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While he doesn’t put up the greatest numbers and he won’t be in the conversation for MVP trophies, there is one thing that Mark Sanchez is for the Jets and that’s a leader. While he’s heading into just his third NFL season, the Sanchize is mature beyond his playing years and continues to show it in a number of different ways. Despite players being locked out and despite teams not being able to have organized workouts nothing is stopping Mark Sanchez from trying to get ahead of the game with his offense. For the second straight offseason, the Jets QB organized “Jets West” in California where more than a dozen members of the Jets participated in an informal passing camp in Mission Viejo California. Quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers were breaking down video, going over game-plans, and playing catch at Sanchez’s high school alma mater. The Jets franchise is in good hands as long as Sanchez is the one taking the snaps. LaDainian Tomlinson joined XX Sports Radio in San Diego with Scott and BR to talk about how often the guys are working out during Jets West, why the players decided to go to California to work out, how important it is to develop this chemistry so soon, and whether or not he would be okay with less of a workload.
How often the guys are working out during this camp:
“We’re out every day. We will get a workout in the morning then we will do some classroom time stuff where we go over some installs of plays and things that we need to catch up with. We will watch some film then go out on the field and work on some stuff. It’s a pretty good day. We actually treat it like it’s a normal work day but obviously a lot shorter.”
Why the players decided to go to California to work out:
“That’s the way it is right now and the reason why is because we want to make sure we do everything possible to get ahead of other teams. You’ve heard guys talk about around the league that are doing it, they want to get an advantage. Because whenever this lockout is over, whenever that may be, you know it may be approaching training camp, but if it is you just think what is that going to do for young guys that you’re going to need starting the season. What is that going to do if you can’t do anything until training camp, that puts them behind the eight ball. This obviously gives them a chance to get a jump on things and kinda start to learn the offense, what we expect, and all that kind of stuff.”
How important it is to build this chemistry so early:
“That’s so important in football just building that camaraderie with your teammates. You have to have that because at some point in the season you have to dig down deep and you know what the guy next to you has. He has put in the work, you’ve seen it, and it makes you wanna play hard. It definitely does. I agree with you.”
Whether or not he stands by what he said about not having to be the lead ball-carrier on a roster anymore:
“Oh yeah. Trust me that’s the way I’m feeling about it. I guess when you get to a certain point you look at where you are and kinda I guess where the team is, your role, and all that kind of stuff. I just believe Shonn Greene can handle the bulk of the carries and we have some young guys also. Obviously I will still carry the ball, but what I really want to do is run routes out of the backfield. I have always been good at doing that and I still think I can create matchup problems against linebackers running routes out of the backfield.”
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