. "I feel good about the fact we signed him to keep him in the organization."Wilkerson was one of the many disappointing players on the Jets this season. In 2015, he had a career-high 12 sacks and earned Pro Bowl honors. It's a big reason the Jets gave him the big-money extension. Jets have a new OLB coach Todd Bowles is starting to fill out his coaching staff. This year, though, he just didn't look the same. Something Wilkerson credited to not being fully healthy. He broke his leg in the 2015 season finale. He said last month he wasn't "moving around" like he used to. Maccagnan hopes with a full year of rehab, Wilkerson will return to form."We have high expectations for him to get back to the form he had last season," Maccagnan said. "That'll be the focus of this offseason to make sure he gets back to a level of play we expect from him, and he, quite frankly, expects of himself." The concept of Wilkerson and rehab is a bit of a sore subject around One Jets Drive. Earlier this year, the defensive end put the training staff on blast, saying they didn't have a "game plan" heading into this season to deal with his injured leg. Could Jets go QB with pick No. 6? Could the Jets (again) draft a quarterback? Instead of taking things slow, Wilkerson played an uncanny amount of snaps for someone coming off a serious injury. Through six weeks, he was on the field for 97 percent of the defensive snaps.This led to additional wear and tear, which resulted in an ankle injury. It wasn't until the final month of the season, Wilkerson said, that he began to feel like himself. He had just three sacks Weeks 1 through 16. In the season finale, he had 1.5. Maccagnan seemed to indicate Wilkerson, not just the training staff, played a role in his high snap count. Either way, all parties are focused on getting the best out of No. 96 next year."Mo had mentioned he felt pressured to get back on the field," Maccagnan said. "That was something that was never made known to me, or I was not aware of. But I think his desire to get on the field may have played into that, possibly. "I do think we have a very good training staff and team doctors. Going forward, I know we're all focused on trying to get him back to whatever level has the potential to be at." > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2017/01/jets_want_more_from_muhammad_wilkerson_in_2017.html#incart_river_index Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 A look at what's happening around the New York Jets : ~ ~ 6. Wilkerson gets a mo-lligan: By all accounts, Muhammad Wilkerson had a disappointing year, on and off the field. General manager Mike Maccagnan, who signed off on the five-year, $86 million contract last July, wasn't about to second-guess his decision. "I feel good about the fact we signed him to keep him in the organization," Maccagnan said in his postseason presser. "I don’t think this season necessarily was up to his standards, and you can talk about whether it was coming off the injury, but we do feel good about signing (Mo). But I will say this going forward: I think we have high expectations for him to get back to the form he had last season." Wilkerson will have financial motivation in 2017 because his 2018 salary ($16.75 million) doesn't become fully guaranteed until the third day of the 2018 league year (early March). In other words, the Jets can get out if he has another 4.5-sack year. rest of above article : > http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/66380/a-hidden-positive-from-jets-awful-season-hint-think-green Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
varjet Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 The Jets plan is that Mo reverts. It's a good plan, because he has incentive to make it happen. If he dogs it again in 2017, he loses a lot of money. He was still a better bet than SR, and that does not say much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 48 minutes ago, varjet said: The Jets plan is that Mo reverts. It's a good plan, because he has incentive to make it happen. If he dogs it again in 2017, he loses a lot of money. He was still a better bet than SR, and that does not say much. i'm hopin' after next season we'll be seeing an article titled.. " jets' Muhammad Wilkerson wins AFC East comeback player of the year " cheers ~ ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantasy Island Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Say what you will about Wilk, but nobody can stand around and watch a play happen better than him. Breno is a close second though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 The Jets might have a weighty issue on their hands that they frankly don’t need. The Daily News has learned that defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson isn’t exactly in the best shape of his life at the moment. Several scouts at Temple Pro Day in Philadelphia last week were aghast upon seeing a bloated Wilkerson, who appears to have let himself go after the worst season of his career. Wilkerson, who starred at Temple before the Jets took him in the first round in 2011, looked like he had been plucked from the nearest buffet, according to people in attendance.One scout texted me a picture of a Goodyear blimp with an accompanying: “Sloppy.” “He looked like a pedestrian with a huge gut,” another scout said. “I was shocked.”Wilkerson’s lack of discipline and commitment came into focus during a forgettable season that included poor production, a benching and a world of embarrassment after he cashed in with a new blockbuster five-year, $86 million contract that included $36.75 million guaranteed at signing. Less than a year after Wilkerson posted rehab videos on the treadmill with the hope of landing a big payday with the Jets or anyone else, he evidently hasn’t attacked this offseason with the same fervor. Wilkerson’s official weight last season was 315 pounds. It’s unknown how much he’s tipping the scales at now. Wilkerson declined comment through a team spokesman to discuss his weight, conditioning or workout regimen, an ominous sign to say the least.More than 40 NFL talent evaluators were on hand for Temple’s Pro Day. Wilkerson didn’t make a favorable impression on any of the people that I touched base with over the past week.One eyewitness simply said Wilkerson was “looking absolutely terrible.” When I pointed out that the defensive lineman has never been mistaken for Jack LaLanne, the person texted: “LOL He’s always looked terribly out of shape?” The news should be disconcerting for Jets brass. Teams technically can’t communicate with players during this quiet period on the NFL calendar. The Jets offseason program at the team facility doesn’t begin until mid-April. Muhammad Wilkerson blamed his 2016 season, the worst of his career, on the Jets' training staff, saying they couldn't put together a strategy to manage his leg injury. (NEW YORK DAILY NEWS) It’s a frightening notion for the organization to wonder how Wilkerson, who played last season with an ailing surgically repaired ankle, is actually taking care of his body right now. The Jets effectively chose Wilkerson to be a part of their future rather than Sheldon Richardson, who is on the trade block. Richardson’s past off-field transgressions have been discussed ad nauseam, but Wilkerson hasn’t exactly been a model pro, either. Todd Bowles benched Wilkerson for the first quarter of a game for the second consecutive season for repeated tardiness to meetings/practice. The final straw: Wilkerson skipped a team walkthrough in October after a night of revelry to celebrate his birthday. The team had a birthday cake waiting for him after that practice.The NFL Network reported last season that Bowles actually met with Wilkerson about his unacceptable behavior before the team inked him to a long-term deal. Wilkerson reportedly “vowed to behave” before breaking team rules again. Wilkerson further embarrassed the organization by announcing during the final week of the regular season that the Jets training staff didn’t have a plan to properly manage his leg/ankle injury at the outset of the season.Wilkerson, who had his fewest sacks (4 ½) since his rookie year, was a nonfactor for the better part of four months. After saying very little about the impact of his off-season leg surgery and accompanying tendon issue near his ankle, Wilkerson’s decision to throw the trainers under the bus wasn’t exactly received well by the team brain trust. Now, the organization should be concerned about whether they bet on the right defensive lineman. Wilkerson’s contract makes him nearly impossible to trade this year. He’s taking up a team-high $18 million of salary cap space (with a fully guaranteed $14.75 million base salary).The Jets could part ways after the 2017 season (his $16.75 million base salary in 2018 becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the new league year), but the hope from the powers that be is that he’ll get on the straight and narrow path. That path, of course, requires discipline. Players that don’t take care of themselves in the offseason typically don’t magically round into shape. Darrelle Revis was puffed up last summer — he was 20 pounds overweight (217) — and never recovered. It’s time for Wilkerson be fully committed and earn his money this season. Maybe even hop on a treadmill and post a video. > http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/sloppy-shape-mo-wilkerson-shocks-scouts-temple-article-1.2999708 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 Varying reports of Muhammad Wilkerson’s shape triggers media fight Posted by Darin Gantt on March 16, 2017, 11:35 AM EDT Getty Images We have mixed reports on the kind of shape Jets defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson is in, but they led to a sack any lineman would be proud of.Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported that Wilkerson recently showed up overweight as a spectator at Temple’s pro day, and several scouts described him as “sloppy” and one said that “He looked like a pedestrian with a huge gut.” On its face, that would a bad look, after he signed a huge contract extension last offseason and responded with a poor year. But another Jets writer has responded, claiming a vendetta. Brian Costello of the New York Post responded with a photo from Wilkerson’s Instagram account last week, which shows him looking about like what Wilkerson looks like.But then Costello accused Mehta of a grudge, and made it a little personal himself. Follow Brian Costello ✔@BrianCoz Manish is accusing me of being passive-aggressive. So I’ll stop being passive. If a guy does not talk to him, they get crushed. That simple 11:09 AM - 16 Mar 2017 164164 Retweets 415415 likes Regardless the shape Wilkerson may or may not be in, this makes me want nothing more than a big bowl of popcorn. And some wings. And maybe some ribs. Watching this fight will keep us entertained until the basketball starts. > http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/16/varying-reports-of-muhammad-wilkersons-shape-triggers-media-fight/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted March 18, 2017 Author Share Posted March 18, 2017 Follow David Potts @BoilerUpNJ88 @Connor_J_Hughes What is your take on Wilkerson ? Have you seen him and is he really out of shape ? If not that article was a hatchet job ! 4:45 PM - 17 Mar 2017 Is Muhammad Wilkerson really fat ? HUGHES : If you've ever seen Muhammad Wilkerson in person, you know he's not a lean person. He always had a bit of a belly. It's just who he is. Do I think he really let himself go and is truly overweight now? Not at all. But I also haven't seen him since the season ended. I checked out his Instagram, and he looks like normal Muhammad Wilkerson to me, but I also didn't talk to anyone who attended Temple's Pro Day, or attend Temple's Pro Day myself. We'll find out for sure come organized team activities and minicamp. rest of above article : >http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2017/03/is_it_good_geno_smith_left_jets_whats_up_with_davi.html#incart_river_index Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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