To some the Jets recent loss to the Colts in the AFC Championship game may have come as a surprise, considering that they had already upset their way that far in the playoffs. Despite having the best defense and running game in the league the Jets could not keep up with Peyton Manning. However, at the end of the day it’s not that surprising, especially considering where their Quarterback went to college.
It’s not as if USC’s football program is new, as their football program started in 1888. They also have 5 Quarterbacks in the NFL at this time, 3 of which have starting jobs, so it’s not as if they were not given a chance to prove themselves. No instead it is simply a fact that USC QB’s have no idea how to play well in the NFL.
You might be able to blame Sanchez’s mediocre performance throughout the season on his status as a rookie, however when compared to the other high profile rookie QB from the past draft, Matt Stafford, Sanchez’s performance seems pretty lackluster. Both threw 20 interceptions over the season, which is nothing to be proud of, however you must remember that Stafford is on a team that went 0-16 last season. With that in mind Sanchez threw 12 Touchdown passes and rushed for 3 for a total of 15 overall, while Stafford threw 13 and rushed for 2 also giving him a total of 15 TD’s over the season. The biggest difference though is that Stafford only played/started 10 games this season, while Sanchez played/started 15 (not including stats from the postseason); that’s 5 more games than Stafford had and their stats STILL were nearly dead even despite that Stafford plays for a much worse team! In terms of passing yards the story was the same as Stafford threw for 2,267 yards and completed 201 out of 377 attempts with a QB rating of 53.3%; Sanchez on the other hand threw for 2,444 yards and completed 196 out of 364 attempts with a QB rating of 53.8%. Finally, Sanchez fumbled the ball 10 times over the season, while Stafford only fumbled 4 times. Considering the amount of talent that Sanchez has around him in his run game, Offensive line and wide receivers; compared to what Stafford has (essentially Calvin Johnson) there is no denying that Stafford is the better quarterback, and thus Sanchez’s lackluster season cannot be blamed for his status as a rookie.
I hate to break it to you Jets fans, but despite having a great running game, offensive line and the best pass defense in the league you are not going to be able to win any championships until you find a new starting quarterback who isn’t from USC. This combined with the fact that Thomas Jones will be a free agent next year means that the Jets can kiss any hopes of winning the superbowl away for at least 3 to 4 years.
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