Mandatory growth pains will be insane, they always are for the faithful Jets patiently wanting immediate gratification, but they have learned the hard way that instant satisfaction quarterbacks are the exception rather than the rule.
There will be Zach Wilson throws that will force Jets fans to make a Lambeau Leap from their seats and leave out a chorus of JETS, JETS, JETS, JETS. And there will be times when Zach Wilson will remind everyone that the regular season brings a wake-up call for novice quarterbacks.
Kid’s NFL debut is three weeks away. The beginning of a new era in Jets history is three weeks away. A showdown with Sam Darnold is three weeks away.
Do you want to bring the panthers?
Do you want to take Darnold?
Not too fast.
Not yet.
But guess what?
Zach Wilson (9-for-11, 128 yards, two touchdowns to tight end Tyler Kroft, 154.7 passer rating) showed tremendous promise and growth in all four sets of the first half of his second preseason start, and head coach Robert Saleh, 23 The 14-year-old winner didn’t particularly care that Packers coach Matt LaFleur, the best man at his wedding, rested his initial defense.
The boy looked like he was playing in a park instead of the iconic Lambeau Field.
Zach Wilson didn’t trigger any surprising moments, but even a cheese boss could agree that he revealed the factor that caused CEO Joe Douglas and Saleh to fall head over heels.
Wilson met his idol, Aaron Rodgers, on the field later and received some advice from the then-Packers quarterback and at halftime.
“He can throw it,” Rodgers said.
“To me it means a lot that it can come,” Wilson said.
He already has a connection to his No. 1 receiver Corey Davis, so he may have had Darnold once with Robby Anderson.
Meanwhile, the newsletter on Wilson on Saturday at Lambeau Field against the Packers: his last roll on the road before Darnold and the Panthers welcome him to Charlotte, NC, Sept. 12:
See you.
“I had a great time,” Wilson said.
ARM TALENT (PRECISION and STRENGTH OF THE ARM): A 24-yard laser on a stick at Davis in the first field goal unit was perfect. Rodgers would have approved it. His worst throw came in the TD unit of his third series, when he rolled to the right and threw somewhere near Davis’ feet.
DECISION MAKING: Sharp in the first unit, took the ball out of his hand after looking elsewhere for a second and 7 screen directly from the shotgun to RB Tevin Coleman who missed a garden, and then a flawless shot at Trevon Wesco on the right. side of 17 yards.
VISION: Wilson looked to the left before finding Kroft with his first preseason TD pass, an 18-yard strike in this third set.
After that, trusted ESPN football analyst Dan Orlovsky tweeted: “I liked three things for @ZachWilson on TD looking at number 2 in right-to-left progression-DECISIVE / REACTIONARY
2-Pulled the tempo of the ball a little to rise above LBs / allow TE to adjust / meet
3-position ball behind the shoulder to avoid a bigger blow against the FS “
POCKET PRESENCE: Wilson stood tall in his pocket and didn’t seem baffled by the rush. It had a 6-foot-2 appearance.
RESILIENCE: After his wandering throw at Davis, Wilson continued to retreat in third and third as he waited for someone to open up on the field of play, and finally Davis did so, hitting him in the middle for 14 yards. He then faked a transfer and when the Packers high lost the Davis Parador, Wilson found it open near the right sideline for 27 yards. “He’s a great player,” Wilson said. “I just have a lot of confidence in him and all of his 1-on-1 routes that he will open and I hope he has confidence that I will get him the ball.” Then Wilson got Kroft the ball for six.
IMPROVEMENT: The very cheeky off-platform launches were kept on mothballs.
MOBILITY: Wilson moved effortlessly to his left before perfectly steering Kroft in his second 18-yard TD connection. “Zach has had a great ball touch today,” Kroft said. Wilson isn’t afraid to use his legs in shuffles, but he no longer plays against the Carolina Coast. Discretion is the best part of value, especially in preseason.
POISE: A lot.
COMMAND: A lot. Wilson has a good understanding of offense and it probably didn’t hurt to have alongside offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur. “His process is light years ahead of what will be normal,” Saleh said.
ADDRESS: Yes.
Do you want to bring the panthers?
Want to take Sam Darnold?
Everyone gets cold. It’s preseason. Matt LaFleur did not play Jaire Alexander or Za’Darius Smith, to begin with. Saleh – and Wilson – should have been grateful.
But hey, give the baby three more weeks, and who the hell knows? If Jets fans can’t dream now, when?