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There was a story behind a paywall at the New York Times about Frank Reich coming to the Jets, written by somebody in the media who got access to him.
Zach Rosenblatt didn’t write the story, but he tweeted something teasing the story:
“Great stuff on Frank Reich in here about why he took the Jets job. Jets fans will like this part: He plans to dial up wide receiver Garrett Wilson’s number frequently. Reich says he’s looking for ways to get him lined up at X, F and Z, depending on the formation and play concept.”
This is getting old.
This obsession with getting Garrett Wilson the ball more.
Why would this make Jets fans happy?
How about winning more games and making the playoffs for the first time in 16 years? You would have to think that would make them the happiest.
Unless they have Wilson on their fantasy football team, then him getting the ball more would perhaps make them happier.
Wilson had 101 catches two seasons ago, with a future Hall-of-Fame QB under center, and the team went 5-12.
Last year, with a player who is more like a running back or wide receiver at QB (not a cheap shot – just a fact) for the first half of the season, he had 36 catches in seven games, before hurting his knee, ending his season. He was targeted 59 times, which was 8.4 times per game in those seven contests.
They were forcing the ball to him, whether he was open or not, and you would argue he was taking a terrible beating with this approach – getting forced the ball in traffic, often inaccurately, and he took a lot of big hits. Did one of those hits lead to the knee injury? Maybe, but I don’t have conclusion effidence of that. All I know is he took a lot of big hits last year with the combo of forcing him the ball and inaccuracy.
Wilson getting the ball more should not be anybody’s priority for a team that has missed the playoffs 15 years in a row. The focus should be on how to win more games.
I can assure you the coach in New England is never focused on ball distribution.
As Bill Parcells used to say, “There is a way to win every game.”
Mike Vrabel is one of the best at that, whether it was in Tennessee or in New England last year.
What do we need to do to win this week? Run the ball, play great defense? Whatever the formula is based on the opponent.
In terms of a passing game, this is how I’ve always looked at it. And to me, this isn’t rocket science.
If you are playing a team that is doubling Wilson, and let’s say Isaiah Williams is getting light coverage that he’s beating – throw to Williams 8, 9, 10, 11 times, whatever, until they stop it.
Forcing the ball to a #1 receiver to make some kind of point, or to justify the contract, or to appease the player, isn’t going to lead you to the promised land.
Look at the Eagles last year with all the A.J. Brown nonsense. All this chirping, and then games where they forced the ball to him to appease him. Where did that get the defending Super Bowl Champs? A disappointing season and a loss in the Wildcard Round.
Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not accusing Wilson of being Brown. Wilson has never complained on social media or to the press about his involvement.
And I don’t know exactly what Reich said to the reporter about Wilson, because I don’t subscribe to the New York Times.
But based on Rosenblatt’s tweet about something in the story, an anecdote about Wilson, that he felt would make the fans happy, this nonsense needs to stop.
Don’t worry about forcing Wilson the ball, especially into tight coverage, since he’s not great on contested passes. He’s very talented, but isn’t the most powerful receiver, so catching in traffic isn’t his strong suit.
But if he uses his cat-like quickness to get open, throw him the ball. And if he does this over and over in a game, keep throwing him the ball.
However, the most important thing is to throw to the open man, whether he’s wearing #5, #3, #15, #11 or #85.
Doing that should make Jets fans happy, not trying to get Wilson the ball more.
Doing whatever is the best plan to win should make them happy.
Unless they have Wilson on their fantasy team. Then forcing the ball to him as much as possible is important.
February 24, 2026
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