Bryce Petty: The Raw Talent

Bryce Petty has his first NFL win, and it came in thrilling comeback fashion last weekend when the Jets beat the 49ers 23-17 in overtime.

I doubt many people think one win makes Petty the future at the position. We are still firmly in wait and see mode. I had a chance to take a look at Petty's performance.

Heading into the game, I felt like Petty was an extremely raw project. Watching the game over, makes that feeling even stronger. Let's take a look at some of the takeaways from this game.

The thing that really jumped off the page was how limited Petty's ability to make reads is even though we are nearing the end of his second season. I'm not necessarily expecting him to be able to scan the entire field on a limited basis, but it felt like he had trouble even getting to his second option at many points.

This is a simple read on the right side of the field with Quincy Enunwa and Brandon Marshall.

Marshall is running a post, and there is a window to put the ball. Petty, however, is locked on Enunwa the entire time.

Now it doesn't help that Wesley Johnson gets totally wiped out on this play, getting Petty drilled in the process. It doesn't seem like Petty sees anybody other than the covered Enunwa, even though Marshall is the closest receiver.

Petty also showed a tendency to double clutch and start playing schoolyard football if his first read wasn't there.

You might remember the 40 yard completion to Robby Anderson in the third quarter. Yes, it was a big completion, but the credit for this play goes to Anderson. Petty really does everything possible to get himself into trouble.

Anderson is totally blanketed. He's the guy at the top of the picture. Quincy Enunwa has a window over the middle.

Petty is just totally locked on Anderson. He has a clean pocket and plenty of time to go through reads, but he runs up and throws up a prayer that Anderson answers.

Tremendous play by Anderson, but that kind of throw is a disaster for the offense a lot more frequently than it is a success.

Even when the Jets were on board the comeback express, Petty frequently couldn't get off his first read and left big plays on the table.

Again, you have a play that is a completion. It goes for 10 yards to Charone Peake, but Petty misses Bilal Powell breaking wide open down the field because he is so stuck on Peake. When Peake isn't open immediately, Petty panics and starts running around.

Yes, it was a play that contributed to the comeback in the fourth quarter. A more seasoned quarterback doesn't abandon a clean pocket, though. He goes to his next option and hopefully spots Powell running free down the field. This is a lot of work for 10 yards when there was a much easier, much bigger gain to be had.

Another opportunity was missed on the last play before Nick Folk's game-tying field goal attempt. Petty has Enunwa open in the middle of the field vacated by blitzing 49ers. With Enunwa's ability to run with the ball in his hands, this is at minimum a big gain with a legitimate chance to take it to the house for the game-winning score.

Again, though, Petty is throwing to Anderson come hell or high water.

Now truth be told, this isn't a horrendous decision. Anderson has a real chance to make a play with a better thrown ball to the inside.

Still, this is a much more difficult throw to hit. Again, we see tunnel vision leave what could be an easy big play on the field.

These are just a few examples of something that was evident throughout the game. It is important to note that the last two of these happened during the comeback so even then Petty wasn't necessarily catching fire.

How did Petty lead the comeback? A few things happened. The Jets worked the screen game a little bit providing some easier throws and putting more of the heavy lifting with the receivers.

Some of Petty's first reads were there, and he delivered the ball. That's what you're supposed to do, and he did it.

And Petty showed some real toughness. There were points where you saw the physical tools and the raw talent flash through. Take the big overtime completion to Anderson.

A little earlier we talked about Petty being too quick to try to play schoolyard football. On this play, he doesn't have a choice.

He suffers a blocking breakdown on the left side of his line which leaves a big guy bearing down on him. Petty eludes the rush, keeps his eyes down the field, finds an open receiver, anticipates where he's going to be, and throws a pass where only his guy can get it against his body. He also shows a lot of guts because he takes a hit to pay the price.

Petty is very raw, but you can see some talent in him. Over the next three weeks, the Jets certainly hope his playing experience will help him learn how to play at a level that is at least a little bit more advanced.