The Jets have spent the past month putting up newcomer quarterback Zach Wilson.
On Friday, he has one last outing before he counts. Wilson is expected to play against the Eagles at MetLife Stadium in the Jets preseason finale. Head coach Robert Saleh did not say how much Wilson would play when he spoke to the media on Tuesday, but said he opted for Wilson to play the game.
It would be Wilson’s last general rehearsal before Sept. 12, when the Jets will open the regular season in Carolina. It’s been an interesting four weeks for Wilson. He had some tough times before, but he has settled in and looks very comfortable after two preseason games and two joint practices with each of the Packers and Eagles.
“I feel like he’s had a very productive camp and you look at our defense, look at the Giants defense, look at the Green Bay defense,” Saleh said. “You know, the giants have a little bit [Bill] Belichick stuff, look at Green Bay with a bit of [Vic] Fangio stuff, look at Philadelphia with a little bit of Colts stuff and what they do. These are four of the main defenses of football that you will see week after week. So for him to see all this, he has been very productive and aware of his development. “
The training camp ended after Wednesday’s joint practice with the Eagles. After Friday’s game, the Jets’ focus will be on reducing the roster to 53 and then preparing for the Panthers.
The Jets have a lot of questions they are still looking for answers with the season fast approaching. Will the offensive line be able to keep Wilson protected? Can the defense recover after losing Carl Lawson and Jarrad Davis to injury? Will the young corners crumble?
But this summer and this season is more about Wilson and his development than anything else. To that end, the Jets adapted their practices to test him and make sure he and the offense found a rhythm. Instead of the normal amount of 7-on-7 periods, when there are no offensive or defensive lines, the Jets made more 11-on-11s so Wilson could feel the rush step. Saleh believes this has helped not only Wilson, but the entire offense.
“For us, when you look at the 7-on-7, even the 1-on-1, you run routes that last forever,” Saleh told The Post this week. “On 7-on-7, the quarterback will stick a little harder because there’s no pressure. Lose touch with the timing of the play so you don’t feel pressure. Having that rush and helping him understand, ‘Hey, buddy, you have a problem. The second problem is about you. I think it has been very helpful for you to feel this moment. “
Saleh believes the quarterbacks should get rid of the ball after a problem. On defense, he preaches to his secondary for the quarterback to keep the ball for that extra second to allow the pass to pass to him. Wilson didn’t see much pressure last year at BYU. He played behind a veteran offensive line and against inferior competition, mostly. The Jets wanted him to feel the rush at camp, even if the defenders couldn’t hit him, and they got used to delivering the ball on time.
“He’s getting rid of the ball at the pace,” Saleh said. “You are seeing someone who is not being beaten. Not to mention you won’t get hit during a match, but it includes everything in terms of urgency, even for our route runners. You can’t spend time on the line or in the fight. You have to free yourself, you have to work perfectly, you have to stand upright, you have to separate, all in an effort to help the quarterback. It doesn’t just help the quarterback. It is helping the receptors. He is helping the O line. He is helping the caller to understand everything about the quarterback game and making sure he works constantly at the pace.