Jeff Ulbrich tries different approach to start Jets’ week
After a fourth straight loss and another blown lead, Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich decided to change things up with the team’s schedule Monday.
Ulbrich did not have the Jets meet as a full team.
Instead, he sent out a group message to all of the players and they met with their position groups.
They won’t gather as a full team again until Wednesday.
“I thought it was an opportunity to take a second to just reset, you know, because there is some real frustration obviously on both sides of this, from coaching, playing, the whole thing,” Ulbrich said. “The process has been right and that’s been the most frustrating part and I know I’ve articulated that and I thought [Monday] was an opportunity for them just to regroup and take a breath for a second.”
The Jets are 1-7 since Jets owner Woody Johnson fired coach Robert Saleh and Ulbrich shifted into the interim coach role.
The Jets lost 32-26 in overtime Sunday to the Dolphins after leading by eight points in the fourth quarter.
Ulbrich admitted that the negativity has worn on them and he wanted the players to clear their heads.
“Just get their mind off of this because it can get suffocating,” Ulbrich said. “Especially when the pressure gets as high as it’s been and the negativity can get real on all of us, so an opportunity to take a deep breath, get a fresh approach and hit this thing with the fresh approach on Wednesday and get ready for Jacksonville.”
One of the bright spots in Sunday’s game was the performance of rookie running backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis.
The duo got more playing time with Breece Hall missing the game with a knee injury.
They combined for 148 yards from scrimmage.
“Being in this league a long time, I don’t think I’ve seen two young rookies at the same position especially have such a mature approach,” Ulbrich said. “I mean, these kids both have amazing careers ahead of them and it’s just so exciting for them to get these opportunities early in their careers. Both guys super mature already at a young age really understand what a process needs to look like, obviously they’ll refine that and grow that as they go, but so far ahead of most rookies and the play is demonstrating that, so excited about their future, both of them.”
Ulbrich had no updates on RT Morgan Moses (wrist) or special teamer Irv Charles (knee), who were both injured in Sunday’s loss.
He said the team should know early in the week if CB Sauce Gardner (hamstring) and Hall (knee) can practice and play this week against the Jaguars after both missed Sunday’s game.