N.Y. Jets: Robert Saleh Era Cleared For Take-Off

From the desk: WALT WICHAELS' REVENGE

WEEK ONE

Jets

vs.

PANTHERS

The Zach Wilson/Robert Saleh Era Begins

The Jets enter the season as the youngest team in the league.  To that, I say you cannot be disappointed with what you do not expect.  The hope is Joe Douglas finally gets the Jets flying in the right direction.  Otherwise, I really don't know what more to say.  Gang Green has much work to do.  

Zach Wilson was selected second overall in the draft.  He'll be receiving play calls from first-time offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, and both will answer to new head coach Robert Saleh, who answers to Joe Douglas.  The Jets might very well have finally put the right pieces in place.  But that remains to be seen.

That being said, I do anticipate the Jets performing exponentially better this season than during any time under former head coach Adam Gase.  The difference will be stark.  Adam Gase was more prohibitive in Sam Darnold's development than anything else.  In his third season in the league, Darnold still wasn't allowed to audible at the line of scrimmage.  The fact Gase is gone already makes the Jets a far better team.

Meanwhile, Sam Darnold, in the first game of the season, gets to play against the team that ruined the first three seasons of his career.  His ordeal in New York will serve him well.  As they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.  Darnold finally gets to line up with real players and work for real coaches on a real team that plays in their own stadium.

The Jets will obviously implement a run-oriented offense.  It's up to Zach Wilson to learn and grow into a complementary component.  On Sunday, I expect Sam Darnold to carve up the Jets' defense like a Thanksgiving turkey.  Gang Green does not yet have the requisite pass rush to influence the outcome of a game.