Fighting On to the NFL

Written By: Ronny Dhillon

USC Trojans QB Mark Sanchez made it official Thursday that he would declare for the NFL draft.



Did he make the right choice? While many criticized his decision, I for one think he made the right choice. The 2008 season was one to remember for Sanchez. He threw for over 3,200 yards, had a passer rating of 164.6, and threw 34 TD passes. Sure Sanchez never led his team to a National Championship like former Trojan QB and one-time high school teammate Matt Leinart, but Mark did win a Rose Bowl and had a record of 14-2 as a starter.

But perhaps the biggest reason why I think he made the right choice to leave SC was the fact that Sam Bradford decided to come back to Norman for another year. Many believed Bradford was the clear cut #1 pick in April’s NFL Draft, but now it looks like a two man race between Sanchez and Georgia’s Matthew Stafford. When looking at the teams among the top in the draft, it looks like Detroit at #1 and Kansas City at #3 are the most likely to take a QB.

So clearly you can see why Mark Sanchez decided to turn pro. But USC coach Pete Carroll doesn’t quite agree:



Really Carroll? If you ask me, I think Pete Carroll sounds a bit selfish here. No coach would publicly say they don’t think his player is NFL ready. NFL scouts were watching and that speech by Carroll surly won’t help Sanchez during the draft process.

Pete Carroll has a stable of quarterbacks to try to replace Sanchez next season:

Mitch Mustain: This former Gatorade and EA Sports National High School Football Player of the Year was the top QB recruit in 2005. After one year at Arkansas, Mustain had a falling out and left for sunny California.

Aaron Corp: He was the 3rd best QB in the 2007 class and a former 5-Star recruit. Corp saw action in 2 games this season completing 2 of 4 passes for 14 yards.

Matt Barkley: Some say he’s the best quarterback prospect this decade. In 2007 Barkley became the first junior to win the Gatorade High School Football Player of the Year Award.

So although USC can always reload at the quarterback position and succeed in the college game, the same can’t be said about how they perform at the next level. When looking at the last two QB’s to stay four years and then go pro, the number’s don’t lie.

Matt Leinart decided not to enter the NFL Draft back in 2005, even though he was a lock to the #1 pick. Instead the next year he fell to the 10th pick and some say lost about $40 Million. Leinart has still yet to do anything for Cardinals and sits on the sidelines while veteran Kurt Warner steals the spotlight in Arizona.

Another QB from Southern Cal who has yet to do anything in the NFL is John David Booty. After slipping in the draft to the 5th round to the Vikings, Booty couldn’t see time on the field even though the two men in front of him were Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte are not what you call studs under centre.

If you were to ask me whether I think Mark Sanchez will turn out more like Leinart and Booty or a Pro-Bowler like former Trojan Carson Palmer, I’d say Palmer. The main reason is his arm strength and ability to move around the pocket, something the two predecessors lacked.

I predict Sanchez will be drafted 3rd overall by the Kansas City Chiefs because of Scott Pioli, KC’s new GM. Remember it was Pioli who saw something in Matt Cassell, another Trojan QB with limited experience.

As your school song goes, “Fight On” Mark and start proving your critics and coach Pete Carroll wrong on Sundays.