The reason so many people have largely written off Hackenberg at this point is that he's an inaccurate thrower with sloppy mechanics, as witnessed by everybody in his years at Penn State, and he handled pressure poorly when the offensive line performed poorly in front of him in the latter two years there. In order for him to become a good prospect he's going to need to consistently improve his accuracy, mechanics and then he's going to have to show that he can handle the pressure that an NFL defense applies to a young QB to try to shake him up. That's a lot of check boxes that need to get checked off and if he's subpar in any one of them he's not going to make it as an NFL starter. Mark Sanchez was in a very similar position as a rookie coming into the league and he couldn't improve his accuracy enough to make the jump to quality NFL QB. Then he broke down under increasing pressure as the line thinned out in front of him. I wish Hackenberg well, as I would any Jets QB, but he's going to have to show me that he's got a real chance before I'm going to think that's the case. Right now he looks like just another guy in the Jets long line of failed QB prospects.
Mark was handled much differently then Hackenberg. While Mark was talented, the Jets did a poor job of developing him. Add the awful Schotty system and it's a failure. What the Jets are doing with Hack is unprecedented. It appears to me that Hack is improving his accuracy and mechanics. The 3rd step is the NFL defense. How he reacts under pressure. Coaching staff needs to see the consistency. It's time to increase his # of reps. Long way to go, but he's improving and he shouldn't be counted out completely just yet for the QBs in this coming draft.
Well everyone in here is forming an opinion without actually being at the mini camp- and taking journalists word for it. But I do agree with your second point.
This. I have written this on this message board before, but I watched most of Hack's games live. My sister went to PSU, and as a result, I am a casual/semi-serious fan. I thought he was a pretty awful starting quarterback in college. If I had to summarize my impressions of his college play in one sentence, I would write something like: "He was always a frustratingly inaccurate passer." As a result, I openly hated the pick when we took him in the second round. Anything can happen, but I will be legitimately shocked if he turns into a successful pro.
Jets QBs coach Jeremy Bates, meeting the media for the first time since being hired, doesn't subscribe to the belief that Christian Hackenberg has accuracy issues. http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0666694825604552714-4
Just saw this and I'm really surprised Connor Hughes or whatever his name is didn't mention this. I guess he sucks too.
Thanks for posting. In the clip anyway, Bates didn't exactly say that though. He said Hackenberg has been accurate so far in camp. Cimini's quote isn't what he said. I think if a QBs coach said he "doesn't subscribe to the belief" that any young QB, especially Hackenberg, has accuracy issues they are either lying or not good at their job. I think a more appropriate summary would be "Jets QBs coach Jeremy Bates says Hackenberg has been accurate thus far in practice"... which is promising of course and more reflects what he said. -- I like that he said "part of accuracy is knowing where to go with the ball." It seems relevant because you look at a guy like Geno Smith, in terms of ball placement he was extremely accurate, could hit spots dead on. But he didn't have a clue where to pick to throw it, so he ended up being a very inaccurate passer. If you think about it, 60% completion percentage is like a benchmark of sorts. That's really not that impressive. And yet if Hackenberg started and completed 60% for the season it would be considered promising. He's a guy with a strong arm that can make difficult god-given throws that others can't but he'll nail sideline reporters just playing catch. I think if you emphasize with him, where to go with the ball, you can hide some of his weaknesses. Which is why I'm glad Bates brings that up. Hackenberg is never going to be a highly accurate passer. He just isn't. But I think about guys like Joe Flacco and Carson Palmer. They aren't accurate passers either. I wouldn't be surprised if they are tagging sideline reporters a lot during practice. The big thing is that they know where and where not to throw it, they hide their weaknesses and emphasize their strengths. No easy task but I think you can get there with Hackenberg
He may be more advanced than Petty in that regard, most probably more than Geno. Bates also mentioned rhythm. Which is something that creates a positive momentum. Accuracy is nothing if the player is slow to understand what is happening in front of him, like you said with Geno. Commanding the Offense and competing against the D, not being confused and thinking, is actually probably more important. That's what separates the good ones. It's more than "accuracy" that makes a good QB.
Flacco is a 61% career passer and Palmer is 62%. If Hackenberg turns into a QB like one of those two Jets fans should be thrilled. There are so many things that make a great QB besides accuracy. You touched upon it with knowing where to go with the ball. Yards per attempt and TD to INT ratio are big ones as well. I really do believe Hackenberg can be our QB, he just needs time.
On other irrelevant news, Cimini neglects to accurately report Hacks performance on mini camp due to his desire to always highlight the negative, even if it's a repetition of the same BS that happened in the past. Don't know why he carries a notebook, since he never reports the facts as they occur. Must bad teams always inherit even worst reporters?
The truth here is not 1 QB on this team is worth a damn in the CS or FO's eyes...if they were really going to be given a fair shot to show what they have, be it Hack or Petty, they wouldn't gut the team like this. How are we going to gauge what any of these guys can do when this team is devoid of talent...it just ain't happening.
I say this with ZERO sarcasm, but WTF did Mac see in this guy to justify a second round pick if this is the assessment of a casual fan? I can't give an opinion on Hack, because I didn't watch a single snap that he took at PSU. But of all of the skills that a QB should possess to justify a second round pick, accuracy has to be at, or near, the top of the list, IMO.
Fantastic post. Echoes what I've been saying for quite some time. Hack doesn't NEED to be a pinpoint accuracy guy. He has enough skills elsewhere wherein if he can at least have adequate ball placement, an offense can be catered to his skill set to highlight his ability to scan the field for pre snap reads, his quick release, ability to drive the ball down the seams & his arm strength over the top. People keep harping on accuracy from any QB prospect we bring in. Frankly I don't think that's the #1 priority for an outdoor northeast football team. Of course it needs to be adequate..but quick release & throwing w. a top on the ball through swirling winds is far more of a priority in my opinion. That's what Hackenburg brings to the table. He's not Drew Brees or Joe Montana..nor does he need to be.
I'd disagree with this wholeheartedly. If you wanna say "adequate accuracy" is at the top of the list..fine. But most of the real pinpoint throwers are west coast prospects who quite often lack the velocity within their release to cut through the meadow lands wind. Pocket presence/movement,intangibles,quick release & throwing velocity are further up the list in my opinion. Hack has all those qualities albeit raw. If you wanna say Hack lacked adequate accuracy coming out,you wouldn't be wrong. But when taking a closer look those problems stem from non existent foot mechanics & a badly ill fitted scheme to his skill set after Bill O'Brien left. Mac clearly believed these issues could be fixed over time and based on extremely limited exposure early on this off season the accuracy has improved as the footwork has become more clean & defined. Time will tell if this is the key to things coming together for him.
The bottom line for me is this: no one will know for sure until he plays some NFL games. That being said, I tried to think of a qb that struggled like he did in college and had any success in the NFL. I couldn't think of one Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You mention the driving down the seams, it's very clear based on his college tape that there are actually some throws he hits quite well and it's those throws down the seams that he was hitting even when he was at his worst. The quick down and outs, okay not so much. Those down the seams passes are impressive throws that are tough to make and result in big gains. Like Peyton Manning hitting Dallas Clark over the middle straight through defenses. If the plan is to go with Hackenberg long term, we gotta get this man a decent tight end!
