Disappointing Draft for Husker Fans
12 comments so far
April 28, 2008 by
The NFL teams picked sides this weekend. Any Nebraska fan expecting to hear a lot of former Husker names called likely came away pretty disappointed. In the end, only three Huskers were drafted. While there is some silver lining in this relatively weak showing for NU, the events of the weekend put a capstone on a 2007 NU season marked by underachievement.
Listening to Chris Berman bumble and Mel Kiper and Chris Mortensen bicker isn’t exactly a great viewing experience. For most fans, the ultimate relief is the chance to hear one of their favorite players get selected. NU fans got no such relief in the entire first day of the draft. On the second day of the draft, just three former Huskers were selected, Zack Bowman by the Bears in round 4, Carl Nicks by the Saints in round 5, and Bo Ruud to the Patriots in round 6. That’s it. That’s the list. All the other Huskers wanting a shot in the NFL would need to sign free agent contracts.
Congrats to the Deserving
There is some upside for NU from this weekend. (I had to say “upside” just once). I suspect most fans feel good for Zack Bowman getting a shot at the NFL. He’s a huge talent, who might have been a first-round pick if he had not hurt his knee (twice!) while in college. He displayed heart and leadership for NU, and I’m glad he gets a shot. Carl Nicks fell further in the draft than most expected. But, he landed in a very good situation. New Orleans is considered by many to be a team on the rise and they run a system very much like what NU did under Callahan. He should make that team. Finally, Bo Ruud brings the Ruud dynasty at NU to a close. He also landed on his feet, going to the Patriots – a team in need of youth at linebacker. The smart and multi-dimensional Ruud should have ample chance to catch on there.
Testing the Free Agent Waters
A number of Huskers with significant talent went undrafted this weekend, and will go the free agent route to the NFL if they can. It appears that Courtney Grixby and Steve Octavien have already signed on with franchises. We’ll see if Mo Purify, Sam Keller, Tierre Green and others get to ink deals soon. Many say that it is better to be a free agent than to be selected in the seventh round of the draft, because a player can leverage one team against the others. Though, personally, I’d rather know there was a team willing to invest in me and call my name in public. Either way, I wish these guys luck.
Capstone of Disappointment
For me, the 2008 NFL draft somehow puts a nice neat capstone on the misery of the 2007 campaign for NU. In my opinion, 2007 was all about squandered potential. To illustrate, let me drop in three names – Sam Keller, Mo Purify and Steve Octavien. At season’s start, what Husker fan thought none of these players would go unselected by NFL teams? On talent alone, all three of them had the goods. Heck, Purify and Octavien were invited to the combine, and something like 85% of combine invitees get selected.
When players underachieve, their teams often do so too. The resulting poor performance leads to losing seasons and lower draft status. I know there are tons and tons of examples of good NFL-caliber players on bad teams. But, in very broad strokes, you can see how good teams get more players drafted. It’s about maximizing the potential they have. Results on the field matter. Schools like USC and Virginia Tech (Both rock solid in 2007) had a lot of players taken. More under achieving schools like NU and Alabama (who had nobody selected) didn’t rule the draft. Even mighty Miami, long thought to be the hot bed of talent in America, didn’t have their usual run of players drafted. Though, the still kept their streak of first-round picks alive.
So, what’s the point? I think NU had ample talent to win more games in 2007. That talent was squandered, either by bad attitude or inadequate coaching, and it showed up big in the record book and at the draft. I can only be optimistic about the new coaching staff’s ability to take the talent they have on the roster and get the absolute most from it in 2008. Then, fans may be able to celebrate more wins, and NFL scouts will take more notice.
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ze bop Apr 28 08
K, well so it was a weak draft for Husker guys, but did we really have that many available?
Bowman to DA Bearzss and Ruud to the Pats works great for me as those r my 2 fav teams...I can definitely see Ruud working into the Patriots style.
So nobody took Octavian?? Thats quite a surprise..
ze bop Apr 28 08
Yeah, so Keller and Purify do have the talent to play in the pros. I think Purify can definitely benefit any team, I mean the guy can catch anything, and though he isnt a speed burner, he's gets alotta YAC.
Keller's injury really screwed him up, though I think he could play too, though a team would have to view him as a 'project'. Heck, he could probably be better than Grossman in time(I say that cuz DA Bearzss is my TEAM).
Grix really is very good too, though maybe they were looking at his size--or lack thereof.
Jason Apr 28 08
Chadron State running back Danny Woodhead signed as a free agent with the Jets.
Jason Apr 28 08
Grixby signed with Carolina and Octavien is going to Kansas City.
Keller doesn't sound too confident according to the extremely short quote in the OWH article.
carlinthemarlin Apr 28 08
Keller really isn't that good. He can throw the deep ball, but his weird short arm throwing motion makes it impossible for him to put the kind of zip on the ball you need for those crisp slants and out routes that NFL teams like to run. If you can't make those throws, you can't play in the NFL, and Keller struggles to make those throws because of his throwing motion. Also, his accuracy is suspect at best, and he makes poor decisions with the ball in his hand (although some of that might have been having only a year to learn BC's system).
darren Apr 28 08
Carlin, embracing his inner Mel Kiper. Nice.
I feel you, really. Keller didn't live up to what many NU fans expected. And the NFL is a fickle, fickle world where every little thing is picked apart.
But...remember when Keller was at ASU and torched LSU's defense? And, consider the number and caliber of other QB's taken on day 2 of the draft. Juxtapose the two, and you see my point about squandered ability.
OU7times Apr 28 08
When watching Sam Keller play at NU, I couldn't help but think of Danny Wuerful. Very similar deliveries. D.W. never really took off at New Orleans.
carlinthemarlin Apr 28 08
I do think Keller would have been better with more time in the system (the same way Taylor looked a lot better in 06 than he did in 05). But ASU ran a pretty wide open air attack, had a really good college receiver in Derek Hagan to throw to, and played in a conference not know for it's great defenses. The LSU game is certainly an impressive accomplishment, but really seems like an exception rather than the rule in hindsight. He's got a gunslinger attitude with a finesse passers arm: this does not spell success to me.
You're right about some of the reaches at QB, though. Kevin O'Connell in the third? Really, New England?
ze bop Apr 28 08
I think John David Booty didnt go til like the 4th round, but I think he will make a great QB in the pros. Was surprised he went that low...
donfl Apr 28 08
Darren, you hit it right on the nose, the talent was squandered by both a bad attitude and inadequate coaching! Talent is only as good as the ability to maximize that talent through superior coaching, and that is exactly what the Callahan era failed to bring to the table. Will wait in anticipation for the summer to be over with to see if the new staff can turn this around. Remember BO said in his own words, I did not take this job under the pretext that it would be a five year rebuilding program, I hope is is correct. GBR
Greg Morrow Apr 28 08
About 2/3 of Nebraska players who've made it to the League the last ten years, have been on the defensive side. Even moreso during Callahan's brief stint, where all but two, Brandon Jackson and Nicks, are defensive guys.
Doing a quick scan since 1970, the trend wasn't quite so tilted towards the "D," but it looked like more than half. For the last 25 years, QB's and wideouts have had no chance, obviously.
Having a defensive season of an historical level of disappointment, it's impressive even two were drafted. I was surprised Bo got took. At least he'll get compensation money to offset what he endured, the last 5 years in his hometown.
With defense at least emphasized equally, the next two seasons should tell a different tale, draft wise. Once again, I'm reminded of Barret crediting Pelini for his career in the NFL, from just that one season tutorage.
doombob Apr 29 08
Draft day may have been boring, but free agent day was pretty exciting. Let's just see how many Huskers are left on rosters after the preseason is over.