Audible: The Back-Up Situation
With the signing of 40 year old veteran Mark Brunell, the Jets are now carrying five quarterbacks heading into training camp. Obviously, there will be an odd man or odd men out in this equation but the question is who?
Clemens has a vast knowledge of Brian Schottenheimer’s system however he has been shaky when his services were required (i.e. vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers in ’09). Erik Ainge has yet to see his NFL debut and though he has shined in the preseason, we need to remember that it is against the backups and the backup’s backups. O’Connell, a product of the Patriots 2008 draft, has yet to see any action in a Jets uniform (aside from practice of course) however after giving up a late round pick to the Lions, you would think the Front Office would have seen something in him besides information on the Patriots offensive tendencies.
Beyond Sanchez, in my opinion, there really is no clear cut viable option at this point. With that said, someone’s head will be on the chopping block and we here at TJB would like to know what your thinking? What will become of Sanchez’s backups?
75 Responses to Audible: The Back-Up Situation
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Brunell will get the job done – whether it is just being a sounding board for Sanchez or if he actually has to play a few games. Guy might be old, but he has been through the wars – somthing our other backups really haven’t seen.
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scott says:
Can I just say I love the site remodle on my phone
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Mark. KC. Brunell. And we try and slip Ainge onto the practice squad. Bye O’connell, we hardly knew yeah.
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Maybe its just me, but I don’t think the Jets need to establish who is their #2 QB and who is their #3 QB, although they do need to decide who to cut and who to keep. Personally, I would make Brunell the #2 and Ainge/O’Connell the #3. If Sanchez was to get hurt for a game or two, I would have Brunell start. However, if God forbid Sanchez suffered a season ending injury, Ainge or O’Connell would need to be the Jets starting QB. I think that Brunell could serve as a band-aid for a couple games (preferably against weaker opponents) but I don’t think the Jets would make the playoffs if he had to start a significant number of games. Anyway, lets just hope Sanchez stays healthy!
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Before I get slammed…if Mark gets hurt, we need someone to play. Who is the best option for mre than a game or two? KC. And it would make sense lockeroomwise–new word.
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Clemens is awful. Honestly, I would rather give O’Connell or Ainge a shot. Clemens is not an NFL QB. He has no accuracy, is undersized, has a decent arm, and he still has happy feet in the pocket. I think he is more likely to lose a game for the Jets than win a game.
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After that Tampa Bay game last year, I never want to see Clemens take a snap again, that was just dreadful
For those of you upset with the Brunell move, go back and watch that Bucs game again and if you tell me that you would rather have KC than Brunell, you are fn nuts
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Got one even better… I was at the Jets last open camp at Florham Park last season and I stood on the side lines watching Clemens blow 2 passes to an open J-Co which were less then 8 years.
I said from that point he NEEDS to GO!!!
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Not to forget that Clemens could not beat out a noodle arm Chad even when the Front Office gave him every opportunity to take the team over which is the reason they brought in Brett Favre!
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I think Clemens has to go. He failed in his attempt to become the starter, as they went with Favre and then Sanchez. Now, they bring in Brunell to whisper into Sanchez’s ear. That, to me, means Clemens is gone. I would keep Ainge and give him the majority of the work in pre-season, as he could be the actual back-up to Sanchez.
As for pre-season, and Ainge playing against back-ups — those back-ups are playing for their football lives. Too many times, on this blog, people say that pre-season means nothing. I disagree with that. A player, like Ainge, only gets a few series in the pre-season, to impress his coaches. When he does so, it is not fair to say he did it against nobody. He did it against whoever the other team put in front of him. Does his impressive pre-season performances make him a star — No. But, it shows that he has some talent. It is up to Schottenheimer and Cavanaugh (and Brunell) to turn him into a pro QB.
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To be honest I don’t have much faith in any of these guys if Sanchez did God forbid went down. I think Ainge may have some potential and Clemens, well, he is what he is. Mark Brunell is a has beem but all I ask from him is to mentor Sanchez. I don’t think we need to carry 4 quarterbacks on our roster so let’s have Eric Ainge and Kellen Clemens battle it out in camp and in the pre-season for that #3 slot in the depth chart. Let’s just hope Sanchez stays healthy and we won’t even have to talk about this again. So much being made about this signing it’s ridiculous.
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If I would have know we were in such need for QB depth I would have gone to Florham Park and displayed my talant to Rex and staff.
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Any chance that they bundle some of the backups as a package to get a new kicker?
Or at least a take out menu from Arby’s!
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Sanchez#1 ainge#2 brunell#3 …….if ainge and sanchez go down in the same game you put brad smith at qb until one of them can come back in…..and if they can’t come back in then you put brunell in the game…
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Bkwrxwgn says:
Cut Ainge and O’C to free up salary space. Clemens has been a Jet for so long might as well keep him to be the median between the Young Sanchez, the Middle Aged Clemens, and the Old Brunell. For all we know Brunell might even be a good mentor to Clemens! Worse case scenario there’s always BSmith.
BTW I definitely appreciate the website upgrade, thanks for keeping us Green and White fiends well fed!
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it’s not like Ainge and O’Connell even make that much money so not much salery space is being cleared
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this is what training camp competition and preseason is for. may the best man win between clemens, ainge and o’connell. keep 3 QBs on the roster. don’t forget we also have b. smith.
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Will – Agreed, that Tampa game was an awful display. ANYONE could have done better. If we ever need KC the season is done anyway, so why keep him?
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LukeV says:
Are any NFL backups any good?? (I.e. Brooks Bollinger, Patrick Ramsey, that Painter kid from Indy)
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g.JETSon says:
Hardknocks preview is on! Rex is special! If he says Revis is believe it!
these guys are special. Tomlinson is a consumate pro who feels dissed, don’t bet against him! -
Uhhh am I the only one who’s HBO decided to f-up the audio during the hard knocks preview? I sat through the last 10 minutes of true blood, the second it switched to the hard knocks preview, audio goes out (and yes, every other channel is fine..). WTF
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Was I the only person who couldn’t a word of the preview because of the loud buzzing sound? Do someone sneak vuvuzelas into HBO?
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Have to agree with everyone on here in re Clemens and Tampa Bay. For brevity’s sake, “nuff said.”
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OOOO Wee! I cannot wait for the season to start. Rex-a-lot and the crew have me fired up. I love the attitude of this organization. Hit someone boys, I want to see blood, missing teeth, and broken fingers. Aug 11, and September cannot get here fast enough. Show em who’s home it is!
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I find it hard to believe I am the first to post, cut em all and have Brad Smith back-up Sanchez.
None of these guys, including Brunell is anyone I want to see a minute of PT — except for Smith whose change of pace style and running ability makes him a good option on third or fourth and short.
Does anyone believe Ainge, O’Connel or Kellen will get a job elsewhere? Does anyone really think any of them will start for any NFL team?
Harlan
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I don’t think thats out of the realm of possibility. It can’t hurt to keep Ainge and O’Connell around for training camp and let them compete though. If they both don’t show any improvement, I think it would be a good idea for the Jets to save a roster spot by using Smith as the #3 QB. The Jets could always pick on of those guys back up if Sanchez got injured. Or they could add a QB to the practice squad.
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I’m with Harlan — none of these guys would be a starter anywhere else in the NFL. Brunell is washed up, KC has had — and squandered — his chances, and even though there is a lot of love around here for Ainge based on him underthrowing preseason targets against 3s and 4s, I’ve seen enough of him at training camp to know he is awful (inaccurate and about as mobile as Lady Liberty). I don’t know enough about O’Connell, but the fact that he’s bounced about a bit isn’t exactly a glowing endorsement.
Like I think the 2010 Jets kicker is currently on another roster, the team’s backup QB may also be on another team right now …
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JUSTWIN says:
I can’t wait for the season to start. I like how they started the show with the loss to the colts.
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I agree Harlan, why didn’t they go after a veteran QB to be the QB coach, instead of filling up a roster spot with an old boy. I don’t know what Brunell has left, I’ve never liked Clemens under center, and Ainge (really?), and we all know why O’Connell was brought here (and that role has been played out for a while). Plain and simple, if Sanchez goes down I will have zero hope left in the tank.
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Sanchez, and does it really matter ? If Sanchez goes down this is going to be a looooonnnnngggg season.
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I believe they will try to convince Clemens to stay on as the 3 with the knowledge that its his job if Sanchez has to actually miss a game. They will try to showcase the other two in preseason games and hope to nab a late draft pick for one of them.
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Clemens has not distinguished himself as a Jets starter.. EVER.
Let’s see he he does at this year’s camp. My money is NOT on Kellen.
The Jets need to end this little drama early.
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Tom in Raleigh says:
The only issue I see with letting Kellen go is that he will end up in our division spilling the beans to our opponants.
If they can get a sack of potatos for him, make the trade.
O’Connell helped us beat the Pats, Thanks. Bye.
Ainge? Can he play? If they think so, he stays on.
Brunell is a good signing. In ’99 we missed the playoffs because we didn’t have a backup who knew our playbook.
If Sanchez went down, I believe Brunell could at least not lose games for us. The only issue I could see is that the offense would flow the other way at that point.
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Honestly I’d get rid of all three, Clemens, Ainge and O’Connell..with Brad Smith, you always have a 3rd QB. Smith was no slouch at QB in college, some 4,000 yards I believe plus his running ability. Yeah, I know his playbook knowledge is limited but by the time we would have to rely on him(hopefully Brunnel gets us through a few games) he’d be ready.
This way, we open up more player slots for deeper defense or other offense positions.
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When I have to tell people to put the Kool Aid down you know Satan is ice skating right now.
In what universe can Brunell get us “through a few games”? Unless the Jets have a stretch of games against Tamnpa, KC, and Oakland I wouldn’t count on it. Brunell is horrible.
This is not to say anyone we have is good, which a lot of people are mistaking my comments for. What I am saying is the Jets did not improve their backup situation (in terms of playing) at all. Brunell may be worse than clemens right now, and that’s not a joke at all.
All this mentor stuff is puzzling to me. The Jets have a former NFL QB with lots of experience as their QB Coach. If they wanted to bring in a veteran QB couldn’t they have brought in one that could play? I mean, I’d rather have Jeff Garcia than Brunell (and anyone who knows my feelings about Garcia knows how hard that is to even type).
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There is no way that Clemens is a better option than anyone in this league. The only upside is that he presumably knows the playbook inside and out. Which is the only reason to keep him in Green and White, if only to keep him away from division rivals.
What will a backup be doing? Handing the ball off and tossing it around now and again.
Has ANYTHING that Clemens has done shown you that he is very good? He’s the reason that the Jets brought in Favre.
Either way, if Sanchez goes down, the hopes for this team will go down with him.
If nothing more, Brunell is no stranger to pressure situations.
He’s at very least the equal talent wise of Clemens, yet with experience.
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Ignorance is bliss.
Clemens is terrible, but Brunell is probably worse. Experience is wonderful except he has little in common with Sanchez in terms of style and I would like to go into the season not being on Vinny T Achillis away from 1999 all over again. And I am dead serious when I say that Tom Tupa was probably better at QB that year than Brunell would be this year.
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There is one big difference here between ’99 and ’10 that you are missing.
In ’99 Tom Tupa came into that game because Rick Mirer had been with the team for all of a week (could have been two) and had no idea about the team or the playbook.
Additionally, Parcells didn’t trust Ray Lucas to do the job.
I would prefer to see us keep Clemens, if only to keep him from spilling his knowledge to someone else.
It’s a coin flip on the 3 backups in my opinion. No matter what, I do not believe that Brunell is some sort of downgrade at backup QB.
Tom Tupa better? Really? I am sure that was a reactionary comment…based on your past comments, I believe you have actually watched some football.
You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself for being ignorant. You often have intelligent things to add here.
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You’ll soon realize I sometimes exaggerate for effect. Of course Tom Tupa wasn’t better, but my point is that Brunell is as useless a backup as you can have in the playing sense.
I’ve stated I see the mentor role as overblown when your O-Coordinator tutored two the five best QBs in the NFL and your QB Coach was an NFL veteran on the same tier as Brunell used to be.
If Sanchez gets hurt just run the wildcat and let LDT throw (since he is a better passer than Brad Smith).
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Actually, I take that back. Tom Tupa WAS better in ’99 than Brunell is now.
Tupa (against the #7 defense in 1999) went 6 for 10 for 165 yards and 2 TD’s.
Brunell, in week 17 (with almost the entire offense playing; against the #9 defense) went 15 for 29 for 102 yards, no TD’s and an INT.
BRING BACK TUPA
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Clemens has had his chances. Its time to move on. None of the backups have any trade value. Including the recently acquired former Favre backup. Drop Clemens and let Ainge and O’Connell battle in preseason for the 3rd spot. I bet Clemens is out of football if the Jets release him. He may know the system but he is horrible.
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I don’t see why all this hate for Brunnell. He’s no starting QB. We all know this and that’s why he doesn’t have a starting gig. But to completely discredit the guy is a little much. He is a longtime veteran in the game with 3 pro bowl seasons. If Sanchez were to go down we need a game manager. Someone who can hand the ball off and make a throw when the 3rd down calls for it. We saw what Clemens can do, and he could barely beat the 2nd worst team in the NFL WITH the best Oline and running game.
A seasoned vet WILL be able to manage a game, and have much more to share with our sophomore than KC would.
Valid point on not spillin the beans, Tom in Raleigh
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Thanks Doug. That is really the only reason to keep Clemens at this point. If cut, he would get one more season (at least) of bench warming by virtue of knowing our playbook.
I agree with your comments completely. Brunell is not fantastic at this point, not a starter, but he could manage a game or two, stay cool under pressure and lets not forget that he did lead the Redskins to the playoffs a few years back.
As a backup? Fine.
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I can see Brunnell being the mentor role for Sanchez, maybe him even playing the third QB role. I believe Brad Smith will be the emergency QB. This will save a position on the roster. If the coaches don’t have confidence in Clemens, Ainge, and O’Connell then be gone. Although I believe Ainge should be given an opportunity to play a little more this preseason. I think he is a player worth keeping.
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I like kerry who? ‘s idea. You know mangini would scoop up KC like every other jet he coached on our roster. Straight-up trade – KC for Brett Ratliff. He was a capable back-up then, he’ll be a capable back-up now. Cut O’Connell and and leave Ainge on the practice squad.
Done deal
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Those who forget history ate doomed to repeat it.
It took Parcells half a season to go to Ray Lucas, hopefully we’d go to B Smith right away. He’s by far the best option we’ve got.
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Led says:
During the video chat yesterday, Schotty talked about how valuable Brunell was to Brees in NoLa two years ago. Brees and Schotty are close friends. That’s what this is all about.
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clemens will be waived and then be claimed by buffalo. he will throw for 354 yards and two touchdowns, in a 28 to 24 win against the jets. trent edwards and ryan fitzpatrick were both scratched due to food poisoning. that’s what being a jet fan is all about.
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Johnny Hector says:
Clemens wants to a chance to start and he’s not going to get that here. He will be happy to be released and try to catch on somewhere else. Brunell will help fill that veteran leadership void created by Thomas Jones and Faneca being shown the door. If Sanchez gets hurt this offense will look alot like it did last year hand the ball off and try not to throw it to the other team. I think Brunell should be able to handle that. He not going to be asked to throw teh ball 40 times a game.
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Because Scott, Jenkins, Pace, Ellis, Mangold, D’Brick, Sanchez, Cotchery, Revis, etc. couldn’t fill that “void”?
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Sanchez was close with TJ and leaned on him alot for advice last year, so having Brunell by his side will help fill hat void. Also TJ and Faneca have been to a Suberbowl (Faneca winning) and being part of winning a Superbowl last year is something Brunell has over any of the vets you mentioned. Plus I wouldn’t really consider Sanchez a veteran at this point.
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Rex won a Superbowl.
Brunell “won” a Superbowl just like Shockey “won” a Superbowl with the Giants.
And Sanchez is the leader of the offense, he has to be.
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Two veterans leave TJ and Faneca. That leaves a void. Insert a veteran ala Brunell into that void. That helps fill the void.
Of course Sanchez is the leader of the offense. No one is disputing that. But Brunell is being brought in to help “provide veteran leadership” to Sanchez.
Having experience as part of a winning organization like Rex, Shockey, Brunell, Faneca, Santonio is a plus to a team trying to win a Superbowl. When trying to accomplish something, find someone who has done it before and learn from them.
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Jason Taylor? LDT? I’m pretty sure those guys can handle being leaders, you know, since they’ve been doing it for almost a decade each.
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I’m convinced that Brunell was brought in simply to be Sanchez’ eyes and ears on the sideline. As someone who has started for years in this league he will see things that a 2nd year QB does not. That is the beginning and the end of the reason for him being a Jet as far as I’m concerned.
That spells the end of Clemens to me. Clemens’ play was awful when called upon and his only value was knowledge of the system and being the only other QB on the sideline with game experience. Sanchez probably knows the system as well if not better than Clemens at this point and Brunell obviously has more game experience.
Clemens – gone.
One of Ainge or O’Connell – gone.Depth: Sanchez, Ainge/O’Connell, Brunell
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By the way, I wonder how Steve Serby feels about this precious time that could have been used to think about how to extend Revis’ deal being used to sign an over the hill, washed up QB.
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Ed says:
Folks, as a starter KC sucks, yes, but we are talking about a back-up job, and he’s better than 1/3 of the leagues back-ups. He’s the best option, and rumors are he is popular in the lockeroom. He’s on a one year tender. Keep KC and reevaluate next offseason. Brunell simply can’t play anymore. We’d be better with Ainge or Brad Smith.
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Did KC ever sign his tender?
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Bent says: Yes.
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Bent – what does that mean in terms of cutting him? At what point do we need to cut him by to not pay his 2010 salary (or did that point already pass). I assume the plan is to have KC hang around to get Brunell up to speed, then cut him
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Bent says:
His salary will become guaranteed only if he is on the opening day roster. I believe they can cut him any time before then and owe him nothing.
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after the cost cutting moves made (cutting TJ, not signing Douglas, etc), I find it VERY hard to believe they will pay KC $1.2M to stick around
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Maybe they’re trying to trade Clemens now. I doubt they can get anything for him other than a few used jock straps, but it wouldn’t shock me at all if Tanny were doing his due dilligence before cutting him.
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Le'Sean says:
Please, I hope they don’t cut Eric Ainge.
I don’t see Clemmens or O’Connell surviving. Ainge has shown flashes, so see no reason to cut bait with him over the others. We know what Clemmens is, no need to see any further- Imagine he’s also making the most money out of the crew