TWO OF A KIND
The Jets had been done practicing for about 30 minutes, but two individuals remained on the practice field, going through play after play in the hot afternoon sun.
Quarterbacks Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg stayed long after practice was over, working on certain things that had not gone right in practice. It seems strange. Two players who may be competing for one spot — future quarterback of this franchise — helping each other out, playing wide receiver for each other and coaching each other up.
It is a sign of maturity from Petty, who was drafted just last year in the fourth round, that he is helping Hackenberg, who could ultimately be the reason Petty is cut at some point.
“As far as I’m concerned right now, we both have ‘N.Y. Jets’ on our helmet,” Petty said. “Until that changes for one of us, I’m trying to help him and he’s helping me. At the end of the day, that’s what’s going to make this offense better. If the offense gets better, that makes the defense better. If the defense gets better, we’re winning championships. That’s what we’re striving to do here. It doesn’t matter who’s out there. We’re competing, yes, but we’re still on the same team.”
You couldn’t blame Petty if he felt like he was yesterday’s news. When the Jets selected Hackenberg in the second round of this year’s draft, it called into question how they felt about Petty. Were they ready to give up on him already? Did they not like what they saw in his rookie year?
The Jets have said the Hackenberg selection has nothing to do with Petty. They are seriously considering keeping four quarterbacks on their roster this season — Petty and Hackenberg as developmental quarterbacks of the future along with starter Ryan Fitzpatrick and backup Geno Smith, who are about 2016. If a quarterback does get cut, Petty might be the odd man out.
He is not worrying about that at the moment, though. Petty had his best day of training camp Thursday, throwing three touchdowns, including an 80yarder to Jalin Marshall. That came a day after Petty went 0-for-6 in team drills. Petty benefited from extra reps Thursday with Fitzpatrick getting a day off.
“For me, it’s all about executing, so I’ve got to get better at executing the play and not trying to be too perfect,” Petty said. “I think that’s kind of what I’m doing right now. I’m just trying to be too perfect with things. I’ve just got to kind of let loose and do what I know to do and let instincts take over and just play football, knowing that everything will take care of itself. I’m just pumping the brakes a little bit and going back to basics.”
For Petty, his second training camp feels completely different than his first, when he was just trying to pick up the offense.
“It’s a lot different,” Petty said. “I think it’s just a comfort factor. Coming out of OTAs, I was extremely confident. Then the perfection word started creeping in. I need to go back to where I was, where I was just being a gunslinger and chucking it. I know what to do now. I know plays. I know what we’re doing. Now, it’s one read, play it, make it work. That’s what I’m trying to do every day out here. From camp one to camp two, it’s a night and day difference. Not to sound too confident, but there’s progress being made.”
Jets coach Todd Bowles sees signs of that progress.
“He’s getting to be more consistent with the decisions he’s making,” Bowles said.
When the Jets took Hackenberg in April’s draft, Petty said he had a few emotions, but ultimately it brought out the competitor in him.
“There were probably several thoughts that I had in my head, but to me, it was kind of like, ‘OK, let’s strap it up.’ ” he said. “I came in here to prove that they made the right choice in the fourth round last year. I’m still here to do that. That part doesn’t change. Whatever happens in the future happens, but while I’m here I’m going to be the best quarterback I can be, the best teammate I can be. If that is to help him through the things I learned last year and I’m continuing to learn, that’s what I want to do.”