But thanks to Rex Ryan’s color-code system, Sanchez took less risks and the offense thrived under a more run-heavy attack. This was a smart move by Ryan but really should have been implemented much sooner.
Sanchez impressed early on with wins over Houston and New England but a rookie QB should never be entrusted with as much responsibility as Ryan bestowed upon Sanchez.
In the Jets’ seven losses Sanchez averaged 28 pass attempts vs. only 18 in their nine victories. With a strong running game and a dominant offensive line, the offensive game plan should have been more conservative from the outset.
Both Ryan and Brian Schottenheimer became enamored with Sanchez early and it was not until the Carolina game (week 12) that they shifted their approach.
Sanchez’ worst games came against New Orleans (3 interceptions), Buffalo (5), at New England (4) and Atlanta (3). After breaking down all his interceptions I found a pattern to his mistakes.
First of all, his biggest problems came when he had to throw under pressure. 30% of his interceptions came when he rushed his throws.
Much of that pressure came up the middle and more often than not it was Alan Faneca who was getting beat. Faneca’s pass blocking skills have deteriorated but that is a topic for another day.
Sanchez also struggled with his accuracy. Another 30% of his picks came from under or overthrows.
Sanchez is an accurate passer but like any rookie, he is not accustomed to the tight windows in the NFL. At the collegiate level, QB’s have the luxury of throwing to wide-open receivers but not in the pros.
Quarterbacks have to make stick throws in tight coverage and usually have to throw before the receiver uncovers. It takes young QB’s a while before they get used to that.
20% of Sanchez’ interceptions were the result of poor decision-making. There were too many plays where he forced the ball into tight coverage and should have either thrown the ball away or checked down to another receiver.
Sanchez put too much pressure on himself. He pushed himself to make plays when they weren’t there and it wasn’t until Ryan intervened that he started to settle down.
Sanchez is a high-energy guy which usually serves him well but sometimes he gets too amped up and presses. He matured late in the season however and now seems to understand the importance of taking what the defense gives him.
Sanchez is on the right track now but Jets fans should not think his turnover problems are a thing of the past. He will still make plenty of bad throws as his responsibilities expand and he becomes a bigger part of the offense.
His experience from 2009 will help him shake off those mistakes quicker and refocus on the game at hand.
It is hard to find problems with Sanchez’ mechanics which are usually pretty good. He throws a very catchable ball and can make all the throws but does struggle with his weight distribution when under pressure.
He has a tendency to throw off his back foot and his ball sails as a result. It is more of a veteran trait to stride into throws when under duress and he will develop this over time.
Sanchez was a 54% passer in the regular season, which is not very good, but his play improved late in the season when he completed 59% over his last five games.
Much of that improvement was the result of safer passes. Schottenheimer had him throwing short, sideline routes. He avoided the deep middle of the field, where it is more congested, and his turnovers dropped dramatically.
What was most impressive about Sanchez was his play in the postseason. He had a 97-passer rating, was making good decisions with the football and throwing accurately.
Schottenheimer did a few things to take the pressure off him. First, he ran the ball more. Second, he incorporated Brad Smith and the wildcat to keep defenses off balance. Third, he moved Sanchez outside the pocket.
Sanchez throws well on the run and Schottenheimer employed more boot action to roll him out. This simplified things for the rookie because he only had to read half the field.
The fact that the Jets went all the way to the AFC Championship game with a rookie quarterback was very promising. Playoff experience is invaluable to a young player and this year’s run will help him enormously when the Jets get back to the playoffs.
There is no guarantee Sanchez will pick up where he left off but the odds are certainly in his favor. His surgery will certainly cut into his time to work with his receivers but he will have a full off-season of film study during which he can get an early jump on preparing for this year’s opponents. He will also have time to analyze his game on tape and make adjustments with the coaching staff.
The Jets will not be bringing in many new faces on offense so Sanchez will not have to adjust to many new faces. With little activity expected in free agency, the Jets will be supplementing their depth more than starting talent. This continuity will allow Sanchez to improve with the same players and also to enhance his own leadership of the offense.
The turnovers were a huge problem but it is hard not to be impressed with the guy. Just mastering an NFL playbook is difficult enough but he seemed to learn it with ease. He also took command of the offense and quickly earned the respect of his teammates.
There is no reason Sanchez should not be one of the top signal callers in the league within 2-3 years. It will not happen by next season but he will take care of the football better and throw with more consistency.
The Jets have the most important position solidified, which bodes well for the team’s future. Their depth is also solid with three other arms on the roster.
Kellen Clemens has been a disappointment. He was supposed to be Chad Pennington’s replacement but was unable to seize the job despite numerous opportunities.
Clemens looked pretty shaky in his only action against Tampa Bay. He was not accurate and did not move well in the pocket. It is this latter trait that results in too many sacks and bad throws.
NFL QB’s must be able to avoid the rush and keep plays alive but Clemens really struggles in this area. He will be a restricted free agent and is not expected back, despite Mike Tannenbaum’s comments to the contrary.
Erik Ainge is unproven but has played well in the preseason. He is smart, a good leader and has a knack for bringing his team back when behind – definitely a nice trait to have as a back up. He does not have great arm strength but it is good enough.
Kevin O’Connell is a guy I liked before he entered the league. In fact, I ranked both he and Ainge as prospects the Jets should consider when they came into the league in 2008.
He is big (6-5, 250), has a strong arm and is very competitive but needs work on his footwork and decision-making. He has to show he can handle the mental part of the game and will surely get a lot of reps in the preseason.
The Jets are set at quarterback. Sanchez still has plenty to learn but showed he has the smarts, leadership and playmaking ability to lead this team to a championship.