Game Ball: Muhammad Wilkerson

by John B on Sep 20, 2011 10:00 AM EDT

As you might note, Samsung has been kind enough to sponsor this post through the rest of the regular season.

There were plenty of heroes in the blowout win of Jacksonville. I would like to single out a rookie playing a very difficult spot who is quietly succeeding. Rookie defensive linemen frequently struggle, particularly those facing double teams. This is especially true of small school prospects who do not need to play with consistent technique to dominate inferior competition in college and might develop bad habits. Through two weeks, Muhammad Wilkerson has held his own. It has not always shown up in the stat sheet because his job as much as anything is to hold the point of attack.

Wilkerson has demonstrated the ability to use his hands and shed blockers. He also shined in one play against Jacksonville, lining up over the ball on a passing down. He broke through traffic to record his first career sack, a safety that made it a two score game before the Jets touched it a second time.

This high achieving rookie gets a game ball from me.

To whom would you give a game ball?

Tweet Comment 30 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Smitty played lights out. so definitely him.

But, so did the entire defense. I think Cromartie’s two picks were great, but he didn’t score… he should have.

Just a high school student who lives his ambitions of working for the NFL,
Twitter = http://twitter.com/ProInterviews
Facebook = http://facebook.com/prointerviews/
YouTube = http://youtube.com/user/ProInterviews/

by Max Strauss on Sep 20, 2011 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

My game ball(s):

1)Cromartie
2)Pace
3)Wilkerson
4)Keller

by Buzzy on Sep 20, 2011 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

O: Keller
D: Wilk (Cro’s INTs were gimmes)
ST: Folk

by Exystence on Sep 20, 2011 10:18 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Most ints

are gimmes of the same level-add the returns on those ints and his remarkble kick returning and you have the fact that he actually accounted for tons of effectively offensive yardage.

by Buzzy on Sep 20, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Cro’x INTs were gimmes but he tad to take em (lol) just look at Smith he should of had 3

by JetsFan718 on Sep 20, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

DK

Has my vote

by GangGreenGol4 on Sep 20, 2011 10:33 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Hey, thanks Samsung!

You make up the vast majority of my home entertainment, now you’re sponsoring the best damn sports blog period.

Arm chair GM. Mod/contributing writer at SBN Jets blog GGN.
Archduke of PACOS.
GangGreenNation.com

by Bro Namath on Sep 20, 2011 10:35 AM EDT reply actions

Samsung was my last phone of the pre-smartphone era.

I once hurled it across the room after a Greene fumble early last year and it worked fine up until I upgraded.

by Timmaht on Sep 20, 2011 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks, Samsung

I have a Samsung smart phone now.

"Reality is purely the perception of the individual mind. It follows, that since no two minds are alike, no two perceptions of reality are alike. It further follows, that what reality is to one, may seem complete madness to someone else."

– Yefim Novikov

by joeklecko on Sep 20, 2011 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Samsung, you have me sold on the Galaxy SII. If you could only get AT&T to actually release it!~

by random122 on Sep 20, 2011 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

He manhandle his man and got a sack/safety on a three man rush

Man if he can provide pressure up the middle when the Jets drop off in coverage, then I see this defense being truly dominant.

by BIG OH!!!!! on Sep 20, 2011 10:36 AM EDT reply actions

Luke McCown gets my vote.

Oh how much unjust praise you got after your first game. Welcome back to Earth.

by Timmaht on Sep 20, 2011 10:36 AM EDT reply actions

This is true

by JetsFan718 on Sep 20, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Its hard to single out one player on this one. So many players had a great game. Our D rocked...

by DJ. Quillz on Sep 20, 2011 10:52 AM EDT reply actions

Colin Baxter

Undrafted rookie center, on the team for less than 2 weeks, gets put in the game with NO pre-season to speak of. Probably NEVER practiced with the 1s or with Mark Sanchez. Does an acceptable job blocking and protecting Sanchez after Mangold’s injury.

Sure, we have no running game, but I love it when these undrafted guys come in and are forced to play and have a good game. Notice how Ducasse is still on the sidelines.

FYI, looks like Mangold is “iffy” for this weekend, will likely miss 2-3 games, so figure maybe back for Patriots or Dolphins.

http://www.charlottejetsfans.com

by NC_Scott on Sep 20, 2011 11:06 AM EDT reply actions

Cromartie has to get the game ball.

2 ints. With over 100 total yards and a 31 yard return average on kickoffs. This was one of his best games as a Jet, he played good in coverage and made them pay every time he touched the ball. He missed that TD, but give him a break that was a great pick to jump that route.

by Vegas Jets Fan on Sep 20, 2011 11:09 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Keller has my vote, Cromartie close second.

He catches every ball in sight. He got targeted 6 times and caught each ball. He made plays after the catch and even had a nice spin move to get past a Jaguar. Keller gets the game ball from me, but it was close between him and Cromartie. Cromartie’s interceptions might’ve been gimmies but it was what he did with the ball after the pick. Plus his return yards on special teams, they couldn’t get him down because he refuses to go out of bounds.

by sciara92 on Sep 20, 2011 11:18 AM EDT reply actions

Cromartie gets it for me

He was dynamic on special teams along with his two picks. Also should have scored on his second INT.

Keller is a close second and Eric Smith also stuck out for me.

Section 128. J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets!

by ManalapanJet on Sep 20, 2011 11:26 AM EDT reply actions

Muhammad Wilkerson all the way...

If you get a safety on a three man rush, you get the game ball.

In fact, if you get a safety, you get the game ball. There is very little I enjoy seeing in this sport more than a safety.

by cult hero on Sep 20, 2011 11:36 AM EDT reply actions

But you should have to do The Safety Dance after that.

With Men Without hats playing in the background.

by Timmaht on Sep 20, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Because if you don’t dance you ain’t no friend of mine.

and the HOLMES of the... JETS!!!
Gang Green Nation.
David Vill on Twitter
Am I just me? Or am I hot in here?

by dvdvil on Sep 20, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Muhammad

Muhammad really blow up the pass protection.

by Jonathan Gallo on Sep 20, 2011 11:43 AM EDT reply actions

Cromartie

He had two ints, should have had a TD (I don’t think the replay was conclusive either way and the call on the field should have stood), and had a great day returning (both his INTS and Kickoffs). He was consistently putting the offense in good field position and playing lights out on defense.

by RhodesRocks on Sep 20, 2011 12:43 PM EDT reply actions

Muhammad will be a beast.

Bart scott has been great, and kyle wilson looks like a different player so far. Defense will have no problems this year, except protecting the middle. Offense concerns me a little, but we’ll be fine.

by jets4life24 on Sep 20, 2011 3:13 PM EDT via mobile reply actions