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By Mark D, December 14, 2010 12:26 am

“Mark is our quarterback, he’s my quarterback,” Ryan said Monday. “He’ll always be our starting quarterback. Even if I did yank him for whatever reason, he’s our quarterback. We’re going to go as far as he takes us.”

—-From Jet’s Coach Rex Ryan

Shocking isn’t it? I’m not sure if Sanchez missed every throw by 10 feet that the Jets would put in AARP Backup Mark Brunnel or wannabe Kellen Clemens. We already know that Clemens isn’t a QB after his horrible play against the barely competitive Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. Mark Brunnel? With one of the league’s most explosive offensives at his disposal last year he did absolutely nothing in his week 16 start for the Saints.

Quite simply, this team lives and dies under Sanchez. Are the current struggles his alone? Not at all, and his runs for first downs when people couldn’t get open shows that he has the same competitive flame he always has. The Offensive line, running backs and TD dropping receivers all have a lot more to do with the current Jet struggles then Sanchez. But if the problem was Sanchez, the Jets at this point have no choice but to go with him.

Its not even as though the Jets didn’t have a chance. If they don’t qualify (or give an offer sheet, whatever the NFL word is) Clemens they could have signed anyone they wanted on the first day of FA to replace him. It’s always been known that the signing of Mark Brunnel wasn’t because Brunnel is a quality NFL QB anymore, but as a veteran presence to help bring along Mark Sanchez.

Oh well, I’m not overreacting. Sanchez will get the Jets to the Playoffs, and it’s off to the Super Bowl the Jets go. If I can actually win my Fantasy Football league for once, then the Jets can get to the Super Bowl. The Bears are nothing but a paper tiger, and once the Jets beat them everyone will claim they are SB contenders again.

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By Mark D, August 31, 2010 8:14 pm

Mark Sanchez and the Jets are early favorites to be Super Bowl contenders. That goes hand in hand with their current media blitz on Hard Knocks. People though seem to have forgotten that Sanchez entered last season with a little more then a dozen games of college experience. Or that at one point last season Sanchez bottomed out with a 5 interception, 8.3% Passing rating game against Buffalo while the Jets went on a 1-6 skid. Actually the Jets were undefeated (5-0) when Sanchez had less then 20 attempts. Sanchez was anything but important to the Jets run, as just about any game manager could have led the Jets to the playoffs (unless the Colts don’t play Curtis Painter).

It’s never sexy to talk about a strong defense and a solid running game. That’s why Tom Brady is on the cover of every teen beat, while the average person has never heard of Michael Strahan. But it was Revis and the Jet’s D that got them into the playoffs and nearly into the Super Bowl. If the Jet’s are going to get back there again, even with the addition of Santonio Holmes and the training camp with Braylon Edwards, it’s going to be the defense. All the passing game is going to have to do is be just good enough so that teams can’t stack the box.

I’m sorry, but if you imagined Sanchez possibly having a career year for Jet’s QBs throwing to Holmes and Edwards, it’s not going to happen. Hopefully Little Schotty realizes this just as much and keeps to the running game. LaDamian Tomilison is already showing flashes of his former self behind a much better line. If Shohn Greene can continue his performance from the playoffs the Jets might once again have by far the best running game in the league. Run, Run, Run and Run some more. When teams start stacking the box, it’s time for screen  passes to LDT or short passes to Holmes. Last year the Jet’s didn’t seem to have those options.

The other big thing people forget about Sanchez last year was that he wasn’t under pressure to do anything other then be a better QB then Clemens. Most people predicted a 5 or 6 win season from the Jets at most.  Sanchez became a star so quickly (and despite a middling at best season) because Eli Manning is the black hole of charisma. There is no more boring human being on the planet then Eli Manning. And when the QB is considered the face of the Franchise, the media is going to love someone that shows personality.

So what do I expect from this team? All along I’ve felt like the Jets are going to be a 7-9 or 9-7 team. I think some of the moves the Jets made look good if you don’t consider the player is on the downside of his career. Or if you don’t consider why the player was a free agent (Nick Folk). I get the feeling that if Leon Hess still ran the team, he would have thrown every penny he had at the team to make sure they won during this uncapped season. I don’t think you would be seeing Alan Fanacea or Thomas Jones leaving the team. I think Mike Tannenbaum thinks he’s smarter then he is, and made too many “smart” moves over moves that would have made the team better.

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By Mark D, February 26, 2010 11:18 pm

Last year a lot of people laughed when Buffalo signed Terrell Owens. I thought it was a good move, it was a one year contract, gave them a star and it was obviously the last chance for their coach to make the Playoffs. Trent Edwards ended up just not being good enough, and Owens along with his normal drops was keyed on.

Now a free agent, with an uncapped year, the Jets should take a long hard look at TO. TO for that matter should look at the Jets. The Jets, a Half away from making the Super Bowl, would be a perfect landing place for an older Owens looking to win the big game once and for all. Paired up with Edwards on the other side, it gives two great targets for Sanchez anywhere on the field. Those are two WRs that will give any team fits, no matter their drops or age.

Now some people will say that the Jets will never take a chance like this. That Owens history is too much trouble. Personally I think Rex Ryan is a strong enough coach/personality to get him under control. Like with Owens first season in Philly, I can see it being another love/hate relationship which everyone feeds off of. There’s also no reason to give TO more then a year. With the possible lockout there’s no reason to not do everything possible to win Now.

I do hope the Jets bring back Edwards. But the pairing of Edwards and TO will give the Jets a duo they haven’t had since early this decade. Back in the days when Wayne Chrebet could always get a 1st down on 3rd downs and Cole was a threat anywhere on the field. We’re talking about almost a decade ago. It’s always been tough for the Jets to get a great receiver. The last thing they should do now is pass up on signing an elite aging WR who can still make a difference on the field.

Speaking of FA’s, what the hell are the Jets doing with the Kicker position? Feely played his heart out last season and worked double time in the playoffs. They then bring in Nick Folk who was just awful last season for the Cowboys and whose kickoffs were so bad they signed a kickoff specialist.  The Jets should have learned this playoffs how important a good clutch kicker is. Feely proved he was Clutch (and that he should have been AFC’s Pro Bowl Kicker) in the playoffs. Just give him the money he wants.

Finally, if you can bring in Pennington as a backup and mentor to Sanchez do it. Don’t kid yourself that Clemens is going to somehow go anywhere and suddenly remember how to pass the football. The kid is a bust bust bust and its time to cut the string. If not Pennington, please bring in someone who has experience so if Sanchez goes down for any extended amount of time (it has happened) the season isn’t lost.

I know from experience that the Jets are going to screw this offseason up, one way or another. We were so close yet so far last year.

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By admin, September 13, 2009 6:01 pm

Hooray! The Jets get a win, which surprises me. With some of the best parts of the Jets Defense out suspended, the “smart” pick was with the Texans. The Texans who still haven’t shaken off the label of Expansion team. The Texans who traded Sage Rosenfels because Matt Schaub looks so much better.

Even better though was checking out the stats for Detroit. So I use Yahoo usually and wanted to see the box score. Yahoo has a quick stat box in the corner showing you the top performers. Detroit’s top performer was Kevin Smith (The guy from Clerks?) with an amazing 20 yards on 15 carries and 1 TD. Wow, I should bet against the Lions all season long, cause its not looking pretty. Don’t go by the final score, its obvious the Saints half assed it after halftime cause the game was in the bag.

My other prediction of the Dolphins collapsing this season in the face of tougher competition looks like it’ll come true too.