Consider: prior to the Miami game, Sanchez had been throwing to Stuckey and Cotchery almost exclusively. Keller had become an afterthought, and Clowney was invisible. With the trade to Cleveland, Stuckey was shipped out. And with Cotch's injury, that left Sanchez with little experience with the receivers he has to throw to; the receivers he had any chemistry and comfort level with were either in another uniform or unavailable. Even with Braylon Edwards, who by sheer athletic ability has forged something of a comfort level, Sanchez has no chemistry, little comfort level, and almost no chance with the WRs he is throwing to. It is one thing to take one stating WR out of the lineup midseason, and insert another; it is another thing for this to happen to a rookie QB whose other starting WR is unavailable, as Cotchery has been. (He was not out for MIA, but for all intents and purposes he was.) The Sanchez-Braylon learning curve is not there, and without Cotch, the passing offense just won't click like it should. Passes will go errant, confidence will be shaken, and the team will falter. Cotchery will unlock Edwards' potential and vice versa. It was supposed to be a synergy from the get-go. Without Cotch in the line-up, I have no confidence that Sanchez will progress as a QB. This is a big deal for our young QB's development and already shaky confidence. You can't just take the only two targets he had any chemistry with and insert others and expect the same success consistently. IMO, Cotch had been the key to the whole offense before he got hurt...basically was carrying the unit.
