SC Football Doesn’t Always Produce Superstar Pros

Although USC Football annually sends the most players from one school to the draft, the program doesn’t always pan out the most productive pro football players.

Pete Carroll’s program has been the most successful team in recent history, but his players don’t transcend well to the NFL.

Other than Cincinnati Bengal quarterback Carson Palmer, Pittsburgh Steeler Safety Troy Polamalu, and Seattle Seahawk Linebacker Lofa Tatupu no other former Trojan has caused a sixteen week splash in the big show.

Because of the immediate success the university has had scouts feel that the players talent has made the impact, rather the coaching of Carroll’s staff.

NFL teams should keep this fact in mind when evaluating a Trojan.

Dominating the Trenches

Building a successful football team starts by strengthening both offensive and defensive lines. Finding a piece that fits the puzzle is most apparent in the NFL draft.

The 2008 draft is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. Expect teams to spend high draft picks on anchoring their lines. Players that could be drafted early are Jake Long, Chris Long, and Glenn Dorsey.

All of these candidates are safe picks at number one and will make an immediate impact if the Miami Dolphins choose to pick at the one spot.

Shockey Tests Free Agency Market?

According to an undisclosed source, New York Giant Tight End Jeremy Shockey has had discussions with the New Orleans Saints.

Last week Shockey and Pro Bowl Defensive End Osi Umenyiora spent the weekend in the Bahamas where Shockey had discussions with his agent.

Apparently, Shockey will not be participating in the Giants mini camp and will be working out in Miami which raises speculation of where he will suit up this season.

Cromartie’s Stock On the Rise

Tennessee State’s Dominique Rodgers Cromartie has witnessed an all time stock boost after his postings at both the combine and his pro day. The talented defensive back, whose name didnt appear in any early mock drafts is now a candidate to be first taken from his position.

The cousin of All Pro San Diego Charger Antonio Cromartie, has wowed scouts by his lockdown cover skills and explosive speed after running a 4.33 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine.

Cromartie’s only setback coming out of college is the lack of competition he participated against because he played D1AA football.

The speedy cornerback hopes to prove skeptics wrong and solidify the Cromartie family name after he tightens his chinstrap for one lucky team come this fall.

Odds Are Slim On Being Drafted

NFL Draft prospects eat, sleep, and breathe their work ethic. For every decision that players make their is a consequence, details are crucial in this business.

What the players do in the dark will eventually come to light, on Draft day or in the near future. Four year college studs can turn into complacent busts in the NFL. But, the player must first be drafted.

This is a tough task in itself. The odds of a college football player being drafted into the NFL is as good of odds as a man being electrocuted by a technology gadget. The odds are very unlikely. There are 119 teams in Division One Football, yet the NFL also plucks players from the D-1AA, D2, and D3 leagues.

The combined amount of teams in college football is 645. An average of 55 players on each team results in 35,475 students competing in collegiate football. The NFL consistently drafts 224 players who participated in college football the previous year.

This leads to the fact that nearly .006 percent of students are being drafted into the NFL and others are going professional in something rather than football.

It is more likely that a man gets shocked to death by his cell phone than a collegiate football player being drafted into the NFL.

Players compete for each position in the NFL because if an athlete can’t satisfy the positions duties someone else is waiting to take the job from them.

Free Agency Stirs Draft Day Decisions

Get rich to this. An obtrusive motto Asante Samuel lives by. After Samuel earned his first NFL contract, he had his favorite saying inked permanently.

Last Thursday Samuel and his agent decided to test the free agent market. After their first stop, Samuel reached a $57 million, 6 year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles according to philadelphiaeagles.com. “Its (Philadelphia) always been a winning organization and has a lot of history here. I just want a chance to win and go back to the Super Bowl,” said Samuel in a press conference.

When Samuel signed his name to his new contract, he left the near perfect New England Patriots with a gaping hole in their secondary.

For every move in the NFL, there is a counter. With the absence of Samuel taking place in New England, Scott Pioli (Vice President of Player Personnel) and the Patriots will fill their need. The picture seems a bit blurry for who will play in Samuel’s shoes at starting cornerback, but it may be addressed April 26th(Day of the draft).

The Patriots hold the seventh overall pick in the draft and pending other teams decisions, shutdown corner Aqib Talib of Kansas fits nicely here.

Eighty Five’s Future

Jr writes: What is your take on Mr. Ocho Cinco?? His high-profiled agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has said his client will indeed be playing football in the upcoming year. The question I have for you is where!?

Jr, my take on Mr. Ocho Cinco [Chad Johnson] is that he is a snotty, pompous, typical high-profile athlete. Johnson has a cynical attitude towards Cincinnati and now because he isn’t the solo individual around the skin he deems it necessary to create controversy.

I feel that there is a reason T.J. Houshmanzadeh was elected to the Pro Bowl before him and the truth lies much deeper than what happens on the field.

A follow up to your second question is although I can see Johnson suiting up in several different uniforms next year, it’s unfortunate to say he will remain in Cincinnati.

The beloved fans of the Bengals will have to put up with another childish year of Johnson until he has time to throw another tantrum. Unless, of course, Jerry of Dallas comes-a-knockin’.

Fab Five

Spencer writes: Who is your top five prospects this yr? Where do you see Colt Brennan of Hawaii going after his dismal performance in the senior bowl?

There is a lot of talent in this years draft, but there are some players that can jump right in to the NFL and make an immediate impact.

It may not turn out that these names will be announced 1-5 come draft day. I just feel that these players stand out from the bunch. Names that come straight to my head. Darren McFadden, Jake Long, Chris Long, Vernon Gholston, Glenn Dorsey.

All sexy pics but for what these players have left on the field over their college tenure they are all well deserving.

McFadden: Lightning in a bottle. McFadden encompasses the ability to touch the end zone on every play. An upright runner who has the vision, speed, and physical tenacity to make any defensive coordinator cringe. He also has a rare talent of receiving the ball out of the back field. McFadden has slashed nearly every prominent SEC record as a junior and has the ability of being NFL’s next impact back.

J Long: An experience left tackle at the University of Michigan, Long has the fierceness of any competitor. At 6′7” and 309 pounds Long has the size and strength to fit into any NFL mold. He also has the versatility to work in the power run scheme as well as the zone blocking scheme.

C Long: Explosive. With his initial step Long has a hunger to be around the ball. Possesses a “never say die” attitude and is relentless on finishing a play. Son of Raider great Howie Long, he has ties to the NFL and knows what it takes to be successful in this ‘next man up’ league.

Gholston: This rock solid D-end uses his swift strength to get behind any OL. Has a bag of tricks when initiating O-lineman and is persistent for his pursuit of the ball. He can beat you with his speed, power, or mere toughness.

Dorsey: Will create havoc in the backfield. Dorsey will win most one on one battles and has a nose for the football. Winner of the Bronco Nagurski award, he reminds me of a former winner recently retiree Warren Sapp.

By the way Hawaii’s Colt Brennan, probably a third to fourth round pick. I truly believe that Brennan has every chance of starting on opening day for maybe the Los Angeles Avengers[AFL]. Harsh yet precise. I feel Brennan won’t ever be able to grow out of the ’system quarterback’ label. Prove me wrong Colt, prove me wrong.

Combine is Coming

As the NFL season concludes, the scouting combine is near. These last few weeks of preparation are vital to turning heads in Indianapolis come Saturday.

The combine is much more than timing forties and measuring verticals. The convention also includes interviews with NFL franchises as well as several other tests.

Coming from a mid major school such as UNLV, athletes face challenges other than performing well in these tests.

Because these schools aren’t as well publicized as schools from BCS conferences, athletes have to prove their worthiness in this meeting. Beau Bell the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and Jeremy Geathers are the two representatives from UNLV.

When they received notice that they were being invited to the annual combine it cemented their aspirations of becoming a legitimate draft pick.

“Beau Bell could go as soon as the second round and as late as the early third round,” said Las Vegas Review Journal’s UNLV football reporter Mark Anderson in an exclusive interview with Senior Editor Ross Jones. Bell is bringing much more than his physical talent and size to the combine.

He possesses a laundry list of credentials. Although he has several accolades, Bell wasn’t as fine tuned as he had liked in the Senior Bowl.

“Bell didn’t perform as well as he’d liked to due to some nagging injuries, which could potentially hurt him come draft day,” said Anderson.

Jeremy Geathers reported that he would forgo his senior year at UNLV and enter the NFL draft.

“His decision came as a big shock to the people following UNLV football and a lot of it had to do with his family ties to the NFL,” said Anderson. Geathers’ cousin Robert Geathers is a premier defensive end who plays for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Robert Geathers also skipped his senior season at the University of Georgia and was drafted in the 4th round.

“I honestly see [Jeremy] Geathers as a free agent who will have to sign with an organization, said Anderson.”

The combine begins this Wednesday and both UNLV amateurs hope to improve their draft stock by posting a great forty time, showing their strength in the bench press, and impressing franchises with their one on one interviews.

Both athletes face an uphill battle due to the lack of football prominence at UNLV. Bell and Geathers will perform their physical activity tests on Saturday the 23rd of February.

NFL Draft FAQ’s

Q: What is the NFL Draft?

The NFL Draft is an annual event that is held in New York City. It is the place where college amateurs become professional athletes.The process is a two day long event which holds seven rounds of heart pumping action. Each of the 32 professional teams select a collegiate athlete to best suit their needs.

Q: How is the order in which the teams select in the NFL Draft decided?

Typically the teams with the worst record in the prior season are chosen first to pick. The draft is much more complicated because of trades and contract situations. A team is able to trade a future draft pick for a current NFL player and this is common especially on draft day.

Q: What does it take to be eligible for the NFL draft?

The draft is the first opportunity for franchises to select players out of college. To be eligible for the NFL draft the athlete must be at least a junior willing to forgo their senior season in school.

Q: What are the events that lead up to the draft?

After a players’ final season in college is completed they will either be invited to the NFL Scouting Combine or they must attend their Pro Day(day where scouts travel to athletes university to watch them work out). The Scouting Combine is held in Indianapolis inside the RCA Dome home of the Colts. The athletes are tested from character flaws, to 40 times, to their score on a Wonderlic test. All of these variables are the evaluated by all franchises and is critical to the teams decision making come draft day. If not invited to the combine, players are given an opportunity to showcase their skills in their Pro Day. Scouts and General Manager’s for franchises come to the university and evaluate talent.

Q: How often do juniors declare for the NFL Draft?

Collegiate athletes are deciding to declare for the draft early more than ever before. If a player believes hewill be one of the first to be taken, he usually elects to forgo their senior season. It is not common to see underclassmen enter the draft and go without being selected.