WHACK-A-HACK
Young Jets QB proves he’s not ready to start:
DETROIT — Scholars everywhere are in agreement: Staring directly into the impending solar eclipse isn’t the only thing that can cause irreparable harm to your eyesight.
Watch the Jets offense at your own risk.
Todd Bowles’ unit was a disjointed mess in a 16-6 preseason loss to the Lions on Saturday, a punch-less group that looked lost from the opening kickoff.
The silver lining: These games don’t actually count.
There are still a few weeks to iron out some of the breakdowns that plagued new play-caller John Morton’s offense, but even the glass-half-full folks have to be concerned at the possible abyss that this unit could fall into if these mistakes aren’t fixed.
On a night when Bowles gave Christian Hackenberg the start, the two-pronged truth was revealed: 1) The kid just isn’t ready yet and 2) Josh McCown will be under center when the Jets open the season in Buffalo on Sept. 10, even though Bowles said afterward that he’s not ready to name a Week 1 starter “at this point.”
But it’s obvious to everyone else. Bowles gave McCown the night off to better evaluate Hackenberg.
The results were not optimal.
One week after the team rolled out a conservative blueprint to build Hackenberg’s confidence, the young quarterback went 2 for 6 for 14 yards and a 42.4 passer rating in the first half. The Jets went three-and-out on four of Hackenberg’s five drives (excluding a half-ending kneel down) and racked up a grand total of two first downs and 43 total yards. Bowles’ offensive line didn’t exactly do Hackenberg any favors, breaking down along the edge and interior on two sacks by the Lions. Hackenberg, who gave way to Bryce Petty after halftime, was drilled by a free runner (Lions defensive end Cornelius Washington) on the third play from scrimmage.
“He really didn’t get a chance,” Bowles said of Hackenberg. “It’s not a fair evaluation of the kid, because he didn’t get a chance on the couple of pass plays he had. There was a lot of pressure on him.”
It didn’t get much better on the Jets’ next drive. Or the one after that. Or the one after that. Or the one after that. Or the one after that. Or the one … you get the picture.
“He doesn’t get a pass,” Bowles said of Hackenberg. “I’m not saying it was not all his fault. You got to throw the ball and get rid of it as well. The offense as a whole, we didn’t start out well with the first group. We got to play better. That’s him, that’s the O-line, the receivers, the tight end, the fullback and the tailback.”
Someone on One Jets drive needs to pull out a sandwich board and get an intern to walk around the city with this plea: WANTED: Playmakers. Hackenberg needed someone — anyone — to help him out. Alas, it didn’t happen.
Bowles hoped to evaluate Hackenberg in a variety of different situations like red-zone and two-minute work, but it never materialized.
Morton dialed up a draw play on 3rd and 13 from the Jets’ 25yard line for Pete’s sake rather than give Hackenberg a chance to pick up a first down. Perhaps
the offensive coordinator was concerned for the youngster’s health given the early breakdowns up front. If so, the safe approach was warranted. Otherwise, it was a curious move. (Morton called another draw play on third-and-long later in the half).
The Jets failed to pick up a first down on three first-quarter drives (three three-and-outs for a total of three yards is not good).
Hackenberg finally moved the chains on a third-down scramble in the first few minutes of the second quarter. Despite his ghastly numbers, Hackenberg gained valuable experience that should serve him well moving forward.
“It’s all a part of the process,” Hackenberg said. “You can’t look at numbers or stats or anything like that in my opinion. You have to look at what it was, go back to the tape and review it. Overall I think it was a good learning experience.”
Hackenberg, who hasn’t led the Jets to any points in 13 preseason drives, is simply not ready to be the team’s starter right now. It’s unrealistic to expect miracles in the final few weeks before the games actually count.
The mystery surrounding the winner of the Jets quarterback competition is over. Expect McCown to start in the team’s final dress rehearsal against the Giants next weekend. Barring injury, the veteran will start the regular season.
It would be the wrong move for Bowles to trot out an inferior player at the game’s most important position in Week 1. It would be an impossible sell to his locker H room. ackenberg will ultimately play in the regular season, but Bowles & Co. were never going to force the issue with the former second-round pick. They gave him a chance on Saturday night. The results weren’t entirely surprising to them, but it had to be done.
It’s way too premature to pour dirt on Hackenberg’s future — he has talent — but the present is an altogether different story.