http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5577801 Mark Sanchez: Jets' offense to lift off By Rich Cimini ESPNNewYork.com FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Mark Sanchez, who made it clear in training camp that he wants to take ownership of the New York Jets' offense, did just that Wednesday. In the offensive meeting room, where embattled coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was looking for answers, Sanchez stood up and addressed the group, according to sources. It wasn't a Knute Rockne speech; he just emphasized the importance of showing accountability and focusing on details, sources said. "We're ready to have a breakout game," the quarterback said later at his locker, demonstrating some Rex Ryan-esque bravado. "I think [there is] no better week to do it. We'll get a win in our new stadium and get things rolling again." More From ESPNNewYork.com Everything you need to know about Sunday's Jets-Patriots matchup can be found here: Jets Center Jets blog The offense played poorly in the season-opening 10-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, producing just 74 yards through the air. Joe Namath, who usually wears green-colored glasses in the darkest of times, criticized the offense for being dysfunctional in a newspaper article Wednesday. And Ryan faced questions about a rumored, postgame altercation between him and Schottenheimer, which Ryan emphatically denied. Schottenheimer wasn't available for comment. The feeling close to the team is the offense will be simplified Sunday against the New England Patriots, focusing on straightforward, smashmouth football -- a deviation from the pre-snap motioning and shifting seen against the Ravens. Amid the gloom and doom, Sanchez has remained upbeat, predicting a turnaround. "We'll have games where we throw for over 300 yards," he said. "I know it. I'm confident in it." The Jets' last 300-yard passing day was Jan. 1, 2007, when Chad Pennington threw for 300 in a playoff loss to the Patriots. That means they've gone 36 straight games without a 300-yard performance, counting the postseason. At this point, a 200-yard game would qualify as a breakout. Ryan insisted that last week's conservative attack was strictly a game plan-specific approach and not a reflection of his faith (or lack thereof) in Sanchez. "I have more confidence now than I ever did," said Ryan, who reiterated his desire to incorporate more downfield throws into the game plan. The Patriots pride themselves on limiting big plays in the passing game, and they're good at it. But you get the feeling that Monday night was a wake-up call for the Jets, who seem eager to prove their offense isn't as bad as it looked. "Now you've got film out there and people think ... I don't want to say 'pushover offense,' but one that can't put a lot of points on the board," tight end Dustin Keller said. "We've got to get rid of that thinking. We've got to go out, put points on the board and instill fear in defenses, and make them think, 'We have to go against the Jets?'" Wide receiver Braylon Edwards says the offense is pressing, too anxious to strut its potential. "Everyone says our offense is average and our defense is great, that if the defense can pitch shutouts, the Jets have a chance to go to the Super Bowl," he said. "For us, we take that to heart. We want to prove our offense is just as good as our defense. "Every play, we're pressing. We're trying to make something happen so we get the fans excited, so we get the media excited, so we get ESPN talking about this offense, so we can take the pressure off our defense. We have to relax and calm down." Sanchez never mentioned himself, but he noted that players spoke up in the meetings. He said there were "some great messages," with players owning up to their mistakes. It must have been a really long meeting. I am truly starting to believe that the ultra conservative performance by the offense last week was just a result of playing the Ravens. Rex knew that the only way to beat them was to not turn the ball over (meaning no Sanchez picks). Unfortunately we fumbled twice, so things didn't turn out as planned. But look for the offense to get going and live up to SOME of the hype. We will not play another defense as good as theirs and things will start to open up once Rex and Schott allow Sanchez to do his thing. Also, watch the Ravens as they crush other teams, and remember we only lost by 1 point. All is not lost. Yet.
I sure as hell hope so. The past 5 games (dating back to preseason game 1) they've looked like deer in headlights.
Yeah the Ravens D isn't getting enough credit here, but I still put this on Schottenheimer for putting together one of his patented overly-complicated timid pussy offence strategies. Even if the jets lose on Sunday all is still not lost. 1-1 or -02, I full expect the Jets to get their shit together and make a strong playoff push
I'd prefer not to hear this from Nacho after the pussy performance we saw Monday. It pisses me off the way we played on offense (like pussies) after so much offseason talk. He better not lay another turd after talking like that.
I couldn't agree with you more. Schottys plan was to go conservative, but he wanted to add a little trickery with all the shifting and adjustments, which just wasn't going to work in a game like this. But as they say, hindsight is 20/20. On an other note, I really hope the fan base still gets pumped for Sunday. It would be a shame if we didn't cheer the team on at the game and try to help them out with a solid home field advantage.
Yeah, it'd be so much better if when asked how he is going to do this week that he ducks his head and mumbles, "I'll do OK."
I really wish Jets can show it on the field first, talk second. As each of these "talk first, don't perform" situations develop, it makes us look dumb and dumber. I love the confident predictions, but after week 1, it's time to start showing first before we talk. Mere words of confidence don't carry you far in New York for too long..
Of course there's no middle ground. His only two choices when asked that question are to talk about the offense breaking out or to mumble like a dick. I would have had no problem with him talking if he tried and failed monday night. The problem is the offense tucked it's tail and played scared. Don't talk if you're going to play like that, please.
Sanchez can say whatever he wants to and it isn't going to change the fact that if the Jets don't come out running hard and forcing the Pats back on their heels with the ground game the same breakdowns are going to occur on offense that happened last Monday. We know what a good Jet offense lead by Mark Sanchez looks like right now: 60% runs and consistent chain moving on the ground and 40% passes as the counterpoint once the opponent has moved the 8th guy into the box. If the Jets want to beat the Patriots on Sunday that's what they have to do. 3 20 yard runs and the rest of the day turning into 3 yards and a cloud of dust is just not going to work against Belichik. The Jets need to come out firing in the run game and establish a tone for the game.
so we have 3 choices: 1) Exude all the confidence in the world after worst offensive performance. 2) Middle grounds is to mumble that the Jets will break out for 300 yards. 3) mumble like a dick. all 3 of those can bite you in the ass. I actually like the 4th, secret option to shut up and perform.
Reporter: "So what kind of offense can we expect to see this week Mark?" Sanchez: "Well we obviously have a lot to do, but we're working on our mistakes and we should be able to get back on track. I expect to do much better than last week." Something like that would be fine.
Maybe if the OC decides to use some curls, screens, or quick slants like every other offense in the NFL the O will go somewhere.
From Cimini's twitter: Ryan not happy with today's practice -- too many penalties, not enough 3d down conversions. Made players do up-downs. Grrreeaaaat. Doesn't look like too much has changed. Hopefully Rex is giving them hell.
There aren't many highlights of the Jets offense available since there wasn't much to look at but the the 3rd down the Ngata sacked Sanchez is one of the few that is easy to find. If you watch the replay you will see that the Jets put 5 guys into routes on that play. 3 of them were curls no further than ten yards downfield while the other two were the backs leaking out to the flats. They had 5 routes going within 10 yards of the LOS! The problem wasn't that they didn't run those plays, the problem was that is all they ran and the Ravens just sat on the short routes all night.
