New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty faces a crucial training camp as he fights for a roster spot that is suddenly in question.
With the drafting of former Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Petty suddenly finds himself at the bottom of the Jets pecking order. But the 2015 fourth-rounder is confident in the strides he’s made this offseason, and one significant way Petty has been able to measure his progress is through his time spent playing Madden.
“For me, where I was when they drafted me last year to where I am now, it’s night-and-day difference,” Petty told NJ Advance Media on Monday at Jets linebacker David Harris’ charity golf event, which benefits the Give the Kids Hope Foundation. “For me, it’s a process. Just watching film, I’m seeing things.
“I played Madden the other day, and it’s not just picking run plays anymore. It’s like, ‘Oh, they’ve got an under front [on defense].’ You start picking up things differently. That’s exciting for me.”
The former Baylor Bears standout was tabbed mainly as a developmental prospect by scouts and spent the entire 2015 season as the third quarterback behind Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith. But with the team spending such a high draft pick on Hackenberg, the Jets are certainly looking to invest their time with the former Nittany Lion instead.
And with Smith still around for another year and the team having a chance to re-sign Fitzpatrick, Petty’s chances at sticking on the roster become even slimmer should the Jets enter training camp with four quarterbacks on the roster.
“For me, I’ve got to go out and prove that they made the right choice the year before [by drafting me],” Petty said.
While Petty stated that he benefited from a year on the Jets’ sidelines, using Madden as a measurement of progress is not the most beneficial way to sell yourself as a better NFL quarterback. At the end of the day, no one will really see what the second-year quarterback is capable of until he steps on the field in a real game time situation. Petty certainly might grasp playbook concepts better, but no virtual simulation will truly prepare the young quarterback for leading a team on the field and making plays under the pressure of elite pass rushers and defensive backs.
Time will tell what the Jets ultimately decide to do with Petty (or any of their quarterbacks for that matter), but the Baylor standout is just one interesting piece of this puzzle.
[NJ.com]