Jets Quarterback Controversy Continues Into 2013



Mark Sanchez

 Last year it was the Mark Sanchez versus Tim Tebow controversy.  The Jets said they were not going to designate a starting quarterback, using Mark Sanchez in more passing situations, and run Tim Tebow out of wildcat formations and as a change-of-pace quarterback to throw off the defense and/or give Sanchez a rest.  But it didn't really work out that way.  Sanchez was in the whole time and Tebow rarely saw a single play the whole season, even though Sanchez played terrible.  In 15 games, Sanchez threw for 2,883 yards with 13 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.  He also had 9 fumbles, one in which he ran into his offensive lineman's butt and fell over after dropping the ball.  But Tim Tebow remained on the bench, and when Sanchez didn't play, Greg McElroy played quarterback.  So Tebow basically went from stardom in Denver to a third-string benchwarming quarterback in New York.  Tebow was just released by the Jets this week, so he is now a free agent and has recieved job offers from the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League.






Mark Sanchez Butt Fumble

Tim Tebow







Geno Smith



But this year, the situation is a little different.  The Jets currently have five quarterbacks on their roster, including Mark Sanchez, former Jaguars starter David Garrard, Geno Smith, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms.  Mark Sanchez has been the starter for the Jets for four years now, since they drafted him as the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.  To this point in his career, Sanchez has thrown for 12,092 yards and 68 touchdowns with 69 interceptions and 26 fumbles.  He played pretty good in 2010 and 2011, with a 75.3 and 78.2 passer rating in those years.  But his rookie and 2012 years were dreadful, at 63 and 66.9 passer rating.  It really is a hit or miss with Sanchez, but I still don't think he's starter material.  David Garrard was drafted in the fourth round (108th overall) in the 2002 draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and eventually became their starting quarterback.  He played in Jacksonville until 2010, and has been a free agent ever since, though he did spend a training camp with the Miami Dolphins one year.  He is now 35 years old and seemingly at the brink of his career, though he does not think so.  Over his career, he's earned a passer rating of 85.8, while collecting 16,003 passing yards and 89 touchdowns along with 54 interceptions and 29 fumbles.  Geno Smith is a rookie, drafted in the second round as the 39th pick out of West Virginia University in the 2013 draft a few nights back.  He's got a pretty good arm, able to hurl the ball deep.  His accuracy is his biggest issue, however, as he has some room to improve in that department.  He can also pick up some yardage on the ground.  He's a speedy, mobile quarterback with a strong arm.  But his maturatity seems to be at the lowest level.  After he fell out of the first round of the draft, he threatened to drop out of the draft, and upon entering the second round, he fired his agents, sparking a firestorm of controversy.  He displayed much frustration over his draft position.  "He's going to have a tough time in New York," an NFC scout said. "Right now, he's coming off as a spoiled, pampered brat."  Not too high praise.  In response, Smith said, "My character and my play speaks for itself.  The people who've known me my entire life, and who have coached me, have all come to my defense.  As far as that goes, I'm just looking towards the future and really not worrying about the past."  Mark Sanchez even chimed in, saying "I'll help him out as much as I can, but when we have to compete, we have to compete. That's the way it goes."  Whatever the case, he doesn't have the attitude of an NFL starter, and his skills have to beat out four other guys who have been playing in the NFL for years.  His goal is to be the Jets starting quarterback in Week 1, but I just don't see it happening, and lets face it, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms are not legitimate threats to win the quarterback job.  I see both of them getting cut before the season.  I think Sanchez will win the job, even though Geno will become the Jets starter eventually.  Garrard's career is all but over, and he just can't compete with these young guns.  Sanchez said Thursday he's "more motivated than ever" and he expects to be the 2013 starter.  Truth is, I do too.



David Garrard