By Dan Zaksheske – Dan Z.
Updated Dec. 10, 2021.
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
First off, let me just give a big thank you to WalterFootball.com for giving me a platform to share my thoughts and experience. I’ve been a big fan of this site for a long time, and to be able to actually contribute content is an incredible honor.
Quick background on me: I spent nearly a decade working at ESPN producing audio content, mainly focused on college and NFL football. After leaving ESPN, I joined a sports research company called STAT Factor, where I am the Director of NFL Content and the creator of the “STAT Stack,” where you can find more of my work.
Last week, we looked at No. 1-overall pick Trevor Lawrence, who has struggled in his first NFL campaign while playing for one of the worst teams in the league. This week, we will look at the No. 2-overall pick, Zach Wilson, who has struggled in his first NFL campaign while playing for one of the worst teams in the league. His fault? Team issues? Both? Let’s dive into the tape of the Jets’ loss against the Eagles on Sunday …
First Drive: Starting on PHI 21, 14:49 left in first quarter, tied 0-0
After a long return on the opening kick, the Jets are set up just outside of the red zone. Tevin Coleman gets a carry to start the drive, and then Wilson connects with Coleman for a quick swing pass. That was followed by a screen pass to Coleman and another short run for the starting Coleman, setting up New York with a 3rd- and-2 from the three-yard line. Play-action to Coleman and Wilson hits Elijah Moore on a slant to the back of the endzone for a touchdown. It’s Wilson’s first touchdown pass since Week 4 and the first in his last 80 passing attempts.
Second Drive: Starting on own 32, 9:25 left in the first quarter, Eagles lead 7-6
This drive starts with a short run and an incomplete pass, as Wilson throws wide on a quick slant. Third-and-medium is converted when Wilson fires into Corey Davis right at the sticks, though the pass is a little behind him. Another quick completion, followed by a Philadelphia penalty, ANOTHER quick pass, a 17-yard Coleman run, a nine-yard reverse to Moore and a short Coleman run for a first down brings the Jets to the Eagles 12 for 1st-and-10. Another swing pass, this one to Jamison Crowder, puts the ball inside the one-yard line. Wilson runs a QB sneak, is stopped, and then does it again and gets in. Two drives, two scores, but very little asked of the young signal-caller so far.
Third Drive: Starting on own 25, 14:12 left in the second quarter, Eagles lead 14-12
This series starts with a 15-yard by Coleman, who has been the clear focal point thus far. That focus allows the Jets to run play-action on the next play. and Wilson finally cuts one loose, hitting an open Elijah Moore down-the-field for 29 yards; it’s Wilson’s first throw of more than 20 air yards in the game. A run and a screen pass make it 3rd-and-4 from the Philadelphia 25. Wilson takes the shotgun, empty-set snap and head fakes before turning to Jamison Crowder and ripping the throw into him for a 19-yard gain – nine yards of the catch (YAC) – inside the Eagles’ 10-yard line.
Two Coleman runs then bring up a 3rd-and-goal from the one. The Jets run a play-action rollout, and Wilson has a wide-open Elijah Moore in the back of the endzone, but he just flat-out misses him; Wilson tries to make the throw while his feet are moving and can’t connect. Despite the miss, the Jets go for it on fourth-and-goal and Ryan Griffin comes wide open in essentially the exact same spot as Moore on the previous play, but this time, a stationary Wilson is able to hit him, and the Jets score a touchdown for the third consecutive drive. But they fail on the two-point conversion and have only 18 points after two missed PAT kicks. Wilson has started the game 11-of-13 passing for 103 yards and two passing touchdowns while also picking up a rushing score. On this drive, he finally had an opportunity to cut it loose. He made a couple nice throws, but there was also that bad miss on a potential touchdown.
Fourth Drive: Starting on own 30, 4:30 left in the second quarter, Eagles lead 21-18
The Eagles, like the Jets, score touchdowns on their first three drives, as six drives into the game we have six touchdowns on the board. That streak comes to an end, though, as the Jets quickly go three-and-out. Wilson connects on a short throw, and a Coleman run sets up a manageable 3rd-and-3, but Wilson gets sacked, and the Jets are forced to punt.
Fifth Drive: Starting on own 30, 6:33 left in the third quarter, Eagles lead 27-18
Wilson tries to hit Coleman coming out of the backfield on a quick out route, but throws behind him and it falls incomplete. The next play is a run for Coleman, who gains three yard. It is 3rd-and-7, and Wilson tries to hit a covered Elijah Moore and the pass is nearly intercepted before falling incomplete. Regardless, it’s back-to-back three-and-outs as the Jets punt it away. New York gained 159 yards on its first three drives and lost one over the fouth and fifth.
Sixth Drive: Starting on own 25, 14:15 left in the fourth quarter, Eagles lead 30-18
Philadelphia dominated the third quarter, possessing the ball for all but 1:10. In fact, since the Jets’ last touchdown – scored with 9:22 left in the first half -, the Eagles have had the ball for 21:18 out of the last 25:07 of game time – 85% – and scored on all four drives – one touchdown and three field goals.
Down two scores and now in the fourth quarter, the Jets get the ball back needing to answer. Another play-action rollout leads to another incomplete pass, and although this pass was better, it was still a shade overthrown – Davis could have come down with it, however. The next pass is another dart across the middle to Elijah Moore, again a little high, but Moore makes a nice snag for 18 yards. The Jets go with some trickery on the ensuing play, running a double-pass where Wilson ultimately hits an open Griffin for 14 yards near the sideline. A broken screen play on second down leads to a throw-away, and then Wilson has an open Moore on second down for a would-be big play – a 20-yard throw – but misses him. It’s a miscommunication with Moore, who broke his route to the inside, but the throw was to the outside. Now on 3rd-and-10, Wilson sails a pass over the middle that is easily intercepted by a waiting safety.
Seventh Drive: Starting on own 25, 9:42 left in the fourth quarter, Eagles lead 33-18
Now down two touchdowns with under 10 minutes left, the Jets enter no-huddle offense as the Philadelphia secondary starts to back off. Wilson is able to complete some quick passes, including an impressive throw on the run – his first while moving. Eventually, though, Wilson throws four consecutive incomplete passes that lead to a turnover on downs. One was a deep shot that was well played by defensive back Darius Slay; the next was an overthrow on a short route to a running back; the third-down throw was another deep shot that didn’t have much chance; and on fourth down, Wilson danced around looking for an open receiver and eventually threw low on a pass that wouldn’t have converted a first down anyway.
Eighth Drive: Starting on own 19, 1:48 left in the fourth quarter, Eagles lead 33-18
With a two-touchdown lead and under two minutes to play, the Eagles completely back off, allowing Wilson to pad his stats a bit by completing five-of-seven passes for 43 yards before the clock eventually runs out and the game ends.
Final thoughts: There is quite a bit to unpack from this one, but overall, Zach Wilson played poorly. Although the Jets scored touchdowns on their first three drives, that was heavily driven by the gameplan: nearly every throw was a short, timed throw that required only one read from Wilson. The Jets ran a lot of screen and swing passes, while also getting the run game established. Wilson made a few nice throws on the third drive, set up by play-action. He struggled with throws while moving to his right, which hurt the Jets because he had open options when they went to it. The Eagles managed very little pass rush because New York’s success on the ground kept them at bay. Even still, Wilson is mostly a one-read passer who still misses too many open throws. And, while his final stat line doesn’t look all that bad: 23-38 (60.5%), 226 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT, remember that he accumulated the majority of those stats on the first three drives of the game, which were heavily scripted, and in the final drive during garbage time. In those four drives, Wilson was 16-20 (80.0%) for 146 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions plus took zero sacks. In the other four, he was 7-18 (38.9%) for 80 yards, zero touchdowns an one interception plus was sacked twice.
It’s understood that the Jets haven’t surrounded Wilson with a glut of talent, but this game was a perfect situation for a quarterback, and he did not thrive as you would expect from a highly touted prospect. While Trevor Lawrence displayed some of the same young-quarterback issues last week – missed throws, miscommunications with receivers, etc. – I would attribute more to his surrounding cast than I would for Wilson in this one. Wilson’s teammates – at least on offense, the defense couldn’t stop anyone – did their jobs – for the most part – and the New York coaching staff put him in position to succeed. This is going to be a massive offseason for Wilson, who needs to make some big strides, quickly, or we’re going to start hearing the word “bust” being thrown around. He has the arm talent and athleticism to succeed, but his accuracy and football IQ leave a lot to be desired right now.
Dan Z. is a writer for STAT Factor, a dedicated sports research company that provides many high-profile broadcasters with detailed information on some of the biggest events in sports. To read more of Dan’s work, please subscribe to STAT Stack here.
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