Reilly
01-29-2005, 07:40 PM
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
NFL teams face difficult decisions
By Randy Mueller
ESPN Insider
As several hundred scouts, personnel people and coaches from the 32 NFL teams focus on the practice field at this week's Senior Bowl, the goal is to formulate some type of impression of every prospect.
Some positions are easier to evaluate than others. The Senior Bowl is the first step, and will be followed by endless study of film and multiple spring workouts (including the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February).
Even the paid professionals have positions they struggle to evaluate. I think most would agree that the defensive back position is the toughest. I've always thought offensive linemen were the easiest players to evaluate.
When a scout or coach looks at film of a defensive back, he may only find a handful of opportunities the player had to make a play during a ball game. Watching four or five games may only yield 10-12 actual plays on the ball. Imagine the process of watching five games in a row and picking out only a handful of plays to evaluate.
You also have to judge the ability level and speed of the receivers a corner is covering from game to game. He may only face one NFL-type WR during a whole season of college ball. It's up to you to find the right film. To gather the amount of information you need, you may have to look at six or seven films.
Fortunately, NFL Video directors are skilled at making tapes that include all plays (good and bad) that involve a specific player. I have a hard time not looking at all the film myself, but these tapes can be valuable on occasion. It's often hard to put a decisive finger on the ability level of cornerbacks. Sometimes your evaluation has a lot of subjectivity.
At the other end of the spectrum is the process of evaluating offensive lineman. It's usually a very simple practice. These guys are involved in every play and are graded on a bottom line standard -- did they block their guy or not?
Sure, there are many technical and athletic skills that separate players, but there is seldom any "gray area" after you've seen three or four games. If an offensive tackle has size and strength, to go with balance and agility, it jumps out at you when you watch him live or on tape.
NFL teams face difficult decisions
By Randy Mueller
ESPN Insider
As several hundred scouts, personnel people and coaches from the 32 NFL teams focus on the practice field at this week's Senior Bowl, the goal is to formulate some type of impression of every prospect.
Some positions are easier to evaluate than others. The Senior Bowl is the first step, and will be followed by endless study of film and multiple spring workouts (including the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February).
Even the paid professionals have positions they struggle to evaluate. I think most would agree that the defensive back position is the toughest. I've always thought offensive linemen were the easiest players to evaluate.
When a scout or coach looks at film of a defensive back, he may only find a handful of opportunities the player had to make a play during a ball game. Watching four or five games may only yield 10-12 actual plays on the ball. Imagine the process of watching five games in a row and picking out only a handful of plays to evaluate.
You also have to judge the ability level and speed of the receivers a corner is covering from game to game. He may only face one NFL-type WR during a whole season of college ball. It's up to you to find the right film. To gather the amount of information you need, you may have to look at six or seven films.
Fortunately, NFL Video directors are skilled at making tapes that include all plays (good and bad) that involve a specific player. I have a hard time not looking at all the film myself, but these tapes can be valuable on occasion. It's often hard to put a decisive finger on the ability level of cornerbacks. Sometimes your evaluation has a lot of subjectivity.
At the other end of the spectrum is the process of evaluating offensive lineman. It's usually a very simple practice. These guys are involved in every play and are graded on a bottom line standard -- did they block their guy or not?
Sure, there are many technical and athletic skills that separate players, but there is seldom any "gray area" after you've seen three or four games. If an offensive tackle has size and strength, to go with balance and agility, it jumps out at you when you watch him live or on tape.