Clayton: Confident Sanchez has solid showing - Page 10

**Tribal Warfare** · 02-22-2009, 07:08 PM

Confident Sanchez has solid showing
A ball of nervous energy, USC QB Mark Sanchez had a good throwing performance Sunday at the combine.

ESPN.com
Archive

INDIANAPOLIS -- One of the neat things about having a top quarterback participate in the combine is seeing how his personality is exposed before scouts, coaches and GMs for 32 teams.

USC's Mark Sanchez clearly showed his competitive nature Sunday.

Sanchez was in a group that featured 10 quarterbacks, but the only one who didn't throw was Matthew Stafford of Georgia, a close friend of Sanchez's who is competing with him to be the top pick in the draft.

Instead of throwing at the combine, most potential first-round QBs elect to hold their own throwing session in March at their college campuses with receivers they know. Peyton Manning, one of the most competitive quarterbacks in the game, skipped the combine workouts when he turned pro in 1998 and advised Stafford to do the same. Stafford did only the running drills and vertical drills Sunday.

Sanchez, a ball of nervous energy during the drills, elected to do all of them.

"That's just me," Sanchez said Friday, two days before his workouts. "I've got to do this. I feel like I want to do it. I'm a competitive person. I want to win, and that's what I'm about. It would kill me not to throw.''

Sanchez wasn't great in the throwing drills, but he was good enough. He proved he could make all the necessary throws to be a top NFL quarterback. His slant passes to his right were the strongest. He held the ball high and displayed good mechanics. He completed both of his go passes to the right side at 31 and 32 yards. His 40-yard go patterns to his left were accurate and had nice arc. Very few of his passes hit the ground, showing that he has a catchable ball.

I could tell this week that the competitive fire within Sanchez still burns after he had one of the best games of his career in the Rose Bowl. Sanchez completed 28 of 35 passes for 413 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-24 victory over Penn State. He was ready for his next challenge, so he applied for the NFL draft and skipped his senior season.

"I feel like this really was the right time for me," Sanchez said. "That was obviously the pinnacle of my career. I felt very tuned in, dialed in for that game. I visualized things very well, and we played at heck of a game as a team first. We peaked at the right time, and it was a good way to go out."

Sanchez showed confidence in his throwing motion and mechanics Sunday. He also had a good fan base, led by, of all people, Stafford, who cheered Sanchez when he ran his 40 and encouraged him during the throwing session. Although Stafford didn't throw, he took time to help Sanchez loosen up before the drills. Their friendship goes back to the Nike Elite 11 camp in high school.

Stafford edged Sanchez in the 40-yard dash, running 4.84 seconds twice. Sanchez ran a 4.88 and 4.97. Sanchez topped Stafford in the vertical jump, leaping 32.5 inches to Stafford's 30.5.

Should Sanchez go ahead of Stafford in the draft?

"Absolutely," Sanchez said. "I'd better think that. And I think he should think that, too. That's what we've got to think. As a competitor, that's all I want to do is be the best that I can be. And the best you can do in this draft is be No. 1.''

**RealSNR** · 02-23-2009, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCwolf

not in this post...but condeming any other pick other than QB in many of your posts.....I'm on board with your QB being the most important component of the team.....just not on board with this draft being the time to find one.

Next year sure as hell isn't. Mark Sanchez has way more talent than ANY QB next year.

Either we get a pretty good prospect this year or we don't do it at all. We sign Jeff Garcia, draft Curry and an offensive line, and win 2 games again next year, rinse and repeat.

We DON'T have a franchise QB. Sanchez is good enough to be called a franchise QB by most draft experts. NOW would be a good time for this team to get one, especially if we're going to dole out truckloads of money with the 3rd overall pick.

KCwolf · 02-23-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

What do you want to do.....you need to have a better informed take than just "Oh I don't want a QB" which is a fear post..

Tell me who's better.

Dude....I'm on your side.......I just don't want to draft a QB with the 3rd pick regardless of talent.

Mecca · 02-23-2009, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCwolf

Dude....I'm on your side.......I just don't want to draft a QB with the 3rd pick regardless of talent.

What the hell point are you making you said you don't want a QB now you're saying you're on my side?

**doomy3** · 02-23-2009, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

What the hell point are you making you said you don't want a QB now you're saying you're on my side?

He's saying he wants to draft a QB, but not if there isn't one worthy of the selection.

KCwolf · 02-23-2009, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

What the hell point are you making you said you don't want a QB now you're saying you're on my side?

I'm saying you don't draft a franchise QB if there is NO franchise QB to draft.

KCwolf · 02-23-2009, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomy3

He's saying he wants to draft a QB, but not if there isn't one worthy of the selection.

BINGO

Mecca · 02-23-2009, 12:18 AM

And then you are saying that you don't thin they are worth it so who do you want then?

Reerun_KC · 02-23-2009, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCwolf

Dude....I'm on your side.......I just don't want to draft a QB with the 3rd pick regardless of talent.

So when do you draft a QB?

**DeezNutz** · 02-23-2009, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomy3

He's saying he wants to draft a QB, but not if there isn't one worthy of the selection.

Again, if anyone doesn't think Stafford is worthy of #3, that poster will never think there's a talented enough prospect.

Arguing Stafford's raw talent and upside is just, well, painful.

**doomy3** · 02-23-2009, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Again, if anyone doesn't think Stafford is worthy of #3, that poster will never think there's a talented enough prospect.

Arguing Stafford's raw talent and upside is just, well, painful.

I'm not arguing this point at all, as I have repeated over and over that I feel like Stafford is the only franchise QB in this class.

I was just clarifying to Mecca what I thought his post was saying.

**DeezNutz** · 02-23-2009, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomy3

I'm not arguing this point at all, as I have repeated over and over that I feel like Stafford is the only franchise QB in this class.

I was just clarifying to Mecca what I thought his post was saying.

No, I know.

This wasn't directed at you. I was merely picking up on the line of thought.

KCwolf · 02-23-2009, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

So when do you draft a QB?

If I'm Pioli.....not with the #3 pick. It's easy to say go for Cassell, go for Anderson....but both are fairly unrealistic. But IMO there is not a QB in this Draft worth the #3 pick in the draft....#3.....there is soooo many needs on a 2-14 team.....the QB is the most important .... but when there is NO QB worthy of that selection...U don't draft him just because. Mecca will LOVE this .... but I really do have faith that Pioli has a better grasp of our needs than I do.

Reerun_KC · 02-23-2009, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomy3

I'm not arguing this point at all, as I have repeated over and over that I feel like Stafford is the only franchise QB in this class.

I was just clarifying to Mecca what I thought his post was saying.

Actually Doomy, I am ready for preseaon, CP is almost getting impossible to read....

**doomy3** · 02-23-2009, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Actually Doomy, I am ready for preseaon, CP is almost getting impossible to read....

This I will agree with. But it's that way coming from both sides of this argument.

Mecca · 02-23-2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCwolf

If I'm Pioli.....not with the #3 pick. It's easy to say go for Cassell, go for Anderson....but both are fairly unrealistic. But IMO there is not a QB in this Draft worth the #3 pick in the draft....#3.....there is soooo many needs on a 2-14 team.....the QB is the most important .... but when there is NO QB worthy of that selection...U don't draft him just because. Mecca will LOVE this .... but I really do have faith that Pioli has a better grasp of our needs than I do.

Way to not take any position at all.

02-22-2009, 07:08 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-3037187	Clayton: Confident Sanchez has solid showing Confident Sanchez has solid showing A ball of nervous energy, USC QB Mark Sanchez had a good throwing performance Sunday at the combine. ESPN.com Archive INDIANAPOLIS -- One of the neat things about having a top quarterback participate in the combine is seeing how his personality is exposed before scouts, coaches and GMs for 32 teams. USC's Mark Sanchez clearly showed his competitive nature Sunday. Sanchez was in a group that featured 10 quarterbacks, but the only one who didn't throw was Matthew Stafford of Georgia, a close friend of Sanchez's who is competing with him to be the top pick in the draft. Instead of throwing at the combine, most potential first-round QBs elect to hold their own throwing session in March at their college campuses with receivers they know. Peyton Manning, one of the most competitive quarterbacks in the game, skipped the combine workouts when he turned pro in 1998 and advised Stafford to do the same. Stafford did only the running drills and vertical drills Sunday. Sanchez, a ball of nervous energy during the drills, elected to do all of them. "That's just me," Sanchez said Friday, two days before his workouts. "I've got to do this. I feel like I want to do it. I'm a competitive person. I want to win, and that's what I'm about. It would kill me not to throw.'' Sanchez wasn't great in the throwing drills, but he was good enough. He proved he could make all the necessary throws to be a top NFL quarterback. His slant passes to his right were the strongest. He held the ball high and displayed good mechanics. He completed both of his go passes to the right side at 31 and 32 yards. His 40-yard go patterns to his left were accurate and had nice arc. Very few of his passes hit the ground, showing that he has a catchable ball. I could tell this week that the competitive fire within Sanchez still burns after he had one of the best games of his career in the Rose Bowl. Sanchez completed 28 of 35 passes for 413 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-24 victory over Penn State. He was ready for his next challenge, so he applied for the NFL draft and skipped his senior season. "I feel like this really was the right time for me," Sanchez said. "That was obviously the pinnacle of my career. I felt very tuned in, dialed in for that game. I visualized things very well, and we played at heck of a game as a team first. We peaked at the right time, and it was a good way to go out." Sanchez showed confidence in his throwing motion and mechanics Sunday. He also had a good fan base, led by, of all people, Stafford, who cheered Sanchez when he ran his 40 and encouraged him during the throwing session. Although Stafford didn't throw, he took time to help Sanchez loosen up before the drills. Their friendship goes back to the Nike Elite 11 camp in high school. Stafford edged Sanchez in the 40-yard dash, running 4.84 seconds twice. Sanchez ran a 4.88 and 4.97. Sanchez topped Stafford in the vertical jump, leaping 32.5 inches to Stafford's 30.5. Should Sanchez go ahead of Stafford in the draft? "Absolutely," Sanchez said. "I'd better think that. And I think he should think that, too. That's what we've got to think. As a competitor, that's all I want to do is be the best that I can be. And the best you can do in this draft is be No. 1.''
Posts: 43,455

02-23-2009, 12:18 AM	#142
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-742950	And then you are saying that you don't thin they are worth it so who do you want then?
Posts: 115,382

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode