The first day in pads translated to a tough time for Zach Wilson, who ended Monday’s observe with back-to-back 3-and-outs and continued requires persistence.
“Dissecting every play with him I think—especially in this market—is a very, very difficult thing to live up to,” coach Robert Saleh stated. “But at the same time, he’s already taken those steps and I think he’s gotten a lot better and I think in due time people are going to see it.”
Wilson was among the many league’s worst, if not the worst, beginning quarterbacks final season whereas shedding 10 of his 13 video games, tossing extra interceptions (11) than TDs (9). It bought higher for Wilson towards the tip of his rookie marketing campaign, however there are causes Jets followers had been so fast to leap aboard the Mike White practice.
Wilson’s performances will draw scrutiny or reward much more highly effective than this coaching camp setting deserves. And on Monday, he started the scrimmage portion with a bang—a 70-yard TD toss to Elijah Moore—earlier than the beginning offense fizzled with him beneath middle.
“You want to see execution,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur stated. “And ultimately we didn’t do that with the (starters).”
LaFleur absolved Wilson from all of the blame, nevertheless, noting that he known as a keeper right into a blitz and the 22-year-old QB made the right play by throwing the ball away.
And by accounts, Wilson is working with extra confidence than throughout final yr’s coaching camp, when the quarterback’s shakiness grew to become a robust indicator of his early-season woes.
“I think last year—and it’s all young quarterbacks—they’re trying to do so right by going through their progressions and stuff like that,” LaFleur stated. “And sometimes you’re thinking about the progression. If you’re thinking about the progression, you can’t play quarterback. I don’t think he’s having the think about the progression so much now, he’s just playing the position.”
But it’s nonetheless wait-and-see with Wilson.
“I know from a practice standpoint we are under a microscope for every little thing that all the quarterbacks do. Some of it is good, some of it is bad,” Saleh stated. “But when we get to games, when we get to scrimmages, when we get to the intersquad practices, I think people will see that he’s taken a step.”
KICKING BATTLE
Jets kickers haven’t had a lot job safety recently, however particular groups coach Brant Boyer hopes to do away with that headache with the winner of the Edwin Pineiro vs. Greg Zuerlein competitors.
“I would really like to get that settled down,” Boyer stated.
Pineiro, the incumbent, and Zuerlein, a free-agent acquisition, each accomplished the offseason homework assigned by Boyer.
For Pineiro, it was attaining the next rise on his kicks. For Zuerlein, it was hitting the ball clear in order that he didn’t hook or slice a kick “every now and then.”
Still, Boyer understands an important assessments might be in preseason.
“The numbers are pretty similar. Both have fixed what I asked them to fix when they left,” Boyer stated. “And we’ll see who makes them in the games and make a decision after that.”
SODA POP
Linebacker Kwon Alexander, acquired as a free agent simply late final week, was an lively presence in Monday’s session and, as defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich colorfully defined, offered an alcohol-like kick to the ambiance.
“Coke is really good. But Coke with a little something in it is better,” Ulbrich stated. “He’s the addition to our Coke.”
Alexander stated he selected the Jets over the Saints and Giants whereas citing his familiarity with Saleh, who coached him as a defensive coordinator with the 49ers. He’s projected as a backup and clearly has the help of Saleh.
“He’s in great shape. He has great recall of what we did in San Francisco, and there are some new things we’re doing here. He’s a quick learner, very instinctual,” Saleh stated. “And you guys saw – he made a play in that last period and did Kwon what Kwon does and made sure everybody on the other side of the ball knew about it. Brought everybody to life.”
Alexander known as his first day with the Jets “legendary.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com