Saturday was the Washington Redskins' sixth round draft pick Colt Brennan's birthday.
And the Jets gave him quite the present.
What was it? First, they created the perfect scenario for him by being unable to complete enough passes and convert enough first downs to extend the Jets' lead beyond reach in the fourth quarter. With the game within reach, Brennan responded.
Brennan first entered the game at the start of the fourth quarter. The Jets lead was one point, 7-6. Brennan's first drive was uneventful, three and out. Jets quarterback Brett Ratliff (signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jets last season) promptly marched his team downfield and added to their lead, setting up a Mike Nugent field goal.
Brennan's second possession was only slightly more eventful than the first, but still ended with a punt. Fortunately for him and the Redskins, young Ratliff was not able to duplicate his first appearance. The Jets would punt and leave Colt Brennan two minutes and four seconds with which to win the game.
On his first play, from the Redskins' 20 yard line, Brennan tossed a pass deep down field, and wide receiver (and roster hopeful) Billy McMullen went high in the air to make the catch at the Jets' 43 yard line. 37 yards. Good start to a game winning drive.
But it wasn't all pretty. Following the next play, a 14-yard Marcus Mason run, Brennan dropped back to pass, but had no time to react as the Jets blitzed heavy, and he was sacked for a four-yard loss.
But Brennan learned from that blitz. On the next play, the Jets blitzed again, but this time, he was ready for it. He knew where his hot route was. And just as importantly, the rest of the offense saw the blitz coming as well, learning from the last play, and being ready for the next.
Brennan read the blitz and lofted a pass into the middle of the field. Tight end Jason Goode, who also recognized the incoming blitz, went after the ball aggressively. As it turned out, he had to, as a Jets defensive back also leapt for the ball, expecting to intercept the pass.
But Goode was, well, good. He made the catch and turned for the endzone, rumbling untouched for the would-be game-winning touchdown.
The Jets following possession began with one minute four seconds on the clock and the Jets' young quarterback was not to be outdone by Brennan.
Ratliff promptly marched downfield and put his team in position for a game-winning touchdown (aided largely by the worst tackling performance from the Redskins defense thus far in the preseason).
This led to a decision from Jets' head coach Eric Mangini (a man affectionately known as Mangenius) that still boggles the mind. I will not offer details here. I have already written about it and there is no need to beat a dead horse, or a missed field goal, for that matter.
Suffice to say that Mangini decided to attempt a game tying field goal, which would have sent the game into overtime. In the PRESEASON!
Fortunately for all involved, kicker Mike Nugent missed from the FIVE YARD LINE, and the Jets gave Colt Brennan a very nice birthday present.
Happy birthday Colt.
12 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Tanner Kluth 10 months ago
It sucks that Brennan is already turning 25. Campbell is 26 and turning 27 in December. That makes Campbell only a year and a half older that Brennan.
Edit Comment Cancel
Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
Why does that suck? He won't last long enough to take over for Campbell when he retires?
Edit Comment Cancel
Tanner Kluth 10 months ago
It sucks because that's fewer years Brennan has to develop and fewer years he has in this league.
Edit Comment Cancel
william kuhns 10 months ago
Cambell will lose his starting job soon enough. but it wont be Brennan taking his place. Collins will step up and Brennan will sit back and learn more. though i have to say... Brennan will likely give everyone a run for their money in 2010, or make for a hell of a trade to some other franchise.
Edit Comment Cancel
Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
I'll be shocked if JC "LOSES" the job to anything other than injury. Collins won't be capable of getting any more done than Campbell. If JC does get hurt, and is out for a long time, look for Brennan to push Collins for the spot at some point in the year. Collins just isn't good enough to keep the starting job if he does end up with it.
Edit Comment Cancel
Daniel Smith 10 months ago
as a jets fan i like colt brennan i thought he got a bad rap does anyone remember who he played in that bowl game? yea thats what i thought anyone would struggle
Edit Comment Cancel
Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
It definitely was an unfair judgment, nobody could have succeeded under the kind of pressure they got on him in that game.
Georgia simply overmatched them completely at the line of scrimmage, I really felt for him in that game.
Edit Comment Cancel
PaT Gesuale 10 months ago
I read interviews of Georgia's defensive coordinator after the SB-- He had a simple strategy: get Colt Brennan. Even the uga players interviewed afterward said they were "gunning for HIM"-- they were told basically one thing: GET Colt Brennan. (I got the feeling even some of them felt sorry for him.) Coaches of previous teams UH played had told UG coaches-- you have to stop Colt Brennan-- and they did-- with "fresh legs" in on every down (I read somewhere that's what Richt said part of their strategy was also) and of course, their depth of talent. UG was by far the better team, and I agree with both of you (Daniel and Craig) that anyone's favorite qb would not have had success that day against uga's defense. True to form though, Brennan afterward said he took all responsibility for the loss-- never once mentioning his overmatched OL who were his teammates as well as friends.
Edit Comment Cancel
Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
Fox sports seems to think that Redskins aren't even even worthy of a top 10 list on the NFL's "NFL's best fan bases".
I just voted for "other", everyone go do the same for the insult.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8450106/VOTE-NOW:-Which-team-has-the-NFL%27s-best-fan-base?
Edit Comment Cancel
J. Michael Morris 10 months ago
Brennan is the new Brett Favre. Give him a chance.
Edit Comment Cancel
Takayuki Miyazaki 9 months ago
Brett Farve...I'm thinking he should replace Matt Cassel on the PATS! I think he'd be a good brady with A class receivers on the PATs to use his full potential!
GO COLT!
Edit Comment Cancel
Craig Garrison Sr 9 months ago
I don't know about the Favre comparison, but the Skins don't look all that stupid right now, two apparently high quality YOUNG quarterbacks, couldn't even find ONE for 15 years, now they have two, go figure!
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.