Jets better have a plan to deal with this

The Jets have a really big problem on the horizon, and their brass better huddle to figure out a way to deal with it . . .

Here is the problem, and it could to be a huge issue throughout the summer, and into the season.

Mark Sanchez is clearly the leading candidate to be the Jets’ starting quarterback.

Geno Smith isn’t anywhere near ready for the job, and Greg McElroy isn’t even in the competition.

So it’s likely going to be Sanchez starting for the Jets, at least early in the season.

But here is where the problem lies – Sanchez is going to be given little margin of error by a lot of fans – every mistake it going to be made into a big deal.

The boo-birds will be on his butt non-stop at home games.

You see, there is a big chunk of the Jets’ Nation that doesn’t want anything to do with him anymore.

So you are hearing the narrative from a lot of fans – “ABS – Anybody but Sanchez.”

I’m on not Nostradamus, but this one I see coming from a mile away.

Many fans, and some in the media, will start calling for Smith once Sanchez starts to struggle.

And he will struggle at times. He’s human. Even if he improves from last year, there will be some ugly moments mixed in. He has to be given a margin of error.

But what will happen, at home games, a sector of fans, some perhaps drunk, will start, the “Geno, Geno” chants.

Some columnists will call for the Jets to start Geno.

But here is the stupidity of this scenario – the fans and reporters would be calling for a player who will be a big drop-off from Sanchez this year, no matter what Mark does.

Geno is a project of biblical proportions, physically, mentally, the whole kit and caboodle.

He’s a rail physically right now, who needs to get bigger and stronger to withstand the punishment that comes with being an NFL QB.

And mentally, my goodness does he have a long way to go. He needs to learn how to play under center after operating in a shotgun offense in college; he must learn to read defenses much better, and he’s get rid of the ball fast. This guy is a major project. Anybody who doesn’t see that needs to learn to deal with reality better.

Some people who want Geno to start from the get-go, or will call for him the second Sanchez starts struggling, are basically saying, “We don’t care if we finish in last place, we want Geno to start, because he’s not Sanchez.”

That is what they call, “cutting off your nose to spite your face.”

It’s foolish.

But the Jets better have a plan to deal with this. It could turn into a real mess – MetLife Stadium could turn into the Roman Coliseum for Mark.

So the Jets must have high-level meetings to come up with a plan to deal with this.

Rex needs to have the guts to say in his press conferences, once this banter starts following has some rough spots in games for Sanchez – “Geno isn’t ready – he doesn’t know the system well enough – he’s not ready to go out there and run the offense yet. Next question.”

Based on Rex’s past performances, and his consistent lack of a concrete media strategy, it’s hard to see him doing this.

What we have come to expect is mealy-mouthed tap-dancing from Rex.

That isn’t going to cut it on this very, very sticky issue that is no-doubt going to rear it’s ugly head.

I’m telling you, Ryan, John Idzik and Neil Glat better have a plan to deal with this potential nightmare.

Because I’m telling you, it’s coming.

July 18, 2013

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