Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was asked if it will be “fun” matching up with Dolphins coach and play-caller Mike McDaniel on Sunday.
“I don’t know if ‘fun’ is the right word. I know what you’re saying. It’s a tremendous challenge,” Ulbrich said. “There are a lot of coaches out there who do a great job playing their system, whereas he goes to another place. I was with him for two years in Atlanta, got to know him well, one of my better friends in this business. He really does an excellent job of figuring out your rules and then how can I attack those rules, how can I compromise those rules, how can I put your guys in conflict the entire game. It’s my job to try to eliminate those conflicts. It’s my job to try to figure out ways where we can alleviate some of that stress that he’s trying to put on our players. It is a chess match, for sure.”
The Dolphins come into Sunday’s game rated No. 1 overall in total offense and passing offense and No. 2 in rushing offense and scoring offense.
Ulbrich said he is not surprised at the success McDaniel is having after watching him coach when both were on the Falcons staff in 2015-16.
“I knew he was one of the most insanely intelligent human beings that I’ve ever been around in my entire life,” Ulbrich said. “He’s got a quirkiness to him for sure. He’s very unique in that way from a personality standpoint. I think the old traditional NFL might have questioned whether he could be that guy.”
Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett praised quarterback Zach Wilson for his 301-yard performance against the Texans on Sunday.
“I thought he did a great job extending the plays,” Hackett said. “I thought there was really two big-time plays that he had. The one on the, I think it was about third-and-12, the one that he crossed the field to the left and just casually kind of threw the ball to Garrett [Wilson], made it look very easy. I think that’s something great to see and then when those easy plays were there for us to make, he was able to capitalize on them, whether it was simply checking the ball down to Breece [Hall] or getting the ball down the field to one of the tight ends.
“He executed at a very high level, and it was everybody, it wasn’t just him. I think it was across the board, it was a great all-11 group effort.”
OT Carter Warren (hip) and WR Jason Brownlee (ankle) did not practice Thursday. The following players were limited: Hall (ankle). FB Nick Bawden (knee), DE John Franklin-Myers (ankle), OT Max Mitchell (neck), QB Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) and C Joe Tippmann (shoulder). … Dolphins WR Tyree Hill (ankle) did not practice for the second straight day.
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