Reilly
01-29-2005, 07:47 PM
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Jones latest to make move
By Randy Mueller
ESPN Insider
Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones has his work cut out for him learning a new position at the highest level. He will be looked at for the first time as a WR/TE. The learning curve will be long, but nobody has enough time to have all the answers. This week's Senior Bowl practices will be the first of many evaluations that will go a long way toward determining how high he will be drafted.
Sometimes scouts and other personnel people throw around ideas of players changing positions without much thought. Most times these experiments are a reach, at best. The expansion of NFL practice squads this year from five to eight makes it somewhat easier to keep an inexperienced player around. But taking a guy in the first day of the draft means you'll need him to contribute immediately, and there will be no time for the practice squad. The NFL is not really a training ground for learning a new trade.
Learning the characteristics of the new position won't be Matt's problem. Acquiring the instincts will be the toughest thing.
Steelers WR Antwaan Randle El was in the same boat several years ago. A college QB with a suspect arm, Randle El was immediately projected as a wide receiver prospect. As the practice week progressed here in Mobile that year, you could see his evolution. He initially struggled with his release off the line and getting in and out of breaks. By the end of the week, I remember returning to draft meetings with the feeling that he would make it, but unsure as to how high a draft pick I would spend on him.
The fact that Randle El was a quarterback in college was a big benefit, and will also help Matt Jones. To play quarterback, you must be a student of the game. You must know what everybody does on every play and understand the movements of WRs or TEs.
When a player is projected to play a different position, NFL personnel people must make a leap of faith. Some coaches are more willing than others to take a risk. You are getting a guy with limited initial impact, but great upside if he can progress and acquire the necessary instincts.
Less dramatic position changes occur in every draft. The Rams' Adam Archuleta played a position in college equivalent to a LB. He was aligned near the line of scrimmage 80 percent of the time. In the NFL, he's been asked to play safety, lining up 10 to 12 yards from the line of scrimmage. Dropping into coverage has been fairly new to him, but he's made great progress.
The Seahawks' Michael Boulware is undergoing the same conversion. The competition for these types of players has been more intense lately. It used to be that you could get away with drafting "athletes" on the second day. But teams are now more willing to take a risk.
Initially, I thought you might be able to get a Matt Jones on day two. After further review, it is very unlikely. You can bet he'll be a guy who you see running around in the NFL next year, as he learns a whole new trade.
Jones latest to make move
By Randy Mueller
ESPN Insider
Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones has his work cut out for him learning a new position at the highest level. He will be looked at for the first time as a WR/TE. The learning curve will be long, but nobody has enough time to have all the answers. This week's Senior Bowl practices will be the first of many evaluations that will go a long way toward determining how high he will be drafted.
Sometimes scouts and other personnel people throw around ideas of players changing positions without much thought. Most times these experiments are a reach, at best. The expansion of NFL practice squads this year from five to eight makes it somewhat easier to keep an inexperienced player around. But taking a guy in the first day of the draft means you'll need him to contribute immediately, and there will be no time for the practice squad. The NFL is not really a training ground for learning a new trade.
Learning the characteristics of the new position won't be Matt's problem. Acquiring the instincts will be the toughest thing.
Steelers WR Antwaan Randle El was in the same boat several years ago. A college QB with a suspect arm, Randle El was immediately projected as a wide receiver prospect. As the practice week progressed here in Mobile that year, you could see his evolution. He initially struggled with his release off the line and getting in and out of breaks. By the end of the week, I remember returning to draft meetings with the feeling that he would make it, but unsure as to how high a draft pick I would spend on him.
The fact that Randle El was a quarterback in college was a big benefit, and will also help Matt Jones. To play quarterback, you must be a student of the game. You must know what everybody does on every play and understand the movements of WRs or TEs.
When a player is projected to play a different position, NFL personnel people must make a leap of faith. Some coaches are more willing than others to take a risk. You are getting a guy with limited initial impact, but great upside if he can progress and acquire the necessary instincts.
Less dramatic position changes occur in every draft. The Rams' Adam Archuleta played a position in college equivalent to a LB. He was aligned near the line of scrimmage 80 percent of the time. In the NFL, he's been asked to play safety, lining up 10 to 12 yards from the line of scrimmage. Dropping into coverage has been fairly new to him, but he's made great progress.
The Seahawks' Michael Boulware is undergoing the same conversion. The competition for these types of players has been more intense lately. It used to be that you could get away with drafting "athletes" on the second day. But teams are now more willing to take a risk.
Initially, I thought you might be able to get a Matt Jones on day two. After further review, it is very unlikely. You can bet he'll be a guy who you see running around in the NFL next year, as he learns a whole new trade.