The New York Jets are on the brink of making one of their worst decisions of the last decade by retaining head coach Rex Ryan for the 2013 season. Overall, Rex has done a good job as head coach of the Jets, but the current circumstances make it an undeniable fact that bringing him back is only setting back the franchise.
The Jets are a shell of the team that went to back-to-back AFC Championship games in 2009 and 2010. The talent has eroded, the perception has changed, and the entire organization has turned into a circus. On a pure X's and O's standpoint, Rex deserves another year. 2012 was his first losing season as a head coach. However, it is almost a certainty that General Manager Mike Tannenbaum will not be back in his current role. Also, offensive coordinator Tony Sparano appears likely to be gone. Therefore, the Jets are going to attempt to bring in a new General Manager with a new offensive staff. On paper this may sound like an improvement but it is only setting up Rex, and the rest of the 2013 Jets, for failure. Things are going to get worse for the Jets before they get better. The team has arguably the longest "To-Do List" of any team in the National Football League. The Jets need to completely clean house. Teams do not succeed when they only go half-way. There is no way the Jets are going to be able to hire an elite General Manager if the Jets are forcing Rex Ryan onto him. General Managers always want to bring in coaches they are comfortable with.
The Jets will also not be able to hire an elite offensive coordinator with Rex as a lame duck coach. The team obviously needs to go in another direction at quarterback. Shonn Greene and Dustin Keller are free agents and will not be back. The wide receiver core is shaky. The offensive line is in decline. Every single facet of the offense needs to be improved. Rex has shown over his 4 years that he knows nothing about offense. Also, next season's schedule looks brutal considering the Jets will be playing against the AFC North and NFC South, arguably the two best divisions in football. The Jets are now at a disadvantage in their own division as well. The Jets-Patriots rivalry used to be one of the best in all of football. Rex started his career in New York with a bang, going 3-2 against Belichick in their first five matchups, including the Jets upset win in New England in the 2010 Divisional Playoffs. Since then, the Patriots have won 4 in a row against the Jets with an average margin of victory of 16 points. The rivalry has done a complete 180. To make matter worse, the Miami Dolphins have jumped the Jets in the division. The Jets have gone from legitimate Super Bowl contenders in the AFC to battling for 3rd place in their own division.
Rex knows that if he is back next season he will need to bring the Jets back to the postseason to keep his job. If the Jets are smart, they will recognize that they need to rebuild the entire organization. They should hire an offensive head coach, spend one of their top draft picks on a quarterback, and start the entire process over. If Rex and/or Mark Sanchez are back in 2013, the season will be a waste. New York fans are knowledgeable and would recognize that 2013 would be a rebuilding year if a new coaching staff and rookie quarterback were brought in. With Rex and Sanchez back, there would be no rebuilding, just a recycling of a failed product.
Rex Ryan deserves a thank you from Jets fans. From 1970-2008, the franchise played in two AFC Championship games. Rex equaled that total in his first two years on the job. However, the tide has turned and the Rex Ryan era is at a point of no return. It is hard to look at the team now and see how the current regime could fix this disaster. Every week there is a new controversy and the team gives America another reason to look at the franchise as a laughing stock.
The New York Jets need open heart surgery, not a band aid. Say good bye to Rex and start this process over....again
The New York Jets are about to continue their search for Joe Namath's successor as the team's franchise quarterback. Considering that Namath left the Jets over 35 years ago, it is a sad reality that Gang Green has once again drafted a quarterback in the 1st round, only to see the selection not go as planned. Mark Sanchez's career began with a splash in 2009 but as the 2012 season comes to a close, it is time for the NFL circus known as the New York Jets to once again take blame for ruining a promising career.
In the 2009 NFL Draft, the New York Jets made the right move by trading up with the Cleveland Browns from the #17 overall pick to the #5 overall pick to select Mark Sanchez out of USC. In addition to #17 overall pick, the Jets gave up a late 2nd round selection and three nobodies named Abram Elam, Kenyon Coleman, and Brett Ratliff. The Jets were coming off a season in which Brett Favre led them to an 8-3 start before collapsing to a 9-7 finish and out of the playoffs. Favre had retired in February and it was obvious that the Favre-Jets marriage was over, even if Favre wanted to return (which he did later in August.) It had been 10 years since the Jets had selected Chad Pennington in the 1st round so it was time for the franchise to invest in a new young quarterback to develop. Before the trains went off the track Sanchez had franchise quarterback ability with the results to back it up.
Here are some of Mark Sanchez's accomplishments from his first 3 years in New York
4-2 in 6 road playoff games with 9 touchdown passes to only 3 interceptions (95 Quarterback Rating.)
10 4th quarter comebacks (including 1 in the playoffs) and 12 game winning drives (including 1 in the playoffs)
32 total touchdowns in 2011, 2nd in the AFC
Fast forward to the end of the 2012 season and Mark Sanchez's New York Jets career is presumably over. The team will have to decide this offseason if they want to bring Sanchez back next season but it appears that the team will endure the salary cap hit that will come with trading or releasing him. Through 4 seasons, Sanchez has a 33-28 (not including playoffs) record as the Jets starting quarterback with 68 touchdowns and 69 interceptions (not including playoffs.) While Sanchez certainly deserves blame for the way things have deteriorated in New York over the last 2 years, and especially the last 4 months, his share of blame is minuscule when compared to the New York Jets organization.
1. Rex Ryan
In his time as head coach of the New York Jets Rex Ryan has been all about publicity. For better or for worse, the Jets have never been as relevant as they've been under Ryan. However, for a young quarterback like Sanchez, added publicity is not a positive thing. The Jets are already located in the world's biggest media market; a place where a quarterback can be criticized for something as simple as eating a hot dog on the sidelines of a 38-0 blowout victory. Rex Ryan has consistently put a bull's eye on the New York Jets, which in essence, has put a bull's eye on the quarterback. New York fans are arguably the toughest in the country. Even Eli Manning had his doubters after winning a Super Bowl. Sanchez was put under the microscope almost every week. To make matter worse, Sanchez was put under the HBO spotlight on "Hard Knocks" in only his second season.
While Rex Ryan is widely considered the best defensive coach in football, he is clueless when it comes to offense. Defensive head coaches tend to be overly conservative and in the evolving world of NFL offenses, Sanchez was largely left behind due to the philosophy of his head coach.
2. Brian Schottenheimer & Tony Sparano
Brian Schottenheimer served as offensive coordinator of the Jets from 2006-2011. During his time with the Jets, he coached quarterbacks Chad Pennington, Kellen Clemens, and Brett Favre in addition to Sanchez. Clemens (2006-2010) was drafted to be the "franchise quarterback" of the Jets in 2006 but under Schottenheimer's tutelage that never materialized. Pennington (2006-2007) and Favre (2008) were average at best under Schottenheimer. However, both Pennington and Favre went onto have the best season's of their respective careers one year after leaving Schottenheimer's offense. Pennington and Favre were MVP runner-ups in 2008 and 2009 right after they left Schottenheimer and the Jets.
When Rex Ryan was hired he had the chance to dispose of Schottenheimer, a leftover from the fired Eric Mangini regime, and chose not to. The evidence of Schottenheimer's failures with quarterbacks was undeniable but the Jets chose to put Mark Sanchez under his care. Not surprisingly, Schottenheimer was underwhelming with Sanchez from 2009-2011. In 2012, Schottenheimer went on to become offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams. The Rams' offense ranked 26th in points scored and 24th in yards gained. Schottenheimer's resume is full of failures, yet, the Jets allowed him to be the primary overseer of Mark Sanchez for the first 3 years of his career.
After Schottenheimer was not retained at the conclusion of the 2011 season, Tony Sparano took over as offensive coordinator. Sparano had no success developing Chad Henne as the franchise quarterback of the Miami Dolphins during his time as head coach, and had not been a play caller for years. The Jets decided to hire him anyway. During the 2012 season Sparano continuously embarrassed himself by attempting to use a two-quarterback system and his use of his famed "Wildcat" offense was nothing more then a momentum killer.
3. Mike Tannenbaum
When the Atlanta Falcons decided to draft Matt Ryan in 2008, they made a decision as a franchise that he would be the most valuable piece of real estate in the organization. They did everything in their power to help their franchise quarterback. The team signed running back Michael Turner and tight end Tony Gonzalez to make Ryan's life easier. They drafted left tackle Sam Baker and wide receiver Julio Jones in the 1st round. In other words, the talent level around Ryan has consistently gone up over his five years quarterbacking the Falcons.
The Jets, on the other hand, have been the exact opposite. This is an organization that has given their franchise quarterback little to no help. Sanchez has had different wide receivers every year he has been in the league. The only year that Sanchez had a worthwhile receiving core was 2010 and it is no coincidence that 2010 was his best season in the league. Here is a look at Sanchez's every changing top trio of receivers every year he has been in the league.
2009- Jerricho Cotchery, Braylon Edwards, David Clowney
2012- Santonio Holmes, Stephen Hill, Jeremy Kerley
In 2011, the Jets started Plaxico Burress for 16 games. Burress' performance was so pathetic that he was unemployed for a majority of the 2012 season. In 2012, the Jets went into the season with only one proven wide receiver in Santonio Holmes. Needless to say, Holmes went down for the season in week 4 leaving the Jets with the worst group of wideouts in the entire NFL. Leading into the 2012 NFL draft, every draft analyst said that Stephen Hill was as talented as any wide receiver in football. However, they also said that Hill was nowhere near ready to play in the NFL considering he was coming from Georgia Tech's triple-option offense. Draft analysts said Hill would not be able to contribute for the majority of his rookie season as he adjusted to the NFL game. The Jets did not listen to any of this advice and went forward with Hill as one of their starting wide receivers. Predictably, Hill had trouble running routes, getting separation, and catching the football. Due to Holmes' injury, Jeremy Kerley, a 5th round pick from 2011, became the Jets number one wide receiver for the majority of the 2012 season. The rest of the receiving core was made up of journeymen like Clyde Gates, Mardy Gilyard, Chaz Schilens, and Jason Hill. To make matter worse, tight end Dustin Keller missed the majority of the season with various injuries. While Sanchez did have his share of good games in 2012, he was mostly awful throughout the season.
Wide Receivers were not the only position that General Manager Mike Tannenbaum mismanaged during Sanchez's era as Jets quarterback. As all teams do, the Jets lost various starters/role players on the offensive side of the ball. However, every replacement Tannenbaum has brought in has been a significant downgrade.
2010 Braylon Edwards > 2011 Plaxico Burress
2009 Thomas Jones > 2010-2012 Shonn Greene
2009 Leon Washington > 2010-2012 Joe McKnight
2009 Alan Faneca > 2010-2012 Matt Slauson
2009-2010 Damien Woody > 2011Wayne Hunter
Statistically, Sanchez improved every year from 2009-2011 as the team around him got worse. In 2012, the talent reached an all time low point. It resulted in Sanchez having the worst season of his career. As previously stated, the Falcons improved the talent around Matt Ryan as his career unfolded. The Jets did the opposite with Sanchez.
4. Tim Tebow
It doesn't matter if it was Woody Johnson, Mike Tannenbaum, or Rex Ryan who made the decision to bring in Tim Tebow. All that matters is that it was predicted to be, and has been, a disaster. The Jets were coming off a season in which they were 8-5 before collapsing to 8-8 and out of the postseason. This caused Mark Sanchez to be on shaky ground with Jets fans for the first time in his career. Rather then bring in a regular backup quarterback to push Sanchez, the Jets decided to bring in one of the most popular players in the world in Tim Tebow. It was obvious from the beginning that Sanchez was not happy to have Tebow on the roster. "Tebowmania" puts an unnecessary amount of pressure on starting quarterbacks. Sanchez was already dealing with the pressures of playing in New York under a coach like Rex Ryan. Bringing in Tebow ended up being the straw that broke the camel's back.
30 other NFL teams recognized that bringing in Tebow would not be a good move for the franchise. Only the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars thought bringing in Tebow would be a positive move. The Jets obviously never had a plan for Tebow because the Wildcat offense was a punchline all season. Tebow brought 0 positives to the team. All he did was cause the Jets to burn timeouts due to the confusion of using two quarterbacks. Even in instances when Sanchez was playing well, the Jets would pull him and randomly insert Tebow. It is not a coincidence that many of Sanchez's interceptions came directly after plays in which he was on the sideline so Tebow could run the Wildcat. Fans at Jets home games consistently chanted "Tebow" any time Sanchez failed to lead the Jets offense to points. Many times, fans failed to recognize that while Sanchez wasn't playing well, he was not the main problem. Sanchez didn't change, the players around him did. Couple the pressures from "Tebowmania" with the below average players around him, and Sanchez was turned into a basket case. He became a quarterback with no confidence and no clue. It was the type of regression that few players undergo so early in their careers.
What Lies Ahead
Sanchez will most likely be wearing a different uniform when the 2013 season begins. Due to the fact that he is still young and was a highly touted prospect coming out of college, Sanchez will get another opportunity somewhere else. NFL fans, and more specifically Jets fans, should not be surprised if Sanchez plays better elsewhere then he ever did in New York. Alex Smith is a perfect example. He was surrounded by dysfunction for the first couple years of his career but found a lot of success when he was finally paired with a great offensive coach in Jim Harbaugh. Not only has Sanchez had more success then Smith ever did, he is a more talented player. Due to the ineptitude of Rex Ryan, Mike Tannanbaum, Brian Schottenheimer, Tony Sparano, and the New York Jets organization as a whole, Sanchez's career in New York has deteriorated to the point of no return. However, logic and evidence suggest that the New York Jets are to blame, not Mark Sanchez.
*New England Patriots 12-4
-Easiest schedule in the league makes New England a Super Bowl favorite again
New York Jets 9-7
-The offense looks historically bad but the defense will be much improved with a revamped defensive line and secondary
Buffalo Bills 7-9
-Mario Williams is a great addition but Ryan Fitzpatrick is too limited and the offensive line is still a question mark.
Miami Dolphins 4-12
-A rookie quarterback throwing to arguably the worst group of wide receivers in the league is a recipe for disaster.
AFC North
*Baltimore Ravens 11-5
-It looks like they are handing the team to Joe Flacco. He finally played well in the postseason last year so he may be ready to take that next step.
*Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6
-The defense is getting old but the offense is full of play makers. Don't write them off just yet.
Cincinnati Bengals 6-10
-The young Bengals will take a big step back in 2012. They didn't beat any teams with a winning record last season.
Cleveland Browns 4-12
-It's rebuilding time in Cleveland...still
AFC South
*Houston Texans 12-4 -On paper, they have the best roster in the league. Can Matt Schaub finally win some big games?
Indianapolis Colts 7-9
-Andrew Luck looked better then advertised in the preseason. Expect the defense to be much improved.
Tennessee Titans 7-9
-There will be growing pains for Jake Locker. The Titans simply don't have enough elite talent.
Jacksonville Jaguars 4-12
-Maurice Jones-Drew won't be the same after his long holdout. What else do they have?
AFC West
*Denver Broncos 10-6
-The schedule is brutal but Peyton Manning is the greatest regular season quarterback of all time. It's all about him staying healthy.
*Kansas City Chiefs 9-7
-The Chiefs have a ton of talent. All the question marks surround Matt Cassell.
San Diego Chargers 8-8
-The window looks like it has finally closed on this underachieving franchise. There is no way Norv Turner returns in 2013.
Oakland Raiders 5-11
-Carson Palmer is a turnover machine and the team lacks experience. Don't be surprised if Terrelle Pryor gets a few starts in 2012.
NFC
NFC East
*New York Giants 10-6
-The Super Bowl champs are rewarded with the league's toughest schedule. Eli Manning is as clutch as any player in sports and the Giants have the best pass rush in football. Don't buy the Eagles/Cowboys hype.
Philadelphia Eagles 8-8
-Michael Vick can't stay healthy and their backup is a rookie. Could this be Andy Reid's last year in Philly?
Dallas Cowboys 8-8
-The talent is there but the schedule is brutal. Until Dallas proves they can win big games people will always have doubts.
Washington Redskins 4-12
-A rookie quarterback coupled with a sub par offensive line and below average running backs? Another long year in the nation's capital.
NFC North
*Green Bay Packers 11-5
-They won't duplicate last year's 15-1 record but they will still be an NFC powerhouse.
*Chicago Bears 10-6
-Jay Cutler finally has some weapons at wide receiver. If Forte can bounce back then watch out.
Detroit Lions 8-8
-The Lions are young and undisciplined. They will take a step back.
Minnesota Vikings 4-12
-Hard to imagine the Vikings competing any time soon. Hopefully Adrian Peterson can recover from his horrific knee injury.
NFC South
*Atlanta Falcons 10-6
-It's put up or shut up for Matt Ryan. His play in the postseason has to improve.
*New Orleans Saints 9-7
-We'll find out how good Drew Brees is without Sean Payton
Carolina Panthers 7-9
-They didn't make enough improvements in the offseason. Cam Newton is great but the division is too tough.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-10
-It's amazing that Josh Freeman doesn't take more criticism. If he doesn't perform this season it may be time for Tampa to move on.
NFC West
*San Francisco 49ers 11-5
-It's simple. Alex Smith can't screw it up.
Seattle Seahawks 7-9
-Russell Wilson is one of the NFL's most intriguing storylines this season.
Arizona Cardinals 6-10
-No quarterback means no chance.
St. Louis Rams 3-13
-The Rams are going through one of the worst stretches in the history of American sports.
AFC Championship
Houston Texans over Denver Broncos
NFC Championship
Chicago Bears over Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XLVII
Chicago Bears over Houston Texans
Other Predictions
1. Barring injury, Mark Sanchez will start every game for the Jets this season
2. Tom Brady will win the league MVP
3. Andrew Luck will be the offensive rookie of the year
4. Maurice Claiborne will be the defensive rookie of the year
ACC- Virginia Tech
-Florida State has been over hyped and overrated. Not only has Virginia Tech dominated the ACC lately but Logan Thomas is the best quarterback in the conference.
Big East- Louisville
-The Big East is in shambles but Louisville is a pre-season top 25 team. They're the prettiest girl at the ugly contest. Teddy Bridgewater is a future NFL star.
Big 10- Michigan State
-Denard Robinson is electric but can't be relied on to carry Michigan again. Wisconsin lost Russell Wilson and Taylor Martinez is not consistent enough to lead Nebraska to a Big 10 title.
It's put up or shut up for Landry Jones and company
Big 12- Oklahoma
-Bob Stoops will be under more heat then usual if the Sooners do not win the conference in a year when they are the prohibitive favorite.
Pac 12- Oregon
-USC is the favorite but Chip Kelly is one of the best offensive minds in the country. Darron Thomas and LeMichael James are gone, but their replacements could be upgrades.
SEC- Alabama
-Even though the Crimson Tide will be forced to go to Death Valley this year, A.J. McCarron will be the difference. Alabama wins a brutally tough SEC West.
National Championship- Alabama vs Oregon
National Champion- Alabama
Heisman Trophy Winner- De'Anthony Thomas RB Oregon
Thomas averaged 1 touchdown for every 8 touches last year
McCarron will be much better in his second year as a starter
This Saturday at 5:30pm, the greatest coach in NFL history will rightfully take his place in the National Football League Hall of Fame. There are coaches who have more Super Bowl rings, have more playoff wins, higher winning percentages, more admirers, etc. but nobody was as good at his craft as Bill Parcells. The only coach to take four different teams to the playoffs, the only coach to win a Super Bowl with a backup quarterback, and the only man to rebuild five franchises.
If you were to put all of the greatest coaches in NFL history in a courtroom and asked them to present their cases, all would have worthwhile testimonies. Lombardi is the only coach to win five championships, Chuck Noll built arguably the greatest dynasty of all time, Bill Walsh created the West Coast offense (winning three Super Bowls along the way), and this Sunday Bill Belichick will be going for his fourth Super Bowl ring. These are just some of the many men who have the right to be included in any "Greatest Coach of All Time" debate.
Parcells, however, proved himself more than any of these coaches. In all four places he coached, he started out with some of the worst teams in the league and within only a few years those teams were either winning or contending for Super Bowls.
New York Giants
From 1964-1982, the Giants made the playoffs once
Parcells First Year: 1983.
1983 New York Giants 3-12-1
1986 New York Giants 14-2 Super Bowl Champions
New England Patriots
In 1992, the Patriots went 2-14
Parcells First Year: 1993
1993 New England Patriots 5-11
1996 New England Patriots 11-5 AFC Champions
New York Jets
In 1996, the Jets went 1-15
Parcells First year: 1997
1997 New York Jets 9-7
1998 New York Jets 12-4 AFC Championship Game
Dallas Cowboys
From 2000-2002, the Cowboys went 5-11 each year
Parcells First Year: 2003
2003 Dallas Cowboys 10-6 Wild Card Berth
No other coach has a resume of building teams quite like Parcells. It is impressive for a coach to take one terrible team and turn them into winners. Parcells did it four times.
There are coaches in all sports who have won a staggering amount of games. The best coaches are the ones who do not need the most talent to win. Most times in the NFL, it takes a great Quarterback to win, and win consistently. Unlike most of the other great coaches in league history, Parcells didn't need a Hall of Fame Quarterback to win. Lombardi had Bart Starr, Noll had Terry Bradshaw, Walsh had Joe Montana, and Belichick has Tom Brady. Parcells had Phil Simms and Jeff Hostetler. No matter what era of football you are talking about, the Quarterback is the most important man on the field. Parcells was able to win with Phil Simms, a Quarterback who was solid and above average, but not one of the top Quarterbacks of his era. Together the two won Super Bowl XXI. This was the first and last time Simms ever played in the big game. Parcells' more impressive feat came in 1990 when he took the underdog Giants, this time led by backup Quarterback Jeff Hostetler, to a victory over the heavily favored Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV. In those two Super Bowls, Parcells took the inferior starting Quarterback (Simms, Hostetler) and defeated two of the greatest to ever play the game (John Elway, Jim Kelly.)
What did Chuck Noll do after Terry Bradshaw retired in 1983? He won a total of two playoff games in the next six years. How did Bill Belichick fare as a head coach without Tom Brady? In five seasons as coach of the Cleveland Browns, Belichick had one season above .500. In Belichick's lone season in New England without Brady, he went 5-11. This is not a knock on Noll and Belichick, it is just a testament to show how hard it is to win, and win consistently, without a great Quarterback. Parcells did it with four different franchises.
Four head coaching jobs resulting in four monumental turnarounds is impressive. Parcells' last job was equally as impressive. In 2008, he took over as the Executive Vice President of Football Operations of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins were coming off of a 2007 season in which they went 1-15, the worst record in the league. Much like he did with the 1-15 New York Jets, Parcells turned the Dolphins into winners. In his first season in command the Dolphins went 11-5. The 10 game turnaround is the greatest in NFL history. Even though Parcells did not have the title of "Head Coach" as he did with his four previous jobs, it is safe to say that he was the man mostly responsible for the unbelievable improvement. His track record backs up that point.
The Bill Parcells coaching tree also shows that his greatness was contagious. Some of his staffs were the greatest ever assembled. Bill Belichick, Tom Coughlin, Sean Payton, Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, Josh McDaniels, Tony Sparano, and Steve Spagnuolo are just some of the men that came up in the NFL coaching ranks under Parcells' tutelage. Belichick and Coughlin are slam-dunk Hall of Fame coaches while Sean Payton is one of the top 5 or 6 coaches in the game today. It is impossible to say where these men would be without Bill Parcells but they have come a long way because of him.
Maybe with his Hall of Fame induction, NFL historians and fans alike will examine his legacy different than in years past. If they do so, the only resulting conclusion goes in Parcells favor. He is the best there ever was.
The train wreck known as the 2011 New York Jets will mercifully come to an end this Sunday. A season that started out with so much promise and optimism has quickly turned into a nightmare that Jets fans have seen too many times. The Jets have gone from being the only team in the NFL to make the postseason final four two years in a row to being a team that could finish 9th in the AFC after Sunday.
Mark Sanchez has shouldered the majority of the blame for the team's shortcomings. Going into year three, he was expected to make a big leap in his progression as a viable NFL quarterback. Unfortunately for the Jets and their fans, Sanchez has not made the huge leap that the organization expected. However, he has gotten better while the pieces around him have gotten worse. In other words, Sanchez does deserve some blame, but he is not the main reason for the team's shortcomings.
Statistically speaking, 2011 has been a pretty good year for Sanchez. He has 24 touchdown passes (good for 8th best in the NFL) and 6 rushing touchdowns (only Cam Newton has more rushing touchdowns among quarterbacks.) His quarterback rating, passing yards, completion percentage, and yards per game are all better than his first two years. While statistics do not tell the whole story, Sanchez does deserve credit for his 2011 resume.
All of these statistical accolades have happened with a supporting cast that ranks among the worst in the NFL. Thanks largely to Right Tackle Wayne Hunter, Sanchez has been the 2nd most sacked quarterback in the entire NFL. Pro Bowl Left Tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson has had the worst season of his six year career and All Pro Center Nick Mangold missed games earlier this season and came back before he was really ready. In 2009 and 2010, Sanchez was sacked 26 and 27 times. This season he has already been sacked 37 times with one game to go against a very good Miami defense. The sack total could very well be above 40 by the time week 17 is over.
How about the vaunted "Ground & Pound" New York Jets running game? After finishing with the #1 rushing attack in the league in 2009 and the #4 ranked running game last year, the Jets have fallen all the way to 22nd in 2011. Even more pathetic is that the Jets rank 30th in the league in yards per carry. While Shonn Greene is a solid change of pace back, 2011 has proven once and for all that he is not a viable starter. Through 15 games, Greene has had only two 100 yard games. He has topped 70 yards rushing in only seven games. While LaDainian Tomlinson has been a reliable 3rd down back, he has averaged only 3.5 yards per carry this season and has not had more than 38 yards rushing in any game.
The wide receivers are not without blame either. Santonio Holmes has been a letdown after signing a 50$ million dollar contract over the offseason. Through 15 games, he has only 654 yards. By comparison, Holmes had 746 yards in only 12 games last season. His longest reception is only 38 yards. Plaxico Burress has been phenomenal in the red zone but has done virtually nothing between the 20s. Burress is averaging less than 3 receptions a game and has had only one game with more than four catches. Anyone that has watched the Jets this year knows that Burress has had a lot of trouble separating from cornerbacks. He simply can't get open the way he used to. The only other wide receiver option has been 5th round rookie Jeremy Kerley. While Kerley has shown flashes of being a productive slot receiver, he is still an inexperienced 5th round rookie. The Jets wide receiving core, which last year was one of football's best, has been negated to Santonio Holmes, a soon to be 35 year old Plaxico Burress, and a 5th round rookie. Far from impressive. Over the last three seasons, the Jets have never given Sanchez any continuity in his wide receiving core. In the 2009 AFC Championship, his starting wide receivers were Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery. Neither of them are on the team anymore. In 2010, his top four receivers were Edwards, Holmes, Cotchery, and Brad Smith. In 2011, he lost 3/4 of his 2010 core. Out with Edwards, Cotchery, and Smith. In with Burress, Kerley, and Patrick Turner.
Sanchez is being forced to work with a bad offensive line, below average running game, and a wide receiving core that is average at best. However, the Jets offense is 9th in the NFL in scoring and they are the #1 red zone offense in the league. Sanchez deserves credit for that.
No one deserves more blame for the Jets offensive woes than offensive coordinator Brian Shottenheimer. He has been under fire for years and 2011 may have been the last straw. He has been inconsistent all season and it is becoming apparent that Sanchez will never reach his full potential in his offense (funny to think that former Jet quarterbacks Chad Pennington and Brett Favre had the best seasons of their careers the year after they left Shottenheimer's system.) His week 16 game plan against the Giants was one of the worst games an offensive coordinator has ever had. Even though the Jets were averaging over four yards per carry, Shottenheimer called 68 pass plays (59 passes, 5 sacks, 4 scrambles.) 68 pass plays against a Giants defense that rushes the passer better than any team in football. To put that into perspective, the NFL record for pass attempts in a game is 70 by Drew Bledsoe in 1994.
No player on the 2011 Jets has been criticized more than Mark Sanchez. Everyone loves to dump all the blame on the quarterback. People forget that in six road playoff games, Sanchez has posted a 95 quarterback rating with 9 touchdown passes and 3 interceptions. Since entering the league in 2009,Mark Sanchez has more game winning drives and 4th quarter comebacks than any quarterback in the league. He has shown plenty of flashes of one day being an elite quarterback. He only started one year in college and he is playing in the toughest media market in the country. He deserves another year with a new offensive coordinator and a better supporting cast.
If the season ended today, neither the Jets or Giants would be going to the postseason. For the Giants, it would represent a third straight season of collapsing in the season's 2nd half. For the Jets, it would be a colossal disappointment to not make the playoffs after two straight AFC Championship appearances. Lucky for New York, there are four games left and each team largely controls their own destiny.
Though the Giants are 6-6 as compared to the Jets 7-5, it is the Giants who have the better shot at making the postseason. Whether it be as a wild card or division winner, the Giants fate will be right in front of them in the month of December. It all starts this Sunday night in Dallas. The Cowboys have been unimpressive all season and are coming off a loss to the hapless Arizona Cardinals. The Giants, losers of four straight, are coming off perhaps their best game of the season, albeit a 38-35 loss to the undeafeted Packers. With teams like Detroit and Chicago falling apart down the stretch, the Giants are also in good shape for a wild card spot.
All season long the Giants formula for success has been simple. Put Eli Manning on the field with Nicks, Manningham, and Cruz and watch him go to work. Unlike previous years, Eli has not had a running game to rely on. The Giants are dead last in the NFL in rushing yards and yards per carry. In other words, the running game is horrible. With Ahmad Bradshaw being injured for a portion of the season, the onus has fallen on Brandon Jacbos. Jacobs has been ineffective, averaging only 3.4 yards per carry. Everyone knew that Jacobs would have a short shelf life in the NFL as a 6-4 running back. It appears that his years of dominance are behind him.
The New York Giants defense has not lived up to expectations either. Through 12 games they are 28th in points allowed and 29th in yards allowed. The pass rush has been inconsistent and the secondary has underachieved. The only constant has been Jason Pierre-Paul. The Giants have more elite pass rushers then anyone in the league but only Pierre-Paul has stayed healthy and consistently contributed.
This brings us back to Eli. The running game and defense have underachieved and Manning has stepped up, having his best season of his career. He has been clutch, hasn't turned the ball over, and has done it all with a plethora of injuries on the offensive side of the ball. If the Giants want to be NFC East Champions, it will be up to Eli to go into Dallas this Sunday and give the Giants sole possession of first place.
Mark Sanchez and his New York Jets are in a similar predicament. Since he entered the league the perception has been that the Jets win with a dominant running game and defense. This year that has not been the case. After finishing in the Top 5 in both categories the last two years, the running game has fallen to 24th in the league while the defense has dropped all the way to 16th. With a below average running game and an average defense, Sanchez has elevated his game. Like Eli, Sanchez has been at his best when it matter most. He has led numerous 4th quarter comebacks and several game winning drives this season. The Jets offense is currently 8th in the NFL in points scored. That is due to Mark Sanchez's play this season, especially in the red zone, where the Jets are one of the NFL's best offenses.
The main problem for the Jets is that they are just one of several teams sitting at 7-5 in the AFC. To make matters worse, the Jets do not have any tie breakers against their competition. It appears that the Jets are going to have to win out just to grab the 6th and final playoff spot in the crowded AFC. The Jets have only themselves to blame. They lost head-to-head to Oakland and Denver and got swept by the division rival Patriots. The good news is that the Jets have the easiest final four games of all of the 7-5 wild card contenders in the AFC. The combined records of the Jets final four opponents is 19-29.
Sanchez has already thrown 19 touchdown passes (a career high) while only throwing 11 interceptions. He has a chance in the next four games to silence many of his critics. If the Jets can pull this off then Sanchez and Ryan would be the first Head Coach-Quarterback tandem in the New York Jets history to lead the team to the playoffs in three consecutive seasons.
Ironically, it is the Christmas Eve matchup between the two New York franchises that will likely decide each team's playoff fate. The game will likely be more crucial to the Jets but the Giants are going to need the win as well. Again, that game will come down to the two Quarterbacks.
It's crunch time for both the Jets and the Giants. Tom Coughlin's job might be on the line while Rex Ryan's credibility dangles by a thread. It will be up to Mark Sanchez and Eli Manning to get the job done.
Prior to the 2010 NFL Draft, no prospect had ever been more dissected or talked about than Tim Tebow. Whether it be his throwing motion, accuracy, mechanics, or fundamentals, Tebow had become the most interesting and controversial draft prospect of his generation. As we all know, Tebow became a Denver Bronco. His rookie season came and went and his 2011 potential was one of the key storylines of the lockout offseason. As things currently stand, Tebow appears to be the 3rd string Quarterback in Denver---maybe even the 4th string, depending on which source you believe is the most credible.
From a distance, the every day fan would say that Tebow is struggling so far in his second season. That person would be correct. Dig a little deeper, however, and one will see that not only is Tebow fighting an uphill battle on the field, he is facing an overwhelming hatred off of it. Whether it be his coaching staff, the media, or the national fanbase, the anti-Tim Tebow summer of 2011 has become one of the most biased and disrespectful endeavors in recent memory.
It is widely understood that rookie quarterbacks are usually not successful during their first year in the NFL. While the game has become more passer friendly, rookie quarterbacks have seen a greater deal of success and the developmental process has been revolutionized. Young stars like Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Mark Sanchez, Josh Freeman, Matt Stafford, and Sam Bradford all had different levels of success as rookie starters during their first season.
Even though his sample size was not nearly as big as the Quarterbacks mentioned above, Tim Tebow experienced similar levels of success during his rookie season, or so one would think.
More touchdown passes than interceptions? Check
300 yards passing in one game? Check
3 touchdowns in one game? Check
Leading his team to a 4th quarter comeback? Check
Though Tebow started only 3 games for a Broncos team that was 3-10 when he took over, he was able to accomplish all of these feats in a mere 180 minutes of playing time. The Broncos offense averaged over 5 more points per game with Tebow under center as opposed to Kyle Orton.
Did Tebow have a successful rookie season? Consider the fact that he was playing with an awful football team that ranked dead last in total defense and 31st in rushing offense. Keep in mind that he was playing under a interim head coach after Josh McDaniels was fired after 12 weeks. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Tebow was supposed to be a developmental prospect that would take 2-3 years to master the NFL game.
In three starts, Tebow compiled 654 yards passing, 199 yards rushing, 7 total touchdowns, and an 82.1 QB rating. That is an average of over 200 yards passing, 66 yards rushing, and 2 touchdowns per game. In my book, thats a successful rookie season for any quarterback.
Pro football analysts are paid to give their opinions. Some of the time their predictions and right and some of the time they are wrong. That is the nature of the business. The problem in this situation, however, is that after only one season, NFL analysts are pouncing on Tebow at an alarming rate, stating that he cannot play in this league. What has Tim Tebow done at age 24 to make anyone believe that he has no chance to be a successful NFL quarterback? Is it fine to say that he might not overcome his weaknesses and be an above average NFL starter someday? Absolutely. Is it fair to say that he has already proven that he is a failure? No chance in hell.
Whether it be ESPN analyst Merril Hoge saying that "It's embarrassing to think that the Broncos could win with Tim Tebow" or CBS analyst/WFAN radio host Boomer Esiason saying that "He can't play. He can't throw. What Josh McDaniels saw in him God only knows. Maybe God does know-because the rest of us don't." Tebow is facing the harshest possible criticisms that are all completely undeserved.
In 2009, Matt Stafford, Mark Sanchez, and Josh Freeman all threw 5 interceptions in a single game during their rookie seasons. No one said they could never make it in this league. On the contrary, people are saying Tebow will never make it in this league. There is no ground to stand on that makes that a viable opinion.
Why has everyone taken such joy in ripping Tebow? The answer may be obvious. Because Tebow was the golden boy in college and because he wears his religious beliefs on his sleeve, the majority of Americans want to see Tebow fail. That may be harsh but with every passing day that statement seems to become more true.
Even the Denver Broncos organization has gone to unethical limits to embarrass their once "franchise quarterback." He is now behind Brady Quinn and Adam Weber on the quarterback depth chart. Really? Tebow has accomplished more in one season than Brady Quinn has accomplished in four. Adam Weber is an undrafted quarterback out of Minnesota who is the all time interceptions leader in the Big Ten.
People also need to remember that it is not a big deal that Tebow is not going to open the 2011 season as the Broncos starting quarterback. He is a long way behind Kyle Orton. In the last two years, Orton has thrown 41 touchdown passes with only 21 interceptions. Most people would tell you that Kyle Orton is a top 15 NFL quarterback. It is not a detriment on Tebow that he was unable to win the starting job from Orton so soon.
The latest rumors have it that the Broncos will soon release or trade Tebow before the season begins. My hope is that they do. The Broncos married Tebow and dumped him before the honeymoon even took place. No rookie should be treated that way, especially one that played well in his limited opportunities.
For his sake, Tebow needs this summer of hatred to end soon. It has reached ridiculous levels and maybe---hopefully the American public can find someone new to hate. Ten years from now, we may remember Tebow as a bust, but let him become a bust before we declare him one.
With the lockout finally being over (thank God), teams will finally be able to shape their rosters and begin their quest to opening day 2011. Of all 32 NFL teams, no one needed the lockout to end more so than the New York Jets. Whether it be young Pro Bowl calibre players like Santonio Holmes, Antonio Cromartie, Braylon Edwards, or Brad Smith, or 2010 starters like Shaun Ellis, Brodney Pool, or Damien Woody, the Jets have more work to do in free agency than any other team before they attempt to make good on Head Coach Rex Ryan's Super Bowl Guarantee.
To keep it simple, lets outline a basic plan of what General Manager Mike Tannenbaum will be able to do with respect to the cornerback and wide receiver position.
Option A Resign Santonio Holmes and Antonio Cromartie
-Holmes is the best wide receiver on the market and is apparently the Jets #1 target to re-sign. Cromartie was very up-and-down last season but you can't find a better #2 cornerback in football. Both guys will be looking for mega contracts. To replace Braylon Edwards, the Jets could look to sign Randy Moss or Plaxico Burress. The Jets have been the only team to be linked to Randy Moss since the season ended and Rex Ryan has always spoke highly of Moss' ability to strike fear into opposing defenses, even late in his career. Some more food for thought....Santonio Holmes and Randy Moss share the same agent. Keep an eye of Plaxico Burress as well.
Option B Resign Braylon Edwards and Antonio Cromartie
-If the reports are true, Dan Snyder is ready to throw a boatload of cash at Santonio Holmes. In effect, this could put Holmes out of the Jets price range. Braylon Edwards has stated multiple times that he will take a hometown discount to return to the Jets next season. If the Jets were to lose Holmes, one would think that Plan B would be to lock up Braylon immediately. The Jets would also save some money by choosing Edwards over Holmes and could use the left over cash to improve the team elsewhere.
Option C
Resign Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards
-Obviously, this move would indicate that disappointing 2010 first round pick Kyle Wilson would have to step in and be a starter this season. It is hard enough to play opposite of Darrelle Revis, let alone doing it when you've never been a starter before. On the other hand, the Jets offense would be as dynamic as any in football. Holmes and Edwards complement one another as good or better then any other wide receiver duo in all of football. Both are young, super talented receivers who bring speed and play making ability to the position. Lets face it, the NFL is now a quarterback friendly league. Winning a Super Bowl now requires an above average passing game. Having Holmes and Edwards for the next 4-5 years will go a long way in making Mark Sanchez one of the games top quarterbacks.
Option D
Sign Nnamdi Asomugha and Randy Moss/Plaxico Burress
-To be blunt, Jets fans that think Nnamdi Asomugha is going to take a big discount to pair up with Darrelle Revis are dreaming. Asomugha is arguably the best free agent of the last decade and teams are going to pony up for his services. However, if the Jets were to let Holmes, Edwards, and Cromartie all leave through free agency, they would have the necessary dough to pair up Asomugha with Darrelle Revis, creating arguably the best cornerback tandem in NFL history. The downside? It seems a bit outrageous to have close to 40$ million dollars of a team's salary cap tied to two cornerbacks, not to mention the fact that Asomugha is going to be 30 years old next season. In addition, losing Holmes and Edwards would scale back the Jets offense tremendously. Signing Randy Moss/Plaxico Burress would help somewhat, but make no mistake about it, the Jets offense would take one step forward and four steps back without it's top two receiving targets from a year ago.
Once the lockout is over and the dust clears, the New York Jets will be facing more personel decisions than perhaps any other team in football. There are questions to be answered in the secondary, linebacking core, and along the offensive and defensive lines. However, no position on the Jets will be under more scrutiny and require more evaluation then the wide receivers. Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, and Brad Smith could all potentially be unrestricted free agents this summer. Together, Edwards and Holmes were one of the best receiving duos in all of football last season while Brad Smith provided a countless number of big plays as both a kick returner and Wild Cat quarterback. The Jets will be forced to make decisions concerning which of the three do indeed return, and perhaps more importantly, they must decide how they will replace those that move on to other teams.
Potential Resignees
Braylon Edwards
After a 2009 season that consisted of just as many big plays as drops, Edwards responded with an outstanding 2010 campaign that saw him average over 17 yards per catch while hauling in over 900 yards and 7 touchdowns. Even more impressive was that Edwards dropped only one pass throughout the 16 regular season and 3 postseason games in which the Jets played. Also, he made one of the biggest plays in Jets history by hauling in an 18 yard reception with less then 30 seconds to play that led to Nick Folk's game winning field goal against the Colts in the Wild Card Playoffs.
Edwards is one of the most physically gifted wide receivers in all of football. At 6-3 with tremendous speed, he is a matchup problem every week and forces defensive coordinators to take notice of his presence. In addition, he is one of the game's best blocking wide receivers, which perfectly suits a Jets team that runs the ball as much as any team in football.
Edwards has stated numerous times that he loves playing in New York and he wants to retire a New York Jet. He has even hurt himself in potential negotiations by stating that he will take a discount to remain with Gang Green. After being the 3rd overall pick in the 2005 draft, Edwards has collected his share of millions and it appears he would rather be winning in New York then collecting paychecks from a bad team.
Odds of returning- 7/10
Santonio Holmes
Santonio Holmes did not make his Jets debut until a week five Monday Night showdown against the Minnesota Vikings. From then on, he provided game winning plays and spectacular catches. In only 12 games, he hauled in 52 passes (only one fewer then Edwards, who caught 53 over 16 games.) When Holmes entered the lineup he immediately became Sanchez's go to guy, especially with the game on the line.
In a consecutive three week stretch, Holmes made the game winning play for the Jets. In week 9 at Detroit, he broke lose over the middle for a 52 yard catch and run in overtime that set up Nick Folk's game winning kick. One week later in Cleveland, he broke a tackle in route to a 36 yard catch and run that resulted in him scoring the game winning touchdown in overtime. In week 11 at home against Houston, he caught the game winning touchdown with 10 seconds left to bring the Jets to 8-2. According to Head Coach Rex Ryan, if the game is on the line then its "Tone Time."
Perhaps even greater then his three game winning catches was his seven yard touchdown grab against the New England Patriots in the Divisional Playoffs. It came midway through the 4th quarter on 3rd and goal with the Jets leading 14-11. On the previous drive, New England had marched down the field and scored a touchdown, bringing it to a one score game. If Holmes didn't make a spectacular catch then the Jets would have had to settle for a field goal and may not have won the game.
However, all was not perfect for Holmes in 2010. He had a number of bad moments that ended up costing the Jets victories. In week 8 against Green Bay, he dropped an easy drag route that would have led to a touchdown. The Jets ended up losing that game 9-0. A few weeks later against Miami, he dropped a wide open touchdown that would have given the Jets the lead. The Jets lost that game as well.
Holmes has stated that he is looking to cash in this offseason. In not so many words, he has said that he is going to go where the money is. Holmes has not yet made his millions. He was a late first round pick and he knows that this offseason is going to be the only big money contract he ever signs. He has a Super Bowl ring and Super Bowl MVP, the only thing left for him to collect is the nice contract.
The biggest bargaining chip that the Jets, or any NFL team for that matter, has against Holmes is that he is one substance abuse violation away from a one year suspension. Are teams going to be willing to throw nine/ten million dollars a year at a guy who is one joint away from taking a year long vacation? Only the market can indicate.
Odds of returning- 5/10
Brad Smith
Since he was drafted back in 2006, Brad Smith has been making plays all over the field for the Jets. Whether it be at wide receiver, running back, quarterback, kick returner, punt returner, or gunner, Smith has always made his presence felt. He is a smart player who rarely makes mistakes and usually makes his impact plays during the game's biggest moments.
Though Smith has done plenty of great things in his five seasons with the Jets, the odds of him returning are slim to none. The Jets are going to need to invest money in guys like Holmes, Edwards, and Antonio Cromartie way before they even think about approaching Smith with a new contract. For everything he brings in the return game and in the Wild Cat formation, Smith's biggest weakness is playing the position he is listed at...wide receiver. Over the last three seasons he has caught only 23 passes. His statistics are more indicative of a running back as he has had more rushing yards then receiving in four of his five professional seasons. Also, for all the love Smith gets as a Wild Cat player, he has only thrown eight career passes. In other words, Smith is a jack-of-all trades but master-of-none option.
In any other offseason, Smith would be a guy that any team would want to bring back. However, because of all of their other free agents, as well as the new kickoff rule (moving the kickoff location from the 30 to the 35 yard line), the Jets will be hard pressed to even attempt to resign Smith. This is going to be his first and only opportunity to cash in with a lucrative contract. The circumstances surrounding the Jets are going to make him expendable.
In a move that may indicate that the Jets are preparing for the inevitable, the team drafted TCU wide receiver Jeremy Kerley in the 5th round of the draft. Not only is Kerley a viable slot receiver going forward, he is an exceptional return man and has experience in the Wild Cat formation (he threw a touchdown pass to Cincinatti Bengals 2nd round pick Andy Dalton last year.) That selection appeared to be a direct indication that the Jets are ready to move on from Smith.
Though he will be missed, there is little to no chance that Brad Smith returns for the 2011 season. The biggest thing that Jets fans can hope for is that he does not sign with the New England Patriots or Miami Dolphins.
Currently a senior at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Journalism. Intern at WFAN in New York City.
President of Hawkstream Radio at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Creator and co-host of "Freshmen Football" an NFL based talk show on WNYO from 4-5pm est. "Freshmen Football" ran from September 2009 until December 2009. WNYO is a radio station broadcasting from the State University of New York at Oswego.
