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Does Jets West really help Mark Sanchez and the Jets’ passing game? That is questionable because one of the biggest problems for the last couple of seasons isn’t part of the equation out there . . .
While I hate to be critical of any players putting in extra work to get better, I do question the impact Jets West has had in the past, or this year.
Why?
That is simple.
One of Mark Sanchez’s biggest problems is that he struggles reading defenses. So how does a camp, where Sanchez is throwing to wide receivers, against air (no defenders), going to help him?
I thought the NFL Network’s LaDainian Tomlinson nailed Sanchez’s biggest shortcoming while commenting on the quarterback last month.
“Mark has to start to trust himself,” Tomlinson said. “Mark does a great job in the film room, but when he comes out on the field, he doesn’t trust what he sees out there in terms of coverages and the timing with his receivers. If he starts to trust himself and not hesitate in throwing the football, then he possibly could turn his career around. I think it’ll be tough at this point because rarely does a zebra change his stripes.”
So if Sanchez has problems breaking down defensive coverages, how is this camp going to help him?
It’s not.
So with all due respect to some of my fellows beat writers who flew out there, I just don’t think it’s worth the time, or the money, to watch Sanchez throw against air.
Perhaps some writers are going out there to get him to comment on the video of him dropping his pants at a house party. Maybe that will sell extra tabloid papers – that story is right up the alley of tabloids.
Getting back to football, here are some things that Sanchez needs to improve in his game.
Sanchez needs to do a better job of manipulating coverage with his eyes. He tends to give away where he is throwing the ball to defenders by locking on his primary receiver. Jets West can’t help him improve in his area because there is no coverage.
Sanchez tends seems panicked by pressure and sometimes feels pocket ghosts. He often gets rattled by blitzes and doesn’t make them pay with hot reads. He has become way too jittery in the pocket the last couple of seasons. Jets West can’t help him with this, because there is no pass rush.
Look, like I said, I respect Sanchez’s work ethic. He does work hard, but too often, as LT said, his work doesn’t carry over to the field. Once the real bullets are flying, his minds seems to race, and he doesn’t seem to do a great job of processing what he’s seeing from the defense.
So to me, Jets West is much ado about nothing.
And Geno Smith not being there is no build deal. He’s another QB who struggles reading defenses and with pocket presence, two issues that can’t be helped at Jets West.
So perhaps the media will get some answers from the quarterback about the party video, and Rex Ryan’s bull run, but from a football standpoint, this camp means little.
July 11, 2013
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