USA Today: No USC 'glamour boy,' Sanchez makes case as best QB in draft

**Tribal Warfare** · 02-25-2009, 02:01 AM

No USC 'glamour boy,' Sanchez makes case as best QB in draft
By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY
INDIANAPOLIS — Let it fly.

Southern California quarterback Mark Sanchez couldn't pass on another opportunity to win.

Sanchez said it would kill him not to throw at the scouting combine. So the junior with 16 starts on his résumé took part in every drill Sunday, impressing personnel evaluators and coaches.

Sanchez flashed polished mechanics and footwork plus pinpoint accuracy while throwing on the move. Most significant, he projected a sense of fun under scrutiny.

From the relaxed way he spun the football in his throwing hand just before firing a pass to the casual way Sanchez joked and threw during warm-ups with his chief draft rival and close friend, Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, Sanchez oozed confidence.

With Stafford, widely projected as the top quarterback in the draft, opting not to throw, Sanchez chose the path not taken by many elite quarterbacks over the years, including past No. 1 overall picks Peyton and Eli Manning and last year's top quarterback selection, Matt Ryan.

"The thing I loved about Sanchez more than how he threw or what he threw was the fact that he did every drill," NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock says.

"What he's trying to say is, 'I'm not a prototypical, USC glamour boy. I'm here because I love to compete.' "

Sanchez doesn't have the howitzer arm of former Trojan Carson Palmer. But he's trying to stiff-arm Hollywood perceptions that dogged previous USC standout Matt Leinart, now a backup with the Arizona Cardinals.

"When Sanchez walks into a room, he's running the show," ESPN analyst Todd McShay says. "He's confident, a competitor and a gym rat. ... He's much more athletic than people give him credit for. And he sells pump fakes and gets defensive backs to bite more than most quarterbacks."

When asked about the dizzying lineup of 15-minute team interviews each night, Sanchez had the line of the combine, saying, "It's like speed dating."

Does Sanchez think he deserves to be the No. 1 pick over Stafford? "Absolutely," Sanchez says. "I'd better think that. And I think he should think that, too."

Sanchez says he and USC coach Pete Carroll are fine after Carroll initially said the underclassman needed another year of collegiate seasoning.

"If you know coach, you know how competitive he is," Sanchez says. "I took that as a sign of respect. A very good football coach wanted me back on that team."

But there's no looking back for Sanchez. "I'm ready for this league," he says.

02-25-2009, 02:01 AM	Topic Starter
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-3077187	USA Today: No USC 'glamour boy,' Sanchez makes case as best QB in draft No USC 'glamour boy,' Sanchez makes case as best QB in draft By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY INDIANAPOLIS — Let it fly. Southern California quarterback Mark Sanchez couldn't pass on another opportunity to win. Sanchez said it would kill him not to throw at the scouting combine. So the junior with 16 starts on his résumé took part in every drill Sunday, impressing personnel evaluators and coaches. Sanchez flashed polished mechanics and footwork plus pinpoint accuracy while throwing on the move. Most significant, he projected a sense of fun under scrutiny. From the relaxed way he spun the football in his throwing hand just before firing a pass to the casual way Sanchez joked and threw during warm-ups with his chief draft rival and close friend, Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, Sanchez oozed confidence. With Stafford, widely projected as the top quarterback in the draft, opting not to throw, Sanchez chose the path not taken by many elite quarterbacks over the years, including past No. 1 overall picks Peyton and Eli Manning and last year's top quarterback selection, Matt Ryan. "The thing I loved about Sanchez more than how he threw or what he threw was the fact that he did every drill," NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock says. "What he's trying to say is, 'I'm not a prototypical, USC glamour boy. I'm here because I love to compete.' " Sanchez doesn't have the howitzer arm of former Trojan Carson Palmer. But he's trying to stiff-arm Hollywood perceptions that dogged previous USC standout Matt Leinart, now a backup with the Arizona Cardinals. "When Sanchez walks into a room, he's running the show," ESPN analyst Todd McShay says. "He's confident, a competitor and a gym rat. ... He's much more athletic than people give him credit for. And he sells pump fakes and gets defensive backs to bite more than most quarterbacks." When asked about the dizzying lineup of 15-minute team interviews each night, Sanchez had the line of the combine, saying, "It's like speed dating." Does Sanchez think he deserves to be the No. 1 pick over Stafford? "Absolutely," Sanchez says. "I'd better think that. And I think he should think that, too." Sanchez says he and USC coach Pete Carroll are fine after Carroll initially said the underclassman needed another year of collegiate seasoning. "If you know coach, you know how competitive he is," Sanchez says. "I took that as a sign of respect. A very good football coach wanted me back on that team." But there's no looking back for Sanchez. "I'm ready for this league," he says.
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