Jets Must Accelerate Zach Wilson’s Development With Elite Weapons In Year 2 – Orange County Register

Zach Wilson’s Five Rookies, in a Word:

Overwhelmed.

Let’s start with the bad.

Wilson is in 30th or 31st for yards, touchdowns, passing stats and QBR, and completes 55% of his passes for the league’s worst performance.

He averages 179 yards per game with 9 touchdowns and he has the sixth most interceptions in the league with 11. He’s been fired 44 times, some falling to Wilson or others on attack path.

But he has cut interceptions, no interceptions in his last five games.

If you’re a die-hard Jets fan, turn down this next piece of information.

Since 2010, there have been 32 first-round QBs starting at least six games as rookies. Among them, Wilson ranked 10th in completion rate, touchdown rate, passer rating and yards per game, according to Stathead.

Statistically, in the past 11 seasons, Wilson’s rookie that year can match names like Mitch Trubisky, Jared Goff, Blaine Gabbert, Tua Tagovailoa, Josh Rosen, Christian Ponder, Dwayne Haskins and Josh Allen.

Allen, the exception, has become a player of MVP caliber after his efforts. The rest, well, no. Wilson, at least, has more athletic and arm talent than every QB mentioned except Allen.

Wilson has entered a difficult situation. He had a rookie head coach, rookie offensive coordinator and his QB coach Greg Knapp tragically died right before training camp.

For the start of the season, the offensive line was still active with Wilson, leading to pocketing. And his only reliable reception target is Corey Davis.

And at the end of the year, Wilson’s receiving team was dealing with injuries as Elijah Moore and Davis both missed the final five games. His tight finisher group was Tyler Kroft and Ryan Griffin, who combined for just 434 yards.

The game ran inconsistently as they finished 27th with javelin yards per game (98). All told, rookie Wilson’s woes cannot be confined to his own growing pains.

THE STORY OF THE TWO OTHER

In Wilson’s first six games before his PCL injury with New England, he averaged 223 yards per game with four touchdowns. The initial period is marked by a 297-yard electric show, two TDs against Titans that reminds me of his free BYU days.

But he launched 9 interceptions and completed only 57% of his passes.

When Wilson returned in Week 12, sales dropped dramatically. In his last seven appearances, he has only had two interceptions and once lost to five touchdown passes.

But his completion rate stagnated, and his yards per game (166) and each attempt (5.7) broke down. In short, he becomes a QB dink and dunk, though part of that is a receptive corps ravaged by trauma. Wilson created a small spark on the ground with four hasty hits. Second, QB shoots stealthily, without moving the needle, if we’re being honest. But the 52-yard score against the Jaguars does.

His best moment of the comeback was a 234-yard performance against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. If not by Antonio Brown’s Virus exit third quarter and 4th sneak attack failed, Wilson’s play must have resonated greatly.

Total: Offense averaged 13 points with Wilson before the injury and 18 with him after his return.

WHAT MUST YOU DO?

Wilson needs to be more precise and improve in many other respects. What can Jets do to support that development?

It starts with improving the receiving corps. Jamison Crowder, Braxton Berrios, and Keelan Cole are imminent freelancers. All three are interchangeable but they offer solid depth and contribution at the start.

Davis and Moore are a solid duo, where Moore has elite-level potential.

But take a look at the NFL landscape to see who is considered good to elite. The top tier of the QBs —Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, Matthew Stafford, Derek Carr, Lamar Jackson, and Kyler Murray – have at least good weapons, some with good weapons. elite reception selection.

Murray has Deandre Hopkins and AJ Green, two potential Hall of Fame expansions. Prescott throws to CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. All have 1,000 yards off their résumés. Burrow’s has three four-digit receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. Josh Allen has an All-Pro receiver in Stefon Diggs.

The Jets had to upgrade Wilson’s weapons from solid to elite. No excuses. If Gang Green wants Wilson to be the QB franchise, add game-changers. And they have the property to do so.

The jet is now $53,774,414 in limited space.

Mike Williams is a free agent after 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns with the Chargers this year.

So is Chris Godwin, but at risk because he tore his ACL with the Bucs in December.

When Godwin is healthy, he is brilliant. Over the past three years, he has shot a total of 3,276 yards with 21 touches. However, his recovery could last until the 2022 season.

Christian Kirk led the Cardinals in receiving yards (982) and was also preparing to become a free agent.

And Falcons’ Calvin Ridley gave up football on October 31 to focus on his mental health. But if Ridley has fully recovered mentally and wants to play again, he may be ready.

NFL Network reporter Steve Wyche watched the Dukes and Bell show and suggested that “it looks like both sides are looking for a fresh start.” Ridley’s contract has only one year left for 11 million USD. Ridley has 3061 yards and 26 touchdowns in the three seasons before 2021.

If the Jets don’t go the agency or free-trade route, the Jets have four draft picks in the top 40 picks and two picks in the top 10 picks. Treylon Burks of Arkansas, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave of Ohio State, Jahan Dotson of Penn State and Drake London of USC are all highly regarded prospects.

It will ask the Jets to use one of those options on a receiver.

So while rookie Wilson has had a disappointing season, there are still elite talents. But the Jets have to raise pass catchers around him to speed up his development.