Jets' Ryan to be more hands-on with Sanchez
Photo credit: AP | New York Jets coach Rex Ryan directs his players against the New England Patriots. (Nov. 22, 2009)
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Photos: Patriots 31, Jets 14
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Rex Ryan knows his $50-million rookie quarterback can't keep throwing killer interceptions if the Jets are ever going to get this thing turned around.
So Ryan said Monday that he's about to take more of an active role with Mark Sanchez, constantly underscoring how he has to take extreme care of the ball. Sanchez, whose 16 interceptions are second only to the 18 thrown by the Bears' Jay Cutler, also has lost three of nine fumbles. Sanchez was awful in Sunday's 31-14 loss to the Patriots, throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble, matching his career high of five turnovers in a game.
Ryan is taking on the added responsibility of chirping in Sanchez's ear, serving as a game manager by making sure he literally gets a handle on his ball security issues. That will include spending more time in offensive meetings and taking on more of a supervisory role during practice.
"I'm going to be there," Ryan said, emphasizing that Sanchez will remain his starter. "If that's all I bring to him is how to protect the football and making sure he understands the situation in the game, then that's what I'm going to make sure I do. From here out, you just point it on me. This is my job. This is what I'm going to bring to the offense. It's going to be how we protect the football."
Ryan reiterated several times that he wasn't indicating he is not pleased with the job offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and quarterback coach Matt Cavanaugh have been doing with the fifth overall pick in April's draft. He just wants to drill home the point to Sanchez as much as possible, making sure he understands what the play is, the situation and what the staff expects from him.
He doesn't mind the extra workload.
"I always have a lot of things on my plate," Ryan joked.
The Jets have yielded 75 points after turnovers, and it's been hard not to notice. "We've had a lot of touchdowns off turnovers," guard Brandon Moore said. "More than I've ever seen."
Ryan, who will continue to call the defensive plays, has shied away from putting his stamp on the offensive side of the ball. He repeatedly explained that he prefers to leave that responsibility in the hands of Schottenheimer, offensive line coach Bill Callahan and others because it's their area of expertise. But he's learning that approach won't totally fly.
"I've been thinking about it, and people that I really have leaned on have said that it's not fair what you're doing," he said. "I'm not a defensive coordinator/head coach. I'm a head coach. Period . . . I need to be more of the game manager than probably what I even realized before."
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger is one of those who thought Ryan always should have had a more hands-on approach.
"The little decisions that you make turn the game," Baldinger said. "He's just got to get better at that. Making sure that you don't lose games that you shouldn't lose."
That's been happening to the Jets for the last two months, in part because of Sanchez's penchant for coughing the ball up.
"We've got to get this done," Ryan said. "That more than anything is what we're missing. Just protect the football. Protect that football. If my presence standing alongside Brian can help us in that way, then I'll do whatever it takes."
