Content available exclusively for subscribers
This was a mistake of significant proportions, and it doesn’t sound like they are going to repeat it.
Not having an experienced veteran backup QB this season probably cost the Jets a playoff spot.
They finished 7-10 but lost to three bad teams at home – Atlanta, New England and the Los Angeles Chargers.
So their record should probably have been reversed. No excuse for losing to those teams, just like no excuse for losing the the Las Vegas Raiders on the road.
The Jets’ defense, even with some issues against the run, for the most part, did their part, especially when it came to pass rush and pass coverage.
They just needed a veteran game manager to compliment them, kind of like what we saw from Trevor Siemian in the Houston and second New England game, both Jets wins.
Going with Zach Wilson as the #2, turned out to be a big mistake, and as we talked about the other day, questioning that move was not a case of second-guessing.
Somebody from the Jets said the other said Wilson had a “great” training camp.
I have to respectfully disagree. It wasn’t that great.
And then in preseason games, he did not throw one touchdown pass, often playing against backups.
The signs were there to make a move, but they didn’t.
Jets GM Joe Douglas was asked if they will add a veteran backup for next season to play behind Aaron Rodgers.
“We are going to get in the meeting room and go over exactly what we need to add to this team,” Douglas said. “I am sure that is going to be one of the topics that is discussed. We will put a plan in place that helps us to best succeed moving forward. I would say in terms of a veteran backup, that is a high probability.”
Sounds like they are going to do it.
The league was down this year. There are teams in the playoffs that clearly don’t belong, like Pittsburgh.
Houston is in the playoffs. You saw Houston. Do they feel like a playoff team to you?
I know Pittsburgh and Houston made it, so you tip your hat to them, but in past years, when the quality of play was higher around the league, they likely would not have made it.
Jets needed to take advantage of this down year, and somehow get into the second-season.
They had enough talent on their roster, but the backup QB situation wasn’t handled in an ideal fashion.
They can’t afford to make this mistake again. They have too much good young talent, a lot of them still on their rookie deals – like Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Sauce Gardner, Jermaine Johnson and Alijah Vera-Tucker. You have to take advantage of key players being on rookie deals, before you have to pay them big bucks, and that creates cap challenges.
So it’s of the utmost importance the Jets have a quality, veteran #2 QB behind Rodgers, who is 40.
Maybe it’s Trevor Siemian.
Maybe it’s Carson Wentz.
We can go through the names moving forward, but it has to happen.
January 12, 2024
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Monday.
