football karma
Michael snuggles the cap space
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Per Yahoo sports:
As we reach the end of individual campus workouts for most of the top 2008 NFL draft prospects, nearly all of the 32 teams’ scouts return to their respective facilities to begin the final set of predraft meetings. Most teams’ draft meetings involve all the scouts, pertinent coaches, scouting directors and the general manager.
Although many of the player evaluations go pretty smoothly because most observers in the same organization tend to view the same player similarly, there always are several prospects whose pro potential leads to arguments—sometimes quite heated.
We have already analyzed offensive players who are sure to spark plenty of draft-room discussions. Below is one prospect from each defensive position who has become a subject of great debate heading up to draft decision day ‘08:
Calais Campbell, DE, Miami. When Campbell, a junior, declared for drafts, scouts really liked what they saw when they initially evaluated his performance in games. He showed a rare combination of athleticism and strength, with the speed to chase down plays in pursuit and the explosive closing burst to finish sacks. When playing aggressively, he could be as dominant a defensive end as there is in this year’s draft.
However, at the NFL Combine Campbell looked sluggish and lacked foot quickness, explosiveness and overall athleticism. Everyone expected him to perform better at Miami’s on-campus workout, but he looked even worse. That led numerous scouts to wonder what had happened to Campbell since the season ended, because he was clearly not the same athlete he appeared to be on film.
Scouts and personnel men who evaluated Campbell before his predraft workouts will fight hard for him, arguing he is a football player and not a workout guy. However, evaluators whose first exposure to Campbell came at the Combine will argue he is not a good enough athlete to play defensive end in the NFL.
Pat Sims, DT, Auburn. Sims’ story is similar to Campbell’s: When the Auburn tackle announced he was entering the draft as a junior, scouts who evaluated him were impressed with his play. In fact, many thought Sims’ on-field performance put him in the discussion to be the second-best defensive tackle in the draft, behind LSU’s Glenn Dorsey. Sims’ troubles began when he showed up at the Combine out of shape: He looked soft-bodied and fleshy, and he struggled through his workout, failing to display the foot quickness, agility and balance he showed on film.
We have little doubt that, during predraft meetings, NFL personnel men will talk about how impressive Sims looked on film—and how bad he looked so bad in his workout. Expect the latter performance to factor in heavily; as a result, teams won’t be able to justify drafting him as highly as his on-field performance warrants.
Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State. When Gholston first declared for the draft as a junior, nearly every scout gave him either a second- or third-round grade—and that was largely based on his athleticism and potential rather than his productivity. Gholston was viewed as a run stuffer who lacked explosiveness off the snap as a pass rusher and struggled to consistently make an impact in every game. He stood out at times in 2007, but was a non-factor in too many games. Nearly everyone who evaluated Gholston anticipated he would rocket up draft boards after working out at the Combine, though, and that prediction has come true.
Gholston will spark the classic “production vs. potential” in many teams’ draft rooms. In one camp, evaluators who analyzed every game he played in 2007 and saw he was a much better athlete than a football player will argue he has a long road ahead of him to maximize his potential. In the other camp, coaches and scouts who saw him dominate during predraft workouts will contend their team can coach him up and get Gholston to play to his talent level on a regular basis. You can be sure the name Mike Mamula will be brought up by those who do not believe Gholston’s on-field production warrants a high draft selection.
Dan Connor, LB, Penn State. Rest assured, there will be arguments about whether Connor is an overrated prospect. The main reason he will cause debate in draft rooms is coaches tend to fall in love with his toughness, smarts and intangibles—and overlook his lack of good athleticism. Connor is a stiff, straight-line player who lacks the athleticism and flexibility to change directions quickly, tackle well in the open field and move well in pass coverage downfield. In addition, his intangibles will get some teams to believe he could be productive playing outside linebacker, while many others believe he only fits in as an inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.
Simeon Castille, S, Alabama. Two issues will spark debate about Castille’s NFL future: his slight frame and what position he should play. Although he played both cornerback and safety at Alabama, he played cornerback more often. He is a smart, instinctive defender who breaks up a lot of passes and is a surprisingly physical tackler. However, although he clearly has a great feel for playing cornerback, teams will argue about whether he has the explosiveness and speed to handle the position in the NFL. Meanwhile, teams will also debate whether Castille has the size and strength to hold up at safety.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State. Rodgers-Cromartie could be the most heavily debated player in this year’s draft. When most teams held their initial draft meetings in December, Rodgers-Cromartie was widely projected as a third- or fourth-rounder because he often appeared to lack instincts, which led to his allowing receivers to gain separation and make catches. The big question teams face now is, why did a player who dominated the Senior Bowl and Combine with his size and athleticism struggle to consistently make plays at Tennessee State?
Evaluators who like Rodgers-Cromartie are sure to bring up Cowboys Terence Newman as an example of a highly drafted cornerback who was not dominant in college in terms of breaking up passes (he was often in position, but allowed a surprising number of catches). Those who don’t like Rodgers-Cromartie will bring up former Titans cornerback Andre Woolfolk, who was drafted in the first round in 2003, despite a lack of consistent productivity at Oklahoma, because he performed like a superstar in predraft workouts. Woolfolk was released by the Titans after four seasons and is currently trying to get back into the league.
Russ Lande founded GM Jr. Scouting LLC, a football scouting service that analyzes NFL draft prospects for Sporting News.
As we reach the end of individual campus workouts for most of the top 2008 NFL draft prospects, nearly all of the 32 teams’ scouts return to their respective facilities to begin the final set of predraft meetings. Most teams’ draft meetings involve all the scouts, pertinent coaches, scouting directors and the general manager.
Although many of the player evaluations go pretty smoothly because most observers in the same organization tend to view the same player similarly, there always are several prospects whose pro potential leads to arguments—sometimes quite heated.
We have already analyzed offensive players who are sure to spark plenty of draft-room discussions. Below is one prospect from each defensive position who has become a subject of great debate heading up to draft decision day ‘08:
Calais Campbell, DE, Miami. When Campbell, a junior, declared for drafts, scouts really liked what they saw when they initially evaluated his performance in games. He showed a rare combination of athleticism and strength, with the speed to chase down plays in pursuit and the explosive closing burst to finish sacks. When playing aggressively, he could be as dominant a defensive end as there is in this year’s draft.
However, at the NFL Combine Campbell looked sluggish and lacked foot quickness, explosiveness and overall athleticism. Everyone expected him to perform better at Miami’s on-campus workout, but he looked even worse. That led numerous scouts to wonder what had happened to Campbell since the season ended, because he was clearly not the same athlete he appeared to be on film.
Scouts and personnel men who evaluated Campbell before his predraft workouts will fight hard for him, arguing he is a football player and not a workout guy. However, evaluators whose first exposure to Campbell came at the Combine will argue he is not a good enough athlete to play defensive end in the NFL.
Pat Sims, DT, Auburn. Sims’ story is similar to Campbell’s: When the Auburn tackle announced he was entering the draft as a junior, scouts who evaluated him were impressed with his play. In fact, many thought Sims’ on-field performance put him in the discussion to be the second-best defensive tackle in the draft, behind LSU’s Glenn Dorsey. Sims’ troubles began when he showed up at the Combine out of shape: He looked soft-bodied and fleshy, and he struggled through his workout, failing to display the foot quickness, agility and balance he showed on film.
We have little doubt that, during predraft meetings, NFL personnel men will talk about how impressive Sims looked on film—and how bad he looked so bad in his workout. Expect the latter performance to factor in heavily; as a result, teams won’t be able to justify drafting him as highly as his on-field performance warrants.
Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State. When Gholston first declared for the draft as a junior, nearly every scout gave him either a second- or third-round grade—and that was largely based on his athleticism and potential rather than his productivity. Gholston was viewed as a run stuffer who lacked explosiveness off the snap as a pass rusher and struggled to consistently make an impact in every game. He stood out at times in 2007, but was a non-factor in too many games. Nearly everyone who evaluated Gholston anticipated he would rocket up draft boards after working out at the Combine, though, and that prediction has come true.
Gholston will spark the classic “production vs. potential” in many teams’ draft rooms. In one camp, evaluators who analyzed every game he played in 2007 and saw he was a much better athlete than a football player will argue he has a long road ahead of him to maximize his potential. In the other camp, coaches and scouts who saw him dominate during predraft workouts will contend their team can coach him up and get Gholston to play to his talent level on a regular basis. You can be sure the name Mike Mamula will be brought up by those who do not believe Gholston’s on-field production warrants a high draft selection.
Dan Connor, LB, Penn State. Rest assured, there will be arguments about whether Connor is an overrated prospect. The main reason he will cause debate in draft rooms is coaches tend to fall in love with his toughness, smarts and intangibles—and overlook his lack of good athleticism. Connor is a stiff, straight-line player who lacks the athleticism and flexibility to change directions quickly, tackle well in the open field and move well in pass coverage downfield. In addition, his intangibles will get some teams to believe he could be productive playing outside linebacker, while many others believe he only fits in as an inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.
Simeon Castille, S, Alabama. Two issues will spark debate about Castille’s NFL future: his slight frame and what position he should play. Although he played both cornerback and safety at Alabama, he played cornerback more often. He is a smart, instinctive defender who breaks up a lot of passes and is a surprisingly physical tackler. However, although he clearly has a great feel for playing cornerback, teams will argue about whether he has the explosiveness and speed to handle the position in the NFL. Meanwhile, teams will also debate whether Castille has the size and strength to hold up at safety.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State. Rodgers-Cromartie could be the most heavily debated player in this year’s draft. When most teams held their initial draft meetings in December, Rodgers-Cromartie was widely projected as a third- or fourth-rounder because he often appeared to lack instincts, which led to his allowing receivers to gain separation and make catches. The big question teams face now is, why did a player who dominated the Senior Bowl and Combine with his size and athleticism struggle to consistently make plays at Tennessee State?
Evaluators who like Rodgers-Cromartie are sure to bring up Cowboys Terence Newman as an example of a highly drafted cornerback who was not dominant in college in terms of breaking up passes (he was often in position, but allowed a surprising number of catches). Those who don’t like Rodgers-Cromartie will bring up former Titans cornerback Andre Woolfolk, who was drafted in the first round in 2003, despite a lack of consistent productivity at Oklahoma, because he performed like a superstar in predraft workouts. Woolfolk was released by the Titans after four seasons and is currently trying to get back into the league.
Russ Lande founded GM Jr. Scouting LLC, a football scouting service that analyzes NFL draft prospects for Sporting News.
And I will send a note of apology to this scout with a smile hehe.
