AFC EAST Stock Watch: Thomas Jones stock rising quickly

**PVVikings2006** · October 21st, 2009, 01:37 PM

How I See It: AFC East Stock Watch
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

Falling

1. Mark Sanchez, Jets quarterback. He finished the game with an 8.3, a number more suitable for Jason Taylor's average score on "Dancing With the Stars" than for a passer rating. Sanchez was horrendous in Sunday's implosion against the supposedly hapless Buffalo Bills. He completed 10 passes and threw five interceptions to overshadow a 318-yard rushing day by his backs.

Over the past three games, all losses, Sanchez has completed 45 percent of his passes for 429 yards and one touchdown with eight interceptions. That's a 26.5 passer rating since helping the Jets start the season 3-0.

2. New York Jets pass rush. Head coach Rex Ryan's reputation for running a smack-talking, fun-loving, quarterback-rattling unit isn't going to cut it anymore. The Jets haven't lived up to their billing or come close to following up on that enticing first impression from opening day, when they chased Matt Schaub like he was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.

They rank sixth in average points allowed and eighth in average yards per game, but they've recorded five sacks. The Detroit Lions have three times that many. Now the Jets have to forge ahead without elite nose tackle Kris Jenkins, who suffered a season-ending knee injury Sunday.

3. Adalius Thomas, Patriots linebacker. The Patriots made Thomas a healthy scratch for Sunday's 59-0 bludgeoning of the Tennessee Titans. The surprise move forced a mainstay to watch passively in street clothes. Thomas had missed games with injury before, but he had started every game he played since Week 14 of the 2003 season with the Baltimore Ravens.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick on Monday said a lot of factors played into the decision, including situations they expected to encounter frequently and the ability of other players to contribute on special teams. When asked about Thomas' status moving forward, Belichick said "I don't know. It was one game. We'll evaluate it this coming week against Tampa like we always do. This week is different from last week."

Rising

1. New England Patriots offense. The way the Titans folded Sunday in snowy Gillette Stadium, the game turned into a quasi-scrimmage for the Patriots. The Patriots' offense, still searching for their identity after five weeks, couldn't have been happier.

Tom Brady threw five second-quarter touchdown passes in less than 10 minutes and six for the game. He involved all of his receivers, with Randy Moss and Wes Welker combining for 18 catches, 279 yards and five touchdowns. Laurence Maroney ran for 123 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

2. Thomas Jones, Jets running back. The addition of receiver Braylon Edwards already is paying dividends for last year's AFC rushing champ. Jones set a franchise record with 210 rushing yards Sunday. Granted, he averaged 9.5 yards per attempt against an atrocious Bills run defense, but no other back has ripped off runs of 64 and 71 yards against them.

In the three games since he averaged 1.4 yards with a long run of 5 yards against the Titans in Week 3, Jones has 300 yards and five touchdowns. And the Jets have managed to lose all three of those games.

3. **** Jauron's chances of being employed on Halloween. Bills fans have wanted him gone for weeks, but Jauron did just enough to justify a reprieve -- if owner Ralph Wilson was considering a pink slip. We're not sure what Wilson's thinking about his beleaguered head coach these days, but if they're into wouldas, couldas and shouldas, the Bills can rationalize a 4-2 record.

If only Leodis McKelvin hadn't fumbled to gift wrap a win for the Patriots on opening night or Roscoe Parrish hadn't fumbled in that jarring loss to the Cleveland Browns two weeks ago ... If only the Jets don't botch an overtime field-goal attempt or Sanchez throws only three interceptions, the Bills might've introduced an interim coach Monday.

**sup-rbeast** · October 21st, 2009, 02:01 PM

His stock had better be rising for the Jets' sake...Folks were ready to crown Sanchez as "The Next Big Thing" in New York after the 1st 3 weeks of the season...and now his numbers are only slightly better than JaMarcus Russell's...and you know the rap he gets in the football world (and Sanchez actually has decent WRs to throw to)...just a tid bit...both have played 6 games:

Mark Sanchez: 85 of 163 (52.1%), 1,035 YDS, 5TD, 10 INT, 6 fumbles (lost 2), 52.1 Rating
JaMarcus Russell: 68 of 149 (45.6%), 830 YDS, 2TD, 6 INT, 4 fumbles (lost 4), 51.0 Rating

**duckmeat** · October 21st, 2009, 08:39 PM

"Sanchise" should have listened to Pete Carroll. He listened too much to Leinart who dropped out of the top five after stayin another year, but STILL isn't starting. He looked pretty good in his first three, but hasn't even looked like a NFL quarterback since.

**R13** · October 21st, 2009, 08:44 PM

I don't know, Thomas has always been highly underrated, not sure if everyone actually sees how good he is.

**starbuck** · October 21st, 2009, 08:44 PM

98% of Rookie QB's look like crap some days, look good other. How many games did Troy Aikman win his first year? how about Peyton Manning, what did his winning % and his TD - INT ratio look like? you only have a Marino, Roethlisberger, Ryan and Flacco every now and again. because of the change in the HS game and the college game more QB's have more success early but with a rookie you have to be able to ride out the roller coaster ride.

**duckmeat** · October 21st, 2009, 08:46 PM

I understand that, but **** did Aikman or Manning or any of those guys look as bad as he has in the last three games?

Aikman also inherited a HORRIBLE team. Manning did too. Sanchez is on a team that should be able to at least go 8-8 because of their defense. He is blowing it for them.

**starbuck** · October 21st, 2009, 09:00 PM

I'd put it on coaching. you have to be able to protect a rookie QB. don't ask him to do too much and play within the system. That is why Big Ben lost 1 game his rookie season. That is why Matt Cassel was a success in NE last year, the coach knew how to protect an inexperienced qb with no starts since HS. If the JETS are really an 8-8 team then the coaching staff have to pull in the QB play calling IMO. pass enough to keep other teams from loading up on the LoS. where has the TE been over these past 3 games? use the TE, he is a QB's best friend.

of course he could be another Leinart but even saying that be careful. Everyone was calling Drew Brees a bust in SD. When they drafted Rivers all of a sudden it was maybe Breese 3rd or 4th season and Brees hasn't looked back. SD was ready to ship him out before that monster break out season. then they were stuck with a premier QB starting an a first round pick sitting on the bench waiting. him hurting his shoulder was the thing they needed to release him. and to think, every team had the chance to get him and only Miami and N.O. worked him out and Miami said no?????

**duckmeat** · October 21st, 2009, 09:12 PM

Alot of it might be due to poor coaching, but he just has zero poise or swagger or "it' or whatever you wanna call it. I'm still not sold on his arm either. Listening to Cowherd on ESPN Radio last year before the draft, Jaws or Merril Hodge or somebody said "the best thing you can say about him is that he is the alpha male of this draft and if he, bradford, tebow, mccoy etc went somewhere together then Sanchez would be the driver". I don't think I would draft someone on that alone. Either way, if he doesn't shape up that NY media will eat him alive. They never rattles Eli, but not many have that kind of pedigree.

Leinart has more hope than VY. At least he is sitting behind a legit NFL qb. Anybody watch him in preseason to see how he did?

Didn't the Dolphins say no to Brees and yes to Culpepper? I believe that is how it went, and if I'm not mistaken they were everybody's preseason champs.