Stafford vs. Sanchez

Through the first two weeks of the NFL season the debate of Sanchez versus Stafford has been heating up in and around Detroit and the NFL. Sanchez has looked pretty good in New York, throwing for 435 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and a QB rating of 91.3 percent. Sanchez has also beaten the all-mighty New England Patriots. Stafford on the other hand has looked less than stellar for the Lions, throwing for 357 yards, one touchdown, 5 interceptions, and a QB rating of 40.5 percent. The fans in New York have already given Sanchez a nickname of “the Sanchise” which refers to him being the franchise QB. In many circles Stafford is already being called a bust and some are calling for his replacement, Daunte Culpepper. If you look closely, there is a big difference between the two first round picks situation. Look at the team structure that each quarterback has around them.

Let’s look at Sanchez structure first. The Jets have made plenty of upgrades to their roster within the last couple years. Just two year’s ago the Jets brought in two Pro Bowl caliber offensive linemen, Alan Faneca and Damien Woody. They traded for a perennial 1,000 yard rusher Thomas Jones, and have developed another one in Leon Washington. This past off-season alone they signed Pro Bowl linebacker Bart Scott. The signing of Scott allowed a better transition into Rex Ryan’s defensive scheme since he played under Ryan in Baltimore. The Jets team structure is all around a better system. Jets players have already said that Sanchez doesn’t have to do much. Sanchez doesn’t have to force balls into coverage. He can hand it off to one of his running backs and every once and a while run a play fake to a wide-out. The game looks slower to him.

Let’s now look at Stafford’s structure. Stafford has a bigger up hill battle. He has a decent RB in Kevin Smith, but who really knows what he is since this is only his second year in the league. He has one of the best receivers in the league to throw to. But think back. When is the last time Calvin didn’t have a safety over the top in coverage? Stafford has to force the ball to him which in return causes interceptions. And let’s not talk about the no blocking, penalty taking offensive line. These guys can’t protect anyone and they are pretty much drive killers with those penalties. And oh yea…don’t forget about Stafford being on a team that finished 0-16 just last season and also a team with 8 years of inept drafting by our favorite GM here in Detroit, Matt Millen. Stafford has absolutely no foundation around him. The game looks much faster to him. If Sanchez was in the same position he would struggle as well.

The point to be made here is if they were to switch teams Sanchez would struggle here and Stafford would probably be doing what Sanchez is doing right now. This debate shouldn’t even be going on yet because they’re just rookies. Talk to me in three years!