SportingNews: Sanchez tops tons of talent
 

Sanchez tops tons of talent

By Russ Lande - SportingNews 13 hours, 22 minutes ago

This story first appeared in Friday’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.

USC coach Pete Carroll might not think quarterback Mark Sanchez, a fourth-year junior, is ready, but NFL scouts and personnel men are happy to see him among the 46 underclassmen to declare for the 2009 NFL draft. In fact, four of the top five picks could be underclassmen, including Sanchez as the No. 1 overall pick.

With predraft workouts having begun this week leading to Saturday’s East-West Shrine Game, Sporting News draft expert Russ Lande, a former NFL scout, provides an updated mock draft (*—denotes underclassmen):

No. 1 Lions. Mark Sanchez*, QB, USC

Sanchez is NFL-ready and has a similar skill set to Matthew Stafford, but does not make the mistakes under pressure that Stafford does occasionally.

No. 2 Rams. Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

Rams officials love Andre Smith’s talent but worry about his weight. Monroe isn’t quite as good a run blocker but is an elite pass protector.

No. 3 Chiefs. Matthew Stafford*, QB, Georgia

Despite Tyler Thigpen’s strong finish and Stafford’s occasional interceptions, GM Scott Pioli should grab a QB to build around.

No. 4 Seahawks Andre Smith*, OT, Alabama

Seattle is desperate for receivers, but Walter Jones is not getting any younger. Smith would start at right tackle in ’09 and then shift to the left side when Jones retires.

No. 5 Browns. Chris Wells*, RB, Ohio State

Don’t believe the rumors of Wells lacking great toughness or work ethic. He will become an NFL franchise back.

No. 6 Bengals. Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas

The Bengals must find a way to pressure the QB. Orakpo is raw but has the physical talent to become a special edge pass rusher.

No. 7 Raiders. Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

The Raiders still need a top-flight left tackle to protect JaMarcus Russell, and Robert Gallery is not the answer.

No. 8 Jaguars. Rey Maualuga, MLB, USC

Maualuga is a violent, aggressive middle linebacker who changes games with his hitting ability, and Jags need someone to replace malcontent Mike Peterson.

No. 9 Packers. B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

The Packers desperately need someone to clog the middle of their run defense.

No. 10 49ers. Josh Freeman*, QB, Kansas State

Freeman is a big, strong-armed quarterback with top athleticism, character and passing tools.

Russ Lande founded GM Jr. Scouting LLC, a football scouting service that analyzes NFL draft prospects for Sporting News.

We should draft Sanchez at the top of the 2nd. /Somebody that will post in this thread.

Suck a bag of dicks, Pete Carroll.

Then trade LJ for two 1sts

This is totally ****ed up. Sanchez is injury prone, and he's only started a handful of games. The odds are totally not in his favor.

If he's there in the 4th, I say we take a shot.

Don't you people remember Ryan Leaf? I don't want one player setting this franchise back for years to come.

Thats not realistic at all we would need to give up LJ and swap 4ths possibly 3rds if they are dragging their feet on the deal.

:doh!:

You took the bait, dude.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha what?

:spock:

Andre Smith isn't a RT. The idea of playing him there for even one season is reeruned.

I'm more shocked by josh freeman in the top ten.

ROFL Come on man you think I was being serious? Croyle might have better trade value than LJ and he can't get through a game without a season ending injury.

I wonder if there will be another OT race in this years draft....hmmm

Sanchez's own coach, someone who has won college championships and coached in the NFL, says that the player isn't ready.

Sorry, I'm going to trust Pete and Gonzo, special emphasis on Tony G--he's the truth--, before I trust anything I read on this board...

I've talked to a lot of 9er fans that want him.....they figured they could get him in the 2 or 3rd though. (they were also all kstate fans so go figure)

I'm gonna **** your mothher SNIGITY NIGITY NOITCH!

You just compared Mark "Eats, sleeps, and breathes football" Sanchez to Ryan ****ing Leaf.

That is ****ing hilarious.

Exactly. That's why we need to avoid him.

They're both quarterbacks.

see, that's the thing. in the first round? maybe he'll sneak into the first round by having one of those workouts that wow scouts--but top ten? I just don't see it. there ARE people that fall in love with a big arm, though.

That's pretty much perfect Chiefs fan logic, actually.

Dude, we'll talk RT's in a second.

ooh, my jungle love... YEAH! oh we, oh we, oh. I think I wanna know ya, know ya, yeah, what?

Wow you were being serious? I just figured you had jumped aboard the sarcasm wagon like everyone else in the thread. I mean the guy had what one injury and didn't miss any game time? People get hurt in practice all the time, doesn't make them injury prone. In fact most players are "injury prone" in that they get hurt, it's just a matter of if they are going to play through the pain or if they are going to let it slow them down that gets them labeled.

DeezNutz is doing the demonpenz type posting UP.

Thats true, case in point...Jamarcus Russell

I caught it. That was a compliment.

Tony G. was at a practice and said that he saw Sanchez's jock pinching his man sack too much on the left side. He was visibly bothered by this and having difficulty continuing.

Sanchez appeared to be fine, though.

Still, the point stands that Mark Sanchez is an oft-injured player. 3rd round? Ok. But my comfort level is more in the 4th-5th range.

Thats it you convinced me! We can't have a QB that is going to have issues with his jock pinching his sack!!! We better get Orakpo, with as big as that dude is, he prolly had some steriod use in the past. That would mean the sack pinching in the jock will be a non-issue so he is a safe pick.

I heard Waters on one of the radio stations today (not sure which one, 610 or 810) saying that he wants Smith drafted @ #3 to play right tackle. I don't know which was more astounding to me: The fact that he wanted a right tackle picked so high, or the fact that he openly dissed McIntosh that badly on the radio (I thought O-linemen were supposed to be pretty tight.)

I thought it was also odd that he admitted that he didn't know who Pioli was before the Chiefs hired him.

Now you're thinking logically.

We value small cack and ballz around here, brah.

Thats just Manny being Man...er Waters being Waters, he says whats on his mind and says it like it is in regards to McIntosh. Wanting a RT at #3 just says he doesn't understand value in the draft.

he's an nfl player, not a grad student at M.I.T.

Damn son, damn!

What in the **** is going on in here?

This.

He's mad as a mother****er about this.LMAO

I'll tell you one thing I know; regardless of which guy we pick, Pioli MUST can Dickie Curl post-haste. The thought of him "developing" Matt or "refining" Mark makes my ****ing skin crawl.

Where are you getting this shit from???

Links? Med Reports? Something? Anything? C'mon man, you're smarter than this.

"Brodie Croyle is the real deal".

"Tyler Thigpen is the real deal". :spock:

ya, that caught me by suprise...

Tony G. is the truth. He's a HOFer. How can we not believe him?

Regarding Croyle, no way should a player lose his job to injury. That's the rule.

My cousin's sister knows the cashier who sold Sanchez the cup that pinched his left testicle.

I don't have a link. I'm sorry.

LMAO;)

Yeah, I'm on board now. A PM forewarning would be nice next time though.

THIS JUST IN:

Tony Gonzales has declared himself "The Real Deal", and will play both Tight End AND Quarterback for the 2009 season!

"I look forward to hitting my favorite target as often as possible this year" Gonzales said in a brief workout Friday morning.

Freeman? Top 10? WTF?

in the words of a few others on here "to the 'ship!"

I've heard some really unflattering things about Freeman. Is this kid really as dumb as some claim him to be? Or are these criticisms more about perception? Perhaps K-State haters? Something else?

Don't know crap about his intelligence. I do, however, question the intelligence of the writer of this article though.

I'm going to have to start copy/cut/pasting my stock Sanchez replies in my efforts to run interference on all of the dumbassery.

These.

This Sanchez shit is the biggest piece of hyperbole, bullshit since Tony Mandrach (sp?).

WTF

ROFL

But I thought his favorite target was the basement at Mi Cocina.

:fire:

That IS one tasty looking menu!