
If you have paid any attention to football the past four seasons you have noticed that quarterbacks are getting thrown in to the lion’s den a lot quicker than they used too. It’s odd that it’s happening that way since most colleges run non conventional offenses that really don’t dictate or cater to the professional game.
The 2009 NFL draft was no different. The first pick Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions has been a starter for most of his career and has played well when he is healthy. The problem Stafford has is that he is often injured. He seems to go down on the regular and despite having one of the best wide receivers in the game to throw too, his stats are somewhat mediocre when he is playing.
The Jets were also active in 2009 as they chose USC’s Mark Sanchez with the fifth pick in the draft. Sanchez has started more games than any of the quarterbacks, yet he hasn’t piled up the numbers. Sanchez shows flashes of being great but he often leaves you wanting more. He is surrounded with some of the most potent offensive weapons in the game which makes the pressure to be good more visible. He had a Super Bowl MVP wide receiver, a top 10 career running back, and couple of the best offensive linemen in the league on his roster. Not to mention three of his wide receivers have pro bowl experience. Sanchez is winning games, but he is not doing it with his arm. The Jets are doing it with a running game and a solid defense.
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