Which Position Has The Most Difficult Transition

[MrMoJoRisin63]

From College to the Pros?

Justify

 

[JDM]

QB easy. College schemes are a joke and college perfect coverage is NFL wide open.

 

[Broncos6482]

QB easy. College schemes are a joke and college perfect coverage is NFL wide open.

A few years ago I would have completely agreed with this. Now with the success so many quarterbacks have had right out of college, I'm not so sure.

I think it might be defensive tackle. Those guys are used to being bigger, stronger, and faster than 99% of the offensive lineman they face, once they get to the NFL they have to learn to be really fundamentally sound, use technique, and understand the defensive scheme.

I haven't researched it, but it seems like there's a pretty high rate of draft busts among defensive tackles.

 

[Clayton]

I haven't researched it, but it seems like there's a pretty high rate of draft busts among defensive tackles.

Its the highest of any position, IIRC. A lot of times, a guy is built to play 3-4 DE and instead is drafted as a 4-3 DT or vice versa. Oddly enough, people make fun of 40 times but it matters with DTs. DTs that are quick and strong don't bust that often

 

[STBR 27]

I would go with WR, because in college, talent can get you by weaker DB's, but in the pros, you have to run a clean route or the DB's will eat you alive. You also must be intelligent, tough, strong, disciplined and fast.

QB is still really tough, but the college game is getting closer to the pro game so the transition is easier.

 

[Midnightangel]

From College to the Pros?

Justify

QB for a myriad of reasons.

In college the coverages just aren't as good as they are in the NFL. A QB has to learn to read defenses at this level and adjust. The speed of the game is SO much faster than it is in college. In college you see QB's stare down their WR's and get away with it. you don't see that much in the pros. The windows into which they have to throw are much smaller and the hits they take are a lot harder.

 

[darken65]

A few years ago I would have completely agreed with this. Now with the success so many quarterbacks have had right out of college, I'm not so sure.

I think it might be defensive tackle. Those guys are used to being bigger, stronger, and faster than 99% of the offensive lineman they face, once they get to the NFL they have to learn to be really fundamentally sound, use technique, and understand the defensive scheme.

I haven't researched it, but it seems like there's a pretty high rate of draft busts among defensive tackles.

A good QB draft that comes out is a bit scarce. I would ask how many QBs coming into this coming draft would you consider a starting QB in the NFL.

 

[Gooch1034]

I would say QB simply because of the lack of quality starting QBs in the NFL. 1/3 of the league starts some pretty bad QBs because they have to.

 

[Clayton]

I would say QB simply because of the lack of quality starting QBs in the NFL. 1/3 of the league starts some pretty bad QBs because they have to.

It definitely has the highest bar of entry. My guess is you'll probably only see 2 good QBs coming out of next year's draft

 

[Gooch1034]

It definitely has the highest bar of entry. My guess is you'll probably only see 2 good QBs coming out of next year's draft

I agree. 2 at best or 3 because someone could have a good rookie year then taper off like so many have done recently.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

QB...the young QBs coming into the NFL that have had some success largely been great athletes running college offenses. Most struggle once the league has a year of tape on them...the throwing windows are much tighter and the entire field is much faster...especially the front 7.

 

[JDM]

A few years ago I would have completely agreed with this. Now with the success so many quarterbacks have had right out of college, I'm not so sure.

I think it might be defensive tackle. Those guys are used to being bigger, stronger, and faster than 99% of the offensive lineman they face, once they get to the NFL they have to learn to be really fundamentally sound, use technique, and understand the defensive scheme.

I haven't researched it, but it seems like there's a pretty high rate of draft busts among defensive tackles.

It's really one good year, though, and many of those guys have been making the plays with their feet, which is not likely sustainable.

 

[seahawksfan234]

From College to the Pros?

Justify

QB no doubt.

The jump from HS to D1 college is big in itself, the jump from college to the pros is even bigger.

Everyone is bigger, faster, better football instincts and the defensive coverages/offensive schemes are typically more complicated.

I'd say other than QB, CB has to be pretty difficult too. You go from covering average guys to some of the best athletes in the country. I don't know how some of these 5'10-6'0 guys manage to cover a WR like Calvin Johnson. The best WR you cover all season long in college could be the #2 guy for an average NFL team, the talent jump is pretty big.

 

[darken65]

QB...the young QBs coming into the NFL that have had some success largely been great athletes running college offenses. Most struggle once the league has a year of tape on them...the throwing windows are much tighter and the entire field is much faster...especially the front 7.

With RG3, RW and Luck some feel it is easy to start a as QB in the NFL. We have had some good drafts in the the past of QBs that could start at the postion but that draft was rare. I agree.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

I think playing QB is the hardest position to play, but I think WR is the bigger transition. Almost all WRs use their god given talent to get by in college. But honestly are mostly pretty stupid when it comes to the NFL fundamentals. between route running & run blocking & all the little things they never even thought about making a difference when in college. usually when a QB is thought of as top notch, they usually turn into a pretty good QB. Many many WRs that thought they would be sliced bread, turned into if not a bust, a definite not that special.
I don't think there is as many successful QBs because the position as a whole is harder, but not because the transition is bigger. However I do understand that position is a big transition as well.

 

[Naughtymax]

Walter Football put together a study of 10 years of drafts and for both rounds 1 and 2 listed whether the player had been a success or a bust. The definition of bust was a bit subjective, but if you accept it, then WR is the least successful high pick in football, followed by QB. 24 of 40 first round WRs went on to bust where only half the quarterbacks taken were true busts. To be fair, it considers Alex Smith, Jason Campbell, and Daunte Culpepper to have started enough to be considered successful.


WalterFootball.com: NFL Draftology 408: The 10-Year NFL Draft Study: Round 1

 

[cdumler7]

I would have to agree that DT has to be up there in the discussion. How many great Defensive Tackles can you actually name in the NFL? And when I say great I mean guys that aren't just great against the run but suck in pass rush or vice versa. I am talking about guys that are great at both. They are a rare breed these days. Now given I do understand some guys are drafted for the idea to be a great run stuffer or just a great pass rusher from the position but every team is trying to find that guy in the middle that can do both.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

After the past couple years I would have to say officiating... I don't think I have ever seen it get this bad

 

[ram29jackson]

QB = question answered

 

[SEC Official]

This argument can be spun a few different ways..

Although I agree that D Tackles have to adjust because the O linemen are now 10x more experienced and larger... if they have the physical gifts they were drafted for, they will their chance.

WR on the other hand is tough, because success in college can be linked to scheme, etc. and doesn't necessarily translate to pro... some WR's that are good, suck in pro... but we have seen a number of wide receivers who were overlooked in college come in and dominate at the Pro level.

So WR for me is a much more risky proposition until you have a sure thing AJ Green or someone who is physically gifted to the point it would be hard for them to suck.