N.Y. Jets Arrive in New England for Rookie QB Rematch

From the desk: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

Jets Must Start Tightening Their Security Measures

The Jets are coming off a bye week, and boy, did they need it.  Zach Wilson was being punished.

He so far has been sacked 18 times through five games (3.2 times per game), not to mention 32 other QB hits.  

Carolina in week one sacked Wilson six times and registered ten other hits, and that was with Jet offensive lineman Mekhi Becton still in the game for 48 snaps.  Becton has been out since.

In week two, their first meeting against the Pats, Wilson was sacked four times and hit seven other times while also being inducted into four interceptions.  The following week, Denver sacked Wilson five times and hit him nine other times.

Tennessee is the aberration.  They managed just one sack and one other QB hit, and of course, lost that game - Gang Green's lone win.  It's no coincidence that the game marks Zach's best performance to date - a season-high 297 yards and two touchdowns.

Lastly, the Falcons two weeks ago sacked Wilson twice and hit him five other times.  Meanwhile, Wilson threw his ninth INT this season.

I do not see the Jet's second encounter against the Pats playing out differently from the first.  Now that Belichick has game film from their first head-to-head matchup, there's no way the Jets even get off the ground.  Bill Belichick tries taking away what teams do best.  Thus, he will seal the edges and prevent Wilson from throwing downfield miracle passes on the run - especially to Elijah Moore.  With no viable run game to speak of, Wilson will be forced to stay in the pocket and throw right into Belichick's traps.   

After all, this is still a matchup between the grasshopper, i.e., Robert Salah, going up against Sensei.

If C.J. Mosely tries playing with a barking hamstring, Belichick will tell Mac Jones to attack him too.  Jones threw for 186 yards with no mistakes in his meeting against the Jets.  Zach Wilson made four.

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.