Is the Open Competition Truly Open?
JP Pelzman of NorthJersey.com muses on whether or not the QB competition this summer will be truly open, or fixed.
Clemens hardly seemed like a beaten man, saying “I expect to be under center opening day in Houston.
“In speaking with coach [Rex] Ryan, it’s an open competition,” Clemens said. “I’m going to get a fair shot at the starting job.”
But will he? Only Ryan knows the answer. As Baltimore’s defensive coordinator last season, Ryan watched rookie Joe Flacco win the starting job by default when veterans Kyle Boller (shoulder) and Troy Smith (tonsillitis) weren’t ready for opening day. Ryan said earlier this month he knew last spring that Flacco was the best QB on the Baltimore roster.
The fact that they went out and got Sanchez lets you know what Ryan thought about his QBs going into the season. It’s not going to be hard for Sanchez to win the job, but he still has to win it. Ryan also said that you can win with anyone, but clearly the move to getting Sanchez places some self-created stress on his own argument.
In my mind, it comes down to errors. Whoever is the least prone to making errors, thus putting the defense in bad situations and short fields (are you listening Brett Favre?) is the one who’s going to win the job. If it’s a close call, with the line the Jets have in place, there’s a lot less risk of putting Sanchez out there than say, David Carr during his first few seasons as a Texan.
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really does not matter, let’s focus on 2010 Peter King just ranked Patsies #1 in his rankings – no reason to play and risk getting guys hurt that we need in 2010
I’m a broken record, Clemens gives you the best chance to win in the first 8 games, he needs to go at least 5-3, then there is a bye, you make your decision on Sanchez at the break, or if Clemens falters down the Stretch.
I disagree. The concept of game managers is a misnomer.
Qbs have to make plays. While not every Qb can be a P. Manning, or Brady or even a big Ben who can bring a team back from defeat or poor play, all winning Qbs must make some key plays or their defense has to score points (not a prescription for sustained winning). Just because some Qbs cannot win “unwinnable” games by themselves, does not mean that they don’t have to make plays to help their teams win games. Hitting open receivers on third downs and when other teams try to crowd the line of scrimmage are essential or offenses do not function. Too many three and outs can weaken even the best defenses.
It is true, that Ryan and similar coaches will insist that their Qb not only make some plays but avoid mistakes. It is also true that such coaches will limit the chances to both make plays and mistakes.
However, fewer opportunities means Qbs in such systems must be more effective — not less — at making plays. They get fewer chances so they better make the most of them.
Our next Qb is the one who with limited chances is most likely to make a play without making a mistake.
harlan
A little deductive logic (and common sense) here. KC is not some washed up “geezer”, but a young QB who should be coming into his prime. IF RR thought that KC could take us to the Super Bowl, then their is no need to give up what we did to get Sanchez.
With what the Ravens achieved last season with an unknown, RR would have stayed with Kellen if he thought that success was just a hop, skip, and a jump away.
No, RR thought he needed a new direction, and MS is the answer….from DAY 1.
Did the Jets draft Mark because he is a great QB or so Woody can sell 20,000 PSL’s. That is a question that we may never know the answer to.
Initially I thought Clemens would be starting, but what if he is mildly successful? Then you have a Derek Anderson situation that never ends well. It did work out with Brees in SD, but I am not sure its worth the risk. They committed to Sanchez (picks and financially), they have the line to protect him, give it a shot.
You are right regarding game managers– the only one that worked out was Dilfer, and that only happened because of it being a transitional time in the NFL. The period between Dallas/SF/GB/BUF power to NE/IND/PIT/PHI power lead to alot of parity and mediocre teams playing in and winning Super Bowls.
Hearing Clemens state:
I expect to be under center opening day in Houston….. is like hearing Micheal Spinks say he was going to beat Mike Tyson before their fight
His confidence seems fake. He has never shown any balls to take this job even though it has been handed to him before. I know 2007 about the OL and I agree. But does anyone see a franchise QB when they honestly look at KC??
At this point I wish we had a vet to start the season and then have Sanchez take over….. I think they “open” competetion is unless KC dominates the practice/preseason…it Sanchez job to lose
No question, I liked what i saw in ratliff last preseason. At first, i was thinkn the jets should have traded up and got crabtree. and seen what KC or BR can do. Think about it, Crabtree and crochery. Nice run game and revamped defense. I thought that could have worked. But behind the scenes must have shown RR that he wasnt putting his job in BR or KC hands! Guess i’m happy how it all worked out. I just still think they really need a big target!
Sanchez will have to bomb to not get the job. Forget about Ryan not liking Clemens, Schotts has had him for 3 years and was a major Sanchez supporter. It was up to Schotts to say “we dont need Sanchez, we’ve got KC” and he didnt. It pains me to admit it as ive been a KC supporter, but he only starts if Sanchez bombs in camp.
Honestly, i think that there is no way MS dont start. Im a KC supporter also. Problem is, he has too much stacked against him. Been here 3 years and cant get on the field. Wont help sell psl’s. Also with the new Defense and solid running game. What QB couldnt manage this team? All they going to ask MS to do is complete a 3 and 7 here and there. then play the field position game.
Clemens starts week 1 unless Sanchez is brilliant through camp and preseason..
Then, it turns into the 2007 experiement.. if we have a good record and KC is playing well, he finishes the season
If he sucks, then let the Sanchez era begin (a la Warner/Manning in 04)
I have to disagree Marc.
They took the player they had high on their board, ahead of Stafford, and gave up little to get there.
I think this was a move for the future more than for this year.
They will need OL and DL depth before they win a Superbowl and now, at least, with Green they have some decent RB depth.
Also obviously a WR will help.
We don’t know if the Jets refused to throw KC into the trade and if we knew that we would know more about what they think of him.
Anthony i disagree about that transition of power statement. That Baltimore Defense was one of the greatest of all time. They just asked dilfer to play the field position game. He did just that. Keep the turnovers down and let their defense to their thing. I think thats wat the jets are tryn to mimic this year. But i truly believe that the jets potentially have a better offense then that bmore team and should do well if this D is remotely close to that 2000 bmore team
kc has been a good soldier, and a class guy, but it is painfully obvious that the Jets are going in another direction with someone they think can carry the team to the playoffs and beyond, without a doubt the Jets said they were happy with the QB’s they have, than tried to land Cutler and may I say unabashedly too, than when that failed they moved up the board in the draft and pick Sanchez. Obviously they don’t see KC as the answer for this franchise, Sanchez has become the face of the N.Y. Jets, like it or not, believe it or not, and had they had the number one pick, they still would have chosen Sanchez. Charisma aside this guy has the tools and a good enough arm and accuracy to keep defenses guessing and a powerful group of RB’s to keep defenses honest, as for the PSL’s it makes sense on the business side of the ball to have a marketable commodity to keep the interest of the locals, just business not personal. KC may become a good QB in this league but unless something drastic happens it will not be for the Jets, and KC may be happy enough to be a back up, who knows, he is in the final year of his contract, and I don’t see many teams fighting for his services, Mangini could of had him, but instead opted for BR. Sanchez will be the starter, it is his job to lose not to win, and should he not start it will be because of unfamiliarity with the system, but he has shown he knows enough of it to be effective, and is an intelligent player who can think on his feet.
Carr didn’t have an offensive line which, as we know, is one of the Jets strong suits.
Drew – difference Media thinks sanchez will start, vividly remember 90% of NY writers picking Spinks to win that fight due to his “experience” and Tyson “not being ready yet”
RKNY i think the JETS believe KC is a great……back up. They love throwing this “open ” competition thing out there. But for some reason he always gets the cheerleader role. If management wanted him to start, he would be starting and they would have percy harvin right now.
think about it, KC has taken a back seat to chad, favre, and cutler(he didnt even make it to the team) There is no way the Schotts truly believes in him. He only got a shot due to Chad getting injured. MS will start or KC will start until his first interception!
I could write a long and drawn out explanation to this situation but the short answer is a relatively obvious one, NO. Franchez has the clear advantage.
best way to learn is to be thrown in the situation….throw sanchez in there and with his skills and personality, he’ll learn and succeed
“n my mind, it comes down to errors. Whoever is the least prone to making errors, thus putting the defense in bad situations and short fields”
that sounds like Chad…
Bassett — you need to assign someone to work on a definitive story that will answer: Was Sanchez a Ryan pick or a Woody pick?
All these opinions are useless. Sanchez never took an nfl snap or has even participated in a pads on practice. I will reserve judgement until the real hitting starts. Things change drastically under live fire. Right now it is KC who at least shows he can hang in with the worst oline in the nfl , no running game and playing with no #1 and #2 WRs. He also played well under those conditions against two of the top nfl defenses. Sanchez is a huge question mark with only 16 college starts. Sanchez will have to look very good to start from day one!