Sanchez sits in practice, stands out in Pac-10

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez did not practice on Monday after suffering a bone bruise in his knee against Oregon on Saturday. Although it's the same knee that suffered a dislocated patella in the preseason, this injury is on the side and unrelated to the kneecap. It's too early to determine if he can play against Arizona State this Saturday. If Sanchez is unavailable, Mitch Mustain will be behind center.

Earlier in the day, Sanchez found out that he's the fastest Trojan to earn three Pac-10 Player of the Week honors in one season. He was recognized again this week for his performance against the Ducks, just his fourth game in six weeks.

The Pac-10 selects a player of the week for offense, defense and special teams. Last season, out of 42 opportunities, the Trojans had only three players chosen all season (and only one in the first 10 weeks). USC has already eclipsed that total this year. In addition to Sanchez's games against Virginia, Ohio State and Oregon, Rey Maualuga was the Defensive Player of the Week against Virginia.

Player of the week records are not closely watched, but they do provide an interesting indicator of how a player -- and team -- are doing. Dating to 1980, Marcus Allen is the only Trojan to win the honor four times in a season. He did it during his 1981 Heisman-winning campaign. Five other Trojans have done it three times, and two of them went on to win the Heisman -- Reggie Bush in 2005 and Carson Palmer in 2002. Rodney Peete did it in the final three weeks of the 1988 season. Antuan Simmons (1998) and Curtis Conway (1992) are the others.

-- Adam Rose
Photo : Luis Sinco / L.A. Times

Comments

[gerrrg]

And I thought horse collar-tackles were illegal this season? Another miss by the Pac-10 officiating?

[T. Page Eskridge]

Why wasn't a horse collar call made on the tackle when Sanchez was injured?

[R Bean]

Why was he still playing in the third quarter with a 30 point lead?
Petey is too concerned with running up the score, methinks. Hope he enjoys chatting with Mustain Momma now.

[Adam Rose]

Horse collar tackles are allowed in the pocket. There's some feeling that even those should be eliminated, but it's tough because in close quarters sometimes it's hard to avoid. Maybe it should be two-tiered like the old facemask rule (open field = flagrant for 15 yards, in the pocket = minor for 5).

Carroll is well known for NOT running up the score, though he does seem to have it out for Oregon sometimes. Mustain was scheduled to go in a series or two later and Sanchez never would have played more than a couple minutes of the 4th.

[pk-mesa]

If you notice from replay using horse collar let tackle slide under Marc which took out his left knee. If the dude didn't have control of Marcs upperbody there wouldn't have been a problem at least he had that brace because if he didn't he season and maybe football playing days over. They really need to not allow any of these type of tackles or if they do then we take a truck and run over Ref and player.