Why I Believe Mark Sanchez Should Start This Saturday

 

Let me first say that I am a huge fan of Pete Carroll and in no way believe that he's incompetent.  The following is merely my opinion on the hot topic of discussion at this minute and is not intended to imply anything other than what is written.  Also my assumption is that we are striving for a NC and nothing less.  With that said, here are my reasons for believing Mark Sanchez should start this Saturday:

1.  The Offense Needs a Leader/Playmaker Over Experience/Efficiency

• John David Booty likely knows the offensive playbook in greater depth than Mark Sanchez; he also probably makes more mature decisions during practice and shows greater accuracy, but none of these things help solve the problem the offense currently faces.  The fact is, we have a line that is battling through injuries and struggles greatly at times in pass protection and a WR corp that lacks confidence and is on an entirely different page than our QB.  You can't open up the playbook if you can't execute basics; experience and mature decisions mean nothing if you can't avoid pressure.  Here's a nice quote from Jeremy Hogue at WeAreSC.com:

I think JD continually shows that – when rattled with pressure – his decisions are not good, and with his limited mobility, he needs more help than this offense can currently give him.  He is not a guy who can play pitch and catch with receivers when things break down and they aren’t where they are supposed to be.  So while JD may be the best QB for us behind our normal, healthy offensive line and a strong running game, the mobility of a Mark Sanchez at this point – I believe – gives the Trojans an offensive difference it sorely needs.

And that brings me to my point:  this offense needs a leader and a playmaker at QB more than it needs experience and efficiency.  Mark will likely throw more INTs and at times make less mature decisions than JDB, but he can also make a play when the O-Line misses an assignment and remain poised and confident in the face of pressure - something Booty has proven unable to do.   Here's a quote from Stewart Mandel:

"While other quarterback prospects may have more raw ability, Sanchez is as polished as they come in terms of his mechanics and decision-making. What's most striking to observers, though, is his poise and maturity."

Anyone that followed Mark's career at MVHS knows that the standout quality in this kid is his leadership and confidence.  I remember watching the '05 Cali-Florida game and marveling at Mark's cool demeanor and ability to take command of the offense.  He made quick assertive calls in the huddle and walked up and down the sideline encouraging teammates and going over plays with his receivers.   That is the type of leader we need in this offense, a player that can bring confidence to a young WR corp and injured O-Line and at times carry them on his back. 

What is the risk of starting Mark?  We have the biggest cushion of any school in the nation (minus LSU) in our defense; if any school can start a new QB mid-season it is USC.  To say that starting JDB with a struggling O-Line is significantly less risky is completely baseless to me when you consider UCLA, Washington, and Stanford; compound that with the fact that Oregon, Cal, and ASU are all away and they all see some blood.  With Arizona and Notre Dame next on the schedule, THIS is the time to make a change. 

2.  A Change is Needed for the Pollsters

• Whether you like to acknowledge or not, a large part of this team's future is held in the hands of the pollsters.  I don't believe in inane mantras such as, "Let's just play and let the chips fall as they may" when applied to rankings.  Do we have full control?  Of course not, but it doesn't mean we have no control whatsoever.  Everyone knows SC is as talented as they come, but they also know that John David Booty is FAR from an elite QB and as Stewart Mandel put it, "is hurting his team more than he's helping."

To quote Stewart again, we are now in "crisis mode" and when I think of real-life crises, almost always the 1st step taken is one of reassurance and showing some semblance of control.  Starting Mark Sanchez gives this team a new starting point, something the pollsters will mark as the catalyst for a rejuvenated Trojan team.  It splits the season into two and brings back credibility into the team, which means everything in the polls. 

3.  What Happened to Competition?

• A lot of SC fans take pride in the fact that SC is modeled on a meritocratic system, so why is JDB granted immunity?  He has played 4 underwhelming-to-awful games out of 5 this season and played a major part in a loss that literally 0% (based on fantasy pick'em) of fans predicted would happen.  If that doesn't cause a player to be benched then I ask what does?

With a depth chart filled with All-Americans, competition should be fierce, yet I see Pete naming JDB the starter and refusing to even consider a change before watching a week of practice.  Why is it that Steve Spurrier, Frank Beamer, Bobby Bowden, etc. have all changed their starting QBs for poor play (sometimes due to a single quarter), yet at the school known for competition, we repeatedly vouch for JDB's poor or average play?  It makes no sense and reduces the validity of the mantra that has played such a huge part in our recruiting/game success. 

Expectations are high and they should be with the amount of talent we currently have on our roster.  People talk about SC's great tradition yet are willing to sit back and accept the status quo, and even worse criticize those that don't?  This is a pivotal point in SC's future and decisions made this week can be the difference between a NC and a Holiday Bowl.  If there is any time for fans to apply pressure on the coaching staff it is now.  In the meantime I would love to hear your opinions so please comment away...

Comments

[Trojan]

This is the best commentary of its type that I have read...thanks for going long on thoughtful and short on vitriol

[Defender90]

I would hope PC and the staff are open-minded in practice this week about both testing JDB's hand and letting Sanchez get some reps with the first team. I think it would also be super if maybe the receivers could work on actually catching the balls that bounce off their chests, because that makes any qb's job tougher. In all the Booty-bashing, I don't think enough has been made of that. If Turner, Ausberry, Hazelton, et al caught more of the easily catchable passes, ostensibly we wouldn't have such tight games the past 2 weeks, and it would also help the passing game find a rhythm.

I can't buy into some of the assumptions listed about Sanchez (he can make a play when the O-line misses an assignment, he's less likely to respond to pressure) because I haven't seen enough of him in real-game experience to know. I don't think what Stewart Mandel saw in him 2 years ago in hs is particularly relevant, either. I'm open to the possibility - just saying.

I think asking questions like this is perfectly understandable (and necessary), particularly within the fan base. However, I am not a fan of the booing your own team and automatically throwing players under the bus mentality. That is NOT what USC represents to me.

[Chuck Ferguson]

If JDB has a broken finger on his throwing hand then he should be out. Step two, start the second string QB. However, MS may not be the answer. Has anyone check his interceptions to completion ratio. He could good, and we're about to find out. SC has not play THAT badly (about 900+ yard in 2 games) especially considering the injuries, 8 or 9 turnovers verses 2 or 3 from the other guys in two games, 20+ penalties for about 250+ yards, throw a few drop passes, THESE ARE THE ISSUES KILLING SC. The other teams have play hard, but SC has literally kept them in the GAME. Next point, its NOT about the NC, its about winning the PAC-10. Its always been that way and it always will be. I've been a fan since the AD wore #20 and thats the way it is. NC are are great and alot fun to watch when it unfolds. Forget all that media hype stuff. Great years don't need to include an NC. After a last minute defeat the great Vince Lombardi told his Packers "real glory is when you get kicked on your ass and you come back".

[not sold]

The QB should be JDB, unless the finger screws with the passes. The only gripe is call plays that utilizes the talent to gain ridiculous yards. It isn't an easy task, but this is the house that PC built.

On the defensive side, throw the house at these guys. Make sure that whatever you did in the previous games is not replayed. Start a whole new package..........

Surprise us please! Come out and demolish Arizona...and get those injured guys healthy.

[AO]

Thanks Trojan

--

"I can't buy into some of the assumptions listed about Sanchez (he can make a play when the O-line misses an assignment, he's less likely to respond to pressure) because I haven't seen enough of him in real-game experience to know. I don't think what Stewart Mandel saw in him 2 years ago in hs is particularly relevant, either. I'm open to the possibility - just saying."

- Well those assumptions can turn out false, but no one can deny that Mark has far greater mobility than JDB, and given our situation, I'd put down a nice sum of money that it would translate to more plays being made from nothing.

Ultimately I base a lot of my argument on the belief that Mark has the "IT" factor. Of course it's no guarantee and is, when you boil it down, a gut feeling, but I also think it's far from being a shot in the dark.

[JF]

I agree -- broken finger sit down. But the analysis here makes no sense. "Mark will likely throw more INTs and at times make less mature decisions than JDB." So you're saying we have backup QB who is just as likely to make the same mistakes as the starting QB you want to bench?!! Weren't the INTs the problems against Washington and Stanford? Did I miss something?

[AO]

JF,

The INTs were PART of the problem; the problem itself was JDB collapsing under pressure. Stanford didn't decide to go into single-coverage almost the entire 2nd half because JDB was throwing INTs, it was because they saw a QB who was obviously rattled and decided not to respect the passing game.

As I mentioned in my post, we don't need an efficient QB with impressive numbers, we just need someone who can execute basic plays and occasionally create something out of nothing when needed. It's choosing steadiness over someone who has high-highs but low-lows.

[LM]

The problem is not John David Booty. The problem is USC's decimated offensive line, awful play-calling (bland, oft ineffective and predictable) that only perpetuates insecurity amongst USC's offense, and a vastly underachieving defense.

If USC goes back to its more aggressive and high-energy, big-play offense -- as in Norm Chow's era -- USC will find that they will be scoring more and not going 3 and out all the time. What happened to picking up 10+ yards on first down? Nowadays, it seems as if USC is usually sweating making 3rd down conversions. That's not a recipe for success -- that's a recipe for disaster. A few recommendations: use the two-back formation (like Bush and White's "Thunder and Lightning" with Joe McKnight and Stafon Johnson, respectively) and start throwing down the field, not screen passes for 5+ yards.

Sanchez is a marvel, but Booty deserves to finish this season as soon as his broken finger allows him to.