Bleacher Report - Articles by David Thomas

NFL Draft: What Makes USC The Best School to Draft From?

David Thomas — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:29:48 -0400

Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, and even O.J. Simpson all have one thing in common; they all attended the University of Southern California.

A nation high ten USC Trojans were selected in the 2008 NFL Draft with four of them in the first round. USC has produced 67 all-time 1st round draft picks.

Each year, USC exudes athletic excellence. While amassing 11 National Championships since their founding in 1888, the Trojans have also produced 11 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees. These players include:

Frank Gifford, HB (1977)
Ron Mix, OT (1979)
Morris 'Red' Badgro, WR (1981)
O.J. Simpso, RB (1985)
Willie Wood, DB (1989)
Anthony Munoz, OT (1998)
Ronnie Lott, DB (2000)
Lynn Swan, WR (2001)
Ron Yary, OT (2001)
Marcus Allen, RB (2003)
Bruce Matthews, OT, C, OG (2007)

The Trojans hold the all-time record for players selected to the Pro Bowl with 162. There are currently 45 former Trojans in the NFL today.

So what makes USC one of the best schools to draft from? The type of offense that they run is the most NFL style offense in the NCAA.

USC runs a pro style offense that contains many different formations and personnel sets. Instead of focusing on just the run or pass, they have a very "balanced" offense. They keep the opposing defense honest by showing them they have to defend both the pass and run equally.

This is the same with most NFL style offenses. If you look at the Indianapolis Colts with Peyton Manning, you would think that their offense would be strictly pass oriented with little running of the football. However, the reason why they win football games is because their offense keeps the defense on their toes. The Colts may run the ball on first down then throw on second and run again on third just to make the defense respect both the passing game and the running game.

USC runs many of their plays from under center while only bringing out the shotgun formation for special situations. Nearly every team in the NFL runs this type of an offense.

Most colleges today run the spread offense which only a few NFL teams run. The Pittsburgh Steelers successfully transitioned to the spread offense under new offensive coordinator Bruce Arians in the 2007 season in order to make better use of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's talents.

By giving their players experience in running and defending plays from under center, USC coaches have helped each draft class transition smoothly into the NFL.

Chicago Drafts Matt Forte; The Green Wave Hits Chicago

David Thomas — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:23:50 -0400

Ask any Bears fan about Chicago's running game during the 2007 season and they will likely change the subject to something completely non-football related.

"We are a football team that comes off the bus running," says Head Coach Lovie Smith.

We may come off the bus running, but I guarantee you that we don't make it past that last step of the bus before we're flat on our face.

The Chicago Bears ranked dead last in the NFL with an average of 3.1 yards per carry.

In 2005 the Bears used their fourth overall pick in the draft on Texas running back Cedric Benson. At the time, Benson was being hailed as the best back in the draft with the strength to break tackles, and the speed to go the distance.

What wasn't to like about him? He put up amazing numbers at Texas in his senior year. 1,824 yards with a 5.6 yards per carry average and 19 touchdowns. Sounds like a first rounder all the way.

After a disappointing 2007 season, the Bears were once again in the market for a reliable ball carrier.

They addressed this need at running back in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. With the 44th overall pick, the Bears selected Tulane running back Matt Forte.

The Bears fell in love with Matt Forte the minute they scouted him. At 6' 1" 224 lbs, he's a tough runner who can run between the tackles and has the speed to turn the corner. He is also an excellent receiver out of the backfield catching 103 passes for 985 yards and five touchdowns during his four years with the Tulane Green Waves.

Forte broke all sorts of rushing records with an outstanding senior year. Rushing for well over 2,000 yards averaging 5.9 yards per carry with 23 touchdowns, Forte looked like a first round talent.

“Until somebody proves that they’re the guy, then we have to make sure that we create as much competition at [running back] to make sure we get that done,” said general manager Jerry Angelo in an April, 25th interview. The Bears believe strongly that they have created that competition by selecting Matt Forte.

“I’m happy to be drafted by the Chicago Bears, especially as a running back,” Forte said in an interview on the Chicago Bears official website. “They have a great history of running backs that came through there. Hopefully I can take over and become one of those guys who makes history as a Chicago Bear just like they did.”

Forte will compete for the starting job against Benson this June when training camp starts."It’s not going to be given to me. I’m going to have to work hard and come in and compete. It’s a great chance for me to show I can play in this league and to do good and become a great running back in the NFL.” Matt Forte seems eager to begin his NFL career and has confidence that he can come in and make the starting roster by September.

Don't be surprised if, on September 7th at Indianapolis, number 32 is not lining up in the backfield.

NFL Draft: Williams and Grossman: Match Made In Bears Heaven

David Thomas — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:42:45 -0400

"With the 22nd overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select...Rex Grossman, Quarterback, Florida."

Fast forward 5 years to the 2008 Draft. "With the 14th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select...Chris Williams, Offensive Tackle, Vanderbilt."

Leading up to this year's draft most mock drafts had the Bears selecting Pittsburgh's Jeff Otah or possibly even Boise State's Ryan Clady with the 14th overall pick.

This was no doubt based on the fact that Chicago ranked 31st in the NFL in yards per carry, during the 2007 season. Both Ryan Clady and Jeff Otah are pounding run blockers, and it would seem obvious for a team that prides itself in "getting off the bus running" to select a lineman that could improve their running game.

False.

The Bears, instead, took a finesse left tackle, Chris Williams. What message is this sending? Chicago wants to throw the football. Their running game was non-existent last year and as a result, they had to find some other way to move the football.

So who will Williams be protecting next year? Rex Grossman, the Bears' first round selection from 2003.

He's never gotten a chance to live up to his full potential. Why? Because he's never had a decent offensive line. I read that the Bears O-line gives their quarterback, whoever it may be, an average of only two seconds to deliver the football.

Grossman isn't a scrambling quarterback, he never was and he never will be. He's a pocket passer that, when given time, is deadly accurate and always a threat to go deep.

With the addition of Chris Williams, Grossman will finally be given a chance. Bears fans all over the country nearly kicked over their TVs when the draft was over, because their beloved team still had not picked a quarterback.

I too was a bit disappointed at first but after thinking it through, became very excited for what next year will bring for Chicago.

I believe we will see an even better version of Rex than we saw during the first half of the 2006 season.

2008, the year of Rex and Williams.