Recent First Round Draft Picks from Alabama

[57stratdawg]

2009 -
Andre Smith - Average NFL OT. Resigned a 2nd contract in 2013 for 3 years.

2010 -
Rolando McClain - Total bust
Kareem Jackson - Up and down. Overdrafted relative to production.

2011 -
Marcell Dareus - Inching toward Total bust. Hasn't/can't pass a physical for 2014 yet.
Julio Jones - Very good. Unquestionably the best pick under Saban.
James Carpenter - Starter at Seattle, but Seattle didn't pick up his option for 2015.
Mark Ingram - Overdrafted relative to production.

2012 -
Trent Richardson - Total bust
Mark Barron - Overdrafted relative to production. Jury still out.
Dre Kirkpatrick - Injuries so far. Beagles drafted a CB in the 1st round in 2014.
Dont'a Hightower - Started slow, played better at the end of last year when he found the field because of injuries to Jerrod Mayo and Brandon Spikes

Too early on 2013 draft picks (Millner, Warmack, Fluker)

Not exactly a beacon of success in the NFL.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Marcell Dareus is far from a bust. Idiot, yes. Bust, no. Hes arguably the 2nd most successful out of the bunch by making the pro bowl last year. I agree with the others though. Andre Smith is a pretty decent RT. He is a hasn't lived up to his draft position but I'd gladly have him as the RT on my team. It's amazing how the large majority of their superstars don't translate to successful nfl careers.

 

[121Josey]

Not exactly a beacon of success in the NFL.

Marcell Dareus approves this post.** But the trend is ticking upward. I expect that to continue with Mosley and Clinton-Dix. Ha Ha.

 

[esplanade91]

I'm as critical of Ingram as anyone. Believe dat.

But at the time he was the latest picked 1st running back in the draft in like 40 years or something crazy (outdone this year).

I think he was picked right where he needed to he picked. The jury is very much still out on him. He's shown flashes of greatness. If I we were redoing the draft based on what I know now, I'd still like to give him a shot.

Unfortunately he's about to lose his job to a NR no star guy from a school no one has heard of so he might not be around long enough to finally see it all come together in the black and gold, but I think that's a testament to how good Robinson is, not how bad Ingram turned out to be. Crazy how things work out.

It's not just Alabama and Saban. It's the SEC and all the big conferences.

I said something unpopular on here a while back but I stand by it... Rarely is the best player at his position in the NFL an SEC product. In fact, only P. Manning and Willie have a claim to it in my opinion... And then it's entirely based on who you ask.

No one gives a **** where you went to school, who you played against, and where you were picked once you make the 53 man roster.

 

[kired]

I remember Kiper (and I'm sure others) basically saying Bama players are so well coached, and everyone executes the game plan so well that they're performing at a higher level than most college players. That means you're not going to draft a Bama player who still needs a little polishing - he's already hit his ceiling and there's not much room for improvement.

They are also playing on the most talented team in college football. Imagine how good we thought Fletcher Cox was. Now imagine him & Chris Jones lining up side-by-side, with KJ and McKinney behind them. Those guys from Bama would be good players on any SEC team, but when you get them all playing together it makes them appear as if they are on another level. So they get overvalued and drafted too high.

 

[esplanade91]

I remember Kiper (and I'm sure others) basically saying Bama players are so well coached, and everyone executes the game plan so well that they're performing at a higher level than most college players. That means you're not going to draft a Bama player who still needs a little polishing - he's already hit his ceiling and there's not much room for improvement.

They are also playing on the most talented team in college football. Imagine how good we thought Fletcher Cox was. Now imagine him & Chris Jones lining up side-by-side, with KJ and McKinney behind them. Those guys from Bama would be good players on any SEC team, but when you get them all playing together it makes them appear as if they are on another level. So they get overvalued and drafted too high.

This is called the Trojan effect for multiple reasons. It's the same reason you and I won't see a USC QB taken early in the draft for a LOOOOONG time.

But it all cheapens the whole "blue chip" argument, doesn't it?

 

[dorndawg]

Calling TR a "total bust" is a hair pre-mature at this point.

I'd guess (no way I'm looking it up) that only maybe LSU, Ohio State, and USC have had a similar # of 1st rounders during this period - how do they compare? If you're wanting to hate on Bama, i'll join that any day, but this is a little dubious.

 

[57stratdawg]

I dunno, LSU has put together a pretty promising list.

Tyson Jackson signed a 5 year deal with Atlanta this offseason.
Patrick Peterson might be the most athletic player in the NFL.
Eric Reid made the ProBowl last year as a rookie.

Mo Clairborne has been decent for the Cowboys, and Mingo got hurt last year. I think Beckham Jr. will have a very good NFL career as well.

 

[HueFreeze]

I hate Mark Ingram just like the next guy and went to tell you how he was a bust compared to the draft, but in that class he wasn't or can not be called a bust

rd 1 mark ingram
2. ryan williams
2. shane vereen
2. mikel leshoure
2. daniel thomas
3. demarco murray
3. stevan ridley

i will take ingram still over those guys

 

[esplanade91]

I hate Mark Ingram just like the next guy and went to tell you how he was a bust compared to the draft, but in that class he wasn't or can not be called a bust

rd 1 mark ingram
2. ryan williams
2. shane vereen
2. mikel leshoure
2. daniel thomas
3. demarco murray
3. stevan ridley

i will take ingram still over those guys

Vareen and Ridley are probably on par. Murray, when healthy, is a legitimate starting NFL runningback.

My final judgment on Ingram will be held until February.

 

[57stratdawg]

I think I would take Vereen, Ridley, and Murray over Ingram. Especially if my options are Murray and Muhummad Wilkerson (who was picked a couple spots later). I agree though, it's a big year for Ingram.