Chris Streveler had entered the game for one play in the first half, which was nullified by a penalty – and by the time he came back in midway through the third quarter to start the Jets’ third second-half drive, the fans gave him a standing ovation because he simply wasn’t Zach Wilson.
As it turns out, that was only supposed to be a “change-up” according to head coach Robert Saleh, who said after the game that Streveler taking the final three drives wasn’t exactly the plan.
“It was more of just trying to get the run game going; it was still a two score game, especially with the weather, and Strev had a couple explosives and gave us a spark, and one thing led to another,” Saleh said of the change. “It was meant to be a change-up initially; I know Zach was struggling, but Strev sparked the offense and we just wanted to give him an opportunity to finish that drive, and when we got it back, we just said ‘let’s keep going with Strev.’”
Streveler’s first play from scrimmage was a six-yard run – keep in mind, the Jets had seven yards rushing total at the time – and he ended up orchestrating a 16-play drive that ended when, instead of trying a field goal to make it 16-6, Saleh went for it on fourth-and-two at the Jags’ 16 and Streveler threw an incompletion intended for Garrett Wilson.
The former CFL star had six runs for 37 yards on that drive, and as Saleh said, that kind of package was the design the team had in mind as a change-up when they elevated Streveler from the practice squad.
“We had a package of plays for Strev to try to utilize the run game, especially if it got out of hand with the weather,” Saleh said. “We moved down the field and had them on their heels, Strev has a couple of explosives and gave us a spark, and one thing led to another. The protection wasn’t great but he was able to slide and get out of the pocket, and make plays off schedule and move the chains.”
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Saleh had cited “a lot” of issues on the Jets’ offensive resume on the night, including that pass protection – “it wasn’t as good as we wanted it to be” – and the fact that the run game couldn’t get going again, but like he did last week, he took responsibility for it all, saying the result was a “collective” effort, “from coaching on down.”
And, even as Wilson watched the final quarter-plus on the sidelines, Saleh praised what he saw out of his starting QB, who was 9-for-18 for 92 yards and a touchdown.
“I feel like he had gotten better, but obviously, we have to show it on the field,” Saleh said. “Like I said, it’s a collective thing that starts with coaching, but it wasn’t close to good enough today.”
Wilson's synopsis on the night?
"I couldn’t get in rhythm out there, just trying to find some confidence and something to get us going, a little spark, and couldn’t get anything tonight," he said. "I had opportunities and I have to connect on those. I’m sure coaches will detail it when we watch it back, but I have to put my head down and just try to be better for these guys. That was my message to them on the field, that I’m trying to give it everything I’ve got and laying it out there for them, but I have to get better."
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
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