tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162716793249150680.post4513632893803181595..comments2023-11-03T04:38:20.417-04:00Comments on BULLDOGS BLOG: The Ghosts of Draft Days PastGeorgia Athleticshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516202366071408182noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162716793249150680.post-17825862033604067652010-04-26T20:36:28.925-04:002010-04-26T20:36:28.925-04:00I think if you did an extensive study from most sc...I think if you did an extensive study from most schools you would find a similar "hit rate". The LSU article was a good example. A lot of folks here had them as one of the "sure things", but as you can see....they don't do any better. <br /><br />I mean...there are as many Orangemen on the Pro-Bowl as Dawgs. Does the mean the success of the programs has been the same? <br /><br />All coming to UGA does over some other schools (not all but some) is give MORE kids the OPPORTUNITY to play in the league. <br /><br />I don't think going to Monmouth prepared Miles Austin ready for the NFL more than him going to UGA would've. <br /><br />If that makes me crazy....then koo-ku!DawgOnTaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17399887158738540964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162716793249150680.post-40137798369945456432010-04-26T16:56:46.559-04:002010-04-26T16:56:46.559-04:00Dave-
I think one thing to point out is that the ...Dave-<br /><br />I think one thing to point out is that the NFL draft is a crap shoot. Every pick...Every position. Players drafted high hang on to rosters because of the $$ commitment and they might not be any better than the last man cut. In fact, if you have two players that are even in talent and one is going to cost you $5M to cut and one will cost you nothing to cut...well, how far does the talent swing have to move in order for you to cut the $5M player.<br /><br />Anyway...my point, because there wasn't one in that paragraph, is that you have to measure success against reality. The reality is that an average NFL career is 3 years. So when throwing a grade out to a class of X number of players(out of 400+ players drafted)...you have to start measuring their careers against the average...you have to think about the pressure/leeway they would have received from being a 1st rounder compared to a 7th rounder...and you start seeing the guys that flamed out around them...<br /><br />I'm not sure what it means, but the ability of guys to hang around on rosters for 3, 4, 5 years after being a 4th or later round pick is a great testament to those players. There are a lot of 5th rounders that get cut before seeing any games. Does it reflect the coaching? I have no idea. But the odds are incredibly stacked against it. <br /><br />These guys made at least $10M in the NFL..and most was on their second contract... Witherspoon, McMichael, Phllips, Stinchcomb, Geathers, Watson, and R. Brown. Throw in the 1st round picks (sans Watson whose rookie contract was probably south of $10M based on his draft slot) and you've got a lot of UGA guys who have been paid in the NFL from the Richt era. Are these guys filling the All Pro team roster? No...but really besides Miami and Michigan, who is getting more than 1 or 2 a year? <br /><br />I guess I have an issue with saying there are more busts than success stories just because the 2002 and 2003 SEC champs aren't the starting pro bowl team. Guys like Chris Clemons playing 4 years in the NFL, getting into the NFLPA benefits program, and earning over $3M despite not being drafted should be an A+.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162716793249150680.post-26962388103382044882010-04-26T16:40:58.273-04:002010-04-26T16:40:58.273-04:00For the record .. Favre is already a grandfather. ...For the record .. Favre is already a grandfather. <br /><br />http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/13165804/favre-announces-hes-become-grandfather-at-40<br /><br />What the analysis really shows us five things: <br /><br />1. There is a small margin of error between being a good to great college player and a journeyman in the NFL. <br /><br />2. Injuries have derailed so many NFL careers. Take Jermaine Phillips, he appeared to be on track to be Pro Bowl safety but he has broken his forearm something like 3 times in the last five years. One of the reasons Pope fell out of favor in AZ was his slow recovery from a gruesome leg injury. Pollack never really had a chance to develop. Haynes blew out his knee when he had a chance to be the starting RB in Pittsburgh. Heck you could throw <br /><br />3. Scheme matters in the NFL. Ellerbe was a good player at UGA (limited due to injuries etc.) but became an impact rookie in Baltimore largely because of the scheme (and injuries to those ahead of him on the depth chart.) The reverse could be said for Pope and even Watson who are considered underachievers at the TE position. But when you look at those teams passing schemes, they rarely throw to the TE due to the talent in the receiving corps. <br /><br />4. Team position value/salary cap means something. Some teams place a higher emphasis on certain positions. Sean Jones went from being a borderline Pro Bowl safety to journeyman in 2 seasons because Cleveland did not place a high emphasis on safety, he took a one year deal in Philly and is now with the Bucs (probably replacing Flip.) The fact is if you read the reviews of Jones last season with Browns he was probably one of their top 2 defenders and the media thought for certain that Browns would re-sign him. But Mangini came in with a new scheme and new philosphy and off to Philly went Jones.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162716793249150680.post-77750252815675757662010-04-26T15:14:33.632-04:002010-04-26T15:14:33.632-04:00Good info, David. While there are some disappoint...Good info, David. While there are some disappointing numbers out there, I think they are comparable with most programs, with the exception of USC, Miami, Texas, and LSU. However, I think you overstate how this will hurt Richt with recruits. More UGA players have been drafted in the last 10 years than any other SEC school. I think that number will be the most important to a 17 year old kid. They want to go to a school that will give them the best opportunity to be drafted. Their success after the draft depends on a lot of factors, and their college is only one of them.Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13605765709932688549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162716793249150680.post-7908143418288942442010-04-26T14:19:04.308-04:002010-04-26T14:19:04.308-04:00Carter...I don't believe Champ and Boss made i...Carter...I don't believe Champ and Boss made it to Athens before having kids. As a matter of fact, if Brett Favre doesn't become the first grandfather to play in the NFL, I think there's a chance it could be Champ since I believe he has a 13-14 year old out there...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162716793249150680.post-70497910411150970932010-04-26T14:11:36.537-04:002010-04-26T14:11:36.537-04:00I agree with your conclusion that the most talente...I agree with your conclusion that the most talented classes were recruited by Donnan, with the exception of the Moreno / Stafford / Massaquoi class. I dont think that this year (2010) or next year's class (2011) is going to change that. I wouldn't put too much stock in the pro bowl as the benchmark of NFL success that a graduating class should be measured by.... So few players make it to the pro-bowl. Plus, as you noted, multiple players have had the potential to make the pro-bowl but injuries and off the field problems are so common and unpredictable. I do think that a productive career (starting) for more than 5 years is a successful NFL career. So many things have to go well for a NFL player to last.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162716793249150680.post-48798582778279817372010-04-26T13:32:46.801-04:002010-04-26T13:32:46.801-04:00What really stands out are the 3 linebackers: Poll...What really stands out are the 3 linebackers: Pollack, Thurman, and Bailey.<br /><br />If a guy like Elvis Dumervil can get close to 20 sacks as a 3-4 OLB, I don't see any reason why Pollack couldn't have developed into a Pro-Bowler if not for that tragic injury. Bo Jackson and Pollack are 1 and 2 on my, "That's a damn shame list."<br /><br />I have never seen a rookie ILB play as well as Thurman did. He had an uncanny knack for snagging interceptions and returning them. The entire face of the Bengals would be a lot different if Pollack and Thurman had made it. With those 2 guys, they wouldn't have had to spend a 1 on Keith Rivers and a high 2 on Maualuga.<br /><br />I always wonder what could have been with Boss. He was the most physically gifted player I've ever seen at UGA. It sucks that he had to play for Matt Millen when he was in his Joey Harrington and drafting a WR first every year phase. Chronic injuries caused him to retire last season.<br /><br />Now that the Patriots are UF North, I would say they are the most hatable franchise in all of sports, but I think they already were before. I feel very conflicted about Denver now, though. I've got knothin but love for Champ, and I like Knowshon a great deal. But, this whole Tebow thing....<br /><br />On a side note, if Champ or Boss have any kids, I suggest we go ahead and offer them know, Kiffin-style.Carternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162716793249150680.post-16983664596938764742010-04-26T13:05:03.323-04:002010-04-26T13:05:03.323-04:00Good questions. I'm not sure the answers eithe...Good questions. I'm not sure the answers either.<br /><br />I'd guess that UT and LSU have had a bit more success than UGA. Not sure about Florida. Perhaps I'll put this on my list of potential blog posts down the line as it might make for some decent offseason fodder.David Halehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02872368286061273646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162716793249150680.post-10811165227755316422010-04-26T13:00:47.309-04:002010-04-26T13:00:47.309-04:00It would be interesting to see how the other SEC t...It would be interesting to see how the other SEC teams compare to UGA in this analysis. Off the top of my head I would wager UF stacks up about the same as Georgia if you were to do the same analysis of Gator Draftees. Basically if I think of the stars of the NFL I hardly start rattling off names of Gators or LSU Tigers, Bama players, or Vols either for that matter.<br /><br />I wonder what the All-Pro rosters of the last few years look like as far as where they went to college?j.leonardjrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10243093216034615348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162716793249150680.post-50854230897581355472010-04-26T12:48:29.249-04:002010-04-26T12:48:29.249-04:00Don't really get why a guy as money as Coutu c...Don't really get why a guy as money as Coutu can't get an NFL nod when there's so, so, so many lousy kickers out there. What gives?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com