http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...win-the-new-york-jets-starting-qb-job-in-2016[h=1]Can Christian Hackenberg Win the New York Jets' Starting QB Job in 2016?[/h][h=4]<address class="article_author-info" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> By Eric Galko , Featured Columnist </address> <time class="article_timestamp" itemprop="datePublished" data-updated_at="1464179019">May 25, 2016</time>[/h]
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Bill Kostroun/Associated Press
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Had the 2016 NFL draft taken place at Radio City Music Hall instead, we might have seen the loudest collective groan and boo from New York Jets fans in a long time. After a less-than-stellar 2014 and 2015 college season coupled with the Jets' persistent uncertainty at quarterback, Penn State's Christian Hackenberg didn't seem like a wise investment during draft weekend.
For all of his obvious on-film warts as a prospect, Hackenberg still possesses tremendous promise to grow into one of the 2016 NFL draft's best quarterback prospects. Should Ryan Fitzpatrick not re-sign in New York, Hackenberg's pro-readiness mentally should allow him to immediately compete for the starting job. And even if Fitzpatrick does return, Hackenberg should have every opportunity to win the starting job throughout the 2016 season.
Emerging in the Jets' Quarterback Situation
Even after a near-playoff berth in his first year as the starter, Fitzpatrick remains unsigned this offseason as the team and Fitzpatrick's agent jostle over a reasonable contract. The team is wise to not rush to re-sign Fitzpatrick on a major deal, as his struggles in Buffalo after a strong season led to an embarrassment for the Bills regime when they signed him to a huge contract. And it's certainly reasonable for Fitzpatrick to want above the market value for a veteran starter, and a contract similar to Brock Osweiler's should be a baseline for how well he played in 2015.
Should Fitzpatrick return, Hackenberg won't have the opportunity to start in Week 1, as Fitzpatrick's contract and prior year's success should mandate him the starter. But similarly to his last run-in as a starter in Buffalo, consistency as a starter for more than one season hasn't been the norm in Fitzpatrick's career, and regardless of the team's current construction and belief that Fitzpatrick can put together another 10-6 season, pessimism can and should remain going into the 2016 season if and when Fitzpatrick returns.
Geno Smith, on the other hand, is in the final year of his rookie deal and has shown little hope of reviving his rookie-year potential as a worthwhile quarterback to develop as a starter. While he possesses more in-game experience than Hackenberg at the pro level and is a strong fit for Chan Gailey's offense, his ineffectiveness on and off the field has made him expendable now that Hackenberg is in the mix and Fitzpatrick is likely to re-sign.
Hackenberg, the team's most recent highly drafted quarterback and who offers some pro-ready mental skills, likely has supporters in the front office and the coaching staff, and he should have every opportunity to emerge as the team's starter should he thrive or the veterans struggle to clearly win the starting job over him.
Mental vs. Fundamental Pro-Readiness
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Hackenberg's struggles as a quarterback in 2014 and 2015 have been well-documented and well-discussed, with pocket-movement and ball-placement issues throughout his college career. Those issues should remain early on in his NFL career, as he's mostly to blame for his lack of development over his college career. His footwork is inconsistent, and his mechanics and timing have been shockingly inept over the last two years.
But mentally, he's arguably the most NFL-ready quarterback since Andrew Luck out of Stanford. Handling an offense as a freshman that wasn't unlike the New England Patriots system in terms of audible control, pre-snap reads and immediate progressions, Hackenberg can quickly adapt to the Jets system in terms of terminology and an appreciation for the mechanics of how the offense runs.
Pro-readiness can mean multiple things, and in Hackenberg's case, his stifled footwork and throwing-mechanic growth hasn't risen to the level of a quality NFL starter. He'll need patience and ample critiques from his personal coaches and those with the Jets, and it may be an issue similar to Matt Stafford where some of the needed development never sticks and he's forced to make up for those limiting fundamental developments with arm strength.
At Penn State, the biggest area of frustration for me wasn't Hackenberg's inefficient footwork pre-throw or his shockingly inaccurate short-area throws at times, but it was his indecisive and discomfort in the James Franklin offense. That discomfort led to miserable stretches of missed opportunities, failed first-down pickups and, at worst, sacks that entirely shut down potential drives. The play below illustrates that concern.
Penn State vs. Ohio State
However, there's a difference between fundamental issues as a quarterback and ones that can truly inhibit a quarterback from playing early in his career. More important than fundamental issues is the confidence and mental makeup to appreciate how an offense is run and what the designs of the system are.
Eliminating the need to wrap his head around an NFL playbook is a huge timesaver for Hackenberg's development, as he can focus all of his attention on technique repetition rather than rack his brain over concerns that most quarterbacks would struggle to understand. Defensive diagnosis and anticipation can be far more important in Gailey's offense with the Jets than merely focusing on his footwork missteps and mechanical consistency needs.
Further Optimism for Hackenberg in New York
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Hackenberg can handle an NFL offense's terminology and quickly emerge as a confident passer within the Jets system. Fundamentals aside, that experience in a highly detailed NFL offense while under Bill O'Brien in 2013 has done wonders for Hackenberg's appeal as a passer. While it's unclear how he's taken to the Jets' offensive playbook so far, I have no doubt he'll quickly adapt to the pro-style offense and begin to flash similarly to how he did early in his college career.
With a 6'4" body type and highly capable arm talent, Hackenberg looks and flashes the part of a long-term franchise quarterback at the NFL level. For all of his mechanical and footwork warts, his ability to immediately rise as a growing quarterback and having next to zero mental development concerns can allow him to focus entirely on growing with his teammates and making strides in his fundamental issues entirely.
Hackenberg would need a lot to happen for him to merit the Week 1 starting gig. He'll need to show immediate capabilities within the Jets offense, both in his understanding of the mechanics and the ability to mask his lack of refinement fundamentally with mental prowess in the offense. He'd also need to see the Fitzpatrick contract situation sorted out and, depending on if he's brought back and/or the contract's design, if he has a reasonable chance to compete in training camp.
Regardless if he starts early in the season or sometime later in the year, there's reason for optimism in Hackenberg's development. He wasn't on the same plane in terms of relative excitement and safeness as the three first-round quarterbacks, but the flashes in 2013 and the promise of his mental and physical makeup made him a worthy second-round selection. Whether or not the Jets should have been the team to scoop him up will be the topic of discussion throughout the remainder of the current Jets regime's tenure in New York.
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Bill Kostroun/Associated Press
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Had the 2016 NFL draft taken place at Radio City Music Hall instead, we might have seen the loudest collective groan and boo from New York Jets fans in a long time. After a less-than-stellar 2014 and 2015 college season coupled with the Jets' persistent uncertainty at quarterback, Penn State's Christian Hackenberg didn't seem like a wise investment during draft weekend.
For all of his obvious on-film warts as a prospect, Hackenberg still possesses tremendous promise to grow into one of the 2016 NFL draft's best quarterback prospects. Should Ryan Fitzpatrick not re-sign in New York, Hackenberg's pro-readiness mentally should allow him to immediately compete for the starting job. And even if Fitzpatrick does return, Hackenberg should have every opportunity to win the starting job throughout the 2016 season.
Emerging in the Jets' Quarterback Situation
Even after a near-playoff berth in his first year as the starter, Fitzpatrick remains unsigned this offseason as the team and Fitzpatrick's agent jostle over a reasonable contract. The team is wise to not rush to re-sign Fitzpatrick on a major deal, as his struggles in Buffalo after a strong season led to an embarrassment for the Bills regime when they signed him to a huge contract. And it's certainly reasonable for Fitzpatrick to want above the market value for a veteran starter, and a contract similar to Brock Osweiler's should be a baseline for how well he played in 2015.
Should Fitzpatrick return, Hackenberg won't have the opportunity to start in Week 1, as Fitzpatrick's contract and prior year's success should mandate him the starter. But similarly to his last run-in as a starter in Buffalo, consistency as a starter for more than one season hasn't been the norm in Fitzpatrick's career, and regardless of the team's current construction and belief that Fitzpatrick can put together another 10-6 season, pessimism can and should remain going into the 2016 season if and when Fitzpatrick returns.
Geno Smith, on the other hand, is in the final year of his rookie deal and has shown little hope of reviving his rookie-year potential as a worthwhile quarterback to develop as a starter. While he possesses more in-game experience than Hackenberg at the pro level and is a strong fit for Chan Gailey's offense, his ineffectiveness on and off the field has made him expendable now that Hackenberg is in the mix and Fitzpatrick is likely to re-sign.
Hackenberg, the team's most recent highly drafted quarterback and who offers some pro-ready mental skills, likely has supporters in the front office and the coaching staff, and he should have every opportunity to emerge as the team's starter should he thrive or the veterans struggle to clearly win the starting job over him.
Mental vs. Fundamental Pro-Readiness
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Hackenberg's struggles as a quarterback in 2014 and 2015 have been well-documented and well-discussed, with pocket-movement and ball-placement issues throughout his college career. Those issues should remain early on in his NFL career, as he's mostly to blame for his lack of development over his college career. His footwork is inconsistent, and his mechanics and timing have been shockingly inept over the last two years.
But mentally, he's arguably the most NFL-ready quarterback since Andrew Luck out of Stanford. Handling an offense as a freshman that wasn't unlike the New England Patriots system in terms of audible control, pre-snap reads and immediate progressions, Hackenberg can quickly adapt to the Jets system in terms of terminology and an appreciation for the mechanics of how the offense runs.
Pro-readiness can mean multiple things, and in Hackenberg's case, his stifled footwork and throwing-mechanic growth hasn't risen to the level of a quality NFL starter. He'll need patience and ample critiques from his personal coaches and those with the Jets, and it may be an issue similar to Matt Stafford where some of the needed development never sticks and he's forced to make up for those limiting fundamental developments with arm strength.
At Penn State, the biggest area of frustration for me wasn't Hackenberg's inefficient footwork pre-throw or his shockingly inaccurate short-area throws at times, but it was his indecisive and discomfort in the James Franklin offense. That discomfort led to miserable stretches of missed opportunities, failed first-down pickups and, at worst, sacks that entirely shut down potential drives. The play below illustrates that concern.
Penn State vs. Ohio State
However, there's a difference between fundamental issues as a quarterback and ones that can truly inhibit a quarterback from playing early in his career. More important than fundamental issues is the confidence and mental makeup to appreciate how an offense is run and what the designs of the system are.
Eliminating the need to wrap his head around an NFL playbook is a huge timesaver for Hackenberg's development, as he can focus all of his attention on technique repetition rather than rack his brain over concerns that most quarterbacks would struggle to understand. Defensive diagnosis and anticipation can be far more important in Gailey's offense with the Jets than merely focusing on his footwork missteps and mechanical consistency needs.
Further Optimism for Hackenberg in New York
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Hackenberg can handle an NFL offense's terminology and quickly emerge as a confident passer within the Jets system. Fundamentals aside, that experience in a highly detailed NFL offense while under Bill O'Brien in 2013 has done wonders for Hackenberg's appeal as a passer. While it's unclear how he's taken to the Jets' offensive playbook so far, I have no doubt he'll quickly adapt to the pro-style offense and begin to flash similarly to how he did early in his college career.
With a 6'4" body type and highly capable arm talent, Hackenberg looks and flashes the part of a long-term franchise quarterback at the NFL level. For all of his mechanical and footwork warts, his ability to immediately rise as a growing quarterback and having next to zero mental development concerns can allow him to focus entirely on growing with his teammates and making strides in his fundamental issues entirely.
Hackenberg would need a lot to happen for him to merit the Week 1 starting gig. He'll need to show immediate capabilities within the Jets offense, both in his understanding of the mechanics and the ability to mask his lack of refinement fundamentally with mental prowess in the offense. He'd also need to see the Fitzpatrick contract situation sorted out and, depending on if he's brought back and/or the contract's design, if he has a reasonable chance to compete in training camp.
Regardless if he starts early in the season or sometime later in the year, there's reason for optimism in Hackenberg's development. He wasn't on the same plane in terms of relative excitement and safeness as the three first-round quarterbacks, but the flashes in 2013 and the promise of his mental and physical makeup made him a worthy second-round selection. Whether or not the Jets should have been the team to scoop him up will be the topic of discussion throughout the remainder of the current Jets regime's tenure in New York.
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