Breaking: Jets’ stars fight over play role after preseason debuts.
The Jets are faced with a significant dilemma.
When the NY Jets played the Washington Commanders in their preseason opener, they did not bench many of their best players. Tyrod Taylor played so little that he only tallied -1 passing yards in two series, and Aaron Rodgers did not participate. Both of the backup quarterbacks vying for the coveted QB3 position had outstanding games.
The backgrounds of the two leading contenders for the QB3 place are very dissimilar. Andrew Peasley, a native of Wyoming, played two seasons in a Cowboys offense that can be kindly described as antiquated and four years as a backup at Utah State. Excited college player and UFL MVP Adrian Martinez was attempting to win a final opportunity to play in the NFL.
Martinez and Peasley both saw success in the Jets, despite the fact that the Commanders were among the weakest defensive teams in the league the previous season. With 73 yards and a stunning touchdown pass to Jason Brownlee, Peasley finished 8-11. Martinez completed the game 6-of-10 for 104 yards, adding 24 more through the air.
Martinez was the fifth-most efficient quarterback in the first round of preseason games, based on EPA per dropback. Three anticipated Week 1 starters and J.J. McCarthy, the No. 10 overall choice, were the only players above him. Peasley had an equally strong performance, finishing ninth overall.
top quarterbacks of Preseason Week 1
1. Williams, Caleb (0.97)
2. Burrow, Joe (0.62)
3. McCarthy, J.J. (0.57)
4. Minshew, Gardner (0.55)
5. Adrian Martinez (0.48)
Logan Woodside, sixth (0.42)
7. Oladokun Chris (0.36)
Andrew Peasley, eighth (0.35)
Mason Rudolph, score of 0.31
Kyle Allen (0.31)…
Andrew Peasley and Adrian Martinez stand out in the NY Jets QB3 matchup.
In college, Peasley was only a starter for two seasons and only completed 56% of his throws; however, in Logan, Utah, and Laramie, Wyoming, he rarely played with NFL quality. Despite not having the best arm skill, Peasley received recognition for his agility, ability to create plays out of structure, and knack for avoiding turnovers.
Once heralded as Nebraska football’s salvation, Martinez finished his four seasons with the Cornhuskers with 51 throwing touchdowns and 45 rushing touchdowns, plus a graduate study at Kansas State.
He joined the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions, where in ten games he threw 15 touchdown passes and led the league in rushing. Both the league and championship game MVP awards went to Martinez.
Both of these quarterbacks need to improve if they hope to be considered for the Jets roster, but the fact that they were able to demonstrate not only that they belonged in the professional ranks but also that they were producing extraordinary plays that went above and beyond the call of duty says a lot.
The Panthers and Giants, two more vulnerable defenses, will be visiting the city, giving Martinez and Peasley a chance to prove to the Jets that they are players worth keeping around.
