Jets’ Offense Will Look Different With Boyle At QB, But Results Probably Won't
Jets’ Offense Will Look Different With Boyle At QB, But Results Probably Won't
On the first snap of Tim Boyle’s second garbage-time possession after replacing slumping starting quarterback Zach Wilson during Sunday’s abominable 32-6 Jets loss, Boyle correctly read a Bills blitz coming from his right. The proper sight adjustment was to immediately release a throw towards his hot receiver, in this case running back Dalvin Cook, in the area vacated by the blitzer, which Boyle executed.
That the ball went directly into the turf because Cook had zero awareness of the situation and didn’t bother to turn around was immaterial. To legions of pained Jets fans, it just felt different.
That’s because from what we have seen from Wilson over his two-plus seasons since his No. 2 selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, he most likely would have attempted to run away from the free rusher (I’m assuming he would have seen him), risking a negative play such as a sack or an interception trying to make something happen off schedule. I am dubious that Wilson would have gotten rid of the ball as Boyle did in that situation because of his penchant for holding it until it’s too late.
Per ProFootballFocus.com, Boyle’s average time to throw on Sunday was 2.38 seconds, which is probably a smart thing when you’re immobile and playing behind an injury-depleted and incompetent offensive line. Wilson, on the other hand, is an athletic yet slow processing QB whose lowest average time to throw in his 32 career games was 2.39 seconds against Buffalo last season.
So yes, the Jets offense might benefit in some ways with Boyle under center as opposed to Wilson. Quick releases, unfortunately, do not guarantee success. For all of Boyle’s superior recognition (when compared to Wilson), it resulted in a grand total 33 yards passing on 14 attempts on Sunday. The 2.4 yards per attempt was not only the lowest of any QB who threw more than 10 passes in a game this season, you have to go back to the Giants Mike Glennon in Week 17 in 2021 to find a less efficient performance. Boyle’s three possessions ended with a Garrett Wilson fumble, a third-down sack that forced a punt, and a fourth-down interception. Zero points scored.
Welcome to the world of Tim Boyle, Jets fans, since Head Coach Robert Saleh announced on Monday that he’ll be starting on Black Friday against the AFC East-leading Dolphins. Trevor Siemian was elevated to the active roster from the practice squad on Tuesday, so Zach Wilson will now serve as the emergency QB3, where he won’t have to take up a spot on the 45-man game-day list. Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers, whose season lasted only four snaps before he ruptured his Achilles, can wait til next year, when the Jets (4-6) can start fresh.
In terms of what the 29-year old Boyle, who hasn’t started since going 0-3 with the Lions in 2019, can bring to Gang Green’s historically-awful offense, think back to Joe Flacco, just not as strong-armed. Boyle will complete that three-yard pass on 3rd-and-8. If you envision the Jets suddenly lighting up the skies by letting Boyle throw deep, that’s not really in his bag. After missing Garrett Wilson by many, many yards on a downfield throw on Sunday, Boyle is now 2-for-9 with four interceptions on passes that travelled at least 20 yards in his 18 NFL appearances, per PFF.
Oh, Boyle might pile up some yards like Mike White did in his brief time backing up Wilson in the last two seasons before his body was betrayed by his offensive line. Preparation and decision-making, known to be two of Boyle’s most positive traits, matter. Only my sense is that Boyle isn’t as accurate, so moving the chains might still be a struggle for this team.
Look for Miami, which has cut back on its blitzing this season, per pro-football-reference.com, to force Boyle into making quick decisions and then squeezing the middle of the field, betting he won’t be able to beat them outside the numbers.
As much as Jets fans have been clamoring for Boyle since basically the Week 2 blowout loss in Dallas, it was never the organization’s intention for him to play a down this season. Because he’s not good. He was brought in as a free agent this offseason based on his solid relationship with Rodgers from their three seasons together in Green Bay and a strong understanding of Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s system. Maybe more the former than the latter.
I’d like to be hopeful about Friday because Boyle had some decent showings during the preseason, but then I remembered…it was the preseason. Those results can never be trusted to extend into the games that count. Just ask Chris Streveler.
In reality, the only thing most Jets fans care about their quarterback situation is that the new boss isn’t the same as the old boss. Just don’t expect Friday’s offensive output with Boyle in command to be materially different from what the Jets typically delivered on game days with Wilson.
Prediction: Dolphins 36 Jets 16