If a player is almost good enough to make it in the pros, but won't get in without an extra year to improve, should he transfer to a different school before his senior year, allowing him to sit out a year, train, and get another year to make something happen?
I don't think it's that ridiculous of a thought. Clayborn's mom needed the money too, but he stayed.
I don't think Bulaga and Spievey let the team down. I do think they are in way over their heads in the NFL.
Both have made position changes already. Spievey to safety and Bulaga began at LT, couldn't beat out an injury riddled 34 year old, moved to LG, couldn't beat a borderline NFL player, then moved to RT to fill in for an injured player. He has been abused most of the season. Particularly against Washington, Miami, & DET.
#1 This thread is BS, but I had an issue with this synopsis of Bulaga and Spievey. The Lions have a poor secondary and they need playmakers to be on the field. They have 1 good safety (Delmas) and then no one. Spievey has 46 tackles, 1 INT, and really has only been playing since their bye in week 7. The Lions liked what they saw in practice and switched him to safety to get him in the game more and plug a hole they had.
I'm a Packer fan so I can speak more about Bulaga. He was supposed to be the backup LT this year, that was the message all along from McCarthy when he was drafted to camp to preseason. Injuries forced the Packers to switch him to guard to cover there, then Tauscher going down forced him to RT. He hasn't failed, his original positions starter just hasn't gotten hurt yet. Has Bulaga got taken advantage of, you bet, comes with learning a new position and the much higher skill set he's going against. Who in the Big Ten could prepare a rookie for all the elite passrushers in the NFC North?
That being said, they are rookies and are not #1 picks so obviously have growing to do. Plus, as you pointed out they are playing different positions than they've played in the past so some mistakes and learning is going to have to take place.
Of all the dumb threads that have been on here the past week or so, this just may be the dumbest.
Good work sir.
I'm not blaming them. I understand why a player would go pro early. If you look at the facts and results, they let down their fellow players more than DJK did.
#1 This thread is BS, but I had an issue with this synopsis of Bulaga and Spievey. The Lions have a poor secondary and they need playmakers to be on the field. They have 1 good safety (Delmas) and then no one. Spievey has 46 tackles, 1 INT, and really has only been playing since their bye in week 7. The Lions liked what they saw in practice and switched him to safety to get him in the game more and plug a hole they had.
I'm a Packer fan so I can speak more about Bulaga. He was supposed to be the backup LT this year, that was the message all along from McCarthy when he was drafted to camp to preseason. Injuries forced the Packers to switch him to guard to cover there, then Tauscher going down forced him to RT. He hasn't failed, his original positions starter just hasn't gotten hurt yet. Has Bulaga got taken advantage of, you bet, comes with learning a new position and the much higher skill set he's going against. Who in the Big Ten could prepare a rookie for all the elite passrushers in the NFC North?
That being said, they are rookies and are not #1 picks so obviously have growing to do. Plus, as you pointed out they are playing different positions than they've played in the past so some mistakes and learning is going to have to take place.
I feel like Bulaga and Spievey let down their team more than DJK did. DJK obviously blew his Senior bowl game, but at least he played 12 games his Senior year and substantially contributed.
There has just been a lot of talk about how we wasted time and money on players who do drugs, but the ones who choose the NFL money seem to have a larger impact.
I am not saying that DJK did not drastically let his team down. He screwed up big time. I think Bulaga and Spievey has a BIGGER impact on the program. Recruiting and Iowa's public image would look a lot better if we had 11 or 12 wins this year.
I feel like Bulaga and Spievey let down their team more than DJK did. DJK obviously blew his Senior bowl game, but at least he played 12 games his Senior year and substantially contributed.
There has just been a lot of talk about how we wasted time and money on players who do drugs, but the ones who choose the NFL money seem to have a larger impact.