05-07-2021, 03:24 PM
(05-07-2021, 09:30 AM)TJ528 Wrote: Elite athletes expect to be great you are very correct on that.
However, if you look at some of the past elite athletes we've drafted and you say to yourself damn they were a stud in college what the hell happened in the NFL.
Lets take a look, John Ross, fast quick WR at Washington. Really made the Washington offense excel the season he was there. Came to Cincy and shit the bed.
Peter Warrick stud out of FSU, played the Bengals for 4 years and never lived up to expectations. Was ultimately replaced by TJ Hous.
Akili Smith came in with all the confidence in the world. Truly believed he was going to be the next star QB after 1 year of stardom at Oregon. Came in and was a complete bust.
I agree you can expect your players to be studs coming in especially the 1st rounders, but as you can see above just cause you were drafted high and a stud in college doesn't mean it's going to translate into the NFL.
Your 3 examples all failed for very different reasons.
- Ross lacked confidence and needed to be coddled. In short, couldn't handle the pressure.
- Warrick was coming along nicely, but suffered an injury he never recovered from.
- Akili just didn't put in the work. He was essentially Jamarcus Russell with less talent.
Confidence is huge. But so is work ethic and talent. You need all 3.
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.
