Santonio Holmes (Getty Images)
Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes spent the offseason working on their chemistry, but in Sunday’s loss the Jets duo looked like they had the timing of a $2 watch.
The quarterback and wide receiver had at least two plays when they had a miscommunication that led to incompletions. Sanchez targeted Holmes 11 times, but completed just three passes in the 27-10 loss to the Steelers. Both players insisted everything was fine yesterday, despite how it looked in Pittsburgh.
“He almost outsmarted himself,” Sanchez said. “He was trying to do it right. He was trying to do the right thing. I can understand that. You can work with a guy like that.”
The two got together Monday to discuss the plays that were a problem. They then worked on it yesterday in practice, trying to iron things out.
“The best part about it has been the way we’ve both responded really,” Sanchez said. “I really commend him on his attitude and the work ethic he showed today in practice. He wanted to see some of those looks again. Talking about it immediately on Monday, and it’s easy for somebody to want to shy away from something like that and not bring it up until I bring it up. But he was right there on Monday, ‘Hey let’s talk, let’s watch this, look what I saw, what did you see, let’s get on the same page.’ That’s the most encouraging thing.”
The relationship between Sanchez and Holmes is under the microscope after it blew up last year with the two of them feuding. They both say that is behind them, and that Sunday was just a blip on the radar.
“As a receiver and quarterback there are just some things you talk about when you [have miscommunications] throughout the game, you find a way to correct it,” Holmes said. “I think that’s what we did [yesterday]. We went out and practiced hard and corrected the little mistakes we had Sunday.”
Holmes also had a few drops in the game, but Sanchez said he believes in Holmes.
“When it comes to catching the ball, I know he can catch the ball,” Sanchez said. “Some guys have off days and that’s the way it goes.”
Sunday’s game was not Sanchez’s finest performance, either. He completed 10 of 27 passes for a measly 138 yards and most of that production came in the game’s first drive.
Sanchez missed Holmes in the end zone on a play that could have put the Jets up 14-3. He admitted yesterday that the poor throw was on him.
“I just missed it,” Sanchez said. “Was that play in my wheelhouse? No question. I should have hit that in my sleep and I missed it.”
The Jets return this week to Miami, where their season melted down last year. In that season-ending loss, Holmes fought with teammates in the huddle and spent the final two minutes of the game on the bench.
Holmes said he will not think back to that game when he enters Sun Life Stadium on Sunday.
“I don’t even remember that game, honestly,” he said.
Holmes has gone 27 straight games without gaining 100 yards receiving. He dismissed that stat yesterday.
“I honestly don’t think it reflects anything about me as a receiver,” Holmes said. “My job is to do what I can do to help the team win ballgames. Whether I catch one pass for 13 yards or whether I catch nine for 1,000 yards, it really don’t matter.”
Sanchez appeared on the injury report yesterday with back tightness, but practiced fully and said he’s fine. While he didn’t deny remembering last year’s Dolphins game, he said he won’t be thinking about it Sunday.
“I just feel like we’re such a different team,” Sanchez said. “We’re mentally stronger than we were last year. I think we just have a better group. I think we’re prepared to handle this road test. I think it’s a fresh slate and nobody’s really thinking about last year.”
brian.costello@nypost.com