Weren't those guys known more for their arm strength before the surgery than their accuracy though? Chad has never had to rely on a cannon. His game has always been accuracy. IMO, it would be a harder adjustment going from a powerful arm with no accuracy to a not as powerful arm with no accuracy than in Chad's case. He's never been one to really try to thread the needle, so he doesn't try to. That's why I think he's going to make it back.
I'll be looking to see when mangini calls time-outs and how quick the play comes in from the sideline
You stole my thunder here. But just to clarify, the management of the coaches, is what I will focus on ..How fast plays get in... Also on the O Line I want to watch how well the line passes off one DL to another, especially on stunts and blitzes...In other words the communication they have working with each other...
Well, I'll watch all this too, but also being mindful this IS a brand new HC. But it'll be interesting to see how much composure Mangini exhibits. If he can just get through his first game without making any drastic mental errors or allowing distractions to the point where he appears Herm-like. I think the most important thing of the entire preseason is going to be Mangini adapting to actually being a game-day HC. You can talk the talk on the practice field all you want. You can look the look at press conferences, but under the stress of the game, I want to see how professional Mangini comes off. I have a hunch he'll look fine, but you never know. If there's a lot of confusion on the sidelines, too many men on the field (or too few), people not knowing whether to get in or get out, time outs being called for no reason, etc., miscommunication, etc., it could be a long day.
That may be correct and perhaps Chad is not the one to break the mold. I assume that in order for him to be that guy he needs to return to his pre-injury form... But on the other hand, how many QBs have been injured and taken a full year off, then returned to be good again?
That is a good point and something I can maybe research tonight. A QB who got injured and took the following year off even though he was cleared to play. Probably never happened. Bobby Hebert took a year off, but that was a holdout as opposed to anything injury-related. I don't expect Pennington to be thinking about 2007 or 2008 or 2011. He is cleared to play and doesn't want to lose his job. It he were to sit this season out and came back very strong in 2007, he might not even be able to get his job back, especially if Clemens were to play late in this season and perform very well.
The other thing I was thinking of, but I guess we will never know, is how many QBs could stay healthy behind the O-line we provided last season. I mean, when Fiedler went in there he was injury free as far as anyone knew, and it sure didn't take long for his season to end... Ideally, Chad would be better off if last season he wasn't cleared to play until late in the season, if at all. Then he'd have been working his strength up while still recovering, and also maybe the FO and CS would have realized by that point that our season was not going to be good anyways, and would have kept rehabbing him and looking towards 2006. Again, just hypothetical. I guess we just have to hope he can stay protected. Another thing to watch tomorrow: Steve Morley. He says he is trimmed down and ready to really compete. I guess I'd also like a look at that 6'9 O-lineman, Blanton I think.
Since it's early in pre-season much of it will be caos with everyone trying to make the squad and new playbooks on both sides. I expect it to be ugly. I just want to see how the players and coaches interact with Mangini. I want to see how he runs his operation to get a feel for the season. But if had to pick one, it will be interesting to see what kind of protection our starter will get let alone the rest of them QB's.
Pennington should of taken last year off. Stupid Herm, stupid doctors, rushing him back. My brother tore his rotator cuff and labrum and was out 18 months and couldn't play college baseball. My brother is a catcher and used to play for farliegh dickinson in teaneck, now transfered out. If he would of taken last season off, i guarantee you he would of been named starter by now.
