FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — A have a look at what’s taking place across the New York Jets:
1. Snakebitten? In what has turn out to be an all too acquainted place, the Jets will go into the offseason staring into the quarterback abyss — a darkish place for any franchise. So many questions: Can Zach Wilson be salvaged? Do they re-sign Mike White? Do they chase a veteran free agent akin to Jimmy Garoppolo?
After two years on the job, coach Robert Saleh nonetheless would not have a concrete reply at quarterback. And that must be disconcerting.
“It’s, as a result of you recognize the quarterback is the top of the snake,” Saleh mentioned. “You need the top of the snake to be steady, and we simply haven’t been in a position to. I’m chargeable for it additionally. It begins with me.”
The Jets have developed a pleasant roster over the previous two years, however that has been mitigated by the struggles at quarterback. They’ve scored 17 or fewer factors in 16 of 32 video games underneath Saleh, as Wilson has failed to indicate any progress. Saleh has used 5 quarterbacks in two years, as if attempting to strike it wealthy with scratch-off lottery tickets.
Wilson, drafted second total in 2021, was imagined to be the golden ticket. To say it hasn’t labored can be an understatement. Reality be instructed, the group had critical questions on Wilson earlier than Thursday night time’s debacle, a 19-3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars that performed out on nationwide tv. Wilson was 9-of-18 for 92 yards and a QBR of 5.2 earlier than being changed within the third quarter by former follow squad QB Chris Streveler. It is exhausting to think about Wilson, booed off the sector, getting back from that.
“We’re not going to stop on him,” Saleh insisted.
However here is the factor: Saleh and normal supervisor Joe Douglas, ending their second 12 months collectively, might be underneath stress to interrupt by way of and make the playoffs in 2023. The Jets are on the verge of their twelfth straight non-playoff season — a franchise file. Possession’s persistence is being examined. Saleh and Douglas know that, and they’re going to do every thing they will to improve at quarterback.
They cannot afford to roll one other snake eyes.
2. Zach vs. JaMarcus: Wilson’s gradual begin to his profession has resulted in unflattering comparisons to a different quarterback: former Raiders bust JaMarcus Russell, the No. 1 total decide in 2007. On Thursday night time’s Prime Video telecast, former player-turned-analyst Richard Sherman referred to Russell and Wilson as “a few of the largest busts within the historical past of the sport.”
3. Sad alums: A few high-profile former Jets chimed in with their takes on Wilson and the quarterback state of affairs:
zach wilson has misplaced the belief of the Jet fanbase. im not saying it is unimaginable. it will likely be very exhausting to regain their belief once more. i witnessed these identical boos when brett farve was underneath heart.
— Darrelle Revis (@Revis24) December 23, 2022
— Victor Inexperienced (@victorgreen2121) December 23, 2022
4. Outdated ghosts reappear: Wilson’s flameout has overshadowed the staff’s December collapse — 0-4. In Week 10, the Jets had a 73% probability to make the playoffs, in accordance with ESPN analytics. Now it is down to five% (earlier than Saturday’s video games).
“We had been using fairly excessive there for some time and feeling fairly good,” heart Connor McGovern mentioned. “I assume we did not handle it the best way we wanted to. We bought knocked off that horse and really want to guage.”
This ranks as one of many worst collapses in current staff historical past. Take into account a few of the others:
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2011: The Jets had been 8-5, then dropped the final three, together with the infamous Victor Cruz game on Christmas Eve. It wound up costing offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer his job.
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2008: Brett Favre, the outdated gunslinger, began firing blanks and the Jets dropped 4 of their final 5, ending 9-7. Coach Eric Mangini was fired.
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2000: They had been 9-4 however ran out of fuel and dropped the final three underneath the demanding Al Groh, who might need been fired if he hadn’t left to educate his alma mater, the College of Virginia.
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1997: Even the good Invoice Parcells could not cease this tailspin, because the Jets dropped three of the final 4 to complete 9-7. Does Leon Johnson ring a bell?
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1994: Dan Marino’s Faux Spike began a five-game shedding streak for the Jets, who went from 6-5 to 6-10. Pete Carroll was fired.
Subsequent Sunday, the Jets will meet up once more with Carroll, who’s battling for a playoff spot with the Seattle Seahawks. That is a bizarre sort of symmetry.
5. It is on the road: Precedence No. 1 within the offseason — nicely, apart from quarterback — is fixing the offensive line, which has been working on “E” for a number of weeks. The accidents began in coaching camp (see: Mekhi Becton), and so they’ve hit exhausting, particularly at sort out with six totally different starters.
Of the present 5 starters alongside the road, the one lock to return is left guard Laken Tomlinson. McGovern, sort out George Fant and guard Nate Herbig might be free brokers. Sort out Duane Brown, 37, nearly actually will not be again for the ultimate 12 months of his contract. (Oh, by the best way, the Jets will get hit with cap prices of $6.3 million in 2023 and $4.7 million in 2024, per Over the Cap information.)
The excellent news is that Alijah Vera-Tucker, who can play guard or sort out, might be again wholesome in 2023. The Jets nonetheless want two or three starters, relying on how they view sort out Max Mitchell (non-football harm checklist). Becton, given his historical past with harm and weight points, is such a wild card. Can they actually matter on him?
They should solidify the middle place; each good line requires a rock within the center. McGovern admitted his play has faltered.
“There are guys taking part in actually good soccer and there are guys which have wavered slightly bit, myself included,” he mentioned.
Due largely to inconsistent line play, the working recreation has screeched to a halt. Up to now three video games, the Jets have rushed for under 192 yards and three.0 yards per carry.
“Putrid,” Saleh mentioned.
It is a merciless irony that Douglas, who locations a premium on offensive line play, is confronted with one other rebuild on the road.
6. Nonfactor: One other transfer that hasn’t labored out is the commerce for working again James Robinson, a wholesome scratch in 4 of eight video games since arriving from the Jaguars for a conditional sixth-round decide. Some Jaguars of us had been stunned the Jets made that deal understanding he was coping with a knee challenge. Robinson’s lack of explosivess has been obvious.
7. Kryptonite: The key is out on easy methods to beat the Jets’ protection. Two phrases: Dink. Dunk.
Persevering with a current pattern in opposition to the Jets, the Jaguars had been profitable with quick passes, particularly crossing routes. Up to now 4 video games, the Jets have allowed a 78% completion charge and 91.2 QBR on passes underneath 10 air yards, in comparison with 71% and a 69.1 QBR within the first 11 video games, per ESPN Stats & Info analysis.
The defensive philosophy is constructed on limiting explosive cross performs. The draw back to that’s they’re keen to concede the quick stuff. Affected person offenses might be profitable, however defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich says he believes their manner will prevail most of the time. He admitted, although, the staff can play tighter man protection to cease it.
“It’s the damaging of the model we play at occasions,” he mentioned.
8. Do you know? Wilson went 8-for-8 in opposition to the Jaguars when his receiver had at the very least 3 yards of separation, per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, however he was 1-for-10 when a defender was inside 3
yards of the goal. Wilson has been the worst within the NFL on these throws this season, finishing 44% of his makes an attempt.
