OT-Why Doesn't USC & Florida Put Out Quality QB's

[NJCardFan]

2 great schools with rich, offensive traditions who's turned out RB's and WR but QB's usually end up mediocre at best. Can someone name me 1 QB from either school who ended up being a good pro? Now, I would grant Carson Palmer to a degree but they usually end up busts. We know that intimately here. Hell, the best QB from either school I can think of is Rodney Peete.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

I'm working on a theory since USC draws so many QB's from Orange County. And they're all from middle to upper middle class backgrounds: Leinart, Marinovich, Sanchez. They don't have the mental toughness because they've never struggled. Heck, they've never even had to get up and shovel snow. Barkley could very well turn out the same.

OC turns out some fantastic actors and musicians. NFL QB's? Nope.

 

[Superfuzz]

I'm working on a theory since USC draws so many QB's from Orange County. And they're all from middle to upper middle class backgrounds: Leinart, Marinovich, Sanchez. They don't have the mental toughness because they've never struggled. Heck, they've never even had to get up and shovel snow. Barkley could very well turn out the same.

OC turns out some fantastic actors and musicians. NFL QB's? Nope.

How does that theory explain wunderkind middle class Tom Brady from Nor Cal then?

I also dont buy it because anyone who can work their way to being the starting qb for a storied program like USC is tough and has work ethic. Its something else...

 

[GatorAZ]

As far as USC quarterbacks are concerned football isn't their life, it's a part of their life. At least that was the problem with Matty. He didn't live the life of an NFL QB. Look at every successful QB for an extended period of time. They're either elite physical talents or bulldogs between the ears and in the film room. Leinart was neither.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

How does that theory explain wunderkind middle class Tom Brady from Nor Cal then?

I also dont buy it because anyone who can work their way to being the starting qb for a storied program like USC is tough and has work ethic. Its something else...

It's Orange County specific. (I'm from Orange County so I'll put myself in the expert category.) And I said mental toughness not work ethic. The beach, Hollywood 30 miles up the freeway, great weather. These guys are raised to go to USC. It's the focus of their lives. Then after that when the hit the NFL? They deflate because they've peaked at SC.

Just my little theory I've developed while trying to distract myself during some of the Cardinals games this year.

 

[DoTheDew]

For guys like Leinart, in a lot of ways it's a step back going to the NFL. They are no longer the most popular person on campus. They've already lived the dream. It takes an unnatural level of passion to be successful as an NFL QB, and I just think a lot of these kids from USC don't have the drive after already being on top of the world in college.

As for Florida, they've used gimmick offenses at least in recent history. Most good scramblers in college amount to nothing at QB in the NFL.

 

[football karma]

I think this is a little oversimplified

Carson Palmer has been pretty solid, and one wonders about his career trajectory had his knee not been blown out

Leinart has been a bust. Interestingly-- none of the skill players off that team have really met expectations.

Sanchez was over drafted-- he really only played one full year.

We have no idea what Barkley will be like.

In general -- the common theme between those great USC and Florida teams is that they were so much more physically talented than the competition. During their hey days-- the rest of their conference wasn't as good as it is today. So QBs could ring up gaudy numbers.

 

[Matt L]

It seems like a loaded question. What is the benchmark for an average to above average quarterback?

If we go by QBR there are 20 QBs with a score of 50 or higher. Each of those QBs went to a different college. There is not one school that has two QBs that would be considered at least average (if we are basing it off of QBR).

I think the inability for USC or Florida graduates to become league average quarterbacks has less to do with their limitations or unwillingness to work and more to do with just how difficult the position is and how difficult it is to evaluate the position.

 

[NJCardFan]

It seems like a loaded question. What is the benchmark for an average to above average quarterback?

Boston College has produced Doug Flutie(not great but serviceable), Matt Hasselback and Matt Ryan. Maryland had Frank Reich and Boomer Esiason and even Neil O'Donnell. Drew Bledsoe and Mark Rypien came from Washington State. BYU has produced better QB's than USC or Florida but those schools produce Heisman Trophy QB's and national champions. As Pac-10 schools go, Stanford has done a much better job at producing NFL caliber QB's.

 

[Matt L]

Boston College has produced Doug Flutie(not great but serviceable), Matt Hasselback and Matt Ryan. Maryland had Frank Reich and Boomer Esiason and even Neil O'Donnell. Drew Bledsoe and Mark Rypien came from Washington State. BYU has produced better QB's than USC or Florida but those schools produce Heisman Trophy QB's and national champions. As Pac-10 schools go, Stanford has done a much better job at producing NFL caliber QB's.

Rodney Peete kicked around the league for a good amount of time and had at least a few starts where he was average. Carson Palmer led the NFL in touchdowns in 2005. I think the lack of success of USC/Florida QBs has more to do with the difficulty of the position and less to do with the school that they attended.

 

[NJCardFan]

Rodney Peete kicked around the league for a good amount of time and had at least a few starts where he was average. Carson Palmer led the NFL in touchdowns in 2005. I think the lack of success of USC/Florida QBs has more to do with the difficulty of the position and less to do with the school that they attended.

You win the Heisman because you are perceived to be the best player in college. Maybe it's the QB position but it seems like QB's from those schools not only win the Heisman but they get drafted very high otherwise and are rated high coming out. I've seen players from smaller schools make better pros.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

We have no idea what Barkley will be like.

Oh, I think we do.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

You can add Ohio State to the list. They haven't produced a good NFL QB that I can remember.

I think part of it is that these kids are so revered at school that they can do no wrong. I realize the QB is big at every college but these mega-programs increase that immensely.

Then these guys get into the pros and they don't who you are or where you came from. Just produce.

 

[BurqueCardFan]

Yup, I think this holds true for a lot of the high profile schools (i.e. USC, Florida, Ohio State, LSU, Alabama, Texas, Norte Dame, etc...). Of course each one may have an exception to the rule (i.e. Joe Montana) but for the most part they are sub-par. I think it has more to do with the overall talent on the team. They have so much blue chip talent that it makes the QB look better just because of the surrounding cast. This causes NFL scouts to overvalue these guys. Look at all the recent young guns, they are from middle tier programs:
Luck - Stanford
RGIII - Baylor
Dalton - TCU
Kapernick - Nevada
Rogers - Cal
Brees - Purdue
Big Ben - Miami (OH)

 

[wierwolf]

Sexy rexy Grossman from Florida went to Super Bowl

 

[Chopper0080]

In general, the harder you have to work for things, the harder you end up fighting to keep them. At these big-time college programs, the QBs can lean on their talented rosters to make up for any definciency they have or challenge they need to overcome. In contrast, college QBs on less talented rosters have to step up their game personally if they want to win against teams with more talented rosters. Andrew Luck was a great example of this. The first time I saw him throwing his slower and smaller WRs open vs. USC, I immediately knew this kid was worth watching because he was elevating his game to make his teammates successful and that hints at a tremendous work ethic. If you want to find a college QB who will make it to the NFL, look for the guy who has the size, but also keeps his team in games against better competition. Look for the guy whose team loses because the defense was overmatched on the final drive, but who led the go ahead drive when it mattered.

It's one of the reasons athletic QBs tend to struggle to adjust. When you are conditioned to overcome adversity with your legs in High School and College, it is hard to change that natural response once you get to the Pros.

 

[TruCard]

I'm guessing that someone already mentioned this one. This is easy. These schools are so loaded with skill players that the QB's look better than what they are.

 

[WildBB]

Yup, I think this holds true for a lot of the high profile schools (i.e. USC, Florida, Ohio State, LSU, Alabama, Texas, Norte Dame, etc...).

Bama - Joe Namath
ND - Joe Montana

Draft Joe's.

 

[Buckybird]

Bama - Joe Namath
ND - Joe Montana

Draft Joe's.

Stabler & Theismann weren't to shabby either

 

[NJCardFan]

I think Delaware has put out better QB's than USC or Florida.