Questions, questions… and answers?
Every team enters training camp with questions. It’s an annual rite of the Dog Days. Whether it’s a former player picking players for you on national TV, four QBs and no real starter, or you’ve got this guy running your team, there’s always questions to be answered over the four weeks the precede Labor Day. So what are the questions facing your beloved New York Jets? And are there any answers? I’m so glad you asked! Really! I’m tickled!
(Ed. note: This is not a comprehensive list. If you’ve got a question I didn’t answer, hit me at TJBWeekends@gmail.com.)
Question #1: To Kellen, or not to Kellen, THAT is the question.
Is fifth overall pick Mark Sanchez the first real hope the Jets have had at QB since the 2002-version of Chad Pennington? Or is Kellen Clemens really the shoulda-been-picked-in-the-first-round wunderkind Schotty and Co. would have you believe?
Answer: Sadly, or proudly for some of you (here’s looking at you Sack), I don’t believe we’ll ever find out if Kellen is worth his jockstrap. As has been forecast since the Jets moved up to grab Sir Sanchez, the Golden Child is likely to get the first, second and 17th chances at being Gang Green’s starter — if not right off the bat, then surely by the bye week. I believe Kellen, at worst, could be a very solid backup and mentor to Sanchez, but I’m also sad he never got a real shot. Then again, you could argue he got one last summer and squandered it so poorly the Jets maneuvered for some crazy old man with a bum shoulder. So, really, it’s Kellen’s fault the Jets collapsed down the stretch. Sanchez by Week 6.
Question #2: Is anyone gonna pay these guys?
Leon Washington and Thomas Jones want their money — each for their own, understandable reasons. TJ is seeking likely his last final contract, and Leon wants to get his first big deal before the CBA expires. The Jets have held firm on both. Will they hold out? And who will get paid?
Answer: Both have “well-known” agents, Drew Rosenhaus (Jones) and the now-infamous Alvin Keels (LW), known as heavy negotiators who often overreach for their clients. The difference is we’ve seen Rosenhaus relent, but Keels doesn’t seem to be in the business of backing down. He may also be huffing paint and sniffing dry erase markers. Keels recently tweeted that it was “crunch time”, but if he doesn’t get a job soon, it may be time to run and hide as angry Jets fans bombard him. TJ already got $13 million in his deal and is entering the downside of his career — for RBs especially. Leon, however, is the only playmaker the Jets have on the offensive side of the ball and a weapon in the truest sense. Bottom line? Both probably will hold out, but expect Jones to return before Leon. He knows he’s not going to be rostered past this year and has one year to prove he deserves a new deal and not end up in the Edgerrin James-Shaun Alexander FA scrap heap. Leon, well, who knows at this point? The man pushing his buttons is seemingly deranged. Jets fans could be in for a long summer. Neither gets paid, both show eventually, and Leon drives his price way up with another Pro Bowl year.
More questions and answers after the jump….
Question #3: A rebuilt house isn’t necessarily a strong house.
It was easy to see as a Jets fan last year that the secondary was one of the largest holes on the team. Mangini’s unceremonious dumping of FS Erik Coleman hurt more than he let on and the uncertainty opposite and behind Darrelle Revis left the team so thin they reached out for an aging Ty Law midstream. So can the new secondary with Jim Leonhard, Lito Sheppard and Donald Strickland fix the Jets’ pass-defense deficiencies?
Answer: In a word: maybe? Look, it’s hard to tell how these pieces are going to fit together. Yes, Revis is Revis and he’s going to lock down the other team’s top receiver (most of the time), but the Jets also face some teams with exceptional second, and sometimes third wide recievers — not to mention tight ends. Lee Evans, Wes Welker, Tony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark and Devery Henderson are on the schedule, just to name a few. Sheppard is immensely talented, but a gambler. He takes chances, which fits Ryan’s D, but he also gets burned a fair share, which feeds into his detractors. Leonhard will take over as playcaller — something Kerry Rhodes admits is much-needed — and he’s likely to do an excellent job at it. But, was his play a factor of the phenomenal HoF-level talent around him in Baltimore? Can he duplicate it in the same system now with the Jets? I believe so, but color me skeptical (I think skeptical is like a peach color). The key to this secondary isn’t even starting — yet. Dwight Lowery is the key to this season. As Jets fans saw last year, Lowery doesn’t just make big plays, he can break up passes and defend in tight coverage. That is, until Mangini shattered his confidence. If Ryan has/can rebuild Lowery’s confidence and develop him further, the Jets can push Strickland, James Ihedigbo, and Drew Coleman one step further down the depth chart. Yes, the secondary will be better, but Lowery, not Sheppard will be starting opposite Revis by season’s end.
Question #4: The Green Lantern, not Mr. Irvin, should have a show about underdogs trying to make it.
Every year there’s one underdog player that seems to capture the hearts, minds and souls of Jets fans. Where is he on this year’s training camp roster?
Let me just be clear that I am an unabashed fan of Wayne Chrebet. He’s been one of my favorites since year one. His story is both amazing and heartbreak, and one every undrafted free agent should know by heart. In his honor, I’m creating an unofficial “Chrebet spot” for the underdogs that I’ll try to track over the summer. Some favorites this year for the unofficial Chrebet Spot: Danny Woodhead, J’Nathan Bullock, Matt Slauson, Marcus Henry, Jamaal Westerman, and Mario Urrutia. If you have any other nominations, e-mail me. So who’s the favorite? Fan sentiment would seem to be tied between “The diminuative dasher” Woodhead and “The Scarlet slasher” Westerman. Both have high hills to climb, behind a mountain of depth and talent. Woodhead seemingly has the bigger hill to mount, but he’s someone that could have more of an immediate impact. Westermann likely will need time to learn and develop the way Marques Murrell and Jason Trusnik had. We’ve seen rookie running backs burst onto the scene via special teams and a handful of offensive plays. Obviously, the potential holdouts of TJ and LW and Calvin Pace’s suspension play strongly into both players hands. Urrutia, Henry and Bullock also seem to have an in due to the lack of proven depth and general all-out competition for their respective spots. Early favorite: Westerman. I like Woodhead, but between TJ, Leon, Shonn Greene, Caulcrick, and T-Rich, he’s odd-man out.
Like I said, this isn’t a conclusive list of questions and answers. Just something to get the blood flowing. If you’ve got a question for me or anyone at TJB, you know what to do.
26 Responses to Questions, questions… and answers?
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Corey Griffin says:
Harlan,
My prediction of “Sanchez by Week 6″ is that he’ll be starting by then. Not that he’ll start in Week 6. I’m just saying that will be the latest, I believe, they’ll wait. But my comment about never getting to see Kellen get a chance, is that I think Rex and Co. have already decided Sanchez is going to start, thus, Kellen is really just going through the motions.
The chances Kellen has gotten, I would argue the only real chance he got was last preseason. I think in order to judge a QB you need more than a couple handful of starts behind a shoddy line, throwing to a half-rate WR corps. I think his “one chance” when he started was ruined by injuries and young QB jitters that he never got a chance to grow out of.
-Corey
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john l says:
don’t be suprised if sanchez rides the bench all season! i believe this jets team can reach the playoffs with any average qb. a conservative qb gets the jets to the playoffs as a wild card. however that kind of qb will fall short of beating the pats. it was favre’s risk taking that beat the pats last season but eventually it was his downfall.
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hank/naples says:
Corey:
The AFC just got very interesting!! The Browns just signed Jenkins counter part- Alex Mack. It wil be very, very interesting for a long, long tiome.
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Dave says:
The Sanchez/Clemens competition isn’t going to be exactly fair, but but Clemens enters the competition with so many advantages in terms of experience, familiarity of system and players, NFL coaching, etc. that if he doesn’t perform at a considerable level better than Sanchez then frankly he doesn’t really deserve to win it.
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nyckage says:
hank/naples
I know the AFC East is interesting, but how does it get interesting if the Browns sign Alex Mack who is a “counter part” of Jenkins? I know the AFC East got extremely interesting because of many things, such as New England starting the season as challengers for the AFC East, and The Whole T.O. thing, and Rex Ryan, but how does Alex Mack and the Browns make the AFC East very interesting.
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The Green Lantern #80 says:
SO Has anyone else heard Rex is leaning HARD for starting Mark..And has has already named Ghost as a starting OLB….My Bad if you have…I was on Vacation..
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nyckage:
Because i’m absolutely convinced that next year the Jets are destined to meet the Browns the same way that the Jets met the phins with the playoffs at stake. It will be very interesting !!
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hank/naples,
But how does that make the AFC East interesting, it may make that game interesting possibly, but it doesn’t affect NE, Buffalo, or Miami in any way, and in case you haven’t heard they are kinda in the AFC East
And I doubt the Browns and Jets will play next year, in order for that to happen we both have to finish at the same ranking in our respective division, the Browns look like they gonna end up at 4th place, the Ravens and Steelers are the top 2 and Bengals are, well 85 is happy and they got Carson Palmer back, so I can’t see the Browns going anywhere with no certain QB, and the Jets can end up anywhere except last place, they too good to be last place.
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Dade county jest fan says:
Don’t know why I’m up reading the jets blog now but I agree withnyckage about alex mack…who cares about alex mack…..oh…but the jets do play the browns next year…they play the entire afcnorth in 2010
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kc. says:
so you dont think it all depends on how KELLEN is playing?? What if we are 4-2 at the 6 game mark?SANCHEZ gets the start??I have been a KELLEN supporter from the beginning and FINALLY,I/WE are gonna see if he is the real deal or not.NO more EXCUSES! How about this….what if SANCHEZ is a BUST!??Not even a CHANCE of that??First year?? May the BEST QUARTERBACK win.
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nyckage:
Please read my post again. I have not said the AFC EAST, Just the AFC will be more interesting because the Jets will play the Browns,and hopefully for the AFC championship. The Browns had a terrific draft, starting with Alex Mack ( the best center in college football two yers running), and Mangini is putting together a team that will compete with the Steelers for the first time in a decade. Like I said, the AFC will be much more interesting now and for a long, long time to come.
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DHarvey says:
Kellen will be a starting NFL QB…but ultimately after this season for another team. My bet is Shotty takes him wherever Shotty winds up as Head Coach. So Kellen probably starts this season and if he plays ok, he’ll play to the bye week.. if he plays great he plays the whole season..but let’s face it..for the money the Jets have spent on Sanchez (not to mention the business side i.e. appeal to hispanics), the front office is gonna make Sanchez the long term QB…as for Kellen getting his chance.. I think he did..as another poster said, if he had wowed the coaching staff in prior years, we never would have had to suffer the Favre debacle.
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Bent says: “Alex Mack ( the best center in college football two yers running)”
According to who? He didn’t win the Rimington Trophy and wasn’t an all-American in either year. He was one of the best and may prove to be the best NFL prospect, but it’s an exaggeration to call him the best.
I think Alex Mack will be a good player and the Mankins and Mangold picks showed that taking the best center at the end of the first round can be smart, but the Browns already had a decent offensive line, so I can’t see this move in isolation having that big of an effect.
It may have been smart to reach for him though because he’s one of only four first rounders to have signed so far.
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MrJetGreen says:
Kellen Clemens will be named the starter going into game 1. Clemens will play well with a solid offensive line and running game that will keep other teams from stacking the box. If he gets sloppy in comes Meadowlands Mark.
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KC -
Thats just it I think Rex likes what he saw from Mark and he thinks he is better than Clemens.http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2009/07/confident_brash_tellitlikeitis.html
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Bent;
What would i do without my ole trustworthy advesary?
I’m not going to bore you with a post full of stats (you probably know them anyway) but I will suggest one for you to look anyway:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=56532&draftyear=2009&genpos=C
Among many, many accolades that he has received for his academic AND athletic prowess, one clocked him @ 4.99/40, two ave stood out tremendously:
1) Over 800 snaps, and only two penalties.
2) 400 (397) pass plays and no (zero, zilch) QB rushes nor sacks !!!
So, Bent, It dloesn’t matter if you are drafted #1 or #21, greatness is what insde the pads AND in the helmet.
So my friend, this is why, in my humble opinion (and others) Alex Mack is considered the best center to come out of college in the last two years !!! -
Bent says:
All that proves is that Alex Mack is a really good player. I agree, he is a really good player. I’ve even seen him play in person.
He still didn’t win the Rimington Award though, which goes to college football’s best center, not one who is the best NFL prospect.
I don’t rate him as highly as Mangold (who only went at 29). Mangold wasn’t the best center in college football either – that was Greg Eslinger.
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Bent;
Obviously you hold the Rimington Trophy above all in measuring the players ability to play that position. Unfortunately the pros don’t agree with you.
Of the last ten (10) winners of the Rimingotn, not one has been drafted in the first (1st) round, with just a handfull making an impact in the NFL.A better gauge would be the Morris, wich Mack won the last two consecutive years. First in almost 20 years to do so !! The last being Lincoln Kennedy (just looked it up)
Now take a look at the tremendous NFL careers prior winners have had.
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Bent says:
The Morris is just for PAC 10 players though, so again that doesn’t make him the best lineman in college football.
The reason he was drafted so high and is rated as a better pro prospect than any other center in last year’s draft is because he had a great combine and demonstrated tremendous smarts academically. He is also not undersized and, as I acknowledged, he was a fine player too.
However, he did not outperform Jonathan Luigs in 2007 or A Q Shipley last year, neither of whom were eligible for the Morris.
I’m not disputing his talent, or his pro credentials, but those guys outperformed Mack over the last two seasons, so the comment about him being the best center in football the last two years is incorrect. The reason they weren’t high draft picks was because they were unable to demonstrate the same athleticism (Luigs) or size (Shipley).
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Bent:
Never said Mack is the best center ” in football” although he might well just be in the near future. I did say he is the best center “comming out of college” the last two years, and he is. Your reasoning really doesn’t make sense. The NFL, and the HOF does not ditinguish greatness by PAC 10, BIG 10, SEC or whatever, it’s all about the players impact in the NFL. Compare the lists of each trophy and tell me which holds has more value.
Also regarding the last two Rimington winners, you said….”The reason they weren’t high draft picks was because they were unable to demonstrate the same athleticism (Luigs) or size (Shipley).”
Hard to understand you there on how impactfull they are/will be on a NFL football field if the Jets were drafting them (forget Mangold for a minute).Would you have drafted them for the Jets over Mack?
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Bent says:
You said he was the best center in college football, not the best center coming out of college. That’s all I was disputing. If you’d said the latter, I wouldn’t even have commented!
All I am saying is that despite the fact he is a 1st round pick and a great NFL prospect, he wasn’t the best center in college football. Those other guys were. I’m not saying they are better pro prospects than him – they aren’t, because they don’t have his athleticism, size or smarts – but they did outplay him at the college level, hence the Rimington Trophy voting.
The best players in college football aren’t always the best NFL prospects. Sometimes inferior players with better athleticism and/or size are better. Chris Leak, Troy Smith, Greg Eslinger…
I didn’t say Mack was a bad pick, so of course I wouldn’t have drafted them ahead of him, but those guys still outplayed him the last two years.
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Bent;
One last coment:
I have a hard time understanding your perspective in that you can be an inferior college player but still have superior draft value.
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Bent says:
That’s just not the way it is, Hank.
Does the Heisman Trophy winner get drafted first every year?
Players often prove they are better NFL prospects than guys with better stats or production than them – that’s why they have the combine, pro days, personal workouts etc. Other guys (I gave examples already) played well at the college level but are too small or slow for the NFL.
Alex Mack scored off the charts in these areas. He won awards for his academic prowess, so he would have aced the wonderlic. Also, a 312 pound man running a sub 5 second time in the forty is always going to elevate their stock.
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Corey, if I am reading this correctly, one thing you write makes no sense. In question 1, you write, “I don’t believe we’ll ever find out if Kellen is worth his jockstrap”. Then you predict that, “Sanchez by Week 6.”
If you thought Kellen would get no chance, it would have to be Sanchez by opening day and in spite of ups and downs. Otherwise, one has to assume that the guy starting weeks 1-5 is getting a chance. Again. Kellen has had chances during a season and in one preseason. He flubbed em.
Harlan