Couch Potato
Footballguy
The University of Spoiled Children has been amazingly successful in recent memory, in the top 10 and in contention for titles throughout the 2000s, and with two National championships in the decade. Their recruits are usually among the highest rated high school players in the country. And their offenses have often been juggernauts, with players putting up monster stats and entering the NFL with great expectations.
The first 3 rounds of the NFL draft, and sometimes the 4th, are where NFL teams look for the players they hope to lead them to future success. But with all that college success, USC offensive skill position players have for the most part been disappointments, and in some cases epic busts.
This post was inspired by USC's latest offensive draftee, 4th round RB Joe McKnight, and his recently failed conditioning test. This after puking at OTAs because he was so out of shape back then. I guess he didn't get the hint there was a problem.
I include below only offensive players from rounds 1 through 3. This leaves out surprising NFL starter Matt Cassell, a 7th rounder who never started a college game, and guys who never made an impact and weren't expected to. It also obviously ignores the awesome defensive players (Polamolu, Matthews, etc.) who helped make USC dominant (not to mention cheaters like Cushing), as well as OL who got it done so the skill guys could get their numbers.
For such a storied program the disappointment rate is surprisingly high --
2000 R1 pick 29 WR RJ Soward -- Total bust of a 1st rounder
2003 R1 pick 01 QB Carson Palmer -- A few REALLY good years (2005-2007) but not the great overall career (so far) a 1st overall pick is hoped to have. In fairness, we can blame injuries for his decline
2003 R3 pick 96 RB Justin Fargas -- Had moments but never was very successful. Started full time one year and got 1009 yards, had 855 and 659 in his other two "best" years. Below NFL-average YPC for his career.
2004 R2 pick 62 WR Keary Colbert -- Hung around a few years as an underachieving starter then backup, but mostly a bust for a 2nd rounder. 47 catches his rookie year, never more than 32 after that.
2005 R1 pick 10 WR Mike Williams -- Total bust of a 10th overall pick. Got fat, wouldn't get to practices on time. Was never a starter. Real nice!
2006 R1 pick 02 Reggie Bush -- Heisman trophy winner (oops, stripped of that), National Champion (oops, stripped of that too), one of the most highly touted players coming out of college in a long time. Total bust? No. Superstar you'd expect from the best offensive player to come out of college in years? Not close. YPC best of 3.8 through his first 3 years (better in 2009 but on only 70 carries). He is still very productive as a punt returner and pass catcher, but was all that hype in 2006 really about a situational player? For where he was drafted into the NFL and in fantasy circles (I remember one guy on this board trading an in-the-prime Tomlinson for the #1 rookie pick, straight up, so he could draft Bush), he has to be considered a big disappointment. Has missed 12 games already in his 4 year career and has not played a full 16 games since his rookie season.
2006 R1 pick 10 QB Matt Leinart -- Had the starting job, couldn't hold it. Too busy with his party bong and famous Hollywood chicks I guess. Heisman trophy winner, National Champion (oops, that's gone now) and 10th overall pick in the draft and in his 5th year is finally getting another chance, with many assuming he'll fail at worst and be mediocre at best.
2006 R2 pick 45 RB LenDale White -- became FatDale White, had good TD numbers one year but was a plodder otherwise. Lost the weight and whatever power he had. Cut by 2 teams. Pretty much a bust of a 2nd rounder.
2006 R3 pick 93 TE Dominique Byrd -- Another member of that *cough cough* great 2006 USC draft class. 3rd rounder this time. Never got on track early, got in trouble with the law, never became a starter. Total bust.
2007 R2 pick 45 WR Dwayne Jarrett -- not even as successful as previous 2nd round bust Keary Colbert so far. 3 years played in the NFL, with a total of 33 catches and 1 TD to show for it. 4th year breakout is unlikely as they drafted his probable replacement (LaFell) this year.
2007 R2 pick 51 WR Steve Smith -- Wow, amid all the USC draft carnage, especially at WR, how did this guy happen?! There's an exception to every rule I guess, even with USC WRs. 107-1220-7 last year. Awesome. Carolina must love the fact that they took Jarrett 6 picks earlier.
2008 R3 Pick 48 TE Fred Davis -- Wait, could this be two non-busts in a row? Things weren't looking so good after a 3 catch rookie year and reports of a lousy work ethic, but when Cooley was injured last year something clicked. Fred had 48 catches and 6 TDs. Looks like he'll be OK. Good for him.
2009 R1 Pick 5 QB Mark Sanchez -- The jury is still out. The Jets went to the Championship game and he performed better in the playoffs than he did during the season. But they got there on the strength of their defense and the decision to cut back on Sanchez trying to make plays, protecting themselves from continuing the big interception totals he was racking up. As it was he had a 12-20 ratio which is awful, but there have been some great QBs who had awful TD/INT ratios as rookies. So far his most memorable moment has been sneaking a hot dog on the sidelines. As a 5th overall pick, more should be expected out of his future than a game manager QB. Time will tell.
2009 R3 Pick 87 Patrick Turner -- Back to the sucky WRs. Couldn't crack the starting lineup despite the opportunity being there. Couldn't even get playing time despite fellow rookie Hartline (a 4th rounder) getting plenty of plays. And Turner is projected to do zilch this year too. Almost certain complete bust here.
That's 14 players drafted in the first 3 rounds from 2000 - 2009. Palmer and S Smith are the only bona fide NFL successes so far, and it could be argued that more could have been expected from Palmer and that Smith has only really done it big for one year. Sanchez and Davis could improve that grim 2 of 14 ratio, but we'll have to see on that.
The University of Spoiled Children. Buyer beware. Bring it on LHUCKS.
The first 3 rounds of the NFL draft, and sometimes the 4th, are where NFL teams look for the players they hope to lead them to future success. But with all that college success, USC offensive skill position players have for the most part been disappointments, and in some cases epic busts.
This post was inspired by USC's latest offensive draftee, 4th round RB Joe McKnight, and his recently failed conditioning test. This after puking at OTAs because he was so out of shape back then. I guess he didn't get the hint there was a problem.
I include below only offensive players from rounds 1 through 3. This leaves out surprising NFL starter Matt Cassell, a 7th rounder who never started a college game, and guys who never made an impact and weren't expected to. It also obviously ignores the awesome defensive players (Polamolu, Matthews, etc.) who helped make USC dominant (not to mention cheaters like Cushing), as well as OL who got it done so the skill guys could get their numbers.
For such a storied program the disappointment rate is surprisingly high --
2000 R1 pick 29 WR RJ Soward -- Total bust of a 1st rounder
2003 R1 pick 01 QB Carson Palmer -- A few REALLY good years (2005-2007) but not the great overall career (so far) a 1st overall pick is hoped to have. In fairness, we can blame injuries for his decline
2003 R3 pick 96 RB Justin Fargas -- Had moments but never was very successful. Started full time one year and got 1009 yards, had 855 and 659 in his other two "best" years. Below NFL-average YPC for his career.
2004 R2 pick 62 WR Keary Colbert -- Hung around a few years as an underachieving starter then backup, but mostly a bust for a 2nd rounder. 47 catches his rookie year, never more than 32 after that.
2005 R1 pick 10 WR Mike Williams -- Total bust of a 10th overall pick. Got fat, wouldn't get to practices on time. Was never a starter. Real nice!
2006 R1 pick 02 Reggie Bush -- Heisman trophy winner (oops, stripped of that), National Champion (oops, stripped of that too), one of the most highly touted players coming out of college in a long time. Total bust? No. Superstar you'd expect from the best offensive player to come out of college in years? Not close. YPC best of 3.8 through his first 3 years (better in 2009 but on only 70 carries). He is still very productive as a punt returner and pass catcher, but was all that hype in 2006 really about a situational player? For where he was drafted into the NFL and in fantasy circles (I remember one guy on this board trading an in-the-prime Tomlinson for the #1 rookie pick, straight up, so he could draft Bush), he has to be considered a big disappointment. Has missed 12 games already in his 4 year career and has not played a full 16 games since his rookie season.
2006 R1 pick 10 QB Matt Leinart -- Had the starting job, couldn't hold it. Too busy with his party bong and famous Hollywood chicks I guess. Heisman trophy winner, National Champion (oops, that's gone now) and 10th overall pick in the draft and in his 5th year is finally getting another chance, with many assuming he'll fail at worst and be mediocre at best.
2006 R2 pick 45 RB LenDale White -- became FatDale White, had good TD numbers one year but was a plodder otherwise. Lost the weight and whatever power he had. Cut by 2 teams. Pretty much a bust of a 2nd rounder.
2006 R3 pick 93 TE Dominique Byrd -- Another member of that *cough cough* great 2006 USC draft class. 3rd rounder this time. Never got on track early, got in trouble with the law, never became a starter. Total bust.
2007 R2 pick 45 WR Dwayne Jarrett -- not even as successful as previous 2nd round bust Keary Colbert so far. 3 years played in the NFL, with a total of 33 catches and 1 TD to show for it. 4th year breakout is unlikely as they drafted his probable replacement (LaFell) this year.
2007 R2 pick 51 WR Steve Smith -- Wow, amid all the USC draft carnage, especially at WR, how did this guy happen?! There's an exception to every rule I guess, even with USC WRs. 107-1220-7 last year. Awesome. Carolina must love the fact that they took Jarrett 6 picks earlier.
2008 R3 Pick 48 TE Fred Davis -- Wait, could this be two non-busts in a row? Things weren't looking so good after a 3 catch rookie year and reports of a lousy work ethic, but when Cooley was injured last year something clicked. Fred had 48 catches and 6 TDs. Looks like he'll be OK. Good for him.
2009 R1 Pick 5 QB Mark Sanchez -- The jury is still out. The Jets went to the Championship game and he performed better in the playoffs than he did during the season. But they got there on the strength of their defense and the decision to cut back on Sanchez trying to make plays, protecting themselves from continuing the big interception totals he was racking up. As it was he had a 12-20 ratio which is awful, but there have been some great QBs who had awful TD/INT ratios as rookies. So far his most memorable moment has been sneaking a hot dog on the sidelines. As a 5th overall pick, more should be expected out of his future than a game manager QB. Time will tell.
2009 R3 Pick 87 Patrick Turner -- Back to the sucky WRs. Couldn't crack the starting lineup despite the opportunity being there. Couldn't even get playing time despite fellow rookie Hartline (a 4th rounder) getting plenty of plays. And Turner is projected to do zilch this year too. Almost certain complete bust here.
That's 14 players drafted in the first 3 rounds from 2000 - 2009. Palmer and S Smith are the only bona fide NFL successes so far, and it could be argued that more could have been expected from Palmer and that Smith has only really done it big for one year. Sanchez and Davis could improve that grim 2 of 14 ratio, but we'll have to see on that.
The University of Spoiled Children. Buyer beware. Bring it on LHUCKS.
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Yeah, I figured it wasn't a moment of pure synchronicity between the two of you. Funny line, regardless.
, but as I remember it Leinart v Warner was never supposed to be a competition, but more of a case where Warner was insurance policy that Leinart's poor to mediocore play forced the Cards to cash in and the value was more than Arizona expected. On the general premise of this thread, I am fairly sure that I could do a similiar thread for skill position guys from both Texas and Oklahoma as those programs college success while good at getting dudes drafted are not as good at making sure dudes are actually ready to be good pros.
