Saleh: Wilson needs to learn 'sometimes it's OK to be boring'

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Jets head coach Robert Saleh: Zach Wilson needs to learn 'sometimes it's OK to be boring'

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 9/20/21

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson made highlight reels for many wrong reasons in his first game against the New England Patriots and just second game of his career, becoming the first quarterback since 1991 to throw two interceptions on his first two throws of the game.

After the resounding 25-6 loss to the rival Pats, Jets coach Robert Saleh pinpointed Wilson's biggest issue: The rookie out of BYU is trying too hard to be aggressive.

"It's OK to play a boring game of football. That's really it," Saleh said via ESPN. "He's an electric dude. He's competitive as crap and he wants to win so bad, but sometimes it's OK to be boring. That's probably the biggest lesson he can take out of this one."

Wilson ended the day tallying four interceptions on his first 10 pass attempts, becoming the third rookie QB in the past 40 years to achieve such a dubious honor. The rest of his stats in the first half alone weren't much better:

Zach Wilson Passing in 1st Half:

0-of-4 on 3rd down
0-of-4 vs blitz
0-of-7 under duress
0-of-4 on play action
0-of-3 on deep passes (15+ air yds) pic.twitter.com/iFcStlaV4D
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 12, 2021

Saleh maintained the performance has all do to Wilson needing to simplify the game.

"It wasn't like he was overwhelmed," he said of Wilson. "There (are) some fundamental things that he has to understand with regard to taking care of the ball and basic stuff."

The Jets don't have a veteran quarterback to back Wilson up, so the young gun is going to have to figure his game out in order for New York to rebound from an 0-2 start to the season. According to Wilson, that means improving on his rough Week 2 outing without losing his edge.

"I just have to remember the situation I'm in," he said. "I'm an important piece in this whole thing, and I just have to keep learning and getting better. You have to keep that swag and that mojo every single week."

Time will tell if Saleh insists the young QB temper some of that swag so he can get back to basics and stop making so many mistakes.

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