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Jets: To go with Pennington as starter
Organization impressed with his progress, sharpness in camp
Wednesday, August 02, 2006

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON
Star-Ledger Staff

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Chad Pennington has won the Jets' starting quarterback job, according to a team official with knowledge of the team's plans.

The official, who requested anonymity because coach Eric Mangini isn't ready to make a formal announcement, said the competition at quarterback is over.

Pennington, the official said, has surprised the organization with his arm strength and accuracy, easily outdistancing himself from Patrick Ramsey.

"We're surprised at the progress he's made," the official said. "No one expected him to be this far along this early."

Ramsey, obtained in a trade from the Redskins this off-season to be Pennington's main rival, has been plagued by inconsistency -- something that derailed his career in Washington. He has had good days and bad, earning the wrath of the coaches one moment and their praise the next. This does not sit well with Mangini.

Rookie Kellen Clemens has struggled in drills and clearly is not ready. The Jets, however, expected that and are still confident in his future.

Brooks Bollinger is where he was last year -- an insurance policy in case Pennington or Ramsey gets hurt. Barring that, Bollinger may be released or traded before the end of camp.

Mangini and all of the players involved could not be reached for comment because the information was learned after the team's media availability for the day.

Pennington, after a shaky opening practice in which he threw interceptions on two of his first three passes in 11-on-11 drills, has made steady progress. He has strung together five solid practices, including a stellar performance in yesterday's afternoon session that stunned many in the organization.

Pennington, who has gone through eight practices, continues to show touch, distance and increased velocity on his throws and is skipping fewer and fewer drills. He still doesn't have a 90-mph fastball but that has never stopped him from getting the job done when he's healthy.

Link to rest of the article

Come on NOW PRAM has a cannon and a coach that likes him now!!!

Chris Luva Luva wrote:Come on NOW PRAM has a cannon and a coach that likes him now!!!

It seem they feel Chad would be better due to P-Ram's inconsistency, I think Mangini had his mind made up (Chad would be the starter) when he took the job. Ramsey isn't getting a fair shot. He has never gotten a fair shot. When will Patrick get a fair shot.

This just isn't fair.

1niksder wrote:

Chris Luva Luva wrote:Come on NOW PRAM has a cannon and a coach that likes him now!!!

It seem they feel Chad would be better due to P-Ram's inconsistency, I think Mangini had his mind made up (Chad would be the starter) when he took the job. Ramsey isn't getting a fair shot. He has never gotten a fair shot. When will Patrick get a fair shot.

This just isn't fair.

Do you want to share some [sarcasm] tags with me?

Patrick will be starting by mid-season for the injury prone Pennington.

this isn't a suprise to me, Ramsey isn't as good as Chad.

redskingush wrote:Patrick will be starting by mid-season for the injury prone Pennington.

And possibly even before the preseason is over!

so sorry, but they took it back today.

www.espn.com---> its on their top stories.

Try this link, it works....
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2537001

skinsfano28 wrote:so sorry, but they took it back today.

Seemed a little early for them to declare a starter. Have they even scrimmaged anyone yet?!?!

Boy, Ramsey couldn't catch a break to save his life.

I really think Spurrier ruined his career. I've never seen a QB suffer so much from a Coaches philosophy than Ramsey has. Granted, he's a football player and he should be able to adapt, but I could just sense that when he was getting the snot knocked out of him from all those blitzes that were being thrown at him under minimum protection, that it was somehow leaving him scarred for the rest of his career.

The way I see it is this: When Spurrier saw that his system wasn't working in the NFL, and thus not developing a rookie QB properly, he should have adjusted his Offensive philosophy accordingly and implemented a system that allowed Ramsey to develop. The entire world knew that Spurriers system was flawed after a half a season, yet he did nothing to change it and try and make it more competitive. A good coach should be able to adjust his system on the fly.

Think back to Joe Gibbs' first tenure with the Redskins. He came in with a reputation as a disciple of "Air Coryell", but when he started the season 0-5 he realized that he had to adjust his approach in order for it to be succesfull. As a result, he instituted a more running based offense, and began to reap the rewards. Shortly after that, the Redskins began to win ball games, and finished 8-8. We all know what happened over the next 11 years.

In short, I blame Spurrier for Ramsey's demise.

I read an article yesterday, I'll try and find the link, that said "Ramsey clearly outplayed Pennington" thus far in camp.



http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/teamReport ... nsideSlant


Team Report: Inside Slant

Inside Slant | Notes and Quotes | Strategy and Personnel
The competition is in full-swing. And unlike the way it often was under former coach Herm Edwards, this is an actual competition, one that hasn't already been decided in the head coach's mind.

"It's a wide-open opportunity," coach Eric Mangini said.
Of course, he was speaking about the quarterback position. Having undergone two rotator-cuff surgeries since Feb. 2005, Chad Pennington no longer is considered the Jets' franchise quarterback. And when training camp is over, he might not be the quarterback, period.

"Coach has made it clear it's an open competition," Pennington said on the first day of practice. "He's not pulling any punches and he's not playing any favorites."

Mangini also hasn't made it clear how long the competition and the auditions will last.

"As soon as someone distinguishes himself, that's the date" that a starter will be named, Mangini said.

While Mangini has said that all four quarterbacks in camp -- Pennington, Patrick Ramsey, Brooks Bollinger and second-round pick Kellen Clemens are in the running -- it would be quite a surprise if Bollinger were to win the job, despite the fact that he finished the 2005 season as the Jets' starter. Clemens, meanwhile, is believed to be the new quarterback of the future, so the team's brain trust likely wouldn't want to throw him in there too quickly, especially behind an offensive line that figures to start two rookies.

So that leaves Pennington, who restructured his contract in March, and Ramsey, who was acquired from Washington for a sixth-round draft choice. The former Redskin has been known for happy feet in the pocket as well as inaccuracy, and he showed those negatives during the one spring mini-camp that was open to the media.

However, he was a much more poised and accurate passer on the first day of training camp, a day in which he clearly outplayed Pennington, who tossed interceptions on two of his first three passes during the morning 11-on-11 drills.

"I feel like I'm doing better," Ramsey said after the morning session. "I feel better about running this offense than I did (before). I've studied a lot in the time from mini-camp until now and I'm going to continue to do so throughout training camp."

"No excuses, no explanations," Pennington said of the picks.

Mangini, of course, hasn't tipped his hand yet. To make the playing field as level as possible, he again has Ramsey and Pennington rotating time with the first-team offensive unit. For instance, on the first day of practice, Pennington worked with the first team in the morning and Ramsey practiced with them in the afternoon.

"When you have four quarterbacks in camp your reps are few and far between and when you get your reps, you've got to make sure you make the best of them," Pennington said. "I'm not going to lie about it, it's a little different."

Finding himself on the bench against Tennessee would be even stranger. But it is a legitimate possibility.

CAMP CALENDAR: Closes Aug. 17, two days before the game at Washington. There will be an open practice at Giants Stadium on Aug. 5, the first the Jets have ever held there during pre-season

Pennington will get hurt, and I bet Ramsey will be playing alot

redskindave wrote:Pennington will get hurt, and I bet Ramsey will be playing alot

I don't think he is fully recovered from the 2nd operation although the Jets say otherwise.

I'm really pulling for Ramsey. I hope he does well up there. It's not like we'd ever have to face him in the Super Bowl...the Jets may never see that again.

[quote="JPFair"]Boy, Ramsey couldn't catch a break to save his life.

I really think Spurrier ruined his career.


What? how many chances can one give this kid? I dont hear about the Texans Carr crying about being sacked a few hundred times. Yet he Still is their starter and you want to know why? Cause he actually has the talent to be a starter. Nobody ruined ramseys career, he is just not starting material. Gibbs knows it and now mangini knows it, and soon u will too.

redskindave wrote:Pennington will get hurt, and I bet Ramsey will be playing alot

Assuming Pennington even plays. I'd like to see, and hopefully will see, Ramsey win the starting job up there.

Mursilis wrote:

redskindave wrote:Pennington will get hurt, and I bet Ramsey will be playing alot

Assuming Pennington even plays. I'd like to see, and hopefully will see, Ramsey win the starting job up there.

Be careful what you wish for, Mursilis. If Ramsey ends up the starter and fails to produce for the rabid fan base in NYC, he most certainly will not be handled with kid gloves. He would get ravaged by the media and eatne alive by the fans.

He's a good kid and a RAW talent, but to wish ANY starting position for him, when he is clearly not ready, is really wishing him harm.

Hopefully, Ramsey does well, but he still seems green, IMO, and that won't cut it in the NFL.

Mursilis loves to throw QB's over the coals.


I can't wait till we play them in the preseason, Ramsey is going to get HANDLED! I can't wait to see his happy feet in the pocket against our defense!

REDEEMEDSKIN wrote:

Mursilis wrote:

redskindave wrote:Pennington will get hurt, and I bet Ramsey will be playing alot

Assuming Pennington even plays. I'd like to see, and hopefully will see, Ramsey win the starting job up there.

Be careful what you wish for, Mursilis. If Ramsey ends up the starter and fails to produce for the rabid fan base in NYC, he most certainly will not be handled with kid gloves. He would get ravaged by the media and eatne alive by the fans.

He's a good kid and a RAW talent, but to wish ANY starting position for him, when he is clearly not ready, is really wishing him harm.

Hopefully, Ramsey does well, but he still seems green, IMO, and that won't cut it in the NFL.

He's been in this league 4 years! His two years under Spurrier probably did more harm than good, but if he's not ready at this point, he's not ever going to be. I know the NY media and fans can be tough, but he (and most other high profile NY athletes) are being paid millions to take the heat, so I'm not going to worry about it. If your ego is easily bruised, pro sports is not your calling.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:Mursilis loves to throw QB's over the coals.

Hey, you learn to play this game by playing this game, in large part. Watching film and running 7-on-7 drills only goes so far.

I can't wait till we play them in the preseason, Ramsey is going to get HANDLED! I can't wait to see his happy feet in the pocket against our defense!

I still say, preseaon=fake games, so I just can't care. Sure, it's great to see the team in uniform again, but as long as no one gets hurt, I'm satisfied. I don't care about the score.