Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich on Monday continued to take responsibility for his players’ poor performance in the 31-6 loss at Arizona — particularly on defense.
After the game, Ulbrich took responsibility for not having his team prepared, and he shouldered the blame for 20 missed tackles.
Monday was more of the same from Ulbrich.
“I’m disappointed in myself that I didn’t get these guys prepared for this tackling game,’’ he said. “We knew that was a point emphasis, and we thought we drilled it. Obviously, we didn’t drill it well enough. We’ve got to keep finding ways to help guys be successful.’’
On Monday, two of Ulbrich’s players defended their coach.
“Coach Brick, he’s a tremendous leader,’’ linebacker Jamien Sherwood, who had 17 tackles on Sunday, credited with missing one, said. “He’s a tremendous coach. He’s been put in a position to lead us, and I feel like he’s been put in a tough spot.
“I did feel like we were prepared well on the defensive side of ball,’’ Sherwood went on. “Everything [the Cardinals] did to us in the game we practiced that. So, I personally wouldn’t blame him. It doesn’t matter about what the coaches give to us, it’s about the 11 players that are on the field at that time.
“We were prepared. We just didn’t go out there and execute. I would not put the blame on him. I definitely would put the blame on my shoulders, because I am the ‘Mike’ backer. I am the one with the green dot [who communicates with the sideline]. I am the one on the field with everybody.
“So, I will point the finger at myself before I even say it was his fault. We’re the ones inside the white lines. Brick doesn’t put on his shoulder pads or helmet anymore.’’
Tight end Tyler Conklin echoed Sherwood’s thoughts.
“Obviously, Coach Brick isn’t out there playing football, so it’s on all of us who are out there playing,’’ Conklin said. “It’s on us as an overall group. We’ve all got to take accountability individually and look in the mirror. But it’s on all of us.’’
When Ulbrich was asked if effort is a part of tackling, he said, “Effort is absolutely a part of it, getting population with the football. It’s a shared responsibility, it’s all of us.
“There’s finding ways to drill it and keep improving as a tackler, and then there’s definitely the responsibility of the player to get it done. So, we share the responsibility in that.’’
The Jets will face an old friend — literally — on Sunday when they play the Colts at MetLife Stadium.
Quarterback Joe Flacco was officially named the Indianapolis starter for Sunday by head coach Shane Steichen on Monday.
The 39-year-old Flacco played for the Jets in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and went 1-8 as a starter.
Flacco, however, lit up the Jets last December when he was playing for the Browns, throwing for 309 yards and three TDs in a 37-20 win over them.
He’s started the past two games for the Colts after taking over for struggling second-year first-round draft pick Anthony Richardson and lost both games, throwing two TDs and four INTs.
The Jets sustained two injuries in Sunday’s game. Left tackle Tyron Smith had a neck injury and Ulbrich said he was scheduled “to get some imaging’’ Monday to “get a closer look at it.’’ Ulbrich said Brandin Echols is in concussion protocol.
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