The debate regarding whether quarterback Mark Sanchez will be the Jets opening day starter began April 25, when NFL Network’s Rich Eisen looked into a camera and said, “There is a trade. . . .”
But the competition between Sanchez, the fifth overall pick in April, and career backup Kellen Clemens starts now, according to Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
“Everybody wants us to rush into a decision but it’s been a collective building process with the two of them,” Schottenheimer told me Wednesday night. “Kellen has the system pretty much down; Mark’s been trying to master it. Now, they are both on a level playing field in terms of being comfortable. Now is when it gets really exciting. I really think, quite honestly, the competition truly begins around this point. [We’ve been building] first impressions, but both guys need to grab the reins now and try to take control of this thing.”
Tonight, Clemens and Sanchez get a chance to compete in an Offense vs. Defense scrimmage, in which both players will take reps with the starting offense.
Sanchez has said and done all the right things to try and win the job. He signed quickly, portrayed himself as diligent and single-minded and, according to Jets beat writers here in at SUNY-Cortland, generally looks the part.
But Jets head coach Rex Ryan -- who said in the offseason that he had an idea how the competition would end -- stressed Wednesday that this isn’t a bag job for the rookie.
“We’re gonna do what’s best for this football team right now,” said Ryan. “And if Kellen is the best guy for that job to give us a chance to win right now, we go with Kellen.”
Ryan said he’d like to determine the starter “sooner rather than later.” He added, “But we’re not just going to name a guy the starter when we haven’t given the opportunity to compete yet.” Ryan said earlier in the day Wednesday that he would, “Ideally like to have a pretty good idea going into the third preseason game who the [opening day starter] is.”
He made no guarantee that he would make his final decision by that time.
