Inside the Jets vs. Titans Film Room: Offense

Dec 17, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) drops back to hand off against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at LP Field. The Titans beat the Jets 14-10. Mandatory credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

Even though we are mathematically out of the playoffs, we are still going to look back at the film. It wasn’t pretty, but we are going to look at it anyway. This afternoon, JETSerious will take a look at the defensive film, but now, it’s time to look at the offensive film. It was pretty “offensive” to tell you the truth.

What we are going to do this morning, is take a look at a couple of plays from our now former starting quarterback, Mark Sanchez. There has been a lot of talk about what has gone wrong with this guy. After the game, Braylon Edwards said it best when he said that Mark “needs to have more confidence in himself”. That hits the nail on the head. His confidence is gone. He has so little confidence in himself, that he doesn’t read what he sees in front of him anymore. He mis-reads the coverages, and that sets him up to get intercepted. Today, we are going to take a look at two of the INTs from Monday night to illustrate what I mean, both from the forth quarter. On both of these plays, Mark had difficulty reading the single high safety. Let me show you what I mean. First we are going to look at the pick intended for Braylon Edwards:

Braylon Edwards is split wide to the right. As you look at the formation, it would appear that Mark has one-on-one coverage for his old favorite target, Braylon, circled in green. Braylon is going to make his move up the field. But, he will not be one-on-one. Michael Griffin, circled in blue, is the single high safety. Follow him as we move forward.

Mark, circled in green, is doing what he always does, locking in on his wide receiver. He thinks Braylon has single coverage, and wants to give his guy a chance to make a play. He does not see Griffin, again circled in blue. You see how his body is already turned towards Braylon? He is breaking on the football before Mark has even let the ball go. Mark HAS to see that and not make this throw. But, he throws it anyway. What happens?

Griffin closes on the ball quickly……….

And picks off his first of two on the night.

See? We are four years in, and Mark is still having difficulty reading coverage. Turn the page, where Mark does it again when the game is on the line.

This play is going to involve Jeff Cumberland, as we saw the other night. Cumberland, circled in green, is going to come out of what looks like a blocking position and run a seam route. Again, keep your eye on Michael Griffin, circled in blue, playing the single high safety.

Again, or maybe still, Mark Sanchez is locked in on his intended receiver, Jeff Cumberland (both circled in green). It would appear at first glance that Cumberland is open. He seems to have a step on the linebacker, circled in blue. But, what Mark misses again is the single high safety, also in blue. He is staring Sanchez down, and already inching towards Cumberland. Yet, Mark gets sucked in, and targets Jeff.

Just like before, Sanchez lets it fly, and Griffin closes in from his safety position…………

And records his second pick of the night, and Mark’s fourth thrown for the game. Then we know how it ended.

These are the mis-reads that you expect from a rookie. Not from a guy that went to the AFC championship game two times in a row. Mark has been through the battles by now. He has seen a lot, and been through a lot. He needs to be far better than this by now, but he has lost so much confidence that, sadly, he is not.

And that is why he had to be benched. Unfortunately, the move was made too late to save the 2012 season. It also likely ends the Mark Sanchez era as the starting quarterback in NY.

It will be the best for both parties if it does end.