Cimini: Tony Sparano's Jet protection plan

[C Mart]

[B]With new offensive coordinator in the fold, Gang focused on limiting turnovers[/B]

Updated: May 30, 2012, 12:15 PM ET
By [URL="http://espn.go.com/new-york/columns/archive?name=rich-cimini"] Rich Cimini[/URL] | ESPNNewYork.com


It began in February at a posh hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/12482/mark-sanchez"]Mark Sanchez[/URL] -- on a fact-finding mission -- met with former Jets quarterback [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/2149/chad-pennington"]Chad Pennington[/URL] to discuss all things Tony Sparano.

They met four times for a total of nearly 10 hours, two quarterbacks talking football over a dry-erase board in one of the hotel's conference rooms.

Pennington gave Sanchez an insider's look at what it's like to play quarterback for Sparano, which he did for three years with the [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/mia/miami-dolphins"]Miami Dolphins[/URL], and it kept coming back to one theme.

Protecting the football.

In mid-April, on the first day of the [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets"]New York Jets[/URL]' offseason program, running backs coach [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/455/anthony-lynn"]Anthony Lynn[/URL] addressed the entire team for 15 minutes. He gave a tutorial, complete with video clips, on the proper way to carry a football -- the New York Jets way.

"When you spend that much time on carrying the ball ... you know they're serious about it," tight end [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/11264/dustin-keller"]Dustin Keller[/URL] said. "Every single day, we talk about it in some way, shape or form -- protecting the football."

That basic concept will go a long way toward determining whether the Jets can rebound in 2012 -- and whether Sanchez can prevent [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/13200/tim-tebow"]Tim Tebow[/URL] from taking his job. If they repeat last season -- 34 turnovers, the fourth-highest total in the league -- the Jets will implode.

There's no way a ball-control team can win games when it fails to control the ball. There's no way Sanchez, charged with 26 of the 34 turnovers, can survive another season with that many giveaways -- not with Tebow lurking.

At times last season, the Jets were sloppier than Oscar Madison's bedroom. Looking for more discipline, Rex Ryan hired the turnover police -- Sparano, a no-nonsense coach who won't tolerate fumbles and interceptions.

Few people know Sparano's approach better than Pennington, the quintessential game manager who directed the Miami Dolphins to the AFC East title in 2008. That year, they tied an NFL record with only 13 turnovers.

So when Pennington huddled with Sanchez in February, a "dead" period under the new CBA for coach-player classroom sessions, he made sure to emphasize Sparano's general philosophy as much as specific X's and O's. Pennington believes Sparano's run-oriented style will be a "fantastic fit" with Ryan's defensive mentality.

"When you have a Rex Ryan-style defense, attacking all the time, you have to complement it," Pennington said in a phone interview. "You have to run the ball, keep the defense off the field and protect the football. ... More football games are lost in this league rather than won."

That's a nice way of saying it's up to the quarterback not to screw it up.

In three seasons, Sanchez has committed 63 turnovers in 47 games. Only one quarterback since 2009 has recorded more giveaways -- the [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyg/new-york-giants"]New York Giants[/URL]' [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/5526/eli-manning"]Eli Manning[/URL] (72), according to ESPN Stats & Information. People tend to forget that kind of stuff when you win a Super Bowl.

Sanchez knows he has to be better. He said the "most important" lesson he took from last season was ball security.

"No matter who your coordinator is, I've got to take care of the ball better than I did," he said.

Sparano preaches it every day, not only to Sanchez, but to every player. He tries to make each play turnover-proof by providing a point of emphasis. Obviously, much of it is directed toward the quarterback.

For Sanchez, it could be a certain read or a quicker-than-usual check-down to a running back or a ball-placement command -- i.e. a specific window on a particular pass route. It's all about minimizing risk.

"I think at the rate we're going, I think we're all going to do well, I really do," Sanchez said. "I think he's really tried to impress upon us the importance of the football."

Sparano's way isn't foolproof. In fact, from 2009 to 2011, his Miami teams committed the same number of turnovers as the Jets -- 85, tied for 11th in the league, according to ESPN Stats. He lost Pennington to a serious shoulder injury in 2009, and he never was able to replace that efficiency at the quarterback position.

A coach can bark about turnovers until he loses his voice, but it doesn't matter much if the quarterback treats the football as it it's radioactive.

Sanchez did that last season, especially down the stretch, and the results were calamitous.

The Jets allowed a league-high seven touchdown returns on interceptions and fumbles, the most since the [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/stl/st-louis-rams"]St. Louis Rams[/URL] in 2009, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Do the math: That's giving away 49 points, a field goal per game.

Ryan is well aware of that stat. So is Sparano. Even though the current OTA sessions are non-contact, the offense practices "tackling" on interception and fumble returns. Yes, there is a method to the madness, a scripted effort to bring down the ballcarrier.

"If there is a turnover, the entire offense -- I don't care where you are, you can be in the bleachers -- they're running on the field, trying to make the tackle," Ryan said. "I think the big thing is, Tony recognizes that you've got to get him on the ground. ... We have an excellent defense, they're not in there until they're in there."

Of course, the answer to the tackling problem is, don't give up the ball in the first place. If you do, that's when Tony turns into a tiger.

"If you ever want to see him get riled up," Ryan said, "it's when you turn the ball over and you're not protecting it."

[URL]http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/7985290/new-york-jets-oc-tony-sparano-mark-sanchez-focused-protecting-football?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter[/URL]

[NPTJET53]

In three seasons, Sanchez has committed 63 turnovers in 47 games. Only one quarterback since 2009 has recorded more giveaways -- the New York Giants' Eli Manning (72), according to ESPN Stats & Information. People tend to forget that kind of stuff when you win a Super Bowl.

^^
Need to have some patience with Sanchez. I think if he cuts his turnovers in half this year, he will be our QB for years to come. (That is also assuming Tebow doesn't make any progression as a QB)

[southparkcpa]

[QUOTE=NPTJET53;4480304]In three seasons, Sanchez has committed 63 turnovers in 47 games. Only one quarterback since 2009 has recorded more giveaways -- the New York Giants' Eli Manning (72), according to ESPN Stats & Information. People tend to forget that kind of stuff when you win a Super Bowl.

^^
Need to have some patience with Sanchez. I think if he cuts his turnovers in half this year, he will be our QB for years to come. (That is also assuming Tebow doesn't make any progression as a QB)[/QUOTE]

Nice read...Thanks CMART...



NPT, good stats, and interestingly every expert and layman understands the need to protect the ball yet we see so little attention paid to it. From young backs holding it like a loaf of bread to Mark tossing picks like they were grapes in a turkish whorehouse.

[Charlie Brown]

Nice Post as always CMART......

[GangGreenAFFLICTION]

Always informative
THX Cmart

[FijiJet]

[QUOTE=NPTJET53;4480304]In three seasons, Sanchez has committed 63 turnovers in 47 games. Only one quarterback since 2009 has recorded more giveaways -- the New York Giants' Eli Manning (72), according to ESPN Stats & Information. People tend to forget that kind of stuff when you win a Super Bowl.

^^
Need to have some patience with Sanchez. I think if he cuts his turnovers in half this year, he will be our QB for years to come. (That is also assuming Tebow doesn't make any progression as a QB)[/QUOTE]
Absolutely. Good article and good post. No need to give up on Mark. I think they've learnt their lesson from last year and will show some real character and perform very well this season.

[DDNYjets]

Nice article. Cimini is on a roll lately. :huh::huh: He must have Watergate up his sleeve or something.

No excuses for a slow start. No "first year new system" BS. All you hear from the players is how simplified everything is. If it is simple, JUST DO IT!!

[Ray Ray19]

[QUOTE=DDNYjets;4480581]Nice article. Cimini is on a roll lately. :huh::huh: He must have Watergate up his sleeve or something.

[B]No excuses for a slow start.[/B] No "first year new system" BS. All you hear from the players is how simplified everything is. If it is simple, JUST DO IT!![/QUOTE]

:rolleyes:

There will be transition, teams don't come out firing on all cylinders to start the season if they have new coaches or are implementing new systems. This isn't BS, this is fact, and is part of the nuances of the game.

You still have much to learn, Jr.

[DDNYjets]

[QUOTE=Ray Ray19;4480593]:rolleyes:

There will be transition, teams don't come out firing on all cylinders to start the season if they have new coaches or are implementing new systems. This isn't BS, this is fact, and is part of the nuances of the game.

You still have much to learn, Jr.[/QUOTE]

Yea. The pre-defending is starting early this year.

Transition to what? More hand-offs?

[Ray Ray19]

[QUOTE=DDNYjets;4480597]Yea. The pre-defending is starting early this year.

Transition to what? More hand-offs?[/QUOTE]

Like I said, you have much to learn.

[sameoldjets]

not that eliminating turnovers isn't important but it seems like every season the talking heads have another major concern throughout the league. last season it was all about how to stop gronkowski and hernandez. the season before it was all about needing superior corners. the season before that was all about the wildcat. the point is the talking heads will focus on one aspect of the game and make it seem like it's the only reason why teams win or lose.

turnovers are important and the jets had too many at the wrong time. but considering how bad they were, how the heck did they even manage 8 wins?

[QUOTE=C Mart;4480275][B]With new offensive coordinator in the fold, Gang focused on limiting turnovers[/B]

Updated: May 30, 2012, 12:15 PM ET
By [URL="http://espn.go.com/new-york/columns/archive?name=rich-cimini"] Rich Cimini[/URL] | ESPNNewYork.com


It began in February at a posh hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/12482/mark-sanchez"]Mark Sanchez[/URL] -- on a fact-finding mission -- met with former Jets quarterback [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/2149/chad-pennington"]Chad Pennington[/URL] to discuss all things Tony Sparano.

They met four times for a total of nearly 10 hours, two quarterbacks talking football over a dry-erase board in one of the hotel's conference rooms.

Pennington gave Sanchez an insider's look at what it's like to play quarterback for Sparano, which he did for three years with the [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/mia/miami-dolphins"]Miami Dolphins[/URL], and it kept coming back to one theme.

Protecting the football.

In mid-April, on the first day of the [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets"]New York Jets[/URL]' offseason program, running backs coach [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/455/anthony-lynn"]Anthony Lynn[/URL] addressed the entire team for 15 minutes. He gave a tutorial, complete with video clips, on the proper way to carry a football -- the New York Jets way.

"When you spend that much time on carrying the ball ... you know they're serious about it," tight end [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/11264/dustin-keller"]Dustin Keller[/URL] said. "Every single day, we talk about it in some way, shape or form -- protecting the football."

That basic concept will go a long way toward determining whether the Jets can rebound in 2012 -- and whether Sanchez can prevent [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/13200/tim-tebow"]Tim Tebow[/URL] from taking his job. If they repeat last season -- 34 turnovers, the fourth-highest total in the league -- the Jets will implode.

There's no way a ball-control team can win games when it fails to control the ball. There's no way Sanchez, charged with 26 of the 34 turnovers, can survive another season with that many giveaways -- not with Tebow lurking.

At times last season, the Jets were sloppier than Oscar Madison's bedroom. Looking for more discipline, Rex Ryan hired the turnover police -- Sparano, a no-nonsense coach who won't tolerate fumbles and interceptions.

Few people know Sparano's approach better than Pennington, the quintessential game manager who directed the Miami Dolphins to the AFC East title in 2008. That year, they tied an NFL record with only 13 turnovers.

So when Pennington huddled with Sanchez in February, a "dead" period under the new CBA for coach-player classroom sessions, he made sure to emphasize Sparano's general philosophy as much as specific X's and O's. Pennington believes Sparano's run-oriented style will be a "fantastic fit" with Ryan's defensive mentality.

"When you have a Rex Ryan-style defense, attacking all the time, you have to complement it," Pennington said in a phone interview. "You have to run the ball, keep the defense off the field and protect the football. ... More football games are lost in this league rather than won."

That's a nice way of saying it's up to the quarterback not to screw it up.

In three seasons, Sanchez has committed 63 turnovers in 47 games. Only one quarterback since 2009 has recorded more giveaways -- the [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyg/new-york-giants"]New York Giants[/URL]' [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/5526/eli-manning"]Eli Manning[/URL] (72), according to ESPN Stats & Information. People tend to forget that kind of stuff when you win a Super Bowl.

Sanchez knows he has to be better. He said the "most important" lesson he took from last season was ball security.

"No matter who your coordinator is, I've got to take care of the ball better than I did," he said.

Sparano preaches it every day, not only to Sanchez, but to every player. He tries to make each play turnover-proof by providing a point of emphasis. Obviously, much of it is directed toward the quarterback.

For Sanchez, it could be a certain read or a quicker-than-usual check-down to a running back or a ball-placement command -- i.e. a specific window on a particular pass route. It's all about minimizing risk.

"I think at the rate we're going, I think we're all going to do well, I really do," Sanchez said. "I think he's really tried to impress upon us the importance of the football."

Sparano's way isn't foolproof. In fact, from 2009 to 2011, his Miami teams committed the same number of turnovers as the Jets -- 85, tied for 11th in the league, according to ESPN Stats. He lost Pennington to a serious shoulder injury in 2009, and he never was able to replace that efficiency at the quarterback position.

A coach can bark about turnovers until he loses his voice, but it doesn't matter much if the quarterback treats the football as it it's radioactive.

Sanchez did that last season, especially down the stretch, and the results were calamitous.

The Jets allowed a league-high seven touchdown returns on interceptions and fumbles, the most since the [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/stl/st-louis-rams"]St. Louis Rams[/URL] in 2009, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Do the math: That's giving away 49 points, a field goal per game.

Ryan is well aware of that stat. So is Sparano. Even though the current OTA sessions are non-contact, the offense practices "tackling" on interception and fumble returns. Yes, there is a method to the madness, a scripted effort to bring down the ballcarrier.

"If there is a turnover, the entire offense -- I don't care where you are, you can be in the bleachers -- they're running on the field, trying to make the tackle," Ryan said. "I think the big thing is, Tony recognizes that you've got to get him on the ground. ... We have an excellent defense, they're not in there until they're in there."

Of course, the answer to the tackling problem is, don't give up the ball in the first place. If you do, that's when Tony turns into a tiger.

"If you ever want to see him get riled up," Ryan said, "it's when you turn the ball over and you're not protecting it."

[URL]http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/7985290/new-york-jets-oc-tony-sparano-mark-sanchez-focused-protecting-football?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter[/URL][/QUOTE]

[johnnysd]

Telling a QB to "protect the football" is one of the stupidest things ever.

[jetrider]

[QUOTE]

For Sanchez, it could be a certain read or a quicker-than-usual check-down to a running back or a ball-placement command -- i.e. a specific window on a particular pass route.

It's all about minimizing risk. [/QUOTE]

I'd give Brick a swift kick in the a$$ - make sure he's not snoozing.

[C Mart]

[QUOTE=Ray Ray19;4480601]Like I said, you have much to learn.[/QUOTE]

Ray. Why bother with some here. They are so negative and too draining to respond to.

[DDNYjets]

[QUOTE=Ray Ray19;4480601]Like I said, you have much to learn.[/QUOTE]

:D

[QUOTE=C Mart;4480647]Ray. Why bother with some here. They are so negative and [B]too draining to respond to[/B].[/QUOTE]

Just re-hydrate with some Kool-Aid. Plenty to go around.

;)

[OCCH]

[QUOTE=DDNYjets;4480581]Nice article. Cimini is on a roll lately. :huh::huh: He must have Watergate up his sleeve or something.

No excuses for a slow start. No "first year new system" BS. All you hear from the players is how simplified everything is. If it is simple, JUST DO IT!![/QUOTE]

Did you even bother looking at our schedule? The first half is WAY tougher than the second.

I'm hoping for 3-2 over the first 5, but I'm not giving up hope if we don't reach that goal . . .

[Ray Ray19]

[QUOTE=DDNYjets;4480667]:D



Just re-hydrate with some Kool-Aid. Plenty to go around.

;)[/QUOTE]

Save it kid, the whole "look at me, I'm not a homer" schtick is also getting tiresome.

There is no kool-aid to be had, if you had a clue about the game, you would know that any team going through a coaching change and/or scheme changes, there is always transition. This is 100% fact throughout the history of the game.

[Buster]

[QUOTE=C Mart;4480275]

[B]34 turnovers[/B]

[B]the fourth-highest total in the league[/B]



[B]Sanchez, charged with 26 of the 34 turnovers[/B]

[/QUOTE]

This is the #1 reason we did not make the post season last year.


And IMHO it is correctable

[LadainianIMnotDONE]

Its not as easy as some people point out. You can't just throw out numbers out there. The REAL issue is HOW was the turnover created. You can't just make the best cake in the world by saying "well lets just make cake." So saying "less turnovers" isn't the answer. I'm glad the media is focusing on the numbers but its more than that. So here are the detailed questions I have that simple numbers can't track when regarding the turn overs ..

- How was the protection? Did the QB rush the throw cause he had no time?

- Did the receiver get beat to his spot by the DB or was it just a terrible throw?

- Was the team down by 10 or so and the QB had to force it into a tight window cause he was trying to make a play?

These are all very different aspects and explain more than just your "he got blindsides and fumbled" or "he threw a bad pass" or "receiver just dropped it and it went into the DB's hands" ..

There are way too many variables when you talk about turnovers to just mention numbers. Sparano doesn't address this simply by a "be careful" message or focus on this more than anything. This starts with protecting the QB first and everything else second and this is where Tony will make a difference. See Schotty's biggest mistake although I defended him at times and busted chops in his defense was that if his RT or Guard was getting beat on 1 on 1 we'd still see that same RT on an island. I mean for christ sakes you can't keep asking guys to block elite pass rushers on both sides 1 on 1 ... these guys get paid millions to make plays on their end they'll win the battle too. You need to do things that great offenses do, ADJUST. You send your slot receivers or TE's to chip the DE that's causing havoc, you max-protect, you switch protection schemes, and you keep the D off balance. One thing Sparano is big on is keeping the QB protected. This offense is going to be cake for Sanchez cause he's not going to be making too many adjustments at the line aside from protection reads and safety reads.

Schotty and Rex put WAY too much on Sanchez. At one point in year 2 in the beginning they set the kid up with 2 plays at the line and he had to read the defense to make the best call. This was the gameplan against the FREAKING RAVENS!. Constant shifts and constant dummy counts. Sanchez barely played in college and had a rough year 1 and you got him coming in , in freaking year 2 making Peyton Manning and Drew Bries reads at the line of scrimage? Sanchez had constant audible responsiblities and way too much to think about rather than just playing. All that he's been through should prepare him MUCH better for this year.

This offense is much more simplified, constucted to give him time and keep him on his feet, and built for him to make 2-3 reads with a check down. Not a lot of trickery going down with the Jets this year. You'll see a whole lot of running the ball, some shots down field, some misdirection plays, couple of screens, and a ball control style offense only because the offense is focused to max-protect 1st before anything. Our TE's and RB's will be doing a whole lot of protection reads first before jumping into a route. I expect us to see a whole lot of zone, zone blitzes, and delayed blitzes but no matter what happens teams will have to work REAL hard to get to Sanchez, unlike last year. That alone should lower the turnovers dramtically. Protection is everything and I think we were way too spoiled in years prior having a dominant O Line that we didn't realize how freaking good our line was holding up with all the ridiculous responsiblities they had. I know Jet fans want a top 5 offense and spreading everything out like all these other teams are doing but we'll be a throwback/smash-mouth team mainly with that identity. Be prepared to see extra O linemen, extra TE's, and a grind out/ trying to wear teams down time of play. Although we're focusing on being more explosive Rex still wants to control the clock and run the ball more than anything. It got us to 2 AFCC games in a day and age where this style is unheard of. I think we barely executed it the right away and we'll see it done better now but I don't know if the personnel is good enough. We still need some more players especially at RB and receiver.

[Piper]

I was hoping this was an article on how the Jets o-line was going to magically become decent.

I guess we are sticking with the strategy of hope.