Saleh confident Jets' rook QB will 'get Better'
Robert Saleh refuses to sound an alarm on Zach Wilson and his struggles.
Yes, the Jets’ 22-year-old rookie quarterback took a step backward in Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the Falcons in London a week after recording his first NFL victory.
But Saleh, the Jets rookie head coach, on Monday expressed confidence that better times will come from Wilson.
“He’s going to get better,’’ Saleh said. “He’s got tremendous arm talent. He goes [about] things the right way. I know it can be frustrating sometimes when we’re looking at some of these things, like, ‘God, he should be making these throws.’ But it’s going to start clicking.
“It’s not easy being a rookie quarterback. It never has been and never will be.’’
Saleh then used Josh Allen, the Bills fourthyear quarterback, as an example of the growing pains Wilson is going through.
“I’ll just throw a guy out there — Josh Allen, who everyone wanted thrown away after his first [couple of] years,’’ Saleh said. “His first five games of his rookie year are darn near identical to what our young kid is going through.’’
Allen, in his first five NFL games (he came on in relief in Week 1 in 2018), completed 65 of 128 passes (50.7 percent) for 668 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions, and the Bills were 2-3 in those games.
Wilson through the first five games has completed 98 of 171 passes (57.3 percent) for 1,117 yards with four TDs and an NFL-high nine interceptions, and the Jets are 1-4.
Some of Wilson’s statistics are misleading because much of his production has come later in games with the Jets trailing.
“You’re going to take the good with the good and the bad with the bad and find ways to get better,’’ Saleh said. “And he will.’’
One of the most perplexing elements to Wilson’s struggle has been his slow starts. The difference in his firsthalf numbers and secondhalf numbers is staggering.
Wilson is 30 of 63 (47.6 percent) for 292 yards with no TDs, six INTs and a 21.5 passer rating in the first half this season. He’s 64 of 101 (63.4 percent) for 768 yards with four TDs, three INTs and a 87.4 rating in the second half.
In overtime of the win over the Titans last week, he was 4 of 7 for 57 yards and an 83.6 rating. What gives?
Saleh hinted that Wilson needs to calm his nerves early in games, because the evidence through five games is that he’s looked like a much different, more composed, player in the second half of games.
“It’s just a matter for him to calm down … lower his heart rate and trust your preparation and just let the ball rip,’’ Saleh said. “I can take you through his process: First quarter happens, second quarter the offense starts moving the ball and getting a little more comfortable and then the half is over. We come out in the third quarter and the offense is starting to move the ball really well. Then in the fourth quarter, it looks like a completely different team.’’
Wilson has looked like a completely different quarterback after halftime.
“This is a very, very young football team and those are things they’re all going to get better at — including the coaching staff,’’ Saleh said.
“It’s something that we’ve got to continue to get better at — trusting your preparation, just let it rip when game day hits.’’
Saleh disputed the assertions that a lot of Wilson’s better statistics came during garbage time in the loss to Atlanta. Wilson had 65 yards passing with 9 minutes 30 seconds remaining in the game and finished with 192.
“You can maybe look at the last possession as garbage time, but a three-possession game in this league is nothing,’’ Saleh said. “It was 20-3, we come out of the locker room [after halftime] and it’s 20-9, we get a couple stops on defense, offense drives down the field and it’s 20-17.
“Those are real plays. All those plays matter. I don’t think Zach took a step back. He had another game as a rookie. There are things that he can learn from, but what you saw and what you continue to see is as he gets comfortable in the game he shows off all his talent. He’s done that the whole season.’’