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Jets minicamp: Zach Wilson sputters on Day 1, but continues building rapport with impressive Elijah Moore | Practice observations, takeaways


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Jets minicamp: Zach Wilson sputters on Day 1, but continues building rapport with impressive Elijah Moore | Practice observations, takeaways - nj.com

 

The Jets on Tuesday held their first practice of a mandatory, two-day minicamp.

So let’s take a look at how rookie quarterback Zach Wilson performed, as he sputtered at times, which is bound to happen during his first NFL spring and summer.

First, though, a quick catchup. The Jets last week concluded 10 voluntary organized team activities practices, five of which were open to reporters. The entire minicamp is open. So reporters will get to see seven of Wilson’s 12 spring practices.

Jets coach Robert Saleh has opted to not practice Thursday, on what would’ve been the third day of minicamp. After Wednesday, the Jets are off until training camp starts July 27.

Now, here’s what we thought of Wilson’s Tuesday practice, as he moves toward starting in Week 1:

• The numbers: Wilson got 11 reps in 11-on-11 team periods and completed 5 of 10 passes. He got 14 reps in 7-on-7 drills and completed 11 of 14 passes. He had two interceptions in team periods, but one wasn’t really his fault.

 What went well: Not Wilson’s best day. But he had a few highlights. Corey Davis, the Jets’ No. 1 wide receiver, is working his way back from a non-serious shoulder injury. And Wilson found him with a throw to the deep middle part of the field, on the first rep of practice. Davis saw limited action Tuesday, to no surprise. This was the only time Wilson hooked up with him. Wilson continued to show off his quick release Tuesday, like when he threaded a pass through coverage to tight end Kenny Yeboah in a 7-on-7 period. And Wilson is clearly developing a connection with impressive rookie receiver Elijah Moore, who made a couple nice catches. Moore has had a fantastic spring. Wilson also looks comfortable throwing on the run, like when he hit Braxton Berrios on a roll-out play. Wilson threw well when rolling out in either direction.

• What went not so well: OK, so the two interceptions. One was just a bad, forced throw by Wilson, into tight coverage. The ball bounced off colliding bodies and was pulled down by Brandin Echols. Bottom line: Wilson shouldn’t have made that throw. The other pick was on a pass to Vyncint Smith, who has had an uneven spring. The ball went off Smith’s hands as he fell, and Jason Pinnock intercepted it. Was the ball thrown a little behind? Maybe. Hard to tell without the benefit of replay. In terms of drops, Wilson was victimized by two of them (one each by Yeboah and Tevin Coleman). For his part, Wilson also threw an errant incomplete pass — while under pressure — to Chris Herndon, as Wilson appeared to get antsy in the pocket. And Wilson was way out in front of Herndon on an earlier pass, too. In the final period of practice — 7-on-7 in the red zone — Wilson forced a low throw to Ryan Griffin, despite tight coverage. The ball fell incomplete.

 

• Final analysis: Overall, a bit of a shaky day for Wilson. But it’s not like this means he’ll be on the bench for Week 1. At this point, the Jets are all-in with getting him ready to start the opener in Carolina. Wilson needs to work on not forcing throws, especially when things start moving faster during games — with pass rush pressure, etc. This is an adjustment for any rookie quarterback — decisions under duress, and not trying to play hero ball. These were obstacles Sam Darnold could never overcome before the Jets traded him to Carolina. One sluggish practice — especially a no-pads, no-contact spring practice — isn’t going to doom Wilson, of course. But these are things worth monitoring during training camp and preseason games.

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He is a rookie in his first NFL minicamp.  Has not even reached his first training camp yet.  It is okay if he struggled at times today.  By most reporter accounts he was uneven & inconsistent.  Some good throws and some mistakes.  Sounds like he was very good in 7 on 7, but struggled in 11 on 11. And that is okay. 

And it is okay for a reporter to opine as such. 

 

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4 hours ago, johnnysd said:

Sputters? Nothing in there suggests sputtering. An average day? OK but he wants it to seem like he was bad.

One of the scribes, Hughs maybe said he had an impressive morning and things weren't as good in the second half.

Who really knows, I cant understand how the 5 or so steady beat guys can sometimes have a completely different take on the same practice 

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1 minute ago, Jet Nut said:

One of the scribes, Hughs maybe said he had an impressive morning and things weren't as good in the second half.

Who really knows, I cant understand how the 5 or so steady beat guys can sometimes have a completely different take on the same practice 

 

Mostly because most of them have never seen (let alone played) football prior to taking this assignment.

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12 hours ago, Lith said:

He is a rookie in his first NFL minicamp.  Has not even reached his first training camp yet.  It is okay if he struggled at times today.  By most reporter accounts he was uneven & inconsistent.  Some good throws and some mistakes.  Sounds like he was very good in 7 on 7, but struggled in 11 on 11. And that is okay. 

And it is okay for a reporter to opine as such. 

 

isn't this also the first mandatory day so the vets were there.  the previous weeks zwill was practicing with the rookies and free agents and maybe a few vets.  he's going to have to get in synch with these guys too.

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6 hours ago, Fantasy Island said:

Zach already has the most important thing going for him.  His last name is not:

Sanchez

Smith 

Darnold

Falk

Brister

O'Donnell

Mirer

 

 

 

 

The future is so bright, we gotta wear shades.

Bollinger

Stanton

Clemens

McElroy

Tebow

Brunell

Fiedler

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2 hours ago, rangerous said:

isn't this also the first mandatory day so the vets were there.  the previous weeks zwill was practicing with the rookies and free agents and maybe a few vets.  he's going to have to get in synch with these guys too.

Vets have been there through most of OTAs.  A couple of guys were missing, but reports indicated that 80+ guys howed up for the voluntary program.

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