EX”ZACH”LY the Same Problem

NY Jets still don’t get it

Over the last two weeks I have watched some teams flourish while the Jets are once again doing the exact same thing to rookie QB Zach Wilson that they did to then rookie QB Sam Darnold. The Jets formula the last decade has basically been to draft a rookie QB, give him a poor offensive line and no receivers or running backs and then scratch their heads and wonder why Geno Smith looks nothing like the Heisman candidate he was at West Virginia. How is it they just don’t see this but a Bozo like me can figure this out?

A few years ago my son and I celebrated when Sam Darnold fell into the Jets lap at number three in the draft. We finally had a franchise QB who had a strong arm, strong build and athletic. He said all the right things and always took full responsibility. He put together some nice win streaks for the team his rookie year despite having a starting receiving group that probably could not even make the roster of the Tampa Bay or KC Chiefs, and that is not an overstatement. His running backs were a bunch of career backups who barely make the roster every year and there was no tight end or offensive line. Despite these disadvantages and running for his life Sam made the most of it and won some games so the Jets after his rookie year quickly hired the greatest coach in football history: Adam Gase, who was just fired by the hapless Dolphins with career sub .500 winning percentage. Forget the fact that Ryan Tannehill was a wreck and waived playing under Gase and became a Pro bowler and received a $120 million contract after getting away from this bug eyed wacko. The Jets had to have him or there was a chance the Patriots would fire Belichick and hire Gase. (if you haven’t picked up on the heavy sarcasm by now I can’t help you). Darnold had to learn a new offensive system and was given a star running back in LeVeon Bell but Gase, being the Wile E. Coyote of pro football, refused to use him. The GM was fired shortly before the summer but after the draft which made no sense to anyone. Sam Darnold continued throwing to a bunch of receivers they found at the YMCA and continued getting sacked almost every time he dropped back. Mercifully Gase was fired after last year’s 2-14 effort and mercifully, Sam Darnold was traded to the Panthers for a six pack and some smokes.

The Jets decide to take Zach Wilson with the 2nd pick and once again expected different results because QB was their problem. I like the kid and his ability. He is mobile, can make a lot of throws and says all the right things but here we are 2 games into the season and he is throwing to a group of receivers who once again could not even make the roster of many NFL teams like the Bucs, Chiefs, Browns and Bills. Their offensive line is made up of a rag tag group of cast offs and a young offensive left tackle who ballooned to over 400 lbs. in the off season as he continues to show his commitment to be the best (heavy sarcasm again for those of you who haven’t had your coffee yet). Amazingly, the Jets are literally the only team in the NFL who cannot find a go-to Tight End for their QB so he has a safety blanket. Some teams are drafting college basketball players and transforming them while Tampa has three starting caliber TE’s but the Jets can’t find one who can chip block a rushing linebacker?

Another point to make is why the Jets don’t have a veteran back-up to guide Wilson and spell him when he throws four interceptions in a lost game. There are plenty of non-threatening 35 year-old second string QBs in the league who would hold a clipboard and teach the kid the ropes. Mike White out of Western Kentucky just doesn’t fit, sorry.

It is painful watching Zach Wilson run for his life and doing the exact same thing Sam Darnold did and desperately try to make a play to keep the team in the game. He is saying literally the exact same things after ugly losses like “This is on me, I have to play better for us to win”. It’s admirable but stupid. He should be meeting with management and asking to be shut down until the Jets get him at least an average line and above average receivers. Why get your body beat up for three years like Darnold? Sam by the way, is 2-0 and has a 140.00 passer rating with Carolina now that he has an offensive line, weapons and a real coach. He must be regretting giving up three years of his career for the Jets but at least he has his “Shawshank Redemption” moment. (ok if you can’t pick that one up , I can’t help you). Meanwhile poor Zach will be declared a bust in 2 years and the Jets will scratch their heads and draft another QB and think they finally got this one right. The Jets have made the same exact mistake for over a decade now. When the Jets went to two AFC championships in a row they had Mark “Dirty” Sanchez as a young QB and what did he have? One of the best offensive lines in football, excellent receivers and running backs. Mark had limited physical abilities but it is amazing what can happen when you give even an average QB some help. The Jets however don’t do this anymore , they do the ex”Zach”ly same thing every year and expect different results.

-Bozo Busacca