2012 NFL draft: Who's No. 3?

Re: 2012 NFL draft thread: USC tackle Matt Kalil the first one in the pool

Damn... Wow...

 

Re: 2012 NFL draft thread: USC tackle Matt Kalil the first one in the pool

Depending on your personal bent, having the Trojan marching band there to play "Fight On" as soon as he announced that he was staying was a great/annoying touch.

With TJ McDonald also coming back, USC has to be at least in the preseason Top 5 if not Top 3, right? Without knowing recruiting, who would you rank ahead of them?

 

Re: 2012 NFL draft thread: USC tackle Matt Kalil the first one in the pool

They'll be No. 1 to start Fall 2012.

Wow, NCAA sanctions sure crippled that program.

Just goes to show how much teeth the NCAA has.

 

Re: 2012 NFL draft thread: USC tackle Matt Kalil the first one in the pool

LSU is returning practically everyone except their quarterbacks. Alabama loses the bulk of its defense, but they're pretty much at "plug and go" status nowadays.

Oregon should be good again. Don't know if there's anyone else out there I'd put ahead of USC.

 

Re: 2012 NFL draft thread: USC tackle Matt Kalil the first one in the pool

I think this upcoming class is the first one with reduced scholarships. In theory, the lack of scholarships would hurt the program in 2-3 years.

 

Re: 2012 NFL draft thread: USC tackle Matt Kalil the first one in the pool

True, but playing for nothing for two years certainly didn't hurt their ability to get players.

Now they'll just lack depth for a couple of years. They'll still get quality.

NCAA = toothless.

(News flash, I know)

 

Re: 2012 NFL draft thread: USC tackle Matt Kalil the first one in the pool

LSU could lose a couple of people. Morris Claiborne's a junior. Rueben Randle's a junior. All the backs should return, since they were freshmen and sophomores

 

Re: 2012 NFL draft thread: USC tackle Matt Kalil the first one in the pool

Barkley + Woods = !!!

 

Re: 2012 NFL draft thread: USC tackle Matt Kalil the first one in the pool

Ah yeah, should have mentioned Claiborne. And while Randle is excellent, LSU's always got 2-3 other WRs who are close to as talented.

 

Re: 2012 NFL draft thread: USC tackle Matt Kalil the first one in the pool

Trojans could win the national championship next season if they can develop some blockers.
As was said above, the NCAA sanctions will hurt 2-3 years down the road. They are limited to 15 scholarships a year for the next three years. That starts with the February signing period.
So, they can't make recruiting mistakes and they can't sustain a bunch of injuries.
USC weathered the first blow -- bowl ban.
The Trojans had to be targeting 2012 to be one of those special seasons before the scholarship reductions will cut into the roster.
They might have a couple of lean years starting in 2013.

 

Re: 2012 NFL draft thread: USC tackle Matt Kalil the first one in the pool

But, but, they do it for the glory of their university! And so they can experience the wonderful college atmosphere of the weight room and the film room.

 

Re: 2012 NFL draft thread: USC tackle Matt Kalil the first one in the pool

If I'm going to make a case for Barkley staying, it's this: it's possible that he received information that led him to believe that Robert Griffin III would be drafted ahead of him. It's easier to make the decision to stay another year if you think you are going to be the third QB taken and have a very good chance of becoming the first QB taken. When you are the No. 3 QB in the draft, there's a greater chance that a few teams decide to wait on taking a QB and you drop more than you might expect.