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While Zach Wilson struggled against the New England Patriots, but
some other members of the Jets rookie class looked pretty good in this game, led by running back Michael Carter.
Carter had 11 carries for 59 yards and two receptions for 29 yards.
He was one of the Jets few bright spots in the game, consistently making people miss and breaking tackles.
Late in the third quarter, Carter had a catch-and-run for 17 yards, and on this play, he made linebacker Bentley miss on the right side, and then broke a tackle attempt by CB Jalen Mills.
Some people will call Carter a smallish back, but he’s not. He might be a shorter back, but he’s not small – he’s a powerfully built 208 pounds, with an explosive lower-body, which helps him break a lot of tackles.
This guy is going to be quite a weapon for the Jets, and you can see why they consider him a fourth-round steal.
Yesterday, we mentioned that rookie left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker flashed in this game. Here are three examples:
In the fourth quarter, on third-and-two, Carter had a 14-yard run to the left side, and Vera-Tucker helped pave the way, taking out defensive tackle Christian Barmore. Left tackle George Fant also had a pancake block on the left side, and Carter ran into the hole created by Vera-Tucker and Fant.
In the second quarter, on a Tevin Coleman gain of 17 up the middle, Vera-Tucker pulled right and took out defensive end Deitrich Wise.
You want a third one? In the first quarter, on a 13-yard run by Carter off left tackle, Vera-Tucker had an excellent block on Bentley to open the hole.
You get the sense that this guy, if he stays healthy, could be a dominating player for Gang Green . . .
Not to pile on, but upon further review, Zach Wilson deserves some criticism for all four picks. All were avoidable, even the one people cut him the most slack on, the bootleg right where he threw to Corey Davis, and it went off the receivers hand and was picked. He should have thrown to Elijah Moore, the shorter option on that side, who was wide open. The throw to Davis, sailed, because cornerback J.C. Jackson was underneath, so the QB had to loft it over him.
The last interception, in the third quarter, on second-and-28, not even sure who he was throwing to. Perhaps there was a route not run that great, but it was still too risky to chuck it to that area.
Yes, there can be shared blame on picks, in terms of pass protection and route-runner, but even factoring all that in, to me, all four picks were avoidable, and had nothing to do with disguised coverages and seeing ghosts.
This game should serve as an incredible learning experience for Wilson moving forward, especially since he’s such a film junky and student of the game . . .
The Denver Broncos will be without two key front seven players in their game against the Jets – linebacker Josey Jewell tore a pectoral muscle against Denver and is out for the year.
Pass rusher extraordinaire, Bradley Chubb, is a long-shot for this game, after reaggravating an ankle injury.
These two injuries will help the Jets – there is no question about it. These are very good players.
September 20, 2021
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