New York Jets’ rookie quarterback and second-overall draft selection, Zach Wilson, made a less-than-stellar debut in front of 20,000 fans in MetLife Stadium Saturday night.
“[It was] not great,” said Wilson after the scrimmage. “Of course I’m going to be frustrated with myself, but I’m going back to the film room and find out what I can learn.”
Wilson came away from the two-hour scrimmage with 11 completions, 112 passing yards, and two interceptions on 24 attempts through the air; there was no tackling during the session, but it still simulated a live game.
Part of creating the game-like atmosphere meant moving offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to the booth and forcing Wilson to get play calls through his helmet from Quarterbacks Coach Rob Calabrese.
Wilson’s offense only managed to reach one first down in its first four possessions, and he was sacked and picked off in the next series— his second interception came on a fourth-and-nine during a two-minute drill when a pass was deflected and nestled into the arms of linebacker C.J. Mosley.
A Lot Of Room For Improvement
The BYU product’s best throw of the evening came on a 16-yard completion to receiver Jeff Wilson, who managed to reel in a rope of a throw in a tight window.
“The biggest learning jump for him was that it was under the lights, there was a bigger crowd,” said the Jets’ first-year Head Coach, Robert Saleh. “There are a lot of things he can take from this one, and it will be awesome to see him grow from it.”
Saleh showed faith in his young star and left him in to gain more reps despite subbing in second-teamers in other positions, which would have helped Wilson’s confidence.
High Expectations For The Youngster
Expectations are high for the Jets new quarterback, who threw for 3,692 yards and 33 touchdowns as a junior at Brigham Young University last year; the Jets spent their first-round draft selection on him this April, marking him as the player to carry the organization into a new and more prosperous future after they have struggled recently.
The young QB does not bear the entire load of the team’s fortunes, however, as there is a new coaching regime and new players throughout the roster. This team is more of a project than a finished project, so early struggles were bound to happen at one point or another.
New York fans can be ruthless and hostile, and though they are being supportive in the present, the entire offense could be under fire if they cannot improve before the regular season starts. It is never easy to step into a starting role on day one, and Wilson is up against it in the country’s biggest market and in the position that draws the most attention.
The Jets will take on the New York Giants Saturday, August 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET, which will be Wilson’s first glance at live NFL action and a chance to gain some fan support before the season starts.