Believe me, I loved the fact that he was able to score- showed big cajones in the process, doing whatever it takes to get the win. That being said, if Sanchez never again pulls a similar move during his tenure with the Jets I'd be a happy guy. Too many things can go wrong with such a play involving your star QB, especially when you consider that it was essentially a head/shoulder-on collision into a waiting safety. It's also unfortunate that he wasn't able to register his first receiving stat on the throw from Leon- he had some nice YAC but unfortunately it was called back, I think because of Mangold's holding call. Wouldn't it have been something if there was no hold AND he was able to bring that catch into the endzone? At that point I'd wonder if he'd be the first QB to ever throw, rush and receive touchdowns in a single game?
Not to mention that was another fumble just waiting to happen the way he was carrying the ball. I am sure they will be working with him on that all week.
I agree on this one. That was a throwback move by Sanchez back to the days when young QB's like John Elway and Jim McMahon were running loose on the NFL. Obviously the play style worked for one of them and retired the other prematurely.
I'm pretty sure my heart stopped when I saw him go head first. It didn't start beating again until I saw him get up and celebrate. Great play but like you I hope we never see it again.
I believe Ronnie Brown did this last year for the Dolphins. I agree, watching him lower his head was right in my end zone, it scared the shit out of me.
Another thing I'd like to see them phase out is having Sanchez throw blocks on the gadget plays- wishful thinking on my part but I'd really like to have him around and productive for more than just a few seasons.
Elway and McMahon again. You know this team might be just like the '85 Bears before all is said done. Hopefully we've got Elway and not McMahon. Keeping Sanchez out of harm's way a bit more would help us in that determination.
I think everyone held their breath when he did that crazy shit. I love the guts but staying healthy is priority #1. Gotta realize when its time to give yourself up. If he hit the deck at the 2 we would have had 3 changes to get it in. I know the running game hasnt be great but you gotta put faith in the O line and RB's at that point.
A friend and I noticed that his ball security, and not just scrambling but also in the pocket, can leave a bit to be desired. That can be coached out, but he better learn before an opposing DE decides to take that opportunity to become defensive player of the week.
How Sanchez went into the endzone is how my dad's best friend in High School, the Quarterback, broke his neck. Do not want to see Mark going in like that again, I hope he corrects it before he finds out the hard way.
When I first saw that play, the only thing I could think about was Takeo Spikes tearing Pennington's rotator cuff.
During the moment I had no time to think about the way he was going in. He's going to do things like this. He is not a care taker of the offense , he is a general of the offense. I would like him to save his body and be here for all 16 game , but he may have other instinctive habits that may put him at risk. I'm more concerned with how out of sync he became later in the game.
It's pretty much the first thing they teach you when you start playing football, never lead with your head down because that's how you break a neck. Chin up at all times.
One thing I was thinking as I was watching that play after my initial shock wore off. The guy is only 22. When I was in my early 20s I could run through walls. I was invincible. I once drove my mountaion bike off a cliff went head first into a tree, broke my helmet, sprained my shoulder. A week later I was back at the gym, workign out to 100% a couple weeks later. Now I'm 36. I feel old as hell. I picked up my son yesterday and strained my back and was in pain for as week, could barely get out of bed, and missed going to the gym all week. (I'm still a little sore this morning) We are used to having fragile old QBs. Let the kid play. Yes there is a slight chance he could get really hurt, but we have servicable backups. Its plays like that one that give him the edge right now, not his super accurate thows, that seem to wabble to high or slip out of his hands. 10 years from now, after he's won 5 super bowls and is Brady's age, we can start worrying about injuries. Now, he can take a few hits. (I do aagree however that the technique was dangerous and terrible and if he's gonn get hit it shouldn't be life threatning and stupid)
Pennington played that way early on. Fearless and reckless. Then, one fine Sunday afternoon during a game against the Bills, Chad dove head-first for a 1st down and landed on his elbow and tore his shoulder cuff - and he was never the same after that day. Sanchez is a heady young guy and he will inspire his team with play like that, but he needs to be taught what risks are worth it and which ones are not. On that play, he could have slid for the 1st down and let the runningbacks do the dirty work. I loved the play but didn't like what could have happened, him going head-to-head with a safety.
