Position by Position Overview: QB

I will start my pre-training camp position by position overview with the Quarterbacks. The Depth Chart currently looks like this:

1. Kellen Clemens
2. Mark Sanchez
3. Eric Ainge.

Mark Sanchez:

Sanchez was drafted by the Jets with the 5th overall pick in the 2009 draft out of USC. Sanchez was widely regarded as being the second best Quarterback in that draft behind Matthew Stafford. With his movie star looks and marketable personality many fans have been reminded of former New York Jets quarterback, Joe Namath.

Going into training camp many believe that Sanchez holds a slight edge on Kellen Clemens in their battle for starting quarterback. Sanchez, at 22, is regarded among fans as the future of the organization. He has the arm to make all the throws (unlike our former franchise quarterback) and has a personality that is built for leadership. Not many rookies are able to step into a new situation and pick up the playbook and leadership roles as well as Sanchez has this offseason.

I loved the pick of Sanchez and I think he will be the starter when the Jets go to Houston in Week 1. Although it may be rushed to have a rookie QB starting in Week One I believe that Sanchez has both the physical tools and the mind to become a successful "Joe Flacco-like" quarterback. If he can manage the game and get the ball off to Thomas Jones and Leon Washington I believe he can have a successful first season in the NFL.

Kellen Clemens:

Clemens goes into the training camp as the #1 QB on the depth chart for the Jets. (per Rex Ryan today) However, despite being a second round pick in 2005 and entering his 4th season in this offensive system he has failed to define himself. He was given a chance in 2007 and ended with a 60.9 rating behind a decimated offensive line. Clemens has the arm to make all the throws and has the build to be a starting NFL quarterback. However, he has yet to show that he has the ability to make the step between perennial backup to starting quarterback.

Clemens has been a great backup for the Jets in the past 4 years. I believe that he is ready for the opportunity to start and will probably succeed this season if given the right role. (if he wins the QB battle) He must be put in a position where the RB's carry most of the load while Clemens works within the system that he has learned the past 4 years.

Winner of the Battle: Mark Sanchez

Despite the setback of starting training camp as the number 2 QB on the depth chart, I believe that Woody Johnson will force Rex Ryan into making Sanchez the starting QB week one. With the sales of tickets in the new stadium hurting Woody knows that the only way to make sales is to start Sanchez and hope for the best.

Next up: RB's

New York Jets

In 1999 I broke a lamp while watching John Elway complete a 50 yard pass to Ed McCaffery to essentially end the Jets season. In 2005 Doug Brien ripped out my heart when he missed both 47 and 42 yard field goals which would have sent the Jets to the AFC Championship game against the heavily favored Steelers. I've dealt with Vinny Testaverde, Ray Lucas, Glenn Foley, Chad Pennington, and Brett Favre, just to name a few quarterbacks who have tried and failed to deliver a Super Bowl to the Jets. The only way to top the incompetence of the quarterbacks is to look at the head coaches. Al Groh, Herman Edwards, and Eric Mangini have ruined the early part of the 2000's.

With the start of 2009 we have the start of a new season and many new chances for the Jets to disappoint. However, Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez provide some sense stability for generations of fans who haven't even been close to a Super Bowl. I will document these disappointments (with some successes mixed in) along with news that will be added as I find it.