The New York Jets are demanding perfection from cornerback Sauce Gardner, and he’s embracing the problem.
With a brand new workers in place below head coach Aaron Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, Gardner has a contemporary alternative to raise his sport.
At Gardner’s first assembly along with his new defensive coordinator, expectations have been made crystal clear.
“I do know I’m not good, however the truth that [Steve is] attempting to get perfection out of me is what I want as a result of, you realize, I’ve had plenty of success, early success within the league,” Gardner stated, through ESPN. “And the very last thing I want is a brand new regime to return in right here and simply permit me to be complacent. I’m not saying that’s who I’m, nevertheless it’s nice to only have these kind of fellows which can be going to demand quite a bit out of me and simply push me in ways in which I’ve by no means been pushed earlier than.”
Gardner’s trajectory took an surprising flip in 2024.
After being named a first-team All-Professional in his first two seasons, he slipped to forty seventh in EPA per goal amongst 52 qualifying corners final yr.
That marked a dramatic fall from his top-two rookie rating. Penalties turned extra frequent as effectively, with 9 accepted flags final season in comparison with simply seven mixed in his first two campaigns.
The numbers inform one story, however Gardner refuses to simply accept any narrative about his decline.
Contract extension talks proceed, positioning him to probably change into the highest-paid cornerback within the league.
His focus stays on resetting expectations below Wilks’ demanding method.
The coordinator’s depth could possibly be precisely what Gardner must reclaim his elite standing and rescue his profession trajectory.
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