Singletary Says QB Race Is 'Level'

Posted by Tom Curran: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 4:57 PM

One of the fascinating quarterback duels shaping up in this offseason is out in San Francisco where Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in 2005, tries to realize the potential the Niners thought he had when they drafted him. Ahead of him by a hair? Shaun Hill.

Tuesday, on the final day of mini-camp, Niners coach Mike Singletary said in comments distributed by the team, "I think the playing field is level now. I think before the offseason really started, I wasn't really sure where Alex was. He's been through a lot in four years. I think in order for he and Shaun to compete on level ground, he had to get healthy. I think he had to get his mind focused. I think he had to let go of some of the bitterness that's happened to him, some of the bad things and get the bad taste out of his mouth and be ready to go. I think that's happened. Very excited about that. So, he and Shaun, when we come back, it will be a great competition."

When the Niners media contingent pressed Singletary on whether Hill had been passed by Smith, Singletary said, "I don't think anyone's leading the competition right now. I've never heard anybody say that Shaun was leading the competition."

When it was pointed out that Hill was said by Singletary to be ahead of Smith, Singletary said, "Yeah, in principal I'm saying that, OK. But, as far as the competition is concerned, I just want to see both of those guys continue to compete. So, from that standpoint, you can say, technically, Shaun is the guy until proved different."

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6 Comments

F.Mckenzie said:

hey we wondering are u guys going to have that 100,000 fantasy football challenge this year??

August 20, 2009 5:50 PM

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PS: As a Jets fan, you may enjoy the writing sample below:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/245769-with-mark-sanchez-the-jets-are-immediately-contenders

Mark Sanchez Makes New York Jets Immediate Contenders

New York Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez played impressively in Gang Green’s 27-25 preseason victory over the New York Giants Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Sanchez, 22, completed 13 of 20 passes for 149 yards in his first start since Head Coach Rex Ryan named him the No. 1 quarterback last Tuesday after a game versus the Ravens in Baltimore.

“He (Sanchez) played great," Ryan said of the former USC signal-caller who the Jets selected in April with the fifth overall pick in the NFL Draft. “He is what we thought he was.”

Sanchez, a symbol of Mexican-American identity who signed a five-year contract worth $50 million with the Jets in June, displayed great poise and arm strength in the face of the Giants relentless pass rush.

“I was impressed by the rookie, I really was,” Giants defensive end Justin Tuck said of the native of Long Beach, California. “We had some pressure on him all game, and he was able to make some big plays.”

The 2009 Rose Bowl MVP, who flourished for a season in Coach Pete Carroll’s sophisticated, pro-style offense as a Trojan, led the Jets to four scoring drives in only two-and-a-half quarters.

“He played against great competition at S.C., and I don’t think the big stage is anything that he’s not used to,” added Tuck, 26. “He handled himself very well. When we got a lot of pressure on, he found a way to scramble and make good plays under pressure. It looks like they made the right decision to make him their starting quarterback.”

Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora mentioned Sanchez’s 31-yard touchdown pass to Chansi Stuckey after he had been flushed out of the pocket.

“He threw it up there,” said Umenyiora, 27, a two-time Pro Bowl selection for the Giants. “Thankfully for him, the Lord answered his prayers. I think he’s going to be pretty good.”

Despite being physically manhandled by the Ravens ferocious defense in his previous outing, Ryan liked what he saw from Sanchez and he decided to officially declare him the victor in the quarterback competition against Kellen Clemens.

After being informed by Ryan that he would start Opening Day versus the Houston Texans, Sanchez said he was “a little more confident.”

“You talk a little different, you walk a little different, you act a little different,” admitted Sanchez, a 2008 First Team All-Pac 10 selection and All-American honorable mention. “Once they name you the guy, there’s a quiet calm that comes about you.”

The New York Jets offensive and defensive lines are extremely solid.

Additionally, Thomas Jones and Leon Washington comprise one of the most formidable running back tandems in the sport of football.

Sanchez does not need to be the reincarnation of “Broadway” Joe Namath to immediately thrive under the immense glare of New York’s spotlight.

With the capable supporting cast that he has been surrounded by, he simply needs to be Mark Sanchez, and that should be enough for the Jets to have a very productive season in 2009.

Knowing that a ballplayer like Mark Sanchez is now the face of the Jets organization, supporters of Gang Green can finally enjoy a “quiet calm” and realize that the franchise is about ready to fly.