That's what kills me...the supposed 'weak link' played outstanding in both games and we lost. Be honest: if you just came in from Pluto and were told that the Jets reached the AFC CG in back-to-back years, lost both games, but were told they had a rookie and 2nd year QB playing both times, you'd be asking about any QB ratings in the 30's or 40's or 50's. (i.e., Rothlisberger, Cutler, Aaron Rodgers). Instead, he's Montana-like at over 100 !!!! Pass defense last year...run defense next year.....hope that covers it for next year. I'm not sure if I should be ecstatic that we have a QB that doesn't choke and rises to the occasion or upset that the rest of the team blew it, esp. this year.
add to that, he satrted off a lil shaky but because he was put in bad situations...AGAIN! Got blasted, shook it off and started lighting shit up. Dude is amazin' I just can't wait til they allow him to play and stop treating him like a fukin baby
Year 3 is the breakout year for QBs. Another year and much more successful year this season should be enough for them to let the kid loose. Its discouraging that our team lost back to back AFCGs because in the past who knew when our next chance would be. With Sanchez and Rex we know we will be in the discussion and I am sure we will have our shot in the playoffs again next year. Just have to hope we can do enough to win the division and maybe get a home game or 2.
As disappointed as I am with this loss, I'm very optimistic about our future. Show me another team that went to back to back Conference Championship Games with a rookie/2nd yr QB. This feeling sucks but everyone needs to look at the big picture. For me, the point isn't "Superbowl or bust" this year ... The idea is to build a good solid organization that will contend year in and year out. If you can do that, the SB's will come and that's what we're doing here. You don't need any more proof than to look across at the opposite sideline. They didn't win last year or even make the playoffs, but they have a good owner, a good coach and a good QB... so here they are again playing for another one. Our time is coming.
Sanchez was outstanding on Sunday at Pittsburgh. Aside from the goal line pass, I can't recall seeing him play better than he did in that second half. I have a question for you guys. Maybe this deserves it's own thread, but, at what point in Sanchez's development would you prefer the team move to a pass, rather than run, dominant offense? If his performance goes up next season from the AFCC game and the receiving core stays in tact, do you believe that the passing game should be the centerpiece of the offense next year? I do, but I think there are a lot of ifs (development and talent retention), that lead to that point. Give Greene the bulk of the carries, see what McKnight can do with a few a game and let Sanchez do the majority of the damage. Thoughts...
I personally think you just move it one or maybe two notches more towards a passing game next year. Year 1 was run it 45 times a game and throw it a maxium of 25 times (if you are desperate). Year two was run it a little less, but still enough to remain a running team, and let the 2nd year guy make plays to help the team win. Year three we will be almost even, but should probably still run 52%-53% of the time. Year 4 is the year we give Mark the reigns and say its your team, go win us games big boy.
i just hope he learns to get out to quicker starts. i have the utmost confidence in the guy, but 0 first quarter touchdowns for most of the season is no good. cant keep playing from behind.
I mentioned in an another thread, that I wish our O would game plan more like the D did later in the season. I was hoping they might come out in the last game and go after the pitt secondary out of the gate with a short passing attack, instead of running up the gut into the steelers strength. That's how the pats own the steelers. Their corners usually play soft, almost 10 yards off the line. I know the identity of the O is the ground and pound, but if the other teams are planning on it, it becomes less effective- especially against the good run defenses. If we can get a good ball control short passing game, it's going to make the running game more effective. We've got the plays and the players to do it- they just have to call the plays. I know they've scaled the passing game down because of the 'young QB' tag. I think our young QB is outgrowing this scheme, and we need to expand the offense to keep up with him. Just my half-baked opinion.
It sucks though that even if Sanchez does win a Super Bowl, pundits will always look back at these two years and say that he could have won even more. It's not fair but that's what happens. Look at Peyton Manning.
the big difference is that Manning is considered the QB of the generation, and he is going to go down as the best regular season QB to play the game, and as it currently stands, his postseason record is sub 500. thats why people bash Manning. Sanchez is two games over .500 in his first 2 seasons with 2 AFCCG appearances. you can't ask for a whole lot more than that, particularly based on how he played in both games.
Don't forget however that part of the reason Sanchez looks so good is because of the run game. Sanchez has really good feet (insert Rex joke here) and can make plays by moving around in the pocket. He also throws great on the run. In order to use some of the skills you can't allow the pocket to collapse and for teams to play pass only and try and turn him into a pocket QB. In our offense the run sets up the pass and allows us to use multiple formations in the passing game that creates favorable mismatches. This is why IMO, our offense looks rancid sometimes. Schotty get too cute in his own gameplan and looses our identity of simply running to pass. Remember all the motion offense he used to run? Schotty predicates all he does on creating mismatches with Keller, or single coverage with Holmes and Edwards. We pass out of run formations quite a bit, this keeps defenses in their guessing and playing a lot of base defense - over the course of the game, Sanchez gets enough looks at the defense and finds places to take his shots. This is why decision making in this offense is so important, and patience. If you turn the ball over 3 times you won't live to take that shot down the field. It seems to be the team formula to play hard nosed defense and eat up the clock, much like Pitt, Baltimore, Chicago - teams that for the most part you associate with sustained success. I would keep things close to what they were this year, just hope to hell that Schotty does a better job of timely play calling. I agree, it would have been nice to come out and throw some more, within our offense, in the Pitt game - but to be honest WE BARELY HAD THE FUKN BALL!! Ughh.. Build up the defense..keep the O-Line strong (Sanchez was barely sacked this year, that helps a lot!) and let Mark do what he does. Run, Play Defense and Pick your spots - this formula will allow us to be competitive and playoff contenders more years than not.
Not going to lie when I saw Brunell warming up I was saying to myself he might lead us to a comeback,
