Read the opposing arguments from Babe Ruthless and Loyal Homer.
From a statistical standpoint, Mark Sanchez’s rookie season could hardly be considered a success.
In 2009, Sanchez threw for only 2,444 yards and 12 touchdowns, while giving up 20 interceptions. He had four games in which he threw for three or more interceptions. In those games (each of which the Jets lost), he threw for only two total touchdowns, compared to a combined 15 interceptions.
Compare that number to his AFC Championship counterpart, Peyton Manning, who threw for 4,500 yards and 33 touchdowns against only 16 interceptions. Manning also had only one game with three or more interceptions, and he still managed to toss FOUR touchdowns during that one game (which was still won by a score of 28-16).
Obviously, Peyton Manning is a difficult standard for any quarterback to be compared against. But that is exactly the caliber of quarterback that Sanchez must compete against if he hopes to find himself playing in the Super Bowl.
At the end of the 2009 season we learned that Mark Sanchez was an inconsistent quarterback who tended to make more mistakes than good decisions. A repeat performance this season will NOT warrant the same success for the Jets in 2010, though. That success, however, is nonetheless what the Jets and their fans are expecting.
After reaching the AFC Championship game last season (by virtue of owning the league’s best running game and defense), anything less than a Super Bowl appearance for the Jets will be considered a failure. And while the Jets’ defense remains relatively intact, the offense will look very different this upcoming season, placing increased pressure on Sanchez to get the job done.
Last season the Jets were a run-first offense, but that appears to be changing as we move into 2010.
For starters, Thomas Jones (who last season amassed 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns) is no longer with the Jets after being released in favor of the untested Shonn Green, and the injury-prone (albeit still dangerous) LaDanian Tomlinson. The team then added Santonio Holmes to bolster the receiving corps, in an effort to give Sanchez as many weapons as possible.
With those changes Sanchez MUST begin throwing for more than TEN completions per game (something he failed to do FIVE TIMES last season). He must also achieve more than 200 passing yards per game (something he failed to do 11 times last season), and he must balance out his TD to INT ratio.
Something in 2010 will have to change. Either Sanchez will step up and improve his passing game, or the Jets will find a new quarterback to lead the team to victory. The Jets organization, and its fans, has made their wishes known coming into the 2010 season. Both parties want EXPECT a Super Bowl for their beloved Jets. The responsibility falls to Sanchez alone to the team there.
Posted by Bleacher Fan 
