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After months of waiting for a change at quarterback it is finally … McElroy Time?
Greg McElroy is the surprising starter for the 6-8 Jets today after coach Rex Ryan skipped over Tim Tebow when he decided to replace Mark Sanchez. The quarterback talk has dominated the week, but they actually do have a game today with the Chargers.
This is a clash of two teams that both have been eliminated from playoff contention, so it ain’t exactly must-see TV. The focus mainly will be on McElroy, who is making his first career start and is the first quarterback to start for the Jets other than Sanchez since Kellen Clemens subbed for Sanchez when he was injured as a rookie in 2009.
“I’m excited,” McElroy said this week. “I’ve been working. I’ve been working trying to get better every day, so I think I’m ready. I think it’s a tremendous opportunity [and] a tremendous moment for me. I can’t emphasize enough that this is not a finish line. This is a starting point.
“You work hard enough to get here, you set a goal for yourself and as soon as you accomplish that goal, you better restructure because [you] want to continue to excel. You want to continue to improve, and I’m fortunate enough to have a great supporting cast and a great coaching staff to be able to help me out and make this a lot easier.”
McElroy, who won a national title at Alabama, worked with the first team for the first time this week. He has impressed the defense all season with how he has performed as the scout team quarterback in practice.
“Just how poised he is,” safety Yeremiah Bell said when asked what stands out about McElroy. “For a guy who really hasn’t taken that many NFL snaps, you can tell when he gets under center he’s comfortable. You can tell he knows what he’s doing, where to go with the football. He’s not shaky or anything.”
After coming off the bench three weeks ago against the Cardinals, McElroy now gets his shot at running the offense.
A look inside the game:
MARQUEE MATCHUP
McElroy vs. the Chargers defense. With all the drama this week, very little of the focus has been on football. Greg McElroy does not get an easy assignment in his first start. The Chargers defense has a strong front seven, and it has been an opportunistic unit. They have 25 interceptions, returning five for touchdowns — and have turned seven turnovers in touchdowns overall.
BACKUP BLUES
Expect CBS’ cameras to be fixed on the Jets’ sideline as Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow stand there looking on helplessly. Rex Ryan would not say who the backup will be today and said all three quarterbacks could be active for the game.
If all three are active and McElroy stays healthy, Ryan may never reveal who was No. 2 and who was No. 3.
CHANGING CHARGERS
The Jets and Chargers know each other fairly well after playing in the 2009 playoffs and again last season, but these don’t look like those Chargers. At 5-9, San Diego has had a ton of injuries, and also has lost a lot of key free agents in recent years. Quarterback Philip Rivers remains, but he has had a down year.
Chargers coach Norv Turner spoke this week about the impact of losing players like Vincent Jackson, Darren Sproles and Mike Tolbert as free agents.
“When you lose those guys, people assume you’re just going to replace them,” Turner said. “Some of those guys are difficult to replace and are guys that have obviously shown, by their production, that they’re outstanding players. Again, the guy who has probably been more affected than anyone, and you’re talking to me, it’s our quarterback. You create chemistry and you work with those guys. You develop something that’s pretty good. You don’t just replace that overnight.”
DRIVE FOR FIVE
The Jets defense was ranked 19th just three weeks ago. But after feasting on the dismal offenses of the Cardinals, Jaguars and Titans, the unit is up to eighth, allowing an average of 329.8 yards per game. Ryan spoke about this being a top-five defense before the season. They still have a shot. The Bears are fifth, allowing 319.6 yards per game.
The Chargers are another awful offense, ranked 28th in the NFL. The Jets defense has not finished out of the top five since Ryan arrived in 2009.
“We still have pride in defense here,” linebacker David Harris said. “We’re going to try to show that we won’t lay down for anybody. You can tell guys haven’t been given up.”
END OF THE LINE
The Jets are going to look very different in 2013. Today is going to be the last home game for a bunch of them. Besides quarterbacks Tebow and Sanchez, whose futures are up in the air, there are several longtime Jets slated to become free agents — Mike DeVito, Shonn Greene, Dustin Keller, Brandon Moore, Matt Slauson and Bryan Thomas.
Costello’s call
Are you ready for some McElroy Magic? The Jets are a mess, but so are the Chargers, so this game should be … a mess. The Jets should be able to shut the Chargers down, and all McElroy has to do is not turn the ball over.
JETS 17, CHARGERS 13
brian.costello@nypost.com