About The Quarterbacks

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This post will hopefully address some of the constant questions about next year’s quarterback debate. Right now, Mark Sanchez is considerably ahead of Mitch Mustain in terms of knowing the system and running the offense, which gives him a distinct advantage.
John David Booty enjoyed a similar advantage going into his junior year over Sanchez.
Mustain’s poise, accuracy and mobility make him attractive although he remains raw in terms of USC ``experience.’’ However, he does have a year of playing against SEC opponents and he won’t get nervous as if he’s never played before in his first game.
So Sanchez has the edge now, but in a few months, who knows?

21 Comments

It will come down to who has the most talent and I have never heard anyone say that Sanchez has more talent than Mustain, only that he has more experience in the system. That's all anyone ever says, Sanchez has been around longer, but never that he has more talent.

It will come down to which QB can provide the coaches the opportunity to open up the playbook, and with Sanchez they had to close it when he played those three games. Mustain can open up the playbook and do what they want him to do.

There are several months left until the battle for the QB position and that's more than enough time for Mustain to learn the playbook sufficiently, especially considering he started at Arkansas about six weeks enrolling.

When it comes to talent, Mustain is a highlight reel every day, while Sanchez humiliated himself during the games and continues to do so in practice.

SC'03 Author Profile Page said:

I have to agree, Sanchez made a complete fool of himself against the Ducks Everything that was said about the problems he has had in practice situations the past 2+ years came out in a game situation. Sark openly said that neither he nor Pete cared for a lot of the things Sanchez did and they were forced to close much of the playbook with Sanchez. So there goes the argument that knowing the playbook would help Sanchez; it won't because he is incapable of running it, so a running game has to be emphasized if we are forced to play him.

Mustain is the only hope we have if we want to win national championships again. Without him, it will be a conservative running game and mediocre to poor seasons.

trojnfn72 Author Profile Page said:

Voodoo and SC'03, are you two on glue? It was not all that long ago that people were saying that Booty is much better than Leinart, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I got news for you, Sanchez did not embarrass himself against Oregon, and if did not play against Arizona, SC losses that game. In the Oregon game the problem was the half ass play calling. One more thing, if Mustain was all that, why did he leave Arkansas in the first place? The last thing we need is another southerner with a laid back attitude. Sanchez play fire and intensity, much like Leinart did. The problem with Mustain is if things don't go his way, his mommy will go to the papers and start bitching and moaning, just like she did at Arkansas. If SC is ever going to win another National Championship, then Sanchez will be the man to do it.

Chris Pepper Author Profile Page said:

Sanchez is the successor to Booty. Even Scott Wolf says it. Not sure what else you need. Based on the games I watched I'm excited for next year. Not quite sure why people keep saying such bad things about Sanchez. He's a Trojan and we should be supporting him. We've never seen Mustain do much except hand off to McFadden. Fight on!

First of all, Scott never said any such thing. He said no one knows what will happen in a few months, so don't attribute comments to him that he did not make.

Second, Pete and Sark know the reasons behind why Mustain transferred to USC, so don't provide false information. Of course, if you want to talk about character, should we talk about how Sanchez has been arrested and in jail for raping a student? The LA Times, OC Register, MSNBC, Chicago media, among others, all brought it up again this past month. What about all the other times Sanchez has been in trouble for his off the field activities since coming to USC?

Pete himself said that all the three starts gave Sanchez was "better preparation" for his competition next year for the position.

I think I'll take Pete's word over yours.

Thank you.

uscmike Author Profile Page said:

Sanchez did throw two horrible picks in the Oregon game, but how many sacks did he avoid? Booty would have been sacked numerous times in that game, and probably fumbled the ball away in the process (like the OSU game), or thrown a few picks himself. It should be an interesting battle next year for the QB spot. I still like Sanchez's ability to scramble and make plays.

Sure. Sanchez avoids sacks, but he quits on a play too soon. That is the difference between Booty and Sanchez. Booty is always looking down field, at the second and third level to make a play, Sanchez has not yet learned to do that. It will come with game experience.

I like them both, but I do believe Booty is better.

sureshot32 Author Profile Page said:

A couple of things:

#1: Sanchez has more talent than Mustain. There, now it's been said, and now you can stop saying you've never heard anyone say it. Done and done.

#2: Yes trojnfn72, they are sniffing glue. It could be Elmers, thoughI I think it might be something more powerful like Krazy Glue. It's a little more toxic and much more mind altering.

#3: Talk about false information (or selective use of facts). Sanchez was arrested, yes. He was however, not convicted, nor was he even charged with rape. It's not all that hard to be arrested for doing something you didn't do. You just need someone to say that you did it. After further investigation, prosecutors obviously felt that he either did not do it, or there wasn't nearly enough evidence that said he did it. Ask the Duke Lacrosse team and prosecutor Mike Nifong how easy it is to bring innocent people in for arrest and questioning and then get back to me.

#4: "Booty is always looking down field, at the second and third level to make a play." If by down-field you mean 5 yards, and by second and third level you mean 7 yards and 9 yards respectively, then I concur. But if you meant "down-field" in a literal sense, I cannot agree. Sanchez tries to throw it down-field much more often than Booty does, and while, like your name says I respect your opinion, I have to disagree with you on this point.

So in closing, Sanchez haters will continue to hate and Mustain lovers will continue to have an unhealthy obsession. We as fans can only hope that Sark magically remembers how to coach the quarterback position and that he starts calling plays that vertically stretch the defense. Only then will either Mustain or Sanchez have ice cube's chance of succeeding.

Sureshot

uscmike Author Profile Page said:

"Booty is always looking down field, at the second and third level to make a play...." LOL.

The big knock on Booty (aside from the tipped passes), is that he locks onto one receiver and doesn't look at his second or third option.

Also, on several pass plays in the Oregon game, Sanchez was running for his life just after the snap ... if he stayed in the pocket so as to "not quit on the play" he would have been sacked. If it would've been Booty, he would've been repeatedly sacked. Indeed, Oregon sacked ASU QB Carpenter 9 times! I guess he didn't quit on the play, either.

And Sureshot... "ice cube's chance of succeeding" That is the epitome of mixed metaphor.

USCBUAD92 Author Profile Page said:

Sanchez stares down the receiver from well before the snap and doesn't take his eyes off until after the throw. Never seen anyone else do it to such a degree at this level. That's why the defense always knows who he is throwing to, which constantly leads to interceptions, batted down passes and incomplete passes. That's high school nonsense and has no place at D1 college football.

So, no, Sanchez can't read defenses and has shown no evidence to the contrary. Those picks at the Oregon game were atrocious and the blame for that loss was 100% on Sanchez.

So either Sanchez is stupid or he simply forgets everything he is thought in practice the moment he gets into a game.

Oh, and sureshot, based on your way of thinking, OJ Simpson is innocent, the men who beat Reginald Denny on camera are innocent, and Bill Clinton still wants to know what the definition of "is" is...

El Capitán Author Profile Page said:

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El Capitán Author Profile Page said:

The usual suspects are at it again. Nifong went to jail and lost his law license. Allegations proved in court lead to convictions. Now you damn usual suspects/Mark haters does that sink into your moronic prejudiced heads?
USCBUAD92 you are NOT man enough to call Mark Sánchez stupid to his face. You are too quick to judge and to put him down. Your unsportsmanlike name calling is uncalled for, but hell what do you know?
Thank you

Wanger Author Profile Page said:

I have noticed the same thing about Sanchez - always locks on the receiver before, during, and after the snap. That is bush league, Pop Warner nonsense. No wonder he always gets intercepted or batted down. The defense always know what he is going to do.

That is just idiotic play on Sanchez's part and if he hasn't learned by now, he is not going to be able to learn by next spring. He's simply not equipped to play at this level and those INTs against Oregon, as well as his other INTs this season were due to his throwing into coverage. Dumb.

Sanchez is not an intelligent person or player and he can't undo his problems by the spring. This is much deeper.

El Capitán Author Profile Page said:

Wanger:
You are a bona fide MM supporter/Sánchez hater with a selective memory. JDB locked on Davis VS WA and Stanford. Didn't JDB throw five INT's VS WA and against Stanford? Didn't Casey Dick Arkansas starting QB replace MM after three INT's? The majority of bloggers here concluded that Mark's intangibles are far better than JDB. It is "idiotic"on your part to state that Mark Sánchez is NOT "equipped to play at this level". Save your ridiculous BS for somewhere else. Like USCBUAD92 you are NOT man enough to tell Mark that he's NOT intelligent to his face. You're a damn coward hiding behind a keyboard, boy.

rollyj Author Profile Page said:

1) JD Booty had a broken finger, which is why he had more interceptions in the Stanford game than any other time in his career. That's his excuse for the INTs, not lack of talent or inability to read defenses.

2) You do more harm to Sanchez than any good. You are constantly portraying him as a thug who will physically attack anyone who says anything negative about him, thus providing more ammunition for his detractors. If you are the kind of person who is defending and supporting Sanchez, then those who do not support him must be loving the fact that you always portray him as a violent criminal who will cause physical damage to others.

3) Sanchez cannot read defenses. He has never done anything but lock down on a receiver. He is gives up on the pocket almost immediately.

4) Sanchez cannot make any progression reads. Prove me wrong on that. You can't.

El Capitán Author Profile Page said:

rollyj:
1. You can easily make excuses for JDB. How about the two INT's against WA? How about his INT's whenever he took over for Leinart?
2. I did NOT "portray as a thug". I simply said that the cowards here are calling him stupid and unintelligent. That is far from negative that is personal and unsportsmanlike. That is sanctimonious bool$#*T on your part. Furthermore you are twisting garbage to justify facts.
3. Locking on one receiver? Turner and Hazelton had more catches in three games with Mark Sánchez than with Booty in six games. He brought the best out of them. Look how many passes JDB completed to Davis. Don't BS with the receiver locking.
Nice try...

azbet Author Profile Page said:

Oh my, look what we have here! The captain was humiliated and embarrassed by everyone before so she changed her name to door knob. Then she was humiliated and embarrassed yet again, so changed it back to the captain. Jesus, Luis!

To attack Booty for INTs while defending Sanchez is a level of stupidity you could only expect from someone without much of an education, who has nothing to do with USC yet bothers the good Trojans on this blog with her gibberish. Sanchez = turnover machine.

Sanchez is notorious for locking on one receiver which is why he is so easy to figure out for defenders. Booty at least provides a second or third option in such situations.

Agree that Sanchez has no ability to read progressions. Nothing whatsoever.

I had nothing against Sanchez before the captain/doorknob started portraying him as a violent criminal who will physically attack those who criticize him to his face. If he does attack someone again, as the captain/doorknob says he will, he will end up in jail. He won't be able to get away with a violent crime this time, especially since his supporter is telling everyone that they will be attacked if they say something to Sanchez's face.

Oh my!

JamesW99 Author Profile Page said:

Sanchez constantly throws into coverage and PC has given him an earful about that in practice. Then he goes out and does it again. If that does not prove he lacks intelligence, how else can it it be justified?

El Capitán Author Profile Page said:

gillyqueen is back, that is all I have to say to these classless prejudiced idiots.

El Capitán Author Profile Page said:

This thread offensive geniuses are the only ones to continuously bash Mark Sánchez. I meant to say that this IS the only blog that is ANTI Mark Sánchez.Other blog members have NOT said one word that Sánchez is a bad QB, stupid, unintelligent, etc. On the contrary he has been praised for his intangibles.

azbet you are an eff*ng idiot. Prove that I am uneducated then talk or else keep that fecal content off your damn loud mouth. You don't know $#*T about me rectum hole. The fact that I did NOT attend USC does NOT give you the right to tell me NOT to root for USC or to tell what the hell to do. You are just a damn coward hiding behind a keyboard. Be thankful I don't live in the LA area. You and the rest of these moron don NOT know how in the hell to read. I did NOT portray Mark Sánchez as a violent criminal NOR did I say he will attack you. ONLY you cowards behind a damn keyboard talk big. Talk big in front of anybody then you're big morons.
I did NOT attack JDB. JDB threw the INT's>FACT they speak by themselves. Finally take your she into your rectum hole.

El Capitán Author Profile Page said:

I need to correct myself.
azbet:
You and the rest of these prejudiced morons do NOT know how to read.
Thank you

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Scott Wolf has covered USC for the Daily News since 1996. A USC graduate, he covered his first Trojan game in 1984 for the Daily Trojan. Scott is known as the "scourge of the Internet message boards," according to radio host Petros Papadakis. Despite this moniker, there's no truth to the rumor he takes pleasure in antagonizing the "Internet geeks."

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This page contains a single entry by Scott Wolf published on November 8, 2007 10:19 PM.

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El Capitán on About The Quarterbacks: I need to correct myself. azbet: You and the rest of these prejudiced ...

El Capitán on About The Quarterbacks: This thread offensive geniuses are the only ones to continuously bash ...

El Capitán on About The Quarterbacks: gillyqueen is back, that is all I have to say to these classless preju ...

JamesW99 on About The Quarterbacks: Sanchez constantly throws into coverage and PC has given him an earful ...

azbet on About The Quarterbacks: Oh my, look what we have here! The captain was humiliated and embarra ...

El Capitán on About The Quarterbacks: rollyj: 1. You can easily make excuses for JDB. How about the two INT' ...

rollyj on About The Quarterbacks: 1) JD Booty had a broken finger, which is why he had more interception ...

El Capitán on About The Quarterbacks: Wanger: You are a bona fide MM supporter/Sánchez hater with a selectiv ...

Wanger on About The Quarterbacks: I have noticed the same thing about Sanchez - always locks on the rece ...

El Capitán on About The Quarterbacks: The usual suspects are at it again. Nifong went to jail and lost his l ...

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