NFL

Ryan annoyed as Sanchez throws three interceptions at Jets OTAs

WATCH YOUR BACK, MARK: With rookie Geno Smith looking on behind him, quarterback Mark Sanchez throws during Jets practice yesterday. (Bill Kostroun)

Mark Sanchez is hitting midseason form in May.

The Jets quarterback who has brought you 52 turnovers in the last two years — the most in the NFL by any player — threw three interceptions yesterday in the first practice of the spring the media was permitted to watch.

The turnovers from the fifth-year quarterback already have head coach Rex Ryan agitated.

“It is absolutely [disappointing],” Ryan said. “It’s a good thing the defense made some plays … I’d rather him not turn the ball over once, obviously.”

Sanchez is beginning a battle with rookie Geno Smith for the starting job. Neither quarterback performed well yesterday as the defense confused both of them with Ryan saying he threw the “kitchen sink” at them.

In 11-on-11 drills, Sanchez went 6-for-11 with the three picks and one sack. Smith went 3-for-10 with an interception and a sack.

Mistakes from Smith are expected. With Sanchez, it feels like Groundhog Day. The only difference was Ryan’s reaction. In the past, Ryan has been protective of Sanchez. He seems as if he has had enough.

“That’s going to be the pressure that we’re putting on him that no, no, no, this is unacceptable,” Ryan said. “You did a lot of great things and it’s not that you try to cover up that you had some bad plays … no, no, no, you flat tell him we can’t have these. He knows.”

Sanchez’s worst moment of the day came when 350-pound defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison intercepted him in the backfield.

“A couple of those throws I want back,” Sanchez said. “Of all people, freakin’ Snacks, that’s like your worst nightmare. But I was just trying to make a play, that’s one of those things where I should pull the ball down and run or something. I’m shaking the rust off a little bit, getting back into the swing of things, especially with a lot of young guys.”

In Sanchez’s defense, he was working with an offensive skill group that would have a tough time in the SEC. Wide receivers Santonio Holmes, Stephen Hill and Clyde Gates all sat out of practice with injuries. The Jets are anorexic-thin at tight end and the running backs are unproven. The offense is also learning new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg’s system.

Ryan said Sanchez had some good moments, but the turnovers overshadowed everything.

“He did a lot of great things and then those negative things at the end of the day, that’s what gets you beat,” Ryan said. “We’ve got to do a better job of eliminating those turnovers.”

Sanchez worked with the first team at practice and Smith with the second. Both quarterbacks had around the same number of reps.

The microscope is on the quarterbacks, but Sanchez said he is not worrying about the competition.

“It’s not like, ‘Oh I threw a pick, the day is over, I lost.’ Not even close,” Sanchez said. “You can’t play a game like that and you can’t think like that. You’ll just get yourself into trouble and it won’t be good.”

Sanchez is now on his third offensive coordinator. Neither Brian Schottenheimer nor Tony Sparano figured out how to get Sanchez to protect the ball better from his color-coded wristbands in 2009 to last season when Sparano had the entire offense chase the defender who intercepted the ball.

Now, it’s up to Mornhinweg, and Ryan made it sound like Sanchez is on notice.

“I think it’s a huge issue for our football team,” Ryan said of the turnovers. “Obviously, that position, you have to protect the football.”