Clayton: Confident Sanchez has solid showing - Page 5

**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.''

Mecca · 02-22-2009, 10:37 PM

This is why guys don't throw at the combine and get advised not to.

milkman · 02-22-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomy3

True, but it is just as absurd to say he looked solid today. If we are just judging Sanchez on his performance today, he failed. Luckily, that's not the case, but it doesn't excuse his pisspoor performance today.

Exactly.

Well said.

Mecca · 02-22-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

Exactly.

Well said.

The only thing that will annoy me about this is the people that will rip him and say this costs him spots and yadda yadda are the same people that will say Jamarcus Russell sucks, you have to pick a side on whether you think the combine matters to QB's.

Personally I think the combine means very little to QB's.

**doomy3** · 02-22-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

The only thing that will annoy me about this is the people that will rip him and say this costs him spots and yadda yadda are the same people that will say Jamarcus Russell sucks, you have to pick a side on whether you think the combine matters to QB's.

Personally I think the combine means very little to QB's.

Jamarcus Russell does suck. What the hell does that have to do with anything?

milkman · 02-22-2009, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

The only thing that will annoy me about this is the people that will rip him and say this costs him spots and yadda yadda are the same people that will say Jamarcus Russell sucks, you have to pick a side on whether you think the combine matters to QB's.

Personally I think the combine means very little to QB's.

As I said elsewhere, the thing that matters most is his performance in games.

How he does on the Wonderlic and in interviews are the real important tests for him at the combine, as Hamas points out.

The performance in the combines on the field might raise questions, but he can answer those in his pro day work out and with his tape in games.

Mecca · 02-22-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomy3

Jamarcus Russell does suck. What the hell does that have to do with anything?

He looked like a god throwing at the combine...that's the point.

Quesadilla Joe · 02-22-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

most of that stuff is timing with the WR's and the QB, knowing the speed of the WR and how he breaks. Which is why the Stafford didn't throw.

http://www.nfl.com/combine/workouts Mayock says that scouts and coaches don't care about that. They are looking for the fundamentals like footwork, how they hold the ball, and how strong their arm is.

**doomy3** · 02-22-2009, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

He looked like a god throwing at the combine...that's the point.

So, someone can't say that Russell sucks and that Sanchez potentially hurt himself today?

milkman · 02-22-2009, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomy3

So, someone can't say that Russell sucks and that Sanchez potentially hurt himself today?

I think the most you can say is that Sanchez didn't help himself to move ahead of Stafford.

**Tribal Warfare** · 02-22-2009, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutler7624

http://www.nfl.com/combine/workouts Mayock says that scouts and coaches don't care about that. They are looking for the fundamentals like footwork, how they hold the ball, and how strong their arm is.

correct, which is why individuals shouldn't go apeshit that a certain QB does a good or bad job at the event.

Mecca · 02-22-2009, 10:52 PM

I didn't think Sanchez was awful or great I thought he was pretty much right in the middle...he showed good fundamentals and feet but missed on some throws and there was some bad timing going on.

It wasn't an awe inspiring performance but I didn't think it was anything that had a red flag in it.

**doomy3** · 02-22-2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

I think the most you can say is that Sanchez didn't help himself to move ahead of Stafford.

This is most likely true, however if he doesn't look considerably better at his pro day, I think some serious red flags will be raised.

milkman · 02-22-2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

correct, which is why individuals shouldn't go apeshit that a certain QB does a good or bad job at the event.

But, it has to be a concern that he didn't display the arm strength that most of us that like Sanchez knows he has.

He didn't hurt himself as much as some people think, but neither did he help himself.

Mecca · 02-22-2009, 10:55 PM

I don't really think it's possible for him to surpass Stafford, Stafford is the one with the jawdropping natural ability, all of Sanchez big plusses over Stafford are things that aren't shown in workouts.

**doomy3** · 02-22-2009, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

I don't really think it's possible for him to surpass Stafford, Stafford is the one with the jawdropping natural ability, all of Sanchez big plusses over Stafford are things that aren't shown in workouts.

Will you at least concede that he needs to throw the ball MUCH better at his pro day to realistically be a candidate at #3? I just can't see Pioli drafting this guy if he throws like that again.

02-22-2009, 07:08 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-3007187	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: 43,454

02-22-2009, 10:37 PM	#61
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-722950	This is why guys don't throw at the combine and get advised not to.
Posts: 115,380

02-22-2009, 10:52 PM	#71
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-722950	I didn't think Sanchez was awful or great I thought he was pretty much right in the middle...he showed good fundamentals and feet but missed on some throws and there was some bad timing going on. It wasn't an awe inspiring performance but I didn't think it was anything that had a red flag in it.
Posts: 115,380

02-22-2009, 10:55 PM	#74
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-722950	I don't really think it's possible for him to surpass Stafford, Stafford is the one with the jawdropping natural ability, all of Sanchez big plusses over Stafford are things that aren't shown in workouts.
Posts: 115,380