Jets' Sanchez learned from last season's adversity

CORTLAND, N.Y. - When Mark Sanchez forced a pass that turned into an interception on his first throw Monday night against the Giants, it seemed he was picking up right where he left off during his 20-interception rookie season. But Sanchez completed 13 of his next 16 passes and left the game with the Jets holding a halftime lead.

To quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh, that was the measure of how far Sanchez has progressed. The objective in his rookie year simply was to learn the offense.

"We knew we couldn't get it all done last year," Cavanaugh said. "It was a challenge just to teach him the verbiage so he was able to get the calls out of his mouth."

Somehow the Jets reached the AFC Championship Game in Indianapolis before they were stopped. To reach the Super Bowl, they need more leadership from the quarterback position, and that's what Cavanaugh concentrated on with Sanchez during the offseason.

A scene in HBO's latest episode of "Hard Knocks" showed Cavanaugh emphatically telling Sanchez about the example he has to set for the team.

Said Cavanaugh, "My point was, 'You are the quarterback of a National Football League team. Don't be spinning around and yelling when something doesn't go right. Your body language speaks to the rest of the team. Avoid the negativity. Don't give the impression you're down and depressed. It makes you look selfish.' "

That's what made Sanchez's comeback against the Giants so impressive. As Cavanaugh said, it was obvious he never had been asked to cope with as much adversity as he faced last season.

"I don't think he knew how to handle it," Cavanaugh said. "He looked so depressed that you wanted to give him a hug. He's improved dramatically, and that adds up to 13-of-17 efficiency. He took the challenge to be patient and let big plays come."

Sanchez has noticed the difference a year makes in terms of his command of the offense and the confidence he feels in the huddle. "Play calls just roll off my tongue," he said Thursday. "I'm speaking the language. It helps our chemistry on offense, and I feel it's grown this entire camp."

Sanchez and Cavanaugh agree that the presence of LaDainian Tomlinson as an explosive receiving option out of the backfield will make a huge difference if he can reach the 40-catch mark.

"It really gives you the opportunity to get a great third-down percentage and helps your completion percentage," Sanchez said. "That's going to be a key part of our success."

Sanchez completed 53.8 percent of his passes last season, but Cavanaugh said he's really more accurate. "You don't go from 54 percent to 65 percent by throwing to wide receivers that much more," Cavanaugh said. "He's aware of that."

Last season, the Jets predominantly were a running team that relied on Sanchez to pass only when necessary. Cavanaugh expects that to change this season as they look to achieve closer to a 55-45 percent run-pass balance. Still, the notion of reaching the Super Bowl with a second-year QB is a tall order.

"We're in this thing to win it," Cavanaugh said. "Do you say, 'We just want to be 10-6 and make the playoffs?' You can't do anything less than show up expecting to win, and we're not afraid to talk about it."