An interesting Drew Boylhart observation...
Some members have been e-mailing me lately to ask how I do my profiles. They want to know if I do them from edited tapes, from highlight films or what? So I thought I would take a few minutes just to tell you how I come to my conclusions of a player for the draft.
I think the reason I am asked this question is because a lot of times, I am not in step with other draft sites and/or media on a player. Let’s take, for example, two players in this year’s draft: Chad Greenway (LB – Iowa) and Vince Young (QB – Texas). When I first profiled Chad and Vince, my profiles did not agree with what was being said all over the world about these two players. In my profile of Chad, I questioned his tackling ability and said that he was not a top ten player. I did say that I thought he would be a solid player, but not an impact player at the next level. At that time, Chad was being listed in most places as a top ten pick.
When Vince declared for the draft, I questioned his ability to impact as quickly as a top ten player should be able to impact. I have taken a lot of heat over those profiles, but as I’ve always said, “bring the heat” -- I can take it, because I have confidence in what I see on the film to back me up. Slowly, but surely, Chad has dropped out of the top ten and in my opinion, the only reason Vince is still in the top ten is because the Oakland Raiders have professed an interest in him.
I think I’ve figured out why I am not in agreement with most everyone else about players that are considered top picks in a draft. I think it’s because I watch the entire game. I don’t watch edited film or highlight tapes -– I watch the entire game film. When I see a player make one great play, I don’t react until I see that player in the same game make more than one great play.
For example, I have on film Dave Thomas (TE/H-Back – Texas) calling out the blitzes for the O-line so that his offensive center knows what side of the line the potential blitz is coming from - so that the center can then make his calls. The QB usually makes this call to keep the RB and O-line on the same page to block the potential blitz. When I saw this, it made me realize that Vince was not even up to speed on the basics of the QB position at the college level. I didn’t need a Wonderlic test or a combine workout to know that old Vince is nowhere near a finished project at the college level, much less ready to be a QB at the next level. I just bet there is no highlight or edited film that shows this little incident.
Regarding Chad, I have him on film most of the time making tackles after the RB has passed the line of scrimmage and with the player falling forward. The only time I’ve seen him put a player on his back is if the player is standing still. Now, at the college level, that might be all right; however, at the next level, if you can’t meet your man, cut off the angle and drive him onto his back at least once in a game, you will not be an impact LB at the next level. You might be a solid LB, but not an impact LB.
So, to answer those of you out there wondering why I’m not in step with the media and other sites on my player evaluations, here are my ten personal rules for profiling players.
Drew’s Rules:
1) Do not copy other people’s opinions about players in the draft.
2) Watch as many full games as possible to evaluate the player’s character and heart.
3) When watching a game, look for the little details that tell you about a player’s true character, heart and passion (sideline situations, interaction with coaches and teammates, reaction to losing and winning, etc).
4) Watch edited or portions of game film to evaluate how far along a player’s technical skills are only.
5) Do not listen to “inside” information when profiling a player. (Inside information are rumors, innuendos and, in most cases, feelers put out by agents and team officials to gauge or entice a reaction.)
6) If you are surprised by a player’s combine numbers or pro day workout reports, then you didn’t see enough film on that player. Go back and look at the film.
7) Be truthful, informative and entertaining in your profiles to make the reader react and remember.
8) Make sure the player you are profiling earns a good profile.
9) Make sure the player you are profiling earns a bad profile.
10) Always be honest and true to what you see on film. Film is the first and the last impression of a player and his abilities for the next level.
This list is over my computer and whenever I start to have trouble profiling a player, I read the rules. It helps me to stay focused and to keep my head out of my hindquarters when all the rumors start to fly about how great a player is or isn’t!
