The Pennington Era Must End
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I have long been a Chad Pennington fan. Since he took over for Vinny Testaverde a quarter of the way through the 2002 season, he has managed to accumulate the best winning percentage in the history of Jets quarterbacks. When Chad was healthy, the Jets were a playoff team. Chad never won games with the power of his arm. Instead, he won games with his head and his pinpoint accuracy. As an example, Pennington would not throw an interception in the "red zone" until his 7th season in the league.
Certainly it has been maddening to watch the Jets offense over the last few years. Paul Hackett was run out of town because of his conservative offense. The Jets rarely took shots down the field and seemed incapable of a big play. Their offensive touchdown's were typically the result of methodical drives. If ever in a 3rd and long, the Jets would predictably run a draw.
Since 2002, one thing has always been true of the Jets. They were a better team when he was the quarterback. Even last year, coming off of his second consecutive shoulder surgery, Pennington was able to quarterback the Jets to another playoff series. However, as preseason unfolded this year, the whispers started that Pennington's reign as the best quarterback on the Jets roster may be coming to an end.
Kellen Clemens, a young gunslinger from the University of Oregon, was drafted in the second round of the 2006 draft. In his second year in the league, the preseason demonstrated that Clemens learned a lot from his year on the bench. Clemens got his first real taste of NFL action in week two when he struggled in the first half against Baltimore's league leading defense. However, Clemens made a statement almost leading the Jets to a comeback victory in the second half. In fact, if not for 3 dropped passes in the endzone, Clemens would have had the Jets in overtime.
But in week 3, with Pennington's ankle injury healed, Clemens went back to the bench and Chad Pennington went back to his role of leading the Jets to the playoffs. But since beating Miami in week 3, a funny thing (well, not funny for us Jets fans) has happened. Chad Pennington has thrown five interceptions in the last two games, bad losses to the Bills and the Giants. So now, the Jets sit at 1-4 with the playoffs an unlikely scenario. After watching Pennington throw away a lead against the Giants, one has to ask the question of not only who gives the Jets the best chance to win this year, but, sitting at 1-4, what is the best for the Jets future.
It is hard to say who gives the Jets the best chance to win this year. Watching Clemens against the Ravens and Pennington the last two weeks, it is at least arguable that Clemens can't do any worse than Pennington. But, more importantly, Chad Pennington is not the quarterback of the future. Kellen Clemens is.
Its not just the interceptions. Watching Pennington today against the Giants, every pass he threw seemed to be a lollipop that he expected his reciever to fight for. Every catch had to be made coming back to the ball, limiting the opportunity for big plays. The reality is that even if the Jets switch to Kellen Clemens, there are going to be some growing pains. But, with this season all but over, better to get those bugs out of the way this year rather than next. Let Kellen Clemens get some experience under his belt this year so that the Jets can hit the ground running next year.
