Former Gase players rallying to his defense

MIAMI — Three of Adam Gase’s former players will be taking the field Sunday in Super Bowl LIV.

Those players each said Jets fans need to have some patience with the coach.

“Just relax, man, let the man do his job,” 49ers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders said when asked what he would say to Jets fans. “It’s not gonna happen overnight. Nothing really happens overnight. It’s gonna be a process, you gotta get the right players in.”

Sanders played under Gase in 2014, when Gase was the offensive coordinator with the Broncos. Two of Gase’s former Dolphins players are on the Chiefs. Backup quarterback Matt Moore and running back Damien Williams played for Gase in Miami and are now back here looking for a ring.

All three praised Gase’s coaching and offensive mind, something Jets fans are skeptical about after the team finished last in the league in offense in his first season.

Another popular question has been about some of Gase’s former players flourishing this year and whether that was because they are being coached better now. The most notable is Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who had a career year after struggling at times in Miami under Gase.

“I don’t think that’s fair,” said Moore, who was Tannehill’s backup in 2016 and 2017 under Gase. “I think Adam’s a great offensive coach. Like anything, it takes time. I think he’s unique when he stands at the podium, for sure. I’m sure that’s part of it for fans, but the guy knows his stuff.”

Williams has scored five touchdowns in these playoffs for Kansas City, and he also has been lumped in with Tannehill as players performing better away from Gase, a premise the running back disagrees with.

“It’s timing,” Williams said. “At the end of the day when Gase was here, we went to the playoffs. Tannehill had a great year that year and then ended up getting hurt. I feel like if that didn’t happen, it would have been a different story. I feel like Gase did a great job of coming in and turning that organization around.”

Williams credited Gase with making him a more complete running back, which he said has helped him in Andy Reid’s offense.

Sanders said Gase can flourish if the Jets’ roster improves.

“Obviously I’m sure Jets fans are upset, but at the same time, people gotta understand how hard it is to win in this league,” Sanders said. “When Kyle [Shanahan] first got here, they lost a lot of games, then last year they didn’t have a good year, and now we’re back in the Super Bowl ’cause we plugged in key players like [Nick] Bosa, like myself, like other guys, and then everything started to click. I hope that happens with Gase as well.”