Chris Harris is grateful for his promotion from defensive backs coach to interim defensive coordinator for the Jets for the ultimate three video games of the season, following the firing earlier this week of veteran coach Steve Wilks.
However Harris, who performed for eight seasons as a security with 4 NFL groups, isn’t essentially viewing the step up as a constructive reflection of the teaching job he’s achieved this season with the Thirtieth-ranked scoring protection within the league.
“This isn’t excellent. No one desires to undergo this through the season,” Harris stated earlier than Thursday’s apply in Florham Park. “It’s one thing I undoubtedly aspired to do, and I’m grateful for the chance that [head coach Aaron Glenn has] given me. With Steve, I discovered so much from him…and what occurred just isn’t an indictment on him. it’s on all the defensive employees, and we simply should do higher.
“Finally, that is on all of us as a training employees. I need to thank AG for placing me on this place, however once more, it’s not about me. Our focus is on the brink of play the Saints and attempting to place the most effective product on the sector.”
The 56-year-old Wilks was axed on Monday, in the future after the Jets — who traded former Professional Bowlers Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams in November — suffered a 48-20 trouncing by the Jaguars to fall to 3-11 coming into this week’s street sport towards the Saints.
“Steve is an effective buddy of mine and I want him effectively. He’s an ideal particular person,” the 43-year-old Harris stated. “So it’s simply a type of issues that occurred, a type of issues, sadly, on this enterprise. These issues occur. However once more, it’s not an indictment on Steve. I’ve to get higher, and our total teaching employees, it’s on all of us.”
Harris, who picked off Colts quarterback Peyton Manning in Tremendous Bowl XLI in a dropping effort for the Bears, additionally acknowledged that “it’s uncommon” that the Jets’ protection has managed zero interceptions by 14 video games — an NFL report to start out a season — and simply two takeaways on fumble recoveries.
The Jets have totaled three takeaways for the season general, additionally together with one on particular groups. The fewest takeaways in historical past in a full season had been seven by the 49ers in 2018. That San Francisco squad additionally holds the mark for fewest interceptions, with two that yr.
“First time I’ve been part of that,” Harris stated. “However our guys are doing every part that they will, and we’re doing every part that we will, on the market. We’re focusing each single day on catching the ball. These alternatives have come they usually’re going to return. I’m sure that they’re going to return.
“Our guys are doing every part they will. We’re harping on it. We’re preaching it.”
Jacksonville’s 48-point explosion featured quarterback Trevor Lawrence throwing for 330 yards with 5 touchdowns and working for an additional rating. One week earlier, the Dolphins had pasted the Jets, 34-10.
Total, the protection is permitting 28.4 factors per sport, placing the Jets on tempo to surrender the second-most factors in franchise historical past. In addition they rank twentieth in yards allowed and twenty ninth in dashing protection.
“I felt prefer it was the most effective resolution for the group presently,” Glenn stated earlier this week in regards to the change. “I’ve stated this all alongside. I’m evaluating gamers. I’m evaluating coaches. I’m evaluating myself. I simply felt like this was the most effective resolution proper now for the staff and for this group.
“I need to see constant enchancment. I need to see construction that’s constant. I need to see play that’s constant. I need to see the character, the tradition of this soccer staff come collectively.”
Glenn beforehand served because the Lions’ defensive coordinator from 2021-24 and has stated that he’ll help Harris through the week with the sport plan, however Harris will deal with the defensive play-calling Sunday in New Orleans.
“He’s been nice. We’ve sort of been backwards and forwards at night time speaking and exhibiting me how he did issues as a defensive coordinator. Getting ready, sport plan, issues of that nature,” Harris stated. “I don’t need to make something about me, however to carry to the protection, I’m a former participant, and I can discuss to the fellows. I perceive how they assume, so it’s all about making ready, and we need to play with grit and toughness.”
