New York Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes criticized his offensive line on Thursday, saying quarterback Mark Sanchez does not have enough time to throw the football and the Jets play-calling has suffered as a result.
"I may be criticized again for saying it but I think it starts up front," Holmes told reporters. "The big guys know it. They give Mark enough time to sit in the pocket and complete passes I think everything changes. The routes that are being run are short routes, ‘Hey, let’s get the ball out of Mark’s hands quick. Let’s move the ball down the field and let’s go from there.’ But if you can’t protect the quarterback for 4 or 5 seconds, then there’s no point in dropping back 7 yards to throw a football when he doesn’t have enough time. So, we pretty much have to roll with the way our offense is rolling right now."
Holmes had already spoken out about the offensive line after a Week 4 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, and said he had no qualms about voicing his opinion again.
"Those guys, meaning my offensive line, live in a totally different world than we do," he said. "I can sit here and complain as much as I want to about protecting our quarterback. Sometimes little things as far as getting their toe stepped on, can’t get back in their protection in their dropback long enough, are some of the things that affect play-calling. Like I said, I can complain all day about it."