How Joe Flacco May Effect The Jets' 2009 Offensive Strategy

Although offensive coordinator Brian Shottenheimer is one of the few members of last year’s Jets’ coaching staff to have escaped being swept out the door during the offseason house cleaning, don’t expect the Jets’ offense to in any way resemble what you saw last season.

First and foremost, Brett Favre will be replaced by either Kellen Clemens or rookie quarterback, Mark Sanchez.

Although it remains to be seen who will come out on top of the Jets’ preseason quarterback dual, the smart money is on first-round draft pick, Mark Sanchez.

Just days after the Jets’ 2008 late-season collapse was solidified with a gut-wrenching 24-17 loss to Miami Dolphins, head coach Eric Mangini was promptly shown the door.

Mangini was replaced by Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan.

As the defensive coordinator in Baltimore last season, Ryan did not play any role whatsoever in the smooth transition and development of rookie quarterback, Joe Flacco.  But, Ryan was there to witness the way in which Flacco was eased into the role of starting quarterback.

Mark Sanchez is similar to Joe Flacco in that each had very little experience playing against top competition while in college.  

Flacco went to the University of Delaware, which is a Division I-AA school, while Sanchez started just 16 games at USC.

If Sanchez is indeed the Jets’ starting quarterback on opening day out in Houston, look for Rex Ryan to have some input into Sanchez’s development based on what he witnessed first hand in Baltimore last season.

Heading into the 2008 NFL Draft, Joe Flacco was considered by scouts to be a player who possessed an abundance of raw talent, but would need to be given some time to develop.

The Ravens decided to take a chance on Flacco and drafted him in the first round with the hopes of easing him into the starting role over the course of two/three years.

Only the Ravens' plans for Flacco would take an abrupt, unplanned turn in the weeks prior to the start of the 2008 season.

During training camp, starting quarterback, Kyle Boller, suffered a season-ending injury while backup quarterback, Troy Smith, was sidelined with an illness.

With opening day fast approaching, the Ravens were left with no choice but to throw their raw, inexperienced rookie quarterback to the wolves right out of the gate.

The Ravens' decision to start Flacco on opening day was, of course, warmly welcomed by the fans in Baltimore.  However, most football insiders viewed this decision by the Ravens to be a reckless misuse of a player the Ravens had touted as their quarterback of the future.

Flacco would certainly not be the first highly talented young quarterback to have his spirit and confidence shattered forever by starting long before he was ready.

But, the Ravens managed to demonstrate how a young quarterback’s development does not need to take place on the sidelines; it can actually take place slowly and meticulously right on the field while serving as the team’s starting quarterback.

Despite possessing an arm that scouts classified as one of the strongest they had ever seen coming out of college, Flacco was eased into life in the NFL through a relatively small number of short, low-risk passes during his first few games as starting quarterback.

During the Ravens 2008 season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, Flacco completed 15-of-29 passes all while never attempting a pass more than 15 yards and throwing for just 129 yards on the day.

The Ravens plan for Flacco’s on-the-job training become clear over the next few weeks. The team would ease him into the NFL and build his confidence through short, low-risk passes.  The more comfortable and confident Flacco became with running the offense and throwing the football, the more comfortable and confident the Ravens became in utilizing Flacco’s biggest weapon—his arm.

By Week 17, Flacco completed 17-of-23 passes and threw for 297 yards against Jacksonville.  By this point Flacco looked more like a seasoned veteran leading the Ravens into the AFC Playoffs than a young, inexperienced rookie.

Although Mark Sanchez possesses a different set of strengths and weaknesses to Flacco, and Rex Ryan has very little experience in implementing offensive strategy, look for Ryan to use Flacco’s development in Baltimore as a blueprint for Sanchez and the Jets in 2009.

So, what does that mean?

Well, it means that if Sanchez is the opening day starter, you may not see him whipping the ball around the field as many Jet fans seem to be expecting.

It's unlikely that you will see the Jets attempt many long passes or high-risk, 20-30-yard crossing patterns.

It's also unlikely that you will see Sanchez put in many situations where he needs to thread the needle between defenders.

Furthermore, you could very well see Sanchez attempt many short screen passes on 3rd-and-long situations, which will undoubtedly be met by the sound of boos and calls for offensive coordinator Brian Shottenheimer’s head.

But, rest assured Jet fans, it may all be part of a larger plan and a blue print that was created a year ago and more than 200 miles south of The Meadowlands.

This strategy worked pretty well for Joe Flacco last year in Baltimore, and perhaps with a little patience, it can work equally as well with Mark Sanchez in 2009.

If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a thousand times—patience is a virtue, and one that Jets fans may need to have to 2009.