Star Ledger
Jets: To go with Pennington as starter
Organization impressed with his progress, sharpness in camp
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
BY DAVE HUTCHINSON
Star-Ledger Staff
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Chad Pennington has won the Jets' starting quarterback job, according to a team official with knowledge of the team's plans.
The official, who requested anonymity because coach Eric Mangini isn't ready to make a formal announcement, said the competition at quarterback is over.
Pennington, the official said, has surprised the organization with his arm strength and accuracy, easily outdistancing himself from Patrick Ramsey.
"We're surprised at the progress he's made," the official said. "No one expected him to be this far along this early."
Ramsey, obtained in a trade from the Redskins this off-season to be Pennington's main rival, has been plagued by inconsistency -- something that derailed his career in Washington. He has had good days and bad, earning the wrath of the coaches one moment and their praise the next. This does not sit well with Mangini.
Rookie Kellen Clemens has struggled in drills and clearly is not ready. The Jets, however, expected that and are still confident in his future.
Brooks Bollinger is where he was last year -- an insurance policy in case Pennington or Ramsey gets hurt. Barring that, Bollinger may be released or traded before the end of camp.
Mangini and all of the players involved could not be reached for comment because the information was learned after the team's media availability for the day.
Pennington, after a shaky opening practice in which he threw interceptions on two of his first three passes in 11-on-11 drills, has made steady progress. He has strung together five solid practices, including a stellar performance in yesterday's afternoon session that stunned many in the organization.
Pennington, who has gone through eight practices, continues to show touch, distance and increased velocity on his throws and is skipping fewer and fewer drills. He still doesn't have a 90-mph fastball but that has never stopped him from getting the job done when he's healthy.
"I've been really happy with Chad's progress," Mangini said earlier in the day, following a two-hour, 32-minute morning practice in which the temperature peaked at 95 degrees with a 104 heat index. "He has strung together some good practices. That's what we're looking for in the quarterback position on down the line.
"I'm definitely encouraged by his progress, but I've seen progress with each of these guys and I've seen steps back with each of those guys. It's got to be a consistent performance, and that's how they're going to distinguish themselves."
Pennington did just that yesterday, in a two-hour, 43-minute no-pads afternoon practice. He put on a passing clinic working with the second team, hitting all types of passes and even his deep balls had zip.
The organization does not have any concerns about his ability to throw, but is still concerned about his ability to stay healthy for an entire 16-game schedule.
Pennington is confident -- and glad to be back on the field.
"I feel good," he said after the afternoon session. "I'm glad to be participating every day and not having to sit out practices. That's a lot of joy for me.
"It gives me a lot of pride to know I've done the right thing in the off-season to keep going. I'm just going to stay with the plan they have for me, keep working hard and keep enjoying it."
Pennington, who was careful to temper his excitement, is exuding more and more confidence through his body language and the way he's running the team. He appears to be finding a rhythm despite the four-man rotation.
"I feel like every day we're working really hard to get in that rhythm and really figure out what (offensive) coach (Brian) Schottenheimer wants from us, what coach Mangini wants from us, the tempo they want us to play at," Pennington said. "We're making progress every day but we still have a long way to go."
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Looks like he's got some zip back in his arm, but can he stay healthy? The news probably bumps him up to about QB 22 in my book, just ahead of David Carr.
Jets: To go with Pennington as starter
Organization impressed with his progress, sharpness in camp
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
BY DAVE HUTCHINSON
Star-Ledger Staff
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Chad Pennington has won the Jets' starting quarterback job, according to a team official with knowledge of the team's plans.
The official, who requested anonymity because coach Eric Mangini isn't ready to make a formal announcement, said the competition at quarterback is over.
Pennington, the official said, has surprised the organization with his arm strength and accuracy, easily outdistancing himself from Patrick Ramsey.
"We're surprised at the progress he's made," the official said. "No one expected him to be this far along this early."
Ramsey, obtained in a trade from the Redskins this off-season to be Pennington's main rival, has been plagued by inconsistency -- something that derailed his career in Washington. He has had good days and bad, earning the wrath of the coaches one moment and their praise the next. This does not sit well with Mangini.
Rookie Kellen Clemens has struggled in drills and clearly is not ready. The Jets, however, expected that and are still confident in his future.
Brooks Bollinger is where he was last year -- an insurance policy in case Pennington or Ramsey gets hurt. Barring that, Bollinger may be released or traded before the end of camp.
Mangini and all of the players involved could not be reached for comment because the information was learned after the team's media availability for the day.
Pennington, after a shaky opening practice in which he threw interceptions on two of his first three passes in 11-on-11 drills, has made steady progress. He has strung together five solid practices, including a stellar performance in yesterday's afternoon session that stunned many in the organization.
Pennington, who has gone through eight practices, continues to show touch, distance and increased velocity on his throws and is skipping fewer and fewer drills. He still doesn't have a 90-mph fastball but that has never stopped him from getting the job done when he's healthy.
"I've been really happy with Chad's progress," Mangini said earlier in the day, following a two-hour, 32-minute morning practice in which the temperature peaked at 95 degrees with a 104 heat index. "He has strung together some good practices. That's what we're looking for in the quarterback position on down the line.
"I'm definitely encouraged by his progress, but I've seen progress with each of these guys and I've seen steps back with each of those guys. It's got to be a consistent performance, and that's how they're going to distinguish themselves."
Pennington did just that yesterday, in a two-hour, 43-minute no-pads afternoon practice. He put on a passing clinic working with the second team, hitting all types of passes and even his deep balls had zip.
The organization does not have any concerns about his ability to throw, but is still concerned about his ability to stay healthy for an entire 16-game schedule.
Pennington is confident -- and glad to be back on the field.
"I feel good," he said after the afternoon session. "I'm glad to be participating every day and not having to sit out practices. That's a lot of joy for me.
"It gives me a lot of pride to know I've done the right thing in the off-season to keep going. I'm just going to stay with the plan they have for me, keep working hard and keep enjoying it."
Pennington, who was careful to temper his excitement, is exuding more and more confidence through his body language and the way he's running the team. He appears to be finding a rhythm despite the four-man rotation.
"I feel like every day we're working really hard to get in that rhythm and really figure out what (offensive) coach (Brian) Schottenheimer wants from us, what coach Mangini wants from us, the tempo they want us to play at," Pennington said. "We're making progress every day but we still have a long way to go."
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Looks like he's got some zip back in his arm, but can he stay healthy? The news probably bumps him up to about QB 22 in my book, just ahead of David Carr.
