Quarterback Isn't Jets Concern

Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow. Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow. Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow.

Those two names have been stealing the headlines every single day thus far in training camp.  The New York media has fallen in love with Broadway Tebow and the so-called "controversy" at quarterback for the Jets.  The problem is that Gang Green's issue does not come at that position.  The real concern right now should be who these two quarterbacks will be throwing to this season.

After Santonio Holmes, the Jets depth chart is fairly depleted in terms of proven, experienced wide receivers.  Antonio Cromartie's controversial statement claiming himself to be the second best wide receiver on the team may actually be 100% correct.  The receivers behind Holmes consist of Jeremy Kerley, Chaz Schilens, Patrick Turner, and rookie Stephen Hill.  Kerley is entering just his second season where he caught just 29 passes for 314 yards last season.  Schilens had 23 receptions for 272 yards with the Raiders last season.  Turner also did not do much in limited playing time last year catching 8 passes for 96 yards.  Hill, a rookie out of Georgia Tech, has a lot of upside and could play a major role in the Jets offense, but is still unproven.  Cromartie is definitely going to see some playing time on offense.  Having the stamina to play cornerback and come back out and play receiver is not easy though.  Gang Green also has Dustin Keller at tight end who will have a chance to have his best year becoming a huge part of the offense now.

There is not much to write home for Sanchez and Tebow there.  Everyone seems to be worried about who the quarterback will for this team and whether Tebow will take Sanchez's job.  The Jets starting quarterback is Mark Sanchez.  That is not changing barring an awful start to the season.  Tebow will come in for the wildcat and certain package plays as well as help out on special teams.  This is Sanchez's job to lose after signing an extension this offseason that brought his contract to a hefty 5 years and $58.25 million.

The Jets need to go out and get a wide receiver before they open the season September 9th at home against the Bills.  Chad Johnson is completely out of the question.  This team has enough distractions already with local and national media in Cortland every day.  A guy they could use is someone like Percy Harvin.  The Jets have been rumored to be interested in acquiring Harvin, but nothing appears imminent as of now.  The Vikings star wide out had an impressive year last season in Minnesota catching 87 passes for 976 yards to go with six touchdowns.  Harvin would completely change the Jets offense giving them a second deep threat to keep the defense from double covering Santonio Holmes.

This team needs another veteran wide out to complement Holmes and teach the younger receivers.  With an improved defense, but a suspect pass rush, the Jets are going to need some help from an offense that was not very explosive last year finishing 25th in the NFL in total yards a game.  The ground and pound will be in full effect this season, but Shonn Greene, Joe McKnight, and Tim Tebow cannot carry an offense themselves.  Sanchez needs guys he can trust to get the ball to if he wants to improve on his 2011 season where he missed the playoffs for the first time in his three years in the NFL.

Right now, Rex Ryan's squad has the talent on defense in their secondary, and an offense that is going to run the football a lot this season.  That is enough for them to possibly see a 9-7 season.  If GM Mike Tannenbaum can go out and get a proven receiver, it turns the Jets into a playoff contender that can be a threat in the playoffs.  The Jets are going to need to win some games if they want fans filling their seats at MetLife Stadium. They have already dropped some season tickets to just $50 a game.

Jets Get Raided in Oakland 34-24

Once again....defense wins championships.  Darren McFadden must have not got the memo. McFadden's 171 yards and two touchdowns helped the Raiders get by the Jets Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum in Oakland.

The Jets were sloppy with the ball and their two turnovers truly cost them the game on Sunday.  Sanchez had a bad interception thrown in the endzone that ruined a great punt return by Jeremy Kerley.  In the second half, Antonio Cromartie bobbled a kick return and fumbled it and the Raiders ended up with the ball and scored a touchdown.  Those two turnovers were monumental in the loss.

They came out of the tunnel in the second half with nothing.  They did not score in the second half until there were 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter.  The offense did not play with the fire that we see from this offense when playing from behind.  Mark Sanchez's stats were not bad as he threw for 369 yards and two touchdowns, but he threw 43 passes and completed 27 of them and also had the interception thrown in the endzone. Center Nick Mangold missed the game due to injury.  Clearly, this was a huge hole for the Jets that was seen throughout the game.

The story of the game was the unbelievable performance by Raiders running back Darren McFadden.  He carried the ball 19 times for 171 yards and two touchdowns.  That is an astounding 9 yards per carry.  Michael Bush also ran for 22 yards and a touchdown.  Jason Campbell played a fairly mistake free game and let the run game do the bulk of the work in the victory. Campbell was 18 for 27 with 156 yards and no touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Jets have to go on the road to Baltimore and on the road to New England next.  This was a game they really needed to pull out.  Now they will hit the road to face two of the best teams in football.  They are going to have to step it up defensively and not make any more careless turnovers if they want to head back home with a winning record.

Jets D Dominates in 32-3 Win Over Jags

They say defense wins championships. Well, that is how it is looking to be for the New York Jets. Their offense did not look too pretty against a Jacksonville team with a lot of bumps and bruises and a starting quarterback by the name of Luke McCown. The defense, on the other hand was absolutely dominant.  Even with the futile play by the offense, the Jets obliterated the Jaguars 32-3.

The release of quarterback David Gerrard may have the seats in Jacksonville as empty as they were in the fourth quarter at Metlife Stadium Sunday afternoon.  Rookie QB Blaine Gabbert got to see some playing time Sunday in the second half and may be seeing a lot more playing time coming up. Luke McCown had 1 of the worst games ever seen by a QB.  His QB rating, an astounding 1.8. Yes, you read that correctly. Was it the Jets defense or the poor play of McCown? Well, a good combination of both.

The Jets secondary was nearly unstoppable as they hope to be all season long retaining pro bowl cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis.  Both had spectacular seasons last year and both have looked good the first two weeks.

On the other hand, the Jets offense did not look like the fired up offense in the fourth quarter the week prior against the Cowboys. Coach Rex Ryan told the team in meetings the day prior that he would like to see the offense come out firing.  That, they did....for the first possession. They quickly scored a touchdown ending with a 17 yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes in the endzone.  After that, Sanchez struggled throwing two interceptions.  Luckily, the defense's dominant play had him very relaxed and not having too worry too much about carrying the team.  Cromartie and the rest of one of the top defenses last season took care of that.


One thing that I did notice and am starting to notice in Sanchez though is that he is starting to look very comfortable in the pocket.  He does not seem to be forcing as many throws and making too many mistakes like we have seen in the past.  The fourth year quarterback is starting to look more like a veteran out there.  He will try to take the Super Bowl hungry Jets to their first Super Bowl win since prior to when the first man walked on the moon.

The Jets are off to quite the start with two wins to start the season.  One coming in comeback fashion and the other in blowout fashion.  Gang Green will be tested these next couple of weeks as they play at Oakland, at Baltimore, and at New England.  Sanchez and the rest of the Jets are going to need to play a more complete game on both sides of the ball if they hope to keep their early successes going.