People forget that Wilson was not passed over because GMs thought he could not play the position of QB, he was passed over because GMs thought he was too small. When he played at Wisconsin, it was evident that he could play. I actually like Petty and believe he could be good for the jets, but he is really just a project at this point. Anyone hoping he could start this year, is really false hope, he is not ready to play at this level, this year. If he starts we will see another Geno repeat, too much to learn.
I have one question: You're Todd Bowles, comes training camp, Geno is still Geno, throwing pick sixes, going 3 and out constantly, still making bad decisions; and Petty clearly outplays all other QB's in camp (not that difficult to do given the Jets current QB stable), what do you do?
Training camp is not a true barometer of what is going to happen on game day, just because Petty looks good during camp, does not mean it's going to translate when the games mean something, the learning curve is to steep. We have to hope that Fitz is a little better than Smith and can hold the fort down this year. As you pointed out, the stable of qbs on the jets does not inspire confidence. But if I were forced to make a decision if the jets are out of the playoff picture because Geno is being Geno, then I would throw in Petty so he can get some experience.
Petty has a lot of the same problems coming out that Mariota had. Jets need to handle Petty exactly how we all said they should have handled MM. He's less gifted than Mariota, but he also will have way less pressure on him. QB is Fitzpatrick's job to lose this year, unless Geno has actually improved.
Start Fitzpatrick. I would be hella happy with Petty's progress, but I wouldn't throw him out there just yet.
I would be exceedingly grateful and excited that Petty is learning and progressing at a quicker pace than perhaps was expected. I would then quickly realize that TC isn't the same thing as real live games when the season begins. I might give him a few more reps in practice and more playing time in preseason games than I otherwise would to see how he handles it, but more than likely, I'd stick with my plan to sit him and let him learn in a non-pressurized manner. If Geno was still being Geno, I'd start Fitz. I'd keep Geno in reserve until/unless Fitz struggled mightily or was injured. At that point, I'd start Geno, but perhaps start throwing a little more at Petty and see if he could handle it. I wouldn't even think of letting him see the field before game 8 regardless of how poorly Geno and Fitz might play. The only way he'd see any significant playing time this season would be if calamity struck and both Fitz and Geno went down with serious injuries for an extended period of time. Even then, I'd probably try to sign a veteran QB off the street and keep Petty as a backup unless he clearly showed that he was ready. I hope the only time he sees the field this season is in the last 4-5 games if the Jets are winning a blowout.
It depends whether it would be Geno losing the job or Petty winning the job. In a competition, you can either have a guy who clearly established himself and "wins" the job, or you can have him "win" the job by comparison because the other guy sucked and lost it. Think 2013, when Sanchez was going to win the job because he and Geno both had bad preseasons. If Petty comes in and blows Geno out of the water and dominates the preseason games (multiple TD drives per game) then I'd consider it. But it's highly unlikely given how far ahead Geno is from Petty; "2 years of NFL experience" doesn't sound impressive when written or said, but it's enormously impactful when you consider all it entails. Again, if it's even remotely close you start Geno or Fitz, Petty would have to absolutely jump off the field an make you say "wow" in order to have a chance at starting this year, which I can't realistically see.
Pretty much agree with everything you wrote, except for the last sentence. I can realistically see it, not because Petty is this great Jet find in the 4th round, but because all the other QB candidates on the Jets are mediocre at best.
Petty sits. End of discussion. Nothing against Petty. I don't think he can transform himself into NFL QB in less than one off season. That just ain't happening. And beating Fitzpathetic or GeNO means NOTHING. We are not trying to build a mediocre franchise that can beat the shit out of Geno's, Fitz's and whatnot, only to suffer at the hands of the elites. Jets want to become that elite instead. So using GeNO as the barometer is meaningless.
I would hope he doesn't start too, but I don't want giveaways from the QB position sabotaging the season. If Petty turns out to be the cure for that, however unlikely, then I say put him in there.
Petty should only see the field in an emergency or a blowout. Unless Geno has a terrible preseason... Geno starts for game 1 because the next time he gets pulled he's done. If you start the season with Fitz and he sucks after geno had a terrible camp (and lost the starting position) the team doesn't benefit from putting geno back out there and if you put petty out there and he sucks they've killed all 3 QB's on the roster. /gruesome but very possible
We usually agree, but not in this instance. While I understand your desires not to suffer through another season with Geno, one season isn't more important than the next 10-12. IMO one season isn't worth sacrificing Petty's potential and/or future, and you'd be pretty much guaranteeing that he would fail if you force him out there too early. It's better to wait until he is fully comfortable with the offense, reading Ds, footwork, the speed of the NFL, etc. It's not worth risking damaging his confidence or ruining him by throwing him to the wolves immediately just because Geno sucks. I'd rather go 0-16 in 2015 than risk harming Petty's potential. Most "experts" say he needs to sit for a year. If they are correct, imo it would be foolish to rush him onto the field just because our other QBs suck. In trying to salvage one season by throwing him out there too early, one could potentially be ruining the next 10-12 seasons, if not guaranteeing that Petty will fail. It would also mean that Mac and Bowles are no better and no smarter than Tanny/Idzik/Rex. Besides if the Jets struggle too badly, that will only enhance their chances at getting one of the top QB prospects in next year's draft. If one of the QB blows up this year and the Jets get a chance to draft him next year, they shouldn't pass just because they took Petty this year.
That's why Petty shouldn't see the field. If Geno and Fitz both suck, so be it. That would be bad enough. It would be awful to kill all 3 QBs. At least let Petty develop so he has a realistic chance at succeeding. You throw him out there too early just because Geno sucks, and you're all but guaranteeing he will fail too. It was the best that could be done, but imo it would be utterly foolish to make the same mistake as the previous regimes and throw Petty to the wolves.
So us old, impatient fans have to wait? Some of the qb's we've "killed" arrived DOA. The worse thing is if Petty looks good early. Who the fuck ever heard of Tom Brady before he started? I'm not comparing the two...just sayin'. Petty has got a great arm, and if his head is half as good, he might be what this franchise has needed for a long while. However, I will retract that opinion if I see him on the cover of GQ.
I don't follow college ball all that close...but what's the difference between Bryce Petty and Andrew Luck?....besides genetics.
It's not like Petty is this national treasure that the Jets happen to stumble upon in the 4th round. All 32 teams said he was not better than a 4th round talent and there isn't a ton of money invested in him. So I don't see why this kid should be treated with tender gloves. If Petty is any kind of competitor, he won't care if he's thrown to the wolves, he'd want to play.
