Jets Rookie QB Hands Over Game in Big Easy
Gang Green suffers its first loss of the season
Posted on Monday, October 5, 2009 at 12:30 PMWhen I look at the first three games of Jets QB Mark Sanchez's NFL career, it is somewhat amazing to me that his few mistakes resulted in minimal damage. That charmed life came crashing down in New Orleans this past Sunday when Sanchez was victimized by the Saints' defense for two TDs.
Give Gang Green credit for fighting back on the road after trailing 17-0 and making this a game. Rex Ryan's defense showed up for more than a party on Bourbon Street as the Jets held Drew Brees and company to just 190 yards passing and no TDs.
Gang Green pressured the Saints offense for most of the day while stopping them on fourth-and-short twice, but in the end, the four turnovers by Sanchez were too much to overcome.
Maybe Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer learned a lesson for the future: when you're in a big game on the road, try not to let your rookie QB win the game for you. The under-utilization of Jets playmaker Leon Washington (four rushes, 17 yards) was a serious mistake. How can you have the Jets defense play the way they did and not put the ball in Leon's hands more often?
Gang Green must regroup after suffering their first loss (3-1) of the season. They also must tighten up their run defense, which was marched on for 153 yards by the Saints.
Traveling down to Miami next Monday Night to face the "Wildcat" Dolphins looks like a tougher assignment against running backs Ronnie Brown (20-115, two TDs) and Ricky Williams (16-85, one TD) after they pounded the Bills 38-10 Sunday.
Miami's secondary will be watching the videotape closely to see how Saints veteran safety Darren Sharper baited Sanchez into throwing an interception that he returned 99 yards for a touchdown.
The Jets will also be watching a replay of the loss to the Saints to learn from their big mistake. Next time, let their rookie QB manage the game, not throw it away.
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