WT: On Football: A class in trouble

[bubba9497]

http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/j...class-of-2005/



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On Football: A class in trouble


When NFL player personnel folks, scouts, coaches and trainers gathered in Indianapolis in February 2005 to evaluate that year's prospective draftees, there was genuine excitement. The talent from Auburn alone was good enough to stock an entire division with first-rounders. There were stud running backs and cornerbacks, sure franchise passers and a plethora of elite receivers.

Three-plus years later, the Class of 2005 is more embarrassment than excitement.

Cedric Benson, taken fourth overall by Chicago, couldn't establish himself as a No. 1 running back even after the Bears gave him the job by trading Thomas Jones before last season. So after Benson was arrested twice this spring on alcohol-related charges, the Bears cut him, deciding they would be better off with the other Adrian Peterson and rookie Matt Forte.

Benson's off-field woes are minor compared with those of cornerback Pacman Jones, who went sixth to Tennessee. Dallas, which acquired Jones this spring, is gambling that a change of scenery will make a difference for the unruly Jones, who has six more police blotter incidents than interceptions and has yet to be reinstated after being suspended for the 2007 season by commissioner Roger Goodell.

At least Jones has flashed some serious game on the field.

Quarterback Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall selection by San Francisco, hardly has made the 49ers forget Jeff Garcia, let alone Joe Montana or Steve Young. Smith regressed in his third season with just two touchdowns, a 48.7 completion percentage and a 57.2 passer rating.

Among the receivers, Mike Williams (who went 10th to Detroit) was so bad that he's out of the league, while Minnesota learned that Troy Williamson (seventh) is blazing fast but can't catch and dispatched him to Jacksonville.

Jones isn't the only cornerback who has been in trouble. Fabian Washington (No. 23) moved from Oakland to Baltimore this spring after being arrested in a domestic incident. Antrel Rolle (No. 8) simply couldn't cover well enough and has been moved to safety even though Arizona isn't deep at cornerback.

The injury bug has bitten Auburn's entire Class of 2005 first-rounders. Running backs Ronnie Brown (No. 2) and Cadillac Williams (No. 5), cornerback Carlos Rogers (No. 9) and quarterback Jason Campbell (No. 25) all finished 2007 on the shelf with knee injuries, and Williams and Rogers have yet to recover completely.

Wisconsin defensive end Erasmus James (No. 18) was dumped by the Vikings after ACL tears ended his 2006 and 2007 seasons prematurely, while a neck injury ended linebacker David Pollack's career in Cincinnati before the 17th choice really ever got going.

Injuries can't be predicted, but clubs research rookies more thoroughly than Barack Obama or John McCain will investigate potential members of their Cabinet. Still, only one of the top 10 selections - receiver Braylon Edwards (No. 3), who had an outstanding 2007 - has been a hit after three seasons.

Maybe quarterback Aaron Rodgers (No. 24) won't wilt under the pressure that will come from finally succeeding retired legend Brett Favre in Green Bay this fall. Or maybe Campbell will become a star in Washington under new coach Jim Zorn.

But unless Rodgers or Campbell blossoms or Brown or Williams prove to be in the class of LaDainian Tomlinson, the 2005 first round will be a bigger bust than "Ishtar."

[thesubmittedone]

I don't think it's really that fair to point out the injury Carlos Rogers... he's been a good cornerback who has had problems catching the ball, and was having his best season when it happened. He may never recover, but he has produced.

But I do get his overall theme here and mentioning Carlos isn't crazy. He just shouldn't have been so general.

And Jason played, imo, great for us last season before he got hurt. He progressed and improved very well, and had to endure a WR situation that got ugly with Moss and Randle El hurting and an Oline that had an undrafted rookie stepping in (though admirably). He was also playing for a coach who was just a tad bit too conservative when we had the lead at times.

[scruffylookin]

I don't think it's really that fair to point out the injury Carlos Rogers... he's been a good cornerback who has had problems catching the ball, and was having his best season when it happened. He may never recover, but he has produced.

But I do get his overall theme here and mentioning Carlos isn't crazy. He just shouldn't have been so general.

I disagree with the produced part. Even healthy, Rogers has not played to the level you should expect a corner to play at when selecting him with the 9th pick in the draft. He may be at times "pretty good" when healthy, but that's still a disappointment. You don't expect "pretty good" when you select someone in the top 10.

I think they were too easy on Rogers frankly. All they mentioned was his injury and not his mediocre to poor play on the field.

[bedlamVR]

I think people are expecting far too much . Champ Bailey wasn't the cover corner everyone laments about . One game sticks in my mind when Toomer beat and beat and beat and beat and beat and beat and beat the so called great Bailey on a simple hook root . Bailey, Bly and Lynch featured on one of the worst pass defences in the league, Rogers started ahead of Smoot and Springs and was playing well pre injury . Also remeber the pass defence suffered as much with his loss ( the debarcle in NE and Dallas) as they did with the loss of Taylor .

[SkinsGuy]

I disagree with the produced part. Even healthy, Rogers has not played to the level you should expect a corner to play at when selecting him with the 9th pick in the draft. He may be at times "pretty good" when healthy, but that's still a disappointment. You don't expect "pretty good" when you select someone in the top 10.

I think they were too easy on Rogers frankly. All they mentioned was his injury and not his mediocre to poor play on the field.

Rogers "poor play??"

Rogers hasn't shown himself to be Darrell Green (but who is??... Green is going into the HoF first ballot for a reason), but he is a very good CB who has done what is asked of him.

I feel that with many here, all they think of when they think of Rogers is the 2005 playoff game when he dropped that interception.

It has forever colored their opinion of him. From that point on, he was suddenly "below average", and they yearned for his replacement.

Rogers was playing very well before his injury. Hopefully, he can make a full recovery and contribute again.

[RDSKNFN_48]

I don't think it's really that fair to point out the injury Carlos Rogers... he's been a good cornerback who has had problems catching the ball, and was having his best season when it happened. He may never recover, but he has produced.

But I do get his overall theme here and mentioning Carlos isn't crazy. He just shouldn't have been so general.

And Jason played, imo, great for us last season before he got hurt. He progressed and improved very well, and had to endure a WR situation that got ugly with Moss and Randle El hurting and an Oline that had an undrafted rookie stepping in (though admirably). He was also playing for a coach who was just a tad bit too conservative when we had the lead at times.

This is one of the most fair assesments of Jason i have heard all off season. Most of us want to compare him to other QB's and their stats. When that is never fair, the guy next to you is too important in football, it not like the NBA where you can go to the finals with garbage like Kobe Bryant.

[MWCREDSKINS]

But the didn't say that 11 and 12, Ware and Merriman are perenial Pro Bowlers

[kingdaddy]

I fear that we're in big trouble with Carlos. Corners coming off knee injuries worry me about their ability to jump back in there and regain their speed and cover skills. I hope I'm wrong but I don't remember Carlos lighting the world on fire before the injury.

[SkinsHokieFan]

Demarcus Ware, Shawn Merriman and Braylon Edwards are the three stars from that class

[flexxskins]

"Ishtar".

This guy slays me.

[RocketCitySkins]

Hopefully, Carnell will come off that bust list.

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/footb...icle630092.ece

[wsniper1]

Demarcus Ware, Shawn Merriman and Braylon Edwards are the three stars from that class

Except when Merriman isn't on the juice. Plus he gets the luxury of playing KC and Oakland twice a year. Last years sack total against Oak and KC was 7.5, the other 11 games: 5 sacks...