New York Jets: Joe (Namath) Says It Ain't So (That Sanchez Is the Problem)

I stand corrected. According to the New York Post, JOE (Namath), the Jets' one and only star quarterback, says that Mark Sanchez isn't the Jets' worst problem. And Joe is one who should know.

Namath attributes part of the problem to the receivers. But that's an issue that should be resolved when former Pirate Santonio Holmes gets to play, after his four games in the penalty box.

The other part of the problem appears to be the Jets offensive line, which doesn't give Sanchez enough protection to win games. If Joe Namath says that, I'm inclined to believe him.

Namath singled out the left guard as the chink in the Jets' armor. Normally, that isn't identified as the problem, even though it may be. Normally, the offensive line is forgotten, like the stagehands that prepare the backdrop for the stars.  It takes a real pro to get down to that level of detail.

But think about it: a quarterback is likely to be sacked a lot if the "pocket" is leaky. And that's what's been happening to Sanchez. Meaning that he doesn't get time to make many plays even if he were capable of them.

One exception to the rule is the Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger. He often has weak protection, but still manages to scramble in the pocket, and even gains yards on the "keeper." That's because he's part quarterback, part halfback, and part fullback. Very few quarterbacks have this skill. Certainly not Sanchez.

I still maintain that the Jets should take another page from the Pittsburgh Steelers' playbook. But this time, I don't mean Roethlisberger.

The Steelers took an offensive lineman (center) with their first draft pick and the Jets should think about doing the same. Maybe they should also think about drafting a better left guard.