http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2009/08/ny_jets_quarterback_mark_sanch_1.html NY Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez encouraged by reaction of self, teammates to adversity against Ravens by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger Tuesday August 25, 2009, 9:31 PM As Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez returned to the huddle after throwing a pick-6 interception to Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata on his very first pass with linebacker Ray Lewis barreling in on him, he was taken aback by the reaction of his teammates. They had his back. ''The most encouraging thing for me was to see the linemen and everybody in the huddle still rally around me,'' Sanchez said. ''They were unfazed. It (the interception) was no big deal. ''They said, 'All right, man. You got it out. Let's go. You only have one way to go.' We started getting a little momentum, and I started getting more comfortable and it ended up turning around.'' After the game, Sanchez was able to smile at the irony of Ngata's interception. ''You keep one eye on (safety) Ed Reed, one eye on Ray Lewis and a D-lineman gets you,'' said Sanchez, who is expected to start and play into the third quarter on Saturday night against a tough Giants defense, a surefire indication coach Rex Ryan is leaning toward naming him the starter. On his second pass, Sanchez threw a near-interception to Lewis, who dropped what appeared to be a gimme touchdown return. Finally, Sanchez hit his stride in his fifth and final series. He led an 11-play, 64-yard drive that was capped by a 19-yard touchdown pass to running back Leon Washington. By then, however, Lewis and Reed were out of the game. ''(Sanchez) did a good job of keeping his poise and coming back to make plays for us,'' center Nick Mangold said. ''It's something you want to see out of a quarterback. Even if you have something bad happen, you don't let it snowball into other bad things.'' It was a baptism under fire for Sanchez, who made his first NFL start against the highly touted Ravens defense, which came at him with everything. He had an early case of the rookie jitters but appeared to come out on the other end in one piece. Although Sanchez didn't claim the starting job, it appears that it remains his to lose because Kellen Clemens didn't give the Jets reason to pause with his performance. The organization seems to want Sanchez to win the job and is giving him every opportunity to do so. ''I think if I would've tanked after the pick that it would've been a real missed opportunity,'' said Sanchez, who has outplayed Clemens in training camp and is routinely showered with praise by Ryan. ''That would've been making one mistake a tragedy. ''I think it was a good way to show how you react to a little adversity. Not every drive is going to be a deep route, and you can punch it in like last week (against the Rams).'' Through two games, Sanchez has completed six of 12 passes for 131 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Clemens has hit nine of 14 passes for 84 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Each quarterback had his interception returned for a touchdown. Against the Ravens, Sanchez completed three of eight passes for 43 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Clemens hit five of 10 passes for 60 yards, one touchdown and one interception, which was returned for a 16-yard touchdown by linebacker Jameel McClain with 21 seconds left in the first half, in six series. Sanchez, the former USC star, had two delay-of-game penalties in third-down situations, a botched handoff to Washington and a miscommunication with wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery. ''I knew it would be tough,'' Ryan said. ''I don't know if it would get tougher than what you just saw (vs. the Ravens).'' NOTES WR Jerricho Cotchery said he's eager to see WR David Clowney (five passes, 135 yards, two TDs in two preseason games) with the first team. WR Brad Smith started vs. the Ravens but had an offensive pass-interference penalty and a dropped TD pass from Clemens. The Jets are doing their due diligence regarding an available veteran WR. The Jets' opening-day punter may not be on the roster. Neither Reggie Hodges (three punts, 36.3-yard average) nor Ken Parrish (2-39.0) distinguished themselves. Despite rumblings out of Baltimore, there was no intention to rough up Ravens rookie LB Paul Kruger, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity. Kruger, who earned the wrath of Ryan last week because he's wearing No. 99 (which belonged to former Ravens DE Mike McCrary, a Ryan favorite), was targeted because the Jets felt he was the weak link in the defense. RB Shonn Greene (ribs) was banged up, but the injury isn't believed to be serious. First-year CB Marquice Cole (INT. vs. the Ravens) continues to play well. LB Vernon Gholston (one tackle) had another quiet game. The Jets' first-team defense held the Ravens to 34 yards rushing in the first half, but the Ravens moved the ball via the pass (142 yards). CB Dwight Lowery, subbing for the injured Darrelle Revis, continues to struggle.
This may just be me but I'd kind of like to see Sanchez be less of a verbal leader in the media than he is at the moment. He comes across as a bit defensive and overly analytical and he makes a lot of semi-excuses that he tries to pass off without really using them as excuses. I'd really like to see him turn a lot of his 50 word answers into 15 words until he's got his feet on the ground. Some of the things he says may be true but they're things that work if somebody else says them not the person they apply to.
Of course the line is used to pick 6's, it happened all the time last year so it's nothing new to them.
it think that'll come with experience. if he stayed in school he may have learned to shorten his responses. he sounds like me when someone asks me a question. there is no simple answer, its always a paragraph.
Yep, looks like Cotch has seen enough of Brad Smith as well. He needs to stay off the field except in four receiver sets or as part of a wildcat/gadget play.
+1 for me as well. I'd love to see him lined up with the first team on Saturday to truly see what we have in the passing game. If Clowney can get the start and establish himself, we may be able to cool the need for a WR and revisit the position in the 2010 draft.
Clowney should be the #2 wideout at this point, no question. I really like what I see from Sanchez so far, I was practically happy he threw the pick six for the experience points one of those brings. Overcoming adeversity is what seperates the great from the good in this league.
He's a QB, a high draft pick, and named Starter. In New York of all places. There is no way he's going to be able to get away from the media. I'd rather have him look analytical at this point. At least he does not sound lost or scared.
It would have been funny if everyone on the team went over to Sanchez and started beating him senseless after the first pick. All kidding aside, I liked the way Sanchez handled himself. If you are going to QB in the NFL you have to overcome adversity.
I didn't see his trademark smile in warm-ups. He was very serious which made me nervous then he got baptized. He was definitely reading half the field a lot. I think that had more to do with the amount, or lack thereof, of time he had to throw. His footwork was nice and his scramble ability is awesome because he can read on the run. When he gets his timing down I think his moxy will be back. Here's to hoping cause when he's having fun good things happen.
Ahh cool, thanks for the info. Makes even more sense that he came out "early" now. With a degree in hand and little else to prove on the NCAA level I would have done the same thing, If I had the talent to play at the NCAA level lol.
