It didn’t look like this last year. It didn’t look like this two years ago, either. Not even could the 2018 NFL season lay claim to such quarterback dominance in Florham Park, N.J.
What Zach Wilson did on Thursday was as impressive as anything a New York Jets quarterback put forth over the last few seasons during a practice session.
First and foremost, everything Wilson does is quick. Quick hands, quick feet, quick and sound decision-making, and a quick-release immediately stand out. He processes the play extremely quickly. He also placed the ball in perfect spots all afternoon.
Yes, these are still OTAs. No Marcus Maye, Quinnen Williams or newcomer Carl Lawson on the field allowed Wilson to play against less-than-elite talent. And yes, when things officially go live, quarterbacking becomes a much different reality.
To ignore the positives he showcased and attributes that jump off the page, however, is to pretend all quarterbacks are created equal.
Very rarely did a football hit the ground. In 7-on-7s, it’s a great sign for an offense when the ball never touches the ground. On Thursday, Wilson’s passes may have fallen incomplete two or three times in 7-on-7s. In teams (11-on-11 without live tackling), a similar story unfolded.
Teams
Wilson’s first pass of the team session connected with newcomer Keelan Cole on an inn-cut. A little later, he hit Braxton Berrios on another three-step drop that allowed his receiver to pick up major YAC yardage.
Wilson even connected with a receiver down the left sideline flawlessly. Placing it over the outside shoulder against one-on-one coverage (single-high safety), Wilson’s confidence took center stage.
Granted, this was just the first day the media snagged a peek under the hood, but the kid was impressive nonetheless. He’s also aware that getting ahead of oneself isn’t a great idea in this league.
“Yeah, I think it’s really just a day at a time [mentality],” Wilson said following Thursday’s OTA session. “You know, it’s day three, you know, compared to day one, I feel like, not just me, but everybody’s playing faster, being able to react morem not necessarily thinking so much. I think that’s the hardest thing when you’re installing offenses, you know; you’re always trying to think of what coverage, what’s my assignment, what’s my split my footwork, you know, everything.”
Of course, Wilson wasn’t the only rookie on the field. Young Elijah Moore found himself in the action early.
On the second play of teams, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur called his number in the ground game. For the first time in a long time—maybe the first time since jet-motion became a necessity in the NFL—the Jets employ a weapon who can genuinely threaten the defense’s edge.
Alijah Vera-Tucker was also on the field. Although trying to assess an offensive lineman’s individual play from the practice-field sideline is nearly impossible, the five-man unit played extremely well without Mekhi Becton.
Veteran Tevin Coleman busted through the front seven on the very first play of teams. A between-the-tackles call put the offense on the winning side from the jump.
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