I'm not a numbers guy but the one thing I don't think you can argue with is the fact that Sanchez hasn't looked comfortable in the pocket the last couple of games.
He looked worse in Denver than vs GB, but I agree. It was frustrating at times vs. GB because the o-line was doing a GREAT job and he was moving around worrying about the pass rush and hurrying things. He'll get back into the groove. It looks like he's in a bit of a sophomore slump the last few games.
He'll be just fine. Has he looked great in the last couple of games? Of course not, that doesn't mean that he isn't developing as a quarterback.
It would be nice if Vince Verhei, with his astounding statistical collection, could provide anything resembling an analysis as to why he looked shaky. Not just stats. But that's what you get when you waste your time with ESPN.
I still tend to agree with that in the long run, but the long run as I define it does not include this season. I also expected going in that this being just his second season we were not going to see him suddenly become an elite Qb. I also felt the Jets do not necessarily need an elite Qb with all the other talent on the team, and could still win the SB without an elite Qb. Having said that, the coincidence of watching the team go scoreless against GB and the discussion we've been having on the O'Brien v. Pennington thread confronts me with some weird and frankly disquieting reminders of a game in the 06 season. That being the Chicago game, a Jet home game that they lost 10-0. 06 of course was a overall good season for the Jets, going 10-6 and making the playoffs. And the loss to Chicago put them at 5-5, with the team bouncing back from that dispiriting loss to finish 5-1 the rest of the way, making it into the playoffs. But... The But part is that the Jets proceeded to lose miserably to F'ing New England in the wild card game. NE had the homefield because even finishing 5-1 the Jets were down too far by the time of the loss to the Bears. And that Chicago loss was one where the Jet passing game was quite mediocre. Pennington went 19 for 35 for 162 yards with two interceptions. Sound familiar? So the ensuing record of 5-1 seems in hindsight to have been accomplished despite the drubbing by the Bears. It happened then, and the Jets today are 5-2 instead of 5-5. The argument can and perhaps even should be that the Jets today should do better than in 06. But... There's also the knowledge that the 06 team did not go nearly as far as we hope this team will. That loss to Chicago revealed offensive woes. It came after a victory over the Pats, 17-14, in a mostly defensive struggle. But at least the team scored 17 there. Later in the playoffs, the Jets needed to score alot more than 17 to beat those same Pats. They didn't, and their season was over. The point being that we should be concerned about the team's ability to consistently score. Even if they win the next few games, the reality is we all should be concerned about scoring consistently. And Sanchez is a big part of that. I am not (yet) down on him for this season, and do not think the GB game means the Jets are not going all the way this year. But it is a reason for concern.
I have noticed he's definitely throwing the ball harder, I like to believe he's throwing too hard for the defenders to catch it without breaking their fingers. It helps-
These football outsiders clowns are the same group who tried to argue Sanchez is a worse Qb than JaMarcus Russel based on statistical analysis of the first season. I read the FO season almanac one year, interesting read - but more and more it becomes obvious that football is not something that a Sabermetrics system applies to. WAY too many other factors going on. At this point the football outsiders stuff is like a broken record to me.
Where were these assholes the first 5 weeks? I know, many were saying Sanchez is on his way to becoming Elite.
I really haven't seen anything that's alarmed me or has concerned my regarding Sanchez. I feel like he has more confidence in running the offense.
Same here, I'm very pleased with his progression and I'm not terrified when he goes back to pass. In fact I wish they called more deep throws, he's thrown some beauty's.
Sanchez hasn't even reached the magic 3rd year yet. I think there is too much over analyzing going on for a 23 year old QB. He has shown he has the ability to make the great throws, demonstrate good footwork in the pocket and he also has the right attitude. His problem has been consistency. Well, there aren't too many 23 year old QBs in the league that are awfully consistent are there? My point is that Sanchez has shown no signs that he can't be our franchise QB for years to come.
I agree 100%, being in the NY market is great in many ways, but there are a few bad things too, over analyzing, the need for instant success, just being in the national spotlight. For instance, Stafford threw 20 picks in 10 games, while Mark did it in 15, we hear nothing of Stafford. Sanchez is without a doubt under a microscope but I think he can handle it, and so far he has.
He just put his head down to scratch his leg and was fined, Cimini is writing a poor body language article as we speak.
Poorly thrown balls that should have been caught by DBs is no way to judge a QB. Happens all the time in football, but for some reason, it's like Sanchez is the only QB for which this matters