i am on record for posting several times that i think Clemens can be a good NFL QB and that the jets made a good choice getting this guy instead of really going after Cutler, Leinart, and even Flacco...... However, after seeing a few practices this summer and reading several detailed reports on Clemens over the years- it is not a gven that he will be the starter post Favre....or ever.... in fact, getting Favre, IMO, puts clemens on the hot seat and its a 50/50 shot if he signs another contract with the jets after his initial deal expires. we have seen some good things with Ratliffe so far and he has shown more in his limited time than clemens did the 1st couple years. lets not get too excited but there are times when a free agent QB slips into your hands and you get lucky - if this works out for the jets than we would be sitting pretty post Favre. of course when did the jets ever get lucky with a very late round pick or free agent that gives them a bonafide NFL starter - chrebet comes to mind, jason ferguson are a couple. kudos to the jets for seeing this now, getting favre, and keeping ratliff on the radar. i wanna see ratliff play a couple series against a first team defense this summer. jil
I really like Ratliff's poise in the pocket. He made some pretty good decisions last week and has a huge arm. Time will tell of course, but I wonder if Ratliff is the heir apparent, not Clemens.
Folks say not to read too much into the fact that Ratliff is getting more 1st Team practice time than Clemens, but I wonder just how much you can discount it.
I see it as one QB, Ratliff, who continues to do the right thing, make the right reads on a defense, and stays poised in the pocket. Clemens began to do that in his 1st year, then began to fall off a bit. I have noticed that when Mangini "gushes" about a player during a press conference, they are doing really well and it shows come game time. Clemens really never was "gushed" about, as Mangini has done that a couple of times when speaking about Ratliff. Clemens as stopped intriguing me this year. I just don't see continued progress, I see stalled talent. If he is hitting his ceiling, he'll be a backup the rest of his career. I want Clemens to do well, but I need to see him be the biggest and gustiest guy on the field with his presence and poise. I just don't get that from Clemens.
guys weve seen him for what 1 PRESEASON game comon gimme a break he was playing well but still Clemens has shown he can be the guy in a REAL game Baltimore ravens say hello. We keep them both, or we get rid of ratliffe there is no way we give up on clemens when Favre will prob retire next year.
Clemens v. Ratliff I think that "feel good" or underdog stories get overplayed. I wonder though if Ratliff may beat out Clemens for the two. The reason I say that is: the Colts and Pats have for years played without a net on their backup QB. If Manning (sorgi) or Brady (cassel) ever got hurt both teams are in a heap of trouble. Both could have gotten a better backup -- but never did. (I know how that worked out when Bill -- IMO in his only really really bad move with the jets failed to get a back up for Vinny) Im not saying that Ratliff is the answer in the future -- he probably is not -- but it does not seem inconsistent with the Belli/Parcells (and by extension) Mangini way of doing things. Funny comment though by Mangini on Ratfliff: With Ratliff struggling to understand the offense [last year], Mangini joked that it took "an act of Congress" to get the play relayed from the sidelines to the huddle.
^Then you haven't seen Ratliff play, or understand the thing he does right that Clemens doesn't. Plus, when you're paying Brady and Manning what they earn, how the hell are you going to spend more money on the most expensive position in football? Sorgi and Cassel are there for a reason.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uyH9ovtdPY&feature=related[/YOUTUBE] Look at the accuracy, the arm strength. Ratliff's got a great arm.
Clemens needs to step up and step up now and stop whimpering over losing "Checkdown Chad." If he's not careful, he'll lose more than his friend Chad, he'll lose the #2 spot as well. Clemens: Get with the program or step aside, son!
Sports Illustrated reported that Clemens already did lose the #2 spot to Ratliff but no to other source has confirmed that.
Great video, man. Thanks. You gotta love the Ratliff-Clowney hookups. We haven't seen those kind of deep passes since Vinnie was throwing it.
Ratliff already passed Clemens? From http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/dr_z/08/10/jets.postcard2/index.html#?eref=T1 See the bolded text? I hadn't heard anything about this, but I like it. I also think it's well deserved, if true.
Its not just his arm. His poise in the pocket, understanding of the offense, his ability to read a defense and checkdown or audible to the correct call. For example, the great Stuckey catch on the slant was a run call. Ratliff read the coverage and called an audible to Stuckey for a 20 yard gain. I don't care what the caliber of players are on the field. Most QBs can't do that. I also his is resiliency, and his willingness to make something out of a broken play. The near 1st down he ran for he created himself, and juked the OLB. This kid has the "it" factor. It will come down to him doing well against real football. So far so good, but he has a long way to go. The OP said this is being overplayed... No, this is progress from a kid who couldn't say the play in the huddle to walking on an NFL field for the 1st time, dropping back and throwing a 70 yard TD. And he did it twice. That is progress.
Wow! That would be something. What a complete upset in the QB department. I'm thrilled, but at the same time nervous as hell if this is all going to work out. Still, we needed to do something. The way camp was shaping up, it looked like another long year of Dink and Dunk and defenses crowding the box and licking their chops. No running game because the whole thing gets clogged right from the beginning and nobody has room to do squat. This way, with the capability of airing it out once in a while (or more often than that), it keeps the defenses confused and guessing. Go Favre and Ratliff!
The team has not confirmed this. I believe the speculation is over the fact that Ratliff got more 1st team reps than Clemens on that day. Dr. Z may be jumping the gun.
eh, this is slightly different. There are two running threads on Backup vs Backup right now. But with the names switched. Always good to see heads up posting on TGG.
