The Jets Refuse to Admit Zach Wilson Sucks
How many times are we going to do this?
Zach Wilson is not good. And because they continue to put all their faith in Wilson, the Jets are not good either.
Expectations for the Jets came crashing down after the Dallas Cowboys provided a full dose of reality in Week 2. Zach Wilson, who played well enough in Week 1 to help the Jets escape with a division win, was far from the main reason the team was whooped 30–10.
The Jet defense was uncharacteristically flat, and when they did look like themselves, suspect roughing calls extended Cowboy drives. Sauce Gardner dropped an easy pick-six, and Dak Prescott had the wherewithal to limit his looks Gardner’s way.
The offensive line was the worst of the bunch. Duane Brown was touching grass often, bullied the full 60 minutes, often looking like he does not belong on an NFL field anymore. Center Connor McGovern was not much better, and when you factor in the limited touches for Breece Hall and limited run plays called to the right side, you can even slide offensive coordinator Nate Hackett above Wilson in the blame game.
Now, Wilson. Was he good on Sunday? In moments. The whole body of work, however, did not provide anyone with flashbacks to a young Aaron Rodgers. After Wilson’s dime to Garrett Wilson that went for a 68-yard touchdown, Zach threw three interceptions and once again failed to reach 200 yards passing despite nearly 30 attempts.
While Wilson was far from the reason the Jets lost, the final stat line looked a lot like what we have seen from Wilson. The Mormon Mahomes bit was funny, and he does occasionally drop a dime, but the consistency and overall feel for the game remains lacking.
Unlike former lame duck Jets quarterback, Sam Darnold, Wilson has been put in position to succeed. Wilson has Hall of Famer Steve Young and now future Hall of Famer and childhood idol Aaron Rodgers as mentors. Hackett supports him much more than Mike LaFleur ever did. The roster Wilson has to work with is ten-times better than what Darnold worked with.
And yet, there has been no significant strides in performance. The question the team has not seemingly asked itself yet is if not now, then when with Zach?
Robert Saleh had kind words for Zach following the Cowboys’ loss. It is true that Wilson was playing down 20 points, which made it easy for the Cowboy defense to focus exclusively on the pass.
Week 3 less of an excuse. Saleh still had the “he showed signs” response, as he is too good of a coach to dump on his quarterback. Despite Saleh’s cockeyed optimism, the fact remains that Wilson failed to throw for 200 yards once again. Bill Belichick continues to own the Jets and once again made Wilson look like a novice.
In 25 starts, over 200 yards seven times, and under 200 yards 14 times. Most alarming, though, he has thrown for under 100 yards twice as many times as he has thrown for at least 300 yards. That is difficult to comprehend.
The Jets remain committed to Wilson despite dropping to 1–2 and having the worst offense in the league. The arm strength is alluring, but the lack of feel for the game is too much.
There are some things you simply cannot teach. Wilson still takes a month to read the defense, with a leash longer than the youngest sibling.
“He gives us the best chance to win,” Robert Saleh said after the anemic offensive output in a 15–10 loss at home to the Patriots.
Wilson will be under center on Sunday night, and more likely than not the Jets will get speed bagged by the defending champs. Patrick Mahomes will show Jets fans what a real quarterback looks like. Chiefs fans will see how lucky they are, and the Jets will pack it in and do the same thing next week.
If you think this is being pessimistic, I beg you to Google “Jets cursed” and tell me I am wrong.
As long as Zach Wilson remains the starter, the Jets will be the Same Old Jets.
We were so close.
