DairyQueen

September 3rd, 2019 at 6:47 PM ^

I can see where you're coming from.

However, the college game is not the professional game. And the speed in space cannot be as easily exploited in the NFL as it can in CFB. Effectively the field gets a lot smaller, and his sheer power over speed can come back and be an advantage. You have to specialize in something. 

Scheme is really that important.

Hence why so many players "come out of nowhere" in the NFL, and Heisman winners do jack squat in the NFL.

Joined: 04/20/2014

MGoPoints: 6642

rainingmaize

September 4th, 2019 at 12:26 AM ^

Since Woodson: 

Ricky Williams: You could make a case that he was great. He did have over 10,000 career yards, and only 30 running backs in NFL history have more rushing yards. I'd probably put him in the Hall of Good. 

Ron Dayne: Below average RB. 

Chris Weinke: NFL Backup QB

Eric Crouch: Not even an NFL prospect

Carson Palmer: Not great, but an above average to solid QB. 

Jason White: Not even an NFL prospect (RIP his knees)

Matt Leinart: NFL flop. Backup QB.

Troy Smith: 3rd string caliber NFL QB

Tim Tebow: Great guy, not a great NFL player

Sam Bradford: Injuries killed his career

Mark Ingram: Solid NFL player

Cam Newton: Won an NFL MVP. I'd say he is great. 

RG3: Never recovered from rookie injury

Johnny Manziel: LOL

Jameis Winston: Average QB at best

Marcus Mariota: Trending towards Winston. 

Derrick Henry: Looking like he will be a decent RB

Lamar Jackson: Way to early to tell

Baker Mayfield: Way to early to tell

Kyler Murray: NFL season hasn't even started yet. 


 

Joined: 04/13/2010

MGoPoints: 10458

Perkis-Size Me

September 4th, 2019 at 6:58 AM ^

An argument can be made for Cam Newton being a great NFL player. He hasn’t been 100% consistent but he’s had a few really good years and then the one year he won the MVP. 

You're definitely right in that the Heisman is not a great indicator of NFL success but there have been a few winners that have come through the league and made things happen. 

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 105749

1974

September 3rd, 2019 at 9:06 PM ^

I'd be more open to suggestions that Don Brown didn't know what to do with a strong, 350-pound dude on the DL.

I agree that the speed of the pro game makes the field effectively smaller, but I honestly can't think of too many cases where someone (without physical growth, increased strength, or a burst of motivation) was *more* effective in the NFL than in college.

Joined: 04/17/2011

MGoPoints: 7799

Gulogulo37

September 3rd, 2019 at 9:30 PM ^

Ever heard of Tom Brady? He was good in college, but he wasn't the all time greatest college QB with a bullet.

There are plenty of guys from power 5 schools or even FCS that do well in the NFL. I believe the App State team that beat Michigan had 6 draft picks.

Joined: 03/16/2010

MGoPoints: 28318

1974

September 3rd, 2019 at 9:47 PM ^

Your jokes could use work.

Seriously, I'd suggest that you're missing the point. Brady got bigger and improved himself over several months. Mone isn't too far removed from being "just a guy" in college.

For a given player (absent development of some type) it's unusual to be more effective when the competition level goes way up.

Joined: 04/17/2011

MGoPoints: 7799

Leaders And Best

September 4th, 2019 at 9:57 AM ^

Being viewed as "just a guy" at one of the best defenses in college sometimes means being overshadowed by other teammates. Michigan was loaded at DL the last couple years and some of those guys may have taken the limelight. Alabama has had several "just a guy" defensive players shine in the NFL. Consider James Hall was also an UDFA in the NFL as well when Michigan had loaded defenses in the late 1990s. It happens. And Mone had several injuries in college (one significant) that may have taken some time for him to recover from. Sometimes guys like that blossom in the NFL after being several years removed.

And you are talking about Bryan Mone like he is an All-Pro DT. He just made the 53-man roster for the Seahawks and hasn't played a regular snap in the NFL yet. Considering Michigan's track record for DL during the last 4 years is better than Michigan has had in a long time, I am not sure what point you are trying to make here.

Joined: 09/09/2009

MGoPoints: 22312

1974

September 4th, 2019 at 11:26 AM ^

Maybe view it as a long-winded compliment Mone.

He wasn't behind any all-stars less than a year ago. At least by UFRs he didn't make a significant impact. (Your point about injuries is reasonable.) A short time later he made an NFL roster, which is no small feat and not at all commensurate with what we saw last year.

Am I making sense?

Joined: 04/17/2011

MGoPoints: 7799

1974

September 4th, 2019 at 7:13 AM ^

Right. But, consider the timelines.

In most of those QB cases the guys developed over a few years to the point where they were very different players. (QB is well known as that type of position.)

Mone just made an NFL roster less than a year after he wasn't a particularly impactful player at a lower level of football. I think that's unusual.

Joined: 04/17/2011

MGoPoints: 7799

Leaders And Best

September 4th, 2019 at 9:40 AM ^

I think part of it was that Bryan Mone was never healthy during most of his Michigan career. He had a significant leg injury in 2015 and sprained his PCL in 2016. Another part was Michigan was loaded at DT from 2015-2017 (Ryan Glasgow, Maurice Hurst, Willie Henry, Chris Wormley, and Matt Godin). Based on the success of our DTs the last 4 years, I think Brown has been doing OK at developing the position. I have been more disappointed in the recruiting if anything.

He finally got a chance to get some run last year in 2018, and I think he is going to be an underrated loss this year on the DL. It's not like he was a schlub last year; he started 11 games and was selected as honorable mention All-Big Ten.

Joined: 09/09/2009

MGoPoints: 22312

Coldwater

September 3rd, 2019 at 10:12 PM ^

This is stunning to me, but in a great way.   Congrats to the big guy.    He was the definition of a space eater.  He had no pass rush ability at all.  I hope he tears it up in the NFL

Joined: 12/14/2008

MGoPoints: 11234

MGolem

September 3rd, 2019 at 10:47 PM ^

I am certainly no NFL roster expert but I fear he is only able to hold onto his spot until Jarran Reed comes off his suspension (six games). But, if he gets any run during said time he could find a spot elsewhere/on the practice squad.

Joined: 10/14/2010

MGoPoints: 13592

CoverZero

September 4th, 2019 at 2:14 AM ^

Good for him!  I predict a 10 year NFL career for Brian if he wants and and stays healthy.  The NFL loves space eaters, particularly 3-4 teams.

Joined: 08/30/2014

MGoPoints: 14571