A Vols Fan Speaks on Ainge
Some of my good friends are rabid Tennessee Volunteers fans, and I had the chance to talk to one of them about new Jet Erik Ainge, and what he thinks of his former Quarterback. My buddy Jason’s thoughts on Erik Ainge below.
Q: Overall, any thoughts on Erik Ainge?
A: If the guy can stay healthy, he’s a gamer. Freshmen year he led UT on a dramatic last minute scoring drive against Florida to win the game (of which, he will always have my deepest admiration). Sophmore year was a disaster, he regressed and played horribly. Then David Cutcliffe, the QB and Offensive Coordinator at UT for Peyton Manning was rehired in his old position. (Between 1999 – 2005 he was the head coach at Ole Miss, but then got fired). Ainge blew up in his Junior year, completing 67% of his passes, breaking the completion percentage record (many thanks to Robert Meachem) set by Peyton.
Q: How does on OC Dave Cutcliffe’s relationship play into his development?
A: Cutcliffe does wonders for QBs, he was the head coach at Ole Miss with Eli Manning, and he is known for being a stickler for detail, game film and getting it right every time. I think he’s underrated as a coach, and just as Norm Chow is credited with Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, I don’t think he gets enough credit for the Manning brothers. As Peyton told Erik Ainge after Cutcliffe got rehired as UT OC, if you want to be a great QB, just shut up and do everything this man tells you to do. Unfortunately for UT, Cucliffe took the head coaching job at Duke this year … why I have no idea.
Q: So what’s your projection on Ainge?
A: Ainge had a great senior year, threw for over 3000 years despite having a completely new and green receiving corps at UT. Considering the numbers he put up, and the pedestrian receivers he had to work with (and the top flight defenses of the SEC), I think Ainge proved he’s extremely capable at succeeding at the next level. I think he’ll be a good pro, and he’s in the ideal situation where he can grow some into the role. In a year or two, he’ll be up for starting. Tennessee runs a classic pro-style offense, none of this spread offense crap in college that sees QB’s put up ungodly numbers but then suck in the pros (Exhibit A: Alex Smith) or don’t even get drafted (Exhibit B: Chris Leak). He’s 6’5, a big guy, I think the thing the pros scout knocked on him was his lack of “mobility” and not a great arm. That was also the same things people said about Peyton Manning, and why they put Cry’n Leaf ahead of him on some draft boards back in the 1998 draft.
Q: You’re making some bold comparisons here …
A: I’m not saying Ainge will be a Peyton, but an Eli? Yeah, he knows how to manage a game, played against top flight competition in college, was taught by one of the finest QB/OC in the college ranks, and can sit back and be groomed for two or three years. I know I’m a little biased, but this guy basically finished second in every significant passing category at UT behind Manning, and after watching him for four years I definitely think he’s a NFL caliber QB.
27 Responses to A Vols Fan Speaks on Ainge
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Big A says:
Never hurts to have a guy like Ainge in the fold learning behind a Pennington for however long he’s here. If KC isn’t the guy, it might take another 2 years to find that out, especially if Chad starts this year.
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ramble914 says:
Please, somebody hide this article from Sack! He’ll be ridding the Ainge wave for the foreseeable future (lol). Then again, hopefully KC dosen’t allow this to be an issue.
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Sounds like if he shows strong development this year, they may trade Pennington next offseason and take a chance with a second year QB as the backup.
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nyr2k2 says:
I’m excited to see what Ainge brings to the table during camp. I’ve heard conflicting reports on his arm stength, so it will be interesting to see what he really has.
The supposed lack of mobility doesn’t concern me at all. How many excellenty QBs have we seen in the recent past that excelled despite limIted scrambling ability? As long as he learns how to avoid the brunt of the blow while being hit, he’ll be fine.
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Fonzie says:
DEA:
Love your comments and couldn’t agree with you more. From what I’ve seen of Ainge he has trully demonstrated a pocket presence that is hardly seen in the NFL never mind college. He just had surgery in his right hand so the injury he played with his senior year must have been serious. And they question is fortitude and guts. Have you heard him speak? He appears to have great core values and smarts!!!! If what you say is true re. matching matching Flacos 55mph ball speed then we absolutely stole this years BEST QB. You know, these self appointed, self glorified experts give our draft a C highlighting accentuating only the negative. What a joke!!!
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Im more excited about our second two draft picks (Lowery and Ainge) because they could (will) have the greatest impact on the JETS. If they trully realize their potential they will be the two pieces missing that will make us a dominating team for years to come. If this is realized, can you imagine what our team will look like with next years draft. This year has definitely more than made up for last year. Who is Herman Edwards?
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SackDance99 says:
Ainge was one of the QBs that I hoped the Jets would draft. I think he’s in an excellent position to sit back and learn. Also, I watched his youtube highlights (I think there’s something like 45 minutes worth). He can make all the NFL throws and he rarely gets sacked. But, he’s a project. I’m real interested to see how he does in the preseason.
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James in TN says:
As a longtime Vols fan I have watched all of Ainge’s games. He is a joke. He singlehandedly lost a game against LSU by throwing costly INT’s. Watch the Alabama game from last year if you want to see how he hides under pressure. I was glad to see him go, and I am sad we drafted him. I give him 2 years then he will be coaching HS football in Oregon. He rode his Uncle Danny’s coat tails for as long as he could. Erik’s play almost cost Fulmer his job. I hope he does do good, but it will be a miracle if he does.
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Broadway12 says:
Well as long as they don’t rush him and just let him sit back and learn maybe 2-3 yrs ala Tony Romo. Then he can succeed There’s no rush in this and no pressure to play him because of where we drafted him. Just let him sit and soak the game up
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James,
Not going to play ‘last word’ with you, so you can have it, here is mine…All I have to say is:
I Couldn’t disagree more with EVERY statement you made!!!
Except that he cost the VOLS a game -v- LSU by being impatient on an out throw. But when you look at all of ‘Tennessee’s comeback victories’ in the SEC with Ainge…He will be just fine on Sundays, do doubt!
Oh, and anyway, there were many plays that hurt and helped the VOLS -v- LSU. I really thought Ainge was going to lead ANOTHER U.T. comeback. Poor decision..Oh well, Ainge has moved on., See Senior Bowl game for that. This finger surgery will get his ball back to a ‘much tighter spiral’ again…Great for the Jets!
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I wonder if James in TN and Johnny Styne are the same person? They both seem to have the same effect on me.
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James, I gotta ask… How does a guy who completed 67% of his passes as a junior, threw for 3000+ yds, 31 TDs to 10 INTs ratio, as a senior in a “classic pro-style offense” at UT qualify as a joke? I’ve never seen him play, but I gotta think you’re harboring some bad feelings for the dude because of a couple of games??
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Ainge also was only sacked 3 times in 519 attempts facing SEC defenses. Of all his stats, I think that’s amazing. To put this in perspective, Andre Woodson was sacked 38 times in 519 attempts facing the same SEC defenses. Again, Ainge is a project, but he has talent, size and smarts.
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SackDance99, I guess that is what people are referring to when they say he has pocket presence.
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All I know is he gets scared in the pocket and throws it away, hence the low sack total. And Ramble914, you are an idiot judging by your posts on this site. KC and CP have no worries about being challenged for the starting job from Ainge even if he was healthy.
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dakar says:
james …
throwing the ball away is a good thing…its better than taking the sack…in fact thats what a QB is supposed to do if he cant find an open reciever…or run with it if he has an open lane…just my thoughts…
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If he is throwing the ball away to avoid sacks and is still completing 62% of his passes, isn’t that even better. At least it indicates that his incompletions are not due to accuracy as much as other QBs with same completion rate and more sacks.
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Sorry, let me reword that…
At least it indicates that his incompletions are not due to INaccuracy. This compares favorably with other QBs who have similar completion % but more sacks.
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Mr.Vol says:
James from TN,
I live in Knoxville and Ainge is not a bad football player at all. He did not single-handedly lose the LSU game. None of the offense really stepped up for him, especially his recievers. If they had stepped up and did their part in the game, then he would have not been in the position to force throws the way he did. It wasn’t just him at all. Ya Douche. -
big a
well said…which means this kid might end up being a real steal for a 5th round pick…or was it 6th…sorry cant remember…still not awake…
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Right back atcha Mrs.Vol. Time will tell if Ainge is the real deal or not. Oh and watch the game again to refresh your memory.
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Jason says:
People forget the success that KC had at Oregon, he was considered to be a good prospect and until the end of last season the definite successor of Chad, adding Ainge in the 5th this season is confusing but possibly genius, it was apparent that KC was not the knight in shining armor that everyone had hoped, but we did see flashes of a good QB, other times he was inconsistent and looked uncomfortable in the pocket, probably because the Oline was terrible and this team has yet filled the hole of Chrebet who was our release valve, adding Ainge was nothing more then a project and insurance player, many see his potential as being something more, which is good because if KC does not work out within the next 2 years then Ainge will have a shot at the reins, if KC continues to develop into a good QB Ainge will be a good inexpensive backup and possibly a trading piece in the years to come, regardless we need a Vet on the team to help develop these two, who better then Chad, lets just give him one more shot with a complete team.
Check out KC’s draft report
http://www.footballsfuture.com/2006/prospects/kellen_clemens.html -
I like Ainges prognostication for early success simply because he’s 6’6″ and does everything that CP and KC can do, with a better arm and makes great decisions too. Plus, he ‘played in the SEC for four years’, led his team to ‘two Eastern conference’ titles in the ‘three years’ he was the man.
He’s # 3 or #4 on the Jets depth chart. That’s right where he belongs at this time!!
The Irony is that as an 18 year old freshman he went to Tennessee and was # 4 on the depth chart there also.
He then worked his way to co-starter by game one. After putting up three scores in the last 8:30 minutes -v- Florida for a HUGE UT victory, it was obvious to all who knew football, that Ainge was the # 1 Q.B.!He did this at a big time University and ‘became the starter to lead UT through, not only by Florida, but won at Georgia, Won at South Carolina, beat Alabama, won at Cutcliffs Old Miss. on a last minutes drive and others.
Ainge will be a genuine NFL Q.B. for years. I hope the Jets see ‘ His IT’ and make him the starter in N.Y., sooner,(a year maybe) rather than later. I’d take Ainge over Eli ‘at the same age’, (21) no-brainer. Ask Cutcliff, he coached them all!
Go Jets, get tougher, learn how to close out quarters and half’s and learn to ‘WIN’…not just come to play hard!
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For my part, I hope Ainge develops and provides some competition for Clemens. It would be fun to see these 2 guys develop over time and push each other to get better.
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billvv says:
That the two current QBs don’t exactly inspire, I think the choice of Ainge is prudent. He’s of excellent size and experience and will have at least one year to hold the clipboard. Should make the second half in pre-season worth watching as well.
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It’s just like as a freshman at U.T. He’s # 3 or 4 on the depth chart. BUT, just like at U.T., he’s bigger, with an amazingly ‘quick release’ (3 sacks in 14 games!), (see all the Superbowl QB’s for the last decade plus) 6’5″-6’6”, ocasionally 6’4″…
In the SEC, you ‘can not’ be 3rd and 15!! Although he still converted many 3rd and 4th and longs, to get the VOLS another SEC-EC Title! His Junior and Senior years he was 64+%
Other than one year in his entire QB career, AINGE is a ‘winner’ and a ‘charismatic leader!!!’ He has an incredible work ethic!
p.s. “with his’gun’ and ‘great vision’ & a ‘very high completion % rate;’ ‘considering how many he threw away’ as receivers couldn’t get open, wrong routes, blown protections, and a rare bad throw, he’s the real deal!”
Remember, as Ainge says as he walks the talk of moving the chains and getting his team into the endzone…
“Pass protection begins with the quarterback. It’s obvious he gets it.” Just Win Baby!
Go Jets!
Ainge beat Florida, Peyton did not. Ainge led the VOLS to three huge wins -v- Georgia in his three starts against the Dawgs. (two wins Between the Hedges)
He beat Woodson’s Kentucky three straight times. He owned South Carolina, three wins -v- USC, two in Columbia. He played hurt and in pain all 14 games his senior year, and had his best year!
He’s NFL tough and incredibly intelligent. He was MVP in Outback Bowl -v- Wisconsin and offensive MVP in the Senior Bowl, for his amazing game winning drive from his own 9 yard line. No other QB in that game makes the throws, two on 4th and long, that Ainge made. He threw Strikes, with heat!
He and Flacco tied for the best fastball in the combine at 55 mph.
So Ainge has got a GREAT arm, excellent pocket mobility and presence, he is incredibly clutch and played in the best conference in the USA.
Two of the three years UT’s coaches made Ainge their man, he led them to two SEC-EC titles.
Ainge will turn out to be the best QB out of this class, bank on it!! The Jets also just got a WINNER, who was a steal. He’s 6’5 1/2″ and weighs 228 lbs.
It will not take long for this young man to lead the Jets’ offense to 30+ points a game.
Go JETS!!!