Sanchez, Not Geno Should Begin Season as Jets Starting QB

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Sanchez, not Geno, should begin season as Jets' starting QB

•By GEORGE WILLIS
•Last Updated: 11:30 AM, May 26, 2013
•Posted: 12:06 AM, May 26, 2013
•Jets Blog
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Mark Sanchez throws three interceptions during an offseason training activity, and some already have given up hope he can be a useful starting quarterback again. Such is the chatter on sport talk radio, Twitter, and among those who hide behind unnamed sources.

 

Geno Smith, the 39th pick, is being treated like he was taken No. 1 and is here to save a franchise in free fall. Already, there are those who are convinced the second-round draft choice from West Virginia should be the Week 1 starter though he hasn’t taken a snap wearing anything other than shorts, T-shirts and helmets.

AP
Mark Sanchez (6) and Geno Smith (7)

 

The view here is the best thing that could happen to Smith and the Jets is for Sanchez to regain the confidence he once had and become an efficient enough quarterback to lead the Jets through the 2013 regular season.

Stop laughing.

No one remembers how many interceptions former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith threw in mini-camps or OTAs before the light bulb went on and he became a quarterback that led the 49ers to their resurgence, before losing his job to Colin Kaepernick. And the Jets don’t need Sanchez to be as good as Smith became before being injured last season.

 

If Sanchez can minimize his turnovers and manage the offense the way he did in leading the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship games in 2009 and 2010, and not be the liability he was in 2012, then Smith can watch and learn and not have the pressure of leading a rebuilding franchise.

That might be asking a lot of Sanchez. His three interceptions during an OTA on Wednesday came in front a large media gathering and invited

VIPs. One interception wasn’t his fault. A receiver ran the wrong pattern and wound up too close to another receiver, prompting three defensive backs to converge on the ball. The other two INTS were head-scratchers that left on-lookers wondering, “What was he thinking?

”

Otherwise, Sanchez looked the part of the starter. He worked with the first team, advised young players, and had an authoritative bounce to his step. Then he threw the interceptions, including one to a defensive lineman, prompting flashbacks of the Buttfumble.

 

The Jets’ quarterback candidates — Sanchez, Smith and Greg McElroy — have been led to believe there will be an open competition for the job of starting quarterback. Matt Simms is also in camp. But the reality is, this is Sanchez’s job to lose. In fact, Sanchez doesn’t view it as a competition.
“I’ve played long enough now I don’t worry about the quarterback on the other side of the field or the quarterback that’s in competition with you,” he said. “It doesn’t really bother me.”

Hmmm.

 

All signs point to this being a sacrificial season. Head coach Rex Ryan is in the last year of his contract and focusing more on restocking a defense that lost veterans like Bart Scott, Mike Devito, Darrelle Revis, Eric Smith, Bryan Thomas, Sione Pouha and LeRon Landry.

 

Skill positions lack proven talent. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes (foot) still was limping as of this week. Second-year receiver Stephen Hill (hamstring) also is hobbling. Only along the offensive line where D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold, and Austin Howard return is there proven talent.

The best thing for Smith is not to be thrown into the fire the first week of his professional career, or the first month, or first half of the season. If it becomes a total disaster, then McElroy can take over.

The Jets need to be smart and think long-term with Smith. Rookie seasons like those enjoyed by Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson should be viewed as the exception and not the norm.

 

It would be better for Smith to watch from the sideline while learning the West Coast offense Marty Mornhinweg is implementing.

But that will be up to Sanchez.
george.willis@nypost.com 

[Sperm Edwards]

Why do people keep writing that Sanchez led the team to the playoffs, when he did everything possible to keep the rest of a superbowl-level team from getting there?  He was arguably the worst starter we had on both of those teams.  Certainly near the bottom at best anyway.  As a rookie he became the only QB in history to lose a football game with well over 300 rushing yards from his RBs.  When we won those first 3 games there must have been at least 5-6 dropped interceptions - footballs bouncing off defenders' hands and chests - in the Houston and Tennessee games alone.  Even in his "much better" season in 2010 we lost 3 games when our D held opponents to 10 points or less. But sure, Sanchez "led" us to the playoffs & beyond.  

 

And as Willis ought to know, unnamed sources and people calling in are merely calling for Sanchez to never see the field again; not necessarily for some fictional SuperGeno to trot out there week 1 even if he isn't ready.  What he is referring to is the desperation of a fan base justifiably desirous of never seeing Sanchez on the field for the Jets again.  Ever.

[dbatesman]

No one remembers how many interceptions former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith threw in mini-camps or OTAs before the light bulb went on and he became a quarterback that led the 49ers to their resurgence, before losing his job to Colin Kaepernick.

This is just terrific.

[Sperm Edwards]

This is just terrific.

 

Clearly, the question of the day is why can't the stupid Jets just buy Sanchez a lightbulb and turn it on for him already?

[dbatesman]

Clearly, the question of the day is why can't the stupid Jets just buy Sanchez a lightbulb and turn it on for him already?

Then he can give us a season-plus of minimal competency before being replaced by someone with actual talent!

[SayNoToDMC]

Then he can give us a season-plus of minimal competency before being replaced by someone with actual talent!

 

My dream scenario

[ZachEY]

Yeah, it was the 3 INTs in practice that caused most of us to give up on him. Yup.

[SayNoToDMC]

Why do people keep writing that Sanchez led the team to the playoffs, when he did everything possible to keep the rest of a superbowl-level team from getting there?  He was arguably the worst starter we had on both of those teams.  Certainly near the bottom at best anyway.  As a rookie he became the only QB in history to lose a football game with well over 300 rushing yards from his RBs.  When we won those first 3 games there must have been at least 5-6 dropped interceptions - footballs bouncing off defenders' hands and chests - in the Houston and Tennessee games alone.  Even in his "much better" season in 2010 we lost 3 games when our D held opponents to 10 points or less. But sure, Sanchez "led" us to the playoffs & beyond.  

 

And as Willis ought to know, unnamed sources and people calling in are merely calling for Sanchez to never see the field again; not necessarily for some fictional SuperGeno to trot out there week 1 even if he isn't ready.  What he is referring to is the desperation of a fan base justifiably desirous of never seeing Sanchez on the field for the Jets again.  Ever.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/color-coded-chart-helps-mark-sanchez-play-new-york-jets-beat-carolina-panthers-article-1.419685

 

Leader

[T0mShane]

Geno Smith has one job this year, and that's to show enough raw material to convince Darrell Bevell to leave Seattle and take the HC job here. If he crashes and burns, not only will it ensure Rex is wacked, it might also make the Jets job completely undesirable, as opposed to somewhat undesirable.

[Jetsfan80]

Geno Smith has one job this year, and that's to show enough raw material to convince Darrell Bevell to leave Seattle and take the HC job here. If he crashes and burns, not only will it ensure Rex is wacked, it might also make the Jets job completely undesirable, as opposed to somewhat undesirable.

 

So he has to do well enough to make the job desireable, but badly enough to get Rex fired?  Face it man, if Geno has the goods, Rex is getting an extension.

[T0mShane]

So he has to do well enough to make the job desireable, but badly enough to get Rex fired? Face it man, if Geno has the goods, Rex is getting an extension.

If Geno is Andrew Luck, Rex is getting an extension.

If Geno is like 99.999% of rookie QBs, Rex is gone.

[Jetsfan80]

If Geno is Andrew Luck, Rex is getting an extension.

If Geno is like 99.999% of rookie QBs, Rex is gone.

 

We'll see.

[T0mShane]

We'll see.

Where's the fun in that? Make declarative statements a year early, son. Feel the rush.

[Jetsfan80]

Where's the fun in that? Make declarative statements a year early, son. Feel the rush.

 

Rex Ryan will be the Head Coach of the Jets in 2015.

[Jetsfan80]

[T0mShane]

^Bitxh. Please.

[kay_gee]

That might be asking a lot of Sanchez. His three interceptions during an OTA on Wednesday came in front a large media gathering and invited VIPs.

Maybe Sanchez isn't good at peeing in public restrooms either.

[T0mShane]

That might be asking a lot of Sanchez. His three interceptions during an OTA on Wednesday came in front a large media gathering and invited VIPs.

Maybe Sanchez isn't good at peeing in public restrooms either.

Don't mock my plight

[kay_gee]

Don't mock my plight

 

Turtles can be cute, if that helps.

[SayNoToDMC]

That might be asking a lot of Sanchez. His three interceptions during an OTA on Wednesday came in front a large media gathering and invited VIPs.

Maybe Sanchez isn't good at peeing in public restrooms either.

 

[Bleedin Green]

Why do people keep writing that Sanchez led the team to the playoffs, when he did everything possible to keep the rest of a superbowl-level team from getting there?  He was arguably the worst starter we had on both of those teams.  Certainly near the bottom at best anyway.  As a rookie he became the only QB in history to lose a football game with well over 300 rushing yards from his RBs.  When we won those first 3 games there must have been at least 5-6 dropped interceptions - footballs bouncing off defenders' hands and chests - in the Houston and Tennessee games alone.  Even in his "much better" season in 2010 we lost 3 games when our D held opponents to 10 points or less. But sure, Sanchez "led" us to the playoffs & beyond.  

 

And as Willis ought to know, unnamed sources and people calling in are merely calling for Sanchez to never see the field again; not necessarily for some fictional SuperGeno to trot out there week 1 even if he isn't ready.  What he is referring to is the desperation of a fan base justifiably desirous of never seeing Sanchez on the field for the Jets again.  Ever.

 

Great overall post and I absolutely agree with it.  I particularly felt it deserved mentioning that I got quite the kick out of the use of "some fictional SuperGeno".  I'm going to have to pocket that one for future use.

[CTM]

want Rex out.. especially after russel Wilson story

[The Crusher]

Yeah, it was the 3 INTs in practice that caused most of us to give up on him. Yup.

3 a day for fours years could hollow out your confidence.

[Larz]

smith is probably better right now, today

 

I think they should put sanchez out of his misery and just cut him

[jgb]

team is going nowhere if geno is the guy, might as well coincide a lost season with a developmental opportunity for the future of the franchise.

[SayNoToDMC]

team is going nowhere if geno is the guy, might as well coincide a lost season with a developmental opportunity for the future of the franchise.

 

Soooo if Marks the guy we got this?

[jgb]

Soooo if Marks the guy we got this?

 

sorry i omitted a period. "Team is going nowhere. If Geno is the guy..."

[SayNoToDMC]

sorry i omitted a period. "Team is going nowhere. If Geno is the guy..."

 

Then we agree, still don't want Geno starting till after the bye at the earliest. Let Mark taking the beating while Geno learns the offense

[NJ]

Clearly, the question of the day is why can't the stupid Jets just buy Sanchez a lightbulb and turn it on for him already?

You still don't get it do you? All Mark has to do is decide not to make not those bad throws and fumbles and they'll be at a manageable level. He said this himself, so obviously he understands what he needs to do.

[Sperm Edwards]

You still don't get it do you? All Mark has to do is decide not to make not those bad throws and fumbles and they'll be at a manageable level. He said this himself, so obviously he understands what he needs to do.

 

Mr. Burns:  "Hey, you! Strawberry! Hit a home run!"

 

Darryl:  "Okay, skip!"

[jack48]

Stuff and Nonsense.  I only know one thing.  When defense comes after Sanchez with blood in their eyes, he will crumple.  He always has.  There is no reason to think otherwise.  What he does in some flag football workouts means nothing.  It is when they start bumping that Sanchez shows his colors.  He will turn tail and run.  His body of work shows that.