QB competitions are something you try to avoid, not invite

[JohnnyBaseball1]

I don't care what stats say, I am of the opinion that those Jets teams that went to the AFC championship game are being WAY overrated by some people. They were never that good, they got a lot of luck, and were never close to being the best team in the league. I don't think the gap between those teams and the team last year is as huge as people are making it out to be. I remember Rex crying, I remember the defense just letting the Falcons walk down the field at the end of the game and allowing a TD like they weren't even on the field. I remember the Colts deciding to not try to win the game against us, I remember a horribly called game by Marvin Lewis, I remember an extremely soft Chargers team. We were good those years, not great, and Sanchez played so much better than Smith. Lets not act like those teams were the 90s Cowboys or anything.

 

[OCCH]

What better way is there to do it?

What better way is there than; "we believe in you, you're the guy, no hedging our bets, and we won't keep it a secret", to pump a kid up and give him the impression that you really believe in him?

Lets be honest, even if you tell him that and then announce it to the media too, then wax poetic about his raw talent, that will assuredly give the kid a boost of confidence, but its not a sworn affidavit with a notary public, its not written in blood that he's the guy all year no matter what, if he stinks he can still get the hook, everyone understands that, so it doesn't really cost you anything to go ALL IN at the outset (other than upsetting his detractors), then see how it plays out.

How can you come in preaching the importance of "competition at every position" and then hand a starting gig over to a player who wouldn't even be the backup on some teams?

If I'm Geno, I know how I've played. I know I haven't earned anything. I WANT competition to prove I belong.

But I guess that's just me . . .

 

[OCCH]

I don't care what stats say, I am of the opinion that those Jets teams that went to the AFC championship game are being WAY overrated by some people. They were never that good, they got a lot of luck, and were never close to being the best team in the league. I don't think the gap between those teams and the team last year is as huge as people are making it out to be. I remember Rex crying, I remember the defense just letting the Falcons walk down the field at the end of the game and allowing a TD like they weren't even on the field. I remember the Colts deciding to not try to win the game against us, I remember a horribly called game by Marvin Lewis, I remember an extremely soft Chargers team. We were good those years, not great, and Sanchez played so much better than Smith. Lets not act like those teams were the 90s Cowboys or anything.

+100000000

 

[OCCH]

What the team is not reporting is that they are secretly working out a deal with Testaverde. He's only 51, tanned, rested and ready. They are just marking the position until they can make this announcement.

The real question is what's the record for how many threads and posts can be made with all this emotion over one single subject that you cannot possibly know with certainty what the answer is?

This is getting like the old Tastes Great/Less Filling ads

What else is there to talk about before the calendar even turns to June?

If we can't debate THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITION ON THE FIELD, then what's the point of even logging in?

 

[Football51]

How can you come in preaching the importance of "competition at every position" and then hand a starting gig over to a player who wouldn't even be the backup on some teams?

If I'm Geno, I know how I've played. I know I haven't earned anything. I WANT competition to prove I belong.

But I guess that's just me . . .

I agree with what you're saying(and personally, I don't care who the qb turns out to be), but right now with the Fitz injury there is no one to compete with. For arguements sake, let's say that throughout the offseason, Smith does what Gailey and company expects of him. Come training camp, even with a healthy Fitz, Smith wouldn't lose any first team reps because(if the above scenario holds true) he'd have earned them. Now, if the opposite happens and Smith implodes, I don't think the staff would hesitate to open things up. It's just that right now, there is no competition, so why create uncertainty in the locker room. Name a qb, build chemistry, and evaluate along the way.

 

[Fudbutter]

What else is there to talk about before the calendar even turns to June?

If we can't debate THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITION ON THE FIELD, then what's the point of even logging in?

Good point

It's going to be two months until there is something worth talking about

This season cannot start soon enough

 

[BigDan]

This is the issue as I see it: they are more afraid of Fitz's leg injury than they are letting on. Something is going on there that they are holding back from the media. They cannot afford to assume it's going to be ok. They need to give Geno all the reps to get him as prepared as possible. If he really stinks in game 1 or 2 then they have no choice but to go with Fitz and keep their fingers crossed. Fitz is a vet in the system already and a much smaller amount of practice will be needed to tune him up.

They cannot afford to take any reps away from Geno: he needs all the help he can get. And they really have no idea about what Fitz is going to be physically.

If Geno fails after opening day, it becomes an emergency and they have no choice but to go with Fitz. Until then, it's Geno all the way for them.

Am I happy about this? No way, but it is what it is - there really was no one more solid than Fitz available.

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

How can you come in preaching the importance of "competition at every position" and then hand a starting gig over to a player who wouldn't even be the backup on some teams?

QB is not like other positions. Ideally you want competition at every position, except QB, at QB the opposite is the ideal. Coaches only have QB competitions by necessity, because there is no QB on the roster they can trust to anoint as the starter, and you can certainly argue thats the case here, but ideally no coach WANTS competition at the QB position, he wants it settled, its the only position where competition is not a good thing.

Coaches can wax poetic about wanting competition across the board, but its not true, they would much rather have a situation where the QB position is settled.

 

[BlindsideD'Brick]

Some people act like the Jets should've just gone out and plucked a franchise QB out of thin air this off season. The problem with that thinking is that good-great QB's are wrapped up by their respective teams. Every once in a while a good QB shakes loose from a team because they have a great QB in place already. But that scenario didn't exist for the Jets. Macc isn't a magician or miracle worker. He managed Fitzpatrick and Petty, and that's about as good as it was going to get. Unless you advocated sending all of our draft picks for a few years to Tennessee for Mariota. Which would've been stupid.

It's easy pointing out a problem. It's much more difficult coming up with a sane solution.

 

[ucrenegade]

Don't care what is said in May if Smith throws 2 td's and 10 int during pre-season and Fitzpatrick throws 8 td's and 1 int guess who starts week one.

 

[OCCH]

QB is not like other positions. Ideally you want competition at every position, except QB, at QB the opposite is the ideal. Coaches only have QB competitions by necessity, because there is no QB on the roster they can trust to anoint as the starter, and you can certainly argue thats the case here, but ideally no coach WANTS competition at the QB position, he wants it settled, its the only position where competition is not a good thing.

Coaches can was poetic about wanting competition across the board, but its not true, they would much rather have a situation where the QB position is settled.

That goes without saying, but is only relevant if true.

I think everyone would like to think they don't have cancer, but walking around telling yourself that doesn't change the reality of what's going on in your body. The smarter thing is to do whatever it takes to remedy the situation, regardless of comfort or consequence.

If you believe Geno warrants the starter's title, you're certainly entitled. If you believe this is just a smokescreen that doesn't truly reflect the CS opinion of the situation, that's certainly possible.

I'm going on the assumption they really believe what they say, and "Geno would have to implode in the preseason to not start game 1". I don't believe he's earned that right, nor is it in the best interests of the team.

But again, I feel this way on May 23rd. I fully expect the picture to become clearer as we get closer to Labor Day (even if I don't like what that picture looks like) . . .

 

[OCCH]

Some people act like the Jets should've just gone out and plucked a franchise QB out of thin air this off season. The problem with that thinking is that good-great QB's are wrapped up by their respective teams. Every once in a while a good QB shakes loose from a team because they have a great QB in place already. But that scenario didn't exist for the Jets. Macc isn't a magician or miracle worker. He managed Fitzpatrick and Petty, and that's about as good as it was going to get. Unless you advocated sending all of our draft picks for a few years to Tennessee for Mariota. Which would've been stupid.

It's easy pointing out a problem. It's much more difficult coming up with a sane solution.

I think most of us understand we have to play the hand we're dealt.

We just don't all agree on the best way to play it . . .

 

[Mainejet]

Bowles must play the hand he is dealt. The problem I have with it is HOW he's plaing that hand.

From Maccagnan's standpoint, I thought he did a marvelous job. He got that savvy vet and he got the guy that could potentially be the future of the franchise in Petty.

But WHY do you get those guys? I mean WTF is the point of even getting the guys if you do not allow them to compete for the job? Competition is what it is all about. It brings out the best in everyone.

Yet, Gailey with Bowles approval are choosing to summarily SKIP that and appoint someone as their starter.

I have so many problems with that on so many levels. First and foremost, Geno has done NOTHING to deserve it. If anything, his play should be driving people away.

This is the very same thing that Rex Ryan and Marty Morninweg did. MANY Jets fans railed against the CS for never keeping Mark Sanchez honest by getting some real live QB competition. This new CS has learned NOTHING from past experiences.

It would be nice to see the Jets finally doing something outside the box in an effort to make this team better. But they're not and it is bothersome.

 

[marac]

Did anyone think that anointing Geno as the starter now just shuts everybody up.. This is a team coming out of a Circus, Rex's Mouth, Butt Fumble, Tebow, Mike Vick ,,, I mean if in September Geno's not the Starter they can come up with whatever reason that they want and nobody can say Shit....

 

[sg3]

Did anyone think that anointing Geno as the starter now just shuts everybody up.. This is a team coming out of a Circus, Rex's Mouth, Butt Fumble, Tebow, Mike Vick ,,, I mean if in September Geno's not the Starter they can come up with whatever reason that they want and nobody can say Shit....

Excellent point

Shuts the media up for 3 months

We all know that Mac and Bowles didn't bring Fitzpatrick here and draft Petty to sit and watch passively as Geno is Geno and destroys a third season AND their futures as NFL executives

 

[Lakerfan80]

They didn't bring those guys in here for that reason and Geno won't get a chance to destroy this team...for right now he is the starter as Fitz is recovering from a leg injury, and Petty's very few supporters say he needs a lest a season of sitting....plus does anyone think Mac and Bowles would turn this talented, veteran team over to a 4th round rookie? They would bring in a vet before that, imo.

 

[Football51]

There are only two qb's on our roster with any chance to be starter(Smith & Fitz). One won't be healthy until July at the earliest. The other has been leading every practice, camp, and OTA since the offseason began. I'm still not sure I see an issue with the "announcement".

 

[LIJETFAN]

Guys, it's May. The Jets haven't played a single game yet, and we are already criticizing the coach and the offensive coordinator about the QB? Seriously? We have no idea what kind of offense Gailey will run. We have no idea if Geno can improve under Gailey. We have no idea if Fitzpatrick is going to play when he is healthy. There is nothing to criticize here because nothing has happened yet. Geno was named the starter, so what! Did anyone here really think he wouldn't be the week 1 starter with Fitzpatrick injured? What do Bowles say, you have to win, while you're learning how to win. He's right. This team, including the QB is not going to transform overnight. Give the coaching staff time and let's see what they do before we rush to judgment on the direction of the team.

Bowles came off the Parcells coaching tree. He gets it. Gailey has been a successful coordinator in the league. I 'm sure the two of them are on the same page when it comes to the QB position and what they want to see. Geno won't have a long leash. Bowles has made it very clear he is not a fan of turnovers and Geno has to protect the football. If he doesn't do that, he won't be starting for very long. So let's just wait and see what happens. The intense criticism at this point in the season, (this staff's first season mind you) is unwarranted.

 

[johnnysd]

I've been reading the debate all week, since the new regime named Geno the starter, and mostly I've tried to avoid it. I've touched upon some of the things I'll be posting here, but I feel it needs to be said, clearly and concisely, because I get the impression that people don't really look at the downside of QB competitions, and IMO the downside is considerable, which is why most coaches view QB competitions as the football version of root canal (without novocaine).

That said, how did QB competitions workout for the prior staff?

What good did it do Geno that the prior staff was so reluctant to name him the starter, that they wouldn't even call him the starter when he was starting?

Why would you want the new staff to follow the same script that failed for the old staff?

You know the old saying, if it ain't broke don't fix it, well the reverse of that is, the definition of insanity is doing the same failed things and expecting better results.

And there are reasons why it failed, which is why most (competent) coaches try to avoid QB competitions and QB controversies like the plague:

1. If you have a QB competition and its a real competition, that means your eventual starter is getting about 50% of the first team reps, which is no way for a QB to prepare for an NFL season and no way for an offense to build chemistry.

2. Getting those first team reps are even more crucial when you have a new OC installing a new offense, as has been the case three years running with the Jets.

3. The first two are exacerbated even more when you are simultaneously trying to groom a young QB, that guy especially needs every rep he can get.

4. QB competitions naturally lend themselves to creating a divided locker-room, cause everyone has an opinion on who should start, even if they don't voice that opinion, and the only way to avoid that is for the coach to definitively name a starter and say its a non issue, THIS IS OUR GUY, period, end of story, now lets get behind him and help him win.

5. The media loves QB competitions so they will always lobby for them, it makes their job a million times easier, the narrative is black and white and they can write about it every day, but the stuff they write is never healthy for the football team or the fans, which is no concern of theirs, they are just interested in more readers, listeners and viewers.

6. Its hard to get a young QB to believe in himself if he knows the CS doesn't even believe in him.

Look, like I said, there are tons of reasons why coaches try to avoid QB competitions if they can. Just because the old staff invited this stuff and we've grown accustomed to it, that doesn't make it right. Most coaches want no part of a QB competition or controversy, and this one clearly wants no part of it either.

100% correct. Amazing people don't get this. In truth, Bowles is all doing split field 11 on 11 like Philbin so Geno might get all the first team reps and additional 2nd and 3rd team reps and that is a good thing. In the Rex "competition" days sometimes each QB would only get 10 reps. Under Bowles and Gailey, Geno might get 30. That will make a big difference.

 

[jets82]

As Green Jets & Ham posted not long along 6 valid points or more as to why there isn't and shouldn't be a QB competition, he forgot to add in one more. The most important one IMHO is that they most truly believe in Geno and want him to be more then 100% ready to go when season starts. Or they are doubtful and giving him every opportunity to disprove himself so there will be no more debates from anyone as to why he failed and why they benched him.

I believe or hope its because they believe in him and want him to be more then 100% ready before season starts. Call me crazy but if they didn't, I would have thought they would done whatever had to be done to draft Winston or Mariota. Or trade for Breez, Rivers, Foles or even Bradford. I mean Geno isn't their hand picked QB, he was handed to them by the old regime. So now was as good as time as any to turn the page and get another QB that everyone clearly knew was his replacement but they didn't. Means something to me!