In pressure game, rookie QB will have to play like a vet. Matt Bowen
Outside of Philly-Dallas and maybe Baltimore-Oakland, the only other Week 17 action that should draw some major interest on Sunday is the nightcap in the Meadowlands.
The 8-7 Jets host a Bengals team who has already clinched a spot in the dance, may rest some starters and could pack it in come the second half.
But, even with the Jets possibly getting their second straight free pass in a playoff push, all eyes should still be on rookie QB Mark Sanchez—because this is a money game. Win and you are in the dance. Win and the playoff checks start to come. Win and you have a chance to make it to Miami.
Yes, the Jets don’t look like a team that matches up with Indy, San Diego or New England, but as we saw last year with Kurt Warner and the Cardinals, you just don’t know who is going to get hot, who is going to force turnovers and who is going to make those big plays once they are in the tournament.
However, do you trust Sanchez on Sunday?
Because for all of the things I just talked about, he still has to play like a veteran on Sunday night for Rex Ryan’s team to have a shot to make some noise. That means protecting the football and that means the realization that in pivotal games—such as playoff clinching games—ending the drive with a punt is far better off than taking an uncalculated risk on third down.
But, that is what you get from a rookie QB and that is what we have all seen from Sanchez over the course of the season. There is a sense of unaccountability with the rookie from USC. The throws off of his back foot. The times he forces passes into coverage instead of taking the check down. The careless way he treats the football.
Five interception games. Four interception games. Three interception games. He has had all of them, but playing well on Sunday night and protecting the football while relying on a nasty defense in New York and a special teams unit that can provide him with field position gives him new life, a clean slate and a shot at Miami.
The Bengals are going to pull their starters? Doesn’t matter, he still has to play. Yes, the reduced competition may open throwing lanes that weren’t there and may provide him with more time in the pocket, but he will still have to make those throws—and he will still have to produce.
You thought playing against Penn State in the Rose Bowl was pressure? Not even close to Sunday night. If Mark Sanchez plays like an NFL quarterback, the Jets will be dancing next weekend.
But, if he plays like a rookie, he will be at home—like the rest of us—watching on wild card weekend.
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Sanchez is a clear cut case on why college QB's should play in college their senior year and not enter the draft after their Junior year.
Sanchez is a clear cut case on why college QB's should play in college their senior year and not enter the draft after their Junior year.
"Yes, the Jets don’t look like a team that matches up with Indy, San Diego or New England, but as we saw last year with Kurt Warner and the Cardinals, you just don’t know who is going to get hot, who is going to force turnovers and who is going to make those big plays once they are in the tournament."
What kind of team do you think matches up best against those three? I would think a team with a power running game, top ranked defense and ST's who doesn't turn the ball over on Offense. That is the formula of the Jets. You are right about Sanchez, he has to play like a veteran which he has been doing more of lately... he has 6 games w/o a turnover this year which is pretty good for a rookie QB. The big thing for the Jets is they can't let teams get 2 or 3 scores ahead because then Sanchez will try and make things happens....
Obviously Mike Quick doesn't have a clue.....playing QB in college an extra year would not of exposed Sanchez to the kinds of defenses he's seen this year nor the quality of talent. He had already excelled at the college level. Pete Carroll knew SoCal was in trouble this year and that's why he didn't want Sanchez to leave, he was hoping his offense would cover up the losses to his D. Instead he started a freshman and USC sucked.
I do agree with most of the things you state here, but your not putting all the facts out there. Where is Thomas Jones here? The guy is averaging over 80 yards/game, and almost a td/game as well.
Also, do you think that the Bengals backups are better then Ind's? Just a pretty good guess, I highly doubt that they are.
As a Steelers fan, and if we still have life in us, I do hope that the Jets fall flat on their face, but I do not think against backups and Jones help, that will happen. If the game is on the line, do you actually think they will put the ball up or simply let Jones and the defense take care of business?
John- you might want to check out the success rate of QB's who went into the draft after their JR season vs. QB's who came out after their senior season before mentioning who "doesnt have a clue".
There is a solid statistical trend that the more starts a QB has in college the better chance he has to be successful at the NFL level. Dont let the facts get in the way of such an ignorant rant though *insert sarcasm*
If you're going to get all defensive about a topic atleast make sure your facts are correct, and maybe it will save you from looking so ignorant.
I am well aware of the stats that you refer to, unfortunately you are interpreting it wrong. The stats do not prove that another year in college would have better prepared Sanchez or any other QB for the pros. There have been plenty of QB's who played their senior year in college and fared a lot worse than Sanchez. The pro game is a lot tougher on the QB than the college game. Sanchez showed in his 16 starts that he had mastered the college game, another year would not have added much of anything to his skills. He was ready to move on. I would give more credence to your argument if you believed Sanchez shouldn't have started right away but if you've seen Kellen Clemens (a 2nd round pick who did play his senior year in college) play you would understand why the decision was made. I put most of the responsibility for some of his problems on Schottenheimer. It took Ryan intervening to point out situational awareness and coming up with a plan to help Sanchez manage the game better. Another year in college would not have helped.
His 20 int's (many of them terrible decisions) through less then 14 games this year indicates he could have benefited from another year in college. His 10 int's his junior year (with great talent around him) indicates he could have benefited from sticking around another year.
You cant honestly-with a straight face-sit here and argue that he couldn't improve his decision making with another year in college.
Carroll knew where Sanchez was in his development after his junior year. Sanchez didnt, and it shows.
Blame Schottenheimer all you'd like. Ultimately, Sanchez is the one with the ball in his hands still making the poor decisions no matter who made "the plan".
Yeah, yeah, yeah....and Peyton Manning should have stayed in college another year also or maybe 2 since he threw 28 picks...Stafford threw how many picks this year??? That is part of the adjustment for rookies...
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Jan 01, 2010
12:16 PM
i think he has a lot of potential and he needs to learn how deal being under pressure once he overcome that he will be amazing!
viva sanchez!