Garrett Wilson knows exactly what’s coming.
“I feel like the book is out on me,’’ the Jets receiver said Wednesday.
Wilson is one of the Jets’ best skill position players, and he, too, is one of their most accountable players.
He’s lost a fumble in two of the past three games when he was trying to turn a reception into a big play, and knows that’s a trend that needs to stop immediately.
Wilson lost a fumble against the Chargers on Nov. 6 and another against the Bills early in the fourth quarter in Buffalo territory Sunday.
The offensively challenged Jets (nine offensive TDs in 10 games this season) play the offensively potent Dolphins on Friday at MetLife Stadium, and Wilson knows the Jets cannot compete with Miami if they turn the ball over.
“[Teams] are not worried about tackling me as much as they’re worried about tackling the ball,’’ Wilson said. “They’ve done a good job of it.’’
Wilson leads the Jets with 57 receptions (22 more than the next player on the team, tight end Tyler Conklin) for 651 yards and two TDs this season.
But those two lost fumbles are glaring errors for an offense that has no margin for error.
“I’ve got to be better with ball security,’’ Wilson said. “I’ve been lax with it in my career so far ,and I’ve got to fix it. I’ve never been one to put it on the ground often, but the things that have happened these past few weeks, it makes me take a hard look in the mirror.
“Then, as far as my habits at practice and how I’m going about that, I’ve got to start really paying attention to that because it’s leaking onto the field on Sunday. The best way you can go about that is make sure your ball security is good during the week, and knowing those guys that are going to target the ball.
“These dudes put it on film, too. Playing the Bills last week, they’re one of the teams known to punch out the rock. So, knowing that I’ve got to know if I’m going to cross back to the middle of the field, they’re going to be going for it. The ball was loose, down low, and they’re going to make you pay for that. I’ve got to fix it.’’
Wilson is as emotional a player as he is talented, and it’s possible with the team struggling so mightily to score TDs that he’s been pressing to make the big play every time he touches the ball.
“Everyone wants to score, everyone wants to make the big play, and I think that you have to always sit back and refocus and understand those things will come,’’ offensive coordinator Nate Hackett said Wednesday. “But you have to move the chains, you have to get more opportunities, and instead of thinking you’re going to hit a home run every time, sometimes that 2 to 3 yards is going to give you another set of downs.’’
The Jets need every set of downs they can manufacture. They are ranked 30th in the league in points scored with 15 per game while the Dolphins are ranked first with 30.5 per game.
Sunday, Wilson will go up against a couple of top cornerbacks in Jalen Ramsey (three INTs this season) and Xavien Howard (one INT).
“They’ve got two great ones over there in Xavien and Jalen,’’ Wilson said. “Jalen has been doing it for a long time and has been one of the best in the league for a long time. And watching him last week, man, he looks great. It’s exciting for me. I get to see how I stack up. It’s one of those games where, when you were a kid, you look forward to the opportunity.’’
Source
