Content available exclusively for subscribers
Here is Part II of Dan Leberfeld’s extensive look at Mark Sanchez and his body of work in Denver . . .
The Jets came out in the third quarter, and went 80 yards in eight plays. This drive had a nice rythym to it.
The first play of this job was very successful with Mark Sanchez hitting Plaxico Burress on a quick slant that went for 30 yards. A few plays later, Sanchez threw deep down the left side to Burress, and the receiver drew a pass interference call on CB Andre Goodman. It was just a five-yard penalty. Then on the next two plays, they took advantage of the Goodman-Burress matchup some more, for gains of nine and 13 on the short left side.
The impressive rythym this drive had lost a little momentum when Sanchez had to call timeout, after those consecutive passes to Burress, because the playclock was running out. This was inexcusable, wherever the fault may lie. A few plays later, Bilal Powell fumbled on the one, and Matt Slauson recovered for a touchdown.
We understand that Shonn Greene was hurt, but to give hand the ball to a rarely used rookie, on the road, on national TV, on the one, was a bad decision. Powell has a lot of potential, but he wasn’t ready for that. We aren’t sure who made the call to use him there, but it was a bad one.
On the third play of the next possession, on third-and-six, Sanchez threw a Pick Six to Goodman on the short right side. Remember, there seemed to be some confusion before the snap – with Matt Mulligan in motion, and Sanchez directing him where to go. Perhaps the confusion before the snap messed up Mark’s head a little, but the things seemed out of sorts.
As we mentioned yesterday, the Jets route tree is fairly simple, and has become somewhat predictable.
We know it’s probably a good idea to stay away from CB Champ Bailey, so the Jets came out in the second half picking on Goodman, but you know what, he’s not a slouch. The former second round pick out of South Carolina is a pretty good player, and made the Jets pay for picking on him a little too much. Sanchez didn’t look anywhere else on this play.
On the first play of the next possession, Sanchez hit Dustin Keller on the short right side for a gain of 15. Keller drew a linebacker on this play (D.J. Williams) and the Jets took advantage of it. This drive ended a few plays later when Sanchez rolled to his left, and ended up throwing the ball away, and then was hit in the back by Miller, and seemed to hurt his wrist.
We would never wish any harm or injury to Sanchez – ever, but it seems like whenever he gets banged up, so many people get into this – “oh my goodness, Sanchz is hurt, what are they going to do?”
You know what you do, put Mark Brunell in the game. Sanchez isn’t Tom Brady, Drew Brees or Aaron Rogers, where the sky is falling if he can’t go back in the game. People need to get over that.
On the next possession, the Jets took over on a short field, and dinked and dunked their way 42-yards on 11 plays. On the final third down, a third-and-six, Sanchez sensing pressure, delivered a pass a little early to a crossing Holmes, who had a very favorable matchup, on a linebacker. The player who Sanchez sensed was getting near him on a blitz, was picked up by Powell, but Sanchez already got rid of the ball too quickly, and it fell incomplete.
The next possession lasted four plays (the extra play was a penalty on the Jets), and the Jets punted. The Jets ran on third-and-13, and gave Denver the ball back for Tebow to do his thing with that late TD drive.
The Jets last drive of the game didn’t work out. Sanchez had one of his better throws of the season on this drive. On fourth-and-19, he threw a rocket over the middle to his former USC teammate, Patrick Turner, who gained 25 yards. On the next play, Sanchez hit Joe McKnight on the short left side, and he gained 13, but failed to get out of bounds, and he could have. Then Sanchez spiked the ball, and threw an unsuccessful Hail Mary.
There is no question the pass protection has been inconsistent this season, but even on plays when he has time, Sanchez isn’t making enough happen. And one reason other teams are blitzing so much is that Sanchez isn’t making them pay.
There is no question Sanchez has taken a step back this season.
That doesn’t mean he can’t take a step back in the right direction, but something is amiss right now.