Betting on MaturityWith

[Harry]

When the Cards first pick was coming up in the 2017 draft I was asked about Rueben Foster. I said if the medical reports were good, he was clearly the most talented LB on the board. I also pointed out there were maturity concerns. Those hadn’t bothered the Cards when they selected Humphries and Nkemdiche. Foster, however, was far more likely to make first year contributions. The Cards eventually passed and the Niners didn’t. The result was everyone was applauding SF and many on this board we’re dissing the Cards. Maturity is a ticking bomb. Sometimes it never goes off, but when they do, the consequences can be devastating. In the capped era, having a quality backup who can start multiple games is a rarity. With 2 violations already one major, Foster may well have to sit half the season or more. Do the Niners bring in a replacement? Do they try to ride it out? The middle of their defense is gutted just when the Cards are ready to run. So it looks like the Cards dodged a bullet. It remains to be seen if their pick will be worth his slot, but I like their long term prospects better than the Niners option.

 

[wit3card]

When the Cards first pick was coming up in the 2017 draft I was asked about Rueben Foster. I said if the medical reports were good, he was clearly the most talented LB on the board. I also pointed out there were maturity concerns. Those hadn’t bothered the Cards when they selected Humphries and Nkemdiche. Foster, however, was far more likely to make first year contributions. The Cards eventually passed and the Niners didn’t. The result was everyone was applauding SF and many on this board we’re dissing the Cards. Maturity is a ticking bomb. Sometimes it never goes off, but when they do, the consequences can be devastating. In the capped era, having a quality backup who can start multiple games is a rarity. With 2 violations already one major, Foster may well have to sit half the season or more. Do the Niners bring in a replacement? Do they try to ride it out? The middle of their defense is gutted just when the Cards are ready to run. So it looks like the Cards dodged a bullet. It remains to be seen if their pick will be worth his slot, but I like their long term prospects better than the Niners option.

True point, since I predicted us taking Reddick, I'm again all for it, I only hated the move back to OLB, where he doesn't belong in the NFL.
If our new HC can teach ILB like Kueckly suggested than Reddick will be a beast latest 2019 earliest week 1 2018.

 

[Snakester]

I'm really hoping Reddick turns out to be a great pick. We really need one of first round picks to become a probowl type player.

 

[GuernseyCard]

When the Cards first pick was coming up in the 2017 draft I was asked about Rueben Foster. I said if the medical reports were good, he was clearly the most talented LB on the board. I also pointed out there were maturity concerns. Those hadn’t bothered the Cards when they selected Humphries and Nkemdiche. Foster, however, was far more likely to make first year contributions. The Cards eventually passed and the Niners didn’t. The result was everyone was applauding SF and many on this board we’re dissing the Cards. Maturity is a ticking bomb. Sometimes it never goes off, but when they do, the consequences can be devastating. In the capped era, having a quality backup who can start multiple games is a rarity. With 2 violations already one major, Foster may well have to sit half the season or more. Do the Niners bring in a replacement? Do they try to ride it out? The middle of their defense is gutted just when the Cards are ready to run. So it looks like the Cards dodged a bullet. It remains to be seen if their pick will be worth his slot, but I like their long term prospects better than the Niners option.

There's a difference between the immaturity of youth and a thug in the making.

 

[cardncubfan]

There's a difference between the immaturity of youth and a thug in the making.

I don't think he's so much of a thug but more of just plain crazy.

 

[BACH]

I don't think he's so much of a thug but more of just plain crazy.

I would categorize players with issues in three types.
Personal Immaturity - Young guys that are simply goofing around not understanding how to behave in a job situation.
Professional Immaturity - Good players that haven't picked up that they are playing at the next level and it takes a whole other commitment and effort to compete (The vast majority falls into this)
Thug mentality/character Issues - Misfits due to different reasons that don't seem to be able to change their way of life despite they are making millions of another life.

I would place Nkemdiche in the first, Humphries in the second and Foster in the third

 

[oaken1]

I dont think its even a maturity issue with Foster...

the dude has piss poor character and has a serious case of cantgetright....

if someone close to him dont knock him upside his head with a bat pretty soon he is likely going to end up going the Lawrence Phillips route.

some people are just never taught how to act from the get go and he looks like one of them.

 

[MadCardDisease]

When the Cards first pick was coming up in the 2017 draft I was asked about Rueben Foster. I said if the medical reports were good, he was clearly the most talented LB on the board. I also pointed out there were maturity concerns. Those hadn’t bothered the Cards when they selected Humphries and Nkemdiche. Foster, however, was far more likely to make first year contributions. The Cards eventually passed and the Niners didn’t. The result was everyone was applauding SF and many on this board we’re dissing the Cards. Maturity is a ticking bomb. Sometimes it never goes off, but when they do, the consequences can be devastating. In the capped era, having a quality backup who can start multiple games is a rarity. With 2 violations already one major, Foster may well have to sit half the season or more. Do the Niners bring in a replacement? Do they try to ride it out? The middle of their defense is gutted just when the Cards are ready to run. So it looks like the Cards dodged a bullet. It remains to be seen if their pick will be worth his slot, but I like their long term prospects better than the Niners option.

And the Niners let Navarro Bowman go midway through the season. Double Whammy!

 

[football karma]

i liked Foster a lot

the one thing that gave me pause: Nick Saban said something pre-draft to the effect of "if a team puts a good support system around him.... then he will be a good player"

ordinarily, college coaches are relentless cheerleaders for their players in public statements--

I felt like this was the equivalent of Nick saying "Foster is completely out of control and needs to be supervised 24x7"

 

[Mitch]

i liked Foster a lot

the one thing that gave me pause: Nick Saban said something pre-draft to the effect of "if a team puts a good support system around him.... then he will be a good player"

ordinarily, college coaches are relentless cheerleaders for their players in public statements--

I felt like this was the equivalent of Nick saying "Foster is completely out of control and needs to be supervised 24x7"

Plus, the bizarre incident at the Combine, where he got pissy (pun intended) with the medical attendants, so much so that he was sent home.

 

[Ohcrap75]

Great points by all! I think these "immaturity" issues usually get lumped into one, but as others above have detailed, that's a mistake. That is why all of these interviews at the combine are so vital. Trying to get inside of the heads of these "kids" to determine if they are good kids who made a couple bad decisions or bad kids that haven't maybe ever gotten into trouble because of cover up. Evaluating the talent on the field is only half of the equation. Maybe even the easiest part!

 

[CardLogic]

I would categorize players with issues in three types.
Personal Immaturity - Young guys that are simply goofing around not understanding how to behave in a job situation.
Professional Immaturity - Good players that haven't picked up that they are playing at the next level and it takes a whole other commitment and effort to compete (The vast majority falls into this)
Thug mentality/character Issues - Misfits due to different reasons that don't seem to be able to change their way of life despite they are making millions of another life.

I would place Nkemdiche in the first, Humphries in the second and Foster in the third

Nice analysis, i.e - levels of maturity.

I would have agreed about Hump being the 2nd level during his first pro season, but I think he turned the corner last season, but unfortunate injuries shorted his season. For certain, we will find out about both he and Nkemdiche this upcoming year.

 

[JeffGollin]

Great points by all! I think these "immaturity" issues usually get lumped into one, but as others above have detailed, that's a mistake. That is why all of these interviews at the combine are so vital. Trying to get inside of the heads of these "kids" to determine if they are good kids who made a couple bad decisions or bad kids that haven't maybe ever gotten into trouble because of cover up. Evaluating the talent on the field is only half of the equation. Maybe even the easiest part!

I'd take your argument a step farther:

I don't think you can readily cubby-hole players into 3 tightly defined categories - each player has varying levels of immaturity issues, responds differently to different forms of teaching/discipline and, as such has varying levels of potential career success.

You make the best judgments possible, roll the dice and take your chances.