NFL draft: The Mark Sanchez interview

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NFL draft: The Mark Sanchez interview

February 13th, 2009, 7:00 am · 10 Comments · posted by Michael Lev, staff writer

Four weeks after Mark Sanchez’s emotional and awkward departure from USC, we had a chance to catch up with the soon-to-be-pro quarterback as he prepared for next week’s NFL scouting combine.


It was his first extended interview since announcing Jan. 15 that he would enter the 2009 draft.

While munching on grapes between workouts at the Velocity Sports Performance training center in Irvine, the typically upbeat Sanchez talked about the aftermath of that strange news conference, his relationship with Pete Carroll, his combine preparation and a host of other subjects.



Q: Were you surprised how the press conference took on a life of its own in the media after it was over?

Sanchez: I don’t think anybody expected it. I don’t know if Coach expected that. I definitely didn’t. But it was one of those situations where the media kind of took things and made a real negative spin on it. While I absolutely respect Coach’s opinion, I have to go with my own gut and my own feeling. It’s a deeply personal decision. I think he understood that.

The biggest point I can impress on anybody is how supportive he’s been since. It’s just one of those things that came out and looked more negative than it really was. I’m the biggest Coach Carroll supporter there is. He’s been great to me. I wouldn’t be in this position without him. I didn’t take it negatively at all. We moved on instantly. I talked to him hours after the press conference. I was just like, “Man, I think this thing’s blown up more than I think it really should. It’s not that big of a deal.” While we might have disagreed on one opinion, one decision, I love everything about the program and him.

Q: Do you wish you had done anything differently? You specifically waited for him to come back from vacation.

Sanchez: No, not at all. I wanted him to be there. I wanted to do it in the most respectful way. I think that’s what I did. I think Coach just expressed one feeling. I think a lot of that was just his competitive nature coming out. I took that as a form of respect. He wants me on his team. That’s a very good coach, asking me to come back. That was something in itself. And I don’t think a lot of people thought of it that way.

Q: So it hasn’t affected your relationship with him at all?

Sanchez: No. Absolutely not. I’m going to be one of the first guys back to practice, watching games, calling him and texting him and asking him how everything’s going.

Q: Even though you knew he disagreed with you, did anything about the way it unfolded surprise you? For example, Pete not sitting down for the Q&A.

Sanchez: No, that was just the way things played out. I don’t think it was anything he planned or I planned. It’s just the way it happened. I took it in stride. We’re both great (now). I’m happy.

Q: Have you had any second thoughts about the decision itself?

Sanchez: Not at all. Never. I feel real good (about it).

Q: But you do miss USC, your teammates, that environment.

Sanchez: I made that clear in the press conference. Regardless of what my decision’s going to be, my heart’s going to be at this university. I love every part of it, the school, the football. It’s been everything I could have dreamed of and more. I just feel like this is my best chance to move on. I’ve been in school for four years. I’ve accomplished quite a bit on the field. My experience, while some people might say (it’s) inexperience, I’ve played against the best competition every day in practice, with the best coaches, pro schemes, pro defensive schemes. There ain’t any better experience out there.

Four weeks after Mark Sanchez’s emotional and awkward departure from USC, we had a chance to catch up with the soon-to-be-pro quarterback as he prepared for next week’s NFL scouting combine.


Q: What areas are you focused on the most in your workouts and preparation?

Sanchez: They haven’t been targeting anything that they felt was a weakness. They just wanted to sharpen everything up and fine-tune everything. After a long season, you get into a routine of light workouts. This puts a little tone on your body. My quickness is good. My speed’s been good. The velocity on the ball feels great. I’ve never thrown the ball better.

Q: Your trainer said they’re working on your balance, your hips and your core.

Sanchez: Absolutely. All that stuff falls to the wayside during the season. You just don’t have the hours in the day; you’re trying to get ready, to game-plan and all that.

Q: Do you plan to do everything at the combine?

Sanchez: I’m training to do that. But whatever they think is best, my agents and everyone involved. I’m working out do everything. So we’ll see.

Q: Your knee hasn’t been an issue?

Sanchez: Not at all. It’s strong. We knew it was healed right when I was coming back. It was a partial sublux of the patella. It came right back in pretty much on its own. I was doing stuff the next week. To be able to come back that fast, and even now, to have the strength I have in it is great.

Q: Pete Carroll harped on the experience factor, as have others. How do you plan to overcome that?

Sanchez: I’m not here to prove anybody wrong. I’m here to make this decision right for me. Just because you threw 65 percent all season doesn’t mean you can’t throw 80 percent in the Rose Bowl, you know what I mean? It’s a number. I’m excited about my opportunity, and I think I have a great chance to do it.

Q: Do you feel like you have to sell yourself to NFL teams?

Sanchez: It’s like a job interview. In any job interview, you want to look the best, you want to appear in your best form. That’s what Velocity’s all about, that’s what Coach (Bob) Johnson’s all about. All the feedback and assistance I’ve been getting have been top-notch.

Q: It doesn’t seem like you’d need interview training. What have you learned from doing that?

Sanchez: Just like the football, it’s about fine-tuning. Making your answers the best possible. I have an idea what people want to know, and (now the goal is) to provide it in the most honest way and the best way possible. I’m trying to get a job, really. That’s what it is. This is my chance to shine and perform.

Four weeks after Mark Sanchez’s emotional and awkward departure from USC, we had a chance to catch up with the soon-to-be-pro quarterback as he prepared for next week’s NFL scouting combine.



Q: You really seem to be in your comfort zone here. You’re close to home, working with your high school coach, Bob Johnson …

Sanchez: Ultimate comfort zone. It’s perfect. A uniquely perfect fit for me, with Athletes First, Dave Dunn, my brother (Dunn and Sanchez’s brother, Nick Jr., are serving as his agents), Bob Johnson, Velocity. It’s all been right here. I’m in an apartment in Aliso Viejo and loving life. Going to school Monday (and) Wednesday. I’m having fun with the whole process.

Q: Are you still driving that same car?

Sanchez: It’s right out front. ‘01 Honda Accord, baby. The Black Pearl.

Q: Are you going to upgrade?

Sanchez: I don’t know. The Black Pearl’s been good to me. She’s been a good sport. We’ll see. I’m not worried about it. I want to do well at the combine first, pro day, all that.

Q: Describe what a typical day for you has been like since you started training.

Sanchez: Get here at 8 o’clock in the morning. It’s all speed and agility work, quickness — your start in the 40, all the shuttle drills and stuff. Then we break at close to 10 and get your meals in. Head over to Mission Viejo around 11 (for) chalkboard, film, mock interviews, things like that. Then around noon, throwing. I get to throw with Patrick (Turner). That’s another thing that couldn’t be better. Work with Coach Johnson on footwork, arm strength, everything. Then come back down here about 2:30. The afternoon is power and lifting, just to keep up your strength and endurance. It’s been fun so far. I love every part of it.

Q: How much more classwork do you have left at ‘SC?

Sanchez: Two classes, graduate in May.

Q: You’re still on track for that, even with all the training?

Sanchez: Oh yeah. Definitely. Teachers have been great about working things out with my schedule and being open, understanding where I’m coming from and how important it is to get my degree. It’s something I promised and told my parents that I would do regardless of my decision.

Q: It took Troy Aikman something like 20 years to get his degree.

Sanchez: It’s one of those things, if you don’t do it now, you can say you’re going back, but you just get busy. I’d rather knock it out now. It’s so close already. I love being up there. I feel like I’m already ingrained in Annenberg. I love every part of it. So I might as well do it.