So what is it that turns you on to a player in the draft

[northerncowboynation]

1) college tape?

2) college tape from big program players versus small program players who haven't faced big time programs?

2) combine workout?

I have to laugh at the so-called experts who in one breath about a certain player say " his combine workouts weren't impressive but I go by the tape" then in another breath about another player say " his college tape isn't great but his workout was impressive". Do the so-called experts even hear themselves saying that or is it all talk just to hear themselves talk. My favorite draft expert is Mike Mayock. The guy has an eye for defensive players.

 

[Tristan]

Man Boobs!

 

[kskboys]

Lateral agility
Burst
Instincts
Quick first step
Not injury prone
Senior Bowl play

Not including QB's. They are a completely different ball of wax.

 

[beware_d-ware]

It depends on position. Eg, for defensive linemen I like to see burst off the ball, and for OTs, I am a sucker for agility. Like Garrett Bolles last year - under 300 pounds, 25 years old, questionable lower body strength? Dem feet though. I was a big fan of his.

 

[conner01]

Mostly college tape
Performance in SR bowl practice is good stuff
Bottom of the list is combine

 

[kskboys]

Mostly college tape
Performance in SR bowl practice is good stuff
Bottom of the list is combine

Yeah, the combine should be maybe 7% of the evaluation process.

I've found the Senior Bowl to be a very good representation of what a player will be.

 

[kskboys]

It depends on position. Eg, for defensive linemen I like to see burst off the ball, and for OTs, I am a sucker for agility. Like Garrett Bolles last year - under 300 pounds, 25 years old, questionable lower body strength? Dem feet though. I was a big fan of his.

OL is core strength, quick feet, and stubbornness/nastiness. Arm length is important for the Tackles as well as lateral agility.

Burst off the ball is huge in DL's. That's why I'm leary of Vea, he's not quick off the ball.

 

[Prime21]

Tape but I am also a big SPARQ guy.

On tape you want to see production and also lots of attention from the opposing team. You want to watch a guy and think "wow he is a better athlete than everyone else", then you want the combine to confirm it.

The interviews are very important but we do not get to see those. In middle and later rounds you need to pick and choose when you want a raw SPARQ athlete that you think you can develop(Charles Tapper) or an average athlete that is more refined (Anthony Hitchens).

 

[cowboyec]

tape.
how many years did he start.
tape.
how did he perform in #1arch rival games and #2 bowl games.
tape.
injury history.
clean off field.
tape.

being 100% honest....if he is a DE....is he 6-6 or taller.

 

[kskboys]

tape.
how many years did he start.
tape.
how did he perform in #1arch rival games and #2 bowl games.
tape.
injury history.
clean off field.
tape.

being 100% honest....if he is a DE....is he 6-6 or taller.

If you'd add in physical skillset, I'd agree w/ you 100%!!!

 

[conner01]

Yeah, the combine should be maybe 7% of the evaluation process.

I've found the Senior Bowl to be a very good representation of what a player will be.

I think that week of practice probably helps or hurts a player more than any one week in their career

 

[KingintheNorth]

DB's

hips, feet, arm length, and willingness to hit is what I look for in recruiting/scouting. Ball skills are essential too but in high school and even some in college, teams just avoid throwing to a dominant DB's side.

 

[jday]

1) college tape?

2) college tape from big program players versus small program players who haven't faced big time programs?

2) combine workout?

I have to laugh at the so-called experts who in one breath about a certain player say " his combine workouts weren't impressive but I go by the tape" then in another breath about another player say " his college tape isn't great but his workout was impressive". Do the so-called experts even hear themselves saying that or is it all talk just to hear themselves talk. My favorite draft expert is Mike Mayock. The guy has an eye for defensive players.

I narrow it down even further: Explosion. Explosion through the hole. Explosion in and out of cuts. Explosion off the ball. Explodes to the ball carrier. About the only positions where explosion is not key is offensive line, quarterback and punter/kicker.

Example:

Up until this weekend I was on the Roquan Smith bandwagon. He wasn't necessarily my pet cat, per se (Vita Vea currently holds that honor) but with the likely parting of Anthony Hitchens, I wouldn't be upset if linebacker is the direction the Cowboys go in the first round. But upon further review over the course of this past weekend, I looked at Roquan Smith (again), one other linebacker that I presently cannot remember, and Rashaan Evans. Despite what the experts say, I have to say I came away far more impressed with Rashaan and for the life of me I do not understand why anyone would select Smith over him.

Why?

Explosion.

Rashaan seems to be a much more instinctive player like Sean Lee. He knifes through defenses, takes excellent angles and explodes into the ball carrier. As of right now, based on the limited amount of tape I've seen of each player, he's my favorite linebacker in the whole draft.

 

[egn22]

I look at draft profiles from experts, measurables, highlights on youtube, and interviews.

 

[AsthmaField]

Of course the measurables are pretty important but I usually put their on-field play over their combine.

For all positions, I look for:

Love of the game
Instincts
Football IQ
Love of contact
Ability to learn and function within a system

Along with those I look for:

On the DL, explosion is one of the first things I look for. First step quickness is vital, IMO, along the defensive line. See Aaron Donald.

Instincts and smarts are vital at LB.

Natural hands are important at WR and TE.

Instincts and a love of contact at RB. Ezekiel Elliott doesn’t mind contact one little bit. By the 4th quarter, the DB’s are hating it though. That is one of the things that I loved about EE.

Twitch and long arms at DB, as well as not minding the contact. I don’t like DB’s that avoid contact.

Smarts and power on the OL. Plus nimble feet.

 

[McKDaddy]

Primarily tape. Is he a football player? Lot of great athletes aren't.
Yes, i have a bias toward bigger program players. Smaller school guys have to really prove it to me. Easy to get fooled by a player looking awesome against low level competition. Now if they can show me performance against good competition, all is good.
Measurables such as the combine - maybe 10-20%. Really, only two things i use it for. 1) to prove or disprove what i thought i saw. 2) as you get deeper into the draft i am willing to gamble more so if two players are similar on tape I will lean toward the better measurables generally.

 

[cnuball21]

1) college tape?

2) college tape from big program players versus small program players who haven't faced big time programs?

2) combine workout?

I have to laugh at the so-called experts who in one breath about a certain player say " his combine workouts weren't impressive but I go by the tape" then in another breath about another player say " his college tape isn't great but his workout was impressive". Do the so-called experts even hear themselves saying that or is it all talk just to hear themselves talk. My favorite draft expert is Mike Mayock. The guy has an eye for defensive players.

NFL size/athleticism and production.

 

[Montanalo]

All great observations. Everything being equal, I tend to look at the level of college competition and fundamental skills.

With all the CBA constraints, a well-coached, technically sound athlete from the SEC, Big 10 or ACC gets my juices flowing... So to speak

 

[CATCH17]

1) college tape?

2) college tape from big program players versus small program players who haven't faced big time programs?

2) combine workout?

I have to laugh at the so-called experts who in one breath about a certain player say " his combine workouts weren't impressive but I go by the tape" then in another breath about another player say " his college tape isn't great but his workout was impressive". Do the so-called experts even hear themselves saying that or is it all talk just to hear themselves talk. My favorite draft expert is Mike Mayock. The guy has an eye for defensive players.

For me it's a mixture of 1 & 3.

If 2 players are = college players then the decider will be their physical ability.

People say workouts don't matter but how many NFL players that are superstars didn't perform well at the combine? Not many.







Small school vs big school doesn't bother me. I trust what I see.

When everyone was negging Wentz for his competition I never used that because I knew his Physical talent and skill meant more then what his opponents skill set was.

You have to judge the player and not his opponent.

 

[Pants]

love when people say "watch tape", you tube (lol)? am the only one with no access to said tape?

That being said, I look for games where they were playing against good competition and if they just looked better/faster/stronger than the good opponent....this is the main reason that I am a huge Roquan Smith fan...the few times I watched him he seemed to have his name called A LOT....like Jaylon Smith when he was at ND - he was all over the field....this Pants would be giddy with R.Smith on our defense