I agree, I thought there was some progress too, and there is decent analysis to support that: https://jetsxfactor.com/2023/08/04/ny-jets-zach-wilson-hof-game/
Look, it was a few throws…very small sample size…too small to say good or bad one way or another with any meaningful backup to me. But from a quick overall eye test, he sucked. Yes he had one really nice throw that showed his arm talent. But come on, he also showed the same old overthrow bullshit, a batted pass at the line, and he failed to score a TD in two drives against backups…one of which started what, at the 30 yard line after the kickoff fumble? He couldn’t even muster a first down there. So sure, if you want to nitpick about so called progress, have at it. Big picture, I just don’t see it. Not in this game. Dude couldn’t get first downs against backups. Now, that doesn’t mean he won’t get better…it was the first preseason game after all…still, I would’ve felt way better had he made consistent throws to get multiple first downs. I would have liked to see him lead a drive that starts at the opponent’s 30 yard line or wherever that was. He didn’t It is what it is…he’s a young kid with a nice arm and quick release that holds potential, but he played at a second tier school against weak competition in a year further impacted by COVID. He was able to use his escapability and strong arm to make bones at that level, but it hasn’t translated to the pros yet. Sure, he’s made some nice throws absolutely. He has the arm to succeed, but he doesn’t have the accuracy or the command of the pro game yet. Not sure he’ll ever get that. But just seeing some of these posts just hunting for signs of progress, or hearing Cris Collinsworth gush on that play where he slipped…come on. It’s just wishful thinking at this point. I hope it gets better, but until we see him do well in games, it’s just that. Hope and wishful thinking
I disagree. To some extent people see what they want to see. If one thinks negatively about a player, then that is all they're gonna see. If one thinks positively, then that is all they're gonna see. People who are unbiased one way or another and have no dog in the fight, saw progress last night and said that they thought he looked good. That's good enough for me. I was hoping that he would play longer and have done more, but Hackett's play calling gave him little chance to succeed. Yes, he overthrew a WR and had a pass batted down. That happens to Rodgers too, and about every other QB in the NFL. When you OC gives you no chance to get into any kind of rhythm or groove, it's much harder to hit on those few passes, and when the D knows that you're running on 1st and 2nd down and throwing on 3rd down, it makes it incrementally harder.
Week 0 of the preseason and you're already blaming the new OC, not even MLF anymore but the new OC, for Zach's struggles. I mean it wasn't even like Zach had a bad game overall (I'd give him a B), and I feel kind of bad interjecting here, but at some point the common thread has to become apparent.
Since the internet wasn’t huge back then I wonder if Ryan Leaf had a hype man in the parking lot of Qualcomm like NC is for Wilson on this board in 2000 after he’d lost his 11th/15th start.
I don’t really get how much analysis is needed for two series in the HOF game against a defense full of backups. I think we can rely on everyone’s eye test on this one bub.
Craig--Your argument would be more persuasive if Zach's poor/subpar performances were his own, not, as you say, the fault of the offensive coordinator.
You hit the nail on the head. The two things that Rodgers' mentorship or time on the bench can't change are: 1) College competition--Zach was never worthy of the #2 pick overall, and frankly he's not that good. Just because he beat up on Navy, Coastal Carolina, etc. during his only decent year in college during COVID , he has NEVER shined against real competition. Too bad Douglas and scouts didn't consider this on draft day (or before), and 2) He is not an accurate passer at all. Not only inaccurate, but he throws a very difficult-to-catch short ball. As I have stated before, he is another Browning Nagle--he throws a 100 mph fastball over the middle and usually behind the WR. Or else he airmails it 10-15 OVER the WR, like he did in one play against the Browns. Very inaccurate, no touch, and fastballs the short pass. I hope he gets better, but this is his third year, and looking like he is what he is.
Tom, I totally disagree with #1, and on #2 You speak in absolutes as if Zach has never been accurate, and that's simply not true. His last season at BYU he was the 2nd most accurate QB in college football that year. Yes, he has struggled in the NFL, but if one has the skill/talent to be accurate once, then they don't lose it permanently. I'm not going to list the valid reasons again why his accuracy has suffered, but his accuracy is improving now in TC.
Why is anyone still talking about what Wilson did at BYU (and disregarding the level of competition)? That's ancient history - deal with the here and now!
Completely and absolutely agree with that, not just what he did in College, but what he did and didn't do here under the previous OC. It was what it was, we know well the results and were criticized at nausea, but like it or not it has zero bearing with his future or lack thereof. Its all about the here and the now for every single practice, preseason game or garbage time. The measure of success is not is he improving or not, but can he be the QB to lead this team after Rodgers. That decision is far from being made now, tomorrow or during this season, short of a very untimely and devastating setback at the QB position. God help us. Hard enough to even get consistent assessments on his very limited performance on the HOF game. Where even though deemed a step in the right direction by all analysts without their Jet fan hats on, fans "eye test" evaluations were all over the map, much not even supported by the actual performance but the "conditions under which he played and past history" IMO, is time to move into the here and now not just for Zach, but for all of us fans.
To begin with, Zach didn't really struggle the other night, but ALL of the Jets QBs who played were handicapped by Hackett's predictable play calling. If you didn't notice that, then you obviously weren't paying attention, or maybe acknowledging that I was right would go against your agenda against Zach and against me. It's sad the extremes some of you go to looking for any little thing to try to crtiicize or silence me. Carry on.
That's a lot of analysis for 5 attempts, lol. I'm waiting to see him in the next game. Hopefully he gets more than 5 pass attempts.
Jesus...you weren't kidding. I expected this video to be MAYBE 10 minutes long but 20 minutes!?!? For 6 dropbacks?? Gonna be skipping through this one quite a bit.
I'm sure we'll all be sick of Zach by the end of pre-season... Zach has the perfect opportunity to flip the narrative on his play... and it's better for everyone if he does.
