How did rookie QB Zach Wilson fare in first offseason work with New York Jets?
FLORHAM PARK, N.J.  Zach Wilson led his final drive of New York Jets minicamp early Wednesday afternoon. And it ended up being a perfect reflection of the way he sees his first offseason workouts as a pro. The first-team offense advanced the ball down the field in a scrimmage-like drill, with Wilson smoothly moving the offense into position to score a touchdown. But it stalled near the goal line when Wilson threw a pass over the middle that was batted back to himself. He ran with the ball but ended up being touched down just short of the end zone. "It's hard to say, exactly how you did," Wilson said after the Jets' final minicamp practice when asked to assess his performance for the spring. "Personally, in my eyes, I feel like I can improve on every single day. I feel like I'm learning something every single day. Even on the good days, it's still frustrating." There were more good days than bad ones for Wilson this spring. The best way to put it: He looked like he belonged on the field, as the starting quarterback, during his first weeks as a pro. And when he was at his best, quick decisions and beautiful throws that wowed his coaches, teammates and observers. But Wilson isn't focusing on those high points. He's more concerned with what he needs to do to eliminate his mistakes as he prepares to play against NFL defenders who will be trying to hit him in games that really matter. And it's a huge undertaking to make the leap from the college ranks to the pros, and learn a completely new offense. "It's like a foreign language," Wilson said. "Every single day, it's the same play you're getting different reps, different looks at it, different defensive coverages, whatever it is." "It's been a learning curve for him," offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. "We've thrown a ton at him." It's an overwhelming amount of information. Not just for Wilson, but for all the rookies. And it can be overwhelming. After Wednesday's practice, running back Michael Carter, a fourth-round pick, walked up to Wilson and said "it's hard to know if it's a good or bad day." So it wasn't a surprise when Wilson didn't look quite as crisp at the end of minicamp as he did in the opening weeks of OTA workouts. He made a few more mistakes, and looked a little slower to process what he was seeing and get rid of the ball. But it's also because the practices got far more challenging for Wilson as they progressed. In the opening weeks of practice, the plays during team drills were all scripted so Wilson knew what to expect. By late in OTAs and throughout minicamp, Wilson was operating, essentially, without a net  "I thought these last two weeks have been awesome for him," LaFleur said. "We've done so many call-it periods where he doesn't have a script and he just has to hear me through that walkie-talkie and make sure, not only is he calling it correctly, but getting everyone else aligned as part of the quarterback's job. And when you're basically in your third week of just calling plays within this offense on an 11-on-11 situation, I thought he did a really good job with it." So the Jets have good reason to feel good about Wilson's progress as they head into the offseason, because he's shown everything you would want to see from a No. 2 overall pick. His arm talent is undeniable, he's earned the trust of his young and veteran teammates, and he's eager to learn more. "He looks as-advertised," owner Woody Johnson said Wednesday. But even at the very top of the organization, there's also a knowledge that the real work lies ahead if he's to be the franchise quarterback this team has spent the last 40-plus years searching for. "Well, you never know," Johnson said. "Now, we're in shorts. So how is it going to look when we get to padded [practices], and then we start playing [the] preseason. Then you're going to get a much better idea." And Wilson knows that better than anyone. And while he's learned a lot this spring, he's most looking forward to the work that lies ahead. "Our team periods out here really are pretty accurate to what a game's like," Wilson said. "You're not getting hit, but you're feeling the pass rush a little bit around you. And really, as a quarterback, mental strength is everything. I think we've done a good job of simulating that. "But I think the game's going to get even faster now the closer we get into the preseason. And then in the season, it's going to be faster than ever. But I'm excited to get into it."