dbo78912

Matt Leinart waited.

imported_Lsuredskinman

He also had a somewhat wealthy family and lots of people picking up the bills for him. I also wouldn't think that education was a big motivator for him, since the only class he took last year was ballroom dancing. In the end it cost him almost 10 spots in the draft and a full year salary. Not a good trade off if you ask me.

OZZY

I base players coming out on four things. It is all hypothetical though obviously.

*Are they ready for the NFL
*Is their stock potentially at its highest point right now
*Is the senior class talent at that position high or weak
*Would they potentially be picked higher next year if they stayed


This comes into play with the WRs like Johnson, Jarrett and Ginn. The senior class of WRs is not very strong at all, and if those players come out they will be drafted extremely high because of it.


As for Russell, well I do not believe he is that ready for the NFL. He is an obvious talent but he has yet to reach his potential and right now considering the talent that LSU has, it is ridiculous that they have two losses, and really those two losses could be put on Russell. Considering SR and JR QBs, I would not take Russell over Quinn, Brohm or Henne. Some might not even take Russell over Stanton. So where does that put him, in the 2nd round possibly. I look at it as he has not played up to his potential and LSU the team has not played up to their potential, if he came back for another year he could be a much high pick possibly. Same thing for Erik Ainge, he is a QB that is playing great but again if he came back he would be a much higher pick that if he went out this year.

You talk about money, there is a lot of difference in cash between a high 1st round pick to a 2nd round pick.


If Russell comes out great, but really he is not at his prime right now and still needs work. It is also common for SR QBs to be graduated so then their final year they can just focus on football and possibly have greater success.

TitanFan

Ozzy you often neglect physical talent and upside and judge players too much based on on field performance. Russell hasn't been great in the biggest games this year but he has the tools to make any NFL FO drool. He needs to sit longer than the others and isn't as NFL ready but his upside and talent is unmatched.

__________________

imported_Lsuredskinman

How is the senior class strong when it is comprised of only 2 players you somewhat have ranked above him (Quinn and Stanton)? Your basing it off Henne and/or Brohm entering which would create the same problem for Russell if he stayed another year, in that he would be competing against Henne and Brohm next year for draft position as well (if either stayed). So it makes it hard to judge until we know who will come out and who will not.

As far as Russell not be at his prime or needing to improve. I think that is obvious and will do nothing but help his draft position. We have pretty much seen everything that Quinn and Stanton have and I don't think that either is going to get any better (what you have is what you get). That is a huge factor in any draft.

dbo78912

You're forgetting Troy Smith, who's playing better than any QB in the nation.

I bleed Sooner red

besides JaMarcus Russell

OZZY

You guys are all entitled to your opinions, I just feel Russell as of October 25 2006 should
think about returning for his senior year. This could change if he picks up his level of play
the rest of the season though. No one is debating the talent that he has, obviously he is
the most talent QB in the nation. However I believe he is just not ready for the NFL, sure
he might sneak into the 1st round if he comes out, then again he might drop to the second
round. Well who cares where he gets picked, yeah that is true in the end it does not really
matter but in terms of money you are talking millions of dollars lost potentially because one went out
too early.


Also lets not confuse his throwing arm as athletic ability. He is not a great athlete, if
anything he might get sacked too often because he is sluggish at times. Also lets not
forget that he has arguably the most talented receiver core in the nation, yet as a team they
still have two losses for some odd reason and his play has been inconsistent despite
weapons galore to throw the ball to.


As for the old adage of looking at physical skills and not just focusing on players statistics.
Well statistics prove in game production, in game production is a direct result of physical
ability and skills. So it really goes both ways, yes it does not matter if a player is having a
great statistical year that is not legitimate. However if the statistics are legitimate and
accomplished against good competition I do think that plays a part. Keiwan Ratliff is a
great example, he never really showned anything amazing on the field, but his senior year
he was almost a walking touchdown. He scored on interceptions or fumble recoveries on
numerous occasions and do not tell me that did not show he knows how to play the game
and be around the ball.

imported_Lsuredskinman

Jamarcus Russell has been sacked 7 times this year. Brady Quinn has been sacked 20 times. Now before you say something about the offensive line, Lsu's line play has been horrible (that is why we can't run the ball against anybody and a big reason why we have lost 2 games). So if he is such a statue, why aren't the other teams getting to him? He is a good athlete and deceptively fast. He isn't a runner and never will be, but he has good speed and can slide away from pressure.

I love that your looking at stats. But I think your missing some. Russell is 5th in the nation is passer rating. He is completing 70% of his passes. The numbers aren't jaw dropping, but it's a product of the offense he plays in. Maybe he's not ready for the NFL, but no QB is. That is why almost all sit out their first year or get killed their first year.

dbo78912

Ben Roethlisberger seemed pretty ready for NFL life, and he left a year early.