This year there is an interesting dynamic developing on the board. A number of factions with very strong opinions have developed and seems to be dominating the board. They are: The Pro-Chad Faction: The Pro-Chad faction has developed blind allegiance to Chad Pennington. They refuse to acknowledge even the existence of any of his weaknesses. They feel he is the only realistic choice for Jet QB, and no other QB is worthy. They have ceased to bring up good points mostly hiding behind unsubstantiated and unprovable statements like "without Chad we would have won 4 games", "no one else could run this offense", "he is the reason we made the playoffs", etc... Chads limitations such as arm strngth, no mobility, ability to be intimidated, a surprising plummet in his TD/INT ratio, the fact that he can go completely into the tank, the fact that he cannot throw a good deep ball, the fact that the offense is limited, none of these things matter to the Pro-Chad faction and indeed none seem to be even need to be addressed. "Chad gets us to the playoffs" they say, so should remain a veteran legacy at QB (in true Herm fashion) regardless of whether he really gives the Jets the best chance to win long term. It's Chad and only Chad and don't you dare critisize him. which leads to the: Anti-Chad faction The Anti-Chad faction sees all of Chad's weaknesses and feels that he holds the team back. Under the "noodle-arm" rallying call, they subtlely and sometimes outright call for Chad's head in favor of someone else. They blithely ignore the fact that we won 10 games and that Chad is one of the brightest QBs in the league. He handles a complex, multiple-shift, no-huddle offense flawlessly, and manages the game wondefully. They ignore the fact that Chad is the leader of this team and no Jet works harder. Instead thy point out that Chad's weak arm got noticeably worse during the year, that Chad was very poor in TD/INT percentage, but mostly they point out that Chad cannot make all the throws and holds the team back. He cannot stretch the field, nor throw a deep out. He throws several wounded ducks a game that are lucky to not be interceptions, and he cannot buy time in the pocket. Don't talk to the Anti-Chad group about his strengths, all they want to see is Clemens start next year. The Feature Back Faction The feature back faction does not acknowledge anything positive our running backs did this year. We need to run the ball, so the only way we can do that is with a "feature back". Don't point out to the "feature back faction" that we struggled mightily on run blocking and did not have a really effective leading full back. None of that matters, the "feature back" will fix it. Definitely do not point out to the "feature back" faction that Leon Washington's rushing average was similar to Curtis' and that the only 2 times he got 20 carries he got 100 yards. Leon is too small they say and can only be a change of pace guy, 3rd down back, completely ignoring the success of Dunn, Barber and Westbrook, or the fact that he is only 10 pounds lighter than LT. No, you need a "feature back" to solve the Jets running game, lack of run blocking and holes be damned. Never point out to the feature back faction that none of the candidates they propose have proven anything and could be complete busts. Or that getting any of them will be expensive. The feature back faction can be broken up into some smaller cells. They are: a. The Michael Turner cell b. The Clinton Portis cell c. The Marshawn Lynch cell and the somewhat smaller d. Michale bush cell this leads to the Keep Leon/Cedric Faction: The keep Leon/Cedric faction is OK with our current running backs and want to see other areas of our team fixed first. They believe strongly that Leon is the next Tiki and that Cedric will suddenly become durable enough to be the bruiser in the combo. They ignore the fact that we were never effective running the ball this year at all. They gloss over the fact that you must be able to run the ball to win (unless you are NE, apparently after yesterday) and that by not getting another feature back you are seriously hurting your chances of improving the running game. Don't talk about Leon's size or Cedric's durability to the Leon/Cedric faction, none of that will matter next year. Improve the OL, and we will run for 140 yards a game next year, they say. Most of the time on this board is spent arguing back and forth between these various factions. Which are you in?
I'm in the keep Chad until it's the right time to replace him faction, maybe as early as next training camp, and the RBBC faction with Washington and a few other additions as the RBBC.
It's tough to insert myself into one of those categories. I think we need to address the line's Offensively and defensively. You work these two areas and the rest will fall into place. Chad will have a run game to allow the play action to work. How many times did we see the play fake and Chad scanning and scanning for no one ,everyone's covered. The defense was very serviceable late in the year but we still got gashed by the run early and late in the season. Is there a category for fix the line's For the running backs, Leon and Cedric are very good,there weren't allot of hole to run through this year. I guess the line was mainly trying to keep Penny upright ,and the lanes that did open up were missed or collapsed too soon.
And we have found our official TGG psychologist...conngrats johnny I'm just playing...pretty creative. I like it. I'm in the stubborn I love Chad faction along with the Feature Back faction along, the Michael "the Burner" Turner cell.
I'm the pro-Chad faction but, if Clemens beats Chad out in camp, then I'll trust in Mangini. And I'm definitely in the keep Leon faction (though I could care less about Houston).
I don't fit into any of them. On Chad: POSITIVES:I love his leadership abilities, his game management, his ability to read defenses and how well he executes things like the play action (if we had a running game). NEGATIVES: He's not very mobile, his ball security when being pressured simply sucks, and of course the lack of a good deep passing threat. CONCLUSSION: I do think he's good enough to win a Super Bowl, but ONLY with a top ten defense and a running game that can ground out 150 yards a game against even good defenses. That is a tall order. His inability to stretch the field is a problem, and not a small one. Teams can play their safeties up, making the running game even more difficult to make work. I love the guy, but I'm not sure he can get it done. When you have to think about bringing in a backup QB to throw a hail Mary..... On the RB Situation: I do like Cedric and Leon, but also think, actually know, we need an upgrade at RB. The question in my mind is who and when. I think Cedric is a VERY solid backup to whoever the new RB will be. I just don't think this is yet the time to make that move. We all knew this team had to be rebuilt, and it's off to a great start. Making the playoffs was pure gravy, based on a pretty weak schedule. next year, the schedule gets MUCH tougher, and I'm not looking for 10 wins again, for sure. I have said this many times before.... I think the so called "feature RB", whether or not it's RBBC or not, is the last piece of the puzzle that should be added. Get an offensive line that can run block is higher on my priority list than getting that RB. I also think our resources (FA money and draft picks) need to be invested on some defensive players that can make this team a top ten D before we worry about who the RB should be. So, in short, I'm looking to 2008 to contend at the earliest. While I love my boy Chad, I'd like to see Clemens beat him out. However, I don't expect to see it. I thought Clemens would get some snaps this year, but the playoff run stopped that. I suspect next year Clemens will get his chance in the second half of the season. I see that as necessary if this team is to contend in 2008. We need another RB, one that is better than what we now have, but this isn't the time just yet, unless we can find a diamond in the second or third round this year. Too many other holes.... DE, CB, RG, RT and a rush OLB. Add a fast WR to the list that Clemens can use to stretch the field.
You gotta keep Chad and bring Clemens along. If Chad isn't playing well then Clemens gets a shot. See if you can draft another RB later on again. Maybe Lorenzo Booker from FSU.
given your anti-chad description, he should be the offensive coordinator, not the roster/starting qb.:wink:
I'm in the "Take the Ravens/TB defense route to the SB" Faction. IE: Develop the killer defense that sets records and ranks in the top 5. That way, it won't matter WHO is the starting QB of the NYJ's.
I'm for working Clemens in a few games next season, with an eye toward '08. And no question for me, we need a RB. The biggest acquisitions the team needs to turn the corner are as follows: * A feature back; and if its through a trade, do not give away a 1st. * A TE who happens to be a large target with deep threat speed. (draft or FA. I like Stevens from the Seahawks.) * A guard, to work into the lineup this coming season, and replace Kendall in '08. (draft) * Either a large DE, or true 3-4 NT and move D-rob outside (I prefer a game-changing DE myself, and I hope that's our first pick in the draft.) * A cornerback, FA (Samuel? It would be nice.) * draft a QB late, to push Clemens and maybe even emerge. No old guys or retreads. * fullback (draft) * OT (draft, with an eye towards replacing Clement somewhere down the line, if we even resign Clement. If not, I wouldn't be unhappy with a solid run-blocker FA at RT next year.)
i like Chad, but i think im more realistic than to believe he is the teams saving grace. he does a fantastic job of leading the offense, but his shortcommings (imo) definitely hinder the team...."which leads to..." you didnt mention the inability of chad to EVER hit a WR IN STRIDE DOWN THE SIDELINE. ive never seen chad hit a streaking reciever on the sideline for a long TD. we have seen coles/cotch/jmac/any jets wr have to comeback to balls that he can just never get over the top to them. they always either have to wait for the ball to catch up or turn around and all of a sudden play defense so it isnt picked off. in the long run i think chad is one of the most give/take QBs in the league. he brings a lot to the table...but he leaves almost as much to be desired. im guilty of wanting a featured back. no doubt....im more a michael turner guy though. i still want leon here, i think hes a positive force on offense. when you point out a guy like tiki in comparison to leons situation i think that is the closest. the giants drafted around 3 or 4 RBs after tiki got there because he "wasnt big enough". needless to say we all know how tiki ended up. if thats the case with leon...ill love it. but i dont think it can ever hurt to get better talent overall. (turner is better than both houston and barlow, i dont think there is any arguing that). btw, both of leons 100 yd games....garbage time yards. i think its hard not to see that we were bad running the ball. you cant chalk it all up to bad blocking...at some point, the back is to blame. barlow had 1 good year. i think some folks expected a little too much out of him when he came here...and i think the 1000 yd rusher moniker really shouldnt fall on his shoulders. he ran for 1024 yds in 15 games 1 year. every other year he was hard pressed to hit 800 yds. as for leon and houston....houston has big durability Qs....i wouldnt be willing to go another year with having both he and leon shouldering the running game. one of them will have to go, and it aint gonna be leon, who has shown more in one year than houston has in his stint here. barlow needs to go, but houston should remain on the 53 man roster...as the 3rd back. i really believe we need a true #1...and a better backup. whether that 1 is leon, or turner/someone else we need more production from them all. ultimately id like to see turner/leon/houston as the RBs. i think that we will address the right side of the OL this offseason...as in upgrading RT...i cant understand why so many hate brandon moore though. he was good this year, and praised highly by mangini...yet he is a target here...i guess in the end everyone on the team is a target here at some point...
What about the Ramsey/Barlow faction:grin: I would have to say I'm in the Chad camp (at least for one more season). And i think with better run blocking Leon and Cedric will be ok. Continue to improve OL and DL
Hahaha thats a great post. I'm not in any of those factions. I dont see the point in having extreme and finite views about the team. Im really fine with whatever Mangini does in the offseason. I also KNOW that i dont know as much about all the players available as Mangini does. I wish some of the other posters here had some restraint. I mean god, how can you say Michael Turner WILL work at the Jets as he fits into the system. Im not saying its not true, but no one knows that yet, and definitely not someone from here.
But what about the rajensen088/Cinvis "Mangini-hating/Herm-loving" faction? They are so bitter about Herm leaving this team like it was the fat ugly girlfriend, that they take all their anger out on the new coach and refuse to give any props to him and the team (But the easy schedule!), choosing only to post when the Jets lose.
