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The New York Jets quarterback situation is still evolving, but I do think one current policy position of the team’s brass might need to be tweaked . . .
Mike Maccagnan said today it’s a long shot that the Jets sign another veteran quarterback.
“I think it would be highly unlikely,” Maccagnan said. “The next place we would potentially add a quarterback would potentially be through the draft.”
I think that is a mistake. I think they need another veteran (at a cheap price). Because if something happened to Josh McCown, do the Jets have a player who is prepared to take over as the starter?
According to Adam Schefter, who doesn’t make stuff up like some reporters, quoted a Jets official saying Christian Hackenberg regressed last year in practice. Bryce Petty had a rough time during his starting stint that so many lobbied for.
And now, they are getting an entirely new offensive playbook thrown at them – new schemes, new terminology, the whole kit and caboodle. That is really tough on young quarterbacks. Just as they got one system down, they have a new thick playbook thrown at them.
So I really don’t think either one of them, especially at the beginning of the season, is going to be ready to take over if McCown gets hurt. I think this is a mistake.
As for the second part of the sentence that the Jets could, “potentially add a quarterback potentially,” that makes sense.
In fact, if Mitch Trubisky is the highest-rated players on their board when they are on the clock at six, they should pick him.
When it comes to the search for a franchise quarterback, you need to keep throwing your line in the water, until you real in a big catch.
I’m not writing off Hackenberg. Jared Goff was terrible last year when he played for the Los Angeles Rams. Just like I wouldn’t write-off Goff who played poorly in games, I’m not going to write-off Hackenberg who struggled in practice, not games. Just like I wouldn’t have written off Marcus Mariotta after his rough rookie season in Tennessee. But there is nothing wrong with throwing another potential franchise quarterback into the hopper. Bryce Petty is on thin ice. His play over the second half of his second season was underwhelming. The field vision and pocket presence were shaky. Look, I’m not saying he had to look like Tom Brady coming out of the gate, but he needed to show a little more to engender confidence in the decision-makers.
I like what Maccagnan said about the signing of Josh McCown.
“We know what his strengths are, from an intangibles standpoint,” Maccagnan said. “We think he’s a very good veteran, from a character and leadership standpoint, to add to our group in our building. We still think he has the ability to play and perform on the field, from a talent standpoint.”
Perfect answer. He does have very good intangibles, and if he can stay healthy, he can “play and perform.”
The reason I liked the answer is that he didn’t say McCown was brought in to “mentor” Hackenberg and Petty. I think that is so overrated. Look, he can help the youngsters here and there with pointers, but he can’t help Petty’s pocket presence or Hackenberg’s accuracy. The Jets need McCown to come in and be a solid starting quarterback for them in 2017. If he helps the young guys here and there – fine. But it’s very hard for mentor quarterbacks to help young players read defenses better when the real bullets are flying. Most young quarterbacks are head over heals in love with their first read.
March 24, 2017
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