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New York Jets: 3 Mistakes to avoid in 2018 season

By Michael Pallas

PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins sets to pass in the fourth quarter of the game against the Hawaii Warriors at the Rose Bowl on September 9, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins sets to pass in the fourth quarter of the game against the Hawaii Warriors at the Rose Bowl on September 9, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 29: Wide receiver Robby Anderson #11 of the New York Jets scores a touchdown against cornerback Desmond Trufant #21 of the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium on October 29, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 29: Wide receiver Robby Anderson #11 of the New York Jets scores a touchdown against cornerback Desmond Trufant #21 of the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium on October 29, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images) /

3. Cutting Muhammad Wilkerson

In football, numbers aren’t the be all, end all. They can be a part of the evaluation process, but shouldn’t be the sole determining factor. People look at Muhammad Wilkerson’s two sacks on the season and think that’s not enough to warrant the contract he’s going to be receiving in 2018. However, fans must look deeper.

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First of all, he’s been playing hurt all season. Even though you expect more out of him, playing hurt should lower your expectations a little bit. It’s not like he’s been dogging it this season. He’s playing the best he can through the pain.

Secondly, football is a team game, and sometimes individual numbers can be skewed by lack of production by the players around you. This may be the case for Wilkerson. During the Thursday Night Football Broadcast against the Bills, Tony Romo brought up something interesting. The other edge rushers weren’t getting sacks either. If they had been, less attention may have been paid to a hurt Wilkerson, and then Wilkerson may have been able to do his job better.

So, before you look at a raw statistic, let’s examine the facts. Yes, his contract is high for someone with “just two sacks,” but sometimes when a player is playing hurt, his teammates need to step up their games to help him step up his.

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