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New York Jets: Take cue from Jaguars on quarterback development

By Michael Pallas

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 17: Quarterback Bryce Petty #9 of the New York Jets throws the ball during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 17, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 17: Quarterback Bryce Petty #9 of the New York Jets throws the ball during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 17, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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The New York Jets should take a cue from the Jacksonville Jaguars on the development of Bryce Petty.

Blake Bortles was terrible for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the beginning. In fact, they gave him three years while they were building their defense, offensive line and running game. While he’s not great, he’s not as bad as he was. He’s on pace for a career high in completion percentage and touchdown-to-interception ratio. All thanks to the patience of the Jaguars. The New York Jets should do the same with Bryce Petty.

Yes, Bortles was a first round pick, and they usually get more time, because they’re first round picks. However, we knew that Petty would be a project, and to compare their careers isn’t fair. Bortles was given the green light almost immediately, and Petty mired on the bench for a full season.

Being the backup also limits practice reps during the season. Another way to further hamper his development, because he didn’t consistently get the chance to put his work into practice on the field in real game action.

HIs playing time was sporadic and not consistent. In 2016, he played in relief in Week 9, started and finished Week 10, played in relief in Week 12, started and finished Weeks 13-14, and he started but didn’t finish Week 15. Then this year, he finally got the chance to start and finish Week 15. That’s not the best way to learn on the job.

What the Jets need to do is make next year Petty’s year. See what he can do from game to game from the start of the season. Even if it’s not the whole season, give him a significant amount of games to see if he can work the kinks out from game to game.

Also give him some more pieces, like a solid offensive line, a good running back, and some pieces on defense that can get after the opposing quarterback.

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: No first-round QBs edition

Fans keep posting on social media that the coaches don’t know how to develop quarterbacks. The reason the Jets keep cycling through quarterbacks is because there’s no patience to allow one to actually develop. Let one actually develop before making that assessment.

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