Steve Wilks insists that Baker Mayfield’s beef with him is misguided.
The Buccaneers quarterback stated following Sunday’s last-second 29-27 win over the Jets that defeating Wilks was “private” as a result of he believed the Jets’ first-year defensive coordinator was “the one which reduce me in Carolina” in 2022.
Not so, stated Wilks, who had changed Matt Rhule on an interim foundation in October of that season after the Panthers had opened with a 1-4 report.
“I don’t actually suppose an interim coach has a lot authority over personnel,” Wilks stated earlier than Jets observe Friday in Florham Park. “If that’s the case, I wouldn’t have gotten rid of our greatest participant, Christian McCaffrey.”
Mayfield, the No.1 general choose by the Browns in 2018, had been acquired by Carolina in a commerce earlier than the 2022 season. He appeared in solely seven video games for the Panthers, going 1-5 in six begins.
His request for a launch was granted by the Panthers in December, and he completed the season with the Rams earlier than signing the subsequent season and resurrecting his profession with Tampa Bay.
Ten days after Rhule was fired on Oct. 10, McCaffrey was traded to the 49ers for a number of draft picks.
“A variety of respect for Baker, super soccer participant, and he’s doing a hell of a job with these guys down there [in Tampa],” Wilks stated. “Nothing actually a lot to say past that.”
Wilks’ protection has had its moments over the primary three video games, however the Jets have dropped all three, together with a drive for the game-winning area aim Sunday within the remaining 1:49 after the Jets had taken a lead on a blocked area aim returned for a landing by Will McDonald IV.
Wilks stated the emphasis forward of Monday evening’s recreation in opposition to the Dolphins is evident.
“One of many issues now we have to do defensively — as you’ve seen we’ve accomplished a whole lot of nice issues all through these first three weeks — however we gotta discover a option to end,” Wilks stated. “That’s the important thing factor for us on protection.
“One landing, holding these guys to 5 area objectives, it doesn’t actually imply something when you possibly can’t end in the long run. That’s the place we’re proper now, and that’s our problem this week.”
The Jets, who will probably be with out beginning linebacker Quincy Williams (shoulder) for no less than the subsequent 4 weeks, rank twenty second in yards allowed per recreation (340.3) throughout their winless begin.
“There’s so much that goes into play, and that begins with me,” Wilks stated. “Placing guys in place to achieve success, after which most significantly, simply making the performs when given the chance.
“I believe as you consider us the primary three video games, I believe we did some nice issues from the standpoint of stopping the run and making performs within the pink zone and doing a great job on third down. However the important thing factor is our means to complete and shut the sport out.”
