It's been a roller coaster ride for Rex and the "Sanchise" |
After the season was over, Rex guaranteed a repeat plus more; a Super Bowl title. Doubts were abound, as the previous year seemed flush. All they had was an old defense, a young inexperienced quarterback, topped off by an annoying coach with an excessive personality. Yet once again, the AFC Championship became a reality for the Jets.
Rex Ryan came to New York with the attitude to win and win immediately. His dreams came to fruition after only a season. Ryan's first question, though, was to how much responsibility can you put on a young quarterback? We have seen teams succeed; like the Green Bay Packers who are succeeding with Aaron Rodgers after his three years as a backup to all-time great Brett Favre. But we've also seen teams like the Oakland Raiders make monumental mistakes picking guys like JaMarcus Russell. Similar to Sanchez, Russell, was explosive in college and had all types of talent, but collapsed due to excessive psychological pressures. The question now seems to be how long does it take for a young quarterback to self-destruct after a strong start? We are starting to see the effects after three years with Mark Sanchez. The Jets started out hot this season, winning their first two, only to follow that up with a three game losing streak. Not to sound cliche, their season has been an emotional roller coaster. Now the media is reporting that certain players in the locker room are questioning his work ethic. About a week ago I was listening to Mark Sanchez on the radio show Mike'd Up with Mike Francesa. Sanchez was talking about his team’s recent struggles and their ability to win horribly played games against terrible opponents late in the fourth quarter. Francesa pointed out that Mark sounded down and seemed pessimistic. Are the effects of the NFL taking their toll on him? Are the expectations too much? Ryan Leaf, in his book 596 Switch, claimed that even though he had the skills and the athleticism for the NFL, the expectations and struggles off the field ultimately derailed his career.
Could it be that teams are too demanding of their players? That pressures can overwhelm athletes? Blaine Gabbert, the Jaguars QB, is currently in his first season in the NFL and his settling in well, but the team around him is far from settled. The Lions' Matt Stafford is on the rise and has showed serious potential. But the vital component to Stafford's improvement is the addition of high quality players around him. Detroit has drafted two star defensive players in Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley allowing Stafford to be more comfortable with the pressures. More teams should follow the Lions' plan; draft, draft, draft.
Talented young quarterbacks require special coaching and attention to properly execute their team's game plan at all points. Trusting a young quarterback is a gamble, but a strong supporting cast is a necessity to taking a young QB to the next level.
--Written by Will Pasik and Ben MacShane.
Outsider's perspective is the new voice for the fan of Bar Down and sports in general. If you'd like a special piece you can email me at quatr101@aim.com or we can chat in person.
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