April 19, 2018
By Adam Ruffner

The San Francisco FlameThrowers have a lot of new faces on their roster since they hoisted the AUDL championship trophy in August 2017. It should come as no surprise, though, that through all of the changes in personnel and team culture remains the resilient play of Marcelo Sanchez. After all, what else can you expect from the three-time AUDL champion workhorse that hasn't missed a game since 2014?

Sure, the FlameThrowers as a team are enduring a bit of the notorious championship hangover, splitting their first two games in jagged fashion against the rival San Jose Spiders. But Sanchez individually has been better than ever, dictating much of the FlameThrowers rhythm on offense. He's the perfect fit to run their up-tempo system: Sanchez has the speed and athleticism to allow him to get open on virtually any cut, and he has the throws and decision making to pilot an explosive offense.

Through just two games leading the revamped San Francisco lineup, Sanchez has thrown 10 assists on 52 completions compared to just four throwaways, and scored seven goals. Obviously extrapolating from just two games isn't particularly useful, but just for fun: Sanchez is on pace for 70 assists and 49 goals in 2018, which would obliterate his career highs in either category for a single season. His chemistry with Antoine Davis is only improving heading into their second full season together, and together the two players might be the best playmaking tandem in the division. Rookie handler Elliott Chartock has shown he has an arm that can stretch the field vertically, and Sanchez has been using it to his advantage as a cutter; Sanchez makes his defenders pay by running what are essentially option routes downfield, coming under and distributing if the defense backs him, and exploiting deep space if the opposition tries to deny Sanchez the disc. 

And it's not just the production that is impressive. What really bodes well for the FlameThrowers this season is that Sanchez's usual relentless style of play has an added level of confidence—you can see Sanchez actively taking the leadership role on the field, realizing that this, now, can be his team. For years Sanchez has thrived playing in support of generationally great players. This year might be the year he himself reaches that level of stardom.