Sneaking a Mock in before November ends......

[realtick]

Division 1aa (now called FCS) plays considerably tougher opponents than Division 2 schools. AOA went to D2 Indiana (PA) where he was a man among boys. Appalachian State usually plays two D1 opponents every year.

Thank you.

Which is why it was funny after AOA got drafted that a lot of folks thought instantly we would have our own Devin Hester.

AOA was literally playing guys that were 180 lb linebackers. Don't believe me, look up some of his opponents rosters from Elon, Edinboro and Southern Connecticut State...lol

You watch his highlights (because I don't anyone who has actually seen him play a game at Indiana Pa.) and it looks like high school football game.

AOA is a project, point blank. As the best athlete on his college team he played CB and a what was effectively a "rover," just flying to the ball as in see ball-get ball, which is fine for college but doesn't exactly prepare you to play a position in the pros.

Those projecting him as a starting free safety next season are likely to be disappointed.

What he does have going for him is that he has some athletic ability and apparently pretty smart. That goes a long way. Whether he develops the intincts needed to play the position is to be determined.

 

[SDogo]

I never said immediate superstars, just guys who can come in and contribute in a base offense or base defense (no gimmick plays like the wild cat). Dez Bryant, even though he isn't starting, isn't a project. Even Sean Lee who rarely sees the field, I wouldn't consider a project because on a team with bad ILBs, he would start. A good portion of your list consist of guys who sat for a year or two and never rarely saw the field. Jimmy Smith for example was a great player, but a project (ie cut by 2 teams)

So were debating if would wait 2 years for a Darren Sharper?

Sign me up over and over again if that's the investment.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

So were debating if would wait 2 years for a Darren Sharper?

Sign me up over and over again if that's the investment.

yea if he were garunteed to be darren sharper I'd wait 2 years, actually more. My point is we have a developmental guy in AoA. And it really doesn't make a ton of sense to take another developmental guy. If we use a pick on a safety, it needs to be someone ready to step in and contribute immediately, otherwise we're wasting draft picks and roster space.

 

[SDogo]

yea if he were garunteed to be darren sharper I'd wait 2 years, actually more. My point is we have a developmental guy in AoA. And it really doesn't make a ton of sense to take another developmental guy. If we use a pick on a safety, it needs to be someone ready to step in and contribute immediately, otherwise we're wasting draft picks and roster space.

I'm sorry, I cant agree with that thinking or there would be an abundant of pro bowl players that never got a shot in the NFL. Our own Darren Woodson was a huge project. Everyone said he was to slow to play Safety and too small to play LB.

I just cant wrap my head around your thinking.

Roy Williams was considered a sure bet, how did that work out? There are no sure bets no matter where players are drafted.

 

[realtick]

I'm sorry, I cant agree with that thinking or there would be an abundant of pro bowl players that never got a shot in the NFL. Our own Darren Woodson was a huge project. Everyone said he was to slow to play Safety and too small to play LB.

I just cant wrap my head around your thinking.

Roy Williams was considered a sure bet, how did that work out? There are no sure bets no matter where players are drafted.

What is this with Darren Woodson being slow? CASmith was claiming the same thing on another thread.

Nobody ever accused Woodson of being slow. He ran a 4.4 coming out of Arizona State. They did question whether he could make the transition to safety after playing LB in college.

But the issue was never speed.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I'm sorry, I cant agree with that thinking or there would be an abundant of pro bowl players that never got a shot in the NFL. Our own Darren Woodson was a huge project. Everyone said he was to slow to play Safety and too small to play LB.

I just cant wrap my head around your thinking.

Roy Williams was considered a sure bet, how did that work out? There are no sure bets no matter where players are drafted.

You're not understanding my thinking (not to mention the example was horrible). I'm not against drafting D1AA players or even D2 players. What I disagree with is having several projects at the same position. We know we'll atleast have AoA, Danny McCray and Barry Church at saftey and none of them are likely to start. So we'll use atleast 2 more roster spots on safties (possibly Alan Ball, Gerald Sensabaugh or 2 Free Agents). What you're suggesting is using a 6th roster spot on a saftey. We did that this year and in almost cost us Bryan McCann and it will likey cost us someone next year.

 

[SDogo]

You're not understanding my thinking (not to mention the example was horrible). I'm not against drafting D1AA players or even D2 players. What I disagree with is having several projects at the same position. We know we'll atleast have AoA, Danny McCray and Barry Church at saftey and none of them are likely to start. So we'll use atleast 2 more roster spots on safties (possibly Alan Ball, Gerald Sensabaugh or 2 Free Agents). What you're suggesting is using a 6th roster spot on a saftey. We did that this year and in almost cost us Bryan McCann and it will likey cost us someone next year.

Thus you answered your own question as to why you continue to draft talent at any position. Were not talking using a 1st round pick on a safety, we are talking a 5th or 6th round safety. Low risk, high reward. He is not costing anyone a roster spot. He will get his chance to prove himself in camp. We are likely to bring at least 2 other bigger projects anyways just to have enough bodies for camp.

Your stance still makes little sense but I'm comforted by the fact that no team in the NFL feels the same way. I have never been around a scout or scouting department that will ever shy away from a D1, D2 or a player at any level in fear that he may cost someone a roster position. That's the spirit of competition and that's how you build a team. You find the best players.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Your stance still makes little sense but I'm comforted by the fact that no team in the NFL feels the same way. I have never been around a scout or scouting department that will ever shy away from a D1, D2 or a player at any level in fear that he may cost someone a roster position. That's the spirit of competition and that's how you build a team. You find the best players.

How many scouts or scounting departments have you been around? I was under the impression that everyone on these forums was a couch scout, I know I certainly am (if that even ).

Honestly I'm not advocating shying away from prospects at any level of competition. What I'm saying is, I'd rather us take a project at another position when we get to that point in the draft. I would never advocate passing on talent a talented player when you already have a project player at a position. For example, if Earl Thomas was in this draft, I'm not advocating passing on him because we have AoA. What I'm saying is we have 6 in one hand and half a dozen in the other, and I just don't see the point. If LeGree has a good college post season and gives teams a reason to think he's ready to contribute in year 1 or very close, then it's a different story and I will gladly change my mind.

 

[SDogo]

How many scouts or scounting departments have you been around? I was under the impression that everyone on these forums was a couch scout, I know I certainly am (if that even ).

You might be surprised. 5 years with the Buffalo Bills, 3 with the Cleveland Browns, 2 years spent working with Gary Horton, 2 years spent with Saints head scout David Hinson and 5 years off and on as a Independent Scout working the East Coast with DJ Boyer. That was all training, I'm now currently in stage 2 of the interview process with the Arizona Cardinals to become a full time scout about 10 years later then I should of perused it. I think my odd's are slim being that long time respected NFL scout David Razzano has decided he would like to get involved again and was seen leaving the interview room prior to my arrival.