Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has coached in the NFL for 20 years. He has been the head coach of the Cowboys, America’s Team with America’s most hands-on owner. So being concerned about his job security is filed in the Big Waste Of Time section.
“I’ve been through this enough times,” Gailey said, referring to the Jets’ 3-9 season and the scrutiny that comes with it. “You have to do the best you can do every day. That’s what you get up and try to do: the best you can every day.”
Gailey will try his best to prepare Bryce Petty for his second pro start Sunday against the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. It is Petty’s first real chance to show he can be the Jets’ quarterback of the future, the start of a four-game audition to prove he can lead an NFL team.
A lot of Petty’s success or failure will depend on Gailey’s play-calling. Will the veteran offensive coordinator slim down the playbook, or will he give Petty an aggressive game plan that will utilize his strong arm and big-play capability?
“We might do a couple of things that are slightly different,” Gailey said. “I’m sure there will be some nerves. But he’s been in big games before. I think he’ll go out there and handle the emotional part fine.”
It is just Petty’s second NFL season, but it has been a long journey from being drafted in the fourth round to earning the coaches’ trust enough to start.
“When he came here coming from [Baylor’s] offense, where they never even huddled he had to learn huddling,” Gailey said. “He had to learn calling out the mike [linebacker]. He had to learn protections. He had to learn everything. He’s come an extremely long way since he got here. But there’s a long way to go. There’s still some more he’s got to do that I think as time goes on he’ll get better at it.”
One approach would be to work slowly into Sunday’s game, with passes to the running backs and short outs and slants to the receivers. But Gailey should avoid the conservative approach. Let the kid dare to be great. His 40-yard touchdown pass to Robby Anderson in the fourth quarter Monday night against the Colts came long after the outcome was decided, but was still a sign of his big-arm, big-play potential.
“I think he’s going to be a good player,” right tackle Breno Giacomini said of Petty. “There’s obviously going to be growing pains, just like with anybody else. But he shows signs of confidence and leadership abilities. That’s a good sign.”
Giacomini didn’t practice on Thursday because of multiple injuries, and center Nick Mangold was placed on injured reserve. A patched together offensive line won’t be in Petty’s best interest. But that is where his ability to throw on the run might be an asset.
Petty will be making his second career start after opening for the injured Ryan Fitzpatrick against the Rams on Nov. 13. The Jets lost, 9-6. as Petty completed 19-of-32 passes for 163 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His performance was indicative of what the Jets’ offense has been all season: not good enough.
Same goes for Gailey, whose unit is ranked 24th in the league overall and 32nd in the league in red-zone offense. Petty’s main job now is to get the Jets into the end zone by any means necessary.
“You always expect the best,” Gailey said. “I think we all realize there will be some bumps in the road. But you expect the best.”
A decent showing by Petty over the next four weeks would give the Jets fan base something positive to talk about. That could go a long way toward improving the job security Gailey has grown not to care much about.