After signing a first ballot Hall of Fame multi- MVP QB, I was hoping we'd get a reprieve from the Zach Wilson circle jerk for awhile....
I didn't say that they did it intentionally, they just didn't know any better or perhaps were arrogant and thought that things could work out in a different, quicker way, or perhaps they just overestimated what Zach could do initially. Why is it that KC, Baltimore, Buffalo, and other good teams build/design their offenses around what their rookie QBs strengths, and with what they feel comfortable/confident, yet bad teams don't do that? I've seen it happen time and again, not only with QBs, but teams drafting players who were great in a certain scheme in college, and then they put them in a totally different scheme, and wonder why the player failed. Some players can play great in any scheme, but imo they are the minority of players. Most players are better in one scheme than another. Some defensive players' skill sets make them better suited to an attacking-type D, whereas others are better in a read and react-type scheme. Some DBs are better in man coverage, others are better in zone. Ironically, the Jets have been very precise when drafting defensive players and ensuring that they fit their scheme, and the same thing pretty much goes for their OL, but they failed to do that with the most important position, QB. Hopefully, Zach with Hackett's and Rodgers' help, will now be able to adjust and play at a high level in the WCO, but ideally, imo it's not the right scheme for him, his mindset and/or his skillset. Eventually maybe it can be if he's able to make the mental adjustment in how he plays, can reign in his aggressiveness, and fix his footwork/timing issues. Yes, both Lawrence and Fields were expected to be the saviors of their respective teams, but you missed the major point. Jacksonville did the same thing initially, but then wised up and is one of the teams that tailored its offense to what Lawrence does well to help him succeed. Not coincidentally, he then started playing a lot better and looking more like a potentially great QB. Chicago didn't initially, and that's why Fields looked so bad initially, then they started adapting their offense to fit Fields, letting him run more, and that built his confidence and opened things up for their offense more. You don't have to agree, but the facts are that the Jets did not adapt their WCO scheme or pick an offensive scheme that was similar to the scheme that Zach had success in at BYU, that two of their rookie WRs and rookie QB had issues/problems with their initial OC, their initial OC is now employed by another team, and Zach has struggled horribly. It's never one-sided. Zach has his issues to work on and to adapt and he didn't have to react in a negative fashion to MLF. I know that QBs have to build chemistry with their teammates, but I worried a little bit his rookie season that he was going to too many other sporting events and partying when perhaps he should have been studying the playbook. I think the thing last year with his mother's best friend didn't help matters, either. I'm totally surprised he lost confidence, but then again, we don't know what was said and what transpired behind the scenes. It's also a fact that many coaches in the NFL are old school and have one way of doing things. They aren't the most creative or flexible in how they do their jobs. We have seen it with the Jets time and again and with many other, perhaps most, teams in the NFL. They try to shove a square peg into a round hole, and it rarely, if ever works.
It remains to be seen, but at this point I'm hopeful that they realized the error of their ways are working towards fixing things regarding Zach. Had they done nothing - i.e. kept MLF - then yes I would've been thinking a coaching change might be needed. Moot point now.
