At the end of the first phase of training camp, the likely leader in the quarterback race is Mark Sanchez. Hold your excitement, New York Jets' fans. The quarterbacks were really the main reason everyone tuned into the team's first preseason game against the Detroit Lions. Sanchez struggled. Geno Smith struggled and Rex Ryan said he did not see the entire thing.
Sanchez was given the start on Friday night after Ryan said he had a strong training camp up until this point. Sanchez proved he was picking up exactly where he left off last season which is not necessarily a good thing. His third pass was intercepted by rookie Ziggy Ansah and promptly returned for a touchdown. It is better than a butt fumble, right? After the game, Sanchez simply said it was a great play by the rookie.
The veteran rebuounded from another pass that was almost an interception going 10-of-13 for 125 yards total. He hit a wide open Jeff Cumberland for his one touchdown. Sanchez plans on continuing on as the team's starting quarterback, saying "that's the plan." For a brief moment, it looked like his competition would be over.
Smith's night did not go as planned either. The rookie left the game in the third quarter with an apparent ankle injury. He rolled his right ankle trying to avoid a collapsing pocket. He then limped off the field, but it was reported later there were no breaks or fractures.
"I was in complete disbelief," Smith said. "Obviously in your first professional game, you don't want to have injuries. I was just hoping it wasn't anything significant."
Smith told reporters that if it was a regular-season game, he would have kept himself in not matter what. Overall, the rookie gave himself a decent grade for his first performance. Smith has not looked exceptional during training camp, but neither has Sanchez. Ryan is nowhere near making a real decision on who will be the starter. He told reporters he was not paying attention when the offense was on the field.
"I had my own issues on the other side of the ball, so I really never focused a whole lot when he was in there," Ryan said of rookie quarterback Geno Smith, according to the New York Post.
Ryan said the team will go back and watch all of the game film to diagnose things like the interception thrown by Sanchez. As the team goes through a big quarterback battle, it would be assumed that Ryan would want to keep a close eye on their progression, but apparently not.
