Mark Sanchez becomes target of Jets frustration

Mark Sanchez | USC 2008

No quarterback in NFL history has won more road playoff games than Mark Sanchez.  The offensive leader of the Jets won his fourth a year ago, accomplishing the feat in a span of just two seasons. It’s an amazing feat, when considering some of the names passing through the league that failed to achieve the same.  But for all the hoopla it created yesterday, it means absolutely nothing today.

The 2011 Jets failed to qualify for the postseason, after reaching the AFC championship game in each of the past two seasons. The result is a topsy-turvy locker room searching for targets to unload frustrations. And with an offense that finished 25th ranked in the NFL, and a quarterback committing 9 turnovers in the final three games, it is Sanchez’ fixed in the cross-hairs of resentment.

“We have to bring in another quarterback that will make him work at practice,” said one player. “He’s lazy and content because he knows he’s not going to be benched.”–NY Daily News

At USC, Sanchez was a star performer on one of college football’s biggest stages.   The Jets would make him a first-round draft selection, citing not only the skillset, but also the ability to deal with the bright lights and media daggers that often accompany big city football. The lights of New York burned with more intensity, and local beat writers swung sharper swords, but the Southern California native was able to cope, as he settled into his new surroundings.

But Sanchez entered the NFL with no preparation for mutiny, and now stands several shipmates fewer on a sinking ship. Quarterbacks will often lose games, and even fan support, but the alarm sounds loudest when he begins to lose his team.

Rex Ryan has expressed full support of his quarterback, since naming him the Jets starter as a rookie in 2009. By all indication, nothing has changed.  Any changes in the offense will begin with coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who has interviewed for positions outside the organization and is unlikely to return.   Sanchez improving under an new offensive coordinator and system is speculation, but one thing is for certain, he couldn’t possibly get worse.

Sanchez finished with a career high 26 touchdown passes to 18 interceptions. 8 of the 18 picks came during the playoff push of the final three games, which is where much of the resentment was formed. The quarterback was also sacked a career high 39 times, raising an issue of protection to be addressed in the upcoming months. The result is a postseason whiff and locker room divided, with teammates already lobbying for the aging Peyton Manning to replace error prone youth.

Too often I hear that Pete Carroll was correct in saying the inexperienced Sanchez would have benefited from another year under center at USC.  But that reasoning only holds true for his rookie season, with on-the-job training being greater than any preparation the Trojans could provide.  After three seasons as an NFL starter, inexperience is no longer the culprit behind the struggles.  There are several factors, one being Sanchez’ decision making, as well as the Jets as a team.

Rookie quarterback Greg McElroy painted a picture of the Jets locker room in a postgame interview following a loss in the season finale.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever been around extremely selfish individuals,” McElroy said. “There were people within our locker room that didn’t care whether we won or lost as long as they got theirs, they had a good game individually. And that’s the disappointing thing.”-–Huffington Post

While Sanchez is an easy scapegoat for season failure, it’s apparent that team struggles are more deeply rooted in leadership—or lack thereof.  Body language alone reveals Sanchez having little to no command of the huddle.  And with dismal performances in games versus more inferior rosters, it is evident that Ryan failed to command his team.

[Jets Players bash Mark Sanchez]

It’s a top-ten finish for Kiffin’s Trojans

Alabama’s less than dramatic 21-0 victory over LSU officially brought the college football season to an end. The closing polls reveal the Crimson Tide as the unanimous National Champion, while also displaying another top-10 finish for bowl nonparticipant USC.

Associated Press Top 25

1. Alabama 12-1
2. LSU 13-1
3. Oklahoma State 12-1
4. Oregon 12-2
5. Arkansas 11-2
6. USC 10-2
7. Stanford 11-2
8. Boise State 12-1
9. South Carolina 11-2
10.Wisconsin 11-3

The postseason ineligible Trojans last played a game on November 26. In the days that followed, the program would rise and fall in accordance to the activity of teams surrounding them.  At the close of regular season polls, USC placed above Oregon and beneath Stanford of the Pac 12. A January victory for the Ducks enabled a leap, and a Cardinal loss triggered their fall.

Only three Pac 12 teams finished in the top 25, with all appearing in the top-10. Only the Big East would place fewer (2) among BCS conferences, with the SEC represented by a nation-leading five.

This week’s ranking marks the eighth top-10 finish for USC in the past 10 seasons. It is the first for Lane Kiffin has a head coach.

[College Football Polls]

Kyle Prater, Amir Carlisle will transfer

USC is entering the recruiting home stretch, which means the 2012 class will slowly increase in size. But as it so often does during the earliest months of the year, it’s the veteran roster taking hits and shrinking.

The program will lose personnel through senior graduation and the early entry of juniors into the NFL draft. It will also lose others through transfer, as is the case with Amir Carlisle and Kyle Prater.

Carlisle announced his transfer on Saturday, with a new course set for rival Notre Dame. And if one wanted to speculate on the reason behind his decision, he would look no further than the running back’s father.

Duane Carlisle worked as the strength and conditioning coach for the NFL 49ers, and his son’s first commitment was to nearby Stanford. Amir would decommit from the Cardinal, upon the announcement of Jim Harbaugh’s departure, and quickly give his promise to USC.

Carlisle would appear in 8 games as a true freshman, while being nagged by knee and ankle injuries. The expectation was for a greater role in 2012, especially with Marc Tyler now absent from the roster.  But a change in jobs took his father from California to the midwest, where he was hired by Purdue.  In a game of “follow the bouncing ball”, his son will transfer to South Bend Indiana, a mere 95 miles from his father’s new place of employment.  The Irish were also among those heavily recruiting Carlisle out of  high school, and appeared on the short list of finalists.

Kyle Prater is another midwest kid that may be returning to the region. The former 5-star high school receiver made his way to USC by way of Illinois, and one year later, he alerts his followers on twitter that he’s on the move again.

 

While Carlisle and Prater are certain transfers, others may also be making a switch. It is reported that wide receiver Brice Butler is not working out with the team and may be checking out of the program. It was Butler that contemplated a change last year, but ultimately chose to remain at USC.  Having already graduated in December, Butler would be able to play immediately for a new program without facing the transfer penalty.

Armond Armstead is another likely transfer candidate. The defensive end has struggled to gain medical clearance at USC, and like Butler, could transfer and play immediately elsewhere.  The loss of Armstead would more than likely kill all hopes of adding his younger brother to the 2012 class. Arik Armstead reopened his recruitment, after decommitting from USC weeks ago.

2012 USC Football Schedule

The USC football program took great strides in 2011, finishing with ten victories and a top-10 ranking in an NCAA shortened campaign.  The new year comes without season restriction, enabling the Men of Troy to travel a road without end and reach for the ultimate prize. With the Pac 12 release of the 2012 football schedule, we can eye the obstacles upon that course to determine whether it’s one flowing with difficulty or ease.

2012 USC Football Schedule

9/1 Hawaii
9/8 @Syracuse
9/15 @Stanford
9/22 Cal
10/4 @Utah
10/13 @Washington
10/20 Colorado
10/27 @Arizona
11/3 Oregon
11/10 Arizona State
11/17 @UCLA
11/24 Notre Dame

USC will play 6 road games in 2012, with a 2700 mile flight to Syracuse marking the longest, and 11 mile bus ride to Pasadena being the short. Visits to Salt Lake City and Seattle come early on the calendar, which enables the Trojans and their fans to avoid the inclement weather often found in those cities later in the year.

Overall, it’s a schedule that sets up favorably for a championship run.  The Trojans will play host to Oregon in the Coliseum, which is just one of three home games during the stretch run. USC will not leave Southern California in November, with the crosstown Bruins in Pasadena accounting for the only road trip.  Also to be noted, 4 of the final 6 opponents on the schedule finished with losing records in 2011.

USC will not play Oregon State or Washington State.

The Pac 12 Championship game will be played on Friday November 30, 2012

[2012 Pac 12 football schedule]

Pac 12 is bowled over

There is still a week’s worth of bowls to be played, but the Pac 12 has no more participants. The conference’s postseason was culminated with Oklahoma State’s dramatic 41-38 overtime victory over Stanford on Monday night, which officially closed the book on the 2011 season.

As the dust settles, we see a conference that fared as expected. And if we compare end results with Vegas odds, the expectation was exceeded.  The Pac 12 entered the postseason with six of seven teams playing the role of underdog.  It exits with a 2-5 bowl record, with just a single dog gnashing to victory.

Utah, like Stanford, played its favored opponent to a regulation draw. But unlike the Cardinal, the Utes would outlast the adversary in the extra frame. The conference newcomer was the lone underdog to show teeth and deliver a bite, with the remaining five succumbing to greater programs and adding new numbers to an already dismal out of conference mark.

#3 Oklahoma State 41, #4 Stanford 38 (OT)†
#7 Boise State 56, Arizona State 24 
#12 Baylor 67, Washington 56
#24 Texas 21, Cal 10
Illinois 20, UCLA 14

#5 Oregon 45, #10 Wisconsin 38†
Utah 30, Georgia Tech 27 (OT)

+BCS Bowl

Oregon captured the Rose Bowl trophy for the first time in 95 years, which also gave third-year Coach Chip Kelly his first bowl win.  It was the Pac 12′s only victory over a ranked bowl opponent, and sent No. 10 Wisconsin to a second consecutive Rose Bowl loss.

Washington would score 56 points, yet lose by 11, prompting immediate changes in its defensive staff. UCLA lost for the eighth time this season, solidifying its place in history as the worst team by record (6-8) to ever appear in a bowl. The worst defeat was suffered by Arizona State, losing by 32-points to No. 7 Boise State. All other conference losses were by 11-points or less.

Notes

• The Pac 12 finishes with a season record of 7-9 versus opposing BCS AQ conferences.
• The Pac 12 finishes 2-8 verses ranked out of conference opponents, with Oregon over No. 10 Wisconsin and ASU over No. 21 Missouri accounting for the league’s only victories.
• The Pac 12 finished with an overall season record of 2-5 versus the Big 10, and 1-5 against the Big 12.
• With the inclusion of  Notre Dame, USC season opponents were a combined 2-6 in bowl games.
• Oregon and Wisconsin set a new Rose Bowl record, with the teams combining for 83-points. With 123 combined points in the Alamo Bowl, Washington and Baylor played in the highest-scoring regulation bowl game in history.
• Oregon, Stanford and USC finished with double-digit victories, marking the first time since 2006 that the conference has finished with three teams posting 10 wins or more.
• Following bowl game losses, Washington running back Chris Polk and Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict announced they will forgo their senior years and enter the NFL draft.