One of my favorite sayings is from current FOX NFL analyst and former three-time Super Bowl champ, Mark Schlereth who always says, “preseason doesn’t count, but it does matter”.

The idea that the record in the preseason indicates anything about the regular season or even the playoffs is absurd. The Detroit Lions were 4-0 in the 2008 preseason in the same year that they went 0-16 in the regular season.

So, with that in mind, what is important to watch during the preseason is not the records or even the score, but the players. How do individual players or even units look while going head-to-head with someone in a different jersey. 

The Jets didn’t get any definitive answers on players in the 21-16 loss to the Cleveland Browns in the Hall of Fame game, but they got some more information that might help them make some roster decisions soon.

Zach Wilson looked okay. Robert Saleh expects Wilson to have some growing pains in a new offense.

“Zach did a good job, he was poised, comfortable in the pocket and getting the ball out on schedule – that was definitely something to build on," Saleh said after the game. "Him rebuilding that confidence and swag that we fell in love with during the draft process. I think he is getting there. I said before he's a rookie all over again in this new system. There's a lot of learning but he's been attacking the heck out of it."

Wilson looked like a rookie. He looked like Zach Wilson.

He made a couple of throws that made you wonder what the Jets ever saw in him to take him number two overall in the draft and then he completed a beautiful 57-yard pass to Malik Taylor on a go route. It was almost a perfectly thrown ball that Wilson credits to (surprise, surprise) Aaron Rodgers.

"Great call by Aaron Rodgers," Wilson told reporters after the game.  Rodgers didn't actually make the call on the play as he wasn't wearing a headset at the time, but he did make the suggestion to OC Nathaniel Hackett.

The offensive line continues to be a concern. They were excellent in pass protection, but there were almost no running lanes to be seen in the game. The Jets only allowed five pressures on 25 pass attempts and no sacks. New York ran the ball 23 times for only 53 yards.

The Jets have Aaron Rodgers this season which will certainly improve their passing attack, but they need to be able to run the ball.  It won't matter if the Jets get Dalvin Cook, Breece Hall or Jim Brown in their backfield if they can't open any holes for whoever is carrying the ball.

All in all, the Jets avoided major injury and got a little bit closer to understanding their roster. A successful preseason debut, despite what the score says. 

The options at offensive line for the Jets

What matters more: chemistry or competition? Depth or cohesion? Quality or quantity? These are the questions the New York Jets are going to have to answer when it comes to their offensive line in 2023. As we enter training camp the Jets have a high quantity of decent, serviceable offensive linemen on their roster. So, […]

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