“I’ve seen a lot of development and growth, even coming out of the game with Denver in London,” Wilks said of Mauigoa. “Just his physical play downhill and that’s one of the biggest things that we’re talking about as a defense, our identity and really trying to help the guys up front with a lot of the duo runs that we get and the double teams we got to be great getting downhill and then physical in getting the double teams off and you see that with him. His ability to be able to rush now as a blitzer. I think he’s progressed and got better with that and that’s always the key with me in the fact that who can get to the quarterback and trying to put guys in a position to be successful.”
While veteran LB Quincy Williams told reporters this week that he had lost his starting job, Wilks maintained Williams will continue to play a significant role.
“Quincy is still a major part of what we are trying to accomplish and get done,” Wilks said. “I think he may have said it yesterday to you guys, just the details that we talk about and that’s with everybody. You know, great eyes, the valid play, playing downhill particularly at that linebacker position, using your hands, and I think he’s still going to be a part of what we are trying to accomplish and get done. As you know up front, it’s still fluid up there. We rotate guys. We have different packages that we have within the defense as far as base, nickel, dime. So, I still see him being a part of what we are trying to accomplish.”
In addition to obtaining several draft assets for Quinnen Williams and Gardner, the Jets received DT Mazi Smith in the package from Dallas and later acquired CB Ja’Sir Taylor from the Chargers in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2028. Smith (6-3, 337), the No. 26 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, had 57 tackles, 7 TFL and 2 sacks in 39 games with the Cowboys. Taylor, a sixth-round pick of the Chargers in 2022, has 84 tackles and 14 PDs in 57 games with the ‘Bolts.
“Great additions for us. I’m glad we got them,” Wilks said. “Taylor gives you that flexibility on the back end from the standpoint of just being able to practice inside and outside. Mazi right here, a high draft pick, high-motor guy, can stop the run. So, it’s just really getting those guys in the fold, getting them up to speed with the playbook and seeing how things go.”
With change being the one constant in the NFL, Wilks is happy to be pressing ahead with his altered group against a Browns’ offense that ranks 30th in scoring (15.8 pts/g) and 32nd in yds/play (4.12).
“I have total confidence, total confidence, in the guys that we have here,” Wilks said. “AZ, Brandon Stephens, Malachi, Jarvis Brownlee Jr., I can keep going on and on about the guys on the back end as well as the front because of what I’ve seen. I saw the toughness, the physicality, the competitive nature — we can win with that. And those are the guys right here that, again, I’m excited about to coach and I’m looking forward going into this next game.”