Jeff Ulbrich, the interim coach of the Jets, showed great accountability and humility in taking full responsibility for his team’s poor performance against the Cardinals in Glendale, Arizona. Despite the team’s nine-day layoff leading up to the game, Ulbrich admitted that they were not prepared and failed to execute to their standard.
The Jets defense struggled immensely, allowing the Cardinals to score on each of their first five offensive possessions. Kyler Murray, the Cardinals’ quarterback, had an outstanding game, completing 22 of 24 passes for 266 yards and contributing both a passing and two rushing touchdowns. The Jets’ tackling was particularly poor, with 20 missed tackles reported in the game.
Ulbrich acknowledged that the team’s fundamental skills were lacking, and he took the blame for not adequately preparing them. He emphasized the need to work on tackling, edge setting, and getting off blocks to improve the team’s performance in future games.
One crucial moment in the game highlighted the team’s defensive struggles when Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner missed a key tackle, allowing the Cardinals to convert a third down and extend a drive that resulted in a touchdown. Gardner recognized his mistake and took responsibility for it, stating that he needed to perform better.
Despite Ulbrich shouldering the blame, edge rusher Haason Reddick defended his coach, emphasizing that the players also needed to step up and make plays on the field. He acknowledged Ulbrich’s efforts and stressed the importance of players taking responsibility for their performance.
Moving forward, the Jets will need to address their defensive issues and focus on improving their fundamental skills to prevent similar outcomes in future games. Ulbrich’s willingness to take responsibility for the team’s performance demonstrates his leadership and commitment to guiding the Jets to success. As the team continues to work on their weaknesses, players like Sauce Gardner will need to step up and deliver improved performances to support their coach and teammates.
