New York Jets: Why Mark Sanchez Will Eventually Put Rex Ryan out of a Job

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez's failure to improve into a consistently good player in now his third NFL season will be the reason head coach Rex Ryan will soon be looking for a new team to lead.

When the Jets moved up in the 2009 NFL draft to select Sanchez No. 5 overall from USC, they thought they were getting a quality young quarterback who could be a franchise player for many seasons.

Despite Sanchez's good postseason record (4-2), he has been unable to make the plays necessary to get the Jets to the Super Bowl, and his poor play this year might prevent his team from even making the playoffs.

After two pretty good seasons, the Jets thought Sanchez would really grow into a top-tier quarterback this season. To help him, they gave Sanchez the keys to the offense early this season, and almost abandoned a running game that was so crucial to their success in recent years.

The Jets did not have a 100-yard rushing performance until Week 7 against the San Diego Chargers, when Shonn Greene racked up 112 yards on the ground.

Teams who win the Super Bowl have a balanced offense or a quarterback who, despite not being amazing, is able to make the plays needed in the fourth quarter when the game is one the line.

One of the worst parts of Sanchez's game is that he does not protect the ball well. He has thrown 43 interceptions in less than three full seasons. 

Not only is that terrible, he has had the luxury of several good receivers and a dependable tight end for the entirety of his career.

In 10 games this season, Sanchez has thrown at least one interception in eight of them. The second half of the season has been the time of year the Jets have really taken off over the last two years, and won multiple important late-season games to get into the playoffs.

This season, however, Sanchez has gotten worse in the second half. In the last four games, Sanchez has thrown four interceptions while completing 59.3 of his passes. His quarterback rating in that span is just 78.1.

The Jets are stuck with Sanchez. He has two years left on his contract, and if the Jets don't make the playoffs this season, Ryan's job might be on the line. He has to take some of the blame for Sanchez not developing into the top tier quarterback he should be right now.

Ryan is a very good NFL coach, but the struggles and inconsistencies of his quarterback will ultimately cost him his job with the Jets.