Start the Rookie?: The Jets' Mark Sanchez-Kellen Clemens Quarterback Debate

Over and over again, two names will be brought up when debating whom the Jets should start at quarterback in 2009: Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens.

Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) and Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) were both rookies who managed to lead their teams to the playoffs last season, something that is considered nearly unprecedented in today's NFL. Usually, it's commonly believed in the NFL that a rookie quarterback must spend at least a year or two carrying a clipboard before they are finally given a chance to start on a regular basis. 

But last year, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco defied the odds.  Both rookies led their teams to the playoffs, with Flacco leading the Ravens all the way to the AFC Championship, falling just short of reaching the Super Bowl. 

Sure enough, the defensive coordinator for the Ravens last season, Rex Ryan, is now the head coach for the Jets, and is now in a similar situation:  To start the rookie, or start the veteran?

Everyone knows the story of Mark Sanchez, and how the Jets made a dramatic draft-day trade with Cleveland to take the fifth pick in the draft, and to take Sanchez out of USC.  Sanchez is the highest drafted quarterback by the Jets since Joe Namath (and we all know how that worked out). 

But on the other side, Kellen Clemens enters his fourth year with the Jets, and has yet to show the front office that he is "The Guy."  In his sophomore season just two years ago, he started eight games for the Jets, and went 3-5, winning 75 percent of the Jets wins that year (they won one game with Chad Pennington as quarterback that year). 

It was very evident that Clemens just didn't look like a guy who could be a constant starter in this league.  Sure, his offensive line didn't help him out much, as he rarely had time to go through his check-downs and gave up on plays very early.  He showed Jets fans, such as myself, a very "deer in headlights" look as quarterback. 

But before last season, the Jets went out and acquired veteran Offensive Linemen Alan Faneca and Damien Woody, which drastically improved the Jets offensive line.  It was believed that Clemens would have a shot to start that season, as he was engaged in a training camp battle with Chad Pennington.  Except one thing got in his way:

Brett Favre.

The Jets famously traded for the Hall-of-Fame quarterback about a week into training camp, and then released Pennington (who then quickly signed with the Miami Dolphins, only to win the AFC East with them by beating his Former team, the Jets on Week 17).

Since Favre's apparent retirement, no matter what it has looked like Clemens will have to battle for his job.  Before they acquired Sanchez, it was supposed to be between Clemens and the since-departed Brett Ratliff (who many fans, including myself, were pulling for to win the job). 

Ryan has stated repeatedly that the Jets will run the ball, and quite often.  This philosophy was proved when the Jets drafted Iowa Running Back Shonn Greene in the 3rd round, and has reportedly done very well in Mini-camp and OTA's.  Add Greene to a backfield that already has the AFC's leading Rusher from last year in Thomas Jones, and speedster Leon Washington, the Jets have a potential three-headed monster coming out of the backfield, which along with a good offensive line, should take pressure off whoever the Quarterback should be.

This three-headed monster running attack is similar to what Rex Ryan had in Baltimore last year, with LeRon McClain, Willis McGahee, and Ray Rice splitting carries, which took pressure off of the rookie Quarterback.

I'm sure most Jets fans are pulling for Sanchez to win the job (as I am). That's the sexy decision. But really, the logical choice is to start Kellen Clemens.  He's been here longer, he's waited for his shot, he's said all the right things, and I feel it's only right that he get the job, now that he has an offensive line to give him time to make decisions, unlike two years ago.  Let him prove himself.

And if after a few games into the season, Clemens hasn't proven himself, you can then see what the rookie Sanchez can do.  A risk the Jets can take, given that they'll be running the ball most of the time anyway.