Saleh may not be ready to quit on Wilson, but time running out
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — At Metlife Stadium on Thursday night, it was as if a pair of wakes took place: One for the Jets’ playoff dreams, the other for Zach Wilson’s career with the team.
While neither one is officially dead as of Friday, they both might as well be after the Jets’ embarrassing 19-3 loss to the Jaguars.
On national television in his second consecutive start in place of Mike White, who is still recovering from fractured ribs, the secondyear quarterback was abysmal as he completed just 9 of 18 passes for 92 yards with an interception while having a QB rating of 41.9.
Wilson was so bad that Jets fans booed him after every incompletion. After his interception to end the half down 13-3, Jets fans let Wilson and the entire offense have it. Wilson, the second-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, was so bad that he was benched for Chris Streveler, the Jets practice squad quarterback, who was elevated for the game against the Jaguars.
Thursday night was an absolute new low for Wilson after he was benched following his equally inept performance in a 10-3 loss against the Patriots last month. Before the Patriots debacle, he had started seven consecutive games once he recovered from his preseason knee injury. The Jets had just three first downs with Wilson behind center, while Streveler got four first downs on one drive.
“I think you’re just trying to find some confidence on the field,” Wilson said after the primetime disaster. “I’m just trying to feel rhythm and flow and confidence and just the ability to just feel like
On Thursday, Patriots players steered clear of Brady comparisons. Even the notion that Burrow possesses some of the same qualities, such as those Belichick mentioned in his press conference the day earlier, were off-limits.
“He does it a little bit differently,” said Pats cornerback Jonathan Jones. “You see how he carries himself. His persona’s different.”
“As far as a skilled pocket passer and just a good quarterback, I think you could compare him. But it’s hard to compare anybody to Brady in their third year because of what Brady has done,” said Pro Bowl pass rusher Matt Judon. “Not that Burrow’s not good, I just think it’s a disservice to Tom.”
During the week, the task of simulating Burrow has fallen to practice-squad quarterback Garrett Gilbert. The 31-year-old journeyman praised the defense’s disguise in practice, knowing how vital it can be to slowing explosive passing offenses like the Bengals, which ranks sixth-best by DVOA.
“It’s all about operating fast at quarterback,” Gilbert said. So if you can make him second guess what he’s seeing, it makes things difficult.”
But, for as many strip sacks or interceptions it might generate, there is a downside to disguise.
“It can certainly backfire on you,” he added. “You want to make the quarterback do that, but you’ve got to make sure you’re in position when the ball’s snapped. If your help’s not where it’s supposed to be because they were trying to disguise, then it doesn’t really do you any good. Certainly I would say every day in practice it’s tough against our guys because they do such a good job of it.”
In Las Vegas, the Patriots successfully confused Derek Carr and shut out the Raiders until the final two minutes, when they ran out of gas and luck simultaneously on the final series. Safeties Devin Mccourty and Adrian Phillips rotated constantly at the snap, while Judon and fellow edge rusher Josh Uche dropped off the edges as interior blitzers flew in to fluster Las Vegas’ protections. Judon, in particular, dropped into coverage a season-high nine times.