A little perspective

With the Jets upcoming game against the Miami Dolphins this Sunday, all eyes will once again focus on Jets QB Mark Sanchez with the hopes that a repeat of the Bills disaster will not occur again. Although a mere 7 games into his NFL career, the expectations from Sanchez are large. Is it fair? Should this amount of pressure be put on the Rookie? And if so, how has Sanchez responded?

Taking into account the history of first round QBs, there is a long, long, line of failures.  And while the 2004 NFL Draft produced an unusually large amount of success at the quarterback position (Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisburger), the 2006 NFL Draft produced first rounders such as: Vince Young and Matt Leinert.

Sidenote: The Jets selected Kellen Clemens in the second round with the 49th pick in a trade with Dallas. The following picks were: Greg Jennings (52), Devin Hester (57), Maurice Jones-Drew (60).

So, With the Jets 4-3 under Sanchez, The Jet Press decided to compare Sanchez with the 2008 numbers of then Rookie Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco.

After seven games, both teams (2008 Ravens and 2009 Jets) were 4-3.

Flacco

Game 1: Win, 15-29, 129 yards, no TDs, no INTs

Game 2: Win, 13-19, 129, no TDs, 2 INTs, 1 fumble

Game 3: Loss, 16-31, 192, 1 TD, no INTs, 2 fumbles

Game 4: Loss, 18-27, 153 yards, no TDs, 2 INTs

Game 5: Loss, 28-38, 241 yards, no TDs, 3 INTs, 2 fumbles

Game 6: Win, 17-23, 232 yards, 1 TD, no INTs, 1 fumble

Game 7: Win, 12-24, 140 yards, 1 TD, no INTs

Sanchez

Game 1: Win, 18-31, 272 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 fumble

Game 2: Win, 14-22, 163 yards, 1 TD, no INTs, 1 fumble

Game 3: Win, 17-30, 171, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 2 fumbles

Game 4: Loss, 14-27, 138 yards, no TDs, 3 INTs, 1 fumble

Game 5: Loss, 12-24, 172 yards, 1 TD, no INTs

Game 6, Loss, 10-29, 119, no TDs, 5 INTs, 1 fumble

Game 7, Win, 9-15, 143 yards, 1 TD, no INTs, 1 fumble

Flacco: 119 – 191 (62%), 1216 yards, 3 TDs, 7 INTs, 6 Fumbles, 1 lost

Sanchez: 94 – 178 (53%), 1178 yards, 6 TDs, 10 INTs, 7 Fumbles, 2 lost

Looks pretty similar, yes?

The 11-5 Ravens would eventually lose in the Conference Championship game at Pittsburgh.  I’m sure all Jets fans would take a similar fate this year.