Content available exclusively for subscribers
Here is Part II of Dan Leberfeld’s extensive look at the performance of Mark Sanchez in Philadelphia. Dan also gets real about what the Jets have at QB . . .
Late in the first half, after Mike DeVito forced a fumble, and Brodney Pool returned it 33 yards, the Jets offense was given great field position, on the Eagles 28, but could only manage a field goal.
The only pass of note in this short possession, was on third-and-three, when Sanchez hit Jeremy Kerley for a gain of six, on the short on right side.
After this completion, this drive stalled.
Let me say this about Kerley – they need to throw to him more, especially in a game like this. When the other team has two lockdown corners, dealing with Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress, you have to feature Kerley more, on their third corner. Keep throwing to him until they stop it, or are forced to swing one of the starters over to him.
But I sense the Jets feel they always need to keep Holmes and Burress in the mix – almost an appeasement factor. In some games, I’d take advantage of all the attention Holmes and Burress get, and feature Kerley. The kid has a lot of talent and gets favorable matchups.
Case in point; the Jets first possession of the second half, on third-and-five, when Kerley drew CB Joselio Hansen, and beat him on the short right side for a gain of 10.
The drive stalled after this.
Forget about appeasement – throw to the guy with the best matchup!
The Jets next possession was a three-and-out which ended with a Jason Babin sack.
On the second play of the Jets next possession, Sanchez forced a quick slant to a covered Holmes, it got tipped, and was picked off by LB Jabar Cheney. This is exactly what I’m talking about – he wasn’t open, throw to somebody else, but Sanchez so often goes to his first read, come hell or high water.
On the Jets last possession of the third quarter, on third-and-10, Sanchez threw an incompletion over the middle to Dustin Keller, and the two clearly weren’t on the same page – this wasn’t close.
The Jets did manage one last score, in garbage time down 45-13, when Holmes hit Burress on the left side of the end zone, and he made another great catch, one of many this year. A long pass to Keller down the deep right side, for 20 yards, helped set up the score.
There is no question the Eagles pass rush impacted Sanchez’s outing, but it would be unfair to blame the entire performance on the guys up front. Sanchez had plenty of bad plays when he had time.
But let’s be honest, he’s not the kind of quarterback who is going to win a shoot-out, and win a game when the other team puts up a big number.
He’s best served when the score is managable, and he’s asked to win a 24-20 type game.
His accuracy and inconsistent decision-making generally prevents him from putting up a lot of points.
When the Jets run the football and play good defense, and he can compliment that with a ball-controlled passing attack, he’s fine.
But when the game gets out of hand, and the Jets stray from this formula, Sanchez struggles.