Let’s take a break for Piolipalooza for a moment and talk quarterbacks. Here’s the deal; I think Sam Bradford is grossly overrated and I am not at all convinced that Matt Stafford is going to be anything special either. The quarterback I like? Jason Whitlock’s Jeff-George-in-training Nate Davis? No. USC’s Mark Sanchez.
There’s just something about that kid. I get the same feeling about Sanchez as I did about Matt Ryan. It’s not just that I think he has the most potential, as all the athletic gifts are there. It’s his personality. I can see him going in there and commanding respect from the other 10 players in the huddle. I can see him leading late-game drives. He has poise and fire that I just don’t see from any of the other top college QB prospects out there right now. I also think playing in L.A. at USC prepares him for almost anything he could encounter in the NFL. Lots of media, even more pressure.
The problem is that with just over 24 hours to go, Sanchez is still undecided. Here’s hoping that he throws his name in. This is a guy I definitely, definitely have interest in. I think we could orchestrate a trade and get him a little later than Bradford and Stafford as well, maybe in the teens. But I could also see him rising as well.
On to some non-football notes on Sanchez. I also think Bradford and Stafford are every bit as goofy as Jay Cutler and Phillip Rivers. It would be nice to have someone who’s kind of suave back there, someone who you’re not embarrassed to sport their jersey. I’d rock the Sanchez. You wouldn’t catch me dead in a Croyle or Huard jersey. I mean, from Broadway Joe to Joe Cool to Tom Brady, aren’t quarterback’s supposed to be cool? Plus, it would be awesome to say we hit the Broncos with the Dirty Sanchez, wouldn’t it? All of this has nothing to do with me liking him, it’s just a little bit of extra sauce slapped on the slab of ribs.
We should know in the next 36 or so whether he is in or out.
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He identifies with the culture so intensly I see him staying another year. What about his legal problems? If we wouldnt be heading for another LJ situation, I like him. Dirty Sanchez thats hilarious.
I like the kid as well. He has the kind of toughness(mental and physical) its hard to find in Qb’s these days. After watching that video….I really like this kid. He looks a little like Brett Favre when he steps up and slings the ball. Only problem is can we get him in round 2? I really think we need to go with Aaron Curry or Ray Maualugawith our first pick, possibly trade down. We need bigtime help in our front 7, LB’s specificly. Depending on what Pioli does to our defensive scheme will determine who we draft.
I’d rather see Sanchez than Cassell. Young and athletic, and a proven winner. Bradford reminds me a bit of Joey Harrington.
‘Sanchez is expected to announce today or Thursday whether he will stay or turn pro.’
http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-usc-football14-2009jan14,0,429029.story
haha I like Sanchez, and would definitely run with Dirty Sanchez as the new saying.
Man, did you really just leave out “Lenny the Cool?” The shame.
How many QBs that left school early to enter the draft have actually succeeded in the NFL? How many who have done so had to wait at least a year before they were taking NFL snaps on a regular basis? I think those are important questions to ask because it seems to me QB is the one position where college experience and overall maturity matter a lot.
Don’t get me wrong, Sanchez ranks very high on my list. I just feel that guys like him, Bradford, McCoy, Stafford, etc can benefit a bunch by finishing out their college careers. When a QB leaves early, I think in just about every case you have to consider the guy a “development project.” Josh Freeman to me is the perfect example – I don’t blame him at all for leaving when he did but I think he is a guy who, given time, could succeed in the NFL. He’s just not ready to do so yet.
Dirty Sanchez can sling the thing. I liked what I was watching and how well he moved in the pocket. It really seemed like he knew where everyone was going to be. He fools alot of people on his pump fakes.
I like the Guy but I don’t know what to say on how to get him or if we should.
Fire Gunther now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My Stepdad is a Charger fan, yeah i know! But heres where the story gets good. His last name is Sanchez. I’d buy him a Chiefs Sanchez jersey, then i know he wear it!
oh, forgot to mention hes a diehard USC fan!
I’d take Sanchez at #3. is franchise QB worth taking a #3? YEs! If he stays 1 more year in college, hell be the #1rated QB, so we might s well take him now, so we dont lose him!
Am I the only one concerned about his off field probelms?
I am concerned about his lack of experience.
Randy – Based on what I’ve read about the supposed “sexual assault” incident, I’d say Sanchez’ “off field” problems are completely overblown. The whole situation comes off as pretty typical of what goes on in college dorms all the time. I think chica just decided to grab a little attention for herself (and maybe a little money to go along with it – or so she thought anyway) several months after the alleged incident took place. For me, there’s no “there” there on this one. Also, it happened like 3 years ago and I haven’t heard about anything similar since . . .
while i agree that it would be nice to have sanchez i think that the crabtree plan was better. while thigpen isnt as much as a sure thing than sanchez, i think that if we had 2 explosive wideouts in bowe and crabtree and then tony g at tight end taht would dramatically change the outlook of the team.
i dont think we should go with a qb in the first round no matter what, i think that if we go for best available player then crabtree is an excellent option. if we draft based on needs i like orakpo or possibly even trading down to a lower first round pick in order to gain picks and possibly get a mlb.
while thigpen is possibly a risk, i like what ive seen out of him. hes essentially now a 1 year player and look at what he was doing towards the end of the season. he was great in the close games and though we didnt win them, to be honest with ourselves id rather have a higher pick than a week 17 win over the bengals.
my first choice would be crabtree if we go with best available and if we go based off needs i like orakpo
Living in So Cal and seeing more of the local press, I can say without hesitation, Mark Sanchez is not ready for the NFL. He does have some major off the field issues which are unfinished. On the field he needs more work on his accuracy and another year to demonstrate he is durable. I hope for his sake he stays in college one more year.
Larry, you a USC fan?
I never said pick Mark Sanchez third, mind you. I think we could trade up and potentially grab him in the teens should he declare. Probably cost us a third and a future first. But if we think he’s the guy, and I really like him, then he’d be worth it.
Adam,
I follow both USC and UCLA as the local college teams but prefer the Chiefs and the Pro game as far as football is concerned. It tough to get info on any other football besides USC and UCLA as they are the only game in town. Personnally I prefer Mizzou as far as football goes.
I used to live in L.A., and am moving back out there soon. For some reason, I’m always working or doing stuff on Saturdays, so I usually watch the night games if any at all college wise. I found myself watching a lot of Texas here in Austin, but also a lot of Pac-10 football since I got so accustomed to the conference living out there, so naturally USC. There’s something about Sanchez that I just love. Can’t totally put my finger on it, but I think he could be special.
At the same time, you obviously have watched him and have your concerns, so I’ll keep that in mind.
And you prefer Mizzou? YUCK!
I don’t know what it is about my home here in Los Angeles, but we are KC west or something. I know a lot of KC fans out here and actually had a discussion over at arrowheadpride with another bunch of LA Chiefs fans.
Anyhow, eventhough I live in L.A., you can count me as an SC hater (Cal Bears fan). That said, from what I have seen from Sanchez, I am impressed. I think he could use another year in college, and if he comes out, I certainly don’t think of him as a year one started a la Flacco and Ryan. But I see the same thing you do with him Adam: intangibles. He seems to know when to step up in the pocket, he goes through his progressions well, he’s not gonna take it down and run with it but he can move enough to create opportunities downfield. He also has that “it” factor: leadership, charisma, swagger. He is not the most NFL ready right now, but I project him to be the most NFL-able of all the college QBs right now. (although freshman Jachovy Harris of Miami impressed the hell outta me in the Emerald Bowl, he might grow into a star too)
Okay, I did a little research and have now come up with a list of names of highly-touted QBs who declared early over the last 10 drafts:
Tim Couch
Michael Vick
Quincy Carter
Rex Grossman
Ben Roethlisberger
Alex Smith
Aaron Rogers
Vince Young
JaMarcus Russell
There’s only 2, maybe 3 names on that list who had successful rookie seasons and about twice as many on there who make me want to run far, far away from selecting an underclassmen QB in the 1st round.
Fast forward to 2009, a bad year in of itself for drafting QBs, and we already have 3 notable guys who have declared early and probably more to come.
There are no Matt Ryans in this draft. Just because we need to add a QB (or two) to the roster is no reason to start believing the next Ben Roethlisberger is just sitting out there waiting for us to take him.
Intangibles. “It” factor. Exactly, Sudden! Exactly. I don’t think he’s the most ready to go, that would probably be Stafford, but he’s got way, way more upside than Stafford if you ask me. With Thiggy, we can afford to wait.
I’ll be back out there, presumably for good, in a few months. We’re going to have to have an AA West chapter in L.A. or something. Lots of Chiefs fans out there, and we all gotta stick together trapped between Chargers and Raiders country.
What I’ve found out both due to my involvement with AA and my travels, however, is that there are a lot of Chiefs fans everywhere. And if you are rocking Chiefs stuff they will say what’s up.
Double D,
I’m telling you, there is something about this kid. People were saying the same thing last year, and now they want to revise their statement after witnessing Ryan, and to some degree, Flacco, rip it.
Vick, Big Ben and Rogers are/were good QBs, and Young and JaMarcus still have time. There’s a good chance that at least four out of nine will turn out. Not bad odds, really.
I forsee Sanchez being the Cutler to Bradford and Stafford’s V.Y. and Leinart. Catch my drift?
First off, you know I was somebody who was extremely high on Ryan last year. The kid single-handedly carried BC on his back. He’s the stuff franchise QBs are made of – he was also senior when he entered the draft I might add.
Rogers & Russell did not start their rookie seasons – i.e., development projects. And I’m sorry, Vick has to be considered a bust regardless of his talents (maturity factor???)
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not down on Sanchez, the kid is extremely impressive. I’m just saying the extra year of school will benefit him and whoever ends up with him. Despite Sanchez’ “it” qualities, I highly doubt he will beat Thigpen out of the starting job next season. I’m a staunch believer that 1st round picks should start immediately and so having a kid like Sanchez holding a clipboard his rookie season sounds like a wasted pick to me.
Personally I see Freeman as the archtypical development project if that’s the way you want to go. The kid has amazing physicals – just needs the right situation to ripen those skills – Aaron Rogers style. He oughta come pretty cheap too I’d think.
i’d take sanchez in the 3rd rd or freeman from kstate. no way do you take this guy in the first 2 rds. dd was right about qbs that leave early. rbs, ols, or dts suceed leaving early not qbs
Sanchez is coming out
Here comes the Dirty Sanchez
It’s official – Sanchez has announced that he intends to enter the ‘09 draft. I won’t be surprised though if, just like fellow USC alum Matt Leinart did a few years back, he changes his mind during the 72 hour window. I don’t think NFL scouts are going to be all that eager to risk a high draft pick on a guy whose biggest claim to fame so far is one spectacular Rose Bowl showing. USC is in a great position to win it all next year – coming back and doing that, more than anything, will help his draft stock.
I hope he does go back, but just so I don’t have to endure the thousands of super original ‘Dirty Sanchez’ comments we’re headed for.
I,ve agreed with you a lot more then I haven’t but on this one I whole heartedly agree with you and he just entered the draft!
Years played as a starting QB in college:
Ben Roethlisberger 3
Vince Young 2 1/2
Michael Vick 2
Tim Couch 2 1/2
Rex Grossman 3
Alex Smith 2+
Aaron Rogers 1 1/2
JaMarcus Russell 2
Mark Sanchez 1
As much as I like Sanchez, I don’t believe any NFL team, barring injury, would be willing to make him their starting QB in his rookie season. He’s too inexperienced and that makes him a development project and thus not worthy of a first round pick. I truly hope, for his own sake and for the sake of the game, he changes his mind.