Robert Saleh delivered the message over the phone to Zach Wilson the night the Jets made the quarterback the No. 2-overall pick in the draft.
“This organization is going to lift you, not the other way around,” Saleh told his new QB.
So far, the Jets have let him down.
It is early and the Jets have faced some strong defenses, but the coaches need to make some changes to help Wilson out.
Rex Ryan used to say, “Football is an easy game made complicated by coaches.” The Jets coaches, led by offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, need to look at ways to make Wilson more comfortable and make the game easier for a young quarterback who looks like his head is swimming right now.
I don’t pretend to be Bill Walsh, but I think there are a few steps the Jets can take to help Wilson out this week against the Titans:
1. More rollouts
The Jets have barely moved the pocket for Wilson. Instead, they have just let him be a pocket passer. It is odd because one of the things the Jets loved about Wilson was his ability to throw on the move. Remember the throw on his pro day?
Rolling Wilson out would accomplish a few things. It cuts the field in half, making his reads easier. It gets him out from behind the offensive line where he can see downfield more clearly. It also opens up the chance for him to scramble easier if no one is open.
2. Use tempo
One thing that usually helps young quarterbacks is using some hurry-up during the game. Mark Sanchez and Sam Darnold both played well when the Jets went up-tempo. The Jets have not done that with Wilson yet. It is worth trying. It seems to speed things up for the quarterback and he begins to just play, rather than overthinking. It also prevents the defense from substituting. It’s not something you can do all day, but mixing it in might give the offense the jump start it needs.
3. RPOs
Run-pass options are the rage across the NFL, but the Jets have only run 11 this season. These plays would help Wilson get in a rhythm and get the ball out of his hand quicker. It also might help the Jets’ run game get going a bit. The Jets only ran the ball 13 times in Denver. They are never going to get the run game going and slow down the opposing pass rush like that.
4. Get Denzel Mims on the field
Enough already. The Jets may have no choice this week with Elijah Moore and Jeff Smith both dealing with concussions, but it should not have even taken those injuries to get Mims on the field. The Jets lack playmakers. Mims has the potential to be one, but he needs to be on the field.
Mims has been inactive for the last two weeks and played three snaps in Week 1. Even if the coaches don’t fully trust Mims, they need to put a package of plays in the game plan for him. Mims is a 6-foot-3 target who runs a 4.3 40-yard dash. Corey Davis is the only other receiver the Jets have that is big. He can stretch the field for Wilson and open things up for other receivers. Right now, defenses are focused on Davis.
5. Get the play-action going
The Jets talked this offseason about how much they would use play-action and pointed to it as being a key part of the Shanahan offense. They have only run 16 play-action passes this season (per Pro Football Reference), the fourth-lowest total in the league. Play-action can freeze linebackers and create more throwing lanes for Wilson. It will also slow down the pass rush. The Jets also should take some shots off play-action. Wilson has shown he has a great arm. He has not always had time to throw deep, but LaFleur needs to have some designed shot plays to get the ball down the field.
This is not all on LaFleur and the coaches. Players need to start making plays for Wilson, too. But LaFleur’s game plan has to be better than last week. He has to start building Wilson’s confidence.
It’s time for Saleh and the Jets to start living up to their promise to Wilson and lift him up.