Can the Jets Still Be Saved?

By - Andy Garcia

The fate of the New York Jets for the 2012 season was inevitable.

As soon as team "Gang Green" traded for Tim Tebow back in March, everyone knew a quarterback controversy was coming. If and when Mark Sanchez struggled -- even just a little bit, the fans were going to call for Tebow to replace him.

Photo by: Getty Images

Needless to say, TebowMania is alive and well.

The Jets are 2-3 and have looked awful offensively. Mark Sanchez has been taking all the heat. He ranks dead last amongst all starting QBs with a dreadful 48.4% completion percentage. He's also ranked 31st in QB rating at 66.6, a number that's sure to spook even Tim Tebow.

A change at quarterback seems imminent and would probably solve New York's problems, right?

Not quite.

Coach Rex Ryan has been adamant that Sanchez will remain the starter. While many may argue that this is the wrong move, I believe that Rex is doing the right thing, and here's why.

The 2012 season is a lost cause for the Jets regardless.

Sure, they have the same record as the Green Bay Packers, but their situations greatly differ.

The Jets are not an offensive juggernaut.

Of course, nobody in the organization will admit that they aren't going anywhere this year, and they certainly will not give up no matter the circumstances. But the fact is, the Jets are severely lacking in talent. Injuries are also a reason why they have struggled as of late, and why it is more than likely to continue.

With Darrelle Revis and Santonio Holmes both out for the rest of the season, the Jets have lost, arguably, their best players on both sides of the ball. Tight end Dustin Keller is another vital part of the offense that has been greatly missed, having not played since Week 1. Rookie wideout Stephen Hill and now second-year man Clyde Gates are two more receivers hampered by injuries.

The Jets are hurting right now. The depth chart is very depleted. Their backup QB is playing tight end and special teams, their top cornerback is attempting to play receiver, even though he can't run routes at all, and they are even contemplating using their third-string running back at corner.

You can't make this stuff up.

Besides already having a suspect offensive line, Sanchez has no weapons left on offense. The current starting wide receivers for the Jets are Jeremy Kerley and Chaz Schilens.

Who?

My point, exactly.

And let's not get started on the running game. The Jets rank 25th in rushing and are averaging a measly 3.2 yards per carry.

With an offense like that, I can see why Sanchez can't seem to do anything. That's not to say that he isn't partly responsible for the team's woes this season, but I have a hard time putting most of the blame on the guy.

He isn't getting any help.

Take this past Monday night against the Texans, for example. Sanchez finished 14-of-31 for 230 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs. There were 3 notable drops by Jets receivers in the game. Both of the interceptions proved costly, one in the red zone and another on the last drive of the game for New York.

The red zone INT was a ball tipped at the line of scrimmage by J.J. Watt that landed right into the hands of Brice McCain. The second came on a ball tipped by Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland that landed right into the hands of Kareem Jackson.

Neither were Mark's fault.

One was a great defensive play by Watt, who had multiple batted balls in the game and who is an absolute beast, by the way, and the other was a terrible play by Cumberland.

All in all, Sanchez actually played a decent game, even though the stat sheet says otherwise.

That's the type of season that it's been for him. His numbers have suffered throughout, but his effort can certainly be commended. The only thing Sanchez needs is some support -- from the fans and from the rest of his team on the field.

Everyone in New York has been roasting Sanchez and calling for Tebow to come save the day, but I really don't think it would make a difference.

In fact, it would only make things worse.

If Tebow becomes the starter, Sanchez's career with the Jets might as well be over. He won't be able to come back from that. Everything that the Jets have built in the last 4 years will go down the drain.

People seem to have forgotten about the back-to-back AFC title games that Sanchez led the Jets to not that long ago. New Yorkers were loving No. 6 at that time and had faith in him. Now that he can't save this disaster of a team, many are calling for his head.

Fans will probably get their wish at some point this year.

The problem is, it won't matter. The Jets are a mess and that isn't going to get fixed this season.

Tebow or no Tebow.