[ESPN]14377042[/ESPN]
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- In the post-New York Sack Exchange era, the New York Jets haven't produced many truly great individual seasons on defense. In fact, they've had only five All-Pro seasons since the mid-1980s -- Mo Lewis (1998), John Abraham (2001) and Darrelle Revis (2009-11).
Muhammad Wilkerson is having one of those season. If he isn't named to the All-Pro team, he should at least be selected to his first Pro Bowl. If not, the Jets should hire Ted Wells to conduct an investigation. Not even Wells would botch that one because it's way more probable than not that Wilkerson is among the top defensive ends in the NFL.
"I think I'm up there," Wilkerson said Tuesday in a rare moment of braggadocio. "I think I'm with the best of the best in this business."
Six defensive ends will be named next Tuesday to the Pro Bowl. Other than J.J. Watt, who's better than Wilkerson?
Not only does his sack total jump off the page -- 12, fourth in the NFL -- but it's important to remember how he got them. He plays end in a 3-4 defense, and that's not a position conducive to gaudy statistics.
When the Jets play a four-man front, Wilkerson moves inside, responsible for the heavy lifting. He has lined up as an interior lineman on 42 percent of his defensive snaps, according to ESPN Stats & Information. It's harder to get sacks from a defensive-tackle position, but Wilkerson still rings up big numbers -- a career high, to be precise.
"I knew he was a great player," coach Todd Bowles said. "Mo's been having a good year. I don't think the season [is based on] sacks -- I mean, sacks help out a lot -- but I knew he was a great player. I expected him to play like this. Not knowing him or having coached him, you kind of get a feel as you go along, but we knew Mo was capable of doing these types of things."
Muhammad Wilkerson has 12 sacks, already a career high and fourth most in the NFL. Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Wilkerson has been in the Pro Bowl conversation since 2013, when he broke out with a 10.5-sack season. He was overlooked that year and again last year. It can't possibly happen again. Of last year's Pro Bowl defensive ends, only Watt (13.5 sacks) is delivering an encore season. Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn are injured, Mario Williams (four sacks) is lost in Rex Ryan's scheme and Calais Campbell (2.5) isn't putting up his usual numbers. DeMarcus Ware is now an outside linebacker in the Denver Broncos' 3-4.
The new kids on the block-and-tackle surely will garner attention, players such as Kahlil Mack (14 sacks), Ezekiel Ansah (13.5) and Chandler Jones (10.5). They're terrific players, but Mack and Ansah play on mediocre defenses for non-playoff contenders. Wilkerson and Jones are major contributors on the fifth- and sixth-ranked defenses, respectively. Jones could be the best player on the New England Patriots' defense; Wilkerson is the best on the Jets' unit.
"There's no denying him this year," said Stephen Bowen, the senior member of the Jets' defensive line. "I think he's playing the best football of any defensive lineman, period."
Better than Watt?
"For me, yeah," Bowen said. "J.J. is great in his own right, but for me, the way Mo is playing, yeah, he's playing like the best defensive lineman in the league."
Wilkerson wrecked the Tennessee Titans with his first three-sack game, which Bowen called "one of the best performances I've ever seen." Bowen knows what he's talking about; he has been in the league since 2006.
With every sack last weekend, Wilkerson probably had fans thinking, "Pay the man!" His contract saga has been going on for two years, and now we're headed for crunch time. He'll be a free agent after the season, which means he will be slapped with the franchise tag unless the two sides bridge a huge gap and agree to a long-term deal. He admitted the contract situation has provided "some motivation."
Told that fans want him to get paid, Wilkerson said, "Every Jets fan ain't the owner or the people that are managing the Jets." He wasn't joking around, either. He figured he'd have a new contract by now, and he's frustrated.
If the Jets are smart, they will pay Wilkerson as a top-tier defensive end. If his peers are smart, they will vote him to the Pro Bowl. The fan voting closed Tuesday. Sure, Wilkerson would like the recognition, but has been stung twice, so, "I'm not going to lose any sleep over it," he said.
In the meantime, his opponents will lose sleep thinking about him.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- In the post-New York Sack Exchange era, the New York Jets haven't produced many truly great individual seasons on defense. In fact, they've had only five All-Pro seasons since the mid-1980s -- Mo Lewis (1998), John Abraham (2001) and Darrelle Revis (2009-11).
Muhammad Wilkerson is having one of those season. If he isn't named to the All-Pro team, he should at least be selected to his first Pro Bowl. If not, the Jets should hire Ted Wells to conduct an investigation. Not even Wells would botch that one because it's way more probable than not that Wilkerson is among the top defensive ends in the NFL.
"I think I'm up there," Wilkerson said Tuesday in a rare moment of braggadocio. "I think I'm with the best of the best in this business."
Six defensive ends will be named next Tuesday to the Pro Bowl. Other than J.J. Watt, who's better than Wilkerson?
Not only does his sack total jump off the page -- 12, fourth in the NFL -- but it's important to remember how he got them. He plays end in a 3-4 defense, and that's not a position conducive to gaudy statistics.
When the Jets play a four-man front, Wilkerson moves inside, responsible for the heavy lifting. He has lined up as an interior lineman on 42 percent of his defensive snaps, according to ESPN Stats & Information. It's harder to get sacks from a defensive-tackle position, but Wilkerson still rings up big numbers -- a career high, to be precise.
"I knew he was a great player," coach Todd Bowles said. "Mo's been having a good year. I don't think the season [is based on] sacks -- I mean, sacks help out a lot -- but I knew he was a great player. I expected him to play like this. Not knowing him or having coached him, you kind of get a feel as you go along, but we knew Mo was capable of doing these types of things."
Muhammad Wilkerson has 12 sacks, already a career high and fourth most in the NFL. Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Wilkerson has been in the Pro Bowl conversation since 2013, when he broke out with a 10.5-sack season. He was overlooked that year and again last year. It can't possibly happen again. Of last year's Pro Bowl defensive ends, only Watt (13.5 sacks) is delivering an encore season. Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn are injured, Mario Williams (four sacks) is lost in Rex Ryan's scheme and Calais Campbell (2.5) isn't putting up his usual numbers. DeMarcus Ware is now an outside linebacker in the Denver Broncos' 3-4.
The new kids on the block-and-tackle surely will garner attention, players such as Kahlil Mack (14 sacks), Ezekiel Ansah (13.5) and Chandler Jones (10.5). They're terrific players, but Mack and Ansah play on mediocre defenses for non-playoff contenders. Wilkerson and Jones are major contributors on the fifth- and sixth-ranked defenses, respectively. Jones could be the best player on the New England Patriots' defense; Wilkerson is the best on the Jets' unit.
"There's no denying him this year," said Stephen Bowen, the senior member of the Jets' defensive line. "I think he's playing the best football of any defensive lineman, period."
Better than Watt?
"For me, yeah," Bowen said. "J.J. is great in his own right, but for me, the way Mo is playing, yeah, he's playing like the best defensive lineman in the league."
Wilkerson wrecked the Tennessee Titans with his first three-sack game, which Bowen called "one of the best performances I've ever seen." Bowen knows what he's talking about; he has been in the league since 2006.
With every sack last weekend, Wilkerson probably had fans thinking, "Pay the man!" His contract saga has been going on for two years, and now we're headed for crunch time. He'll be a free agent after the season, which means he will be slapped with the franchise tag unless the two sides bridge a huge gap and agree to a long-term deal. He admitted the contract situation has provided "some motivation."
Told that fans want him to get paid, Wilkerson said, "Every Jets fan ain't the owner or the people that are managing the Jets." He wasn't joking around, either. He figured he'd have a new contract by now, and he's frustrated.
If the Jets are smart, they will pay Wilkerson as a top-tier defensive end. If his peers are smart, they will vote him to the Pro Bowl. The fan voting closed Tuesday. Sure, Wilkerson would like the recognition, but has been stung twice, so, "I'm not going to lose any sleep over it," he said.
In the meantime, his opponents will lose sleep thinking about him.
