USC quarterback Mark Sanchez part of Cleveland Browns' draft mystery
by Mary Kay Cabot/Plain Dealer Reporter
Wednesday April 22, 2009, 11:38 PM
The Browns didn't invite USC quarterback Mark Sanchez to Cleveland for a pre-draft visit and they didn't send a contingent to Los Angeles to work him out privately.
But that doesn't mean they won't draft him if he's still there at No. 5 during Saturday's NFL draft. In fact, some teams purposely don't invite their coveted player to town to throw other teams off.
Besides, Browns coach Eric Mangini interviewed Sanchez at the NFL combine in February, attended his Pro Day at USC and spent plenty of time picking the brains of USC coach Pete Carroll -- the former Patriots head coach -- about him.
Of course, the Browns would need to have a deal in place for Brady Quinn if they're to tab Sanchez, but at least one draft analyst envisions that happening.
"I've talked to teams that have told me the Browns are actively shopping Quinn," said Rob Rang of nfldraftscout.com. "I've also heard that the Jets [No. 17 pick] are one of the teams that might be interested in trading for him."
One NFL source questioned why the Browns would trade Quinn and draft a quarterback who's started only 16 college games. Studies have shown that quarterbacks with fewer than 30 college starts struggle in the NFL.
"I'm still confident that Brady Quinn is going to be a successful NFL quarterback," said the source. "Right now, he's better than Sanchez because of being around the pro game for two seasons. It would be risky move."
Of course, the Browns' rumored interest in Sanchez could be a smokescreen to spur interest in the pick. Other teams interested are Denver at No. 12, Washington at No. 13 and the Jets. Sanchez also has been mentioned as high as No. 2 to the Rams and No. 4 to the Seahawks. "Some people are saying Detroit [at No. 1] but I don't know," Sanchez said on a conference call Wednesday. "I think [Georgia's Matt] Stafford's got that one locked down."
Meanwhile, Sanchez would be excited about the prospect of playing for the Browns.
"Oh, it would be great," he said. "I know they have a quarterback situation going on there, and hopefully it would be a good competition. Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson are great quarterbacks. [Anderson] was a counselor at the Elite 11 camp I went to my senior year in high school, so I know him pretty well. Brady Quinn I met at the Notre Dame-USC rivalry game. That would be great."
Sanchez said he had 15-minute interview with Mangini at the combine, "but other than that I haven't had much contact with them. Who knows in this whole process? But if Cleveland is my new hometown, that would be great."
Several draft experts, including NFL Network's Mike Mayock, have Sanchez ranked ahead of Stafford.
"I was at both pro days -- Georgia and USC -- and I've watched just about every throw each quarterback has made this year," Mayock said on a conference call. "And the bottom line for me at the quarterback position [is decision-making and accuracy]. I think Sanchez is the most accurate of the three [including Kansas State's Josh Freeman] and in the USC type of offense I can see him making every throw he needs to make at the NFL level.
"He might not have as much arm strength, and he might not be quite as exciting, but at the end of the day, if I've got a top 10 pick and my job's on the line at the quarterback position, I'm taking Sanchez."
Sanchez attributes his rapid climb over the past few weeks to strong interviewing.
"Once teams talk to me, I think they've liked me even more without the helmet on," he said.
What Sanchez lacks in starts, he makes up for in exposure to a pro-style offense. He cited former USC backup Matt Cassel, who excelled in New England last season and will start for the Chiefs.
"[Our offense] really transfers over and teams like to see that," he said. "I've also practiced against a pro-style defense with guys like [brian] Cushing, [Rey] Maualuga, and [Clay] Matthews -- guys who are going to be first-rounders and things like that."
NFL draft analyst Dave-Te' Thomas compares Sanchez to Ben Roethlisberger and writes, "[He] might lack the game experience or incredible arm strength of Matthew Stafford, but he does show a lot of moxie on the field, along with good patience and excellent timing and touch. He needs to be in a strong vertical attack, as he's best throwing downfield and does a great job of anticipating his receivers before they come out of their breaks."
Agree all around. Seriously, what's the point of Crabtree if the D won't be able to make a decent run @ the playoffs anytime soon. Then in 4 years (ala Brayon), the dude walks or commands franchise tag $. I guess I can see it IF he's essentially a lock to evolve into a AJ, Fitz, Wayne type of guy - but I would really prefer the spend most if not all picks on the D side of the ball - w/ a solid RB prospect and maybe someone like Robiske mixed in.My 'out of the box' idea is scrap the 3-4, take Raji, pair him up w/ Rodgers in the middle - and build from the up-front inside out. They could be like the Williams' in MN. A solid D line makes the rest of the D look A LOT better when they're controlling the LoS. I know it's not going to happen, but whoever the take better not bust - or we can add a few years to this rebuild.
sign me up for this idea as well. Could you imagine the different possable defensive line fronts the browns would be able to throw at the oppostion. As the old saying goes the games are won in the trenches.
sign me up for this idea as well. Could you imagine the different possable defensive line fronts the browns would be able to throw at the oppostion. As the old saying goes the games are won in the trenches.
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