Krangodnzr
Captain of Team Conner
By War Room scouts
For Sporting News
Some of you noticed that our rating of Texas quarterback Vince Young varied from the Super 99 and the mock draft. We have Young rated No. 4 overall but have him slipping to 11th in the most recent mock draft. Well, from our perspective, evaluating players for the Super 99 and mock draft are two different tasks. Allow us to explain.
The Super 99 grade is based on talent, obvious athletic ability and potential to become a top-flight NFL player. It might take Young two years or more to reach that potential, but the potential certainly is there. Based on such criteria, Young is the fourth-best player in the draft.
Through the whole pre-draft evaluation process, scouts will poke holes in players, magnifying their weaknesses and such. But the fact remains that Young has tremendous athleticism and great physical tools, but he will need coaching and time to develop into an elite NFL player.
The important thing to note is that Young is not better than USC's Matt Leinart, and that causes his stock to drop in the mock draft. NFL teams, particularly in the early rounds of the draft, more and more are drafting for need rather than the best-available player. That was evident in last year's draft. And the Saints, if they stay at No. 2, will take Leinart.
The Titans, at No. 3, have Steve McNair and Billy Volek at quarterback and are in a position to get USC running back Reggie Bush or Virginia left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, depending on which way the Texans go at No. 1. The Jets, who have the No. 4 pick, figure to sign a veteran to back up Chad Pennington and perhaps take a flier on a QB in the mid-to-late rounds.
Green Bay, at No. 5, drafted California's Aaron Rodgers in the first round last year and won't take a quarterback high. San Francisco, at No. 6, picked Utah's Alex Smith first overall in '05. The Raiders at No. 7 could be a landing spot for Young, but it's too early to determine what they are doing with Kerry Collins and they also have pressing needs on defense.
The Bills, at No. 8, already have a quarterback project on their hands in J.P. Losman and also have major holes on defense. All indications are new Lions coach Rod Marinelli (along with offensive coordinator Mike Martz) will stick with Joey Harrington and sign a veteran backup and thus Detroit wouldn't use its ninth overall pick on Young.
The Cardinals, with Kurt Warner securely in place for a couple years, could take Young at No. 10. However, coach Dennis Green is in Year 3 and is under pressure to turn things around and needs an elite player to contribute sooner rather than later.
This all brings us -- and Young -- to St. Louis at No. 11. New coach Scott Linehan coached a similar player to Young, Daunte Culpepper, in Minnesota and as a first-year coach has the luxury of time to develop a future star quarterback behind Marc Bulger.
Hopefully, that clears things up a bit.
For Sporting News
Some of you noticed that our rating of Texas quarterback Vince Young varied from the Super 99 and the mock draft. We have Young rated No. 4 overall but have him slipping to 11th in the most recent mock draft. Well, from our perspective, evaluating players for the Super 99 and mock draft are two different tasks. Allow us to explain.
The Super 99 grade is based on talent, obvious athletic ability and potential to become a top-flight NFL player. It might take Young two years or more to reach that potential, but the potential certainly is there. Based on such criteria, Young is the fourth-best player in the draft.
Through the whole pre-draft evaluation process, scouts will poke holes in players, magnifying their weaknesses and such. But the fact remains that Young has tremendous athleticism and great physical tools, but he will need coaching and time to develop into an elite NFL player.
The important thing to note is that Young is not better than USC's Matt Leinart, and that causes his stock to drop in the mock draft. NFL teams, particularly in the early rounds of the draft, more and more are drafting for need rather than the best-available player. That was evident in last year's draft. And the Saints, if they stay at No. 2, will take Leinart.
The Titans, at No. 3, have Steve McNair and Billy Volek at quarterback and are in a position to get USC running back Reggie Bush or Virginia left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, depending on which way the Texans go at No. 1. The Jets, who have the No. 4 pick, figure to sign a veteran to back up Chad Pennington and perhaps take a flier on a QB in the mid-to-late rounds.
Green Bay, at No. 5, drafted California's Aaron Rodgers in the first round last year and won't take a quarterback high. San Francisco, at No. 6, picked Utah's Alex Smith first overall in '05. The Raiders at No. 7 could be a landing spot for Young, but it's too early to determine what they are doing with Kerry Collins and they also have pressing needs on defense.
The Bills, at No. 8, already have a quarterback project on their hands in J.P. Losman and also have major holes on defense. All indications are new Lions coach Rod Marinelli (along with offensive coordinator Mike Martz) will stick with Joey Harrington and sign a veteran backup and thus Detroit wouldn't use its ninth overall pick on Young.
The Cardinals, with Kurt Warner securely in place for a couple years, could take Young at No. 10. However, coach Dennis Green is in Year 3 and is under pressure to turn things around and needs an elite player to contribute sooner rather than later.
This all brings us -- and Young -- to St. Louis at No. 11. New coach Scott Linehan coached a similar player to Young, Daunte Culpepper, in Minnesota and as a first-year coach has the luxury of time to develop a future star quarterback behind Marc Bulger.
Hopefully, that clears things up a bit.
