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It’s time for Part II of our review of Mark Sanchez’s performance against the New York Football Giants. Even though the Jets dialed up too many passes, the QB should have done more against this group.
The Jets third possession of the game, at the end of the first quarter, was a three-and-out.
On third-and-four, Sanchez threw a short pass over the middle that gained three yards.
Sanchez rushed this throw, sensing pressure from Jason Pierre-Paul, which really wasn’t as bad as he perceived.
With all the hits he’s taken this year, he’s become a little skittish in the pocket.
On the first play of the Jets’ next possession, Sanchez overthrew Joe McKnight running deep down the left sideline. McKnight had LB Michael Boley beat on this play. Then the Jets called three straight pass plays, a five-yarder to Dustin Keller over the middle, and then a six-yarder on the short right side to Jeremy Kerley. Then on first down, Sanchez sold a play action fake well, got Plaxico some spacing, and the quarterback hit Burress for a gain of 15 on a slant from the right side to the middle.
A few plays later, on third-and-four, Sanchez threw a pass on the short right side to LaDainian Tomlinson, that gained just three, and they punted.
The Jets next drive was a three-and-out. Actually a four-and-out, if you include a Matt Slauson false start.
On third-and-10, Sanchez threw a pass over the deep middle to Keller, who had two defenders close to him, including one, safety, Deon Grant, who broke it up.
On the Jets next possession, the Jets got a break. The drive started with two short passes, one to Greene on the right side for a gain of six, and then one to Keller on the left side for a gain of seven. On the Greene pass, Sanchez deserves credit, because he threw it as massive DT Chris Canty was about to hit him.
Then Sanchez hit Kerley, on the short right side, and he fumbled, and Aaron Ross returned it for a touchdown. This was overturned, but it very easily could have stood. Late in this possession, Sanchez had perhaps his best throw of the game. On third-and-10, he lofted a pass over a linebacker, and in front of a safety, and Keller caught it for a gain of 15.
But then the next two plays were incompletions, and then Sanchez was sacked on third down. The sack was costly, because it turned a 37-yard field goal, into a 44-yard attempt, that Nick Folk missed.
The Jets got the ball first in the second half, and their first possession was ugly.
On first down, Sanchez ran a bootleg to the right side, and attempted a pass to Keller, but Grant was in a better position to catch the throw, than the tight end.
On second down, Sanchez attempted a pass over the short middle to Tomlinson, but ended up hitting Boley in the foot.
Then on third down, a pass attempt to the short right side was blocked by DE Dave Tollefson. Sanchez had a number of passes blocked or tipped in this game, partly because the Jet route tree is very predictable.
There is no doubt Brian Shottenheimer called too many passes in this game, but considering how opposing quarterbacks have torched this pass defense recently, Sanchez should have been able to do a lot more.
We will have Part III by 1 pm on Monday.