GET SWAMPED

rush grounds and pounds Gang Green

got to Sanchez with four-man attacks. The Giants exploited right tackle Wayne Hunter, who has been dealing with a back injury for the past couple of weeks. Hunter, who missed the preseason opener, contributed to each of the four times Sanchez was sent to the turf at MetLife Stadium.

Although Ryan said afterward that he had “a hard time believing it’s just one guy” who broke down in pass protection, Hunter was at the heart of it. Jason Pierre-Paul beat Hunter twice for sacks. Justin Tuck beat Hunter and forced Sanchez to step up in the pocket before Linval Joseph buried him. Tuck also beat Hunter for a sack that was erased by a penalty.

“Either you perform or you don’t perform,” Hunter said. “That’s the name of the game. If I don’t, they’re going to find someone to bring in and compete and get the job done. I need to get something f ig u red out before the first game, though.”

Despite getting pummeled, Sanchez maintained his confidence in the offensive line.

“I really do have faith in those guys up front,” Sanchez said. “I know we can play better than that. I know we can block these four-man rush looks.”

The Jets trailed 13-0 at halftime and never got into a rhythm in Sparano’s offense. After preaching a faster “pace and tempo” throughout training camp, Sanchez had to burn a timeout after a TV timeout before the first play of the Jets’ second drive.

“We’re still working out the kinks,” left guard Matt Slauson said.

Sanchez made quick, short and efficient passes before a poorly thrown toss cost him late in the second quarter. Hosley, the Giants’ third-round pick, stepped in front of Sanchez’s pass behind Patrick Turner and returned it for a 77-yard interception to give the Giants a 13-0 lead before the two-minute warning.

“This is not a benchmark time,” left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson said. “It’s the preseason.”

Although Shonn Greene had five carries of at least five yards, the Jets averaged 2.8 yards per carry in the first half. Gang Green’s power running game failed when fullback John Conner was stuffed on a third-and-1 and fourth and 1.

The first-team defense held Eli Manning & Co. to six first-half points and two for seven on third downs, one of the few bright spots on an otherwise forgettable night. Despite the struggles, Sanchez had a message for the panic-stricken.

“It’s awfully early,” Sanchez said with a smile. “Hang in there. It’s a long year.”

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