With all the hype surrounding the 2010 New York Jets, fans and the media overlook one fairly important point.
Quarterback Mark Sanchez generated a passer rating of 63.0 in his rookie year, with 12 touchdown passes and 20 interceptions.
Though Sanchez improved in the playoffs, with four touchdown passes, two picks, and a passer rating of 92.7, the fact remains that, in a league often driven by great quarterback play, Sanchez has a long way to go.
To get there, Sanchez has been working recently with former NFL quarterback Rich Gannon, an early-career journeyman who developed into the 2002 league MVP.
“The great thing about Mark is he doesn’t just want to be good; he wants to be great,” Gannon said, per Jim Corbett of USA Today. “And he’s willing to put in the work to get there.
“He has a very bright future.”
Sanchez and Gannon spent two days working together, including film study that went until 8:00 p.m. and reconvened at 7:00 a.m.
Apart from his mental development, Sanchez continues to recover from offseason surgery to repair his patellar tendon. The Jets have kept the specifics of the injury close to the vest. Regardless, it’s June 6 and Sanchez has yet to participate in 11-on-11 drills with his team. [Editor’s note: A prior version of this item characterized his absence too broadly.]
Still, given that the Jets enjoy a strong defense, Sanchez doesn’t need to play like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady in order to secure the only stat to which any quarterback aspires -- more points scored than points allowed in the Super Bowl.