Pressure's On For Two Gang Green Rookies

If you were brave enough to see yesterday's Bills-Jets game from start to finish, God bless you. That may have been one of the worst football games ever. During the overtime, I actually thought it would end in a tie. Really. Neither team seemed like it really cared WHO won.

Yes, rookie Mark Sanchez had a bad day. 5 picks is bad in 4 games for a QB. But he's not the only first year Jet who needs to get his act together. Coach Rex Ryan has some work to do, too.

In yesterday's postgame, Big Rex admitted he thought about taking Sanchez out of the game, but that he thought the kid would bounce back and was "our best chance to win the game." Translation: "We've put a lot of money into this kid, and/or we have NO faith in Kellen Clemens." If that is the case, Ryan has some work to do.

1. Get Sanchez; head on straight. The kid looked lost on the sideline during the second half and overtime yesterday. It seemed like he'd prefer being anywhere else yesterday. Most QB's, even on a bad day, are either talking to coaches or watching the game, exhorting teammates. Sanchez seemed disinterested. Ryan has to work to change his mindset.

2. The playcalling must change. Running for 315 yards is great. Losing the game is sinful. Ryan has to realize that if something is working you stick with it till it doesn't work. By the time Sanchez threw his 3rd pick, Leon Washington and Thomas Jones should have touched the ball each and every play.

3. Time/Game Management must get better. For the 2nd straight week, Ryan left the game in the hands of his defense, letting the regulation clock run down. Last week against the Dolphins, Miami riddled the "vaunted" defense for 21 points in the 4th quarter. Yesterday, only the Bills ineptitude and poor coaching from Dick Jauron prevented Buffalo from winning the game in regulation

4. Where's the rush? Ryan's supposed highly charged, ultra aggressive defense is tied for LAST in the NFL in sacks. Pop quiz: Name any member of the Buffalo Bills' offebsive line Yet, the D put no pressure on Rian Fitzpatrick yesterday. More bad news: Looks like Kris Jenkins will not be back this season thanks to a torn ACL. That will hamper the run defense.

5. Discipline: Gang Green is slowly racking up LOTS of penalties. 14 yesterday. IRS tax cheats don't have that many when it's time to pay the piper. THAT'S COACHING, and nothing else.

After two bad outings in his last three games, Mark Sanchez is an easy target to blast. But his coach was full of bravado just a few months, dare I say weeks ago. Sanchez has to be better. Let's see how Ryan handles his first crisis as a coach in the Big Apple.