Home > The Way We Hear It ~ ~ ~ NY Jets Nov. 28, 2007 Despite struggles, Jets sticking with QB Clemens for '07 and beyond So far, the Kellen Clemens experiment for the Jets is off to a resounding thud. In his four games since replacing Chad Pennington at quarterback ? three of which he started ? Clemens has tossed four interceptions and just two touchdowns and has completed more the 50 percent of his passes just once. But we hear that there?s no chance Pennington reclaims the starting job and that Clemens is almost certainly going to keep the job next season as well. As far as 2007 is concerned, at this point, there?s no reason to go back to Pennington. For all intents and purposes, the season is over, so the most important thing for the coaching staff to do is assess the roster to see what needs to be added in the offseason. The coaches know what they have with Pennington, and Clemens is still largely an unknown. We hear that the Jets are also a little more lenient with Clemens due to a porous offensive line that has provided him with precious little protection. It?s still early, but Jets sources tell us they?ll make a strong play this offseason for Steelers star OG Alan Faneca, who is due to become a free agent, as the Adrien Clarke-Will Montgomery tandem at the OLG spot has failed miserably > http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/default.htm
They better make a play for Faneca. All we hear about is "the jets have the most room under the cap". Well that's all fine and dandy, so let's sign someone who isn't a journeyman second-string defensive lineman this offseason.
Seriously...the more I think about it, the more I'm not on board with the idea of another aging veteran stopgap malcontent...didn't we just get rid of one of those? The steelers other guard or a hight draft pick seems the way to go.
Why sign a 31 year old guard to what will be a near record-breaking contract for a guard? You want to make that kind of move you do it for a 26 to 28 year old guy that you might actually get to play for 5 years.
So it's better to sign a bunch of marginal players to medium sized contracts that are questionable to even contribute immeadiatly? It's not like were not going to be adding young talent this offseason anyway seeing how we are looking a top 5 pick!
No. It's better to draft good linemen and then pay them so they don't walk in free agency. I'm not suggesting that the Jet's signing Moore to long-term deal was a better option than going and signing Faneca (who is past his prime) to a long-term high money deal. I'm suggesting that drafting good linemen is the way to go here in an obvious rebuilding situation. Signing Faneca would be surrendering our opportunity to make a generational transformation into a good team.
yeah, i disagree with pursuing Faneca. we need to sign someone younger who'll play longer and at a high level. meanwhile draft another OG for depth.
Going young is not always the best way to go. We are still very young at LT and C, and we saw that having a GOOD veteran in there helped those two a lot. Faneca is 20x the guard that Kendall ever was. Even if he is only around for a few more years, which I don't think will be the case as he is Mawae quality, it will at least allow us the chance to draft a guard in the 4th-5th round and let them develop, saving our higher picks for players who will make a bigger immediate impact. Believe me, if you want to see our oline problems stop, then we absolutely NEED a top notch veteran in there. More rookies will not solve the problem. Throw out 2008 if we continue to go with youth on the oline.
Even if we sign Faneca 2008 is out the window. We are rebuilding and progress will not be seen until at least the end of 08 beginning of 09. He will be signed to keep Kellen from getting hurt.
Theres always a way to put together a contract that will be acceptable for both side. The contracts they handed out with garanteed money are the killers! Back in the article they mentioned Clemens throwing four picks and two touchdowns in a three start stint ; that sound about right for a 2nd year rookie! Time will show wether hes the future or the franchise as Pennington was once anounted.
Cuz with our offense and defense at the levels they're at now we'll go 1-15 either way. The Jets suck this year because their lines suck. Adding a great runningback to a lousy line gives you Ronnie Brown at best and 2 years and out as more likely.
