Two Keys - Dallas

Edition #479

Good morning! ☕

24 hours later that defeat still doesn’t sit very well. I know a lot of factors went into it, but I just can’t feel confident in this team with Zach Wison behind centre. Maybe that sounds harsh.

He’s definitely improved in some areas, that’s clear as day. He steps up in the pocket now instead of bailing which is absolutely necessary to improve. Some of his throws have been very impressive and he’s definitely making better reads. But at some point the results need to be better, this is a winning league. Right now he’s one of the worst QBs in terms of completion, and nobody has thrown more INTs.

It’s not time to panic, we’ve played two of the best defences in football. But I do think this week is a huge one for Zach and the Jets.

The offensive line has been poor, the defence was disappointing on Sunday after a dominant display against Buffalo, and the coaching has been questionable. We’ve faced two very good teams to start the season, and while I never want to say that a week-3 game is a must-win, with the Chiefs and Eagles coming to town in the next 3 weeks, I just get a feeling it is.

Robert Saleh was asked about Breece Hall and his frustration and here was his response: "Shoot, I'm frustrated ... Hard to give the guy the ball when he's on the bench, and he's on the bench because we couldn't get off the field on defence." - While the Jets couldn’t get off the field on 3rd down, maybe the offence would have had the ball more if they could sustain drives, maybe they could have sustained drives more if they fed Breece Hall the ball.

"It's one game, guys, and I don't think it really defines who we are as a defence, who we are as a team." I’d absolutely agree with that from coach Saleh. The defence wasn’t great, they had issues with Lamb and McCarthy came up with a good game plan to deal with the Jet’s defensive line. They struggled to get off the field on third down but there was some bad luck in there. Jermaine Johnson being held on a would-be 3rd down sack, a JFM penalty that should never have been a penalty on 3rd down, Sauce not intercepting that pass which is a momentum shifter. I’m not worried about the defence.

Micah Parsons had 29 pass-rush snaps, and Saleh was asked why they didn’t double him more, he cited his dynamic nature and his ability to line up all over the formation. He does line up in multiple spots, but 16 of his 29 pass-rush snaps came in isolation against Duane Brown. He was chipped by an RB/TE on just two occasions, to me, that is a strange decision and playing more 12 personnel would have added the ability to be more adaptable to where he lines up. It’s done, but Matthew Judon is coming into town on Sunday, and while he’s not as good as Parsons…he’s a pretty damn good pass-rusher and I hope the tackles will be given more help.

Mike Greenberg is a guy who often says a lot without saying a lot. But he’s been banging the drum for the Jets to try and trade for Kirk Cousins. You know I’m a fan of Kirk and with the Vikings 0-2, it’s something worth watching. I have no idea how it would work, I’m going to get into that this week now I have more time to research. He said Zach Wilson is “not an NFL quarterback” which is bold.

Pressures

This is the first stat I look at before Tuesday’s newsletter. I want to know who allowed the pressures on the Jets and who generated them for the Jets.

Winning football games tends to come down to protecting your QB, and making the opponent uncomfortable.

Protection