A couple of interesting items to file for September:
USC had 10 players drafted.
Including an unprecedented 7 in the first two rounds.
I say "unprecedented" because I have not seen any team lose that many players in the first two rounds, since I've been tracking it (10-12 years).
I've seen six lost in the first three rounds - Tennesee last season lost that many, which was one of the reasosns I had a strong (and winning) bet on Cal in the early going.
Southern Cal, to be sure, is a football factory, and players there who warm the bench could be stars on many other teams.
But those who will be plusgged in this year, highly rated prep players as they may have been, still lack a lot of experience. They did play some, in blowouts, but still need some seasoning to be credible replacements for the skilled guys now in the NFL.
Alabama, with ZERO players drafted (wow, when did that last happen!?) had a credible break-even season, 6-6. Look for improvement.
South Carolina was also 6-6 last year, and only lost one player to the NFL draft -- in Round 7. Spurrier should have a competitive team in '08.
Georgia was 11-2 last season. They did lose 4 players in the draft, but they were all in rounds 5-7, including two in Round 7
I do think Florida, with Tebow and a maturing defense, will win the SEC, but Georgia - and Bama and S Caro - will be there or thereabouts.
This post would likely be more timely if it were made in late August. But I'll be busy then, setting up for the season. And everyone here will be getting drunk at the Bash.
USC had 10 players drafted.
Including an unprecedented 7 in the first two rounds.
I say "unprecedented" because I have not seen any team lose that many players in the first two rounds, since I've been tracking it (10-12 years).
I've seen six lost in the first three rounds - Tennesee last season lost that many, which was one of the reasosns I had a strong (and winning) bet on Cal in the early going.
Southern Cal, to be sure, is a football factory, and players there who warm the bench could be stars on many other teams.
But those who will be plusgged in this year, highly rated prep players as they may have been, still lack a lot of experience. They did play some, in blowouts, but still need some seasoning to be credible replacements for the skilled guys now in the NFL.
Alabama, with ZERO players drafted (wow, when did that last happen!?) had a credible break-even season, 6-6. Look for improvement.
South Carolina was also 6-6 last year, and only lost one player to the NFL draft -- in Round 7. Spurrier should have a competitive team in '08.
Georgia was 11-2 last season. They did lose 4 players in the draft, but they were all in rounds 5-7, including two in Round 7
I do think Florida, with Tebow and a maturing defense, will win the SEC, but Georgia - and Bama and S Caro - will be there or thereabouts.
This post would likely be more timely if it were made in late August. But I'll be busy then, setting up for the season. And everyone here will be getting drunk at the Bash.
