The Jets have had among the finest defenses within the NFL every of the final three seasons.
However in his first season as defensive coordinator, Steve Wilks goals to raise the unit to a brand new degree by mixing his strategy with that of coach Aaron Glenn.
“I really think it’s a collaboration of both of our schemes and what we’re trying to get done,” Wilks mentioned. “However, most significantly, as coach AG [Aaron Glenn] talks about on a regular basis, it’s probably not about our playbook, it’s about our play fashion.
“That’s the thing that we’re trying to emphasize and communicate with these guys. The physicality, the effort, the demand, being smart, not beating ourselves, understanding situational football, and we’re going to make sure that we cater to our players. I think that’s the great thing as a coach, who do you have, what can they do, put them in the best situation to be successful.”
After the 49ers fired him following their Tremendous Bowl LVIII loss to the Chiefs, Wilks spent the 2024 season out of the NFL. He labored as a volunteer adviser on the College of North Carolina at Charlotte below then-coach Biff Poggi. Whereas within the faculty recreation, Wilks nonetheless watched NFL movie of varied groups, together with the Lions, the place Glenn was their defensive coordinator for 4 seasons.
Whereas he mentioned the expertise at UNC-Charlotte helped him tremendously, Wilks mentioned he was able to get “back in the saddle.”
“When it narrowed down to the Jets, I got really excited, because, from afar, I know the roster, I know the personnel that we have on the defensive side of the ball, and a lot to work with,” Wilks mentioned. “And with his relationship with the organization, I felt like it was going to be a great connection with ownership.”
Wilks brings over 30 years of teaching expertise to the Jets. That’s invaluable to a first-time head coach in Glenn, who’s attempting to vary the Jets’ tradition after 14 consecutive seasons with out making the playoffs.
Along with being a long-time defensive coordinator, Wilks served because the Cardinals’ coach for a season in 2019, earlier than being fired following a 3-13 marketing campaign. He was additionally the Panthers’ interim coach after Matt Rhule was fired in 2022.
“You can’t beat experience and situations that I may have gone through, that doesn’t have anything to do with football, and that’s what that position sometimes entails, that you’re dealing with a lot of things outside of ball,” Wilks mentioned. “After which, additionally, simply all through the course of the 12 months and attempting to handle sure issues, with the ability to have somebody to bounce concepts off of, I feel that’s vital.
“Sometimes in that seat, it gets lonely, and you don’t have that sounding piece, that individual to communicate and speak with. So, I’m here for that.”
Wilks, 55, will inherit a proficient Jets protection that has completed within the prime 5 in yards allowed every of the final three seasons. That included final 12 months when the Jets had been third in that class (313.8). Nonetheless, these numbers are considerably deceptive.
The Jets’ protection collapsed following Robert Saleh’s firing after the staff began 2-3. In Weeks 6-18, they had been twenty eighth in factors (26.6) and 18th in yards allowed per recreation (337.9). That was a change from when the Jets had been fifth in factors (17) and second in yards per recreation (255.8) within the 5 video games earlier than Saleh’s firing.
Wilks takes over a Jets protection that has eight starters getting back from final season’s staff, together with former All-Professionals Quinnen Williams, Quincy Williams and Sauce Gardner.
Wilks’ defenses at earlier stops with the Cardinals, Panthers and 49ers had been recognized for being aggressive, bodily and using a excessive variety of nickel packages, with a choice for blitzing and zone coverages. He additionally favors Cowl 4 and prefers Cowl 3 over Cowl 1 in single-high safeties.
Glenn’s fashion whereas with the Lions was way more man-to-man protection. Irrespective of the scheme, Wilks says all the pieces the Jets will do defensively will begin within the trenches.
“I don’t care if it’s stopping the run, getting to the quarterback, creating a new line of scrimmage, and Quinnen is that guy that can do that,” Wilks mentioned. “If you take a look at the second degree, you discuss Quincy, discuss [Jamien] Sherwood, two nice linebackers that I’m enthusiastic about and dealing effectively collectively proper now with each other.
“Of course, we did what we did in the offseason with Sherwood, which I was excited about that. He’s stepped up, taken a leadership role. When you look on the perimeter, Sauce, Brandon Stephens that we brought in, AZ [Azareye’h Thomas], who we drafted, three phenomenal guys that can do the things that we want them to do outside.”
