Joel Buchsbaum's college notepad
By Joel Buchsbaum, Contributing editor
Sept. 24, 2001
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| North Carolina DE Julius Peppers has to develop more of
a football mentality and learn to use his hands much better. If he does, he could be as
good as anyone in the nation. He makes athletic plays that nobody his size should be able
to make and moves very well. ... Oregon QB Joey Harrington would be way
too erratic to be a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender if not for how well he plays with
the game on the line. Against USC, he took his team 61 yards in 44 seconds to set up the
game-winning field goal. Harrington, who has led the Ducks to a school-record number of
fourth-quarter comeback wins, needs to develop a consistent release point. When his upper-
and lower-body mechanics are good, he is a very impressive player, but he tends to drop
down and throw with poor technique, leading to many poor throws. … Fresno
State’s David Carr is a better college player and pro prospect than
Harrington and was the best quarterback in the country through four games. ...
Northwestern RB Damien Anderson looks much better than he really is
because of the system in which he plays. He lacks great make-you-miss moves and is not
much of a tackle-breaker. However, he is strong and has breakaway speed. … Marquise
Walker is stepping up as Michigan ‘s go-to receiver. However, his lack of
speed will keep him from moving into the David Terrell category in terms
of being a prospect. ... After watching Penn State get hammered by Wisconsin, you have to
wonder if the Nittany Lions have enough speed, talent or competent linemen to even compete
in the Big Ten. Wisconsin totally dominated on both sides of the line of scrimmage. ... I
may have overrated Michigan State RB T.J. Duckett. He may have great
size, speed and strength, but he needs time to get rolling and is not an accomplished
receiver. ... USC QB Carson Palmer threw the ball as well as I have ever
seen him throw in the second half of the Oregon game, but he does not seem to come up
really big in the clutch most of the time and lacks awareness and field savvy. He does not
see or sense the rush well, and at times he seems to look at the rush instead of the way
the play is unfolding. |
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