Dan’s extensive breakdown of Sanchez

The Jets won the game convincingly, so it’s not a day to be too critical of anyone, but still, the quarterback needs to play better.

Sanchez did overcome a major obstacle, by scoring a touchdown in the first quarter – driving the Jets 65 yards, on six plays, for a TD on the Jets first possession.
On the first third down, third-and-four, Sanchez hit LaDainian Tomlinson on a one-read pass on the short right side for a gain of seven. LT is getting very favorable matchups with all the Jets weapons in the passing game, and LB Paul Posluzny, who has stiff hips, was beat on this play.
Two plays later, Sanchez on a play-action pass, hit Dustin Keller on a route where he cut from the middle to the left side, and the play gained 36 yards. The man covering Keller, safety Courtney Greene (New Rochelle), slipped on the play, so Keller was wide open.
Then, on the next play, the Jets took advantage of a major mismatch, CB William Middletown on Santonio Holmes. Middleton was starting for Derek Cox, who missed the game with a rib injury. Sanchez pumped to Holmes in the middle of the route, Middleton fell for it, and Holmes got behind him for a 17-yard touchdown pass on the right side of the end zone. The pass was a little high, but it was serviceable.
On the second series, on the second play of the possession, Sanchez threw an ill-conceived pass to Derrick Mason, that was intercepted by Middleton. Middleton is a backup, and we just mentioned that he fell for a pump fake on the previous drive. He’s a developing player, but this pass was so telegraphed, that even a raw corner was able to diagnose exactly where Sanchez was going to throw the football. Perhaps this was an appeasement pass. Sanchez seems to be into that – get the demanding Mason involved, instead of just throwing to the open guy.
The Jets third possession was a three-and-out.
On the next possession, the Jets got great field position thanks to a terrific Antonio Cromartie 46-yard kickoff return, and they finally got their running game going on this drive, with Shonn Greene running for 5, 12, 6 and then 7 yards on consecutive plays. The Jets kicked a field goal after failing to get a first down on third-and-two, when Greene ran for one yard. The Jets wanted to make sure they got three out of this drive, and essentially took the air out of the ball on this possession. The only pass of note was a seven-yard square out to Mason on the last play of the first quarter.
The Jets next possession ended with a Sanchez pick to CB Rashean Mathis. He tried to basically do the same thing to Mathis, he did to Middleton, and it didn’t work. He pumped to Holmes short, Holmes kept going, and seasoned Mathis didn’t fall for the pump, and picked off the pass on the the right side. Sanchez might have overrated the pass rush pressure on this play, and rushed the throw.
Late in the first half, the Jets got the ball on the Jacksonville 28-yard-line, and the Jets offense went one yard on four plays, and kicked a field goal. Sanchez was vicitimed by an LT drop on third down, but even if this pass was complete, it was way short of the first down, on third-and-nine. It was like a two-yard pass.
In the middle of the third quarter, the Jets had another scoring drive – eight plays, 92 yards, and Sanchez deserves kudos for his work on his possession.
The drive started nicely with a 37-yard strike to Keller down the deep right seam. This was a play-action, one-read pass, and the tight end beat another linebacker who can’t run with him, Clint Session.
Late on this possession, on third-and-four, Sanchez scrambled seven yards, and Dwight Lowery was called for unnecessary roughness to add 15 yards to the gain.
A few plays later, Sanchez might have made his best throw of the game. He fired an 18-yard rocket, on the right side, to Holmes. The pass needed to be thrown hard, because Mathis was bearing down on the receiver quickly, but the pass had enough mustard on it, to get there just in time.
Two plays later, Sanchez took advantage of another tough matchup for the Jags, Posluzny, who doesn’t change direction well, on Keller. This crossing route, from left to right, ended up in an 11-yard touchdown
The game was basically over at this point, with the Jets up 22-3.
The Jets won big, and that is really all that matters.
But Sanchez will need to play better against more formidable opponents. Remember, the Jaguars had four starters out – Cox, DE Aaron Kampmann, TE Marcedes Lewis and WR Jason Hill, and they clearly couldn’t overcome these loses.
Here is the issue with Sanchez right now. He seems to panic if his first read isn’t open. His head starts jerking around, and his feet start pattering. He needs to calm down, and go through his progressions in a more calm fashion. He also needs to get out of the appeasement mode. Don’t worry about getting Mason and Plaxico catches – just throw to the open guy.