CFL vs. NCAA

[gehrig]

not that many cfl players migrate to the nfl, right? i know there's a handful of big name skill position players, but I don't really know of any offensive linemen or anything

i would guess there's lots of 27 year olds in the CFL who didn't get much of an NFL shot when they were 22 due to some combination of not being very good at the time and talent evaluators being wrong, that are now NFL caliber players.

it's possible that the gap between NFL starters and 22 year olds that don't get a shot is so massive that no amount of getting better as you age is going to make up for it, but my intuition is that the CFL talent level is a lot higher than it should be as more or less a minor league for the NFL

[tarheeljks]

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i would guess there's lots of 27 year olds in the CFL who didn't get much of an NFL shot when they were 22 due to some combination of not being very good at the time and talent evaluators being wrong, that are now NFL caliber players.

it's possible that the gap between NFL starters and 22 year olds that don't get a shot is so massive that no amount of getting better as you age is going to make up for it, but my intuition is that the CFL talent level is a lot higher than it should be as more or less a minor league for the NFL

[/ QUOTE ]

these are good points b/c no matter how good a college team is it will only have a few players who are capable of starting on the nfl and maybe a couple who can play at a high level. the best players from a top ncaa program will obv be more talented than the cfl players, but on the whole i think the edge lies with the cfl by a fair margin.

[MikeyPatriot]

Does anyone think this question is more intriguing with a CFL All-Star team vs. an NCAA All-American team?

[Pudge714]

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Does anyone think this question is more intriguing with a CFL All-Star team vs. an NCAA All-American team?

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I don't think this would be close. NCAA has such a larger talent pool and there are probably a decent amount of NCAA players who could be NFL players this year, can't say that about many CFL Players, especially if you choose to count Juniors who left early. FWIW I think the biggest difference would be line play, Dorsey would eat up most CFL O-Lines.

[Golden_Rhino]

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[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone think this question is more intriguing with a CFL All-Star team vs. an NCAA All-American team?

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I don't think this would be close. NCAA has such a larger talent pool and there are probably a decent amount of NCAA players who could be NFL players this year, can't say that about many CFL Players.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think the NCAA would win, but it might be close. There is a learning curve for even the best first year players in the NFL. The experience of the CFL guys would keep it close, but in the end the talent would win out.

**EDIT**

I actually think that this series would be a split, with the CFL guys winning on the CFL field.

[ArcticKnight]

I wonder which is greater on an NFL field....

1.A CFL all-star team that played and practiced all year
2.A NCAA all-star team that played and practiced all year
3. The Miami Dolphins

I'd have to think Miami >>>> than NCAA >>>> than CFL

The NCAA could beat the CFL because they'd have over 100 teams to draw talent from.

That said, I don't think LSU could beat Saskatchewan on NCAA or CFL rules. There would be too many weak spots in any given NCAA team roster, but few in a pro-team.

Also, as others have noted, CFL players are just a notch below average NFL players. Very few NCAA players will make it any further than College ball.

[lippy]

[ QUOTE ]
I wonder which is greater on an NFL field....

1.A CFL all-star team that played and practiced all year
2.A NCAA all-star team that played and practiced all year
3. The Miami Dolphins

I'd have to think Miami >>>> than NCAA >>>> than CFL

The NCAA could beat the CFL because they'd have over 100 teams to draw talent from.

That said, I don't think LSU could beat Saskatchewan on NCAA or CFL rules. There would be too many weak spots in any given NCAA team roster, but few in a pro-team.

Also, as others have noted, CFL players are just a notch below average NFL players. Very few NCAA players will make it any further than College ball.

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Wouldn't Miami get crushed by the NCAA all-stars?

[Austiger]

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone think this question is more intriguing with a CFL All-Star team vs. an NCAA All-American team?

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That would be a great game, but I'd go with the NCAAs. You're going to have several guys that are a year away from starting in the NFL and a couple of real playmakers that would be the difference (see ADP last year.) Although, the experienced QB for CFL would be a big advantage too...

[tarheeljks]

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone think this question is more intriguing with a CFL All-Star team vs. an NCAA All-American team?

[/ QUOTE ]

hmm so basically a team of first and second rounders? that is interesting. the ncaa team has the talent advantage here, but it's so hard to tell how a college qb will translate to the pros that the cfl probably still has the edge.

[Golden_Rhino]

So which positions does having experience matter the most, and the least?

MOST?
QB (mentioned already)
O Line
Safeties

LEAST?
RB
WR
DE

Just basing this on the positions that I remember first year players thriving and struggling at in the NFL.