And I am not sure if this is fair on the poor guy. Think about it. This will be Joe D's 3rd season if you don't count Gase's first year(rightfully so). Last 2 seasons, we only had 6 wins against 27 losses. This year we got blown out in multiple games. Even though Joe D did certain things right like good trades, managing the cap by not spending like drunk sailor and trying to build thru the draft, he is still going to be harshly evaluated if it is another season of 4-5 wins. Even though Saleh will be only in his 2nd season, the poor defensive performance, Jets looking lost in many games this year, his DC choice etc will make life difficult for him in 2022 if it is another 4-5 wins. In a sense, both of these guys will be harshly judged if Wilson shits the bed next year. Like I said, another season of 4-5 wins might force Woody's hand big time for a change. Now even though I am not in love with either Joe D or Saleh, I still believe in stability. I really want to see what Joe D-Saleh combo can do long term. I am afraid if Zach doesn't come back much improved, look the part big time and not pull some wins in close games, this might cause further instability. I am rooting for Zach to be a Top 10 QB in this league. And I know year 2 isn't the year to expect too much from a young QB but in a sense, I am really hoping he comes back super strong. Dear Zach, Too much is riding on your success next year my friend. I hope you spend too much time this off season to work on your weaknesses and watch tape. We know you are a student of the game. Know that 2022 is very important for you and for us. Godspeed bud, godspeed!
Year 2 IS where you see that growth and transition usually take place. I'm tired. I'm not interested In coddling a QB that simply isn't up to the task. I would say this about anyone we had drafted last year. Our window of success needs to start taking shape for this team. We are a running joke to everyone In the NFL, to opposing fans, etc.. Its hard to even wear my Jets stuff due to constantly being mocked by people In passing, I still do, but, I don't know why I do it. I'm not interested In how hard It may or may not be for any of the people you mentioned In your OP. Life is hard. The NFL Is extremely hard, that's not an excuse though, results and wins are being had by almost every other team around the league. There is ZERO excuse to be the team with the longest reigning playoff drought In the league. It's not even close from my understanding either. Poor, Zach. Nah. Poor fans. It's time for them all to nut up or shut up.
Please get Zach a legit weapon. A true No 1 WR or a dynamic TE completely changes the complexion of our passing game. Adding both would be even better. Sent from my Pixel 5a using Tapatalk
All true MD. And I didn't say we should cuddle anybody. As a seaon ticket holder, I am also tired of being ridiculed by opposing fans while at Metlife. But you know what happens if Zach shits the bed right? Mine is a prayer to be hones. I HOPE Zach comes back strong or else we will be in the brink of another regime change.
First of all, call me crazy but I think Zach can handle any undeserved criticism he gets? There's a lot of irrational occurrences in pro Football. This falls into that category. Second, I know the expectation for Joe Douglas is to build a roster that makes the playoffs next season. Third, I don't think Douglas gets fired regardless of what happens. Douglas has a 6 year contract and he's only in his third year. Fourth, Woody and Chris will feel some culpability if the team misses the playoffs next season. Remember, they hired Douglas AFTER the draft in 2019. They also chose Adam Gase as HC. So as much as the fans would want to blame JD and Saleh if the Jets fail to make the playoffs next season, knowledgeable Jets fans will know better and so will ownership.
The reason there's so much pressure on Zack for year 2 is because of how bad he played in year 1. Scary bad. And for a franchize coming off 3 years of Sam Darnold, that's not a good place to be. How much different the discussions would be right now if Zack played like we all thought (hoped?) he'd play. Playing even worse than Sam played is gonna heap a ton of pressure on him in year 2. Only Zack can fix this.
I don't think letters - or tweets or Instagram posts - love or hate, will motivate Zach to do anything differently than what he's done his whole sports career: work his ass off and prove the doubters wrong. He might fail, but it won't be from lack of effort, or because enough people didn't "coddle" him. One of the big reasons I was high on Wilson compared to the rest of the QBs was his drive to be the best, and backing that up with effort in studying film and picking the brains of successful QBs like Rodgers and Mahomes. And you can see this effort paid off even in this season because while he started off bad, he finished strong, despite not having all of his starting receivers on the field at the same time, and losing a big chunk of his OL due to injuries. Everyone has the right to their opinion, and for long suffering Jets fans I understand the "Show me" attitude. Zach needs to show everyone that he's the real deal, even he'll admit that. So Douglas has to go out and get him weapons and beef up the OL with quality and depth so Zach will have every chance to succeed. If he doesn't then I'll be the first to admit I was wrong and to get on the "Dump Zach Wagon" and look for a FQB - again.
Douglas's job absolutely should depend on Wilson's success, considering Douglas is the one who drafted him. Also if we have another 4-5 win season next year, Douglas's record in three years will be 10-40 or 11-39. That's more than fireable-bad, that's going down in Jets infamy bad. I'd feel a bit bad for Saleh, but over two-year spans, coaches get fired for less.
The thing that so many posters and Jets fans are doing is letting the past influence them. If one is going to be realistic and rational in evaluating JD, Saleh and Wilson, one should not have this expectation of proving it in 2022 or clearing house. IMO that's totally absurd. For those who disagree, go do some research into Walsh in SF and Mike Shanahan in Denver. Both teams were awful for the first two years they were the HC. In the 3rd year both took their teams to the SB. I'm not saying that will happen with Saleh and the Jets, but it could. What I am saying is that the team could still struggle in 2022, and then in 2023, suddenly be much better and be a playoff team. I would think that we will see definite signs of improvement and progress from Zach, and the whole team this coming season, and we'll see 6+ wins, but we're still going to have a lot of young players starting and seeing significant time. Sometimes young players have to learn how to win. Their energy, speed, hustle can lead to better play and wins, but their inexperience can also lead to losses.
Spot on. I can understand fans being frustrated, but not being dumb and not being unrealistic and trying to make out like the roster was better than it was when JD took over, and having this unrealistic expectation that he should be some kind of miracle worker and totally rebuild a team in basically two offseasons (as FJF said, when Saleh was hired, it was a reset). So people need to forget that we haven't been to the playoffs in forever, put their unrealistic expectations aside, and develop some patience. We're on the right track and moving forward. There is reason for hope.
Great post. I don't think there are any valid excuses for being competitive next season. If Zach isn't improved then he probably isn't the guy and should be benched even if its for Mike White. If the roster (aside from Zach) isn't competitive then that's on JD and his seat becomes extremely warm. If the team isn't competitive on game day and guys look unprepared then Saleh is the one under pressure. I'm not sure on JD or Saleh being under pressure if Zach shits the bed, providing they can't have the finger pointed at them for contributing too much. If JD has provided the roster and Saleh has them playing hard and Zach just isn't the guy then shit happens. QBs bust more often than not. There was pressure to take one and I'm not sure the alternatives are any better. I dont think the FO missed a Mahomes or Burrow type talent to take ZW. Others will have different view on this though I accept that.
Wilson has a very high ceiling this is evident. I saw flashes of absolute brilliance with his big arm and quick release. That release alone can make him a star. SUPPORT!!!! He needs support around him to take the next step. Burrow gets to throw to a wide open Chase and has depth with Boyd and Higgins when Chase is doubled. Wilson needs that true 1 WR and a solid TE making plays in the middle of the field. Without that any QB will struggle.
Personally I would do whatever it takes. The draft is a crapshoot, here you have two proven commodities. Can you imagine Kamara/Carter as a 1-2 punch. Thomas is the true #1 that we need.
When will we learn? Fire away cold hard cash on people just about to drop off the edge, Kamara has never ran for 1k yards and last season was down to 3.5 yards a carry, I'd rather give Carter the chance to succeed than fill somebody's cash bag up. Michael Thomas has barely played the last two seasons and you want to pay the man a fortune, as that is what it will take to get him here. Also, weapons are no good when they are on the sidelines on IR
Jeezus maybe Zach has more pressure replacing his girlfriend or not ahaha His fate will be decided by the learning curve of the NFL first season...improvement or same mistakes? That said the GM and Coach have to give him the best OL protection Gronk like TE and superstar WR like Chase Landing a Alvin Kamara without too much collateral would make the Utah kid feel pretty secure plus having Carter and resigned Berrios is now over the top help for him..then Mr Zach should shine!!
Super great post! Anyway, how can you call a 21-year-old kid making millions "poor Zack? Having said that, if they don't improve next season, especially from a preparation and competitiveness perspective, get rid of them all & bring Sean Payton in here IMMEDIATELY. If they do improve then we stay put obviously, but I really have my doubts about this CS. They looked as though they had no idea what they were doing in many games, if not most games this past awful season. They seemed to improve towards the end, but were totally outcoached by all AFCE opponents, hell, Flores got fired yet still whooped our ass twice so what does that say? JD is another enigma. 2020 draft was a disgrace, 2021 draft looks good, he had no idea who or what Mike White and Josh Johnson were, or what they were capable of, he wasted a 6th round pick on an ex-jet he could have retained last offseason, only to sit on the bench while Mike effing White over performed. Not sure how anyone has confidence in him going into the most important off season in thew last 10 years for this organization.
Another post full of odd accusations that we know the answers to. He did waste a pick on Flacco but he couldn't have retained him as Flacco choose to leave. Nobody knew much about White bar one fleeting TC under Gase who then left him out in the cold. Mike Effing White over-performed in one single game. People have confidence in him as his draft without Gase ie 21 actually looks fairly decent and his trades have been very good, so here we are with 5 picks in the first 69 picks #4 #10 #32 #38 #69 It may well be franchise-altering, it really needs to be though tbh. But you were done with this team months ago and then again and again and again, still here though
