We save the best for last, as the quarterback position was always going to be the most interesting one of the day. The day started status quo, Mark Sanchez with the ones, Siemian with the two’s and Paxton Lynch, aka #PFL (Paxton Freaking Lynch), was with the threes, as has been custom the first two day of training camp as well.
This job at this point is Mark Sanchez’s to lose, and it’s really not that close at the moment. Sanchez did absolutely nothing flashy, but was hands down the best quarterback on display today at camp. He mostly dinked and dunked, throwing primarily short and intermediate routes. His long ball, again was nonexistent today, however he really didn’t try it much. Aside from the one pass to Fowler that easily should have been picked, Sanchez had a mostly mistake free day, which is how he is going to keep it if he’d like to win, and keep hold of the starting job.
Trevor Siemian certainly got his fair look with the starters today, as the reps were split pretty close to right down the middle. Siemian has obvious arm talent, and certainly made some nice throws today, but like Sanchez, most of his completions were of the short and intermediate range. If Siemian truly would like a shot to beat out Mark Sanchez, he is going to show the coaching staff that he can do something that Sanchez can’t; throw the ball accurately down the field. Today Siemian looked like just another guy, and that isn’t going to win him a job anytime soon.
The rookie, the kid, #PFL, Paxton Freaking Lynch played exactly–well–like a rookie. There is one thing for absolute certain and that is Paxton Lynch is far and away the most talented quarterback on this team. The arm talent, the way he moves, the whole package is absolutely beautiful to watch, especially when there is no, or limited defense.
When there was a full defense out there however, the results were a little bit more mixed. Lynch’s first set of three plays he got could not have gone any worse:
Play 1: Paxton fumbles the snap, picks it up and intentionally fires it over a receivers head out of bounds.
Play 2: Handoff, in which he proceeded to then not huddle on the next play, leading to him getting screamed at by the coaching staff (“Lynch [expletive], huddle, what the [expletive] are you doing out there Lynch”).
Play 3: Drop back, slide in the pocket, under throw a deep throw that was a dropped INT
After this set of plays Kubiak took Lynch aside for a little one on one coaching, which lead to a very nice set of plays the next time around.
The story that is generating the most buzz was the opportunity to take the team on a live drive down the field. Lynch had by far his best showing of the day, as he completed multiple impressive throws, and even tucked it and ran it himself a few times. This drive was completed on a long touchdown pass down the field, probably the best throw of the day for Lynch, and any quarterback for that matter.
Lynch is very raw, young quarterback, and has a LOT of ground to make up in just learning how to do the easy stuff if he would like to run out of the tunnel as the starter against the Carolina Panthers September 8th. However, he can do things with his arm, and his legs that Sanchez and Siemian cannot do. If he can show day-to-day improvement, and put on quite the show in preseason game action, he will be given a shot.
This is Sanchez’s job to lose, but if it’s going to be lost, it’s because #PFL can do things that Sanchez cannot, which will make the difference.
Next: Random Noteworthy Items