it's not like hasn't played since then. I haven't seen any positive reports. They wouldn't have drafted Sanchez if they were confident in Clemens.
He was reportedly gaining ground quickly on Pennington in the QB battle last season before Favre was brought in. Once Favre came in there wasn't a shot in hell he was seeing the field. edit: I'm not saying Clemens is good or is going to be good. I just don't see how we can judge him based on those 2007 games.
Clemens had 3 seasons to make a real impression on the team and win the job. He had really tough competition but he failed to make enough of an impression to counter that. One of the realities of the NFL is that there's only really room for one starting QB on the roster. When you have no starting QB's on the roster, as the Jets do now, then the job normally goes to the person the team believes is the best prospect to start for them moving forward. That would be Mark Sanchez. If the Jets give the job to Clemens, absent him just blowing them away in training camp and Sanchez looking unready, they are doing the wrong thing at the most critical and impactful position on the field. You draft a top 5 QB without having a starter on the roster and he'd better be your starter come opening day. Otherwise he got beat out by a scrub who couldn't win the job against an established NFL QB and that really limits you at that most important position.
Year 1: Rookie QB vs. Established Vet Was he really supposed to win that competition? Year 2: Pennington handed the job before OTA's even began because they made the playoffs the year before. He had no shot. Year 3: He was gaining ground on established vet, then Favre trade was made. I have no problem at all with this so long as Sanchez is READY. Based on reports so far he is taking too long to make decisions. Once the pads go on if he's still not making decisions in a timely fashion it will look ugly and put him and the team at risk. This is where Clemens has a huge advantage and will look a lot better if Sanchez doesn't get up to speed quickly. This is not a knock on Sanchez as it's expected that it takes some time to adjust to the speed of the NFL game. As I've already noted, I think both of the conditions you gave for Clemens to start may be true. That would not be such a detriment to Sanchez as you've suggested though. It would just mean he hasn't adjusted to the speed of the game yet compared to a guy with a 3 year head start. We don't know if Clemens is a starter or not IMO.
Not that I think it's smart for the team to start a rookie QB off the bat, but the reports on MS's progress in OTA's are going to be exaggerated for effect to get people to read and overreact. Sanchez is going to be reported as doing one of 2 things in his first OTA - either be hesitant or be wild and inaccurate - even if they aren't exactly true. It's too much to ask for this guy to be that good that early anyway, he's still adjusting and he hadn't been able to fully apply what little of the playbook he had learned, and he had no timing with his new receivers. I do think Clemens has a huge advantage as far as learning the playbook and being familiar with his wideouts and TE's, but as much as I do want to give him a chance, only part of what we saw was due to the shoddy O-line. He came out of the gate early against Washington and Baltimore and then he resolve quickly crumbled. The fact that the FO was so quick to trade for Favre and also the fact that they were so quick to trade up for Sanchez doesn't encourage me at all. I think KC has a good chance to start the season, but I don't think he will be starting past week 4. Too many red flags to ignore.
This. Perfect answer. I'm confident that Sanchez will be given every opportunity to succeed, and that very well may mean a season, or part thereof, on the bench, learning and adjusting to the pro game. If Clemens demonstrates, however, that his confidence is shot, and our O-line has taken further strides in pass protection, it's a good situation for Sanchez. I have no problem with either one of them starting.
you have too start sanchez from the beginning - with an occasional relief appearance from clemens when the wolves bite to hard. jil
You're right, it's absolutely clear that the FO isn't sold on Clemens. There actions have clearly told that story. If Dirty is up to speed, by all means start him. I just don't want to see them throw him to the wolves and put him and the team at risk. Holding onto the ball too long when the defense is out to kill could do much more harm than losing a game. Hopefully we'll get some TGGr's out at Cortland to give us some TC reports. I was thinking of heading out this weekend but nothing is in stone.
I went with Clemens for a couple of reasons: 1) I don't think he's had a fair shot and I'd like to see that happen before he is sent packing... 2) Sanchez looks VERY promising, but he has very little game experience and a stubborn tendancy to hold on to the ball WAY too long. That can be coached up for sure, but that takes some time.....no reason at all not to give it to him. 3) The poll is being taken right now. As of this moment in time, we have only seen Sanchez in mini camp - which means dick, really. I want to see the kid when he has Scott, Ghost, Big Jenk, and the rest of the D coming at him - in full pads - at full tilt boogie. I want to see the kid when his play is busted and he has to act on instinct. 4) Clemens may not be top 10 material, or even top 15, but I know he can play at this level behind a solid line and a decent running game and he certainly knows the offense. I really don't know if Sanchez can or can't do that yet.....so, for now, I choose Clemens. To be honest though, I'm not at all sure that the deck isn't already stacked, and if Sanchez does get the nod in the end, I'm not going to be upset either, and I get behind him 100% right away.
Clemens got pummeled and didn't cough up the ball for the most part. I don't think he gets due respect there. Who do I want? I say it has to be won; and if Clemens craps out and then Sanchez craps out, we can all eat bullets without a poll.
I actually feel cautiously optimistic about the Jets right now. It's always easy to feel that way in July, but I don't FEEL it's the usual blind faith in my own idiocy this time. I'm thinking 8-8, but that's OK if we see flashes of greatness from Sanchez - if he gets thrown into the fire, that is. I don't see David Carr written on him for some reason I can't explain. Our line is way better now; but Clemens didn't turn into David Carr when our Oline was just as godawful as Carr's was, either. Decisions, decisions...Have at it.
I find it hard to believe that Sanchez could be more ready to sart and win then Clemens. I understand that you always want the new kid with all the hype but at the end of the day the only thing that matters is wins. Kellen has to be more ready to win but the has to be some doubts from the coaching staff about him. Either way I want a winning team with the best available. two picks in one game and sanchez will be sent in
Personally I am very interested in the fans and this boards response if M.S. does start and has the same ups and down as K.C. Will many here be so willing to begin the bust chant and say how badly this Jets move will affect the team for years to come. One thing we must all remember is Mark is a rookie and there are very few of them who are effective in there first few years,very few. An you can take it to the bank that defenses will be coming after him in a big way and doing all they can to rattle him. The playing field on the professional level is a lot more even. This will not be like USC where your are the cream of the crop and most other teams don't even come near your talent level. We have all seen more then enough players drafted by teams, players who had all the skill and talent in the world, fall flat on there faces and be a memory in the NFL in three years. One thing we know for sure about Mark is he does have every thing you want from a starting QB, size, talent, smarts. Yet, his body of work remains small and honestly he could go either way, if you bring all the above factors in to play. While I count myself in the small group who was not thrilled by this move on the Jets part in the draft, he is a Jet. An as such, I now want to see him become everything the Jets expected him to become for many years in the future. I don't think throwing this kid to the wolves is the smart way to go. Clemens has been in the system for three years an allow the Jets the best chance of wining. We all saw last year how the playbook was paired down when Mr Retired returned to waste another year of Jets history. Do you folks remember how great Shotty offense was with all the shifting and movement in that first year. How it drove defenses crazy and really made playing the Jets a very difficult challenge. Then the injuries began and the patch work offensive line, RB's, QB's etc, and suddenly it was back to same old crap. Then finally last year with Kellen really making a run at the starting job and the chance, even if Penny would have started, to get back to that very clever offense. what happens we bring in Mr. We going to do this my way. An again the offense is squeezed down to whatever Mr all world QB, wants to do.... Folks, this is the reason I would like to see Kellen get the start under center. He knows this system inside and out and can run the whole play book. I believe K.C. gives the Jets the best chance to win and while I am excited to see the young man do well, more then anything I want to win. I could be wrong, but personally I don't see how Mark can master this entire playbook with all the read and check offs in just a few months. Hell, Mr Hall of fame on the first ballet, has admitted he could not even get down a small part of it , over the whole season, and he been at this almost as long as Mark has been on this earth. Now if Kellen does well and I really expect him too, he knows he will be giving himself a great shot at moving to another team and becoming the undisputed starter. If he does just okay then all the question about Kellen will have been answered, maybe even to him. In that case he may be will to resign with the Jets as the back-up and mentor to Mark and Angie if he is till with us. Either way I see Kellen starting as a win, win for the Jets both this year and moving forward into the future..
27-26 Sanchez. So far, looks like going into camp the fans are split. And guys, the point of the thread was who do you want right now before camp starts Friday. I don't understand how you guys can't understand that. (the ones who keep saying we will know after camp, we will watch preseason, haha) I know that, this is to see who you want before camp starts, then we can look back on it and see if our thoughts change during or after camp ends.
i like sanchez, but i don't want to kill the kid by throwing him in there. kellen HAS to have some sort of advantage, being with schotty for 4 years now.
