Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The following is republished with permission of Jamar Williams, a former Morgan State cornerback, of EaglesPostGame.com. He runs a nice little site that breaks down every Eagles game. You can read more of his breakdowns from Monday night and for every game right here.

 

Mark Sanchez made his first start in Philadelphia a memorable one. He did an excellent job keeping the offense flying high, and finished with line of 20/37, 332 yards, two touchdowns, and zero turnovers. This was the first time in his career that he has thrown for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. The veteran quarterback is in a great place, as I said back in training camp. He is finally 100% healthy and had no pressure, which was a relief after coming from New York. Because it was understood from the beginning that Nick Foles was the starter, Sanchez was given a chance to sit and learn the system at his own pace without the pressure of having to rush to learn it while playing. Chip Kelly just asks his quarterbacks to operate within the system and allow the system to make the play for you. He doesn’t put the pressure on the quarterback. This quarterback-friendly system allows for receivers to run down the field and get open off of play action. All the quarterback has to do is make the throw and not turn the ball over, which Nick Foles has not been successful at for much of the 2014 season.

 

Strengths

Moving in the pocket

Mark Sanchez did a great job of moving in the pocket all night. Here, he was getting pressured up the middle (image 1) and has the veteran presence to slide forward in the pocket to avoid the sack. While moving forward in the pocket (image 2), Sanchez keeps his eyes downfield the whole time and finds the open receiver. This is the element of game that Nick Foles was unable to display this season.

1.
sanchez-1

2.
sanchez2

Ball placement

Since last week in Houston, Sanchez has done an excellent job with his ball placement. In the play below, Sanchez once again does a great job avoiding the rusher and keeps his eyes downfield. Even though Brent Celek appears to be covered (image 3), Sanchez knows that the defender’s back is to him and if he places the ball on Celek’s back shoulder, there is nothing the defender can do. Image 4 shows Sanchez throwing to the back shoulder, which causes Celek to separate from the defender and make the catch. Many quarterbacks would have chosen to throw to the front side of the receiver and hope that he goes over top of the defender to make the catch.

3.
sanchez3

4.
sanchez4

Decision-making

In the play below, the Eagles fake the sweep to LeSean McCoy while Sanchez sprints out to the left. This play action causes the linebacker and safety to get sucked in on McCoy (image 5). Meanwhile, Jordan Matthews runs a deep crossing route behind the defense. Mark Sanchez has two options: Try to beat the defender to the sideline and pick up some positive yards, or find Matthews down the field. Sanchez, knowing that he doesn’t have the speed to outrun the defender, stops then sets his feet (image 6) again while keeping his eyes downfield. He makes an accurate throw to Jordan Matthews for the touchdown.

5.
sanchez5

6.
sanchez_6

7.
sanchez7

Weakness

Since coming out of college, Sanchez has been known to not have the strongest of arms, and he reminded the rest of the NFL of that Monday Night against the Panthers. Sanchez struggled at times when throwing outside the numbers toward the sideline (image 8). In the play below, Mark’s lack of arm strength gives his ball a greater arc (yellow line) than it should have. Brent Celek is open, but it takes the ball too long to get there and gives the defender time to make a play. A quarterback with a strong arm can throw this ball on a line and is able to fit it in even with tight coverage (red line).

8.
sanchez8

 

You can read more from EaglesPostGame.com here.