Return of the Flac
Veteran QB makes his return
🗽Good morning and welcome to another edition of The Jet Way. I hope the stink of Sunday has been washed away and everyone is enjoying their week so far. We’ve got plenty of things to cover in today’s newsletter so let’s jump straight into it.
Hard Hits 💪
MRIs confirmed that Zach Wilson did sprain his PCL ligament. It was the best-case scenario for the Jets who hope to have Wilson have in 2-4 weeks. The hope is the team doesn’t rush him back and make sure he’s 100% healthy on his return.
Jamien Sherwood the Jets rookie linebacker out of Auburn is done for the year. Sherwood tore his Achilles against the Patriots on Sunday and will focus on rehabbing ahead of the 2022 season. Jamien is the second defensive player the Jets have lost to an Achilles injury after Carl Lawson went down in the pre-season. Sherwood was having a solid season for the Jets and his injury adds to a long list of ailments the Jets are currently dealing with.
With the Seahawks losing 13-10 on Monday Night Football, the Jets currently own two selections in the top-10 of the 2022 NFL Draft. I know it’s depressing to be talking about the draft in October, but if the Jets do end up with two picks in the top 10, that could be a franchise momentum changer.
Return of the Flac! 👋
Put your Mike White jersey orders on hold, the Jets in a minor surprise traded for 36-year-old Super Bowl winner and veteran QB Joe Flacco on Monday night.
The former Raven QB was sent to the Jets for a conditional 6th round draft selection in 2022, that pick could rise to a 5th round pick based on playing time.
I’m sure it’s been structured in such a way that it’s unlikely that pick will become a 5th, but after spending the off-season calling for a veteran QB to help Zach Wilson, Joe Douglas finally listened.
Flacco was with the Jets in 2020 and started four games after San Darnold hurt his shoulder. He compiled a 0-4 record with a 55.2% completion with 6 touchdowns to 3 interceptions. He played well against New England and that was about it.
It must be said that we often said Darnold had nothing to work with last year, well Flacco didn’t either. His on-field product isn’t really the point here though, it’s about that leadership and that sounding board for a young QB (Wilson) trying to make his way in the NFL.
I think if called upon to start Flacco will do a decent job with a better supporting cast, he played under Rick Scangarello in Denver 2019, and Scangarello is part of the Shanahan coaching tree, similar to Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, so there will be some familiarity with the system, the philosophy, and the verbiage.
I fully expect Mike White to be given his opportunity this weekend against the Bengals because the Jets are all about giving these young guys a chance to play and a chance to prove themselves. But if White starts to struggle, the Jets have a veteran to come in to help guide the ship.
Some people aren’t happy with this, some people think that Flacco will carry the stench of Gase back into the building, but personally, I like it. I think it’s a good move and I think it’s a smart move.
Flacco can help Zach learn to be an NFL QB, and it’s not just about his performance. It’s about handling the ups and the downs, the mental side of the game and a number of other things. It’s a good move by Douglas, just a shame it’s come 8 weeks into the season.
Small Details
There was a lot not to like about Sunday. But there were three incidents that really bugged me, and if they bugged me, then chances are they probably bugged you.
Incident #1 😕
The Jets ran two plays to start the game and LaFleur later said that he ran those two plays to “ease the QB in”. You’ve got a confident and capable QB and you want to ease him in by putting him in 3rd and long. The Jets run the ball to start the game, I know that, you know that, everyone knows that. So the best way to help your QB and ease him in is to scheme a nice layup for him, a good completion for 4-5 yards. Instead, we eased him in by putting him in a situation where the Patriots had a license to rush the passer, and they did just that. Bad play-call, bad reasoning, just bad all around.
Incident #2 😳
We schemed up a pass in the flat where we had Elijah Moore as the lead blocker ahead of Crowder. Now those passes only work if the wide receiver blocks the cornerback, and we had Elijah Moore, a 5’9 180lb receiver doing the blocking. The Jets have Corey Davis, a 6’3 210lb receiver and Denzel Mims, a 6’3 215lb receiver on the roster, but we run that with our smallest guy. Unsurprisingly the play was a bust.
Incident #3 🤬
Zach Wilson was rolling out of the pocket and Lawrence Guy took him low and then rolled over with his knee still clasped. You can’t convince me that it wasn’t a dirty play, it absolutely was. There was no reason or excuse for Guy to target the knee, it was pathetic by Guy. It happened right in front of the Jets sideline and nobody did a thing. That’s your QB, your signal caller, your leader and you’re not going to get into Guys face after that. I was more upset with the lack of Jets rection than I was with the hit.
Walking Wounded
The Jets will be bringing in a number of linebackers for a workout today, for the sole reason that they currently have one fully healthy linebacker, yes you read that correctly, the Jets only have one fully healthy linebacker.
CJ Mosley - Hamstring, not guaranteed to play
Jarrad Davis - Still on IR, not guaranteed to play
Jamien Sherwood - Achilles, out for the season
Blake Cashman - Groin, unlikely to play this week.
Quincy Williams - Concussion, not guaranteed to play
Hamsah Nasirildeen - Knee, still on IR and unlikely to play this week
Not the time you want to be taking on Joe Burrow and the high-flying Bengals.
That will do it for today. Seems like a lot happened in the 24 hours following Sunday’s devastating loss. As always I appreciate all the reads, subscribes and shares as I continue to try and grow The Jet Way.