Just when you think the New York Jets can’t sink any lower, they do this.
In an effort to “support” their franchise quarterback, they’ve taken to ripping into Tim Tebow. Obviously their woes are all down to Tebow, that notorious rebel rousing trouble maker. So more than a few, some with the audacity to even give their name, have laid into the former Bronco in this piece by Manish Mehta.
It has to be read to be believed.
Besides the lack of awareness these players show and how awful it makes them as teammates (because you know Tebow is on their team just as much as their starting quarterback), it shows a continuing problem throughout the Jets organization.
They just keep making apologies for Mark Sanchez.
He’s young and learning. His receivers aren’t good enough. His line is terrible.
All we ever hear are excuses for why Mark Sanchez plays poorly. How about this for a novel concept. Hold the man accountable and when he struggles punish him for it. Bench him. Make him feel threatened. Obviously the pampering he gets isn’t helping him and motivating him to be a better player. Let’s take a look at how he has played the past few years.
[table id=622 /]
Our grading isn’t flawless. But why is he consistently near the bottom? We account for things like dropped passes and how receivers impact a quarterback. We even developed a signature stat that takes this into account. Our adjusted Accuracy Percentage treats drops as completions and doesn’t factor thing likes throw aways and spikes. How does ‘The Sanchize’ do? Well see for yourself.
[table id=623 /]
I know people want to blame the offensive line for giving up a load of pressure but look at the numbers. How often is Sanchez under pressure compared to his peers? This is one table where the lower you're ranked means your facing less pressure. Sanchez consistently spends a smaller percentage of his time under pressure than those around the league, and that includes any pressure he brings on himself.
[table id=624 /]
It probably just seems more than it is because he performs so badly when he is under pressure. Have a look at his adjusted Accuracy Percentage when he’s pressured.
[table id=625 /]
The sad thing is I need to stop myself. I have probably 10 more tables that will highlight how woeful Mark Sanchez has consistently been for the Jets but you already know this. He fails the eye test nearly every time he steps onto a field, and what’s more he doesn’t look all that much better than the rookie we saw in 2009. Yes he has won some playoff games but don’t go thinking that was because of his brilliance. That was because of the guys around him. So poor has he been that we now seem conditioned to praise him for simply not making the mistakes that have characterized his career.
That the Jets coaches and players can’t see this, and don’t want something done about this speaks volumes for where they appear to be heading. Full scale rebuild.
At this point what do the Jets have to lose by playing Tebow? His accuracy may be even worse than Sanchez, and his mechanics remain sluggish, but he has always been a better game-time quarterback than a practice player, and he does have the ability to spark an offense and be a leader of men.
I didn’t think it possible but Sanchez has been so bad but I genuinely believe the Jets have a better chance of winning with a quarterback like Tebow. And I get why people would disagree with that, which is why if the Jets don’t want to go down that road you have to start looking at Greg McElroy and seeing what he’s got.
But the Jets need to make a change at quarterback. It doesn’t need to be permanent but the bury their heads in the sand approach to Mark Sanchez isn’t working. What’s more if they’re not careful it’s going to cost a lot of people their jobs when the season is over.
Follow Khaled on Twitter: @PFF_Khaled
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