The very last thing that Robert Saleh wants or ought to need as he waits for Zach Wilson to return, as he hears the clamor for Mike White, is a Backup Quarterback Controversy.
“As of now, Joe’s our beginning quarterback,” Saleh mentioned.
Oh boy.
Leaving the door open to yank Joe Flacco after one recreation?
“It’s extra possible gonna be Joe, guys,” Saleh responded, “however the door’s open on each place each week.”
Probably not, in fact. The door isn’t open on Sauce Gardner’s place, or C.J. Mosley’s place, or Laken Tomlinson’s place or Alijah Vera-Tucker’s place or George Fant’s place, no matter place that's today.
The backup quarterback place isn't as impregnable because the beginning quarterback place, and shouldn't be when you have any individual else you consider can do the job.
If Flacco retains getting buried beneath a Myles Garrett avalanche on Sunday in Cleveland, or is beneath siege once more and the Jets’ offense once more invokes visions of the leather-based helmet days, or worse, the 2021 Giants offense, then OK, put Mike White in if you end up determined for a spark.
However taking the ball from Flacco after one rattling recreation can be a panic transfer.
There are higher locations to go proper now than the Waffle Home.
“The whole lot’s all the time beneath dialogue and beneath evaluation,” Saleh mentioned on 0-1 Monday. “Speaking with [quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese], speaking with [offensive coordinator] Mike [LaFleur], clearly we’re not finished with our postgame analysis and all that stuff. A lot appreciated with the fervour with quarterbacks and all that stuff, however Joe’s been very, very regular all through OTAs, coaching camp, final 12 months threw for over 300 in Miami in a very good recreation.
“We’ve received all of the utmost religion in Joe. Does that imply one thing can occur tonight? Not gonna promise you something, however on the similar time, as of now, Joe’s our beginning quarterback.”
The “as of now” solely serves to ask hypothesis in all places and whet the lionhearted base’s urge for food that Saleh could also be inclined to throw them some purple meat.
Mike White had himself a dream day final Halloween in opposition to the Bengals, and Jets followers ravenous for magic from the quarterback place don't ever wish to overlook it, and plenty of are already fantasizing about one other from him.
Mike White is held in excessive regard, but when Saleh and LaFleur thought he was The Pure, he can be the backup quarterback, and Flacco would have began the season on the sideline because the 37-year-old insurance coverage coverage.
Flacco was removed from the lone offender within the alarming 24-9 Opening Day loss to the Ravens, his teammates will inform you as a lot. He deserves a second likelihood to proper the ship that was leaking throughout him, or at the least get it to go away the port.
“We felt like we coulda had an explosive day yesterday,” Saleh mentioned on Monday. Then why not suppose you may have one with Flacco now?
Optimism understandably turns to pessimism in a Large Apple minute round right here. You're responsible till confirmed harmless within the courtroom of public opinion. When you're 0-1, after 4-13, after 22-60, you might be responsible.
Saleh has extra expertise at his disposal than he did a 12 months in the past. Younger expertise from the draft, and skilled expertise from free company. Saleh’s protection alarmingly cracked within the second half in opposition to Lamar Jackson, however a fairer struggle awaits in Cleveland in opposition to Jacoby Brissett, backup quarterback versus backup quarterback.
“We’re not enjoying the lengthy recreation and promoting that, we wish to win, we wish to win now,” Saleh mentioned, “and we put the onus on us as coaches and we’ve gotta discover a solution to get it fastened and assist speed up all their development and their improvement.
“There’s nothing worse than being bought a invoice of products on the longer term. Everybody needs issues now. It’s the Prompt Espresso age.”
However solely hassle is brewing right here. The circumstances and occasions are totally different, however Chad Pennington, 2000 first-round choose, sat till Week 5 of the 2002 season earlier than Herm Edwards benched a pale 38-year-old Vinny Testaverde. “It's not all on Vinny, we're all held accountable,’’ Edwards mentioned on the time. “Quarterback is all the time the man who takes the hit first.”
All the time. Or backup quarterback. Who took 11 hits behind his reshuffled OL and lived to inform about it. Requested concerning the Mike White chants, Connor McGovern mentioned: “The reason being he’s Cool Joe, I don’t suppose Joe’s ever let something like that have an effect on him. Clearly as an O line we are able to positively assist him loads in comparison with what we did. If he heard it or not, I don’t suppose he gave a single thought to it.”
For this Sunday at 1, neither ought to the coach.
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