I found this article, and it sums up what everyone who feel that Clemens should be the starter thinks. http://www.jetnation.com/?p=2015 Somewhere over the past year, Jets fans have forgotten what Kellen Clemens brought to the table in 2007. The Jets were 1-7 (including a Week 2 loss in Baltimore in which Clemens started) when then Head Coach Eric Mangini handed the reigns over to the second year pro. Clemens posted a 3-4 record in the second half of the season, missing one start due to an injury that knocked him out of the New England game in Foxborough, after his first pass attempt. Clemens would get credit for the loss as he left when it was 7-0 New England. His stats weren?t sexy in his eight combined starts (3-5 record, 125-240, 1494 yards, 5 TD?s and 10 INT?s) but neither was his supporting cast. Two Offensive Lineman that are no longer in the NFL, LG Adrien Clarke and RT Anthony Clement were in charge of keeping him upright and even though Clemens was elusive and was able to make plays with his feet he was still sacked 26 times in his eight starts. Clarke and Clement were also main reasons why the Jets gave their, at the time, fancy new acquisition at Running Back, Thomas Jones, no room to run. Jones ran for 1119 yards but had just a 3.6 yards per carry average and one rushing touchdown. The Jets upgraded the line for the 2008 season with All Pro LG Alan Faneca and RT Damien Woody and Jones led the AFC in rushing with 1312 yards, had a 4.5 yards per carry average and 13 rushing touchdowns. Big difference. Would?ve loved to see Clemens with that kind of running game. Another disadvantage Clemens had was the fact that the Jets number one Wide Receiver, Laveranues Coles, did not play in four of Clemens? eight starts and in another was only in for one series. The Jets defense was falling apart as well. NT Dewayne Robertson could not handle being a 34 man in the middle and the Jets had zero pass rush coming from the outside. The defense couldn?t get off the field, keeping Clemens on the sidelines, often asking him to come from behind. Today I will go as far as to tell you that I believe if Kellen Clemens had been the starting Quarterback for the New York Jets in 2008 we would?ve been talking about a playoff game in East Rutherford, Miami or New England back in the first weekend of January. Brett Favre, in the end, was only a great addition for Woody Johnson. We the fans, a lot of us, thought that his addition would be the one to put us over the top. We were wrong. Favre was in a new system, new teammates, new coaches and only three weeks to learn everything before the Regular Season kicked off. The Jets started strong, as did Favre, but both faded into the December night. Would?ve Clemens, in his third year in the system, been the same? Maybe, but I don?t think so. Now you have people calling for Clemens? head and saying that Preseason and Practice Squad Hero, Brett Ratliff, should get the job. That in a word is ridiculous. Ratliff, other than throwing a couple of nice deep balls to David Clowney against, no offense, a bunch of third stringers, has proven absolutely nothing in the NFL. Clemens on the other hand went 3-5 on a team that finished 4-12, a team that went 1-7 with 2x Comeback Play Of The Year, Chad Pennington, who was once given a $64 million contract by the New York Jets. I?m not saying Clemens is better than Pennington or that he?s even going to be an effective Quarterback at all. But for those wanting to give Ratliff a ?fair shot? or a ?chance?, how about the man your team spent a second round draft pick on back in April 2006 and has shown nothing but promise? The man that really didn?t have a ?fair chance? in his first go around? He gets bashed for the interceptions, and yes he threw his fair share in 2007, but again, those were his first eight starts in the NFL against defenses and teams led by such coaches as Rex Ryan, Bill Belichick and Dick LeBeau. The supporting cast around him was hurt or missing valuable pieces. And yet he stood in that pocket (when there was a pocket) and made impressive throws time after time after time. He eluded pressure, the sack total of 26 when he was starting would?ve been 35-40 if it weren?t for his movement. He has the arm strength, he has the legs, he has all the tools and yet fans want to pass him by because he wasn?t Joe Montana in his first eight starts on a team that was in shambles? I?m sorry but that is foolish and the problem with the NFL today. If you aren?t great in your first season, you?re automatically garbage in the minds of most fans. It?s a shame to see it, but that is the truth. Eight games is not enough to make a evaluation on a player, ESPECIALLY a Quarterback. All I?m asking for, is please, lets just give Kellen Clemens a chance. A real chance. - Author failed to mention that Clemens also came back against the Ravens. THE RAVENS. from which Rex Ryan was coaching. He shredded that defense through the air, was in rhythm the line was blocking, and McCareins dropped an easy TD. - He doesnt give clemens enough credit for his pocket presence. He practiced against a defensive line that included Hatoli Ngata. - Plus. Not football related. His son was blessed by the Pope. In other words. Give the keys to Clemens, and close the door on Favre. :up:
I think it would be interesting for someone to post a similar followup, in the same style, either an article, or their own words stating the case for Favre, and Ratliff.
McCareins dropped an easy TD, then a minute later tipped another easy TD for an interception. The TD pass to Chris Baker to bring the game within reach was a beauty.
343 522 65.7 3472 6.7 22 56 22 81.0? stats dont mean anything. 384 616 62.3 4526 7.35 25 93 18 86.0 --- Note: Didnt make the playoffs. And was sacked 19 times fewer than Favre. Fuck Stats. They dont mean shit. Tell me intangibles. Arm Strength, Awareness, Intelligence, Release, Fundamentals.... I could care less about stats. I want a quarterback, not a stat-padding asshole.
Clemens will get his shot in TC. He looked like he regressed in TC last season...hopefully that won't be the case this year. The guy is really mobile (had to be, with that oline in front of him) and has a decent arm....with the proper coaching, he could be serviceable this year.
I agree with the article. I think Clemens with a run game and solid oline would have played better than Favre did in 08. I have no problems with the winner of a TC battle between Clemens and Ratliff starting at QB. We need to be a run-first smashmouth offense regardless.
I've said it once and I'll say it again...The young Kellen Clemens never really had a chance in hell to succeed under those circumstances. The Jets were what? 1-7 when he took over as our starting QB? How many players and coaches REALLY believed hat we could finish 9-7 with a CHANCE to make the playoffs? How many players in that Jets locker room REALLY gave it 100% while Kellen was the starting QB? I know one thing, that kid really played hard and gave it 100% with each and every sack of each and every play. Where was the Jets run game to open up the passing game? We had Thomas Jones (08's AFC leading rusher) and Leon Washington, both are really good backs with alot of talent, but you know what? It all starts up front and the Jets had no chance in hell to win the battle of the trenches with Adrien Clarke as our starting LG (We now have Alan Faneca, a future Hall Of Famer) with Anthony Clement as our starting RT. How could the Jets run the ball with freaking Clarke as our starting LG? I swear I remember another scrub by the name of "Montgomery" getting some starts as our "LG" and what about Clement as our RT? Are you kidding me? One things for sure...Tackles in the NFL are supposed to do a solid job of protecting the QB...All I can say is this... Anthony Clement was a 3rd string player who was TRYING to play the roll of a starting RT for the NY Jets and it really wasnt working. Lets not forget that Ferguson and Mangold were both only 2nd year starters. If Kellen would be the QB of the Jets next year...Not only would Ferguson and Mangold both be 4th year starters and thats huge in my eyes. Kellen would also have Alan Faneca as his starting LG instead of Clarke (Just ask Thomas Jones how that worked out his 2nd time around) and Woody (A proven veteran) would also be his starting RT instead of a player like Anthony Clement. Thomas Jones would also be in his 3rd year with the Jets insead of his 1st year running behind a horrid O-Line. Anyone remember Justin McCareins as our Slot WR when Kellen was the QB? lol, that was sad and it was also hard to watch. Next year Kellen would have either Stuckey, (Maybe even a rookie slot WR like a Percy Harvin), maybe Dustin Keller will line up as a slot WR...Who knows? One thing is for sure..Kellen will have a #3 WR with more talent and ability to catch than J-Mac. I also remember either Coles, Cotchery or even both being banged up during Kellens 1st year as the Jets starting QB. How could any real Jets fan expect a young QB to succeed under those ugly circumstances? Lets not forget that Chad Pennington was the starting QB before Kellen was thrown into the fire by the coaching staff (Then later thrown under the bus by plenty of Jet fans), Chad Pennington was the QB who had the much needed chemesty with the offense and in my eyes, thats what the whole offseason, training camp, practices and preseason is all about...Chemestry and avoiding injuries during the season. Pennington was the QB that had a slim chance to win...Not Kellen and you know what? Kellen actually found some ways to win some games that year and thats something that the Lions cant say...Atleast Kellen made SOMETHING out of nothing. And this is all coming from a Chad supporter who never wanted to see the Jets give Kellen a chance but when I seen the kid play, I liked what I seen and no...I didnt just look @ the "Score of the game" -Give Kellen a chance...We can now say that the kid has learned behind Pennington and Favre (Not bad) -Lets give him a full offseason to work with the coaches and players
I agree with giving him a chance... if it turns out good we have a QB, if it turns out bad next year's draft will be pretty deep at QB. Only thing we might do is cut Ainge to get a Vet but i guess that all depends on how Ratliff and Ainge play in TC.
actually, in the NFL and when you talk about QBs, stats mean everything. Why do you think it's the only position in sports that has it's own rating formula?
As I have posted before, my preference is to let Clemens and Ratliff battle it out in TC. Farve will cost too much and sets our QB situation back another year. Another older vet is only a year or 2 band-aid. As long as we are making changes for the long term benefit of the team, the QB position should be no different. Spend the money saved on an impact defensive player. Rex has said he wants to have a run-first type offense in place so that will take a lot of pressure off the QB. The turnstile at the QB and HC positions are setting us back years and until we have stability there, we really don't have much chance for success.
people forget how bad both QBs looked in 2007 behind that OL, I don't know what KC will become but I have not given up on him. if Favre doesn't come back I'd like to see what KC can do behind this OL and w/ this running game.
I certainly prefer the route of giving Clemens the reigns over some random FA who needs to learn the system, who is just a long time journeyman. That said an open QB comp in TC is the only way to go about this. Bring in a guy like leftwhich or even carr (gasp*) to compete with clemens/ratliff and then address the depth chart accordingly.
http://forums.theganggreen.com/showpost.php?p=1125602&postcount=14 This writer is just as biased and hormone driven as the rest of you on this issue. The difference between him and the Clemens/Ratliff/Favre/randomFA lovers on this board is nothing but grammar, spelling, and a soap box to stand up on.
Farve throws more interceptions than Elton John swallows loads down his mouth. Farve is done for sure, next.
I love the Clemens love, BUT the one thing which I did not see, which is essential for a quarterbacks success, is pocket presence. He never saw the rush, much like Chad never saw the rush and never had a clock in his head. It could be something that was hidden by being on a crappy team, but I'm not so sure.
He did hold onto the ball too long but many young QBs do(as well as old QBs who wear #4 and greay beards) and w/ our Ol as bad as it was it was hard to show pocket presence in 2007.
The case for K Clemens starting is if you want to get the number 1 pick in the 2010 draft. I can't believe there are Jets fan still clamouring for this guy to lead them. HE sucks. What does it tell you Jets FO consider Brett ratcliffe the new longterm answer at QB.
