It is premature, but most rookies don't look like this. Ratliff, at times, is making it look easy. When he evaded the sack and ran for 5 yards, 6 year veterans know to do that, but rookies shit their pants. He slid up and then gained yards. Its those kinds of nuances that could make someone think he's ready. But I as well need to see him go up against some of the ones before I am 100% ready to give him the franchise. Right now I'm only 85% ready.
It's amazing how everyone forgets that this time last year it was Clemens who was lighting it up in preseason and outplaying Chad, not to mention his Q4 performances against Baltimore, Washington and Pittsburgh. Not saying Kellen is great or anything, but it's too soon to anoit Brett as anything other than promising.
I actually think that maybe Clemens could have been good as QB, but once he was given the starting job he was basically sacked to shit, which massively ruined his confidence and made him who he is today. Come one the Kellen Clemens we saw playing against Baltimore is not the one that we see today barely hanging on to the 2nd QB spot.
Well, yeah, that was then, this is now. In the NFL there are no points for what you've done, it's what you do now. He was progressing, and then it stopped. He just doesn't look calm and cool in the pocket, and it could be from the shell shock of last year. He once looked like he was going to be able to take over, but now I have a lot of doubts about him. He has all the tools physically, its his head that I'm worried about.
Yes, but Clemens didn't look like this. He turned the ball over, he held the ball for too long, he stared down receivers. He was attacked on that by Mangini in the press conferences. Ratliff is further in his progression than Clemens was at that point in his career. The hype wasn't this crazy with Clemens.
^ I reviewed the game yesterday. Gotta love DVR. Ratliff stares down his 1st read after play action, but he looked off his 1st read on non-play action consistently. It looked like he stared down Henry towards the end zone drive, but really he was looking at the safety, TE and Henry in the middle at one time, and made the right decision and got the completion. Its those little things like that that make Ratliff so easy to get crazy about.
I am not convinced Ratliff is the #2 guy yet until I see him do the same things with the starters. But, Clemens has me very concerned - he just looks totally uncomfortable and out of sorts. I know he had 3 drops and that is not going to help.
I agree completely. The other Brett has looked good so far in preseason. Kellen less so, but this is a marathon not a sprint to be the Jets future QB and it may not end with either one of them winning. Ratliff has good and bad things about his game jsut like Kellen and both should get plenty of time this year and hopefull next to work things out. That is a great situation for us to be in as a franchise.
Exactly Petro. I like this kid too, I really do, but most of what he has done has been against people who would be 3rd stringers or PS fodder at best. I want to see what this kid does against a starting caliber D.
there were at least several posters here who wanted Bollinger to "get a shot" There usually are reasons why guys are on the bench or are not thought of so highly. (Obviously there are guys who fall between the cracks, Brady, Warner, Etc)
I think Ratliff is a good story, I would liek to see him get a chance to work with the first team (maybe start of 3rd Q against the Giants) remember how good Kellen looked last preseason?
