Ryan on Jets QB situation
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- March
- 24
Rex Ryan had some things to say today when asked about the Jets quarterback situation during an AFC coaches media breakfast, with the elephant in the room being Jay Cutler. So is Ryan considering a veteran QB?
“That’s what you hear in the papers but we like the guys we’ve got,” Ryan said. “We think with Brett Ratliff, Kellen Clemens and Erik Ainge, we have three young quarterbacks. We’ve been able to keep Brian Schottenheimer. He’s an outstanding coach. These quarterbacks have been able to stay in the same system their entire career. It’s not like you’re getting a rookie. For Kellen Clemens, this will be his fourth year in this system. He’s backed up some pretty good quarterbacks. Obviously with Brett Favre, everyone’s going to back him up. With Brett Ratliff, all he did last year was have a 122.5 passer rating in the preseason. Obviously, he’s never had a chance in a regular season game but it would be hard to get that kind of rating if you were going against air. We’ll see how he plays.”
So then Ryan was basically asked, really? You’re happy with those guys? There’s really no one else?
“I feel good about our quarterback situation,” Ryan said. “Everyone seems to think we have major issues there. I don’t think the situation is what people think it is. I think we’re going to be just fine. As I look at our offense, if we don’t have the best offensive line in the League, I think we’re certainly in that mix. We have one of the best offensive line coaches in the League, if not the best, in Bill Callahan. That’s a great foundation right there. We have two Pro Bowl running backs in Leon Washington and Thomas Jones. We have a former Pro Bowl fullback in Tony Richardson. We’ve got a great receiver in (Jerricho) Cotchery. We’ve got a tight end that scares the heck out of defenses in (Dustin) Keller. I think we’ve got plenty of weapons on offense. I’d like to be the quarterback for those guys.”
By the way Jones is still the only player who has not arrived at the Jets practice facility to take part in the off season workout program. It’s optional in the same way tipping your waiter is optional. Sure, no one’s going to arrest you, but it doesn’t look right when everyone else has to do it.
Ryan on last year’s first round draft pick, Vernon Gholston:
“For whatever reason, the young man maybe never played up to expectations but there’s a reason that he was taken as high as he was. I believe in the young man. I think you’re going to see this kid really come into his own this year. The thing I’ve really been impressed with about Vernon is that he’s been there almost every day. When nobody else was in the building, he was in there lifting weights and everything else. He’s ready to come out and, believe me, it’s in there. We all know it’s in there. But it’s my job to get this guy playing at a high level by any means necessary and that’ what we’re going to do…It’s just a matter of letting him know what we expect of him and letting him roll. All I want is everything he’s got. That’s all I want. Nothing more. It’s funny because I heard the same things about (Baltimore defensive tackle) Haloti Ngata when he came out of college – that he took plays off and things like that. I don’t hear anyone saying that now and it’s to that young man’s credit.”
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, March 24th, 2009 at 9:28 pm by Jane McManus.
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Jane McManus 
That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. I just hope Tan doesn’t lobby to screw it up. Now let’s get the receiver we need-and a blocking tight end who can catch an occasional pass.
We have all the QBs we need.
David, did you see how he glowed about your man, Ratliff? You know that Clemens is my choice, but if Rex runs an honest competition for the QB job, I really don’t care which one (even Ainge) ends up starting. I actually have faith in all three.
Where have all the J*E*T fans gone. Very few comments lately.
I’m with you, Alex. I am high on Ratliff, but it’s not because I have anything against Clemens. I’ll be happy taking my chances rooting for either one, coming out of an open competition. There has been too much time invested in these guys to throw them aside without giving them a chance.
Joe, I don’t know if I can speak for anyone else, but I know I’ve been a little sidetracked by March Madness lately. After NFL football, it is my very favorite sporting event.
David,
Are you pulling for Syracuse?
Hey Alex,
I am a big Orange basketball fan and I even have them going all the way on one of my two pool sheets. The last time I had them going all the way on a pool sheet, it won me a pretty nice pot, so I’m hoping lightening might strike twice. My sheets are still looking pretty good, with 14 out of 16 in play on both. There are lot of very good teams left, so it should be a pretty exciting dogfight from hear on out.
By the way, as a public service disclaimer, I’d like to note that March Madness pool sheets are the only form of gambling I partake in over the course of the year…well that and the occasional super bowl square.
David,
Me too. So is my wife. I just bought the DVD of the championship game about a year ago and we watch it every so often. Love Hakeem’s block at the end; he travelled a long way across to the corner to make the block handily, as I’m sure you’ve fondly recalled yourself many times!
I consider myself lucky to have watched every minute of the recent six-overtime game. That was really a thrill. Boy, was I a mess the next morning!
I can’t believe how many flus, colds, and little injuries have plagued the team this year. They never seem to be at 100% full strength. They’d better be this weekend!
Alex,
I watched that 6 overtime game also, but thank God, I had taken a vacation day for that Friday. Lots of times it’s all about when team is peaking and Syracuse is playing their best ball right now. Onuaku and Jackson have to establish good defensive position against Griffin and not get suckered into foul trouble. This is the first time since that championship team, that I felt they had the potential to make this kind of run. I hope they can keep playing the type of smart team ball that they have been, over the last couple of weeks.
My apologies for turning this into a college basketball thread…ha ha.
You guys are right. It is March Madness time. I stayed up for the 6 OTs and I stayed up for the Wisc and Sienna OTs till 12:30. Than got up at 4:45 to drive up to Glens Falls from Westchester County for the A-AA High school Semii-Finals. I guess when you are a sports fan you are a sports fan.
Joe B,
You are a crazy sports fan. Much respect for that. Not much going on in Jet Land now to write about. The time will come shortly.