I do think Sanchez will become a solid QB but, I would love to see what Ainge has to offer. I like a tall QB who can see the whole field and has a rocket arm. Mobility at the QB position is nice but, I’ll take the rocket arm.

I think Sanchez has accuracy problems, but he just doesn’t have “happy feet.” Sanchez moves around in the pocket to position himself to pass (and sometimes he bounces around to much, but he’s looking downfield, not looking to run). “Happy feet” means that when the pass rush nears or his internal clock ticks away, his tendency would be to start scrambling. Sanchez really doesn’t do that too often and, IMO, Clemens was the king of “happy feet.”

Sanchez has rushed 24 times in 9 games…and he’s mobile. For point of reference, Chad in 2002 in his first 12 starts rushed 29 times, and Chad never had “happy feet.” Also, Chad was sacked 22 times, so far Sanchez has only been sacked 15 times (behind a much worse OL, Clemens was sacked 27 times in his 8 starts…IMO, his “happy feet” only made it worse for him). Again, if Sanchez had “happy feet” he’d be sacked a lot more. And, I don’t think it’s that Sanchez locks on to his WRs too often as much as he doesn’t pump fake enough.

Look, he’s hurting the Jets because he’s only completing 53.3% of his passes and forcing too many passes. In fact, in some instances, I wish he had tucked the ball and ran…against Buffalo especially. But, “happy feet” is not an issue.

subwayfare has it right. It’s NOT Chad that MS needs, it’s Tarkenton. Sanchez runs (mostly to his right) to make a play which is okay. I believe that is his favorite play. That is not the point.

He is also too quick (hears steps?) to get out of the pocket, and or releases the ball too quickly. I believe that is also a major part of having “happy feet”

I was wary of the trade up for MS, but not because I thought he couldn’t be good. I just thought he hadn’t had enough college starts to make it worth the risk. if anything, he’s assuaged my concerns somewhat with his play but he’s still a young, green rookie and plays like one at times. He needs experience. We got him, we have to play him.

I don’t know how anyone can say one way or the other whether Ainge can be a good pro starter after watching a few preseason quarters against bench players. I like his height and he throws a nice smooth deep ball, but I barely saw him throw anything else in those appearances. I also never saw him respond to real pressure. I can only assume that if the team who worked with him for a year moved up to draft MS, and then picked up O’Connell, they cannot be too confident in him as a starter. Maybe that could change, maybe it had something to do with his banned substance suspension, who knows?

I do think that, since this is the direction that was taken, you have to let Sanchez play and learn. If he turns into Drew Brees in a couple of years no one will remember his shaky rookie moments.

At least we didn’t gut the team and sell out the future for Jay Cutler. Has anyone ever seen a more clear Jeff George reincarnation?

Right?

Sanchez runs too often? The majority of his INT’s have been thrown when he had wide open field in front of him. He forced a throw instead of running for easy yardage. If anything, he moves around behind the line of scrimmage a lot, but it’s not to take off it’s to buy himself time to find a receiver. He’s gotten better at not forcing throws though, and throws it out of bounds rather than forcing it. A lot of his runs have been designed QB draws, utilizing his athleticism.

You missed two critical points with Franchez, he locks on too often to receivers, and looks to run or releases too quick at the first sign of pressure.

An that is a huge part Ainge skill set that separtes him form Franchez.

Ainge has the pocket presence that makes him a classic pocket QB. Very, Very difficult to teach that to a ROOK QB. Major Major difference.