Boom Goes the Quarterback
Sure, sure … we’ve all been talking about Pennington versus Clemens for six solid months, but hey, it’s probably one of the team’s biggest stories this year, and rightly so. Recently Eric Allen from the Jets’ site asked Boomer what he thought of the competition.
“I have no feeling either way right now because both of them are so bland that you don’t know what either one is thinking,” he said frankly. “All I know is Eric Mangini has put them in a highly competitive situation, and I think it’s a great thing for both of them and hopefully it will bring out the best in each one of them.”
During his NFL career, Esiason participated in a few quarterback competitions. He believes the best way to handle the situation is to take an assertive approach.
“If you want the job, you have to fight for it. That’s all there is to it,” he said. “You can’t worry about politics and all this other crap. If you want the job and you want to be the man and you want to lead your football team, then you have to go get it.”
Not exactly an apolitical answer from Boomer, but he’s got a point. The best thing about it is that the best man for the job will win it, regardless of who that is, and the team will be better for it. At this point, I’m less concerned about this position than some others on the roster, as they both bring their own set of strengths and weaknesses.
25 Responses to Boom Goes the Quarterback
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Zenlaw says:
What QB competition?
We all know Eric Ainge will be named the week 1 starter.
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K.C. says:
FIRST of all just for the record,let me state that i LOVE and RESPECT CHAD PENNINGTON. his LEADERSHIP and UNSELFISHNESS has been a breath of fresh air in this pacman,chad johnson,mike vick etc,etc,etc ERA.and i couldnt be happier that he was a NEW YORK JET the whole time! with that being said,after watching every game last year,it was PAINFULLY OBVIOUS that after TWO SURGERIES to the same THROWING shoulder it has taken its toll. i really dont feel CHAD can make the NECESSARY throws it takes to be a successfull quaterback in this league anymore. last season was full of 10 yard “FLOATERS” all over the place and half being picked off! KELLEN was abslutely not TEARING it up last year,but when he wasnt running for his life,i definitely saw some BRIGHTSPOTS. i cant wait for this offseason to see the competition for the starting job. MARK MY WORDS…KELLEN CLEMENS WILL BE THE J-E-T-S STARTING QUATERBACK this season! sorry all you CHAD LOVERS out there{i love him too} but may the best QUATERBACK win.
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vinnywasthebest says:
whats love got to do with it? let the best man win. with an improved oline either will be fine. Chad’s experience may lift him over clemens, while clemens’ arm may lift him over chad.
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I think this whole off season should have been dedicated to Chad improving his arm strength. Just hit the gym everyday. Do some curls and bench press and shoulder presses… Stop being a pansy and worrying about arm accuracy…
More muscle=more arm strength… Start lifting!!!
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billvv says:
Happy birthday, Wayne Hunter. Tomorrow David Bowens.
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Lou says:
vinny
you are right they both have their positives but as you pointed out it what clemens needs is the opportunity to gain experience. What Chad needs will not help by playing more.
Let’s give Clemens a chance under an improved line to really show his worth. Chad received that opportunity when he started.
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nyckage says:
ok i think KC can make some mistakes and still be the starter cuz face it chad is pretty damn old and we cant win a championship in the long run meaning KC is good for yrs 2 come and chad will be good 4 probably this yr and next and we need a superbowl im tierd of all me giant loving friends hastling me we need the superbowl like in this decade
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TOON2388 says:
Can we come up with one standrd 50 post debate that Bassett auto-inserts anytime something is posted with the letters QB in it? I have probably written “look, I love Chad, he is a leader, he lays his body on the line, but he has a terrible record against top 6 or 7 defenses – odds of him beating 3 of those caliber team in post-season are astronomical.”
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Harvlis says:
KC will have his shot in pre-season with the starting line-up. If he outplays Chad, he should start.
As far as Chad not being able to beat top 6 or 7 defenses – that is bull. It is a team game. He has beat his share of good defenses. If the game plan is poor, the O-Line has holes, and there are no weapons – how can any QB beat a top rated defense. If a defense doesn’t put pressure on the opposing QB -how can any team win.
I think that KC was given some playing time, last year, because the season was over and it was the perfect time to give him some experience. Chad is the proven vet and I am sure that, if his arm is okay, he will be our starting QB. Will KC be good in the future – very good possibility. New York fans have such short memories. A typical fan, who gets his thought pattern from the media, says “what have you done for me, in the past few games”. Giant fans were trashing Eli Manning during the season. Now, after a brilliant run to the Super Bowl, half of NY is wearing his jersey. Chad can do the same thing for us. He is a winner. Like every other QB in pro football, if he doesn’t have a complete team and a strong coaching staff around him – he will look bad.
Whoever plays QB for us this year will have a much better team around him than last year. The O-line needs more depth but, the new running backs, fullback, TE’s, and linemen are the real deal. The pre-season can’t get here quick enough.
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Bent says: I realise you were probably joking Najy, but that’s really not a good idea. If Chad equipped himself with a set of TJ-style guns, he would lose any ability to throw with touch and might also make it more likely that he could get injured.
As previously documented, when he makes a weak throw, it is usually because of sub-standard footwork meaning that he throws with just his arm rather than his whole body. He already said he was working at his technique, so maybe his arm strength will look a bit better next year.
Of course, this time last year everyone was moaning about Nuge’s weak leg and then in week one he outkicked his coverage leading to a 108 yard TD return so don’t anyone come crying to me when Chad overthrows his receiver by 20 yards for a costly interception early in the year!
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Harlan Lachman says:
IMHO, the issue of Chad’s arm may have more to do with our OL. IOW, it is likely that last year, opposing teams’ DL knew they did not have to worry about the running game because our OL, esp the left side, were so inept at blocking, they could rush harder and focus on pass rush. Since DBs knew our QB would not be able to wait very long, they could crowd the short pass. By the time they’d be beat on a long pass, especially a stop and go, the QB would likely be on his ass trying to pass with his back on the ground looking up.
I am not saying it is the case, but, if it is, and our OL is better and our running game establishes itself as a threat requiring DL to play run first and our QBs don’t pass from the ground looking up, it just may be possible that Chad wins comeback player of the year throwing long passes until DBs wise up and don’t sit on pick sixes. When they wise up, the short passes will also open up.
OTOH, if he just cannot throw outs or long, there won’t even be a QB competition, unless KC is completely inept.
harlan
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also football is a buissness and people dont want to go to a game to see chad with his wimpy throws….. kellens arm strength could wow more fans…
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Bent says:
That was certainly the case in some of the games, Harlan, although it differed from game-to-game. I noticed that certain teams (Buffalo, for example), were successful in covering the deep routes so that Chad had plenty of time, but downfield was not an option so he was forced to settle for the option underneath and they were unable to get down the field effectively that way.
That does not speak well for the ability to get separation or the playmaking ability after the catch of the receivers. Maybe that (as well as the offensive line) will be improved this year with some of the new faces they’ve brought in.
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Jeff says:
Look at the diffrence between Chad’s throws in 2006 and 2007 seasons. Notice a difference? Not only did he not have a sprained ankle which makes it hard to plant your foot on throws. His O-line also disappeared.
Hey remember this, Chad became a starter when he was 26-27yrs old!! He needlessly sat on the bench while Testaverde was wasting away before us. Clemens can wait a couple of more years until he learns the system. There is no reason to throw him in the fire until he is ready
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I like the Chad of the 90′s, the one who can throw to Randy Moss in stride for a 90yd td. Damn them injuries!!!
I’ll bet Tom brady gets injured this season! Anyone willing to bet on it?? :(
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I will bet Brady does not get injured – that is a sure fire way for him to get hurt
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pat d says:
Boomer is right – both of our Qb’s are bland. Our wide receivers aren’t that great either.
I don’t know about anyone else but I miss Boomer on MNF. The ESPN guys suck and I’m so tired of Al Michaels and Madden. I think the NFL network kicked ass.
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NFL Network just announced Bret Faurve wants to come back – as a Jet. End of QB controversy.
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SackDance99 says:
Boomer has changed his tune and now is hedging on the QB competition. During his draft show on MSG, he and Phil Simms both anticipated that Chad would start. Like I’ve said before, 2006 Chad, with the improved running game and an improved defense that will give the offense better field position, is the better QB if you want to see the Jets in the playoffs this season. KC still has a learning curve and I just don’t see KC leading this team to the playoffs. But, if Chad’s throwing is still in 2007 mode, which was IMO caused by his ankle injury, then he’s not an NFL QB because he can’t make the necessary NFL throws. So, if that’s the case, then the Jets might as well roll the dice with KC. As for the “competition,” I believe in Malcolm Gladwell’s “Blink” theory that most people make decisions within miliseconds, so Mangini has already decided who the starter will be, and the “competition” is a motivational technique to get whoever he has already determined to be the starter in top shape. My guess is that Mangini has chosen Chad.
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If Chad is not throwing like he was in 2006 he has no business being on the team. My daughter can throw a floater out to the sidelines.
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Great posts. As much predicting (guessing) as we all do, the truth is that the best player, who gives us the better chance to win, should start. I’m comfortable with either guy if that’s who Mangini chooses. I don’t really understand the posters who think we should go with KC no matter what, because of his upside. This isn’t high school football – if KC can’t beat out Chad in camp, he has no business starting.
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If Chad is still in the 2007 mode I not only wonder why he is on the team but I would have to question Mangini as a player personel evaluator. That makes me think that Chad is throwing harder but the Jets are hoping that Clemens will step up.
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i do not want to rain on Chad’s parade, but we wouild need our D to be dominant and our running game to be where it was in 2004 to be a Super Bowl team.. Think back to playoff game @ Oakland in 2002. Hackett called perfect play (have to give him credit th one time a game where he called something that the D was fooled by) Laverneus gets 2 steps on his man, safeties were nowhere be found and Chad coud not get enough zip on ball to get it there before defender knocked it away at last second. He also threw his first INT on the dreaded OUT pattern – as matter of fact, I think Barton picked the ball off. In no way am I blaming that loss on Chad – but once we were dowb 2 TDs in 3rd, we were finished because we are not going to hit a big one. Still think we win that game if Refs did not swallow whislle when Woodson mauled Moss the play before Chad’s 1st int
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Ever since I’ve been posting here, I’ve been saying that for Chad to succeed, he needs the type of receivers that he can utilize and a solid running game. Chad has never had a legitimate pass-catching TE and he’s never had a receiving red zone threat. With Keller and Franks, Chad will have both. Also, a legitimate running game helps Chad with his play action, which is excellent. So, the only issue with Chad is whether he can regain his 2006 form and hit the short out consistently. If he can, and with the new weapons at his disposal, I think Chad could lead this team to the playoffs and once a team makes the playoffs, anything can happen.
I couldn’t agree more, let the best man start. I just hope it’s KC.