Rex plans to try to run against Ravens
The Jets' Shonn Greene spikes the ball after running for a touchdown at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Dec. 26, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Now that third-year quarterback Mark Sanchez has demonstrated he can throw the ball, the Jets are being asked why they aren't running more. What would have seemed to be offensive nutrition last year -- Sanchez's 369 yards through the air at Oakland last week -- somehow feels like empty calories after a 34-24 loss.
In mapping out a strategy for Sunday night's game at Baltimore, which has surrendered a measly 84 rushing yards per game, Rex Ryan declared, "We will not give up on the running game; I'll promise you that.''
Shonn Greene, held to 59 rushing yards by Oakland, seconded the motion: "A lot of teams go against the Ravens and say, 'We can't run.' They don't even try. We're going to try.''
Fine with Sanchez.
"Whatever it takes, I'm fully on board,'' Sanchez said. "Whether it's throwing for 300-plus yards, that's all well and good, but if you don't win, nobody's happy. I'm totally cool with running the ball.''
What is different for Sanchez, though, is how he has thrown off the tyranny of low expectations.
"Last year, if you looked at the intricacies of our game plan,'' he said, "we had so many specific plays for one specific look, and you're hearing from coaches, 'Be really careful' and 'Watch out for this guy . . . '
"There was so much going into it that you're almost stuck at the line, you're almost frozen there, trying to make it right. Just right. And this game's not like that. It doesn't happen like that. Things change, guys move, protections get busted, you miss a read, you take a wrong drop. Things happen. I don't think we had very good contingency plans [then]. We were trying to be too perfect.
"I obviously feel more comfortable. I'm just trusting my eyes. If anything, at times I've gotten too comfortable; I feel I can throw anything. But I'd rather be that way than scared to make throws. I'd rather have to pull back on the reins a little bit than be afraid to throw the ball.''
To his mind, Sanchez this season has produced some "great throws and some great reads and great decisions, then a couple of bonehead decisions that would've made our offense look a lot better and potentially helped us win that game last week.''
But the chains are off.
