(Poll) How do Zoners acquire their knowledge of the draft?

[gmoney112]

Read, read, read. Not only "draft guys", but reports from their college sites. I also look at a lot of comparative analytics.

I also read between the lines and see if there's enough evidence that a guy will have the "it" factor to be successful. Like the RKG mantra Dallas says to use. Team captains, teammate reports, etc.

Then you start looking at their metrics, SPARQ and things of that nature. How they competed against good competition and in Senior Bowl. Their practice reports, their technique, etc.

You can usually get a good idea if a guy is going to be, at the very least, a solid contributor once you piece all the data together. You also get a good idea of the risk/benefit ratio with certain picks.

 

[Dallas_Cowboys50]

Im not as up to speed as last year at this point, call it less excitement I guess after having #4 and now #28 (which is a great thing ultimately, and obviously)...but I usually do a bit of everything plus listen to the Draft Show with Broaddus, Helman and Brugler.....and of course I always follow College Football, the Longhorns are my true team above all but I follow like 7 other teams like a hawk as well...

 

[waving monkey]

I didn't like Bosa and am still surprised his real good.
I dont know much about the draft.Don't buy drafting memberships
because Rising Star ruined it for me.
I read several of the Cowboy Zoners post that I think know something
read ONLINE sites .Some youtube and thats about as far as I go.
I like the off season as much as I do the season because I live out of the country
and seldom can I get live games.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I copy and paste

 

[Trouty]

I copy and paste

Cuttin' corners, Marine?

 

[darthseinfeld]

Cuttin' corners, Marine?

If you aint cheating, you aint tryin

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

It doesn't matter how much we research the draft. Our opinions and evaluations mean nothing and have zero influence on who's selected.

It matters as to who I play attention to around here. There are guys like @TheFinisher and @theogt that have shown insight that has been proven correct enough times taht now when they write takes on players I pay attention to it reflexively.

Most people I take with a grain of salt at best.

 

[Floatyworm]

Loose lips sinks ships...

Most of my knowledge I get from word of mouth...own evaluations.

Sports agents on twitter.....

Amazing how much you can get from the beat writers of all the teams. I guess you could say I have a pretty big network I follow...then I cross reference sources.

I'm always digging for new source material.

But since I've been following the draft now for over 30 years...I've got a pretty good sense where a guy is gonna fall in the draft.

What is a smoke screen...and when an agent is pushing his client up the draft board.

Follow the combine numbers.....that can tell you alot as well. You might have a guy that was a good college player....but if the measurables aren't there.... compared to guys from previous drafts...that should throw up a red flag.

A great example of that is Paul Dawson. His college bio...was a complete lie. Then his combine #'s came out...and he went from being the big 12's Defensive player of the year....to a JAG...because the measurables just didn't add up(and he fell to the 3rd round)...and he ended up being lazy....not willing to put in the work to take his career tothe next level.

Learned a big lesson on that one.

 

[conner01]

I come here lol
Lots of experts here

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Many years ago I worked in Canada for one of their football programs. I was a professional Scoot...Yes...Scoot not scout...well you can spell it scout but they will still pronounce it scoot.

badabing
Try the liver

 

[Irvin88_4life]

I can't answer the poll, because my knowledge comes from a lot of places.

First and foremost I watch college football, the combine and work outs.
I also utilize sites and magazines.
But ultimately I use my gut. And that tool has proven to been a good tool...

Like last year. I was one of the only one on here so high on Joey Bosa... I watched him a ton, he checked all my boxes in work outs and my gut said that kid won't fail. And it proved true... so far...

I was wrong about Bosa. He was a beast when he was on the field as a rookie

 

[CF74]

Draft sites and forums. I rarely watch college ball..

 

[AsthmaField]

It matters as to who I play attention to around here. There are guys like @TheFinisher and @theogt that have shown insight that has been proven correct enough times taht now when they write takes on players I pay attention to it reflexively.

Most people I take with a grain of salt at best.

Yeah, there aren't many on here that I pay much attention to... although there are some. You are one. I always know that at least you've done the legwork on a guy that you're talking about. It doesn't mean you're right... but you did your homework.

Honestly, it would be a very long post if I were to answer the question fully. Watching video is a huge part for me. So is watching college football. Having played a good bit of football plays in to it some but that plays more into just understanding the game more than picking prospects. As a safety, I understand well how a good run game impacts the passing game, for instance (BTW it changes everything)... but it doesn't really help me pick out a good safety from a draft class. I can spot them but not because I played safety.

I lean heavily on college production vs. potential. I've missed on some guys but have hit way more. Either you can do it or you can't. It isn't often that someone who can't do it in college becomes proficient in the NFL.

I look a lot at who loves to play and who seems to be a schmuck. Believe it or not... the RKG vs. WKG is very real and makes a huge difference.

Those last two things were a very big reason that I loved Ezekiel Elliott and Aaron Donald and thought both were worth very high picks. Both of them played at very high levels at major colleges and both loved to play the game and compete.

Something about Bosa worried me but I liked him ok. Just not better than EE or Jalen Ramsey... both who I would have taken before him. Still, overall I consider that to be a miss for me because I didn't think he'd be that impactful in the NFL.

That is just scratching the surface of what I do to look at prospects.

 

[BAT]

Well, when I am evaluating talent I'm interested in flexibility, ability to rotate hips, quick twitch and correct position so..........

Also high on the list are all day suckers, penetrators (vs. anchors) and that the player should have a big bubble right?

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Watch college football, use websites like draftbreakdown as a resource, don't pay attention to mock drafts, always form your own opinions and don't use "scouting reports" to form your opinions about a player you've never watched.

 

[vicjagger]

Oh, come on now. No knows as much as Mel Kiper, Jr. Not even his dad.

 

[Rogerthat12]

The best way is to look at the primary sources, watch college football and look at all the available game and bowl tape of a given prospect.

Research what attributes actual NFL scouts are looking for in NFL prospects specifically by position and understand that the draft is a projection of potential ultimately but it is always best to have this potential properly adjudicated by a prospects college production on tape.

Also be aware that sometimes college production does not always translate into NFL productivity but as others have said, you will rarely find NFL productivity from a player with poor college production.

Next, learn as much about a prospects measurables, character, work ethic and position context as possible, including college scheme changes and specific circumstances of injuries if any.

Learn the precise distinction between a given prospects position flexibility and the players best fit for the best production at the NFL level, you will see this error of prospect adjudication all the time.

Having already watched the Bowl games, watch the Shrine game, the Senior Bowl and Combine for further player evaluations.

Some Pro days are now televised, check out what you can when they are aired.

Next, feel free to utilize the best talent evaluators as a guide, not a replacement for your own study of a prospect, that is why going to the primary sources is where you should begin the process and not the other way around.

The more knowledge you gain of a given prospect the better but always trust the tape in the end!