JETS season comes down to backup QB Kellen Clemens

[OG Hack Wilson]

TAMPA - When Kellen Clemens reflects on his three-plus seasons with the Jets, his thoughts probably go something like this:

They love me. They love me not.

Love me. Not.

Love me. Not.

Love me. Not.

Now they need me.

Call it an audition. Call it an "I'll-show-them" opportunity. Clemens downplayed the peripheral storylines, but his teammates know the deal.

"I'm sure he's relishing the moment," tackle Damien Woody said. "You'd be foolish to say he's not thinking about that stuff, but he's not showing it to everybody else."

Clemens is 0-for-2 1/2 in quarterback competitions, including the abbreviated battle last year that ended when the Jets rode Brett Favre into town on a white horse. Clemens thought he was going to replace Favre this season, and the organization fueled that perception by talking him up in the offseason, but it made a blockbuster trade to draft Mark Sanchez. Clemens was deeply stung by the move, according to people close to him.

He didn't present much of a challenge to Sanchez in their summer competition, but Clemens gets a chance to make a statement in his first start since Dec. 30, 2007. His career passer rating is 59.2, the league's second-lowest since 2006, so this isn't Mariano Rivera coming in from the bullpen. (No snickering, Mr. Sanchez, because you're fourth on that list.) But it will be Clemens' first chance to play with a sound supporting cast.

Behind a porous offensive line in 2007 (where have you gone, Adrien Clarke?), Clemens was sacked 27 times (once every 10 drop-backs) and went 3-5 as a starter. He still might be feeling the effects of that beat-down, according to coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who suspects it may have contributed to Clemens' issues with pocket presence. In case you haven't noticed, he tends to be jittery and impatient in the face of the pass rush.

"He's worked hard on that," Schottenheimer said. "You can trace it back to '07. He got hit a lot."

Clemens wasn't exactly the picture of calm last week when he replaced the injured Sanchez - three sacks and a fumble in 22 minutes - but he should be more confident after a full week of practice. Unlike '07, he has a terrific offensive line and the league's top-ranked rushing attack.

"I think he realizes he doesn't have to do it by himself," Schottenheimer said. "I also think he's more prepared for this opportunity than he was in 2007."

The coaches insisted they have complete faith in Clemens to operate the offense, but don't buy that for a second. The game plan will be more conservative than usual, as the Jets attempt to pound away at the Bucs' soft run defense. The Bucs (1-11) are allowing 160 rushing yards per game, next-to-last in the league. Rex Ryan's plan is to run all day and let his defense try to rattle rookie quarterback Josh Freeman, who is coming off a five-interception nightmare.

Bottom line: Over the last 24 months, Clemens has attempted only eight passes. So, no, they're not going to let him come out firing.

If the Jets win the turnover battle, and if Clemens can complete a few passes here and there, they should be okay - unless the pressure gets to him. This is by far the most meaningful start of his career. By the time Clemens replaced Chad Pennington in '07, the Jets were hopelessly out of contention. Now, at 6-6, they still have an outside chance at the playoffs.

"I think I'd be a little bit more concerned if it was my first start ever," said Clemens, whose future with the Jets is up in the air because his contract expires after the season.

If the Jets lose, fall out of contention and return home to find that Sanchez still isn't 100%, Ryan could decide to stay with Clemens. Love works in mysterious ways.

[Lunatic]

TB upsets the Jets tomorrow

[Jaydc]

TB upsets the Jets tomorrow

You really do hate the jets dont you luna LOL

Come on give me a break jets win this easy.Sanchez isnt a big factor to the jets offense this year,in fact a lot of the time hes the biggest drawback of it,so its not like losing him is a factor.

Add in the fact that the bucs are second to last in the league against the run against the jets number one rushing attack.

Every week you predict the jets to lose,your starting to sound like a hater.

[Lunatic]

You really do hate the jets dont you luna LOL

Come on give me a break jets win this easy.Sanchez isnt a big factor to the jets offense this year,in fact a lot of the time hes the biggest drawback of it,so its not like losing him is a factor.

Add in the fact that the bucs are second to last in the league against the run against the jets number one rushing attack.

Every week you predict the jets to lose,your starting to sound like a hater.

I actually don't hate them at all. Their one of the many teams I'm neutral on. I like the Titans and can't think of many teams I "hate" = Philly, Indy, Jax, Hou, NE and Baltimore. That's it. The Bucs haven't been playing too bad as of late and their due for a 2nd win in my opinion. I really am not a Jets hater at all    I am picking TB against the spread on my pro line ticket. I said the Jets would lose last weekend because the Bills are starting to play better football and I thought they'd pull it off in Toronto. I was wrong, not hating.

[OchoCinco]

TB upsets the Jets tomorrow

You really do hate the jets dont you luna LOL

Come on give me a break jets win this easy.Sanchez isnt a big factor to the jets offense this year,in fact a lot of the time hes the biggest drawback of it,so its not like losing him is a factor.

Add in the fact that the bucs are second to last in the league against the run against the jets number one rushing attack.

Every week you predict the jets to lose,your starting to sound like a hater.

WAIT, what, how can losing such aGREAT player like THE SANCHIZE not hurt ur offence in a huge way /sarcasm no im just playing. Losing sanchez aint gunna mean shit, Sanchez takes like 10 passes a game. That team is based on the run and defence, theyve show when they try to be a passing team it usually is the demise of them.

[Jaydc]

Luna predicts the jets to lose every week no matter who it is.I think hes just salty that the jets beat the titans this season and last season.Not only beat them last year when they were good,but dismantled them lol.

[Lunatic]

Luna predicts the jets to lose every week no matter who it is.I think hes just salty that the jets beat the titans this season and last season.Not only beat them last year when they were good,but dismantled them lol.

But bro I'm really being serious with my post. I'm genuine when I say I don't have hate for the Jets. I can care less about them like Carolina, Washington, etc. lol. If I was salty about the teams that have beat us in the time I've been a Titans fan, I'd be salty towards every team  lol

Kellen Clemens is a horrible QB and although the Jets don't pass much, I think he's gonna hurt them. Josh Freeman is gonna be a pretty cool QB in his career. Bucs win 17-14.

[Chamillitary Click]

Jets win.

[Chamillitary Click]

the Jets are the greatest punt fake team of all time!

[Lunatic]

I admit I was wrong.

[OG Hack Wilson]

I admit I was wrong.

as usual

[OchoCinco]

so is sanchez gunna be benched now or wat.

[Jaydc]

sanchez will not get benched.If you watched the game its more proof of why sanchez is the qb.He may make a lot of rookie mistakes but he will be a great qb and shows that at times.Clemens looked fucking terrible all day.He was missing wide open receivers with no pressure all day.He even missed a three yard pass.His career is over after this year,gauranteed.Maybe it traces back to 2007 when the jets had possibly the worst o line in the league and clemens got sacked over and over and over.He has happy feet in the pocket and looks like he never wants the ball.Hes done.

[Lunatic]

^Told u he's horrible. That's why I thought Tb would actually win. But wow they are so bad.

[Jaydc]

I still say jets win two of the last three and have a shot at making the wildcard.People forget how good this team actually is despite the qb situatuion.Best running game in the nfl and the second ranked defense.If sanchez can limit his mistakes they make the playoffs.Hell they held the saints offense to ten points and should have won that game if it werent for the intereptions by sanchez.And four of their other losses were on the final play of the game.I like their chances better then the jaguars,baltimore,titans and steelers.Just depends on what miami and new england do.