CORTLAND, N.Y. — Sure, it will be only a preseason game when the New York Jets visit Baltimore on Monday night.

But it might be something more. Perhaps even a coronation?
Before the Jets capped their last open full-team practice Thursday with an autograph session for the fans, Mark Sanchez had yet another signature performance in what has been a solid training camp for him. And although nobody with the Jets is saying it publicly, it’s possible he could win the starting job for opening day when he starts against the Ravens.
Sanchez had a solid morning, connecting on seven of 14 attempts with two touchdowns, both to wide receiver Brad Smith and both in red-zone drills. His competition for the job, Kellen Clemens, went 4-for-7 with interceptions by reserve cornerbacks Rashad Barksdale and Drew Coleman.
Coleman’s pick off Clemens came on a fourth-down drill in the red zone, just as Sanchez’s two TDs to Smith did.
“It’s very exciting,” Sanchez said of the Baltimore game. “I think this entire year is going to be a lot of firsts — first road trip and first start. This is a big-time Monday night game. It’s as close to a real game as possible. I’m so excited to try and build on last week.”
“Last play of the game,” coach Rex Ryan said, referring to the practice situation, “Sanchez made two great throws for touchdowns. The last play of the game, you’ve got to have it. ... He had to scramble on both of them, (he) found an open guy showed good vision downfield and then threaded the needle.”
Ryan added that Smith also was “impressive” on those plays.
As for Clemens, the coach praised the fourth-year veteran’s grasp of the Jets’ complex offense.
“It’s ridiculous,” Ryan said, adding Clemens “knows where it all goes with the motions, the shifts and (he) can get everybody lined up. (But) Sanchez knows what he’s doing. He knows the routes. He knows all that. I’m not so sure he knows the blocking patterns.”
So it figures to be important for Sanchez to show Monday that he has the pocket presence to handle the Ravens’ pass rush, if he gets pressured. He didn’t have to avoid any pressure against St. Louis, as no Ram got close to him during his four pass attempts.
“As much as people think (the Jets) have this unbelievable advantage,” Sanchez said, “just because Rex is coming from there, those are great athletes and a good scheme and it’s always going to be tough to game-plan for them. It will be a good test.”
“I don’t think that the coach’s decision on who is going to start is going to come out of the one game,” Clemens said.
Ryan, indeed, said he would “look at everything” in making his decision.
Of his second interception, Clemens said, “It was the last play of the game. You’ve got to throw it somewhere. Drew Coleman actually came off his guy on the outside and came in to make a great play. You never want a pick, but there are some situations where it is less hurtful than others.
“I think, in all fairness to Kellen,” Sanchez said, “he’s been around here a long time and if I’m going to play, I need to earn it. That’s the right thing to do. I thought that was the right thing for the organization to do. ... He’s a great competitor and we’ve had fun through this whole camp. I want to peak at the right time and finish this camp strong.”
It appears he is doing that.