AsthmaField
03-19-2005, 07:46 PM
It has been a little slow since the initial free agent splurge, so I thought I’d try this.
Imagine that you’re a GM for an NFL team. You run the teams draft (with input from coaches and scouts) and are in charge of taking a franchise that has been a perennial loser and making it a winner. What would be the type of team you’d try to build?
I just put together a few scenarios that are interesting. I didn’t put them together with any particular player in mind. They are just questions that will show the type of player you’d draft and what you would consider important in prospects.
If you have the time and you want to… I’d love to hear some of the reasoning behind the answers.
What would be you’re overall philosophy?
1. You need a RB in a bad way… in which order would you rank the importance of these characteristics?
Speed
Elusiveness
Intincts for the position
Size
_______________________________
2. You need a DT to solidify your run defense. There are 2 DT’s that your scouts opinions are split on. DT “A” ran the 40 in 4.80 seconds. DT “B” is a little short (6-1) and ran the 40 in 5.05 seconds but his 3 cone drill and short shuttle times were a good bit faster than DT “A”. Assuming character issues, work ethic, and college production (in equal conferences) are about equal, which DT do you take to be your runstopper?
_______________________________
3. There is a LB that had terrific stats in college. For three years he led his team in tackles, forced fumbles and tackles behind the line of scrimmage. All of his combine numbers are very good, showing how athletically gifted he is. He’s head and shoulders above all the other LB prospects. He has the size of a LB but the athleticism of a safety or CB. Talking to his coaches, they tell you what a great kid he is and how they liked him as if he was their own son. Then, you individually ask his head coach, defensive coordinator and position coach to tell you one thing negative about the guy, and all three said without hesitation, that if they had to say something negative about him it’s that he doesn’t really like contact that much. He tends to run around blocks trying to avoid a lot of contact. Oh, he likes to deliver the big hit… but the heavy work play in and play out, he tries to avoid.
You really need a LB and this guy has slipped some in the first round and is there at your pick. Do you take him?
______________________________
4. There are two WR’s still on board at your pick that your scouts are split on. WR “A” was runner-up for the Belitnikoff award and really lit up a major conference. WR “B” actually won the Belitnikoff had roughly the same stats as WR “A” and he too played in a major conference.
Here are some positives and negatives for both:
WR “A”:
Positives: Athletically gifted, great at running after the catch, runs a 4.41 40, and has a 41” vertical jump, coaches say he’s a great kid.
Negatives: Rounds off routes, tends to drop the occasional ball, not too keen on blocking.
WR “B”:
Positives: Tough, great hands… catches everything thrown his way, runs exceptional routes, does all the little things, doesn’t mind blocking, coaches say he’s a great kid.
Negatives: Quick but not fast, runs a 4.65 40, not as tall as you’d like at 6-0, doesn’t gain much yardage after the catch.
Again, both were very productive in college.
Which one do you take?
_______________________________
5. You need a C to anchor your OL. There is a player that has perfect size and has been all-american for 2 years in a row. Most media outlets are calling him the best center prospect to come down the pike in the last decade.
At the combine he tested out great and was one of the strongest players in attendance. On film he obviously dominated his defender on almost every play.
But, several scouts said he seemed very arrogant and came across badly in interviews. Word is that he wasn’t real popular with his team mates.
You need a C badly. You have 3 OL already on your team that are known team leaders and high character players.
Do you take a chance on drafting the extremely talented C and hope that the good influence from the other OL will take effect? Or do you pass, knowing that you don’t build winning teams with characters like that?
_______________________________
6. There is a very talented FB who has the speed, strength, hands, and size to be dominant. Some of his college coaches tell you that he’s so laid back that they sometimes wonder how important football is to him.
He has slipped way past where he was supposed to be drafted and you need a fullback. Do you take him?
_______________________________
7. Which position do you think intelligence is more valuable? WR or RB?
_______________________________
8. Your starting RB is an averaged size runner who gets by with speed and instincts. You need a backup runner. Do you want a player who is very big and can wear down a defense, or do you want a player who is very, very fast and a real threat in the open field?
_______________________________
9. You are set at CB. You have your starters and a good nickel CB. You pick 15th in the first round. On your draft board, you have the third best overall player listed as CB “X”. CB “X” has inexplicably slipped to the 15th pick. The next highest player that is left is listed on your board at number 12. Your scouts say that the talent level between the 12 player on your board and CB “X” is immense. He is, by a long shot, the most talented player available.
Assuming no trade is available, do you take CB “X” and strengthen an already strong position, or do you take a player that is far less talented, but at a position of need?
______________________________
10. You have a group of players in to your complex before the draft. You notice a high round prospect accidentally bumps one of your employees. He doesn’t say excuse me, or anything, he simply looks at the employee and keeps walking.
Later, during dinner you notice the same player drops a large piece of food on the floor and simply does nothing… he just leaves it for someone else to pick up.
Do you downgrade that prospect a little based on what you have seen?
_____________________________
Thanks for playing along guys.
Imagine that you’re a GM for an NFL team. You run the teams draft (with input from coaches and scouts) and are in charge of taking a franchise that has been a perennial loser and making it a winner. What would be the type of team you’d try to build?
I just put together a few scenarios that are interesting. I didn’t put them together with any particular player in mind. They are just questions that will show the type of player you’d draft and what you would consider important in prospects.
If you have the time and you want to… I’d love to hear some of the reasoning behind the answers.
What would be you’re overall philosophy?
1. You need a RB in a bad way… in which order would you rank the importance of these characteristics?
Speed
Elusiveness
Intincts for the position
Size
_______________________________
2. You need a DT to solidify your run defense. There are 2 DT’s that your scouts opinions are split on. DT “A” ran the 40 in 4.80 seconds. DT “B” is a little short (6-1) and ran the 40 in 5.05 seconds but his 3 cone drill and short shuttle times were a good bit faster than DT “A”. Assuming character issues, work ethic, and college production (in equal conferences) are about equal, which DT do you take to be your runstopper?
_______________________________
3. There is a LB that had terrific stats in college. For three years he led his team in tackles, forced fumbles and tackles behind the line of scrimmage. All of his combine numbers are very good, showing how athletically gifted he is. He’s head and shoulders above all the other LB prospects. He has the size of a LB but the athleticism of a safety or CB. Talking to his coaches, they tell you what a great kid he is and how they liked him as if he was their own son. Then, you individually ask his head coach, defensive coordinator and position coach to tell you one thing negative about the guy, and all three said without hesitation, that if they had to say something negative about him it’s that he doesn’t really like contact that much. He tends to run around blocks trying to avoid a lot of contact. Oh, he likes to deliver the big hit… but the heavy work play in and play out, he tries to avoid.
You really need a LB and this guy has slipped some in the first round and is there at your pick. Do you take him?
______________________________
4. There are two WR’s still on board at your pick that your scouts are split on. WR “A” was runner-up for the Belitnikoff award and really lit up a major conference. WR “B” actually won the Belitnikoff had roughly the same stats as WR “A” and he too played in a major conference.
Here are some positives and negatives for both:
WR “A”:
Positives: Athletically gifted, great at running after the catch, runs a 4.41 40, and has a 41” vertical jump, coaches say he’s a great kid.
Negatives: Rounds off routes, tends to drop the occasional ball, not too keen on blocking.
WR “B”:
Positives: Tough, great hands… catches everything thrown his way, runs exceptional routes, does all the little things, doesn’t mind blocking, coaches say he’s a great kid.
Negatives: Quick but not fast, runs a 4.65 40, not as tall as you’d like at 6-0, doesn’t gain much yardage after the catch.
Again, both were very productive in college.
Which one do you take?
_______________________________
5. You need a C to anchor your OL. There is a player that has perfect size and has been all-american for 2 years in a row. Most media outlets are calling him the best center prospect to come down the pike in the last decade.
At the combine he tested out great and was one of the strongest players in attendance. On film he obviously dominated his defender on almost every play.
But, several scouts said he seemed very arrogant and came across badly in interviews. Word is that he wasn’t real popular with his team mates.
You need a C badly. You have 3 OL already on your team that are known team leaders and high character players.
Do you take a chance on drafting the extremely talented C and hope that the good influence from the other OL will take effect? Or do you pass, knowing that you don’t build winning teams with characters like that?
_______________________________
6. There is a very talented FB who has the speed, strength, hands, and size to be dominant. Some of his college coaches tell you that he’s so laid back that they sometimes wonder how important football is to him.
He has slipped way past where he was supposed to be drafted and you need a fullback. Do you take him?
_______________________________
7. Which position do you think intelligence is more valuable? WR or RB?
_______________________________
8. Your starting RB is an averaged size runner who gets by with speed and instincts. You need a backup runner. Do you want a player who is very big and can wear down a defense, or do you want a player who is very, very fast and a real threat in the open field?
_______________________________
9. You are set at CB. You have your starters and a good nickel CB. You pick 15th in the first round. On your draft board, you have the third best overall player listed as CB “X”. CB “X” has inexplicably slipped to the 15th pick. The next highest player that is left is listed on your board at number 12. Your scouts say that the talent level between the 12 player on your board and CB “X” is immense. He is, by a long shot, the most talented player available.
Assuming no trade is available, do you take CB “X” and strengthen an already strong position, or do you take a player that is far less talented, but at a position of need?
______________________________
10. You have a group of players in to your complex before the draft. You notice a high round prospect accidentally bumps one of your employees. He doesn’t say excuse me, or anything, he simply looks at the employee and keeps walking.
Later, during dinner you notice the same player drops a large piece of food on the floor and simply does nothing… he just leaves it for someone else to pick up.
Do you downgrade that prospect a little based on what you have seen?
_____________________________
Thanks for playing along guys.