Can Mark Sanchez Overcome Issues That Plagued Nick Foles in Eagles Passing Game?

On his very first regular-season snap as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Mark Sanchez connected on a 52-yard completion to Jeremy Maclin over the top of the Houston Texans defense. The play looked like a carbon copy of Nick Foles’ 59-yard touchdown to his favorite wideout earlier in the same game.

Unfortunately, Sanchez wasn’t through mimicking Foles just yet. With heavy pressure obstructing the backup signal-caller’s view, Sanchez threw his third-down pass woefully behind its intended target. The pass was picked off in Philadelphia territory, giving the Texans excellent field position that led to what could have turned out to be a pivotal fourth-quarter touchdown.

Neither of the two interceptions Sanchez tossed in relief of Foles was entirely his fault, and the Eagles ultimately won the contest. Then again, Foles’ struggles weren’t all entirely his own fault, either, and he steered the Birds to a 5-2 record. That didn’t stop murmurs about both the third-year passer’s job security and future in Philly.

Now, the question on everybody’s mind is if Sanchez could prove to be a better option under center. But what people really should be asking is whether the sixth-year veteran will overcome what Foles so far has not.

With a patchwork offensive line to protect him, Foles has generally been rushed or given muddy pockets to operate from, finally resulting in his injury on Sunday—a broken collarbone, per Derrick Gunn for CSNPhilly.com, that could sideline the Eagles starting quarterback for months.

In other words, this is Sanchez’s offense for the time being, and while he inherits a bevy of weapons, he also inherits all of its flaws.

If Foles and Sanchez weren’t wearing different numbers, I’m not convinced most people would’ve been able to tell the difference in Houston. Both looked sharp when the protection held up. Both were overwhelmed when hurried or when the pocket collapsed.

Even their stats were remarkably similar on Sunday. Foles completed 76.9 percent of his passes for a 9.5 average per attempt with one touchdown and one interception prior to exiting in the second quarter. Sanchez completed 68.2 percent for a 9.2 average with two touchdowns and two interceptions the rest of the way. They were each sacked twice.

GM	LT	LG	C	RG	RT
1	J. Peters	E. Mathis	J. Kelce	T. Herremans	A. Barbre
2	J. Peters	D. Kelly	J. Kelce	T. Herremans	A. Gardner
3	J. Peters	D. Kelly	J. Kelce	T. Herremans	A. Gardner
4	J. Peters	M. Tobin	D. Molk	D. Kelly	T. Herremans
5	J. Peters	M. Tobin	D. Molk	T. Herremans	L. Johnson
6	J. Peters	M. Tobin	D. Molk	T. Herremans	L. Johnson
7	J. Peters	M. Tobin	D. Molk	T. Herremans	L. Johnson
8	J. Peters	M. Tobin	J. Kelce	T. Herremans	L. Johnson

The good news is the Eagles get some help up front this week. All-Pro left guard Evan Mathis is eligible to return from the short-term injured reserve list. Dynamic center Jason Kelce was also back playing in Houston for the first time since Week 3, while second-year right tackle Lane Johnson is now four games removed from his suspension.

Despite right guard Todd Herremans’ status suddenly looking very iffy with a torn biceps and now a brand new ankle injury—per Chip Kelly’s postgame press conference—this latest configuration along the offensive line might be the best the Eagles have fielded all season.

Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images

Pass protection helped cause a lot of Foles’ problems. Anybody wondering why he’s been fading in the pocket or throwing off of his back foot so much needs to realize there hasn’t been much faith in the guys up front.

Sanchez may not have that issue moving forward. Against the Texans, he did.

Of course, it didn’t help any that one of Sanchez’s two interceptions clanked right off the hands of its intended target, rookie wide receiver Josh Huff. Sanchez certainly wasn’t to blame for that.

Then again, that’s not exactly original, either. Not every last one of Philadelphia’s problems on offense fall on the quarterback. Huff is one of five skill players who have lost a fumble this season, and you would be hard-pressed to name a wide receiver or tight end outside of Maclin who hasn’t been on the hook for a costly dropped pass at some point this season.

The offense as a whole, from the quarterback to the offensive line to the skill players, has not been as sharp in 2014 as it was the previous season. Foles has played a big part in that, but the problems extend beyond who’s under center.

PLAYER	GMS	CMP%	YDS/ATT	TD	INT	RAT
Nick Foles	28	61.6	7.6	46	17	94.1
Mark Sanchez	63	55.2	6.5	70	71	71.9

Not to mention this whole premise, this hope Sanchez might raise the level of the unit’s performance, is largely based on what he did in three preseason games in August, turning a blind eye to his five seasons with the New York Jets.

Sanchez completed 25 of 31 passes for 281 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in three exhibition games—exclusively with the second-team offense, I might add. Meanwhile, he has an extensive history of untimely and unseemly giveaways, as illustrated by a dismal 71.9 career passer rating.

To be fair, the Jets never surrounded Sanchez with as much talent as he’s playing with in Philadelphia. With his 28th birthday right around the corner, there’s still time to turn his career around, and this is as good of a place as any to try to do that.

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Just remember, it isn’t all on him to get this offense firing on all cylinders again. The protection needs to improve. His receivers have to be more reliable. Head coach Chip Kelly must remember to mix in the running game and not ask his backup quarterback to do too much the way it seemed he did with Foles in spurts.

None of that is out of the question, though. If Sanchez can elevate the play at that quarterback position even a little bit, there’s a chance everything could start to come together for the Eagles—but only if the other 10 guys around him step up, too.