I'm not talking about Clemens, I'd like to see him get another shot as much as I'd like Ratliff to get one. I'm addressing the hordes of free agent quarterbacks who have been anywhere from bad to horrible. Because they have experience, somehow they are better than what we have? We should give our guys a shot this year, and if none of them work out, then we move on next year. If one of them does work out, then we didn't waste a draft pick or big free agent money bringing in someone else, while letting go of someone potentially much better.
I have a bad feeling about Ratliff and I'm surprised I'm alone on this. It was a thrill watching him in preseason, so I can see why everyone's excited over him, and God knows I'd love to see anyone on our Jets do well, but, I'm calling it right now.. if he becomes a starter in this league, he will turn out to be a dud. What scares me the most is that, much like D.A., he seems to have it all - size, mechanics, arm, accuracy, etc - and will no doubt impress in TC. I see him going down that same path though, because like D.A., he has a habit of staring down receivers and trying to force the ball when there's nothing there. Those are tough habits to break in the NFL and ones you just can't get away with. If Clemens flops and Ratliff steps up and delivers, then I'll be just as happy as the rest of you pro-ratty's and I'll eat my shoe, but I just don't see it happening.
AMEN!! This Ratliff shit is driving me f*cking crazy!! The dude pulled two passes out of his ass in pre-season!! Pre-season...against the piss poor Browns. More than likely the guys in coverage on the two plays are either no longer in the NFL or practice squad guys at best. I dont get some of the posts here. People dont want Warner, Garcia, or Bulger...post season experienced NFL QBs but we will turn the team over to a two pass pre season stud?? This is the same stuff that everyone was saying about Clemens when he had a good pre season.
I couldn't agree with you more, GSourJR. I just don't understand why everyone bashes Ratliff for playing well against so called "2nd tier" NFL players, then call for us to draft Favre's successor. Why would Sanchez, Freeman, or any other college QB be a better option, when they haven't even played against any NFL caliber talent?
This is getting monotonous. Poster 1 - I like Ratliff! Poster 2 - He only threw 2 passes! Poster 1 - Did you see any of the other passes? Poster 2 - Against backups! Poster 1 - Clemens didn't do squat against the same backups with the same players around him. Poster 2 - Clemens didn't have any help in 07'! Poster 3 - WOOF WOOF MIKE VICK
You answered your own question. people don't want to anoint Ratliff as a 11-13 win QB when he hasn't even faced 1st stringers in the pre-season. Neither do I, but I do want him to face that because thats the next test for him to see if he can progress into a good starter. I want to see more progression, not "This is our guy" yet.... Patience, it needs to be practiced. The QB position is not a plug and play position like Linebacker or Defensive Tackle. Its a very important and special position; the most important position. There is only one of them on the field at a time.
From the Ratliff article in the Ratliff/Clemens articles thread: * Ratliff, in case you struggled in finding the overall numbers, had a strong 2008 preseason. He was 32-for-47 for 499 yards with an AFC-best four TDs and a conference-best 122.5 rating. In the preseason opener against the Browns - a 24-20 Jets victory - Ratliff went 14-for-20 for 252 yards and two long touchdowns - a 70-yarder and 71-yarder - both to David Clowney. Warner, Garcia, and Bulger are all good quarterbacks, but there are heavy problems with all of them. Warner first of all is very close to retirement... at BEST you get two years out of him... and he doesn't have Fitzgerald and Boldin anymore. Garcia at this point in his career is a stopgap guy, a guy you want on your team along with a rookie QB in case things go sour with the rookie. Another guy close to retirement. Bulger probably is nowhere near retirement, but he only played exceptional when surrounded with absolutely exceptional talent - far better than what we have on offense right now. When Orlando Pace got hurt, Bulger's performance went with it. He hasn't been the same since. What you potentially get out of Clemens or Ratliff is a young guy who both have the physical tools to be an excellent NFL quarterback, an "all-weather" quarterback as Rex Ryan puts it, guys who know the system for 3+ years, and have shown flashes of being able to execute at a very very high level. So back to my question before, why go with a proven failure, or in the case of your examples aging stopgaps... when we could very well find a franchise QB under our very noses. What is wrong with giving these kids a shot? One year is not the difference between this franchise winning a Super Bowl and being set back another 5. If the guys we have don't work out this year, then we move on. If they do work out, then we end up in the absolute optimal situation personnel wise because we wouldn't have wasted our time on someone else who isn't going to significantly increase our chances at a Super Bowl.
In all seriousness pertaining to the aforementioned matter, upon seeing such a spectacle as this, I would jizz and crap my pants at the same time.
The problem with judging Ratliff off his preseason performance is that if you judged the Lions off of their undefeated 4-0 preseason performance this year you probably would have guaranteed they were going to make the playoffs too.
How is that anywhere even remotely similar? Nobody takes preseason records seriously for obvious reasons. However, to say that a player's individual performance is irrelevant in the preseason is ridiculous. The whole reason they have a preseason is to give playing time to those who don't normally get it, to give them experience in the system so they are ready if they need to play, and to evaluate if they have the ability to get it done. The things Ratliff showed in the preseason - great mechanics, footwork, pocket presence, poise, arm strength, accuracy, zip, and a knack for finding an open receiver - are not things that you have to ignore simply because it was in the preseason. We don't know what Ratliff will do under a heavy pressure, or how he'll hold up when having to make reads against an elite 1st string defensive unit that is throwing the kitchen sink at him to throw him off - we just don't know. In fact, the only way we will know is if we let him play. This concept applies to every QB who is ever drafted in to the NFL or who ever plays in the NFL. They ALL need to be evaluated this way, and Ratliff is no different. Ratliff has shown something, and it was enough that it is worth investigating. He needs to be given a shot, and so does Kellen Clemens. These guys need an opportunity to prove they have what it takes, before we throw them away for someone else who fits one of three categories: 1) A rookie who has the same question marks as Clemens and Ratliff. 2) An aging veteran who is close to retirement and gives us no stability at QB and doesn't make us a sure fire Super Bowl contender. 3) A retread loser who is essentially a total waste of our time. This upcoming season, I'm sure Ryan is going to focus primarily on getting the defense where he wants it, not the offense... which is why I doubt we go QB #1 in the draft. So to that effect, the Jets should use the next year to give the guys we have a shot rather than bring in some other loser who won't make us any better.
:rofl: is would be non-pussy football, which would please me the most.. The only place in the world where every concept of "pussy" doesn't belong is on the actual field. The stands, well, thats a different story. :metal: :grin:
some really good pro Ratliff posts here. I'm rooting for Ratliff because he impressed me with the way he played in preseason but I'm looking forward to a Clemens/Ratliff competition
You'd really have to post my whole post, and not take one line out of context. I understand what you say about not annointing Ratliff as a 11-13 win QB. My point was Ratliff is being knocked for doing well in the pre-season by people calling for us to draft Favre's replacement. Those college players are even less talented then 2nd tier pros.That was my point.
I'm with ya Sour. Ratty should get the chance--what we need to do is get a couple deep threats and keep hammering the run also. Getting rid of brad smith would also help the vertical passing attack. No more old vets, no high draft pick QBs--we got 3 guys to look at--why add a 4th?
I think we stick with our qb's and get a big wide reciever and our offense is fine, defense is the issue, we need young fresh talent in our front seven and another solid CB or Saftey
I think the Jets should try to get a big time receiver & then let Clemmens & Ratlif battle it out for the starting QB spot. If it is a fair competition I expect Ratliff to win the starting role. Tom K
