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It was a shocking move, but
it’s certainly not a death knell for the Jets moving forward.
Talking about the Jets deciding to start Joe Flacco as their starting QB this Sunday, theoretically, because he was the best equipped to deal with the Miami Dolphins complex scheme, which includes a lot of blitzing.
Flacco started for the Jets last year against the Dolphins, and went 21 of 44 passes for 186 yards, with one pick and a 50.0 passer rating, in a Jets loss.
The spin is that the Jets were playing a different offense. So that means in the new offense he will be able to process what he sees better. So his issues diagnosing last year against the Dolphins were because of Adam Gase’s offense? Flacco has never been an elite processor of defenses. He’s average at best. Remember that Pick Six by CB Tevaughn Campbell against the Los Angeles Chargers last year – deep in the Jets’ own territory. Kind of a rookie throw.
“The interception I threw was really bad,” said Flacco the day after that game.
You got that right.
So this really has little to do with him being the better QB to face Miami’s defense, and more to do with politics. It’s kind of like what you see with gamblers – it’s “chasing.” They made an unnecessary trade, and now they’re trying to justify it, by playing the guy when it serves no purpose.
First, it was Josh Johnson who was victimized by this trade, with Flacco being the backup against Buffalo, instead of the veteran Johnson, who played well in relief the week before at Indy. Now it’s White, as Flacco moves up the ladder.
The whole thing is kabuki theatre.
And the fans aren’t buying any of it. Just go on social media. The decision is being lambasted and a lot of Jets fans are checking out. This is one of the most bizarre decisions I’ve seen in my quarter-century covering the team.
But with all that being said, even with this dubious move, the impact of it could be minimal if Zach Wilson comes back against Houston, plays well there and the rest of the season.
The Jets currently have two picks in the top ten of next year’s draft, two second-round picks, a third, two fourth-round picks and two fifth-round picks.
That is incredible draft capital to really transform the roster. While the jury is still out of Wilson, you are seeing from 2020 draft picks like Alijah Vera-Tucker, Elijah Moore and Michael Carter, what can be done if you nail these high picks. All three looks like foundational pieces.
So if the Jets have a transformative 2022 draft with all this amazing draft capital, add a few quality free agents, and make the requisite changes to their defensive scheme, perhaps they aren’t far away.
But the key is learning from their recent mistakes, like waiting on picking corners until late in the 2021 draft, bringing in too many players on defense who lack ideal instincts, leading to players consistently being out of position, and moves like this Flacco decision, whether it was the frivolous trade or the “chasing” that followed. This poor handling of this Flacco situation is a teachable moment.
Who cares if a 36-year-old player, who has had the good fortune of starting 175 career NFL games, wants another chance at starting. This isn’t exactly a Don Quixote story. He’s had his day in the sun.
And Flacco better play well on Sunday, or he’s going to hear it from Jets fans, who seem pretty fed up right now.
November 18, 2021
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