http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/NYJ/10226998 HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (June 15, 2007) -- In many ways, this is the second season of Chad Pennington's career. Chronologically, it's the eighth year in the NFL for the quarterback. But it's Year 2 under a new regime led by coach Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. And it's Year 2 following a pair of shoulder operations that threatened his livelihood. "After my first year with this system, the goal is not only what to do but how to do it and how to improve," Pennington said during the New York Jets' minicamp. "To become expert at the system and understand the details. They are what decide whether you win or lose. "The first year was learning how to line up and do your assignments. The second year, you do the finer details with adjustments -- find the things you can do better to make those adjustments to do your job better." For Pennington, mastering the current offensive approach shouldn't be a problem mentally, because he's one of the most cerebral quarterbacks in football. And now that his throwing arm is healthy and possibly stronger than ever, the physical challenge shouldn't be tremendously daunting, either. A year ago, Pennington had to take baby steps coming off the second surgery. He was part of a four-quarterback rotation during minicamp and didn't truly test the arm until training camp began in late July. This week, Pennington has made every kind of throw -- and looked quite sharp with all of them. "Chad's been on-target," top receiver Laveranues Coles said. "The primary focus has been getting his body more flexible and stronger," Mangini said. "All the things you usually do in a typical offseason, Chad was not able to do because of the rehab. Whenever you have to split time, it's not quite the same. Now he's been able to really focus on that and he has done a great job." Feeling confident in his arm has led to a spiraling confidence in the offense. Day by day, Pennington is getting a better feel for the nuances of it. In fact, he and Coles hooked up on a long pass during the morning practice that was semi-improvisational. "It's within the system," Pennington said. "It's a designed play. It did not happen exactly like on the chalkboard when it's drawn up. When they kind of breakdown or don't seem to go right, as quarterbacks and receivers, you have to be on the same page and if you are, the ball gets to the right spot." It only gets there if the quarterback can let it fly with no reservations. Pennington couldn't do that 12 months ago. Now, he can. "Last year, I was trying to make sure I could get on the field, call the plays and make as many throws as possible," he said. "This year, I have all of the confidence in the world to make all of the throws and all of the different types of ball placement that we need to make, and I can work on those. "Last year, it was physically just a slow process. It actually makes it frustrating. I knew where the ball needed to go, but I wasn't sure it was going to go there. Sometimes it would and sometimes it wouldn't. That's just the kinks you have to work out after you've been through an injury. You're trying to get your body back in shape." Not that 2006 was a lost year by any means. The Jets stunned many when, under their new coach and coming off a 4-12 season, they won 10 games and earned a wild-card playoff berth. Since Pennington was selected in the first round of the 2000 draft -- he appeared in a total of three games his first two pro seasons, when he backed up Vinny Testaverde -- the Jets have gone to the postseason four times, three with Pennington at the helm. Mangini appears more certain than ever that Pennington can lead the Jets even deeper into the playoffs. "On the field, you can see him drawing on the experience of last year, taking things and advancing the system," the coach said. "He is such a smart guy with a great memory, you tell him something once, it may have been three weeks ago, and when that comes up, he nails it."
chad is the mother fukcing man and I don't care what anyone else says otherwise. Pin Point mofo'in pennington mofo. smooth like butter
If hes sharp now, and he can continue sharpening his skills, week one will be fun to watch. Chad at his best is the team playing at their best. As Chad goes the team goes- and if he goes nowhere but up, so do the Jets.
Jets | Allen waived Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:00:53 -0700 The New York Jets have announced they have waived FB Jesse Allen. Shortly before 8 p.m., it was announced that Virginia Tech FB Jesse Allen was waived.
This year we will see what a healthy armed Chad will do. Damn, I can't wait. The offseason sure is a pain in the butt, is it not? Allentown Ernie.
Nah you do not get it when you compare CP "heart" with his actual talent. I doubt anyone questions his loyalty to the NYJs but when it come to threw flutter balls many begin to question his abilities.
I guess you have to be retarded to be able to see the cornerbacks eat up the angles on his weak sideline passes.
always so negative , What happened to rich gannor for all those years ,clearly he had and has a better arm then penny ,but it took a good system and time in it to become a top QB and reach a super bowl.
The big key to me is Schotty stayed with the Jets, so Chad wouldn't have to have a 4th OC in 4 seasons... I see good things from Chad since it'll be the same offense.
The better arm part is important. I don't doubt that Chad has the intellect to be a successful NFL QB because he's proven that. I do think that he does not have the arm to dig his team out of a hole and he's also proven that. We can have this argument forever, however there are very few (read NONE) QB's in NFL history who rode weak arms to the championship level consistently. Now and then a QB like Billy Kilmer got thrown into the frying pan on a very good team and got his team to the super bowl, but those guys had no repeatability in their performance over several seasons. Whether Chad had the arm to be a championship caliber QB at the start will forever be unclear, however the injuries have taken a further toll on him and he clearly does not have that arm now.
That's a bit unnecessary? For all that Champ isn't enamoured with Pennington, he at least voices specific concerns and not the gibbering nonsense that some come out with.
This thread is proving a couple of ESPN radio hosts I was listening to Saturday about 3:30 to be totally correct. They had a long discussion about Jeff Garcia and how he was always complaining about being underappreciated. One of them said to the other "I'll tell you a QB who is even more underappreciated that Garcia - Chad Pennington of the JETS". The second host agreed and they talked how Chad was criticized for not going long often enough but his leadership, accuracy, knowledge, etc. was overlooked. They discussed the success he has had over the years as a JET OB in getting us to the playoffs nearly every year he was the starter. They then stated that the JETS as a team may not have the success this year that they had last due to a tougher schedule and an improved division. (The names of the hosts escaped me - it wasn't Mike & Mike)
