Sanchez Benched? (1 Viewer)

[NoFBinLA]

Hey - looking for a link, but am seeing reports from FOX Sports' Jay Glazer that Sanchez has been benched (likely in favor of Clemens).

Assuming this is true, thoughts on how this affects the WRs, Keller and the RBs?

He's been shaky in the past although many Jets fans had a lot of hope for him before the Sanchez pick.

 

[Sammy Traveller]

if that's true, is it because Rex Ryan is trying to save his job? there have been rumors of Cowher going to Jets at the end of this season.

 

[NoFBinLA]

I still can't find ANY link - so this is still very much a rumor. It would figure if it ends up erroneous.

 

[jonessed]

It would be a pretty bad move anyway. Their season is toast, let him work through the slump. Better to learn now than waste another season.

 

[Ralph Furley]

if that's true, is it because Rex Ryan is trying to save his job? there have been rumors of Cowher going to Jets at the end of this season.

I don't think Ryan has to worry about his job, he was just hired, and is working with a rookie QB. I think he is a good fit for the Jets and will be around for awhile.It's has become obvious that Sanchez is not ready yet, and if this is true it is for the benefit of Sanchez long term. I think he throws a good ball, but is simply too careless at times. For whatever reason (pressure?) he feels HE NEEDS to make the big play, and I think a seat on the bench will serve him well.I would upgrade all wr's as well if this is true. Not expecting 300+ throwing games but certainly should be more consistent in the passing game.

 

[The Moz]

Cowher is waiting on the Penn St job so that is BS.

 

[FavreCo]

if that's true, is it because Rex Ryan is trying to save his job? there have been rumors of Cowher going to Jets at the end of this season.

Cowher needs to hold out for the Panthers gig. They can't put up with Fox/Davidson much longer.

 

[NoFBinLA]

It would be a pretty bad move anyway. Their season is toast, let him work through the slump. Better to learn now than waste another season.

That would be my thought. I mean, Peter King was going on about how it couldn't possibly hurt him. But I don't see WHY you bench him when half his issue is complete lack of experiance. I broke down his 4th INT on Monday and it was all about experiance. An experianced player (I'd say even a player with just more COLLEGE experiance) doesn't throw that pick - he throws out of bounds.Can you learn that watching Clemens? Maybe. But I think Sanchez learns it better by playing.Anyway I still can't find even a TWEET from Glazer on this so I'm guessing the stuff I was seeing was either a) complete crap or b) a crossing of wires from Glazer's earlier mention of Rhodes being benched (deservedly so - he's been terrible.

 

[valhallan]

Hey - looking for a link, but am seeing reports from FOX Sports' Jay Glazer that Sanchez has been benched (likely in favor of Clemens).

No link, but you're seeing reports? Are you sure you didn't hear something about Kerry Rhodes and mistake it for Sanchez?As a dynasty owner, I'd rather they keep him in. A benching could cause him to start thinking he needs to become another captain checkdown to keep his job. I think his gunslinger mentality is good, it just needs to be honed and playing time is the only way to get there.

 

[lyon812]

It serves no purpose to bench Sanchez. If that was an option, they should have started Clemens from the get-go. Why screw with your franchise QB's confidence?

 

[NoFBinLA]

Hey - looking for a link, but am seeing reports from FOX Sports' Jay Glazer that Sanchez has been benched (likely in favor of Clemens).

No link, but you're seeing reports? Are you sure you didn't hear something about Kerry Rhodes and mistake it for Sanchez?As a dynasty owner, I'd rather they keep him in. A benching could cause him to start thinking he needs to become another captain checkdown to keep his job. I think his gunslinger mentality is good, it just needs to be honed and playing time is the only way to get there.

I was seeing tweets from normally reliable people but no links from them.And now I know why - they were mixing their reports up.

Figures the first topic I set in I dunno how long is a total fool's errand. on me.

Feel free to discuss whether Sanchez SHOULD be benched, shouldn't be benched or how Garda should look before he posts.

 

[FavreCo]

Not a peep on Jets Confidential.

 

[TLEF316]

The jets season was over the second we heard the words "Jenkins" and "ligament" in the same sentence. Anyone who thought otherwise just doesn't know football.

Let the kid play and learn. Yeah, he's throwing way too many picks, but i dont think he's becoming shell shocked or anything. He's not getting beat up physically. He's just making bad decisions. He needs as many reps as possible with Edwards, Cotchery and Keller.

 

[=Smackdown=]

Maybe it's just me being a Dolphin fan but Sanchez seems extremely confident and sure of himself. When he speaks of the INT's he makes it seem like it's no big deal at all.

Lots of great QB's have been benched in the past - it might benefit him and his ego to bring him down a notch.

 

[NoFBinLA]

Not a peep on Jets Confidential.

yeah I'd say oficially Debunked - so I altered the topic title.

 

[Jewell]

It serves no purpose to bench Sanchez. If that was an option, they should have started Clemens from the get-go. Why screw with your franchise QB's confidence?

Ryan could be benching Sanchez to save his confidence. Continuing to lose games and knowing that you're one of the primary reasons for it could be as damaging to a rookie as getting benched. Particularly when you feel like you're costing the season for your teammates.

 

[Chase Stuart]

It serves no purpose to bench Sanchez. If that was an option, they should have started Clemens from the get-go. Why screw with your franchise QB's confidence?

Do you think turning the ball over five times a game doesn't screw with his confidence?

 

[lyon812]

It serves no purpose to bench Sanchez. If that was an option, they should have started Clemens from the get-go. Why screw with your franchise QB's confidence?

Do you think turning the ball over five times a game doesn't screw with his confidence?

I just don't think it serves any purpose, unless you honestly think that Clemens is going to guide the Jets to the playoffs. Sanchez's problems are largely due to inexperience--the same worries that a lot of people had when he was coming out. Is putting him on the bench at the end of a lost season going to get him experience? Putting Clemens in would be pointless, especially if he isn't in the team's plans for 2010. All you'd be saying to Sanchez is, "look, we think you're so terrible that we're not even going to let you gain the experience necessary to improve even though we're headed for the crapper." That isn't good. Though a lot of player talk is rhetoric, Sanchez certainly has his share of supporters in the locker room, too: http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2009/11/n...ort_rookie.html

Also, an interesting article about Manning's rookie year: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/296771-...okie-comparison

Finally, just because I looked it up to compare the two rookies this year:

Sanchez: 10 tds, 16 int, 52.3% comp, 61.1 rating

Stafford: 11 tds, 14 int, 55.2% comp, 66.9 rating

Let 'em play.

 

[NoFBinLA]

Sanchez is suffering from the same the thing the whole Jets team is - the opening 3 games raised some unrealistic expectations. I think the media overlooked or blew off some of his issues from those games because well, they were winning and he did at times look good.

As the numbers lyon812 just posted point out, Stafford isn't blowing the league away either right now. I mean, looking at those numbers in a vacuum, not taking into account injuries or supporting cast and it just illustrates the point that 99% of the rookie QBs who start in year one will struggle.

These things take years most of the time - Sanchez (and Stafford) will take a while to fully develop. It could be rough while they do.

I say at this point - and mind you only the team knows what's going on with him mentally right now, not necessarily beat writers and analysts - it behooves them to let him ride. He needs the experiance and he won't get enough of it sitting on the bench and in practice.

Now, if Ryan, Schotty and others see him and it's clear those picks are starting to take too much of a toll on him that's another thing. But it doesn't seem that way quite yet.

Again though, I'm not in the locker room so it's just what I read/see.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

I'll be totally honest/selfish.....if benching Sanchez means more carries for Thomas Jones, then I'm all for sending him to sit next to the hot dog cart.

In reality, I don't see any positive reason they'd have to put him on the bench now. Especially with games vs. the Panthers, Bill and Bucs on the immediate docket.

 

[Chase Stuart]

I'll be totally honest/selfish.....if benching Sanchez means more carries for Thomas Jones, then I'm all for sending him to sit next to the hot dog cart. In reality, I don't see any positive reason they'd have to put him on the bench now. Especially with games vs. the Panthers, Bill and Bucs on the immediate docket.

Buffalo and Carolina have pretty good pass defenses.The reason to bench Sanchez is to develop the team; Sanchez isn't the only one that matters. A winning culture is good for the team as a whole, and ending the year on a hot streak could portend well for next season. Getting the other 44 players into big game situations is good for everyone's development. I think at this point, Clemens is probably better than Sanchez, just because it would be hard to be worse. Would benching Sanchez set him back? I've got no idea; I don't think it would, and it could help him to see things from the bench for a bit. Almost every great QB in NFL history has been benched, so I'm not too worried about the mental aspects of a benching. The only reason to keep playing him is because you think he just needs experience, maturation (and record) of the team be damned.

 

[NoFBinLA]

Has anyone heard how Clemens has looked in practice? Could part of this be - Clemens (and to an extent Ainge) just don't look good?

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Buffalo and Carolina have pretty good pass defenses.

Yeah, but they're also both lousy vs. the run...and just not very good teams overall. The Jets could feasibly win all 3 of those games against the Panthers, Bills and Bucs, regardless of who their QB is, just because of their OL and running game. They should certainly beat the Bills and Bucs. The should probably beat Carolina too, but I could see the Panthers pulling that one out.Wouldn't it be better to have Sanchez in there "coat-tailing" on the running game and handing off 30 times to Jones/Greene, while potentially getting some positive plays of his own, than to have him sitting and watching Kellen Clemens hand off 30 times to Jones/Greene?The Jets should probably go 2-1 in those games regardless of who their QB is. If it turns out that way then benching Sanchez doesn't do much of anything for himself OR the other 44 guys on the team.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Has anyone heard how Clemens has looked in practice? Could part of this be - Clemens (and to an extent Ainge) just don't look good?

I could totally buy that. It's not like Kellen Clemens in the second coming of, well, anyone.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Buffalo and Carolina have pretty good pass defenses.

Yeah, but they're also both lousy vs. the run...and just not very good teams overall. The Jets could feasibly win all 3 of those games against the Panthers, Bills and Bucs, regardless of who their QB is, just because of their OL and running game. They should certainly beat the Bills and Bucs. The should probably beat Carolina too, but I could see the Panthers pulling that one out.Wouldn't it be better to have Sanchez in there "coat-tailing" on the running game and handing off 30 times to Jones/Greene, while potentially getting some positive plays of his own, than to have him sitting and watching Kellen Clemens hand off 30 times to Jones/Greene?The Jets should probably go 2-1 in those games regardless of who their QB is. If it turns out that way then benching Sanchez doesn't do much of anything for himself OR the other 44 guys on the team.

There's also the possibility that Clemens plays well down the stretch -- especially if, as you think, the Jets are winning -- and the Jets can trade him in the off-season to improve the team.

 

[Rovers]

Sanchez should have been pulled from games long ago. Too late for any of that now. Pete Carrol was right, he wasn't NFL ready, but benching him at this point serves no purpose at all. I will say this... if he starts to stink up another game, benching him for a half would not be a bad move, if only for the fact that leaving him in those games so far hasn't helped him at all.

Maybe some ego check and clip board time for a half would serve him well. If his confidence is so fragile he can't handle that, well, then the Jets have their answer. That is NOT to say he should not remain the starter for the rest of the season. He should. The Jets put all their marbles into this kid. What is scary is that even with a good O line and a running game, something few rookie QB's have, he seems to be getting worse, not better.

I hope to all the gods of football that he comes around, but I have to say, he does remind me of Losman so far. A flash here, a flash there, but so mistake prone it's pitiful, if only because he seems to be regressing. He needs to show some improvement and NOW. If he continues like this, can the Jets even attract FA's in the coming uncapped year? No team can win with the number of INT's and fumbles he has generated no matter how good the defense might be.

 

[comfortably numb]

From the outside looking in, I always was of the school that you don't bench him at this point cause you have nothing to lose.

But as Parcells once said, when asked what do you have to lose in regards to starting an inexperienced QB just for the sake of getting reps to learn the ropes, he said "the player".

While I am not saying he should be benched, because i feel the best education a QB will get is on the field, if a coach feels the mental stability of his young QB is at risk, then yes he needs to be benched

 

[JoePa]

Cowher is waiting on the Penn St job so that is BS.

The Penn St job? Fuggetaboutit!

 

[renesauz]

the standard for rookie QB's, heck for young QB's period...has gone too high.

I'm all for sitting a guy down if watching from the sidelines for a game or two will help him develope, or if the team feels they can make the playoffs with another rostered QB...but his play has been OK for a rookie. His performance to this point is NOT a good reason to bench him.

 

[Reaper]

I'm on record in the 1st "Sanchez starting" thread saying he should have been holding a clipboard for a while...A 22 year old kid who hardly played in college will be in well over his head, Period.

I also seemed to be on an island believing Clemens had something more to give based on the NFL games he did play plus the experience from watching Chad and Favre.

Regardless, I've hated the playcalling all year and Sanchez or Clemens, I would have leaned much more heavily on a ball control / dumpoff / ultra-conservative offense.

The Bills game in particular, a cold windy day, with the lead and they hung Sanchez out to dry - there was no need for that...

We just may see Brian Shottenheimer be the scapegoat for this year's offense... Maybe Callahan takes over.

 

[NoFBinLA]

Reaper I don't disagree in that Sanchez might have benefited from a year of watching - generally I think a rookie QB should sit and watch a year. But he didn't and Clemens looked bad most of the preseason - he played himself out of that job more than once.

That said, I agree the playcalling has been less than steller IMO - and I too think they should be running the ball even more (although the carries outweigh the passes by a fair bit). I have to say I wouldn't use the term 'scapegoat' on Schotty - he's now had two seasons where the offense has struggled and passed far too often when they should run.

Even the actual passes they call are things that I don't think are wise to ask of a rookie with limited game experience.

I'd propose that as much as Mangini was an issue, maybe Schotty wasn't as hamstrung as he made it out to be last year.

I'm sure it will come up in 45 minutes when I do my show on BTR - you are more then welcome to call in and disagree.

Aside from that I say in for a penny, in for a pound. Sanchez isn;'t getting hammered behind a bad oline (like Carr for instance) and this isn't a playoff team right now Sanchez errors or not. So why not get him more experience?

Clearly he needs it.

 

[Reaper]

Reaper I don't disagree in that Sanchez might have benefited from a year of watching - generally I think a rookie QB should sit and watch a year. But he didn't and Clemens looked bad most of the preseason - he played himself out of that job more than once.That said, I agree the playcalling has been less than steller IMO - and I too think they should be running the ball even more (although the carries outweigh the passes by a fair bit). I have to say I wouldn't use the term 'scapegoat' on Schotty - he's now had two seasons where the offense has struggled and passed far too often when they should run. Even the actual passes they call are things that I don't think are wise to ask of a rookie with limited game experience.I'd propose that as much as Mangini was an issue, maybe Schotty wasn't as hamstrung as he made it out to be last year.I'm sure it will come up in 45 minutes when I do my show on BTR - you are more then welcome to call in and disagree. Aside from that I say in for a penny, in for a pound. Sanchez isn;'t getting hammered behind a bad oline (like Carr for instance) and this isn't a playoff team right now Sanchez errors or not. So why not get him more experience?Clearly he needs it.

I didn't think he should sit all season but, at least get the preparation part of the NFL behind him - Watch another guy handle the media, watch a guy who has seen Chad and Favre prep each week and how he handles adversity, gets himself up off the mat and game plans for the next opponent...Sheesh, the guy hardly got to see what it was like to prep for college games let alone play.I also didn't say they should pull him at this point.... But, to start the year I was fully on board with him sitting at least a few weeks. As for Mangini and last year - I blame him last year mostly for the defensive problems the team had. But yeah, I also thought the play calling was crazy at times last year....

 

[Chase Stuart]

the standard for rookie QB's, heck for young QB's period...has gone too high.

I'm all for sitting a guy down if watching from the sidelines for a game or two will help him develope, or if the team feels they can make the playoffs with another rostered QB...but his play has been OK for a rookie. His performance to this point is NOT a good reason to bench him.

What's your standard for "OK for a rookie?"There have been 81 QBs to throw 100 passes as a 22- or 23-year-old rookie since the merger. Sanchez ranks 54th in adjusted net yards per pass attempt, adjusted for era, among those players.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/tiny/UmtAj

So Sanchez has even been below average for a rookie QB - and that's ignoring his fumbles, which would make him look even worse. That does NOT mean his future is in question; in fact, I think Sanchez' future still looks bright, maybe even brighter than before the season started. But he's been really, really bad this year, and he's also been bad for a rookie.

No, he hasn't been Kurt Kitner or Ryan Leaf or Craig Kenzel bad. But I don't know how to put a positive spin on his play this year.

That said, here's why I think his future still looks bright.

Sanchez has been almost league average in yards per attempt and net yards per attempt. Why? Because he's second in the league in yards per completion. Now that's not a stat that means a whole lot in a past sense -- QBs who average a lot of yards per completion aren't necessarily better than QBs with low yards per completion -- but it is a good indicator for the future. He's going to get over the INTs, even though they're deadly now. I think his accuracy will come around. I think he just has a lot to learn, but the tools look like they're there. But I don't think he'd be harmed by sitting on the bench, ala Chad Pennington.

 

[cstu]

So Sanchez has even been below average for a rookie QB

While true, he did lose a RB who was a major part of the offense, the team's #1 WR for part of the season and had to adjust to a new WR joining the team. It's not exactly as if he has had a stable team around him.

 

[The Comedian]

There have been 81 QBs to throw 100 passes as a 22- or 23-year-old rookie since the merger. Sanchez ranks 54th in adjusted net yards per pass attempt, adjusted for era, among those players.

My God, give it a rest.

 

[KellysHeroes]

The season is over for the Jets... there is no point in Benching him now. They should of Benched him already week 7....

 

[Kiddnets]

I agree with the hating on Schotty posts - with a top OL/running game there was no reason to have Sanchez flining it downfield as muchas he has been. Should have been a conservative ball control offense.....dont put the kid in the position to be that awful unless far behind - they were only blown out by NE so bad job by Schott - I would be fine with Callahan next year.

As for benching the kid - if he continues to struggle I would bench him in a game but start him the next - I would let him play it out at this point - cant develop on the bench - season is over so get as much experience as possible.

 

[Rovers]

There have been 81 QBs to throw 100 passes as a 22- or 23-year-old rookie since the merger. Sanchez ranks 54th in adjusted net yards per pass attempt, adjusted for era, among those players.

My God, give it a rest.

What's the problem? If you look at that list, it does seem show the probability of being an NFL bust, while of course there are notable exceptions of QB's with bad rankings (Aikman) and some with high rankings (Majkowski at 6) that didn't trend the way this ranking would indicate, the percentage of NFL busts certainly goes up the lower the ranking is. No doubt, Sanchez has had a bad rookie year, and this list does not account for the fract that Sanchez has a decent O line, a good running attack and a competant group of targets to throw to. It also doesn't reflect fumbles, which would drop Sanchez's ranking further as well.

It doesn't mean Sanchez will bust, but it does indicate that if he doesn't he will be an exception, beating the probabilty the way an Aikman did.

I'm a Jets fan. All of the marbles are on Sanchez. If he busts, the franchise gets set back 3 or 4 years. I want nothing more than to see him suceed, but frankly, I am not optomistic.

 

[Chase Stuart]

So Sanchez has even been below average for a rookie QB

While true, he did lose a RB who was a major part of the offense, the team's #1 WR for part of the season and had to adjust to a new WR joining the team. It's not exactly as if he has had a stable team around him.

I think it's hard to argue that Sanchez' supporting cast is worse than your average rookie QB's supporting cast. He's playing on a team with one of the best running games in the league, one of the best defenses in the league, and has an athletic, pass catching tight end. The WRs aren't great, but a lot of rookie QBs (especially high 1st round picks) are on terrible teams.

 

[Chase Stuart]

The season is over for the Jets... there is no point in Benching him now. They should of Benched him already week 7....

I agree that they should have benched him earlier. But there are still six games left; that's a big chunk of the season.

 

[Chase Stuart]

I agree with the hating on Schotty posts - with a top OL/running game there was no reason to have Sanchez flining it downfield as muchas he has been. Should have been a conservative ball control offense.....dont put the kid in the position to be that awful unless far behind - they were only blown out by NE so bad job by Schott - I would be fine with Callahan next year. As for benching the kid - if he continues to struggle I would bench him in a game but start him the next - I would let him play it out at this point - cant develop on the bench - season is over so get as much experience as possible.

The Jets lead the league in rush attempts. The Jets are last in the league in pass attempts.And why can't you develop on the bench? Philip Rivers? Chad Pennington? Daunte Culpepper? Aaron Rodgers?

 

[Matt Waldman]

I agree with Chase. Look at the Jets' collection of skill talent and offensive line versus the Lions and it's no contest. Calvin Johnson might be the best skill player on both teams, but he's one player. The rest of the Lions receivers are a collection of has-beens or never-will-bes that have difficulty running the correct routes or holding onto decent throws. And Johnson has been hurt much of the year.

The Jets line is a much better unit than the Lions and they still have one of the more underrated backs in the league in Thomas Jones.

 

[Chase Stuart]

There have been 81 QBs to throw 100 passes as a 22- or 23-year-old rookie since the merger. Sanchez ranks 54th in adjusted net yards per pass attempt, adjusted for era, among those players.

My God, give it a rest.

What's the problem? If you look at that list, it does seem show the probability of being an NFL bust, while of course there are notable exceptions of QB's with bad rankings (Aikman) and some with high rankings (Majkowski at 6) that didn't trend the way this ranking would indicate, the percentage of NFL busts certainly goes up the lower the ranking is. No doubt, Sanchez has had a bad rookie year, and this list does not account for the fract that Sanchez has a decent O line, a good running attack and a competant group of targets to throw to. It also doesn't reflect fumbles, which would drop Sanchez's ranking further as well.

It doesn't mean Sanchez will bust, but it does indicate that if he doesn't he will be an exception, beating the probabilty the way an Aikman did.

I'm a Jets fan. All of the marbles are on Sanchez. If he busts, the franchise gets set back 3 or 4 years. I want nothing more than to see him suceed, but frankly, I am not optomistic.

Well, like I said earlier, Sanchez has been nearly league average in yards per attempt and net yards per attempt. On that same list, Sanchez is 29th in NY/A: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/tiny/LadDgCombined with his high draft status, and I think the indicators for Sanchez are still very good. For example, he's averaging 5.9 NY/A, the same as Joe Flacco last year. The problem with Sanchez is he's throwing a ton of INTs (and fumbling), but honestly, that's very low on the totem pole of indicators to predict future success for a rookie QB. Peyton Manning led the league in INTs as a rookie. So did Terry Bradshaw. Throw in Jim Zorn on the expansion Seahawks, and that's the complete list of rookie QBs to lead the league in INTs since 1960.

 

[candymanvandyfan]

I agree with the hating on Schotty posts - with a top OL/running game there was no reason to have Sanchez flining it downfield as muchas he has been. Should have been a conservative ball control offense.....dont put the kid in the position to be that awful unless far behind - they were only blown out by NE so bad job by Schott - I would be fine with Callahan next year. As for benching the kid - if he continues to struggle I would bench him in a game but start him the next - I would let him play it out at this point - cant develop on the bench - season is over so get as much experience as possible.

The Jets have only attempted 26.7 passes per game this season. The Colts, Patriots and Cardinals all have more completions than the Jets have attempts.I am going to write two nice things about Mark Sanchez:1) At times, I have seen well-executed run action passes from him. Of course, it's made more convincing by the notion that a Mark Sanchez pass attempt is as rare as a comet. I have seen it genuinely surprise opposing defenses. Many pass-happy NFL offenses run repeated wasteful token run action that doesn't fool anybody and forces the quarterback to take his eyes temporarily away from looking downfield. 2) He is a licensed driver.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

I agree with the hating on Schotty posts - with a top OL/running game there was no reason to have Sanchez flining it downfield as muchas he has been. Should have been a conservative ball control offense.....dont put the kid in the position to be that awful unless far behind - they were only blown out by NE so bad job by Schott - I would be fine with Callahan next year. As for benching the kid - if he continues to struggle I would bench him in a game but start him the next - I would let him play it out at this point - cant develop on the bench - season is over so get as much experience as possible.

The Jets have only attempted 26.7 passes per game this season. The Colts, Patriots and Cardinals all have more completions than the Jets have attempts.I am going to write two nice things about Mark Sanchez:1) At times, I have seen well-executed run action passes from him. Of course, it's made more convincing by the notion that a Mark Sanchez pass attempt is as rare as a comet. I have seen it genuinely surprise opposing defenses. Many pass-happy NFL offenses run repeated wasteful token run action that doesn't fool anybody and forces the quarterback to take his eyes temporarily away from looking downfield. 2) He is a licensed driver.

To bad he didn't school at Vanderbilt...