Why Mark Sanchez is not the same quarterback who led the Jets to the AFC Championship Game and how an old injury has held him back and will continue to do so in 2011.
As one of the top quarterbacks in the NCAA at USC, Sanchez suffered a career threatening injury to his patella tendon in 2008. While the injury on the surface does not seem to garner as much attention as the dreaded torn ACL, it actually can be significantly more difficult to recover from. This is due to the relationship between the patella tendon and the quadriceps muscle group of the thigh. The patella tendon attaches the major muscles of the quadriceps to the lower leg (tibia). This connection provides stability to the knee and assists the muscle in moving the lower leg.
Typically, an injury to the patella (also known as the knee cap) and patella tendon occurs in the form of either a partial or complete rupture (tear) or a subluxation or dislocation of the joint. A tear might be easier to recover from because the typical mechanism of the injury is related to over use. However, the subluxation or dislocation is typically related to rotation of the patella to a position where the tendon no longer is "in line" with the patella.
Sanchez, apparently never fully recovered from his patella tendon/knee injury at USC. As a result, in February of 2010, Sanchez underwent surgery on the left knee to repair the patella tendon, which was deemed necessary by team physicians. An injury of this nature, to a player like Sanchez, does more than limit his mobility as we might assume. As a quarterback, Sanchez relies on the knee to make him agile in the pocket. But more importantly, as a right-handed quarterback, the left knee is the joint which provides stability as he throws the ball. It also must absorb rotational forces initiated when the quarterback firmly plants his left foot and initiates the throw.
In an evaluation of his throwing mechanics in video footage from 2010, 2009 and 2008, his mechanics show a poorly planting left foot and extreme extension of the left knee during delivery. This is a subconscious compensation or adjustment Sanchez has made to reduce the rotational force on this knee which could cause another and potentially more severe left knee injury. In addition, his risk of injury includes possible ACL injuries to both knees and possible lower back pain. As a result of his compensation, Sanchez has a tendency to deliver the ball with a more pronounced vertical movement of his throwing arm during delivery. This is more noticeable on balls thrown deep to the right as it will cause balls to the right to sail higher than expected. (Derek Anderson are you listening?) This can lead to more incompletions when throwing to the right or worse, more interceptions in that direction.
When throwing to the left, Sanchez more than likely will demonstrate throws which appear to lead the receiver in that direction because he is more likely to have natural rotation of his body increase. (Please understand that this flaw also can lead to incompletions as Sanchez may still be off target from where his throw is intended.)
Until Sanchez works to increase the rotational stability of his left knee, he will continue to struggle in and out of the pocket with mobility and accuracy. Just as importantly, Sanchez will continue to struggle with his confidence as he fails to achieve the success he was accustomed to in his early days at USC.
My number one exercise for Sanchez? Well there are actually three.
- Medicinal ball rotational twist to the left side
- Single leg hamstring curls on both legs with an emphasis on the left leg. (Hey Mark, be sure to focus on doing these in the prone position and keep your glutes tight so you don't arch your back)
- Increase left ankle mobility with manual therapy
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