Three Ways Sanchez improved his game this offseason- Star-Ledger

[Kentucky Jet]

Three ways Mark Sanchez improved his game this offseason
Published: Thursday, June 17, 2010, 5:00 PM Updated: Thursday, June 17, 2010, 7:14 PM
Jenny Vrentas/The Star-Ledger


Rex Ryan has never been shy about offering effusive praise for one of his players,:yes: when he feels they deserve it. And on the final day of mini-camp yesterday, the Jets head coach had strong words about Mark Sanchez, saying the franchise quarterback had worked harder this offseason than any other player he's been around.

Part of that, of course, was Sanchez's rehab from February knee surgery. The rest was devoted to making the critical jump from rookie to second-year quarterback.

"He did some good things for us last year, but he also did things that hurt us," said Matt Cavanaugh, the Jets' quarterbacks coach. "We’re trying to help him eliminate those bad things."

Here's a look at three areas they targeted for improvement, and how they attacked them:

Understanding opposing defenses. After Sanchez was drafted, he had a little more than four months to prepare for his opening-day start. That meant his coaches spent almost all their time teaching him the Jets offense. The next lesson, mastering what defenses are doing, was put on the backburner. So this spring, the focus was on understanding what's going on on the other side of the ball: Defensive fronts. How coverages fit behind certain fronts. Pre-snap keys to identify what the defense is doing. Cavanaugh would draw formations on the white board or hand him a diagram, then put it to life on film.

"On this level, there are so many variations," Cavanaugh said. "He needed to get used to seeing certain looks and figure out what's probable."

Cleaning up his footwork. Cavanaugh said Sanchez is "a natural passer," so they didn't do much with his throwing motion. But they identified several flaws in his footwork. While he was laid up after his surgery, they set the foundation by showing him film, both of himself last season and of other NFL quarterbacks who have impeccable footwork. The footage, Cavanaugh said, was an eyeopener for Sanchez.

Once he was up and moving, he put the lessons into motion. On the list: Making sure his lead foot pointed where he wanted to go. Transferring weight from back foot to front foot. Hitching up in the pocket so he's not in a vulnerable spot.

"When he's had time to set and throw, we saw inconsistency, and that's what we we trying to eliminate," Cavanaugh said. What was the effect last season? "We felt it was just inaccuracy," Cavanaugh continued. "The ball was slightly behind the receiver, when it should be in front. The was ball slightly above, when should be at the face or below. Probably if you want to take it to the extreme, he got in trouble with turnovers -- he didn’t have his feet set the way he wanted, the ball wasn’t where he wanted it to go, and it was an interception."

Throwing to his left side. Sanchez mentioned earlier this offseason that he now feels better throwing across his body than he ever has. The root is something else his coaches noticed on film: That the right-hander had issues opening his hip and shoulder when he made throws to the left. First, they showed him cut-ups on film of the throws he made to the left. Then, once he was healthy, they had him stand on the field and do repetitions of those same throws over and over.

"That's one of the things we still harp on," Cavanaugh said. "He's still got room for improvement."

But Cavanaugh said he already saw the work Sanchez did in the offseason showing up in the practice film from OTAs and mini-camp, which he said his player is excited about. He hopes the ultimate result is a more developed passing game than the Jets had last season.

* * *

[Jetworks]

[QUOTE=Kentucky Jet;3626950]Three ways Mark Sanchez improved his game this offseason
Published: Thursday, June 17, 2010, 5:00 PM Updated: Thursday, June 17, 2010, 7:14 PM
Jenny Vrentas/The Star-Ledger


Rex Ryan has never been shy about offering effusive praise for one of his players,:yes: when he feels they deserve it. And on the final day of mini-camp yesterday, the Jets head coach had strong words about Mark Sanchez, saying the franchise quarterback had worked harder this offseason than any other player he's been around.

Part of that, of course, was Sanchez's rehab from February knee surgery. The rest was devoted to making the critical jump from rookie to second-year quarterback.

"He did some good things for us last year, but he also did things that hurt us," said Matt Cavanaugh, the Jets' quarterbacks coach. "We’re trying to help him eliminate those bad things."

Here's a look at three areas they targeted for improvement, and how they attacked them:

Understanding opposing defenses. After Sanchez was drafted, he had a little more than four months to prepare for his opening-day start. That meant his coaches spent almost all their time teaching him the Jets offense. The next lesson, mastering what defenses are doing, was put on the backburner. So this spring, the focus was on understanding what's going on on the other side of the ball: Defensive fronts. How coverages fit behind certain fronts. Pre-snap keys to identify what the defense is doing. Cavanaugh would draw formations on the white board or hand him a diagram, then put it to life on film.

"On this level, there are so many variations," Cavanaugh said. "He needed to get used to seeing certain looks and figure out what's probable."

[B]Cleaning up his footwork.[/B] Cavanaugh said Sanchez is "a natural passer," so they didn't do much with his throwing motion. But they identified several flaws in his footwork. While he was laid up after his surgery, they set the foundation by showing him film, both of himself last season and of other NFL quarterbacks who have impeccable footwork. The footage, Cavanaugh said, was an eyeopener for Sanchez.

Once he was up and moving, he put the lessons into motion. On the list: [B]Making sure his lead foot pointed where he wanted to go.[/B] Transferring weight from back foot to front foot. Hitching up in the pocket so he's not in a vulnerable spot.

[B][U]"When he's had time to set and throw, we saw inconsistency,[/U] and that's what we we trying to eliminate," Cavanaugh said. What was the effect last season? "We felt it was just inaccuracy," Cavanaugh continued. "The ball was slightly behind the receiver, when it should be in front. The was ball slightly above, when should be at the face or below. Probably if you want to take it to the extreme, he got in trouble with turnovers -- he didn’t have his feet set the way he wanted, the ball wasn’t where he wanted it to go, and it was an interception."[/B]

Throwing to his left side. Sanchez mentioned earlier this offseason that he now feels better throwing across his body than he ever has. The root is something else his coaches noticed on film: That the right-hander had issues opening his hip and shoulder when he made throws to the left. First, they showed him cut-ups on film of the throws he made to the left. Then, once he was healthy, they had him stand on the field and do repetitions of those same throws over and over.

"That's one of the things we still harp on," Cavanaugh said. "He's still got room for improvement."

But Cavanaugh said he already saw the work Sanchez did in the offseason showing up in the practice film from OTAs and mini-camp, which he said his player is excited about. He hopes the ultimate result is a more developed passing game than the Jets had last season.

* * *[/QUOTE]

Very interesting article, especially about his footwork. As good as it is, I don't think any of us ever considered why he was so good on the run. Apparently it was because he was pointing his foot in the direction he was throwing because that was the direction in which he was running, too.

I know most people think it's homerish, but I truly believe Sanchez will be in the Pro Bowl this year, or at least will have a statistical argument for being there.:yes:

[DefenseWinsChampionships2]

Great read.

Mark Sanchez pretty much has no choice, but to improve this season though.

Last season, Mark Sanchez only had [B]3 Pass Catching threats[/B] in Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery and Dustin Keller.

Leon went down, Thomas Jones was never a threat coming out of the backfield, Shonn Greene will never become a pass catching threat, and both Brad Smith and David Clowney did pretty much nothing as WR's.

This season? I count 6[B] Offensive Pass-Catching weapons[/B] for Mark Sanchez to work with.

1) Santonio Holmes
2) Braylon Edwards
3) Jerricho Cotchery
4) Dustin Keller
5) L.T
6) Joe McKnight.

It should be fun watching the Jets go 5 wide on 3rd and 6+ types of situations this season.

[woodside]

Good article, Cimini outclassed yet again

[Jetworks]

[QUOTE=DefenseWinsChampionships2;3626962]Great read.

Mark Sanchez pretty much has no choice, but to improve this season though.

Last season, Mark Sanchez only had [B]3 Pass Catching threats[/B] in Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery and Dustin Keller.

Leon went down, Thomas Jones was never a threat coming out of the backfield, Shonn Greene will never become a pass catching threat, and both Brad Smith and David Clowney did pretty much nothing as WR's.

This season? I count 6[B] Offensive Pass-Catching weapons[/B] for Mark Sanchez to work with.

1) Santonio Holmes
2) Braylon Edwards
3) Jerricho Cotchery
4) Dustin Keller
5) L.T
6) Joe McKnight.

It should be fun watching the Jets go 5 wide on 3rd and 6+ types of situations this season.[/QUOTE]

I agree Sanchez will do much better this season for those reasons, but it's really more due to his continued development, IMHO.

You named 12 Jets/ex-Jets in that post. Just sayin'...:erm:

[FijiJet]

[QUOTE=woodside;3626964]Good article, Cimini outclassed yet again[/QUOTE]

This time he got his a$$ kicked by a chick :eek:

[lamont_jordan_rules]

[QUOTE=FijiJet;3627145]This time he got his a$$ kicked by a chick :eek:[/QUOTE]


... truth!! :yes: ...


... i was leery when i started to read ... but then actually forgot about gender as i got into the article :cool: ...


... well done jenny! ...
















l_j_r


(now show us your cans!)

[bleedjetgreen]

One more important weapon for Sanchez - Danny Woodhead. Don't underestimate how important a target this guy will be - Jets Super Bowl dreams will be driven by the "little engine that could."

[TheMo]

Manish Mehta's aura is a spreading. The dark side, weakening it is... :D

[FreshBaked 24 7]

[QUOTE=bleedjetgreen;3627231]One more important weapon for Sanchez - Danny Woodhead. Don't underestimate how important a target this guy will be - Jets Super Bowl dreams will be driven by the "little engine that could."[/QUOTE]

With Richardson, Connor, McKnight, LT, and Greene the "little engine that could" would have a very hard time even making the team

[el_dub80]

Wow, Thank God Kellen Clemens is NOT our number 1 QB :eek:

[Piper]

I like rosey colored articles in the off-season as much as anyone.
But I'll wait until he has played a bunch of games before pronouncing that he has improved his game.

[VincenzoTestaverde]

[QUOTE=el_dub80;3627423]Wow, Thank God Kellen Clemens is NOT our number 1 QB :eek:[/QUOTE]

+1

[Dirtstar]

[QUOTE=DefenseWinsChampionships2;3626962]Great read.

Mark Sanchez pretty much has no choice, but to improve this season though.

Last season, Mark Sanchez only had [B]3 Pass Catching threats[/B] in Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery and Dustin Keller.

Leon went down, Thomas Jones was never a threat coming out of the backfield, Shonn Greene will never become a pass catching threat, and both Brad Smith and David Clowney did pretty much nothing as WR's.

This season? I count 6[B] Offensive Pass-Catching weapons[/B] for Mark Sanchez to work with.

1) Santonio Holmes
2) Braylon Edwards
3) Jerricho Cotchery
4) Dustin Keller
5) L.T
6) Joe McKnight.

It should be fun watching the Jets go 5 wide on 3rd and 6+ types of situations this season.[/QUOTE]

you're not being fair to David Clowney.

he may not be a star, but when David Clowney gets a chance, he produces.

don't believe me? the stats speak for themselves:


Week 5 (10/12) - Jets @ Miami: 4 catches, 72 yards, with a long of 53, for an average of 18 yards per catch.

Week 7 (10/25) - Jets @ Oakland: 4 catches, 79 yards, 1 touchdown, with a long of 35, for an average of 19.8 yards per catch.


in the future, please don't be so quick to dismiss players like David Clowney.

[southparkcpa]

[QUOTE=el_dub80;3627423]Wow, Thank God Kellen Clemens is NOT our number 1 QB :eek:[/QUOTE]

I miss Pennington.................;)

[YorkPAJetsFan]

[QUOTE=southparkcpa;3628481]I miss Pennington.................;)[/QUOTE]


Could you imagine that much talent on the field running nothing but 5-yard curl routes?:dink:

[southparkcpa]

[QUOTE=YorkPAJetsFan;3628484]Could you imagine that much talent on the field running nothing but 5-yard curl routes?:dink:[/QUOTE]

LMFAO!

[Pavilion]

By all accounts Sanchez spent almost every hour rehabbing and watching film. All the greats have a tremendous work ethic and watch film like its their favorite tv program.

Hopefully now Sanchez understand what the defense is doing at all times and understands the offense better and its protections so he can take full advantage of every opportunity given.

Now im not saying Sanchez will be one of the passing leaders this season or even in the top 10 but he has the talent to be and the pieces around him' all he has to do it put it all together.

Manning, Brees, Brady all spend countless hours watching film and always correct themselves, luckily it appears that Sanchez understands that to truley be great that he has to put in the time not only on the practice field but in the film room.

[Hitman Harris]

[QUOTE=FreshBaked 24 7;3627345]With Richardson, Connor, McKnight, LT, and Greene the "little engine that could" would have a very hard time even making the team[/QUOTE]

Just FYI, I noticed Little Wood listed as WR at practice the other day... Maybe they are thinking of using him in a Welkerish role

[simijet]

[QUOTE=el_dub80;3627423]Wow, Thank God Kellen Clemens is NOT our number 1 QB :eek:[/QUOTE]

-1

Leave Kellen out of this!