Thursday, December 1, 2011

Jets' offense looks to improve on 1st and 2nd downs

By Nick St. Denis

The New York Jets' third-down offense has been pretty good considering what it has had to work with, but quarterback Mark Sanchez knows New York needs to improve on the early sticks.

During his Wednesday press conference, Sanchez said his production on first and second down in the Jets' victory over the Buffalo Bills Sunday was the worst it's ever been.

"We’ve got to put ourselves in a better position to get to third and manageable and we didn’t do that on first and second down," Sanchez said. "Part of that is just me understanding, and it’s something you know and sometimes things slip by you, but it’s second and 10 and I’m throwing a 16-yard in-route to Plaxico [Burress], when the back’s standing there for three-and-a-half yards if he just catches it and falls down. If he breaks a tackle, who knows, we might get seven yards. So it’s just making sure I have the right approach."

The Jets' offense is ranked dead middle in the league in third-down conversions, moving the chains at a 38-percent rate. 

Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes told reporters Thursday that as long as New York can get into third-and-6 to third-and-8 situations, it would be fine. Sanchez added that first and second downs, especially early in the game, shouldn't be pressure situations.

"There’s always a time to press and you’ll know when that time is, and that was the end of the game," Sanchez said. "When you have to throw a ball down the field on a short down and distance because you’re getting pressure or something. You know that. When we have the opportunities to get completions underneath, that’s where I need to be better on first and second down."

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