Jets camp tour: Quarterback job up for grabs
By Clark Judge | CBSSports.com Senior Writer Follow Clark Jets: Five things to know | 
Judge
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- So now the game is on: It's Chad vs. Kellen, Kellen vs. Chad, with no winner declared until New York Jets coach Eric Mangini declares a winner.
| Out of Nowhere Man |
 Defensive tackle C.J. Mosley isn't what you would call a household name, but he's good enough to have three sacks and force two fumbles in one series in a 2007 preseason game. Mosley, acquired in the Brooks Bollinger trade with Minnesota, won't start, but he will be a valuable member of the defensive-line rotation. Look for him to play plenty. A capable inside pass rusher, he's an asset for a team that has the misfortune of sharing the same division with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. If you want to beat the Patriots, you must get to Brady. The Giants offered a demonstration in the Super Bowl, with the last sack of Brady coming from Mosley's position -- defensive tackle. |
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That won't happen today, tomorrow or next week, and it might not happen until late August -- with Mangini comparing it to his decision to marry after months of dating.
"I just knew," he said.
Now he doesn't, and the Jets are left to wonder what all of this means.
In Kellen Clemens, they have a young quarterback with a live arm and a future, all of which should have been enough to make him the starter by now. But it's not, and there's why Clemens should be worried.
The Jets -- no, Mangini -- thought enough of Clemens to make him their second-round draft choice in 2006, with the idea that, presumably, he succeeds Chad Pennington. And maybe Clemens does. But the lack of conviction about him now speaks volumes.
Remember, Clemens was the starter the second half of last season, and had he passed the road test there would be no quarterback controversy. But he didn't, which is why we're here.
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"Last year was great for me in the chance I had," Clemens said. "I was able to go out, and I was able to play some games and have some success. That showed me that I can do it, and I can play at this level. Anxiety would not be the word (to describe how I feel)."
Maybe it should. Clemens isn't competing against a tired veteran or someone who can't win. He's competing against a 32-year-old quarterback who is popular, who took the Jets to three playoff appearances and who completes two-thirds of his passes.
But there's more.
Apparently, Pennington is taking this challenge seriously. He told reporters Thursday he spent much of the offseason working on his mechanics to become more of "a body thrower" and improve his strength and accuracy.
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Positives: Jones has topped 1,300 total yards in each of his last four seasons and averaged over seven TDs on the ground in the three campaigns prior to last year's touchdown drought. Expectations should remain high, especially with the additions on the O-line and the Jets' suspect passing game forcing them to run more. Jones will still share the ball with Leon Washington, but he did that last year and still topped 300 carries. And in stops with the Cardinals and Bears, Jones improved in his second year with each franchise. Negatives: Jones will be the dreaded 30 years of age when the season starts. While that won't scare off all owners because Jones has just 1,659 career carries to his name, it will be a factor when you debate between him and, say, Jonathan Stewart in drafts. It's also not so good that he plays in the AFC East, where if not for two games against Miami last year, Jones would have had zero rushing touchdowns and a sub-1,000-rush-yard season. In fact, Jones averaged 41.5 rush yards and 18.25 receiving yards in four games against the Bills and Patriots last season. Outlook: Alan Faneca's arrival should ultimately boost Jones' numbers when he runs outside and Faneca pulls with him or takes a pass into the flat. He should also help out at the goal line, where Jones can run behind him and burrow into pay dirt. Frankly, we don't feel like there's much to worry about with Jones, and that coupled with his weak 2007 should see him fall to owners in Round 4 in drafts this summer. He should come close to 1,200 total yards and six touchdowns -- more if the Jets' pass attack steps up -- and serve as a low-end No. 2/top-end No. 3 Fantasy RB. -- Dave Richard RB: Thomas Jones (52nd overall) QB: Kellen Clemens (206th overall) WR: Laveranues Coles (76th overall) TE: Dustin Keller (195th overall) |
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Accuracy has never been a problem with Pennington. He completes 65.6 percent of his passes, best among quarterbacks with 1,500 or more throws.
Velocity and arm strength are another story, and, yeah, I think they're overrated. Dan Fouts didn't have a big arm, but he's in the Hall of Fame -- and he's in the Canton because he was accurate.
So is Pennington. But now he's telling us he intends to become more accurate, reminiscent of comments he made in 2006 when he said he spent the previous offseason rebuilding his arm strength, trying karate and perfecting his mechanics by studying videotapes of quarterbacks like John Elway.
Two years ago he didn't miss a game, and the Jets went to the playoffs.
"I just want to see individual improvement," Pennington said. "I've really tried to change my mechanics in the offseason to maintain consistent velocity.
"I know I have the arm strength to complete all my throws. I want to be more consistent at making those throws, and that's why I changed. It's still a work in progress, but I'm really focused on that and really excited about that part of my game."
So the changes aren't readily apparent. Big deal. If they work as well as they did the last time Pennington went to school on his mechanics, it's the Jets that should be "really excited" and Clemens who can start reaching for a clipboard.
"There are a lot of things I'm tweaking and changing because I want to get better," Pennington said. "I want to become a consistent thrower down the field and really take my talent and accuracy and use it to my advantage down the field, intermediate, short -- wherever the ball needs to go.
"My goal by the end of training camp and going into the season is to tell the difference between this year and last year. In this league, it's all about what you're doing now, not what you've done in the past. It's about taking it one day at a time and making sure you're doing everything possible to prove yourself again."
At the team's first full-squad first practice Thursday, Pennington and Clemens split snaps, with Clemens throwing the only interception. It was supposed to be a short pass to wide receiver Laveranues Coles but wound up in the hands of linebacker Eric Barton.
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| Once again, Chad Pennington will be under scrutiny as he tries to hang on to the starter's role. (US Presswire) |
"I just wanted to ask him, 'Why were you there?' " he said. "We just had a little conversation, so the next time when the play is called against that coverage I don't make the same mistake twice."
Good idea, especially when he's involved in a race so close a mistake could put you on the bench. But let's not get carried away here, folks. Nothing is going to happen here overnight, so let's have no illusions about what Clemens' interception means now or for the future.
"This is more of a marathon than a sprint," Clemens said. "I don't think Coach is going to make the decision this afternoon. If he were, then it's going to haunt me a little more."
If Clemens should be haunted, it's by the determination of his competition. Pennington might not be the starter -- not yet -- but he sure acts like one and talks like one. Now he intends to play like one.
"I am here to win this job," he said. "That is my goal and focus. That has never changed, and it won't ever change."
Kellen Clemens, consider yourself warned.
