Is there a problem with USC prospects?

[GYBE]

As a ND fan, I'm regularly subject to watching USC players dismantle their college compeitition. But is it me, or do a lot of them have serious problems when they get into the NFL? I don't know if it's a sense of entitlement or a poor work ethic, but recently a growing amount have seemed to fall below expectations.

- Dominique Byrd wasn't even on the active roster Sunday because he's fallen so out of favour with coaches due to "off-field indiscretions and an inability to show even the slightest hint of personal reliability"

- Winston Justice looked like he was just going through the motions as he was destroyed against the Giants

- Matt Leinart has been called "lazy" by Arizona coaches and his playing time has dropped

- Dwayne Jarrett's been a huge dissapointment and seems to have little work ethic

- Ditto for Mike Williams on a larger scale

- Even LenDale White, though producing now, had the rep of a lazy kid in his rookie year

- Manuel Wright cries during training camp

There's certainly exceptions to the trend. Troy P. in Pittsburgh, Lofa Tatupa in Seattle and Carson Palmer seem to be hard workers who strive to get better. But that's still an awful lot of similiar attitude from some highly ranked players. Could this affect any current USC players stock in any way? Maybe Pete Carroll's philosophy of "keeping things fun" doesn't prepare them for the realities of the NFL as well as other programs.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Don't forget Shaun Cody, who has never materialized into much of anything, Deuce Lutui, Frostee Rucker...

I think a few NFL teams are being caught up in the program hype when they should stay away. Of course, it's tough when you have SO MUCH TALENT through your system that a BACKUP QUARTERBACK gets drafted (Matt Cassel).

[jumanji]

Pete probably doesnt run the tightest ship down there but you cant argue with success. As far as the NFL goes i think character issues tend to be more exploited at that level. I was never a Winston Justice fan nor was i that high on LenDale White. Carroll seems to have a pretty solid group there and my guess is a bunch of players will get drafted from this team and you'll probably have a headcase or two(insert the name Rey Mauluuga). I think Rivers, Cushing, Ellis and Mays all could be stars on that side of the ball and offensively they have some good backs, a good tightend and a few good OL especially Sam Baker.

[NO-KG-AI]

Thankfully Reggie busts his ass, because there Is no player I can't stand like a lazy player.

I've never heard that about Leinart, I always thought he was a great student of the game.

[Icness]

I think jumanji is on it when he talked about Carroll not running a tight ship, and also that character issues and desire are much more important at the NFL level than in college. You can win big in college simply by having better/bigger/faster athletes, but that doesn't cut it in the NFL.

I'm not real surprised about many of those guys y'all mentioned, but Leinart's regression and issues this year shocks me. I really thought he was poised for a huge breakout season.

I don't do west coast scouting--I'll ask a couple guys I know who do if there's a stigma about the program. I suspect some of it might just be volume-related, so many guys get drafted from there.