NFL

Ryan: Sanchez, starters won’t play much

If Mark Sanchez had his way, he’d play the entire game tomorrow against the Eagles at Giants Stadium.

Rex Ryan and his coaching staff have other ideas.

Jets blog

Report: Broncos shopping Marshall

Vote on Jets’ record

“He’s going to play a lot . . . in that first series,” Ryan said yesterday. “If the fans want to see him play, get there early.”

Ryan reiterated that Sanchez and most of the starters on both sides of the ball would play only one series against the Eagles.

“I think they know how bad I want to play,” Sanchez said after he was asked if he has been lobbying for more than one series. “It’s just important to me and I need as much practice as possible before that first game.

“Truthfully, I’d love to play as much as possible. But I know this is typically the game when they let the starters kind of relax a little bit and look at everybody else trying to make the team. I obviously need the work, so these are important reps for me, and a very important series.”

However many plays that series consists of, Ryan is confident Sanchez is ready to lead his team. He said he realized that during the pre-draft recruiting process.

“That’s such a leadership position that you have to have a certain kind of charisma,” Ryan said. “You have to be able to lead men, and I think he has those characteristics. It’s pretty obvious that guys follow him, they rally around him. You have to have that kind of mentality and leadership to play that position, especially here in New York. That’s something that really couldn’t be overlooked.”

When Ryan was reminded about the comments Sanchez’s USC coach, Pete Carroll, made, indicating Sanchez should stay one more year in college, Ryan said, “I would have made the same comments if I was in his position. But I would have come up with better lies about him or something.

“I understand (Carroll’s comments), but looking at it right now it’s clear that Mark can definitely play at this level. We’re going to find out here in a few days when we’ll be kicking that thing off for real. I’m excited about Mark helping to lead this football team.”

Sanchez, who has completed 19-of-32 passes for 280 yards with two touchdowns, one interception and a 95.9 rating entering tomorrow’s preseason finale, is excited about getting started for real as he makes his adjustments from college life to the pros.

“In the locker room now (the difference) is big because it’s such a different atmosphere, it’s more mature,” he said. “In college a typical conversation was like, ‘Who’s throwing a party this week? What’s going on after the game around campus? What kind of test do you have tomorrow?’ Now, it’s guys (talking about) ‘My daughter is switching schools. I was late getting my kid to the bus today.’ It’s a whole different dynamic.”

Sanchez, 22, showed some maturity when talking about getting to the “truth” about his performances after both practices and games. Though his performance against the Giants Saturday night was widely complimented, it certainly wasn’t flawless, and he knows it.

The two plays he lamented about most from the game were a poor pass to tight end Dustin Keller, his first throw of the game, and a ball to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery in the corner of the end zone that fell incomplete.

“The (pass) in the end zone to J-Co (Cotchery), everyone said ‘J-Co dropped it,’ (but) no way, I’ve got to throw that ball a second sooner, at least,” Sanchez said. “I could see Coach (Bob) Johnson, my high school coach, saying, ‘An hour and a half ago, dude.’ It’s got to be trusting your eyes and throwing it. That’s six points right there. I kept us from getting a couple touchdowns.”

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com