Content available exclusively for subscribers
The Jets put Bryce Petty on injured reserve today with a torn labrum. What does this mean for the Jets’ QB landscape moving forward . . .
He’s a good kid who works hard, but based on what we saw from him in a few starts, it’s hard to imagine he will be a viable candidate for the Jets’ 2017 starting QB job.
He had four starts and appeared in six games. He finished with three touchdowns and seven interceptions. He won one game over San Francisco, which was spearheaded by the work of Bilal Powell.
He’s a young, developing quarterback, so it’s probably unfair to write him off after four starts, but win or lose, the Jets needed to see a little more to consider him a viable 2017 starting option.
A few observations . . .
*He must improve his mechanics, poise and quickness through his progressions if he is to become a full¬-time starter in the NFL.
*He throws to target rather than leading or throwing receivers open on short/intermediate throws. He is too respectful of underneath coverage and must be more willing to challenge the defense.
*Like a lot of quarterbacks coming out of shotgun spread offenses in college, he needs to work on his footwork.
*He needs to develop his field vision and learn how to manipulate defensive backs with his eyes.
*He doesn’t always throw with his feet set and that messes up his accuracy.
You gotta feel for the guy. He’s tough as boot leather, took a beating and gave it his best shot. But so far, his best shot wasn’t good enough.
The Jets 2017 quarterback might not be in the building yet.
Christian Hackenberg will move up to the #2 spot next year, but probably won’t be ready for prime time in Week One. This is fine. Aaron Rodgers didn’t play his first three years. Nothing wrong with ignoring the unaccountable peanut gallery (you know, the people who were destroying Todd Bowles for not playing Petty sooner, and now have amnesia), and give Hackenberg a couple of quality years of development like Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees got. Take an old-school approach to developing him.
The position is so darn hard. Petty is a smart guy, and he looked overwhelmed out there. There is so much too process. I saw Tom Savage in his second appearance for Houston (with a team having a full week to prepare for him), and he looked lost. Jared Goff is like a ball in the weeds – he’s lost right now.
The Jets need to bring in a veteran quarterback, somebody like Tampa’s Mike Glennon, maybe Cincinnati’s A.J. Maccarran or the Rams’ Sean Mannion. The latter two would require a trade. We will throw around a lot of names in the next few months, but it’s really hard seeing Petty being the Jets’ 2017 starter.
Like I said, he didn’t have to walk on water, but he needed to show more than he did.
Bottom line – he needs to improve his field vision and pocket presence.
December 26, 2016
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Tuesday.
