Jets' offense seeks rhythm, Sanchez puts on knee brace
Mark Sanchez struggled in Saturday's preseason game, but says the knee brace Rex Ryan wants him to wear has nothing to do with it. Credit: MCT
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - After watching passes sail over receivers and a clunky running game in seven-on-seven drills Tuesday, Jets coach Rex Ryan said the offense looked as if it had seen "a ghost or something."
The Jets continued to live up to their recent reputation during practice with the defense making stops and strides and the offense looking out of sync.
Although Mark Sanchez was told to start wearing a brace on his surgically repaired left knee full-time, he said the brace was not to blame for the offense's struggles.
Sanchez had a tough time getting in rhythm with new wideout Santonio Holmes. He overthrew the receiver on a slant play that had him wide open in the middle of the end zone.
"We were stagnant and not [feeling] the type of tempo we like," Sanchez said. "That kind of happens when you [move] out of training camp and get back to the facility."
The offense was run from play cards flashed from the sideline, which Ryan saw as a possible interruption, but said that it is not an excuse. "We've got to get better, so we'll see."
Ryan insisted Sanchez wear a knee brace because of a near-hit in Saturday's preseason game. Sanchez has worn a knee brace on several occasions dating to high school and said his knee feels fine, calling it a "precautionary deal."
"It's really not that bad, it's more of a mental thing," he said. "You've seen the hits that Carson [Palmer] took, that Tom [Brady] took. If [the brace] can save me, then why not . . . It's the right thing to do. It's looking out for me, for us."
After practice, Sanchez went over to the turf field directly next to the building to work on his timing with Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery. Sanchez ran a slant play similar to the one on which he overthrew Holmes.
Sanchez said Friday's game will affect the energy the team carries into the regular season. The starters will play into the second half and it will be the best chance the offense has to find a groove. However, when asked if an already struggling offense will be hurt even more by the absence of Holmes, who will be serving a four-game suspension, Sanchez said he was not concerned.
"I don't think that's going to factor in at all," Sanchez said. "If anything, the offense will get off to a great start and he'll just add. So Game 5, we'll have a little boost from him."
