This really wasn’t all his fault.
When you really break this down, Zach Wilson, who is being replaced as the Jets’ QB this week by Tim Boyle, probably should be cut some slack.
First, he was clearly overdrafted, going second overall, after just one standout season at BYU in 2020, facing the likes of North Alabama, Texas State, Navy and Troy.
Then he was rushed into action as a rookie in 2021, which some Jets officials even admitted last season. He was not an instant coffee prospect. He needed a lot of work. He was also working under a first-time NFL play-caller. Some would argue that was far from ideal for a raw QB prospect, having a rookie play-caller with a rookie QB.
So the reset button was pushed with Wilson this past off-season to help fix his mechanics and fundamentals. Still, he was forced into action after four plays in the opener after Aaron Rodgers’ injury, perhaps too early in the reboot. It takes a while to change entrenched muscle memory that clearly contributed to his poor mechanics and fundamentals. Maybe it would have been best for Wilson if the Jets had a veteran #2 QB behind Rodgers out of the gate, so Wilson wasn’t just one snap away from playing when still needing repairs.
And keep in mind not only were they trying to fix his mechanics and fundamentals this off-season, he also had to learn a new system under coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Imagine being a young QB trying to fix your mechanics and footwork and learn a new playbook all in one off-season. Sounds like a herculean task.
So in some ways, Wilson is a victim here.
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