Despite his 4-0 record, the New York Jets’ young quarterback has had a few rough games thus far, including last Sunday’s outing against the Denver Broncos.
First things first.
The New York Football Jets won again. They are in a four-game winning streak that started with the return of starting QB Zach Wilson, marking the longest winning streak for the franchise since 2015.
Now, let’s get to what happened on Sunday.
Facing an elite Denver Broncos defense in a very tough environment, Wilson arguably had his worst game of the season. He was more effective against the Green Bay Packers despite throwing for less yards, and he also didn’t have some of the clear misses he did against Denver.
So, what’s the deal?
Obviously, Denver’s defense is a tough outing for anyone. They entered the week ranked second in DVOA and have one of the best secondaries in the league, led by second-year cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
On top of that, the Jets lost three of their best players on offense in the first half (Corey Davis, Breece Hall and Alijah Vera-Tucker), which didn’t help Wilson’s game.
Nonetheless, the truth is the truth and it must be said: Wilson had a down game, with some worrying reps.
On Sunday, the former second overall pick showed a few of the issues fans saw early in 2021: bad footwork, wide base, and hesitancy. Obviously, there are some plays that need to be analyzed within context (pressure, OL blocking, separation, etc), but Wilson had some reps that, objectively speaking, were bad.
Right now, he’s in a confidence funk (again) that needs to be turned around.
Since things are working for the rest of the team (defense, run game), Wilson is hesitant to make mistakes, which impacts everything else. He’s late on some throws and his throwing mechanics are off, because he’s (once again), thinking while doing it.
It’s not only Mike LaFleur to blame (even though he might have some “fault” here, depending on his tone in meetings), as Wilson is the one who makes the throws. He’s got to make the throws confidently no matter what, because that’s what the quarterback position is all about: knowing where to go with the football accurately within your team’s scheme and strategy.
Right now, Wilson is not doing it.
There were many plays against the Broncos in which average QB play would’ve helped the Jets win the game with ease, as the film shows below. It’s undeniably worrying.
Yes, Zach Wilson had an excellent (no hyperbole) fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers and a good game against the Dolphins. But the point is: the Jets need more.
With recent season-ending injuries to Breece Hall and Alijah Vera-Tucker, it will get much tougher to create big plays on the ground for this offense (despite James Robinson signing).
That will put some pressure on Wilson, who will either fold or deliver. I’m currently betting on the latter, because I think his issues are due to a tentative style of play that is a consequence of thinking that “not getting in the way is a way to help”.
The Jets need Wilson’s help now. The hope is that he delivers.
Zach Wilson’s game film vs. Denver Broncos
Below, I break down a few of Wilson’s throws to try and illustrate what I believe is affecting his game right now.
