Clayton: Confident Sanchez has solid showing - Page 3

**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
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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.''

MIAdragon · 02-22-2009, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Just curious why you think that having a semi-bad day at the combine = him being immature?

Kind of sounds silly to me.

more like reeruned

**Tribal Warfare** · 02-22-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

Stafford didn’t throw because he didn’t need to throw.

Sanchez didn't need to either, but he did

**DeezNutz** · 02-22-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickAthanFan

Best thing about Pat White is you can get him late, and Pioli will draft franchise QB's in the 6th round every year. /true fan

This would allow Gailey to do all the innovative things that he wanted to do with Hagans, or whatever that WR's name was.

Pioli loves little ****ing option QB's.

It's the Patriots way.

MIAdragon · 02-22-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

Sanchez didn't need to either, but he did

I dissagree, Stafford has almost twice the throws that Sanchez has on the collegiate stage. Like Ryan last year he didnt need to throw.

kc rush · 02-22-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Just curious why you think that having a semi-bad day at the combine = him being immature?

Kind of sounds silly to me.

Yeah, I figured saying pick him up in the 9th or 10th round... or him going back to school for 2 more years... or the "/SensibleChiefFan" would kind of give that away.

**dirk digler** · 02-22-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

Def not something to hang his hat on Dirk.

Yeah but I have a feeling he will light it up on USC's pro day and then he will be back in the mix.

MIAdragon · 02-22-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Yeah but I have a feeling he will light it up on USC's pro day and then he will be back in the mix.

It could just be the "jitters".

**dirk digler** · 02-22-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kc rush

Yeah, I figured saying pick him up in the 9th or 10th round... or him going back to school for 2 more years... or the "/SensibleChiefFan" would kind of give that away.

Damn I totally missed the /

Sorry about that

**Tribal Warfare** · 02-22-2009, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

I dissagree, Stafford has almost twice the throws that Sanchez has on the collegiate stage.

Sanchez performed well under "hollywood" scrutiny that allows the maturation process to accelerate. Like I said most of this has to with timing with the WR and the QB. knowing the speed of the WR and how he breaks to the ball.

**dirk digler** · 02-22-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

It could just be the "jitters".

Could be I suppose

**doomy3** · 02-22-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

He did a solid job.

Did you watch him today or are you taking Clayton's word for it? I don't know how anyone who watched him today could say he looked "solid."

I love how Clayton says he threw a catchable ball. Other than when he was throwing the ball well out of bounds, I would agree. His receivers had to slow to an almost stop, but without a defender there to pick the pass off, it was pretty easy to catch as they didn't have to run very fast.

milkman · 02-22-2009, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomy3

Did you watch him today or are you taking Clayton's word for it? I don't know how anyone who watched him today could say he looked "solid."

I love how Clayton says he threw a catchable ball. Other than when he was throwing the ball well out of bounds, I would agree. His receivers had to slow to an almost stop, but without a defender there to pick the pass off, it was pretty easy to catch as they didn't have to run very fast.

This is why TW is hard to take seriously.
He's got tunnel vision.

I still want Sanchez in the draft, but I'm not so biased by my overall opinion that I can't see.

MIAdragon · 02-22-2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

Sanchez performed well under "hollywood" scrutiny that allows the maturation process to accelerate. Like I said most of this has to with timing with the WR and the QB. knowing the speed of the WR and how he breaks to the ball.

Possibly with the throws ( I don’t buy into the “hollwood” bs )

**doomy3** · 02-22-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

This is why TW is hard to take seriously.
He's got tunnel vision.

I still want Sanchez in the draft, but I'm not so biased by my overall opinion that I can't see.

That's why I actually like your takes. You allow for reality instead of just hammering home a point that is senseless.

**DeezNutz** · 02-22-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomy3

That's why I actually like your takes. You allow for reality instead of just hammering home a point that is senseless.

Are you saying he's a SensibleChiefsfan?

Milk, you gonna stand for this shit?

02-22-2009, 07:08 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-3017187	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.''
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