Jets babying Hackenberg could lead to worst-case scenario
Early in Monday’s Jets practice, Christian Hackenberg uncorked a beautiful, 45-yard pass that landed right in Robby Anderson’s hands and gave the small crowd of fans something to cheer about.
It was proof Hackenberg can throw a football more than 10 yards, something I was beginning to wonder about after Saturday night’s preseason debut against the Titans. In that game, he went 18-of-25 for 127 yards, but it was a bunch of dinking and dunking down the field. Only two of his throws went more than 20 yards.
The best thing I can say about Hackenberg’s night was it left you wanting to see more. Now, it’s time the Jets let him show us more.
Jets coach Todd Bowles and offensive coordinator John Morton need to put more on Hackenberg’s plate this week in practice and Saturday night against the Lions in Detroit. The game against the Titans felt like paint by numbers. The ball was snapped, he took three steps and threw the ball short to a designated back or receiver. This week, let’s see if he can paint an abstract. Can he progress through his reads and find someone, or will it all be checkdowns and quick hitches again?
“He’s got to take what they give him,” Bowles said after practice Monday. “Some of the plays [against the Titans] were designed. Some of the plays, the deep stuff wasn’t there and he checked it down. He just has to do his job. We’d like to see him down the field, but he did his job. He did everything that was asked of him.”
This season is mainly about finding out if Hackenberg is the answer at quarterback. If not, they must select one early in the 2018 draft. All indications are the Jets will be picking in the top three next year with the quality of their roster, meaning they will have a shot at Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Josh Rosen, who are considered the top three quarterbacks in the draft at the moment.
The worst possible outcome for the Jets is Hackenberg is just good enough to convince Mike Maccagnan he does not need to draft a quarterback, then Hackenberg falls on his face next year.
For most of the past decade, the Jets have been on a quarterback treadmill that has killed them. Mike Tannenbaum was convinced in 2012 to give Mark Sanchez a contract extension after two AFC Championship Game appearances and 26 touchdowns in 2011. Sanchez bottomed out that season, and they were searching for a QB again.
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Geno Smith was drafted in 2013 and was inconsistent as a rookie but a strong finish to that season convinced the Jets’ brass he should start in 2014. He went 3-10 as a starter that year and lost his job to Michael Vick. In 2015, Ryan Fitzpatrick set team records and they signed him to a one-year, $12 million deal that blew up in their faces in 2016.
The Jets have to get off this treadmill. That is why Hackenberg either has to wow the team this year or be pushed aside in 2018.
But how can anyone evaluate him if he is not allowed to run a full offense. At the moment, the Jets seem afraid to let Hackenberg make mistakes. Maybe they feel his confidence is fragile after a difficult college career at Penn State. Maybe they just don’t trust him enough.
The organization has babied Hackenberg since the day they took him with the 51st overall pick in 2016. It’s time for the diapers to come off.
Let the kid play. It’s time to see what he can do.