The Zach Wilson Analysis has been the one actual fascinating factor left within the Jets season for a number of weeks now.
Is he the reply?
Did the Jets make a mistake taking him No. 2?
Can he be the guy the Jets have been waiting for since Namath?
There are questions Jets followers are anxious to get solutions to. However right here’s one huge drawback — who Wilson is taking part in with in the mean time. On Sunday, the Jets have been lacking their high three broad receivers and it’s arduous to get a learn on Wilson when he’s throwing to Jeff Smith and D.J. Montgomery. Backups have turn into starters and gamers usually are not getting open for Wilson and so they’re dropping passes, making the analysis of Wilson a tough one.
Issues could be higher with Corey Davis, Elijah Moore and Jamison Crowder within the lineup — Moore and Crowder may return this week — but it surely has turn into clear Joe Douglas must preserve including playmakers round Wilson this offseason.
It’s simple to say Douglas’ offseason must be all about fixing the protection. That would be the high precedence for the Jets in free company and the draft, however Douglas additionally must get Wilson extra assist. Douglas did an excellent job drafting Moore and running back Michael Carter, and Davis was a pleasant free-agent addition who doesn’t cripple their wage cap state of affairs. However Wilson wants extra.
Ideally, Douglas may add one other high receiver and a high tight finish in free company or the draft to assist Wilson subsequent season. Douglas — armed with some $50 million in cap house, which may simply develop to $60 million with a couple of roster cuts, and 4 picks within the first two rounds — has so many holes to fill this offseason, however discovering assist for Wilson has to stay close to the highest of his listing.
Jets coach Robert Saleh stated it’s not nearly discovering playmakers for Wilson however about enhancing the crew general to assist him.
“It’s a world factor,” Saleh stated. “It’s not essentially receivers, tight ends. It’s not only one group. It’s a complete crew standpoint by way of getting guys again wholesome, persevering with to develop these younger guys after which, clearly, you get the draft and no matter. To proceed so as to add and construct and solidify the items round and see if we will get guys making performs. It’s extra holistic by way of protection, run video games, playmakers. It’s everybody. We do have a whole lot of these. They’re simply not taking part in for us proper now.”
In Sunday’s win over the Jaguars, Wilson threw for under 102 yards, but it surely was clear the Jets have been going to lean on their run recreation. They rushed for 273 yards, essentially the most any crew within the NFL has rushed for this season. That led to fewer alternatives for Wilson, who contributed extra along with his legs (91 speeding yards) than his arm.
It’s inconceivable to foretell who will hit free company as a result of groups can re-sign gamers earlier than it begins in March or use the franchise tag on them. However a few of the high receivers scheduled to hit free company embrace the Packers’ Davante Adams, the Bears’ Allen Robinson and the Chargers’ Mike Williams. At tight finish, the Dolphins’ Mike Gesicki, the Cowboys’ Dalton Schultz and the Cardinals Zach Ertz might be obtainable. The draft has a lot of good receivers, headlined by Jameson Williams of Alabama, Arkansas’ Treylon Burks and Ohio State’s duo of Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave.
The Jets seem to have hit on Moore and Carter this yr. They’d be the primary playmakers the Jets have discovered within the draft in ages. Now, Douglas has to maintain it going.
Saleh stated regardless of Wilson not placing up huge numbers on Sunday, he was spectacular. Saleh pointed to a third-and-9 cross to Berrios within the fourth quarter as Wilson’s finest this season.
“He made some exceptional throws [Sunday],” Saleh stated. “I do know we’re not going to flash out the gaudy passing numbers, however that third-down throw that he needed to Berrios, I’ll argue with [offensive coordinator Mike] LaFleur that that’s most likely the most effective throw he’s made all season by way of tempo. He had a six-man stress in his face, ripped the ball realizing that he was going to get hit, put it precisely the place Berrios wanted to catch it to guard himself from the protection. It was superior. It was a clutch throw, clutch catch on a important all the way down to preserve the chains transferring.”
