Sunday Morning Quarterback: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:

Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: Backing the Pack for NC State Fans!

Mark Sanchez: Ready to Take Over USC's Offense?

Tiny by SteveMeredith on Comment 37 comments

In comments made following the team's practices in April, University of Southern California (USC) Head Coach Pete Carroll remarked that quarterback Mark Sanchez was "a little more resourceful of an athlete than John David Booty was. JD was more of a pocket guy. Mark is quicker to take off and move. His subtle movements are more quicker to slide and bob and weave in the pocket. He's also quicker to take off and run. John was going to beat you throwing the ball. Mark will take off and make some yards with his legs which is a nice attribute to have."

Translation: Sanchez is a scrambler, which is a must have in the PAC-10 as the USC Trojans annually have a bullseye on their backs.  Don't get me wrong, Booty was a great quarterback for the Trojans and has a chance to be a starter with the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League (NFL).  What makes Sanchez different from Booty is his ability to recognize when a play is breaking down and therefore make a play with his feet.  Football, weather its in college or on the pro level, is very much a quarterback's game.  With that said, quarterbacks in college and on the pro level need to have the ability to scramble if and when their offensive lines give out or a play breaks down.  Sanchez's ability to scramble will make them National Title contenders once again, and probably give Sanchez a chance to be drafted very high in either the 2009 NFL draft (if he chooses to come out early), or the 2010 draft.

All comments on 'Sunday Morning Quarterback' are the views of the individual commenter and do not necessarily reflect the genius of SMQ, Sports Blog Nation, etc.

0 recs | Comment 37 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Sanchez’s ability to scramble will make them National Title contenders once again, and probably give Sanchez a chance to be drafted very high in either the 2009 NFL draft (if he chooses to come out early), or the 2010 draft.

I have a feeling that the 20 five star players are the ones giving them the ability to contend for a national championship.

And the NFL does not want to see scrambling ability as the number one attribute for a quarterback. It is a nice thing to have, but Sanchez’s ability to throw accurately and effectively will be the deciding factor for his quarterbacking career. Sanchez is very talented and it will be interesting seeing him play this year. I will be especially interested on September 13th as the Trojans face the Buckeyes in the Coliseum.

by gahnki on May 22, 2008 5:38 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Trojans vs. Buckeyes

I agree. The USC vs Ohio State game will be interesting. What will be a particularly interesting factor is how the Buckeyes incorporate Terrelle Pryor into their offense.

Good point about the NFL and scrambling ability. I would agree that it’s not the number one factor that NFL scouts look for, but it definitely can help Quarterbacks to be more successful. Just take a look at Ben Roethlisberger’s rookie season, or Vince Young’s rookie season as well. Young was featured on the cover of SI during his rookie season for his ability to make plays with his feet when a play broke down.

Good calls though, I agree with what you said.

Reporting from Southwest PA, I'm Steve Meredith, and this is SB Nation.

by SteveMeredith on May 22, 2008 7:01 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I attended the USC v. Oregon game last year at Autzen.

And I honestly thought that Mark Sanchez was twice the QB John David Booty was for USC. His throwing ability impressed me more than his running. He didn’t look like a scrambler, like you guys mentioned, to me. He looked like a balanced QB that likes the pocket, but could improvise or rollout once in a while. I guess I was just used to seeing mobile QBs out of the gun, so Sanchez seemed more pocket to me.

I’m not sure if a scrambler is a MUST in the Pac-10, but as a Pac-10 guy (as you know), it sure makes games a helluvalot more exciting. Oregon will be a dual-threat QB team, Washington will be for at least 3 more years, and that could be the direction USC or UCLA could be heading towards.

This could be the sprouts of a mobile QB system for USC, but it could also just be a semi-mobile QB with good passing ability and and 4+ stars on his name out of HS.

Sanchez will be good, but I’d call him more balanced-improviser. Ben Roethlisberger or Kellen Clemens style.

by qrsouther on May 22, 2008 7:52 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I agree. USC will simply not go to a pure dual threat quarterback unless they have on of fantastic ability. Semi-mobile is probably the perfect way to describe Sanchez.

Sanchez’s youth is really what kept him from being better than Booty. I have no doubt that Sanchez is a better athlete/talent but Booty had the experience and ran their offense well. If I’m a USC fan I’m quite a bit nervous about an inexperienced Sanchez facing Ohio State as their second game of the year.

by gahnki on May 22, 2008 8:59 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

If I was an SC fan

I’d have felt more comfortable with Sanchez at the helm than with Booty. All the time I hear SC fans whining about how if Booty was in, they would’ve beaten us. I honestly think Sanchez added ~14 points and ~180 yards more to the offense that day than Booty would’ve. Especially their last drive up until the point of his fatal interception (which was less of a bad read and more of a freakishly athletic play by FS Matthew Harper. His second of the game. Pac-10 D-player of the week.)

by qrsouther on May 22, 2008 9:38 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You are completely undervaluing experience here. That is the single most important thing for an effective college quarterback. Just take a look at all of the past quarterbacks for naitonal championship teams. All upperclassmen who may not have been the most talented, but can run a variety of plays and all of them will be run well.

No offense to you, but Oregon’s defense was not equal to what Ohio State’s will be this year. Sanchez is going to face a varied defensive attack that will be a mix of Cover 0 and various zones. I am extremely interested in how it all plays out.

by gahnki on May 23, 2008 4:36 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You're right

No worries about the defense. It’s well known that tOSU is a D-heavy program. Oregon is not and wasn’t last year. No dancing around it.

by qrsouther on May 25, 2008 7:46 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Mobile QB system

Experience is a big factor, I agree. And Sanchez has that Semi-Mobility. Plus, (and this depends on his maturation through the summer), OSU might start using Terrelle Pryor in that duel-QB system. Although I think if they were smart they’d give Pryor some time to learn OSU’s system before throwing him in the game. Pryor is only enrolling at OSU this summer.

Overall I think USC can beat Ohio State, because of those 20 five-star caliber players. But a lot does rest on the inexperienced Sanchez

Steve

by SteveMeredith on May 22, 2008 9:41 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

After witnessing Sanchez, and this is BEFORE his supposed emergence as "the guy" at SC,

I will have to say Sanchez > Boeckman. I think SC wins by 10 or so points over an overrated tOSU squad.

Sorry gahnki…

by qrsouther on May 22, 2008 9:51 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

10 Points?

I’m a Buckeye fan, but I’m realistic. USC presents a huge task for the Buckeyes. Even I, though, think the game is a pick’em. How does USC take their inexperienced offensive line and quarterback (and yeah, I agree that he has a higher ceiling than Boeckman) and beat the nations best defense from a year ago (especially considering the Silver Bullets return 9 starters) by 10 points?

I’ll be the first to say that USC may be the strongest team in the country this year. Predicting a 10 point spread in that game, however, seems to reek of either blatant homerism or intentional disrespect of their opponent. OSU will show up and give USC a game – they may win, they may not. A 10 point line going into the game, however, is just sheer stupidity.

by The Iron Colonel on May 23, 2008 11:06 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I am the farthest from an SC fan as can be

Sans the Pac-10 bias.

I also wasn’t predicting a 10 point spread, I was just thinking something like 30-20 with a relatively close game until SC pulls away.

I’m sorry if I wasn’t balanced enough on my post. I probably came off as a troll about it. I’ll clarify next time and be sure to be more even and compromising with your interests.

by qrsouther on May 25, 2008 7:52 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Boeckman is undoubtedly the better quarterback right now. NFL evaluators have him as an early second round pick with the ability to move into the first. Sanchez is very talented, but he is largely unproven. It take smuch more than a nice arm to be a succesdul

And, I like you man, but this Ohio State team is not overrated at all. The only ones who think that are SEC snobs and people who want to cause a stir. This Ohio State team is by far the best since 2002-2003. The depth and experience is on a near ridiculous level.

by gahnki on May 23, 2008 4:41 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Really?

I was more broadening the overrated point towards your program year after year. Not to take anything away from your Defense, aforementioned.

by qrsouther on May 25, 2008 7:47 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I would like to know exactly when we are overrated?

In 2006 we beat everybody during the regular season. People forget that we played one of the hardest schedule’s in the nation and we demolished everyone. Texas was destroyed and Michigan was our toughest game, but it really wasn’t that close. A late touchdown made it look much closer than it was.

We didn’t show up for the disaster in the desert. There were a myriad number of things that went wrong, but the basic thing was that we didn’t prepare for it at all. Players stayed out late partying; even to one o’ clock at night the day before the game. Troy gained a considerable amount of weight in between the last game and kickoff time. And trust me; if you’d have seen Troy throw or practice in the weeks before the game you would have known it was going to get ugly. The reports from people very close to the program were not favorable at all. And then Teddy breaking his leg on the kickoff didn’t help matters either.

In 2007 we were picked to finish third in the Big Ten and our preseason start was between 11-13 depending on what poll you viewed. We took care of business in every week except for one and other team’s didn’t. If fans of other teams want to say that Ohio State didn’t belong in the game then maybe their teams should have taken care of business. Maybe Georgia should have beaten Tennessee? Maybe USC could have mustered enough firepower to take down that powerhouse Stanford team?

by gahnki on May 25, 2008 10:03 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

This is an area where I have a fair bit of information, but TP already has a playbook with a number of plays designed for his abilites. Ohio State is not wasting time in giving him information to be ready.

by gahnki on May 23, 2008 4:32 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Pryor

Interesting, that might shift the momentum in OSU’s favor.

Steve

by SteveMeredith on May 23, 2008 4:38 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I don’t think Terrelle will play that large of a role in that game. I have no doubt he will receive a few snaps, but I truly believe that Ohio State’s offense is much more dangerous with Boeckman in there, at least this season. Ohio State can run so many more plays and can line up in so many more formations with Boeckman because of his experience.

by gahnki on May 23, 2008 4:43 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I want to know

Is tOSU gonna have Pryor out of the gun like he deserves? I sincerely hope so. I’d be such a waste to run a pro-style offense with all his ability.

by qrsouther on May 25, 2008 7:53 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

He will run out of the gun as Coach Tressel always caters to the abilities of his quarterbacks. I have no doubt that some zone read will be implemented. But Terrelle wants to make it to the NFL. Running purely out of the shotgun does not get quarterbacks ready to succeed at the next level.

by gahnki on May 25, 2008 10:08 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

True

But this is the only level I honestly care about… ;)

by qrsouther on May 26, 2008 2:57 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Perfectly understandable.

by gahnki on May 26, 2008 1:32 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Troy Smith

Smith operated out of the spread quite a bit, especially during the Michigan game in ‘06. That defense was really a Hall-of-Fame awesome group to that point, and Smith ate them up. I thought that was a really impressive gameplan for a ‘game of the century’ situation and outstanding execution. There’s no connection between that quarterback and the one that waddled into the MNCG.

Tressel also spread things out for Boeckman in last year’s championship game, to good effect early on, but Boeckman isn’t Troy Smith and they never settled down into pounding Chris Wells.

by SMQ on May 26, 2008 12:10 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

“waddled” is the perfect word to describe Troy during the disaster in the desert. That game still gives Ohio State fans nightmares.

by gahnki on May 26, 2008 1:35 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Here’s a compilation of the big plays form Ohio State in that game. It truly showcases the diversity of the offense that year. My personal favorite is at the 1:27 mark where we are lined up in a jumbo set with Teddy Ginn at the tight end position.

by gahnki on May 26, 2008 9:40 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

That link is broken, gahnki

You might want to try it as a FanShot.

by SMQ on May 28, 2008 12:06 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I think it was my fault.

Here it is:

Ohio State-Michigan 2006

by gahnki on May 28, 2008 4:22 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ohio State Running Back

There were a few plays where the OSU running back, (correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t that Chris “Beanie” Wells?), really showcased some great speed.

Steve

by SteveMeredith on May 28, 2008 11:47 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Yes that is Wells

And he’s a solid back. Might need some more size, but who am I to put down a speedback?

by qrsouther on May 29, 2008 7:26 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

More size?

Wells is huge: about 6-1, 235. A very complete back, best in the country.

by SMQ on May 30, 2008 12:10 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Also,

He just ran a 4.44 at a testing event for Ohio State in the offseason.

by gahnki on May 30, 2008 12:34 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Are you serious??

Man. I thought he was shorter. He never looked that bulky to me on reels. Then again, rarely does a 235 lb. kid run 40 yards in 4.44 seconds.

by qrsouther on May 31, 2008 11:57 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Sanchez isn't a scrambler

I don’t know where anyone got that idea from.

He’s more mobile than Leinart or Booty though, honestly he’s probably more in the Carson Palmer mold than either of those two. I don’t expect him to have any big rushing games this season, but I do expect him to make a few plays that Booty wouldn’t have because of his mobility.

I also expect his awesome arm strength to make all those deep balls to Ronald Johnson a reality finally.

The poster formerly known as Matt.

by bluemax on Jun 17, 2008 5:20 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Again, semi-mobile

And I never said he was a scrambler. I said he can scramble, as in improvise and think on his feet, that he is not bound to the pocket.

Oh, and hey bluemax. Did you follow me here from LL?

Coach Owens = A Chosen Cow.

by qrsouther on Jun 19, 2008 10:48 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

When I watch Sanchez during games and in practice I feel that he is a better athlete than either Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart or JDB. With that being said, he still has a lot to prove with his arm and how he handles tough situations as pure athleticism will only get you so far.

by sharpie20 on Jun 21, 2008 12:52 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Search

User Tools

College Football Coverage
Start posting on Sunday Morning Quarterback »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Post_icon New FanPost All FanPosts Carrot-mini

Recent Posts

Official Partner of CBS Sports