By Tom Rock
Now that it's pretty clear Clemens will be starting in place of Chad on Sunday (the Jets still reserve the opportunity to change their mind, I suppose), the question becomes this:
Will Chad get his job back when he returns? Or does it depend on how Kellen plays?
I know this is a hot-button topic, so I'll open it up to you folks.
Thoughts?
UPDATE: Mangini was asked the same question at his press conference today. His answer: "Chad's the starting quarterback. He's the starting quarterback."
Comments (16)
as likable a person as he is and as intelligent a football mind, I think Chad hurts the Jets potential as an offense. His inability to stretch the field damages the running game. defenses routinely put 8 in the box, and they do not have to defend the deep out or even the deep sideline pass. with his lack of arm strength, they can just run to it if it happens. having said this, I still think they are committed to Chad. unless Clemens puts on a stunning performance, I fully expect to see Chad back in there.
If Clemens shows some downfield abaility and does not make "too many" mistakes. He may be keeping Chad on the bench.
We need to know what kind of player we have here. Cutler and Leinart are both starting already.
Chad has been a great player for the Jets, but we all know his celing. This team needs more than a game manager, we need a playmaker at QB.
We need to find out if Clemens is going to be that guy.
Get real. Unless Clemens looks fantastic against the Ravens (very unlikely), there is no way Chad loses his job. Chad played terrific last week (130 QB rating) and engineered two TD drives in 2/3rds of a game. Chad is more than a game manager - when he's in, they win.
About him stretching the field - I wonder how many 51 yard TD passes Brady would throw to Moss if he only had 2 seconds before there were 3 or more guys in his face. The Jets throw so many short passes because they have no O-line, not because of Chad's arm. He has repeatedly shown that he can throw 40-45 yard bombs - when given time. That is enough of a field-stretcher to keep defenses honest.
Please.
The celing is a best a week 1 exit from the playoffs with Chad.
Thats it.
This is looking more and more like a rebuild year.
Why not re-build with the future in Clemens and not the past in Chad.
THat being said, if he looks awful v The Ravens, then its back to the lcipboard.
But if he holds his own, its something to consider.
Let's not not gloss over Chad's flaws, he can't throw deep, O-Line or not. You should not have to take a hop skip and a jump to throw a deep ball.
Get real - no WAY does Clemens replace Chad this year. He has a better arm but not a better grasp of the offense, ability to read defenses, ability to make quick decisions, touch. He needs more seasoning. Look at how they both performed last week - who was better?
Before we start talking about Clemens replacing Chad, we'd better see if he survives this Sunday.
I understand alot of fans say Clemens cannot read defenses and needs more seasoning, but how else does he get that unless he is out there playing
Chads been great but he is over 30 and hurt most of the time..for what ever the reason..
I say let Clemens play and see if he can do better..
If not, then we know, we still do not have our QB of the future..and we can draft accordingly..OL and QB
You know, you really do look like Billy Corrigan of Smashing Pumpkins!
For years the Pats have been known as a 2nd half team. Belechik was called a 'genius' in his ability to make half time adjustments. 3 SB in six years. It would be interesting to see how many games that were tight in the 1st half became blow outs after half time.
Most QB's get a few seconds to read the Defense, adjust their formation or play and then get the play off. Those few seconds saved by not having to read the Defense ARE a big deal and a significant advantage at ANY level of football. I'm sure the Pats will gladly trade home field advantage in the playoffs for a top draft pick
its crazy to see how many fans want to pull the plug on Chad. Too much is made of of his arm strength.
Fans blame Chad for the Jets record and playoff losses. Are we watching the same games? How many years in a row has the run D been attrocious or our defense in general for that matter. Have the Jets had a sack since John Abraham was let go? I wonder if Sean Ellis sends a cut of his bloated paychecks to Abraham to thank him for making it appear as if Ellis was an above avg DE. We will go deep in the playoffs with Chad when we have playmakers on defense that can conistently pressure the QB.
We actually have better offensive weapons than defensive weapons (tjones, washington, coles, cotchery and mcareins). We will win more games with O than D this season.
This is a great game to test the waters with Clemens. If he provides a downfield spark, you have to think about keeping him in.
Take a look at TRocks latest post, there are a ton of QB's who are starting on good teams (Tenn, Den, Minn, Ariz) who were drafted in 2006.
This is a clear shot for Clemens, he looked good in the Pre-Season. If he looks good against a very stout Balt D, then Mangini has a very tough decision ahead of him.
Chad had a great year last year, for him, but let's face facts, he had 17 tds and 16ints. These are not stellar numbers.
All Jet fans are very worried about this season. Chad has limited upside, Clemens gives us one week to see if we have something there.
I find it hard to believe that people say Chad is one and done in the playoffs. The guy would've been playing in the AFC Championship Game with a torn rotator cuff if Doug Brien knew how to kick.
I hope Clemens plays well this week, mostly because he is the future QB of this team, but make no mistake.. Chad will be back at QB when he is ready. Even if Clemens plays well, Chad will be the QB. There is a reason he won the job last year, and a reason after a crappy preseason they didn't make a change. Simply put... our best chance to win is with #10 behind center.
I find it hard to believe that people say Chad is one and done in the playoffs. The guy would've been playing in the AFC Championship Game with a torn rotator cuff if Doug Brien knew how to kick.
I hope Clemens plays well this week, mostly because he is the future QB of this team, but make no mistake.. Chad will be back at QB when he is ready. Even if Clemens plays well, Chad will be the QB. There is a reason he won the job last year, and a reason after a crappy preseason they didn't make a change. Simply put... our best chance to win is with #10 behind center.
We all know the time-honored NFL tradition of a starter not losing his job due to injury -- Pennington is definitely still the starter when he's ready. Besides, people seem to be so excited about Clemens. Well, he could be the next Joe Namath or the next Browning Nagle. We won't know until it's his time, which it isn't yet. Remember, Pennington watched Vinny for a few years before taking over.
Chad is the Starter..he played great last week before (and after) the injury. you can't blame the guy for a sprained ankle..
if clemens puts up crazy stats (300yd pasing, 4TDs no INTs) it will make it very hard to put chad back in, but I doubt clemens will have that kind of day against the ravens. At best, I think we can hope for an efficient day with a few TDs.
I would NOT be surprised, however, if half way through Clemens struggles and they insert Pennington, who is named the #2 QB before the game.
The Jets passed on Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler tp pick D'Bust. I hated the Clemmons pick. Look up his college career, his first three years at Oregon he failed to crack the top 25 in any QB passing category. Oregon was using a pro style offense all those years. As a senior, the new offensive coordinator put in a run and gun offense a la Hawaii and Florida under Spurrior. In half a season (before his injury) he lit up the passing ratings as does every QB in a run and gun offensive scheme, including such great NFL QB's as Danny Wuerful, David Klinger, Andre Ware, Kliff Kingsbury and Timmy Chang.
In 2006 he face a first team Giant defense, the closest you get to a real NFL game and he was horrific putting up a QB rating of 11.
He has the arm strength of Jeff George and Browning Nagle and the accuracy of Ryan Leaf.
The Jets continue to draft high picks on how players project to the NFL rather than what they accomplished in college.
I'm glad Clemmens is playing so the Jets can look for a real franchise QB in next years draft to eventually replace Chad.