What were some of our takeaways tonight? Mark Sanchez had an above-average night overall, but it was one marred by his very first pass, an ill-advised and obviously forced throw, trying to nail LaDainian before even giving him a chance to escape traffic. Watching the video again, it’s painfully clear where he plans on putting that ball from the moment the snap goes off. Easy pickings for new Giants safety Antrel Rolle, the Giants’ defensive standout of the evening. I hate to say it, but this was exactly the sort of idiot pass that we’d hoped Sanchez had learned to avoid. Best it come in August, then. I remain hopeful that Sanchez will win us more games than he will lose. He did pick things up from there, going 12 for 16 after the pick, for 119 yards and a touchdown (though his final series came mostly against 2s). In that time he lead some very long, typically trouble-free drives on the rebuilding Giants defense. The best thing I saw tonight from the passing game was its very scope. Not only does Holmes provide Sanchez with a new vertical option, but the backfield has become a serious aerial player with the subtraction of Thomas Jones, whose play style resembles stone-handed Shonn Greene’s, and the addition of LT, who proves that your hands are always the last thing to go. Credit Ron Jaworski’s interns with the stat of the day: last year Jets RBs caught only 28 passes, by far a league low. Are you starting to see now why the team so desired LT?

Shonn Greene was in playoff form in the first quarter, busting through tackles to pick up extra yards and first downs that he had no business acquiring. More than ever, I am now settled on selecting him in my fantasy draft. Tomlinson, meanwhile, proved that he’s still a special talent, though it should be a while before we get to put this insufferable gas tank metaphor to rest. McKnight, playing with the backups, looked dazed. He showed that he can get to the outsides easily enough, but dare we ask him to run through a tackle or two! He is in every way Shonn Greene’s precise opposite, and it’s going to be a long time until he’s in top NFL form, if ever.

When you’re sharing a backfield with Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Kyle Wilson, you tend to play a lot closer to the box, and when your coach is Rex Ryan, you can usually expect to blitz. A lot. None of this information should be surprising, but it does apply another fold of pressure to already stressed passers, so athleticism is a must in this system, even at strong safety, where the 5’8″ 186lbs. Leonhard notched 3 sacks a year ago, including a gorgeous strip-sack of J.T. O’Sullivan in Week 17 (Rhodes failed to find even one in the regular season). On that condition, most of these players pass, though not without flaws. Leonhard is a bit rough when brought back to play man on tight ends, but he can be vicious once locked upon a target. Pool’s got the tools to cover the field, but he’s not an immensely physical guy. He’ll factor more into pass protection, where he could eventually share time with Donovan Warren, the much (relatively) hyped UDFA from Michigan whom nearly everyone expects will make the active roster, and may well become a starter in 2011. Warren, once thought to be a potential first round pick before some poor offseason performances sunk him, played CB in college, and has the skills in man coverage to become a lesser version of Darrelle Revis, lining up on either side of the field and getting his hands up precisely where they need be to score deflections. Eric Smith, who at this time a year ago was thought of by Rex Ryan as nothing more than trade bait, has proven himself to be a respectable backup at free safety, although it is doubtful that he will ever make the step up to NFL starter. The official Jets website touts Smith’s veteran leadership and communication skills, but it’s really his speed that aids him. He’ll be a far bigger contributor on special teams, I would think. Rex, for his part, seems to have changed his mind about Smith, and now compares him favorably to Ed Reed. I don’t know about that, but when it comes to the Ravens, I am looking forward to seeing him reconnect with his old buddy Anquan Boldin.

DO NOT PISS OFF REX RYAN. That was the first thing that crossed my mind when I learned the surprising news last night. Rex is the ultimate players’ coach, especially when it comes to the defense, his baby. He’s a kind, understanding guy, and the fact that Eric Smith, who had Rex pulling his hair out over the summer, eventually came to replace Kerry at safety, if only for a short while, proves that he’s willing to forgive. Basically, Rex wants to be your best friend, and for whatever reason, Rhodes just wouldn’t reciprocate. Instead he squandered his talents on the pursuit of stardom. He grew a huge head after his mentor Jonathan Vilma left town, leaving the defense squarely in his hands, and it never really shrank. He starred appearing on TV and in magazines, and all over Twitter, and pretty much everywhere except where the ball was. After recording nine interceptions in two seasons (2006, 2007), he has had only five in the last two, and failed to make even one this year until Week 12. His sacks have virtually disappeared, and, as I said, tackles have not been his forte. That he had to be called into Mike Pettine’s office for a private ‘powwow’ earlier in the offseason says everything one needs to know to understand why he was given the boot.