I just think people on this board have an unhealthy obsession with being right. Internet bragging rights are a hot commodity, I guess.
Ratliff puts points on the board in the preseason against second and third team defenses. Now you could make the argument that it least he has put up points against those Defenses in the Preseason but Clemens has experience starting and although it is only a little experience it's still more then Ratliff. Clemens also didnt play terrible last season. He was inconsistant but he had some good games. You cant say Ratliff gives this team a better chance to win before he even starts his first season as an NFL QB.
I just like being able to predict the future, like Ratliff emerging and Pennington being off the team. Thats why I have the links in my sig.... pure internet arrogance. Oh yeah!!
i think this is actually true... if favre gets hurt in a huge game , i think mangini would turn to clemens to finish 'er off as he has experience...
That's a terrible argument as half the people on this board said Clemens made a better QB than Pennington when he had never played in a regular season game in his life. The funny thing is now that he has and has been terrible the same people are still saying the same thing and trying to blame his disasterous showing on anything and everything but him.
People were saying Clemens would make a better QB because Pennington restricts our game to short yardage, so defenses could stack the line of scrimmage against our already pisspoor line. Pennington's weaknesses were glaring, while Clemens' could be a result of a number of things, including his surrounding team and the learning curve associated with the position. Why people are throwing him under the bus when he hasn't been given the opportunity to prove himself and he isn't even the starter this year is beyond me. You probably would have said Troy Aikman was terrible after his disastrous performances his first year as a starter too, amiright? edit: I just looked up Aikman's stats and he had a 52% completion and twice as many interceptions as touchdowns. Those stats are identical to Clemens' last year. Imagine that.
I think a lot of you guys are discounting what the CS sees and grades that we never get to glimpse, let alone study. When I look at the CS' "body-of-work" this off-season -- including the patient Favre strike -- I have to say they deserve the benefit of the doubt on who's No. 2 and who's No. 3. Additionally, I would like to point out to you 'quick-on-the-draw' gunslingers Rat, good as he appears, has yet to work against a starting secondary in real-time game conditions. I am looking forward to seeing Rat and Kellen play tonight against folks that are trying their damnedest to make these NYJ QBs look bad so they get to stay on the roster through Sat. nite.
We are not arguing Kellen Clemens as a starter though. We are talking about him as a backup. If Favre bombs as a starter for the Jets and Kellen doesnt play well then you can start that argument. But we are not arguing who should be the starter. We are arguing who should be the backup. Also Kellen Clemens was a second round draft pick who was selected to be the future QB. Brett Ratliff was a rookie Free Agent.
Yeah, you're right on that. I probably agree he should be the backup for the short term too. I guess I just find it funny that that same argument was used for why he should have been the starter.
No argument about the level of Ratliff's competition however, just watching how the team responds to Ratliff vs. Clemens, you'll notice a distinct difference. Its hard to quantify something like that but you can just feel as though Ratliff WILL make a play whereas Clemens MIGHT make a big play. Being taller gives Rats an advantage as well. I think Ratliff's level of play won't drop off against 1st teamers either. I'd like to see if that's true too... :up:
yeah yeah of course the team is dead without favre, blah blah blah.... i however have seen NOTHING from clemens that shows he should even be on the team forget about the 2nd string qb. i at this point would be much more comfortable with ratliff. however he really hasnt had enough experience to be a guy that can come in and make a difference in that game. with a weeks prep i think he can handle himself well enough to lead this team. i feel as though if favre is injured this year that clemens will be there to backup for that week and that ratliff would be moved up for the following game. yeah i know im nuts
Combined all 4 preseason games Ratliff should be #2. Stats-wise. Impressing long shots. Don't underestimate these 2nd/ 3rd - Stringers in the preseason. They might be more motivated than a lot of starters, fighting for their jobs and lives in the NFL. So Ratliff #2 QB.
When Ratliff and Clemens go up against the same talent, and Ratliff shows intangibles that I haven't seen in a Jets QB ever, how can I not want this kid to take the next step as the #2? Since this year it will be Favre and Clemens as 1/2 - next year, Ratliff needs to take the next step in the progression. Throwing him into the fire game 1 preseason 09 for that 1st series. Let him throw against a real secondary, make adjustments against a real DL. When someone plays football like that so naturally, you need to keep pushing further to see if they can take the ball from Favre after 09.
Clemens is giving this team his all this preseason and on four to five times during the Redskins game I counted this team failing him (dropped passes). I say give the kid more time to learn before anointing him as the latest bust QB for the Jets. He has not played behind a good o-line in the regular season and after taking all the hits he had last year anyone would be spooked. Give the guy a chance. I love Brett Ratliff but throwing Clemens under the bus will not help this team at all.
