Is Dwayne Jarrett to slow for the NFL?

[Marc Sharaf]

Too slow to be an elite WR in the NFL? Or is destined to be a #2 WR for his career? 4.67 in the 40 at the USC pro day....yes thats hand held times!

I know someone will respond with a list of great WR's that aren't burners, but there are many 2nd day(draft) WR's that amounted to nothing as well. Is he another Mike Williams?....I do know he has a similar skill set, but a much better work ethic than Williams did.

BTW- I am suprised that USC isn't churning out the 1st rounders like Miami did for a few years. In fact, they're not even close, given the talent being recruited. Almost every guy gets drafted lower than what was projected.

[Trojangles]

We'll see. However, leaving USC early didn't help Williams and it won't help Jarrett, either. Meanwhile, there's another Trojan WR in the same mold folks will soon be hearing about, as noted in the Daily Trojan:

". . . Despite losing WRs Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett, the (USC) passing game has flourished because of the emergence of David Ausberry . . . Coach Pete Carroll has gone out of his way to rave about Ausberry.

"He makes a play every day that reminds you that he's out here," Carroll said. "It's a play that somebody else wouldn't have made. It's really a pleasant surprise to see him show up so early and be a factor."

Carroll has even gone so far as to say Ausberry - who redshirted as a freshman in the fall - is the most physically developed wide receiver he's coached at this stage in a player's career. Ausberry is 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds.

"When the defense was practicing while he was redshirting on the scout team, he was always the guy who stood out," Carroll said. "It's kinda more significant for the offense to see him. He plays more like Mike (Williams) did toward the end of his career. He's a physical presence. Guys kind of fall off him."

Carroll also praised better-known names Patrick Turner and Vidal Hazelton for their steady play through five practices. And Booty has noticed, too.

"So far, so good," Booty said. "I couldn't be happier with the way these guys look right now."

Sarkisian has been pleased with the progress as well in his first season taking over play-calling duties. But he admits that the passing game is ahead of the running game.

"We've got a lot of stuff in right now," Sarkisian said. "The passing game has been very encouraging when we've thrown the ball downfield. Our young receivers have been making plays. We've done some good things in the run game but we are always fighting for more consistency."

[tradition90]

USC has been very successful with a lot of young players. The '03 class was the first Top Ranked class I believe and due to injury RedShirt years there are 10 players from that class that will start as 5th year players next year, and I think 5 possible 1st rounders out of that group. Still, the string of 1st Rounders achieved by Miami is something that may never be repeated. Below is my correlation of draft position vs recruit ranking:

(Draft by Position/Recruit Ranking by Position) *Declared Early

'01 Class
Appears to be solid improvement out of this class
QB Leinart (2/7)
FB Kirtman (2/NR)
WR Buchanan (FA/16)
DT Cody (5/1)
DT Patterson (3/20)
ILB Tatupu (1/NR)

'02
This class seems to have delivered with the exception of K Williams at OT. Players leaving early due to success of program generally hurt themselves in the draft.
WR *Williams (3/23)
TE Byrd (7/16)
OT Justice (2/4)
OG Lutui (2/1); *Matua (13/11)
DT *Wright (Supplemental/6); Ramsey (17/NR)
S *Bing (7/3)

Projected this year
OLB Sartz (18/16)
ILB LUA (16/19)
OT Williams (Not Drafted/3)
CB Wright (10/17)...completing eligibility at UNLV


'03
This is the first Number 1 class, and can be measured after next year. WR Lewis as a Number 1 player is the only true disappointment.
TB *Bush (1/1); *White (5/9)


Projected this year
WR Smith (12/3 Athlete)
C Kalil (1/6)

Projected Next Year
QB Booty (?/1)
TB Washington (?/8)
WR Lewis (Not Expected/1)
OT Baker (?/4); Radovich (?/2)
OG Spanos (?/NR)
DE Jackson (?/3)
DT Ellis (?/5)
CB Thomas (?/23)

'04
This is a small class that has seen its defections from QB #8 Hinds, DE #3 Schweiger, and DT #3 Germany, still should produce 8 First Day selections by the time all drafts are complete.


Projected this year
WR *Jarrett (3/2)


Projected Next Year
TE Davis (?/3)
OLB Rivers (?/1)
S Pinkard (?/46)

[Blue Hen]

Also, some CF fans might be surprised to learn that USC ranks only 11th in number of NFL players ( based on 2006 opening day rosters). Even Nebraska can claim more current NFLers.

[mini_me]

Too slow to be an elite WR in the NFL? Or is destined to be a #2 WR for his career? 4.67 in the 40 at the USC pro day....yes thats hand held times!

I know someone will respond with a list of great WR's that aren't burners, but there are many 2nd day(draft) WR's that amounted to nothing as well. Is he another Mike Williams?....I do know he has a similar skill set, but a much better work ethic than Williams did.

BTW- I am suprised that USC isn't churning out the 1st rounders like Miami did for a few years. In fact, they're not even close, given the talent being recruited. Almost every guy gets drafted lower than what was projected.


Jerry Rice was most definately NOT a burner. Unless you are running a fly pattern straight line speed isnt nearly as important as the ability to change directions at full speed. Jarrett is a STUD.

[PSUFan]

Just the same way the LaDainian Tomlinson is too small to take the beating of the NFL game to be an everyday back.

Fred Biletnikoff was as slow as molasses in the winter..but last time I looked he had his bust on display in Canton.

Bottom line...it's more about your smarts and drive.