The Trojan Duck

When Pete Carroll was last an NFL Head Coach, he was known as a bright young defensive coach who couldn't hack it as the "big man on campus". Now Carroll re-enters the NFL as a college coaching legend with the expectations of success already firmly attached to his new job.

The team that he had his last job with, USC, is holding their pro day today in Los Angeles. While Carroll's Seahawks are holding the 6th and 14th overall picks in next month's NFL Draft, my advice for Carroll is stay away from picking former Trojans with those picks.


While Taylor Mays, Charles Brown, and Everson Griffin are all possible first round picks, Carroll needs to think about more than just winning media coverage. If he selected one of his players, it would make for a great story and fill airtime during what sometimes feels like never ending draft coverage. 


The problem is what could possibly come next. The jokes about the players having to take pay cuts going from USC to the Seahawks. Pete Carroll being a biased talent evaluator and only liking his former players. And if one or more of them end up not living up to expectations, his old head can find itself on the coach's chopping block. Just ask Steve Spurrier how having a bunch of Florida Gators on his Washington Redskins' squads worked out.

If one of his former players happens to slip to the 2nd round and Carroll has a chance to select one of his former star players, there the expectations would probably be manageable. Carroll just has to be careful of the perception around his draft picks. If anyone in the media or fan base even thinks he is reaching to select a USC player, it starts the discussion going in a negative direction. 


These talented football players need to make their own mark on the NFL, too. Nobody wants to enter an NFL locker room with the "coach's pet" label attached to them. It is difficult enough to get respect as an NFL rookie, and each of these players surely want to make their own name.


So, Pete Carroll, when it comes to the temptation of selecting a Trojan with one of your first round picks: don't, just duck.




 


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