Every year in the NFL we are reminded that roster spots are earned on the field and not in scouting meetings or on draft day. The famous Jerry Glanville quote, “the NFL stands for not for long,” is spot on when it comes to players earning a place on the final roster. Who would have thought that Karlos Williams of the Bills (over 5.5 yards per carry/7 TDs in 2015 as a rookie) would be cut before the second preseason game. Yet it happens again and again; players who get too comfortable in their position get passed for playing time like a old truck on the autobahn by hungrier players.

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Bryce Petty came into this year with a target on his back; the kind of target that has your agent calling teams to see if they have open spots on their practice squads. He didn’t take a single regular season snap in 2015 after being drafted in the 4th round from a team that didn’t even huddle on offense. Coming from spread offense where the coach signaled the plays in from the sideline, even NFL verbiage was a struggle for Bryce. Absorbing the Jets playbook was akin to learning to write in a foreign language, in cursive, with your left hand (if you’re a righty). Understanding the nuances of the game were impossible for a player just trying to understand how to call a play.

Jets GM Mike Maccagnan decided to draft (or overdrafted) Christian Hackenberg from Penn st in the second round; a player I had as a 6th round talent and Pro Football Focus had as undraftable. With Ryan Fitzpatrick as the entrenched starter (as soon as the Jets signed him), former 2nd round pick Geno Smith already on the roster; the writing was on the wall for Petty. With one foot in the grave and the other standing on a banana peel, Petty had to either step up his game monumentally or find another team to give him a shot.

Bryce Petty has all the desired measurables to be a starter in the NFL.  He is 6’3 230 with a strong arm, good movement skills, and is said to be a very intelligent hard working kid. Problem is he came from a system so different from any NFL style offense so his learning curve was off the charts. Added was the fact that unlike the past (10-15 years ago) no team is going to stash you on the roster and give you 3 years to catch up (ala Aaron Rogers) so this year was sink or swim time.

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Petty has responded with a solid camp to go along with stellar play in the first two preseason games. He is 23/40 for 335 yards and 2 TDs with 0 INTs and a 101 QBR, all while playing with second and third string players. Added to the fact is the Jets o-line depth is abysmal (Petty has been sacked 5 times) so he is accomplishing all this under duress, which makes this even more of amazing.  If he can keep up the production and lack of mistakes going in the last two games, the Jets will be forced to move him up to the the 2nd spot behind Fitzpatrick. The Jets know what they have (or don’t have) in Geno Smith and he is having a typical mediocre camp and preseason 14/27 126 yards 1 TD, 1 INT 61.7 QBR.  Recently in practice Smith had a 4 INT and a fumble day which frustrated him and the Jets management team.

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The Jets know what they have in Smith, which is a replacement level player who can have an occasional quality game but would struggle to get the team to even a .500 record. Also, Smith was a poor draft decision by the previous regime (GM John Idzik) so keeping Petty over Smith is very plausible. Christian Hackenberg is a distant fourth on the depth chart (which is understandable for a rookie) but has been even worse than you might expect.  Hackenberg will have to have a Petty type transformation next year or fingers may be pointed at GM Maccagnan about his ability to discern talent in the draft.

Jet Bits: Players who are making hay in training camp

 

–Leonard Williams is showing why he was considered the top talent in the draft last year; after a quality rookie year, Williams is showing the strength and agility that could lead to a monster year. Deon Simon 6’4 332 (7th rd pick in 2015 #223) is a NT who is turning heads and drawing comparisons to former Jet Damon Harrison. Simon had a huge game Friday with 4 stuffed run plays (one on 4th down) and drawing a holding penalty in the end zone (causing a safety). With Mohammad Wilkerson back with a new contract and Sheldon Richardson (after his one game suspension) the Jets are poised to have one of the best D-lines in the NFL.

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–Robby Anderson WR Temple (UDFA in 2015) 6’3 190 4.36/40

This is a player I highlighted before the draft who could shine in the right situation as a undrafted rookie. He had a great game against the ‘Skins 7 rec/138 yards/1TD and if he can continue to show in the next two games, will force the Jets to give him a roster spot. He is in a great spot with the Jets where he can learn from Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall for the next couple of years. Anderson is a player to watch for the future and could (with his 4.36/40 speed) be a game changer; it also helps he is from his coach’s (Todd Bowles) alma mater – Temple U.

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–Cherone Peake WR Clemson (7th rd pick 2105 #241) 6’2 209  4.45/40

Peake is having a good camp, not spectacular 8 rec/ 77 yards/1TD, but has the size-speed ratio that offensive coaches covet. He has a good chance to make the squad because Devin Smith (PUP list knee) will probably miss the first six games, Quincy Enunwa may be moved to TE on a permanent basis and Kenbrell Thompkins may be cut for salary cap reasons. The Jets are currently less than $ 1.4 million under the salary cap with 51 players.  They have to add two players to that and have money for their practice squad players (up to 10); Thompkins has a $1.67 million non-guaranteed salary, whereas Peake would make $450,000; saving the team over $1.2 million.

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The Jets have a thin window for success in 2016 (everything needs to go right) and any problems they have will not be on the defensive side of the ball; where they should be stellar.  On offense, things hinge on Fitzpatrick, Marshall, Decker, Forte and a aging leaky offensive line.  If Petty could somehow become a Blake Bortles type talent (high upside yet to be realized) and with receivers like Peake and Anderson, the Jets may have a future worth watching.