Post by John on Jun 16, 2006 16:06:57 GMT -4
Pennington taking mini steps on long road back
June 15, 2006
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- All four Jets quarterbacks huddled together before the start of team drills on the first day of minicamp Thursday.
One emerged to take the first snap from center.
Surprise. It was a rookie.
Kellen Clemens lined up, barked orders and dropped back but was forced to run after feeling some pressure. All the while, Chad Pennington looked on, waiting for his chance. It came next, as the second quarterback in, with the backup offensive line.
Is Pennington's shoulder rehab going so badly that a rookie has passed him on the depth chart?
"I knew you guys would say that," Pennington said with a smirk. "We've had a rotation every day ever since the beginning of spring practice. It's split down the middle, everyone gets reps. It's an equal opportunity for everybody."
So Clemens went first when 50 reporters were watching Pennington's every move,
"You should not read into it one bit," coach Eric Mangini said. "I didn't script the rotation based on your visit here today, it's the way that it fell. You'll see throughout the weekend each guy will work with the various groups."
He was right.
In the afternoon session, Pennington took snaps with the first-team offense. Because the competition for the starting job is wide open going into training camp in July, Mangini wants to balance snaps among Pennington, Clemens, Patrick Ramsey and Brooks Bollinger. That is also why he wants to see each player working on a different unit.
It certainly is a new spot for Pennington, who has been the starter going into training camp since 2003. But nothing is guaranteed now that he is coming off his second major shoulder injury.
"I've been involved in competitions before when I was in college," Pennington said. "The feeling of coming out here and competing every day isn't different. It's different to the outside world because coach has made it clear that it is an open competition. That's fine. These coaches are in the business of creating competition. That's the only way your team gets better."
Pennington continues to make progress with his right shoulder, which he injured during Week 3 last season. He has participated in every drill since passing camp opened last month, though he is limited in the amount of throws he makes each day.
If he wants to air it out, he can - as long as he is making the right read. He did it once during his final set of passes during the morning drills, lofting a pretty 35-yard pass to Laveranues Coles. But Pennington mostly stuck to the short, safe passes, tossing some in the flat to running backs and a few across the middle.
"I know you guys want to see long balls, and my goal is not to come out here and prove that I can throw the long ball," Pennington said. "I would love to throw the long ball five, six times a day if it's there but I'm going to work within in the offense. That's what coach wants us to do. When the read calls to make the throw, I'll make the throw."
Overall, he had decent velocity on the ball, but not nearly the same as Clemens. The second-round pick has been impressive during rookie minicamp and now at the veteran minicamp. But Clemens squelched any talk about his rank among the quarterbacks.
"It's too early to start talking depth chart for me," he said. "I'm just trying to go out and compete and learn the system."
So is Pennington, who has waited since September to feel like he was part of the team again. Showing his leadership, Pennington not only did his part on the field, but he also shouted encouragement to his teammates throughout the practice.
After a set of drills in the morning, Pennington shouted, 'Keep going, O. Keep, going O!" Mangini has been in on his share of quarterback meetings and has seen how important Pennington is to the team.
"The way he works, the way that he studies, the leadership qualities that he has, he has got all those things and more, and it's really impressive," Mangini said. "He's done everything that we've asked him to do in terms of his rehab."
The next step for Pennington is reclaiming his starting job.
"Right now, am I where I want to be? Absolutely not," Pennington said. "But I understand the long process of getting back and my whole goal is to come back strong for training camp and be ready."
June 15, 2006
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- All four Jets quarterbacks huddled together before the start of team drills on the first day of minicamp Thursday.
One emerged to take the first snap from center.
Surprise. It was a rookie.
Kellen Clemens lined up, barked orders and dropped back but was forced to run after feeling some pressure. All the while, Chad Pennington looked on, waiting for his chance. It came next, as the second quarterback in, with the backup offensive line.
Is Pennington's shoulder rehab going so badly that a rookie has passed him on the depth chart?
"I knew you guys would say that," Pennington said with a smirk. "We've had a rotation every day ever since the beginning of spring practice. It's split down the middle, everyone gets reps. It's an equal opportunity for everybody."
So Clemens went first when 50 reporters were watching Pennington's every move,
"You should not read into it one bit," coach Eric Mangini said. "I didn't script the rotation based on your visit here today, it's the way that it fell. You'll see throughout the weekend each guy will work with the various groups."
He was right.
In the afternoon session, Pennington took snaps with the first-team offense. Because the competition for the starting job is wide open going into training camp in July, Mangini wants to balance snaps among Pennington, Clemens, Patrick Ramsey and Brooks Bollinger. That is also why he wants to see each player working on a different unit.
It certainly is a new spot for Pennington, who has been the starter going into training camp since 2003. But nothing is guaranteed now that he is coming off his second major shoulder injury.
"I've been involved in competitions before when I was in college," Pennington said. "The feeling of coming out here and competing every day isn't different. It's different to the outside world because coach has made it clear that it is an open competition. That's fine. These coaches are in the business of creating competition. That's the only way your team gets better."
Pennington continues to make progress with his right shoulder, which he injured during Week 3 last season. He has participated in every drill since passing camp opened last month, though he is limited in the amount of throws he makes each day.
If he wants to air it out, he can - as long as he is making the right read. He did it once during his final set of passes during the morning drills, lofting a pretty 35-yard pass to Laveranues Coles. But Pennington mostly stuck to the short, safe passes, tossing some in the flat to running backs and a few across the middle.
"I know you guys want to see long balls, and my goal is not to come out here and prove that I can throw the long ball," Pennington said. "I would love to throw the long ball five, six times a day if it's there but I'm going to work within in the offense. That's what coach wants us to do. When the read calls to make the throw, I'll make the throw."
Overall, he had decent velocity on the ball, but not nearly the same as Clemens. The second-round pick has been impressive during rookie minicamp and now at the veteran minicamp. But Clemens squelched any talk about his rank among the quarterbacks.
"It's too early to start talking depth chart for me," he said. "I'm just trying to go out and compete and learn the system."
So is Pennington, who has waited since September to feel like he was part of the team again. Showing his leadership, Pennington not only did his part on the field, but he also shouted encouragement to his teammates throughout the practice.
After a set of drills in the morning, Pennington shouted, 'Keep going, O. Keep, going O!" Mangini has been in on his share of quarterback meetings and has seen how important Pennington is to the team.
"The way he works, the way that he studies, the leadership qualities that he has, he has got all those things and more, and it's really impressive," Mangini said. "He's done everything that we've asked him to do in terms of his rehab."
The next step for Pennington is reclaiming his starting job.
"Right now, am I where I want to be? Absolutely not," Pennington said. "But I understand the long process of getting back and my whole goal is to come back strong for training camp and be ready."