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Jets' Mark Sanchez showing maturity on the field
FLORHAM PARK — Brian Schottenheimer was talking Thursday about how much Mark Sanchez has matured, when he suddenly caught himself.
“I always use this word with him,” the Jets’ offensive coordinator said, “and I laugh because when I’m around him in meetings, I use the word ‘mature’ and I look at him and I’m like, ‘Well, maybe I shouldn’t say mature.’”
That’s because in the meeting rooms, Sanchez sometimes acts like, well, the 23-year-old he is, with a tendency to be a goofball prankster.
But on the field, there haven’t been many bloopers this season for Sanchez. And there haven’t been any turnovers, period.
After throwing 20 interceptions in 2009 as a rookie,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Sanchez has no picks through five games, which is a major reason why the Jets will take a 4-1 record into their game at Denver (2-3) on Sunday. According to the NFL, Sanchez and former Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde (2001) are the only players since the merger in 1970 to start the first five games without an interception after throwing 20 or more the year before.
And for good measure, Sanchez hasn’t lost a fumble this season, either.
“He’s understanding the importance of ball security,” Schottenheimer said of Sanchez, who has eight touchdown passes. “He takes a lot of pride in knowing that we’re the No. 1 team in the league right now in turnover margin. ... [I’m] awfully proud of him.”
“It’s been a point of emphasis all off-season, and I’m really glad that things have gone well so far,” said Sanchez, who was 21-for-44 against Minnesota on Monday night. “A lot of it is the decision-making. A lot of it is the accuracy and I lost a little accuracy [against Minnesota]. It’s something that I’m constantly working at and hopefully this week is not the week to start” turning it over.
“Part of it is just knowing your reads,” wide receiver [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] said. “A lot of times last year, Mark was trying to find himself and trying to force some things. A lot of times when you force things into the wrong situation, that’s when you get those interceptions, those fumbles, because you’re not necessarily going where you’re supposed to go.”
And even though Sanchez has had several tipped passes this season that haven’t been intercepted, [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] said that isn’t merely luck.
“Even when he’s getting some tipped balls, the reason they’re not getting intercepted is because they’re going where they’re supposed to go,” [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] said. “So, he’s getting [defenders] who are out of place. That’s why they’re not getting the interceptions.”
Sanchez also had two passes that were ruled interceptions on the field — by New England’s Patrick Chung on Sept. 19 and Miami’s Jason Allen on Sept. 26 — that were overturned after coach Rex Ryan challenged the calls.
Ryan was asked if Sanchez had thanked him for those challenges.
“No, and he should do that,” Ryan said, smiling. “I appreciate you bringing that up. I think he should make note of that.”
Sanchez has texted Ryan otherwise, the coach said, but often about “goofy stuff. ... It’ll be a cartoon of me and the guy is like 500 pounds, and he’ll send it [and say], ‘Hey, just thought you’d want to see this.’”
Ryan won’t mind those tweaks as long as Sanchez keeps showing his on-field maturity.
BRIEF: Cornerback Darrelle Revis was issued a ticket for speeding and careless driving Thursday morning while on his way to the team’s facility. The news was reported first by jetsconfidential.com and confirmed by the team. According to the report, the ticket was issued in Livingston. However, the Livingston Police Department has yet to confirm the incident.