Sanchez hopes he's 'a better version of myself'

The show must go on in the NFL, so Mark Sanchez took the starter's snaps during Eagles practice Wednesday and stood behind the lectern for the obligatory news conference to begin his first week fulfilling the No. 1 quarterback's obligations.

"It's a familiar feeling," Sanchez said.

He held that role with the New York Jets for four seasons, but he signed in Philadelphia to be the backup. Ninety-seven weeks after he was last a starter, Sanchez will begin his sequel when the Eagles host the Carolina Panthers on Monday. He steps into the spotlight because Nick Foles is recovering from a broken left collarbone.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to play," Sanchez said. "I'm not excited about the way it happened."

Sanchez can look, talk, and act like a quarterback auditioning with a casting agency, but he arrives this week calloused by his Jets tenure and invigorated by the chance to engineer coach Chip Kelly's offense. He faded into the background - a place where Sanchez could seldom reside in New York - after recovering from a major shoulder injury and caddying for Foles.

"I guess a chance to get a bird's-eye view of everything, and put that New York experience in its place, and take with me a lot of the things that went well, and improve upon the things that didn't go well," Sanchez said of his time away from starting. "So, now, hopefully I'm a better version of myself. And the best version of myself for this Monday night game."

Sanchez insisted that he is not thinking about what this opportunity could bring, whether it's a future in Philadelphia or a starting job elsewhere. But he spoke with a degree of perspective that would have been impossible when he was the ballyhooed first-round pick who graced national magazine covers.

"It tests you a little bit," Sanchez said of his inactivity. "It makes you appreciate it even more. And it makes me want to play all that much better when I'm in there."

Sanchez and Kelly have a mutual appreciation. Sanchez, whose Jets teams had a strong defensive emphasis, has reveled in entering Kelly's offensive incubator. Kelly liked the way Sanchez fit into the Eagles, his diligence as the No. 2 quarterback, and his ability to communicate.

"I enjoy how excited Coach Kelly is about offensive football, how he's constantly searching for a competitive edge, how he wants ideas from players and coaches," Sanchez said. "He never feels like it has to be his idea, although it's his offense, and he wants input."

Sanchez has appeared to be a quick study under Kelly, and the Eagles believe that his experience in several offensive schemes has helped him adjust to Philadelphia. But Sanchez must prove that he can take better care of the ball after committing 89 turnovers in four seasons with the Jets and throwing two interceptions Sunday.

Cornerback Nolan Carroll, who played against Sanchez with the Miami Dolphins, said that defenses used to believe they could rattle Sanchez with pressure, but in the Eagles' scheme, Sanchez has displayed quick decision-making and the ability to release the ball quicker.

Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said that "everything is on time" with Sanchez because he does not necessarily have Foles' arm strength. Sanchez completed 80.6 percent of his passes in the preseason and 68.2 percent of his passes in three quarters Sunday.

"I like to think I've grown, and I know I have, just watching film," Sanchez said. "Things come faster. It's easier. You hear a lot of people say the game slows down. I think you tend to speed up, you tend to relax a little bit."

Sanchez has thrived in the Eagles' up-tempo style. He "enjoys getting out on the move." He also likes the use of play-action, which is effective with the team's running backs. Sanchez said he is still trying to get a handle on the zone-read responsibility.

Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said the Eagles have a "quarterback-friendly system, as long as you're a good decision-maker," so Kelly can tailor the play-calling to Sanchez's strengths.

"The most important thing is to eliminate the mistakes that happened" with the Jets, Sanchez said. "Coach Kelly is going to put me in a good position, and it's my job to make the right decisions. I'm thrilled about the opportunity."