good college vs bad pro
January 2, 2009 4:25 PM Subscribe
Could a great college football team (like, USC) beat a lousy pro team (like, Detroit)?
Depends on the teams. Most lousy NFL teams would beat great NCAA teams for three reasons.
1) Size, strength and experience - although players coming out of college are damn good, nobody would disagree that game speed and strength in the NFL is a completely different level (even for the best players).
2) Complexity of playbook - College football is generally much more simplistic than NFL football. The blocking schemes and playbooks are far more complicated in the NFL and would be too hard for a college team to sufficiently defend.
3) Motivation - believe me if a game like this ever happened I would bet quite a bit of money on the NFL team (even the Lions). There is no way the NFL players would want to have any part in losing to a college team.
That said, since we know anything can happen, I would say it's possible a college team could win but very very very unlikely
posted by sirhensley at 4:32 PM on January 2, 2009
1) Size, strength and experience - although players coming out of college are damn good, nobody would disagree that game speed and strength in the NFL is a completely different level (even for the best players).
2) Complexity of playbook - College football is generally much more simplistic than NFL football. The blocking schemes and playbooks are far more complicated in the NFL and would be too hard for a college team to sufficiently defend.
3) Motivation - believe me if a game like this ever happened I would bet quite a bit of money on the NFL team (even the Lions). There is no way the NFL players would want to have any part in losing to a college team.
That said, since we know anything can happen, I would say it's possible a college team could win but very very very unlikely
posted by sirhensley at 4:32 PM on January 2, 2009
This is commonly debated with my sports-watching buddies over beers, pizza, and football on TV. First off, a great college football team could beat a pro team because, as with all sports, nothing is guaranteed and upsets happen.
I don't believe the best college football team would routinely beat a professional team. The difference in talent-level between the best and worst pro teams is not drastic. I do believe that NFL players are faster, stronger, and bigger than even the most athletic college players. Even the worst NFL players would be studs in college, and the worst college players would be studs in high school, etc, etc.
Throw in coaching and the raw complexity of the professional game and that college team would be stunned and bamboozled. I doubt a college team could readjust quickly enough to be competitive.
posted by madh at 4:40 PM on January 2, 2009
I don't believe the best college football team would routinely beat a professional team. The difference in talent-level between the best and worst pro teams is not drastic. I do believe that NFL players are faster, stronger, and bigger than even the most athletic college players. Even the worst NFL players would be studs in college, and the worst college players would be studs in high school, etc, etc.
Throw in coaching and the raw complexity of the professional game and that college team would be stunned and bamboozled. I doubt a college team could readjust quickly enough to be competitive.
posted by madh at 4:40 PM on January 2, 2009
Never.
posted by Ironmouth at 5:10 PM on January 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Ironmouth at 5:10 PM on January 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
USC could beat the Detroit Lions and the NY Jets. Both teams have horrible defenses.
posted by Zambrano at 5:15 PM on January 2, 2009
posted by Zambrano at 5:15 PM on January 2, 2009
it would also depend on which set of rules you use. college and nfl don't play by the same book.
posted by nadawi at 5:49 PM on January 2, 2009
posted by nadawi at 5:49 PM on January 2, 2009
Usually, I would say no, for many of the same reasons above. NFL players are, for the most part, bigger (they have one job, football, and work at it all year. technically, college players have, y'know, school), faster, and stronger. There are some offenses used in college that just don't work in the pros (the option, for example) because defenses are just too fast.
Then again, the Lions... This year, I think it's possible that college players could beat that team. Yes, they'd be playing for pride, and to avoid that taint, but they were doing that pretty much all season, and they still fell apart. I think the real test is if you put down a contract for a single game in front of the individuals on the Lions, and you said, sign this, beat a college team, and we'll expunge the 2008 season from the records, most of them wouldn't sign, because they'd be afraid that just maybe, they couldn't win.
They suck that bad.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:01 PM on January 2, 2009
Then again, the Lions... This year, I think it's possible that college players could beat that team. Yes, they'd be playing for pride, and to avoid that taint, but they were doing that pretty much all season, and they still fell apart. I think the real test is if you put down a contract for a single game in front of the individuals on the Lions, and you said, sign this, beat a college team, and we'll expunge the 2008 season from the records, most of them wouldn't sign, because they'd be afraid that just maybe, they couldn't win.
They suck that bad.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:01 PM on January 2, 2009
Nope
posted by Wayman Tisdale at 6:01 PM on January 2, 2009
posted by Wayman Tisdale at 6:01 PM on January 2, 2009
The Lions are absolutely terrible-- against other NFL teams. I have no doubt they would look totally awesome against USC.
posted by Wayman Tisdale at 6:08 PM on January 2, 2009
posted by Wayman Tisdale at 6:08 PM on January 2, 2009
As bad as the Lions were this year, I have no doubt that they would easily dominate USC, even playing college rules etc. You never know though. Detroit was really, phenomenally awful this year. I still don't see it. I think the pro linemen make mincemeat out of the college guys, especially by the fourth quarter. Strength is one of those things that just gets better beyond college and even on the Lions you have the best of the best college players. So between the distilling of talent out of the college pool and the extra strength and maturity just on the line the Lions kill the Trojans. At some positions like running back I am not so sure the pros have as much of an advantage, although even there the experience and strength play a big role.
posted by caddis at 6:38 PM on January 2, 2009
posted by caddis at 6:38 PM on January 2, 2009
would not even be close. even the backups on the Lions were studs in college. Maybe 2-3 guys from USC become consistent NFL starters.
posted by JPD at 7:02 PM on January 2, 2009
posted by JPD at 7:02 PM on January 2, 2009
Detroit would win. It would be a bloodbath. Oh the humanity.
The odds of the game being close are not in USC's favor. The odds of USC winning are even worse. Same argument goes for a high school football team from Texas or Florida winning the state championship and then playing a lousy college football team.
posted by toaster at 8:27 PM on January 2, 2009
The odds of the game being close are not in USC's favor. The odds of USC winning are even worse. Same argument goes for a high school football team from Texas or Florida winning the state championship and then playing a lousy college football team.
posted by toaster at 8:27 PM on January 2, 2009
USC could beat the Detroit Lions and the NY Jets. Both teams have horrible defenses.
This is just poppycock. Period. Do you know how much bigger, faster, stronger and knowledgeable EVERY pro player on the Detroit Lions and NY Jets is than any player on USC? Emphasis on BIGGER. USC kids, and they are kids, will get hurt. Bad. Sure Detroit and NY have horrible defenses, but four downs against their pro offensive line and USC would be on their third string defense. And that would be it. There is no chance in hell that a college defensive line, even USC's, will penetrate the offensive line of even the shittiest pro team.
posted by spicynuts at 9:16 PM on January 2, 2009
This is just poppycock. Period. Do you know how much bigger, faster, stronger and knowledgeable EVERY pro player on the Detroit Lions and NY Jets is than any player on USC? Emphasis on BIGGER. USC kids, and they are kids, will get hurt. Bad. Sure Detroit and NY have horrible defenses, but four downs against their pro offensive line and USC would be on their third string defense. And that would be it. There is no chance in hell that a college defensive line, even USC's, will penetrate the offensive line of even the shittiest pro team.
posted by spicynuts at 9:16 PM on January 2, 2009
Do you know how much bigger, faster, stronger and knowledgeable EVERY pro player on the Detroit Lions and NY Jets is than any player on USC?
Every one? Doubt that. As a group, oh my god yes.
posted by caddis at 10:12 PM on January 2, 2009
Every one? Doubt that. As a group, oh my god yes.
posted by caddis at 10:12 PM on January 2, 2009
Let me elaborarte. The pro defenses are especially fast relative to the NCAA top teams. Especially at linebacker, where the NFL guys would be so much smarter as well. The young QBs would not stand a chance.
Take the spread offense. In college the O-linemen spread out more, allowing for teams to play 3 and 4 wideout sets without fear of a defender beating an O-lineman on the edge. If they tried that against the Lions D, the Lions would obliterate the O-line and you'd see tons of sacks.
Also, the lines on both sides of the ball are way bigger in the pros.
Also, how many NFL teams are there? (32, I think). There are a lot more top teams in college, meaning that talent is generally thinner.
posted by Ironmouth at 10:32 PM on January 2, 2009
Take the spread offense. In college the O-linemen spread out more, allowing for teams to play 3 and 4 wideout sets without fear of a defender beating an O-lineman on the edge. If they tried that against the Lions D, the Lions would obliterate the O-line and you'd see tons of sacks.
Also, the lines on both sides of the ball are way bigger in the pros.
Also, how many NFL teams are there? (32, I think). There are a lot more top teams in college, meaning that talent is generally thinner.
posted by Ironmouth at 10:32 PM on January 2, 2009
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"A single college football team, no matter how good this team is, has a weakness at some position. It's probably not going to be at any of the skill positions, like quarterback, running back, or wide receiver. It's probably going to be one of the lineman or maybe a defensive back. But one of the players on the college team is going to be a big weakness.
The transition from college to the NFL is not an easy step. Fantastic players in college don't just become superstars in the NFL. Many struggle to even perform as average players. [...]
Now take your worst NFL team. The Detroit Lions hold that honor this year. Every man on their roster has played college football before. Every man on their roster could go back to the game of college football and dominate. They could probably set records.
An NFL team is comprised of the best of the best in college football. The top college players go on to the National Football League. The rest live a normal life, with a normal job. Players in the NFL are too good and have too much experience to lose to 20 and 21-year-olds. [...]"
posted by Solon and Thanks at 4:31 PM on January 2, 2009