LEGS UP: Jets running back Kahlil Bell (two TDs) tries to leap the goal-line pile in the second half. (
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Maybe the Jets should just stick with the wildcat formation and forget about having a quarterback.
With Geno Smith sidelined because of an ankle injury, Mark Sanchez got the start and had the chance to slam the door on the quarterback competition. Instead, he left it open in a 37-13 Jets preseason win over the Jaguars at MetLife Stadium.
The quarterback competition rolls into the third week of the preseason with the Jets scheduled to face the Giants on Saturday.
“We’re not willing to name a starting quarterback right now,” coach Rex Ryan said. “Will we name one before the Giants game? I don’t know. For right now, we’re not comfortable making that decision.”
Sanchez was not all bad, but he had two terrible moments in the red zone, throwing an interception to end one drive and then failing to get the team in the end zone at the end of the first half from the 3-yard line. He finished the game 13-of-23 for 169 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
The offense was not the only unit that looked terrible. Ryan’s beloved defense made a Blaine Gabbert-led Jaguars offense look like world beaters. The Jaguars gained 222 yards in the first half and sliced up Ryan’s starting defense on their first two drives.
“I’m sure there’s gonna be some F-bombs thrown around on Monday,” linebacker Calvin Pace said.
Sanchez got off to a good start. He went 3-for-3 for 48 yards on the first drive and connected with tight end Jeff Cumberland for a 23-yard touchdown to put the Jets up 7-0.
The fans who came to boo Sanchez got their chance in the beginning of the second quarter. He led the Jets down the field from their own 16 to the Jaguars’ 3. But on third-and-goal, he tried to hit tight end Kellen Winslow with a pass and instead found Jaguars cornerback Marcus Trufant, who intercepted the ball and elicited the boos from the crowd.
The worst moment, though, came at the end of the first half. Konrad Reuland recovered a muffed punt return by Tobais Palmer at the Jaguars’ 3-yard line. Somehow, the Jets failed to punch it in.
Sanchez scrambled for two yards on first down to put the ball at the 1. Sanchez then threw an incompletion intended for Jeremy Kerley. The Jets were penalized for an illegal shift on third down, pushing the ball back to the 6.
With six seconds left, Sanchez rolled to his right with the final ticks running off the clock and then threw toward Clyde Gates, but the pass was not close and the Jets headed to the locker room trailing 13-10. Ryan took the blame for going for it, saying he probably would not have in the regular season. Still, Sanchez needed to get rid of the ball quicker.
“That won’t happen again,” Sanchez said. “That shouldn’t happen. I’ve got to get rid of that ball sooner and not scramble. I know better than that.”
The Jets offense is expected to sputter, but it was surprising to see the ease with which the Jaguars cut through the defense. David Harris, Quinton Coples and Pace all missed tackles. Rookie cornerback Dee Milliner was victimized by Jaguars receiver Justin Blackmon and Gabbert suddenly morphed into Dan Marino. Gabbert completed 13 of 16 passes for 165 yards and threw a touchdown on the Jags’ first drive when they used the no-huddle to make the Jets look lost.
“Our defensive intensity in the first half I thought was not to New York Jets standards,” Ryan said. “I don’t understand. The focus has been good in practice. It just seemed like it wasn’t there for whatever reason.”
Now the Jets’ quarterback competition continues. Sanchez was asked whether he felt like he had missed an opportunity to win the job.
“I feel like with Geno not playing that this was going to go on until he got another shot I’m sure,” Sanchez said. “ I don’t really worry about it that way.”