New York Jets - "The Sanchise"

For the last several weeks, all of the local media attention in the Big Apple has been focused on Darrelle Revis, the Jets unsigned All-World Cornerback. Will he or won’t he sign, and if so, for how much, goes the endless series of articles. And with good reason – the Jets have a very good defense without Revis, but a potential ’86 Bears/’00Ravens D if he plays. Of course, this commentator will likely add to the plethora of sports pieces on the issue if the holdout continues. But this is not that day.

25 NFL scouts attended the Gala Opening Day Exhibition game at the Meadowlands, between the Jets and the Giants. That is an inordinate number of pro scouts attending a meaningless affair, so obviously, either the Giants/Jets or both are under the intense scrutiny of the rest of the league. A poll was taken amongst a number of the scouts: considering the personnel, and the offensive schemes on each respective team, what QB would you prefer at the helm for 2010: Eli Manning, the seasoned QB with the Super Bowl Ring, or second year QB Mark Sanchez of the Jets? The surprising consensus: Mark Sanchez.

Sanchez is a third generation Mexican American from Long Beach, California, blessed with matinee idol looks and a golden arm. Mark was the QB at Mission Viejo High School , where he was tutored under Bob Johnson, who also ran an elite quarterback training school, and had previously worked with Sanchez when he was 13 years old; even at that youthful age, Johnson was convinced that Mark was a potential NFL star. In his junior season in 2003, Sanchez was lights-out, throwing for 2,600 yards, and 29 touchdowns.

Mark was heavily recruited by a number of college football powerhouse squads – he was listed on most scouting lists as the #2 prospect in the nation - but chose USC primarily because Pete Carroll ran a pro-type offense, and he would be directly under the tutelage of the legendary Norman Chow, who had previously coached such prodigies as Carson Palmer, Phillip Rivers, and Matt Leinhart. Initially, Sanchez lost the starting job to John David Booty, partially as a result of some poor judgment decisions, but in his sophomore year, when Booty broke his thumb, Mark came in to replace him. Sanchez had several excellent games, but after a disastrous afternoon against the Oregon Ducks, was once again replaced by Booty. After Booty graduated, Sanchez had the job all to himself, and his response was sensational. After a Hesimanesque junior season, where he passed for over 3000 yards, with 34 touchdowns and but 10 interceptions, Sanchez declared himself eligible for the draft, and was chosen by the Jets with the 5 th pick in the 1 st round. By the end of the 2009 pre-season, Head Coach Rex Ryan named him the starting quarterback. Despite the normal inconsistencies of a rookie quarterback – Mark finished the season with only 12 touchdown passes compared to 20 interceptions - Sanchez was competent enough to lead the Jets to a 9-7 season, qualifying for the playoffs as a Wild-Card team. Mark had his best game as a pro, leading the Jets to a 24-14 victory over the Bengals, with a sensational passing rating of 139.4, at the same time outplaying his fellow USC graduate, Carson Palmer. He then proceeded to help pull off perhaps the biggest upset of the season, as the Jets beat the San Diego Chargers, favored by many to go to the Super Bowl. Sanchez became only the 2 nd rookie QB in history to win two consecutive playoff games in his rookie season (Joe Flacco had done the same the preceding season.) The miracle run unfortunately ended the following week, when the Jets lost to the Indianapolis Peytons. No disgrace in that.

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This season, the Jets are being touted, along with the Colts, as one of the early favorites to represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLIV. Much of the burden of the task is thrust on the shoulder of the sophomore phenom. Mark certainly demonstrated that he can handle himself under the intense pressure of the playoffs. He undoubtedly has the tools to be a top-shelf quarterback. He was often compared to Tom Brady coming out of college, but in truth, he has a better skill set then Tom Terrific. Sanchez may well be the equal of Brady in his innate football intelligence, but his footwork, and ability to throw on the run, is undoubtedly superior. He rarely panics when he is on the run, and has a rare gift of avoiding defensive traps when he scrambles out of the pocket. His major flaw is his poor sliding techniques when he chooses to run with the ball. Coach Ryan imported Yankee manager Joe Girardi last season to help teach Sanchez how to slide without getting injured, but Mark still has not mastered that skill.

The Jets certainly have sufficient offensive weapons to complement Sanchez. Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, and Santonio Holmes (once he finishes his four game suspension) have more talent then the majority of NFL receiving corps. Justin Keller is a rising talent at tight end; Shonn Green has enough potential to warrant the release of Thomas Jones, and their Offensive Line is likely the best in the league. But beyond all that, Sanchez has that magical quality, not seen in New York since Broadway Joe. He oozes charisma, confidence, and the plaudits of his teammates. The Sanchise could be the most famous Mexican-American athlete since Fernandomania took over this land, more then a generation past. If he leads the Jets to a Super Bowl victory, you may yet see him selling panty-hose, a la Joe Namath, the last QB with enough swagger and machismo to pull that off.

By: Paul J. Nebenfuhr
ProFootball-fans.com New York Jets Correspondent