Mark Sanchez is the new JaMarcus Russell, only skinnier

[Tailback U]

http://deadspin.com/5452869/mark-sanchez-is-the-new-jamarcus-russell-only-worse

Vince Verhei draws an intriguing comparison. JaMarcus Russell, 2008-09: 198-for-368, 2,423 yards, 13 TDs. Mark Sanchez, 2009-10: 196-for-364, 2,444 yards, 12 TDs. The difference? Sanchez threw more picks. And only six people thought to mention Russell's "poise." Six.

Russell is of course a national punchline, and Sanchez is a famous beachwear model who is praised to the heavens for occasionally passing a football to members of his own team. Verhei ran some numbers, though, and found that Sanchez's top comparable was none other than Russell himself. He mentions the stats above and notes further:

Russell started 15 games at age 23 in 2008; Sanchez started 15 games at age 23 in 2009. The biggest difference is in interceptions, where Sanchez was significantly worse, throwing 20 interceptions to Russell's eight.

Actually, the biggest difference is that Sanchez's mediocrity has been gussied up in the media and presented to us as "poise," whereas Russell's, in those days, was invariably chalked up to his "raw" talents. (Send that one to the boys at Bletchley Park.) I count only six "poise"s for Russell during the 2008-09 season, the first of which is a pun, the second of which barely rates as a compliment, and the third of which may very well refer to a night out at Dave & Buster's.

Paul Gutierrez, Sacramento Bee: "... directed the offense with, dare I say it, pride and poise ..."

Gwen Knapp, San Francisco Chronicle: "The poise of JaMarcus Russell, who had his best game yet as a pro quarterback? Noted, but not set in stone. Probably not even worth writing in ink."

Ailene Voisin, Sacramento Bee: "JaMarcus Russell's poise and dart-throwing ..."

Bruce Macgowan, Marin Independent Journal: "JaMarcus Russell showed poise in the final drive ..."

Mark Purdy, Contra Costa Times: "... showed poise by not flashing anger or frustration when his first-quarter touchdown pass to tight end Zach Miller was nullified by a stupid illegal formation penalty."

Cam Inman, Contra Costa Times: "At least the 49ers' and Raiders' inexperienced quarterbacks showed impressive poise in their openers ..."

Sanchez has a better team than Russell did in 2008, and he has enjoyed vastly better PR. There's a lesson in this for any young quarterback seeking the overpraise of the national football press. Be handsome. Don't get drafted by a crazy person running a franchise from his sarcophagus, and don't hold out if you do. And somehow contrive to get yourself photographed by GQ while dry-humping a supermodel on a beach. You'll be poised in no time, no matter how many interceptions you throw.

Divergent paths for Greene, Sanchez [ESPN Insider]

Send an email to Tommy Craggs, the author of this post, at craggs@deadspin.com.

[j.hen]

So true.

[Bmore]

It was only a matter of time before New York did it to him...

[Fox1994]

Interesting. Very, very interesting.

[killgod]

Mark Sanchez looks up to Trent Dilfer.

[Bear Pand]

Sanchez is garbage. You know you're bad when your coaches call wildcat plays on 3rd and long, especially when these same coaches called the wildcat a gimmick offense.

[Wildcard]

This is the difference between not having a good team around you, and having one.

People always want to give the QB credit, but this is such a team sport it's not even funny.

[ralaw]

Too bad you can't just look at stats and come to conclusions.
Much of Russells problem is his attitude and apathetic nature.

[jeffx]

Can we wait three or four years before we judge the kid first?

[f16harm]

Too bad you can't just look at stats and come to conclusions.
Much of Russells problem is his attitude and apathetic nature.

so in other words, you're saying Russell is a much better QB than Sanchez. Because they both had similar stats their first season (actually Sanchez's were worse counting all of those INTs)....AND Sanchez has the "good" or favorable demeanor and media hype.

[ralaw]

so in other words, you're saying Russell is a much better QB than Sanchez. Because they both had similar stats their first season (actually Sanchez's were worse counting all of those INTs)....AND Sanchez has the "good" or favorable demeanor and media hype.

No, I'm saying that you can't form conclusions based on stats alone. Much of the reason Russell takes the beating he does is becuase of his bad attitude and apathetic nature as a football player. While Sanchez comes off as a guy who is a bit "hollywood", but has a work ethic, listens and wants to win.

There are a host of factors that play into why Russell takes a beating (was a #1 overall pick, the holdout, plays for the Raiders, stupid comments to the media, is immature etc) while Sanchez gets positive attention (played at USC, signed his rookie deal quickly, good looking, plays in NY, team is in the conference final) and some of it isn't entirely Russell's fault, but most of it is. In other words Russell came into the league on the wrong foot, while Sanchez came in the right way and this helps with Sanchez's favorable image.

[EmpireWF]

Sanchez is garbage. You know you're bad when your coaches call wildcat plays on 3rd and long, especially when these same coaches called the wildcat a gimmick offense.

Could have sworn that the was the week 17 Cincy game they did that.

[Bear Pand]

Week 16 too.

[NAHSTE]

nobody sucks as much as russell imo

Did you read the article? Sanchez threw for fewer TDs, an equal amount of yards, and 8 more INTs his rookie year than Russell did.

He's just more good looking and Mexican-American instead of African-American, so the media calls him "poised", oh yeah, and he's not playing for the Washington State Cougars of the NFL either. (sorry 'tatoes)

Russell is a cancer to that team because he is overpaid and show no respect for authority or teammates. Sanchez may make a ton of mistakes but he is positive, energetic, and loves playing football. The whole team is able to feed off the QB for better or worse.

Did you really just play the "he's having fun out there" card for Sanchez? Who cares if he has more fun, or works hard, if he sucks more he sucks more.

As Kenny Powers once said, "Hard work is just a crutch for the talentless." JaMarcus Russell is the one who can throw the ball faster than fuck. He's good at real sports, not tryin' to be the best at exercisin' ok?

In about 3 days, this will all be over, the Sanchize will get embarrassed by Rob Mathis and Dwight Freeney, and he can go back to rolling around in the sand with models and give them all the Breaded Chicken Cutlets he wants.

[EmpireWF]

Week 16 too.

Well they won both games.

Did you read the article? Sanchez threw for fewer yards and more INTs his rookie year than Russell did.

He's just more good looking and Mexican-American instead of African-American, so the media calls him "poised", oh yeah, and he's not playing for the Washington State of the NFL either.

Isn't Russell suppose to be a lazy pain in the ass?