Success of Sanchez will depend on new receivers

By Marc Hudgens  |   Monday, June 16, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

USC Trojans
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!

As everyone knows, all eyes will be on new USC gunslinger Mark Sanchez this season. After starting in three games when now-NFLer John David Booty went down and getting a bit of playing time in three others, it seemed the rising junior was a shoo-in for the 2008 job unless backup quarterback Mitch Mustain came in and simply outshone him.

A lot of pressure has been put on the Mission Viejo, Calif., native, who is expected to get USC its first national championship in four years. Hearing some would lead one to think it’s all on Sanchez.

“The USC fourth-year junior quarterback started three games last season and played just OK,” ESPN.com senior writer Ivan Maisel wrote last month. “Now the Trojans need him to produce.”

Sanchez, who hit 60 percent of his 110 passes for 642 yards and seven touchdowns against four picks, did more than OK, actually; those are great numbers considering he was thrown into the fire and had to start three games after Booty’s injury. To imply he wasn’t productive is simply incorrect.

However, Maisel is right in that Sanchez must produce this season. However, the Trojans will equally depend on a new crop of receivers who must step up and help out their new quarterback. And it’s looking a little sketchy.

Wideouts Patrick Turner and Vidal Hazelton were the cream of the receiving crop when they left high school. Turner, a senior, was Rivals' No. 1-rated receiver in the nation for the 2005 class, while Hazelton, a junior, was the nation’s No. 2 pass catcher for 2006. However, neither received has lived up to expectations for the Trojans; last season, in fact, the two combined for 97 receptions, 1,009 yards and seven touchdowns. Tight end Fred Davis, a current Washington Redskins who was the Trojans’ leading receiver last year, racked up more touchdowns (eight) than the pair and had nearly as many yards.

Sanchez will only be as good as his receivers this season. If Turner and Hazelton don’t live up to their end of the bargain in terms of holding onto the ball and running proper routes, then, Sanchez should not be held responsible.
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

About Marc Hudgens

Marc Hudgens has been with RealFootball365 since 2007, covering college football, specifically Clemson and Oregon. He also writes for SouthernPigskin.com covering the ACC. He enjoys the acidic wit of Hunter S. Thompson, is a freelance graphic designer and has written several screenplays. He ...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report