Cure for Sanchez? Try an uncommon code
Photo credit: Getty Images | Mark Sanchez celebrates with Thomas Jones after Jones scored to give the Jets a 14-3 lead. (November 29, 2009)
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Week 12: Jets 17, Panthers 6
Hoping to cut down on frequent turnovers by rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, Jets coach Rex Ryan instituted a code system to reinforce the level of risk for each play. Basically, it was red light, yellow light, green light, 1-2-3.
Taking care of the ball is elementary stuff in the NFL, and that approach seemed to have a positive effect on Sanchez and the offense in the Jets' 17-6 victory over Carolina Sunday. They had three turnovers, including two fumbles deep in Panthers territory, but the quarterback threw only one interception, completed 13 of 17 passes for 154 yards and made no killer mistakes.
Sanchez said the armband he wore had no plays written on it, just red and yellow bands. He couldn't go into detail about how the system works with code words because that would give too much away and, well, then he'd have to kill the New York media corps, which wouldn't be good because he's gotten enough bad press.
"It's almost like telepathy between the three of us," Sanchez explained somewhat cryptically, referring to himself, Ryan and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. "When you say it before each play, subconsciously, you remind yourself."
The Jets started out conservative on offense and stayed that way, running 39 times and passing 18 (plus three sacks). Sanchez threw check-down passes to his running backs but opened up when necessary. He never threw deep.
That approach might have produced more points, but running back Shonn Greene lost one fumble at the Carolina 26 and tight end Dustin Keller fumbled into the end zone from the 1-yard line while trying to stretch a 16-yard gain into a touchdown.
"I reached out and punched it out," Keller said. "I have to secure that."
The Jets overcame that critical turnover because Sanchez didn't compound it as he did with four interceptions against the Patriots. Asked if short passes to Thomas Jones helped his confidence, Sanchez said quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh tells him he's too confident and must control his instinct to do too much.
"I'd rather be [confident] and hold myself back the way I did today and play smart and get some completions rather than be underconfident," Sanchez said.
"I am really learning. That code, I can't say enough about that. Schotty and I are talking through situations when we need points and when it's OK to take a sack. As crazy as it sounds, it's OK. Let's not give it to the other team."
At long last, it was Code Green for the green team.
