[Jetsfan115]

ESPN's John Clayton evaluates potential franchise quarterbacks
Aug
19
8/19/2010 3:41:13 PM
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John Clayton of ESPN.com writes that, like Brett Favre, he skipped Vikings training camp. Without Brett it wouldn't have been worth the travel investment. Instead he traveled to Jets camp, to Lions camp, and to Rams camp to get a look at probably the three most-promising franchise quarterbacks of the future-Mark Sanchez, Matthew Stafford, and Sam Bradford.

Clayton speculated that Sanchez may be the least talented of the three but he is also the quarterback most likely to be the most successful of the three early in his career.

Why? The Jets are loaded on offense.

Like Ben Roethlisberger with the Steelers in 2004, Sanchez came to the right team at the right time. The reason is the supporting cast. Newcomers Santonio Holmes and LaDainian Tomlinson add a 50-plus-reception wideout and an accomplished pass-catching running back to a receiving corps that also has Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery and tight end Dustin Keller.
Clayton talks about the"Theory of 50"-a good offense will have a combined rushing attempts with completed passes itotaling 48-50. Agreat offense would have 52. Sanchez was a raw rookie last year but he averaged 13 completions per game and the Jets averaged 38 rushing attempts per game. Despite a raw rookie passer, that 51 attempts and completions went a long way towards getting the Jets into the AFC Championship game.

This year should be even better. In addition to Sanchez's own improvement, he has five player capable of 50 catch seasons. Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes should be extra-motivated as they are on one-year contracts. It would be surprising is Sanchez didn't complete at least 60% o9f his passes'

Stafford has a stronger arm than Sanchez, but it will take him a couple more seasons to come close to being as successful. As the first pick in the 2009 draft, he landed on a Detroit Lions team that went 0-16 the year before. As a rookie, he was doomed from the start. Stafford completed 20 passes a game, but he was usually playing from behind and was constantly pressured. His completion percentage was 53.3. He threw 20 interceptions and only 13 touchdowns.This year, the Lions went out and got him some help. In addition to All-World receiver Calvin Johnson, Thr Lions acquired tight end Tony Scheffler and wide receiver Nate Burleson. It is difficult, however, to see this cast put up 50 pass completions/ running attempts per game.

And then there's 2010 overall No.1 pick Sam Bradford.Bradford has one of the best running backs in the game but a pretty anonymous receiving corps. There are no Calvin Johnsons here. There isn't a solid pass-catching tight end. Bradford has uncanny accuracy and touch on his throws but his receivers are rarely open and he plays behind a suspect offensive line. the "Theory of 50" seems a long way away in St. Louis.

Bradford and Stafford don't show any signs of jealousy, but they sure wouldn't mind being in Sanchez's shoes behind center.

[SoReALSoJetS]

great post!

[SecondHandJets]

This is a nice piece but Clayton doesn't mention the fact that as far as QBs go, playing from the "neck up" is just as important as having a strong and accurate arm. The things that Stafford and Brodford have is time. Sanchez is expected, at the very least, to take the Jets to the playoffs. That's a lot of pressure on a guy 4 years removed from high school. How Sanchez handles all the diversity, the downs that will come if the Jets stumble out of the gate, the NY media comparing him to Namath or Eli... that will go along way to showing us where he'll be. Like Marty said on Hard Knocks "You know what I say about second year QBs, if you got a guy and in his second year he's performed like he did as a rookie, you made progress".

[JSOTF]

So....Jamarcus Russel has a better arm then all them? What happened to him?

[Jetsfan0099]

I don't get how Sam Bradford is more talented than Mark Sanchez? I think Sanchez is more talented, he is more athletic back there and probably has a stronger arm too.

I don't get why so many people seem to think Mark isn't a talented QB, I have seen so many people say how he has a weak arm and can't make the throws. Not to mention the other factors he has, being a athlete back there and having great footwork and ability to throw on the run.

I was watching first take the other day and some guy started questioning if Mark could throw downfield, so my guess is that he didn't watch him last season. Even Skip Bayless started saying how the least of his worries are with Mark's arm strength, that he has a above average NFL arm, he questions Mark's mental toughness.

I also find it funny how Dolphin fans always compare Mark with Pennington, they think he struggled last year because he has a weak arm instead of why he really struggle which was reading NFL defenses and throwing to the left, point is it wasn't his lack of arm strength.

[Goodfellaz]

Jetsfan0099, on 20 August 2010 - 08:03 PM, said:

I don't get how Sam Bradford is more talented than Mark Sanchez? I think Sanchez is more talented, he is more athletic back there and probably has a stronger arm too.

I don't get why so many people seem to think Mark isn't a talented QB, I have seen so many people say how he has a weak arm and can't make the throws. Not to mention the other factors he has, being a athlete back there and having great footwork and ability to throw on the run.

I was watching first take the other day and some guy started questioning if Mark could throw downfield, so my guess is that he didn't watch him last season. Even Skip Bayless started saying how the least of his worries are with Mark's arm strength, that he has a above average NFL arm, he questions Mark's mental toughness.

I also find it funny how Dolphin fans always compare Mark with Pennington, they think he struggled last year because he has a weak arm instead of why he really struggle which was reading NFL defenses and throwing to the left, point is it wasn't his lack of arm strength.

I agree.....and dude....you might have the best signature EVER on this site right now haha

[gmany3k]

well not many QB's can throw like manning,brady and favre. Sanchez has so many coaches and players around him to support him mentally & emotionally .he should be fine.

[S-Dubb]

All these guys said the same nonsense about Brees until he took the league by storm.

The reason these guys (Clayton and sports writers) talk down about Sanchez is because of his size. People from the beginning of time have go bonkers over attributes, you know, you've heard them a million times.

tall, rocket arm.

When your shorter then 6'4 and don't have a gun like Jamarcus Russel then you don't have that awesome potential. Bullsh*t and I'm sick of that stereotype. They reason he says Bradford is more talented is because Bradford fits the bill for the prerequisite Q.B. Big and tall.

If your shorter and more athletic then you have something to prove, where they just feel tall, big Q.Bs are supposed to succeed.

IMO, I think Sanchez is going to be a stud in this league. He has the mental makeup, he wants to be great, he has the work ethic, he's smart and determind. Along with good underrated arm and good accuracy. Do Stafford and Bradford possess all of these things? I don't know.

[Jetsman05]

Way too early to compare those 3.

[Smedsthejet]

Jetsfan0099, on 21 August 2010 - 01:03 AM, said:

I don't get how Sam Bradford is more talented than Mark Sanchez? I think Sanchez is more talented, he is more athletic back there and probably has a stronger arm too.

I don't get why so many people seem to think Mark isn't a talented QB, I have seen so many people say how he has a weak arm and can't make the throws. Not to mention the other factors he has, being a athlete back there and having great footwork and ability to throw on the run.

I was watching first take the other day and some guy started questioning if Mark could throw downfield, so my guess is that he didn't watch him last season. Even Skip Bayless started saying how the least of his worries are with Mark's arm strength, that he has a above average NFL arm, he questions Mark's mental toughness.

I also find it funny how Dolphin fans always compare Mark with Pennington, they think he struggled last year because he has a weak arm instead of why he really struggle which was reading NFL defenses and throwing to the left, point is it wasn't his lack of arm strength.

Clayton isn't saying that though, just that he thinks - in terms of potential talent - Stafford and Bradford are slightly better. That is arguably so given that a lot of analysts believed Bradford would have gone #1 overall had he come out a year earlier.