On the eve of the 2009 NFL draft, I started wondering which college currently has the best 4 person offensive unit using only a list of current NFL players. For no reason other than to make my research easier, by offensive unit I mean a quarterback (QB), a running back (RB) and two receivers (either wide receivers (WR) or tight ends (TE)). There are hundreds of colleges/ universities out there, so there could be an oversight on my part, but here are some thoughts on schools that could be nominated for producing the top offensive unit.
(In Alphabetical Order)
California: Aaron Rodgers (QB), Marshawn Lynch (RB), Tony Gonzalez (TE), Desean Jackson (WR)
Florida: Rex Grossman (QB), Fred Taylor (RB), Jabar Gaffney (WR), Andre Caldwell (WR)
LSU: JaMarcus Russell (QB), Joseph Addai (RB), Dwayne Bowe (WR), Michael Clayton (WR)
Marshall: Chad Pennington (QB), Ahmad Bradshaw (RB), Randy Moss (WR), Jason Rader (TE)
Miami (FL): Brock Berlin (QB), Clinton Portis (RB), Jeremy Shockey (TE), Andre Johnson(WR)
Michigan: Tom Brady (QB), Mike Hart (RB), Braylon Edwards (WR), Steve Breaston (WR)
Michigan St: Drew Stanton (QB), T.J. Duckett (RB), Muhsin Muhammad (WR), Derrick Mason (WR)
Notre Dame: Brady Quinn (QB), Ryan Grant (RB), Maurice Stovall (WR), John Carlson (TE)
Ohio St: Troy Smith (QB), Anotonio Pittman (RB), Santonio Holmes (WR), Michael Jenkins (WR)
Oregon St Derek Anderson (QB), Steven jackson (RB), Chad Ochocinco (WR), T.J. Houshmandzadeh (WR)
Penn St: Kerry Collins (QB), Larry Johnson (RB), Joe Jurevicius (WR), Bobby Engram (WR)
Tennessee: Peyton Manning (QB), Jamal Lewis (RB), Donte Stallworth (WR), Jason Witten (TE)
Texas: Vince Young (QB), Ricky Williams (RB), Roy Williams (WR), Bo Scaife (TE)
USC: Matt Cassel (QB), LenDale White (RB), Steve Smith (WR), Billy Miller (TE)
Virginia: Matt Schaub (QB), Thomas Jones (RB), Heath Miller (TE), Billy McMullen (WR)
Wisconsin: Brooks Bollinger (QB), Michael Bennett (RB), Chris Chambers (WR), Lee Evans (WR)
So, there you have it, the top 16 (really these were the only 16 colleges that could field a team with the required 4 positions). Obviously some schools have players that didn't make the "team" but are very talented. If this is the case (i.e. Kellen Winslow, Reggie Bush, Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson, etc.), I tried to go with the player I felt was the most productive. With that said, here is my personal Top 5:
1) Miami (QB is very weak, but you can't argue with the other spots which have some of the top players at their respective positions)
2) Oregon State (QB is average, but the running back is a perennial all-star and they have 2 wideouts that are excellent (despite being headcases))
3) LSU (Overrated QB, but very solid skill players highlighted by the up-and-coming Bowe)
4) Tennessee (Manning behind center, enough said. Also, an excellent TE with a pretty good WR and RB to go with him)
5) Cal (Arguably the best TE ever, decent quarterback and one of the top young RB in the league)
JUST MISSED:
USC (good players, but no one on their list jumps off as a year in and year out star and they all are young with a lot to prove
Michigan (I went back and forth with them, but 2 positions are solid and 2 are rather weak. I felt other teams just had more all around talent)
Marshall (maybe the biggest surprise on this list [along with Oregon St.], but when you have a player that I have never heard of [Rader] you are docked a lot of points.)
3 comments:
This is what I have for you at the moment, but I will continue to research later.
Wisconsin - Lee Evans, Aaron Stecker
Florida St. - Brad Johnson(QB), Warrick Dunn(RB), Lavurneus Coles(WR), Anquan Boldin(WR)
Texas - Vince Young/Chris Simms(QB), Cedric Benson (RB), Roy Williams/Limas Sweed (WR), Bo Scaife(TE)
Lee Evans is a good one, Stecker is not currently on any roster.
the whole not on an NFL roster is also true for Brad Johnson, Warrick Dunn.
And I have Texas on the list..but on second look Ricky Williams should get it above Benson (his numbers are better over a longer period of time). And nice call on Scaife, I completely missed him and settled for Sweed. I will make the change!
Alright, how can you honestly put Matt Cassel above Carson Palmer? Palmer has at least taken a team to the playoffs. Granted he didnt play as well in '07 as '05 and '06, and '08 was an injury shortened season, but as a whole he is far and above more accomplished than Cassel. Cassel played for a team with arguably the smartest coach in the NFL and a pretty talented group around him. While Palmer on the other hand has raised the Bengals from the dead and took them from being the laughingstock of the league to a very competitive football team. Even in a down year for Palmer ('07) his passer rating was just less than 3 points less than Cassel's, and his completion percentage was more than a percent better than Cassel who according to some had a breakout season in the NFL, but for Carson Palmer those numbers resemble a down year. As a whole I think Palmer is the guy for SC, but if you are going from just '08 than yes I would agree with you especailly since Palmer only played 4 games.
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