New York Jets Quarterback Controversy: Kellen Clemens vs. Chad Pennington

, but many would argue it was in spite of Clemens rather than because of him. His completion percentage remained low, only reaching 52 percent for the year, with an abysmal 5/10 TD/INT ratio. Only in the Miami game did he post a QB rating over 79, and he ended the season with a 60.9 rating.

Nothing in his play or statistics last year suggested that he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL. But if quarterbacks were only judged by their first eight games, Hall of Famers like Troy Aikman and Terry Bradshaw would never have gotten a chance. Clemens will likely never reach that level, but it's a waste of a draft pick to give up on him now. He outplayed Pennington in preseason last year, and the Jets obviously felt strongly enough in his ability to target him in the draft.

He has ability and the physical skills to succeed. He is only 6'2", which is a slight detriment, but if Clemens is going to be a good quarterback in this league, that should not hinder him too much. The Jets should realize that the best thing they can do for the long-term, and possibly the short-term, would be to find out what they have in Clemens.

If he's still playing this poorly after another eight games or so, then maybe pull the plug on him. But last season should be used as a way to get his feet wet in preparation for the 2008 season, not as a way to judge him as a bust. The Jets know what Chad Pennington is. They know that if he gets time, and if he has a great running game, he can be successful. They can always fall back on that if Clemens fails or gets hurt.

Pennington is the perfect backup, but as a starter, you want someone who could have the ability to take you to the Super Bowl. Pennington does not have that. As anyone who watched the games last season noticed, it seemed like every time the Jets were behind late (almost every game), Pennington could not lead a comeback to get the victory, throwing interceptions at the end of many games.

His total lack of velocity allows for players to sit on his out-routes, break toward the ball, and intercept it. You want a player who can succeed when the team is behind or ahead, and when Pennington is limited to throwing to the sideline, which is something he would have to do late in games, he simply can't. Clemens at least has that ability.

 

Verdict:

Clearly, there are less questions about Pennington than there are with Clemens. The problem with Pennington is that the answers to those questions aren't necessarily positive. Clemens is an unknown at this stage, but he was drafted to be the quarterback of the future, and the future is now.

This may be a win-now team, but they can only win so much with Pennington. Give Clemens some talent around him, something he sorely lacked last season, and the results should improve, dramatically. Either way, the Jets need to find out what they have in Clemens soon.

If he's a bust, they can cut ties with him soon. If he's the quarterback of the future, it would be a shame to leave him on the bench. They can't afford to make the same mistake they did with Pennington, where they did not have enough time to decide if he was the quarterback of the future before giving him a $64-million contract. Clemens is undoubtedly the best option long-term to start this season, and despite the statistics, he may be the best option in the short-term as well.

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