Poll: Should Mark Sanchez Get a Pass

by GangGreen73 on Dec 10, 2011 4:28 PM EST

I was having a discussion about this on another thread here with a finsider and I wanted some more opinions.

I know Mark hasn't lived up to a lot of fans' expectations, but I give him a passing grade so far and here's why:

1. Brian Schottenheimer. The incompetent OC has handcuffed Sanchez, shrunk the field opposing D's have to defend down to about 15 yards long, and is just terrible at game time play calling. When the field is condensed like that DB's will tend to jump on routes and what you get are easy pick 6's.

2. When the handcuffs are taken off late in the 4th quarter and Schottenheimer has no other choice but to open up the offense, Sanchez performs at a high level more times than not and has the most 4th quarter come-from-behind victories than any other QB since he came into the league.

3. He's one tough SOB. Say what you want about Sanchez, but he gets back to his feet after hits that would have Mike Vick out for 4 weeks. The man is a football player straight up.

4. He is only in his 4th overall year of starting between his one year at USC and 2.75 for the Jets and has been improving every year.

5. He's had a different receiving corp every year except for Dustin Keller. I would think it's hard to build chemistry with receivers when they are different every year.

6. He's a winner. He's been able to play well enough that we've been to the playoffs in his first 2 years and he's helped the team win 4 road playoff games.

7. Brian Schottenheimer. I know he was the #1 reason, but I think Schottenheimer deserves 2 spots in my list of the reasons why I give Mark a pass; BS is just plain lousy at what he does. I want to see what Sanchez can do with a staff of competent offensive coaches before I could give up on him.

Mark has definitely made his share of mistakes and bears his share in the offensive woes we've been experiencing, but I think he's shown great potential while working with a below-average at best OC.

What do you guys and girls think?

Poll

Does Sanchez get a pass for these reasons?

Yes he needs a new OC to really develop

88 votes

No Sanchez is just not good enough

19 votes

107 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I’d let to get him at least a new OC first before labeling anything negative.

And the home of the .... JETS!!!
Now lets get a G-D snack!!!
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think."-Roy McDonald

by Noble_Lance on Dec 10, 2011 5:35 PM EST reply actions

I think a new OC is critical at this point

Sanchez has two more years left on his contract. Therefore, the Jets have to start the process soon of deciding if they will extend him and just how much he is worth. If they give him a year with a new OC, then the year after will be the best sign if Sanchez has proven enough for a new contract.

Without a new OC, and if Sanchez doesn’t improve, the Jets will have no way of knowing for sure if the struggles are Sanchez or Schotty.

Schotty on the other hand has already shown enough. He couldn’t get a run game going. The Jets bring in Callahan to fix the run… next thing you know, the Jets lead the league in rushing. The Jets have trouble in the redzone. They bring in Tom Moore and next thing you know, Jets lead the league in redzone scoring. Two examples of situations Schotty couldn’t fix despite having the team talent to be number 1.

by CervezaVerde on Dec 10, 2011 9:01 PM EST up reply actions

I'd add...

Tom Moore is in house to give in game feedback and we score 30+ every time. And I dont want to hear the weak team theory, Washington had a top pass rush that was going to disrupt Sanchez and KC had a stong D that only gave up 14points in how many straight games?

Fan expectation in Jets land is crazy now. If I had said before the draft or the day after that we should start him day one and I expected back to back winning seasons, playoff appearances, Afc title games, the most playoff road wins in the history of the league, the most 4th qtr comebacks during that time and in control of their playoff year in year 3 with 26 tds(5 rushing) vs 11ints…I would have been laughed at. People would have said those expectations are too high, that he should sit behind a competent starter for a couple of years since he doesn’t even have alot of college experience. No other Jets Qb in my lifetime has had this much success in their first 3 years or any 3 year stretch and I’m 42. So how could he.not be living up to expectations? Sometimes I am disappointed in us as fans. Are we so used to losing or disappointment that we dont recognize and appreciate winners and winning.

by george JETson on Dec 13, 2011 8:10 AM EST up reply actions

The answer here is simple

Everyone loves Sanchez for all the reasons you stated. He’s been great in that sense. But he has also so so frustratingly inconsistent in just so simple a thing as throwing a screen pass. So the issue is the ups and downs and sometimes people would just rather middle of the road then the wild swings.

by CervezaVerde on Dec 13, 2011 1:17 PM EST up reply actions

deal with it

the kid was a starter from the get go and before that only had 1 year of starting college QB experience. To not expect inconsistency and growing pains especially with this OC and the revolving door of WRs is foolish.

by PowerBar on Dec 13, 2011 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

Ok, deal with it. Yeah, that's what we are doing. And that's why you get all these posts on Sanchez.

At some point, you have to evaluate how long the org should just deal with it.

by CervezaVerde on Dec 14, 2011 8:16 PM EST up reply actions

I just want to see what he can do with someone like Moore calling the shots...

If he fails to improve then it will be obvious how good or bad he really is….IMHO until you get an OC that knows how to play to their own team’s strengths against the opposing team’s weaknesses Sanchez will not be playing at his true potential

by GangGreen73 on Dec 15, 2011 10:21 AM EST up reply actions

ditto that

by CervezaVerde on Dec 15, 2011 8:29 PM EST up reply actions

Thats what I mean though. Those up and down swings come with potential greatness, look at some of the greats, manning, farve, they had highs and lows. That middle ground is called mediocrity. It may be good and safe but it will never be great. Think pennington. Funny, we bitched then also.

by george JETson on Dec 13, 2011 5:54 PM EST up reply actions

That's how I look at it anyway!

The way he’s won games in the 4th quarter shows he has the potential to be great. With a competent OC calling plays that don’t make my dog scratch her head and a quality QB coach I think he’s going to be a great QB. He may never be “elite” but he has shown he has the potential to be great.

GD I can’t wait until I see an post on here detailing Shitty’s firing!!!!!

by GangGreen73 on Dec 13, 2011 8:04 PM EST up reply actions

Get a a new OC first

but if he still struggles than I say we can draw conclusions about Sanchez

Matt Mulligan is the worst TE ever

by 2xtheBully on Dec 10, 2011 7:16 PM EST reply actions

I know the kid is far from elite, but I wish fans would cut him some slack

I just think under the circumstances Sanchez is doing alright and steadily getting better. If he had better teachers he’d be farther along in his development.

by GangGreen73 on Dec 10, 2011 8:09 PM EST reply actions

Sanchez holds himself back.

He’s got the most important trait there is: the ability to will his team to victory. U can’t teach clutch. Its special to be able to raise ur game when it matters most. Sanchez is at his best in the biggest spots.

You blame Schotty either. If Schotty was really that bad, he wouldve found a way to throw a monkey wrench into all those 4th quarter comebacks. No, it isn’t Schotty. Its Sanchez.

I think he overthinks things in the first 3 qtrs. I think he too concerned about what the defense is in and what they’re trying to do. And late in games he just plays. Maybe coaching has something to do with it. Maybe they harp on all the negatives he should avoid all week and they make him gun-shy. But ultimately its up to him to play his game.

All those 4th qtr comebacks aren’t statistal outliers. They’re not happenstance. He raises his game and wills his team to victory. That’s a very very special ability. He has to learn to just play ball for the earlier parts of the game.

by Crackback on Dec 10, 2011 8:12 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I think you're right on point there also

Sanchez definitely has a part in the offensive struggles. He does have the ability to will the team to a win, but when you hear his interviews it’s really obvious that he’s getting the"make no mistakes" mantra pounded into his head too much. Even when he does play well he never sounds like he enjoys any of it and only focuses on the negative. A 25 year old kid can’t be that negative all on his own. I think he does get gun shy early in games because the coaches and fans grill him too much over every little mistake. He does just need to go play football….

JUST LEAVE SANCHEZ ALONE!!!! L

by GangGreen73 on Dec 10, 2011 11:20 PM EST up reply actions

***EAVE SANCHEZ ALONE!!!!

by GangGreen73 on Dec 10, 2011 11:21 PM EST up reply actions

I appreciate your effort to be the contrarian here

but the whole first 3 quarters thing is Sanchez following the game plan, following the coach’s orders. Sanchez came in too inexperienced and too good of a character to just go F U with your stupid game plan like Favre would have. The difference being Favre is a vet with a huge ego. There’s no way Sanchez with only 1 year of college QB experience is going to not listen and follow Schotty’s orders. And he should listen to Schotty, because that’s the chain of command. And that’s why it’s on Schotty’s and Rex’s shoulders if he doesn’t develop.

He’s got most of the talent and the will, he just needs the nurture, someone to point him in the right direction…unfortunately the HC is a defensive genius and not an offensive one, and the OC is a retard.

by PowerBar on Dec 11, 2011 12:39 AM EST up reply actions

The OC doesn't make him miss throws.

And the OC doesn’t stop calling plays in the 4th. Sanchez just doesn’t play well early on and then he steps up his game. That’s on him.

Can’t blame the OC for everything. Especially when Sanchez is flat missing open receivers.

by Crackback on Dec 11, 2011 9:12 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

fair enough, but...

When you rb is avg 5ypc for the game rushes for 8 on first down to start a drive in your territory, after a td was scored on the last drive relying heavily on an effective run game, and your OC calls 2 timing patterns with your inaccurate qb which he misses to kill the drive, who gets the blame? I say the.OC. That is bad play calling.

by george JETson on Dec 13, 2011 10:16 AM EST up reply actions

The OC doesn’t make him miss throws.

Can’t blame the OC for everything. Especially when Sanchez is flat missing open receivers.

So I suppose it’s just a coincidence that Sanchez and the Offense have a great game everytime Tom Moore is in the house (and first half production no less!).

And the OC doesn’t stop calling plays in the 4th.

And how do you know this? How do you know he doesn’t open up the playbook and the field and give Sanchez more liberty to get the ball downfield? Because if that’s all Schotty’s playcalling, he still sucks because he should be doing it starting from the 1st Quarter.

by PowerBar on Dec 13, 2011 2:34 PM EST up reply actions

I'm suprised by the poll numbers so far...

For as much crap as Sanchez takes from Jets fans I figured that it would be around 50/50….

If the front office doesn’t do the right thing and bring in a proven OC, it’s going to be tough for Sanchez to reach his potential.

Just judging by the improvements in the redzone offense under Moore’s tutelage, it becomes very obvious the entire offense and not just Sanchez has the talent to excel under a competent OC.

by GangGreen73 on Dec 11, 2011 11:10 AM EST reply actions