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Love hearing a former QB breaking down a current QB:
The former QB has walked a mile in the current quarterbacks’ shoes, to borrow a line from singer Joe South.
So I wanted to share some thoughts from former NFL QB Scott Zolak, from the Patriots’ Radio Network, on Zach Wilson and Mike White.
These comments were made during the Patriots’ win over the Jets on Sunday.
Let’s start with White, since he’s going to be the Jets’ QB the next few games with the injury to Wilson. Joe Flacco was acquired to be a backup and mentor.
While White was far from perfect vs. New England, one thing that was pretty apparent, was he does a nice job of making quick decisions and getting rid of the football, something Wilson needs a little work on.
On the Jets’ first drive of the second half, White led the Jets on a 7 play, 77-yard TD drive culminating with a 19-yard TD run by Elijah Moore.
In the middle of this drive, there was a 21-yard pass to running back Ty Johnson. After this play, Zolak said:
“White’s doing a nice job of taking what the defense is giving him. Get rid of the ball on that fifth step. 21-yard pickup.”
After Wilson hurt his knee, following two hand-offs by White, he threw a 3-yard TD pass to WR Corey Davis. It was a beautiful throw into tight coverage, placing it in the only place where Davis could catch it. There was bracket coverage on Davis.
“Mike White in this first-ever appearance on his first-ever pass in the NFL in the regular season takes a snap with a reverse pivot, roles left, and throws to the back of the end zone and Davis makes a terrific catch,” said Patriots play-by-play man Bob Socci.
What a first NFL throw!
But he had a couple of throws he would want back – his two picks.
His first pick was an overthrow to TE Ryan Griffin down the left seam.
“It’s a poor throw by White,” Zolak said. “He air-mailed it over the tight end.”
The second pick was a terrible throw on a deep out to Moore on the right sideline.
“That a bad read, bad throw, ball’s late, stared it down and that type of corner (J.C. Jackson) will make you pay, he will pick it off every time,” Zolak said.
Before his injury, Zolak was very impressed with Wilson’s arm talent, and he was blown away by a throw not many of us thought two seconds about.
Early second quarter, on the first play of a drive, Wilson hit WR Keelan Cole on an out on the right side for six yards.
“Oh man. I say Oh man because this is off the back foot and he just throws a strike on just a hook to the right flat, but you could hear it pop from up here when it hit the pads,” Zolak said.
Interesting stuff.
I always find Zolak entertaining and enlightening and really good at breaking down quarterbacks.
October 27, 2021
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