http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80f84007&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true By Vic Carucci | NFL.com It would be a gross exaggeration to say that Rex Ryan doesn't care who quarterbacks the New York Jets in the 2009 season. He obviously cares. QB quandaries around the league Nearly a third of the teams have unsettled situations at QB. Steve Wyche examines the uncertainty at the position, including the drama between Jay Cutler and the Broncos. More ... It's just that Ryan isn't obsessing over whether the starter he has in his first season as an NFL head coach is someone who has impressive career numbers or who has barely seen the field as a pro. Part of that is Ryan's nature; he doesn't do a whole of obsessing about anything. And part of that is because he genuinely believes he doesn't need an exceptionally gifted quarterback because that isn't the position he expects to carry the Jets to Super Bowl contention. Ryan's blueprint calls for the same sort of smothering, playmaking defense that he guided with the Baltimore Ravens. He has reason to feel good that the Jets -- with former Ravens linebacker Bart Scott and other defensive free agents joining an already fairly sound foundation -- are going to win the bulk of their games by keeping opponents off the scoreboard and shortening the field for their offense. After the retirement of Brett Favre, Ryan also has reason to feel good that he can find a solid answer at quarterback from one of the two leading contenders on the roster -- fourth-year man Kellen Clemens and 2007 undrafted free agent Brett Ratliff. Erik Ainge, a 2008 draft pick, is also part of the mix. With a trio of quarterbacks that has just eight starts between them, Ryan isn't hung up with his quarterback having any particularly sterling qualities such as a big arm, accuracy, command in the huddle, poise in the pocket. "We want a guy that's going to lead the league in wins," Ryan said during last week's NFL Annual Meeting at Dana Point, Calif. "We don't care about leading it in passing yards or any of this other stuff. He just has to understand it's about the team. It's a big part, but ? he doesn't have to be the solution, he just has to be part of the solution." For the most part, the No. 1 trait Ryan wants in his quarterback is exactly what you'd expect from a defensive-oriented coach: "Don't be careless with the football." Ryan takes great comfort in the fact Clemens is in his fourth season in the scheme of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. And he is not diminishing the fact that Ratliff had a 122.5 passer rating during the '08 preseason. Critics say he simply was taking advantage of second- and third-string defenders, but, as Ryan points out, "that would be good versus air." Another such preseason performance would, in Ryan's estimation, be good enough for Ratliff to win the job. "I am very comfortable with our quarterback situation," Ryan said. "We were very fortunate to keep Brian Schottenheimer as our coordinator, so that's going to make it much easier on these guys. They're not coming in learning a brand new system. They're almost veterans in that system. It's going to be a physical thing, not a mental thing. "Now just let their physical talents take over and we'll be able to choose a starting quarterback based on that." Another reason that Ryan isn't losing sleep over his quarterback situation is the outstanding support that the rest of his offense is capable of providing. Ryan has tremendous faith in Schottenheimer and the rest of what he describes as an "unbelievable" offensive coaching staff. He is highly impressed with his offensive line (with Pro Bowlers in guard Alan Faneca and center Nick Mangold) that, if it stays healthy, "has a chance to be one of the top offensive lines in the league." He loves his Pro Bowl tailback combination of Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. He calls second-year tight end Dustin Keller "a nightmare for a defensive coach; he's got unusual ability as a receiver and he's going to get better as a blocker." In addition, Ryan would "like to be a quarterback" with Jerricho Cotchery and the other playmakers he has at wide receiver. "I certainly feel good about our offense," Ryan said. Good enough to pick a starter from one of the quarterbacks already on the roster. Although that doesn't rule out the much-speculated possibility of the Jets making a deal with the Broncos to acquire disgruntled Jay Cutler, the move seems unlikely. "Like with any position, if we think there's a player out there that can help this football team, then we'll certainly consider it," Ryan said. "But as far as us going out looking at that specific area, I would say that that's not true."
Only thing that can make us change our QB's is if Sanchez falls to 17. If that doesn't happen we are set with Clemens and Ratliff. I really liked Ratliff in the interviews posted a few days ago
Heck, I will drink the cool-aid. We have a couple of holes on offense (WR and blocking TE) but I bet with plugs through the draft and FA we can address MOST of them. QB is not as major an issue as most seem to be making it. If we play stout defense and shorten the field, your grandma will be able to punch it in with our o-line.
If Sanchez is there at 17 , we trade the pick. I'm quite happy to see what our QBs can do in a season , no rush. We will know excatley whats what at the end of the season won't we.
drafting sanchez would just add one more qb with no nfl starts to our stable. plus a rookie qb needs 1-2 years learning behind a vet, which we don't have, so how can sanchez really help? nada. now if the colts called and offered us manning for a 7th rounder, well that's a new thread.
Every time Ryan talks about the QB it seems to be a bigger and bigger smokescreen. By the time he talks again I will be convinced they are going QB in round 1.
Ryan says one thing and the coach for the Falcons says something different Any coach knows that this is a QB driven league Teams that are consistently in the playoffs and making a run for the SB are the teams that have the better QBs Ryan is lying
I'm buying what Rex says. I think he is going to have a three way battle during training camp and in the pre-season and we won't know who the starter will be till about the 3rd pre-season game. If we are going to have a run heavy O, we can do it. We have a good line, TJ is coming off one of his best years of his career, and Leon is the pace changer. I'm saying the 17th pick will be a reciever. Harvin should be there and as much as I really don't want him, we might take him. My next choice after that is Vonte Davis. Lito won't be here next year I feel and Davis would be an excellent choice to play with Revis for the next few years. IF they are going with a QB, I can see Rex taking Freeman over Sanchez. Freeman is much bigger and I think Rex likes his QBs big, his D is big so why not his QB? If we do take a QB at 17, I fully expect him to start opening day, otherwise, don't bother.
The Jet's can't trade the pick away if Sanchez is there unless they get a lot more value than it's worth in return. This is the franchise that has gone out of it's way to not pick the next great QB many times in its history. Sometimes we've gotten unlucky and a guy like Peyton Manning chose not to come out for us, but more often we've just shrugged and done something else that in retrospect was stupid. Not taking Sanchez on the 17 looks like a really bad option in that light. If he did turn into a great QB, as he has the tools to be, and our pick kind of sucked we'd all be screaming SOJ at the top of our lungs. Somewhere in here we need the NEW JETS, not the SOJ.
Disgree... Look at the Ravens over the years moreso the Falcons... Yeah, it's a QB driven league BUT, You can't just reach for a QB who isn't there..... It's easy to Stand up and declare the league QB driven - Not so easy to find one. You can't reach for QB's too often and Miss without ruining the rest of your team. They need to trust their evaluations and instincts - If they think Sanchez will be a top NFL QB, then you grab him, same for the other QB's in this draft... If not, you move on and you remain patient. But, it's not the end of the world if they don't get one- You continue to build the defense and run game and grab the QB when he's there - Next year's QB class might be better and there may be some more FA"s out there. THAT is Rex's point.... As it stands, the Jets are in good shape to see what they got. Heck, if the answer is already here, why waste the money and picks.. I personally think Clemens gets short changed by a lot of fans, and Ratliff is a nice wild card....
This is my basic problem. Just like what happened for years in Baltimore, QB is not going to be a priority for this team. Ownership may make a push for a veteran trade, though I doubt like hell we're going to trade for Cutler, but in the draft they are going to probably spend the vast majority of their early picks on defense.
I really think Ratliff has a better than 50% chance of winning the starting job after TC and a few pre-season games. With the supposed expanded schedule in 2011, this kind of dilemma on a team will become much more of a standout. Any team with uncertainty at the QB position in 2011 and thereafter will be at much more of a risk than under the current schedule.
Im glad to see we have a coach that finally gets it. In the event that we have three stinkers at Qb he knows there is a better Qb draft class in 2010. Build the defense now and the rest of the team and hope Kellen or Ratliff develops. If they flop had the rookie a team ready to win with vets who know the system.
This is purely a gut feeling, although all parties have come out and said its an open competition , I actually think the job is Clemens' to lose. I'm a Ratty fan , but think that it will be KC that opens day 1. For KC , this season is shit or bust for him , no excuses. He knows the Schotty Offense , apparentley. (I still haven't forgotton what was said last season about him not getting to grips with the playbook and the CS having to dumb it down) Ratliffe will push very hard and might get his chance if KC blows it. Ainge = Clipboard
