Title. Serious post for discussion. I completely understand that Wilson often does not have much time in the pocket and that in turn can make it hard to throw deep passes. The thing is that the Jets only attempt deep passes with 3 minutes left to go in the fourth quarter. Every other play is a quick dump or a run up the middle. Every first down is a row. You would think changing it up with some play actions or first down pass plays would be beneficial.
For a reality check — yesterday in the first half, while the game was still reasonably close, the Jets had 12 first down plays. They ran on four of them. Zach threw passes on seven of them, including the interception, and one was a designed pass play that tuned into a scramble for short gain. (Source: play by play from ESPN.com)
So they called a pass play on two-thirds of first down plays in the first half.
When fans get frustrated they see things that aren’t there. The Jets offense is horrible and predictable, but it’s not only because they run on first down sometimes.