Jets Backup QB’s Impress in 31-12 Preseason Loss to Giants

If you could only have one thing go well for you in a preseason game, be it a win or a loss, you’d probably want that thing to be having your backup quarterbacks show some signs of development.  That’s exactly what the Jets got tonight in their loss to the Giants.

Starting quarterback Justin Fields had no luck getting anything going through the air as he finished 1-5 for four yards.

Adrian Martinez and Brady Cook would follow Fields and both made some very impressive plays.

Martinez would finish 12-21 for 114 yards and no touchdowns.  Yes, Martinez did have an ill-advised interception on a rollout under pressure, but he  also made some good throws in the intermediate are, connecting with rookie receiver Arian Smith several times.  Smith would finish the day with two catches and had another pair of throws go through his hands.   Though, in fairness to Smith, one could have been called for a defensive pass interference but wasn’t.

After Martinez it was Cook who made several impressive throws, two of which went to fellow undrafted free agent Quentin Skinner.  At one point the rookie hit Skinner down the field with three defenders in the area and then led him on a TD strike in the corner of the end zone.  Skinner’s fully extended reception was the play of the game for Gang Green.

Other noteworthy performances, good and bad:

• Undrafted free agent DB Dean Clark had himself a day.  On one series he picked up a sack and immediately followed that with a PBU over the middle to prevent a touchdown.  Then in the closing minutes, he picked up an interception in the Giants end zone.  Big day for the versatile Fresno State product.
• Braelon Allen led all Jets backs with 34 rushing yards on just nine carries.
• Arian Smith looked fluid on a pair of in-breaking routes that allowed him to pull down a couple of catches in the first half.  With no receivers separating themselves in the competition to win the job opposite Garrett Wilson, Smith may be the guy.
• The Jets secondary got absolutely smoked by rookie Jaxson Dart.  Second, third, fourth of fifth-string players aside, Dart completed 14 of 16 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown.  Aaron Glenn will not be pleased about that.
• The starting offensive line did a nice job as a group, running the ball down the Giant’s throats on their second drive.  The Jets ran it 10 times before the drive stalled on an incomplete pass and Nick Folk hit a 38-yard field goal.

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