Zach Wilson largely struggled on Sunday as his New York Jets lost Sunday’s game to the New England Patriots 15-10. Sunday’s performance was enough for Jets legend Joe Namath to publicly wonder if the issue was with Wilson or his coaches.
Wilson completed exactly half of his passes on Sunday, going 18-for-36 for 157 yards. He didn’t throw an interception but didn’t record a touchdown pass, either. Wilson also gained only one yard on one carry as a rusher and was sacked three times, including once for a safety.
During the game, Namath took to Twitter with an observation about Wilson’s approach.
“I’m starting to wonder if Zach’s playing like he’s being coached,” Namath tweeted. “He’s making choices that are not intuitive to the quarterback position.”
I’m starting to wonder if Zach’s playing like he’s being coached. He’s making choices that are not intuitive to the quarterback position.
— Joe Namath (@RealJoeNamath) September 24, 2023
Those comments drew a variety of reactions.
I’m not even watching the Jets game … but clearly things are NOT going well at MetLife. Yikes. https://t.co/FTwTw9e6dR
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) September 24, 2023
— Michael McQuaid (@Michael_NFL) September 24, 2023
You're overthinking it, Joe.
He's simply an atrocious football player. https://t.co/nb8VtTTsCo
— Jeff Guillot (@JeffGuillot) September 24, 2023
Wondering the same thing, because it reminds me of Sanchez years ago when they did that color coding system. It’s just so strange.
— Chris Carberg (@ChrisCarberg) September 24, 2023
It took two weeks for all the Zach Wilson is a better talk to disappear. https://t.co/GLWZFviOew
— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) September 24, 2023
I excused the Buffalo game because of the injury to Rodgers.
I wrote off the Dallas game because the Cowboys defense is that good.
Part of me says today is the bad weather and Belichick, but I’m sick of making excuses for Wilson. https://t.co/tEvuSaRziy
— Cliff Saunders (@radioguycliff) September 24, 2023
Namath’s comments are definitely worth looking at. There have been outside factors out of Wilson’s control in each of the first three games this season. And that could explain some of his early-season struggles.
But if he’s doing things that, as Namath says, “are not intuitive to the quarterback position,” that goes beyond a bad final stat line. That’s a significant issue. And if Wilson isn’t being coached to do that, he’s not being coached to do things differently. Either way, it’s a huge problem.
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