Good news/bad news: Mel Kiper likes UGA’s Justin Houston
This quarterback has a problem -- by the name of Houston. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
If any Bulldog figured to benefit from the switch to the 3-4, it was Justin Houston. He has 8 1/2 sacks through eight games, not far off the 15-for-the-season pace forecast in this space back in August. (Not that I’m smart or anything. I just happen to know enough about the 3-4 to understand that “weakside linebacker” means “lots of sacks.”)
And now the famous Mel Kiper of ESPN has released his newest Big Board for the 2011 NFL draft, and the man who was just named the SEC’s defensive player of the week for his work against Kentucky has risen to No. 17. (Houston wasn’t rated in the previous installment.)
The good news is that another Georgia player is getting recognized for his great work. The bad news is that, as is also the case with wide receiver A.J. Green, who’s rated the No. 2 overall prospect by Kiper, the Georgia player is a junior. Meaning: There’s a good chance a year’s eligibility will be left on the figurative table, as was the case with Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno and Asher Allen and Rennie Curran and Reshad Jones.
But that’s the price of doing business in big-time college football: Good players get noticed, and not just seniors. And Houston is really, really good. Writes Kiper (all Mel links require registration): “To say the transition [to the 3-4] has been a smooth one is a major understatement … When looking at the current outside linebacker crop from the 2012 class, he clearly projects as the best 3-4 outside linebacker of the group.”
That’s correct. Kiper wrote “the 2012 class.” But the NFL allows juniors to enter the draft — ask Georgia Tech fans about that — and the rule of thumb is: If you’re projected anywhere close to Round 1, you leave. And No. 17 isn’t just anywhere close; it’s on the cusp of Round 1’s first half.
Ah, well. UGA fans can’t be shocked. When you hire an NFL coach to coordinate your defense and you tutor the converted linebacker by showing him film of the Dallas Cowboys’ DeMarcus Ware, you shouldn’t really be surprised if the pros note the resemblance.
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76 comments Add your comment
Newton better than Tebow?
October 28th, 2010
10:15 am
he’s really really good – but Tebow won championships. let’s see how it plays out
Ted M
October 28th, 2010
10:16 am
what about a stoppage of the NBA?
gdawginkalamazoo
October 28th, 2010
10:17 am
Hey Mark I have a new service upstart called “I’ll take your money to tell you something you already know.”
Newton better make sure that he establishes himself as one hell of a passer. The NFL jury is still out on the Tebow type of player in the league and I doubt somebody would spend 1st round again on that type of QB just yet. Now if Tebow had been in the league a few years and proven himself then Cam would be 1st rounder. NFL won’t allow a QB to take the pounding like in college.
Ron
October 28th, 2010
10:22 am
yep and losing aj and durham will only make next year even tougher.
Dawglasville
October 28th, 2010
10:22 am
I agree with Bobby Cremins that it is a crock when guys get drafted and it counts against your graduation rate. Houston and Green goes and that is just life. We should be prepared for that and move on.
CDAWG
October 28th, 2010
10:23 am
I think this is the year of the DAWG in Jacksonville. UGA is playing with intensity; UF will automatically think they have the advantage because of years past and won’t work as hard. I say bring Larry Munson back for this game!
1eyedJack
October 28th, 2010
10:24 am
Whether or not there is a work stoppage in the NFL depends on how greedy Agents and Owners are and we all know the answer to that.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 28th, 2010
10:25 am
No strike and AJ and Houston should be former bulldogs. IF the NFL strikes which I doubt it will then they will stay.
Aaron 11
October 28th, 2010
10:28 am
Worm what are you talking about?
Jim Irsay
October 28th, 2010
10:28 am
Who the [ Expletive Deleted ] is Mel Kiper, Jr.?
Jackets2010
October 28th, 2010
10:29 am
Maybe a better stat than grad rate would be the unemployment rate of the class 10 and 20 years later.
Bill Gates did not graduate from college.
Michael Dell didn’t either.
They turned “pro” to start businesses that made them billionaires.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 28th, 2010
10:30 am
Ted M, great idea on that NBA stoppage.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 28th, 2010
10:31 am
Jim Irsay, he is the son of Mel Kiper Sr.
Denys
October 28th, 2010
10:33 am
Two thugs gone. Who will miss them?
SECWasteManagement
October 28th, 2010
10:36 am
I don’t know who is the worst out of those TV hair do’s. Mel Kiper or Mark Schlereth.
Left Foot
October 28th, 2010
10:39 am
Alphare just when I was beginning to wonder if you really were an idiot, you made a second post and removed all doubt.
Jackets2010
October 28th, 2010
10:40 am
Thanks for clearing that up gdawginkalamazoo.
Paul in RDU
October 28th, 2010
10:43 am
A comment on the NCAA’s GSR (Graduation Success Rate):
If a player leaves early, whether going pro or transferring to another school, and is in good standing academically, it has no affect on the GSR. Most football players who go early drop out of school after the bowl games and I am not sure how that affects the GSR.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/10/28/764284/acc-graduation-rates.html
Nesbitt for Heisman
October 28th, 2010
10:47 am
And where does Mel have Nesbitt?
Jackets2010
October 28th, 2010
10:51 am
What sunk Dwyer in the draft?
Lack of speed or drug rumors.
Nesbitt for Heisman
October 28th, 2010
10:53 am
Is Nesbitt in Mel’s Top 5 or what?
Jackets2010
October 28th, 2010
10:53 am
Aren’t you guys going to get tired of the Nesbit slights?
A lot of good college QBs would be drafted higher at another position.
Playing at QB kills a lot of futures in the pros.
Jackets2010
October 28th, 2010
10:56 am
The Heisman at one time went to the player who meant the most his team.
Notre Dame often rigged the voting with their PR push.
Paul Horning I saw recently won it in the sixties and I think his team went 3-7 or 2-8.
DawginLex
October 28th, 2010
1:00 pm
Murray is not considered a Heisman candidate but no one means more to their team than he does.
cg
October 28th, 2010
4:39 pm
If he is projected that low he will go, but it will be too early for him. He is good but not that good yet, just watch this weekend. Going against better o lineman in the league have meant a noticeable absence. I think it will be the same in the ug fla game…he should wait another year, but can’t blame him for leaving if he is around 17.
AJ is a freak…great player uga…he will do damamge sat. against us for sure…hopefully not too much.
droopydawg
October 28th, 2010
4:49 pm
Justin Houston was made for the 3-4. Anyone who thought he would be around for his senior season was fooling themselves.