Contrary to popular belief, quarterback Mark Sanchez didn't play half bad in Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly's system last season. No, the Eagles didn't make the post-season after a hot start. But in nine total game appearances, Sanchez completed a career high 64.1 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,418 yards with 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His passer rating of 88.4 was a career best. That's not going to bring any Lombardi Trophies to Philly anytime soon but I'm sure Rex Ryan is cursing his luck behind closed doors for not getting that Sanchez in New York.
Sanchez has more experience in the NFL and in Kelly's system than the recently acquired Sam Bradford. Although Bradford is expected to be the starter when fully recovered from a second torn ACL, is there any way Sanchez could snatch the starting gig from him? It's a question that was posed to ESPN's John Clayton in his weekly mailbag.
"But to answer your question, yes, Sanchez has a chance to win the job, but my money is on Bradford as long as he doesn't have any setbacks coming off the ACL injury," Clayton wrote. "Even though Sanchez has more experience in Kelly's offense, Bradford ran a spread attack very effectively at Oklahoma.
"Bradford hasn't been doing the 11-on-11, but he still has the edge over Sanchez because he has more of a tendency to go downfield with his throws. What no one can take away from Sanchez is how well he did in Kelly's offense last season.
"In eight starts, he averaged 30 points a game, compiling more than 30 on five occasions. His 63.8 completion percentage was more than respectable considering he was a 55.1 percent thrower with the Jets. His 2,216 yards in eight games in 2014 would put him on pace for a 4,432-yard season. As a Jets starter, he had only two seasons of 3,000-plus yards.
"Sanchez's play last season was hard evidence that Kelly's system does indeed get the most out of a quarterback."
No one is expecting Sanchez to usurp the job from Bradford, Clayton is just saying it is a possibility. Although Sanchez has been unable to string together healthy seasons in back-to-back years since 2011-12, he did get off to a hot start in 2013. In seven games, Bradford was completing 60.7 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,687 yards with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. If that guy can show up for the Eagles, well, the Dallas Cowboys may have something to worry about in the NFC East.
