Seven months ago, no player in professional sports rivaled the celebrity status of quarterback Tim Tebow. His Denver Broncos had been struggling to fill their hole at the quarterback position, Kyle Orton being the other passer to choose from. By Week 7, Tebow had the starting role, and resurrected his team's record to 8-5 once Week 14 rolled around. He may not have finished the year off nicely, but Tebow-mania continued into the postseason thanks to an 8-8 record. The Florida Gator miraculously beat Pittsburgh in a first-round-overtime victory, but fell to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots later on in the next round. Then came Payton Manning. In the off-season, John Elway convinced Manning to come play for Denver at Mile High Stadium. This signing meant it was time for Tebow to leave, even though his career for the Broncos lasted just two seasons. After several days of contract disputes, the New York Jets decided to add Tim Tebow to their roster. The decision made be New York shocked many football fans, and is sure to create a serious competition between newly-signed Tebow and Mark Sanchez. Luckily, training camp is just two months away, meaning reporters everywhere will discuss the mindset of Rex Ryan and who he decides to start on game-day. Before that takes place, The NFL Report will analyze both quarterbacks, and by the end, state which quarterback deserves the starting role in September.
"With the fifth pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the New York Jets select...Mark Sanchez, quarterback, USC." After Roger Goodell called his name on draft day, Mark Sanchez's rookie season started off nicely. The 2009 Jets escaped past both Cincinnati and San Diego in the postseason, but lost to Indianapolis when it came time to play the AFC Championship game. The following season, Mark Sanchez was given a second chance, but lost once again in the conference championship, this time to the Pittsburgh Steelers. His luck finally ran out last season, where the New York Jets not only finished at 8-8, but missed the playoffs entirely. Though 2011 was not the first time Sanchez's role as a starter came into question, it was likely the most serious point in which it seemed New York was searching for a replacement. In no way would I consider Mark Sanchez to be a top 5 quarterback (even top 10 is a stretch), yet his statistics have shown improvement since 2009. His 3,474 passing yards and 26 touchdowns in 2011 are impressive statistics; I am looking forward to the day when Sanchez throws for 30 touchdowns or 4,000 passing yards. Before then, Sanchez must work on limiting the amount of interceptions thrown. A whopping 18 passes were picked off by defenders last season, so Sanchez will need to be more careful when attempting to connect with a wide receiver. His numbers are absolutely atrocious, however, when trying to complete a pass above 21 yards. Thankfully, the Jets organization added rookie wide receiver Stephen Hill via draft, one of the more underrated college players, and he should be a great second option behind Santonio Holmes. Mark Sanchez has received much criticism within the past three years, but he deserves more credit from both the media and the fans of New York for his striking accomplishments. If Sanchez is able to improve both his consistency and on-field composure, the spot as starting quarterback would be secured.
How did he do it? How could someone so new to the league, lacking many skills necessary to succeed as a passer, leave such an impact in just his second NFL season? Superstar Tim Tebow may not be known for possessing extraordinary accuracy or arm strength, but he knows how to finish strong and lead his team to victory. The Denver Broncos running game last season ranked first overall, largely in part due to their quarterback, an extraordinary rusher. When all else failed, Tebow would escape from the pocket and help Denver get the first down. The first three quarters were typically the worst part of Tebow's game (the opposite of Lebron James), but when it came time for the fourth quarter, all eyes were on the 2nd year quarterback out of Florida. From November 13 to December 11, all 5 games were decided by a touchdown or less, but ll were won by Denver. Tebow's passer rating averaged out to 67.1 last season within the first three quarters, but his rating in the 4th was a respectable 81.3. When extra time was needed after the fourth quarter, his rating jumped to a whopping 145.8, one of the league's best marks. Though everyone remembers his heroics in the last quarter, it is important to keep in mind the atrocity the first three quarters brought. The AFC East will be a much more competitive division then that of the AFC West. If Tebow were to start slowly week in and week out, many teams would take advantage of his struggles and pull ahead early on. Another critique I have about Tebow is the amount of time it takes for him to release the ball. His form is being worked on by quarterback coaches, and he is bound to be a step closer towards becoming a better passer. As soon as he is ready to start a new life in the Big Apple, coach Rex Ryan will give him a chance as starter. Until then, the fight for starter...advantage Mark Sanchez.
Not only is Sanchez familiar with the types of plays and players on the New York Jets, but in the end, he is a better all around quarterback. Tebow will be put to good use, and their are countless plays Rex Ryan can put together using both Tebow and his starting quarterback. However, if the Jets record slips once again under Sanchez, the presumed starter, Ryan will not be afraid to yank him and put in Tim Tebow. The two quarterbacks are very different (one a decent scrambler, the other a decent passer), but Mark Sanchez has the upper hand here, and he will be given another chance to send New York to the Super Bowl.
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| Mark Sanchez |
How did he do it? How could someone so new to the league, lacking many skills necessary to succeed as a passer, leave such an impact in just his second NFL season? Superstar Tim Tebow may not be known for possessing extraordinary accuracy or arm strength, but he knows how to finish strong and lead his team to victory. The Denver Broncos running game last season ranked first overall, largely in part due to their quarterback, an extraordinary rusher. When all else failed, Tebow would escape from the pocket and help Denver get the first down. The first three quarters were typically the worst part of Tebow's game (the opposite of Lebron James), but when it came time for the fourth quarter, all eyes were on the 2nd year quarterback out of Florida. From November 13 to December 11, all 5 games were decided by a touchdown or less, but ll were won by Denver. Tebow's passer rating averaged out to 67.1 last season within the first three quarters, but his rating in the 4th was a respectable 81.3. When extra time was needed after the fourth quarter, his rating jumped to a whopping 145.8, one of the league's best marks. Though everyone remembers his heroics in the last quarter, it is important to keep in mind the atrocity the first three quarters brought. The AFC East will be a much more competitive division then that of the AFC West. If Tebow were to start slowly week in and week out, many teams would take advantage of his struggles and pull ahead early on. Another critique I have about Tebow is the amount of time it takes for him to release the ball. His form is being worked on by quarterback coaches, and he is bound to be a step closer towards becoming a better passer. As soon as he is ready to start a new life in the Big Apple, coach Rex Ryan will give him a chance as starter. Until then, the fight for starter...advantage Mark Sanchez.
Not only is Sanchez familiar with the types of plays and players on the New York Jets, but in the end, he is a better all around quarterback. Tebow will be put to good use, and their are countless plays Rex Ryan can put together using both Tebow and his starting quarterback. However, if the Jets record slips once again under Sanchez, the presumed starter, Ryan will not be afraid to yank him and put in Tim Tebow. The two quarterbacks are very different (one a decent scrambler, the other a decent passer), but Mark Sanchez has the upper hand here, and he will be given another chance to send New York to the Super Bowl.
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