I'm going to make the case for Brett Ratliffe as starter for the Jets next season. For those who don't remember what he can do , some videos. I really hope Clowney makes a return too. [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uyH9ovtdPY[/YOUTUBE] Raymond Drops TD Catch from Ratliffe [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt2bPXAhQc4&feature=related[/YOUTUBE] Lets have more scenes like this next season [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTvUXxlny18&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]
When I watch that video it makes me think there is no way this team should not have made the playoffs it breaks my heart.
Two completions where the WR was open by more than 10 yards where he didn't look off anyone. Clemens hits the guy in the hands in the end zone and he dropped it. I don't see the case for anything other than Cloney destroyed a couple of third string DB's and Ratliff threw the ball into the area.
He didn't just throw it in the area, he hit him in stride, twice. There's a difference. And he was open by more like five yards. :wink:
I do understand your statement, but i think your missing the bigger point as to why some of us have hope that Ratliff will be our future. When you watch him play he seems to possess a lot of the qualities that scouts look for in a QB. He seems to be able to make all the throws needed to be successful. He seems comfortable in the pocket and when under pressure. Doesn't seem to force throws and on top of that has a cannon for an arm, which we all know is needed in the Meadowlands. I don't understand why it's such a problem for some posters to this board(not saying your one of them) that some of us see Ratliff as our future. It seems that it would be more acceptable to some to jump on the "hot college prospect" bandwagon, and put our faith in a player who's never played against NFL caliber players, or even in an NFL style offense. I, for one, have faith in Ratliff. I understand there are no guarentees he will turn out to be the 2nd coming of Kenny O'Brien(I'm joking!!), but i'd much rather give him every opportunity to succeed, given his cap friendly contract, then draft some unknown 19 year old in the first round and give him a ton of $, with the hope that he MAY turn out to be something special.
I see the light. Because Ratliff was highly successful in extremely limited playtime, he clearly sucks. All aboard the Sage Rosenfels train!
Given that O'Brien is the second best quarterback the Jets have ever had, his second coming might not be such a bad idea. He wasn't Dan Marino, but he wasn't bad. :wink:
Agreed. The only thing those video's show is that Ratliff can hit a guy who is Wideopen. The Second video shows him lock on to his primary target and throw a decent pass to someone, again, wideopen in the endzone. Based on that we are supposed to have so gret hope for him?
Passing on a good QB prospect in the first because of a guy like ratliff or even Clemens is folly at this point. We do not have a QB on the Roster who has proven much at all in real game situations. Taking a top rated prospect if one falls to us in the first makes a ton of sense. Reaching on some lesser prospect does not. Kellen has some awful stats to go with a 3-4 record in a year where we had no line and finished 4-12. I would love to see him get a shot with the current offense. While he did have some pocket presence and footwork problems in 07 it would be nice to see if he can work those out with some actual blocking. He is still very young and seems to have the tools to play QB in the NFL. Ratliff is still very green having yet to play a single down against NFL first stringers. He can make some nice throws but has not proven enough to warrent passing on a top QB prospect if one falls to us. At this point its 50/50 at best he could even beat out Clemens. I would not mind keep him around because he may become good, but there is not reason not to look in otehr directions when you may or may not have an answer at the most important position on your offense.
I am just saying this. After beating a few fourth string waiver wire guys everyone is saying he has all the tools. If he does it against the first stringers in a tougher situation than yeah, I will be impressed. Nice throws, don't get me wrong, but it is against a bunch of fringe players at best. I hope he is the second coming of John Elway, but we will just have to wait. Using a few preseason games to say what he is capable of seems a stretch.
That's preseason football. Ask anyone....anyone....and they will say it's preseason. Yeah it looks good, but it's preseson......why do I feel like Allen Iverson here?
Remember two years ago Clemens looked great in preseason. Now everyone drops him like a hot potato, doesn't want him to start.