All season, the New York Jets’ defense hasn’t lived up to expectations.
That reality hit home again on Sunday in a 48-20 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The same problems showed up, and the game got out of hand early. The fanbase continued to express their frustration, with much of it aimed at defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and his play-calling.
Addressing reporters after Sunday’s game, head coach Aaron Glenn was asked if he would take over defensive play-calling duties.
“I know that question is going to be asked,” Glenn responded. “But I brought Wilks in for a reason. I want him to run his system. We have three games left for our guys to go out there and play. Right now, it’s not about the X’s and O’s across the board. It’s about the character of the men on this team, and that is what I am evaluating.”
While the Jets’ defense has struggled all season, the past two weeks have marked a new low.
New York has surrendered an average of 41 points over that span, giving up 48 points Sunday against Jacksonville after allowing 34 the week prior against the Miami Dolphins.
The unit may not be among the league’s most talented, but much of the blame falls on Wilks. His schematic stubbornness has been hard to miss, particularly on third down. Wilks has continued to lean heavily on man coverage in those situations, making the Jets predictable — and opposing offenses have taken full advantage.
At this point, it’s hard to watch the same issues resurface every week and not conclude that the Jets need to make a change at defensive coordinator this offseason.
