BACH
Superbowl, Homeboy!
Found this on cbs.sportsline.com. Pretty interesting article on players that are better players than their work-out numbers indicate.
Wonder if we pick up one of these guys. Seems like "Mac-type" players..
Notebook: QB Simms leads the Better-Than top 10
The worst thing a scout can do is not stand by his convictions, backing down to the powers that make the drafting decisions.
By this we mean a scout's strong opinion on a player suddenly weakens when the general manager or coach doesn't have the same opinion. It leads to second-guessing by the scout, wondering if he saw something the wrong way. They can sometimes talk themselves out of their own original analysis.
In the end, scouts can change their opinions just to get with the program, which ultimately can hurt the team in the long run.
"If you don't stand up for what you believe in, then you are not doing your job," one AFC scout said. "Of course, it happens all the time where a coach will say he doesn't see the same thing a scout does, and that scout will back down. The scout should not say he's right and they're wrong, but he should stand up for what he believes."
So, that's what I'm about to do.
There are a number of players in this year's NFL Draft that will be better players than what the scouts and personnel people are now saying. They might not be drafted in the first round, although some named here will be, but they will end up being good, serviceable NFL players. Some will even become stars.
They're our Better-Than Players. We've come up with 10 players that fit in this category.
The flip side is there is also a group of Worse-Than Players, those players the scouts and personnel people think more highly of than what their rating should be. We'll feature those players in this NFL Insider notebook next week.
Topping the Better-Than list is Texas quarterback Chris Simms. The son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms has all the tools to be a successful NFL passer. He is big, has a strong arm and understands what it takes to succeed in the league, having grown up watching it.
Simms has his critics, though. They say he didn't play well in the big games. They say his motion is too long ... he has to step into his throws ... he didn't handle the blitz well.
"I was always comfortable with my career there," Simms said. "I felt like I played good, and we won a lot of big games. I know everyone likes to focus on the Oklahoma game, but I felt like I played well.
“It seems to get lost that I did lead the Big 12 in passing the last three years. That always seems to get lost in the shuffle. At the same time, it doesn't bother me, because I'm confident in who I am and my ability as a player."
All of the criticism has shreds of truth in it, but that can be coached out of him. Simms did not get the best coaching at Texas, according to some scouts. If he gets with the right quarterbacks coach, in the right system, Simms will be a Pro Bowl passer.
He might not go in the first round, but he won't fall past the second. This is a strong quarterback class, led by Southern California's Carson Palmer and Marshall's Byron Leftwich. Simms should be ranked right behind those two, or perhaps even with Leftwich. There is no way he or Florida's Rex Grossman should be ranked behind Cal's Kyle Boller, who has become the workout wonder in the past three months.
Simms has an arm every bit as strong as Palmer's, and he's just as big. He might not be as mobile, but he can move well enough. Some scouts say he needs to mature, but who doesn't in this draft?
In five years, Simms will make those who passed him in the first round pay in a big way.
"Don't shy away from that if that's what you believe," the AFC scout said. "I don't want to see you wavering."
No, that's left to the professional scouts.
Now for the other nine Better-Than players:
2. Victor Hobson, LB, Michigan: He doesn't run as well as scouts would like, but the guy made a ton of plays in college. He'll continue to make them when he gets to the NFL. He is a tough football player.
3. Tony Gilbert, LB, Georgia: Boss Bailey got all the attention at Georgia, but Gilbert made more plays. Bailey will go in the first round because he has all the attributes, while Gilbert is small by scouts' standards and doesn't run that well. But watch him become a starter in his second year.
4. Todd Johnson, S, Florida: Another guy who shows up on the tapes. He is a smart player who will hit you. He doesn't have great coverage skills, but they are good enough. He will start for somebody down the road.
5. Anthony Adams, DT, Penn State: Undersized at 6-feet tall, he was overshadowed playing next to Jimmy Kennedy, who will be a high first-round pick. But Adams showed up a bunch on tape, and plays with more intensity than Kennedy.
6. Brett Williams, T, Florida State: He was pegged as a first-round pick heading into his senior season, but for some reason he has dropped down the board. That shouldn't happen. He will be a 10-year starter in the league at left tackle.
7. Cie Grant, LB, Ohio State: He was moved to weakside linebacker from safety and had a big year for the national champions. At 225 pounds, he is undersized by many team's standards, but for a team looking for a run-and-chase linebacker, he is the perfect choice.
8. Onterrio Smith, RB, Oregon: Of all the backs in this draft, he has the best big-play speed. The knock is he is short at 5-foot-10 and he has had some off-field troubles. Injuries slowed him last year, too. He will be a 1,200-yard back.
9. Clint Mitchell, DE, Florida: Another player that has had off-field problems, but seems to have moved past them. When on the field for the Gators, he was a solid pass-rushing end during his career. If he dedicates himself, he could be a Grant Wistrom-type player.
10. Bobby Wade, WR, Arizona: He is not big, not fast, but he is plenty quick and has the attitude teams like from their slot receivers. Wade would be perfect in the Rams' offense, playing the role Az-Zahir Hakim once filled. We love this kid.
Others who got consideration: Jimmy Wilkerson, DE, Oklahoma; Shane Walton, S, Notre Dame; Donny Nickey, S, Ohio State; Kevin Curtis, WR, Utah State; Julian Battle, S, Tennessee. Matt Walters, DT, Miami.
Wonder if we pick up one of these guys. Seems like "Mac-type" players..
Notebook: QB Simms leads the Better-Than top 10
The worst thing a scout can do is not stand by his convictions, backing down to the powers that make the drafting decisions.
By this we mean a scout's strong opinion on a player suddenly weakens when the general manager or coach doesn't have the same opinion. It leads to second-guessing by the scout, wondering if he saw something the wrong way. They can sometimes talk themselves out of their own original analysis.
In the end, scouts can change their opinions just to get with the program, which ultimately can hurt the team in the long run.
"If you don't stand up for what you believe in, then you are not doing your job," one AFC scout said. "Of course, it happens all the time where a coach will say he doesn't see the same thing a scout does, and that scout will back down. The scout should not say he's right and they're wrong, but he should stand up for what he believes."
So, that's what I'm about to do.
There are a number of players in this year's NFL Draft that will be better players than what the scouts and personnel people are now saying. They might not be drafted in the first round, although some named here will be, but they will end up being good, serviceable NFL players. Some will even become stars.
They're our Better-Than Players. We've come up with 10 players that fit in this category.
The flip side is there is also a group of Worse-Than Players, those players the scouts and personnel people think more highly of than what their rating should be. We'll feature those players in this NFL Insider notebook next week.
Topping the Better-Than list is Texas quarterback Chris Simms. The son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms has all the tools to be a successful NFL passer. He is big, has a strong arm and understands what it takes to succeed in the league, having grown up watching it.
Simms has his critics, though. They say he didn't play well in the big games. They say his motion is too long ... he has to step into his throws ... he didn't handle the blitz well.
"I was always comfortable with my career there," Simms said. "I felt like I played good, and we won a lot of big games. I know everyone likes to focus on the Oklahoma game, but I felt like I played well.
“It seems to get lost that I did lead the Big 12 in passing the last three years. That always seems to get lost in the shuffle. At the same time, it doesn't bother me, because I'm confident in who I am and my ability as a player."
All of the criticism has shreds of truth in it, but that can be coached out of him. Simms did not get the best coaching at Texas, according to some scouts. If he gets with the right quarterbacks coach, in the right system, Simms will be a Pro Bowl passer.
He might not go in the first round, but he won't fall past the second. This is a strong quarterback class, led by Southern California's Carson Palmer and Marshall's Byron Leftwich. Simms should be ranked right behind those two, or perhaps even with Leftwich. There is no way he or Florida's Rex Grossman should be ranked behind Cal's Kyle Boller, who has become the workout wonder in the past three months.
Simms has an arm every bit as strong as Palmer's, and he's just as big. He might not be as mobile, but he can move well enough. Some scouts say he needs to mature, but who doesn't in this draft?
In five years, Simms will make those who passed him in the first round pay in a big way.
"Don't shy away from that if that's what you believe," the AFC scout said. "I don't want to see you wavering."
No, that's left to the professional scouts.
Now for the other nine Better-Than players:
2. Victor Hobson, LB, Michigan: He doesn't run as well as scouts would like, but the guy made a ton of plays in college. He'll continue to make them when he gets to the NFL. He is a tough football player.
3. Tony Gilbert, LB, Georgia: Boss Bailey got all the attention at Georgia, but Gilbert made more plays. Bailey will go in the first round because he has all the attributes, while Gilbert is small by scouts' standards and doesn't run that well. But watch him become a starter in his second year.
4. Todd Johnson, S, Florida: Another guy who shows up on the tapes. He is a smart player who will hit you. He doesn't have great coverage skills, but they are good enough. He will start for somebody down the road.
5. Anthony Adams, DT, Penn State: Undersized at 6-feet tall, he was overshadowed playing next to Jimmy Kennedy, who will be a high first-round pick. But Adams showed up a bunch on tape, and plays with more intensity than Kennedy.
6. Brett Williams, T, Florida State: He was pegged as a first-round pick heading into his senior season, but for some reason he has dropped down the board. That shouldn't happen. He will be a 10-year starter in the league at left tackle.
7. Cie Grant, LB, Ohio State: He was moved to weakside linebacker from safety and had a big year for the national champions. At 225 pounds, he is undersized by many team's standards, but for a team looking for a run-and-chase linebacker, he is the perfect choice.
8. Onterrio Smith, RB, Oregon: Of all the backs in this draft, he has the best big-play speed. The knock is he is short at 5-foot-10 and he has had some off-field troubles. Injuries slowed him last year, too. He will be a 1,200-yard back.
9. Clint Mitchell, DE, Florida: Another player that has had off-field problems, but seems to have moved past them. When on the field for the Gators, he was a solid pass-rushing end during his career. If he dedicates himself, he could be a Grant Wistrom-type player.
10. Bobby Wade, WR, Arizona: He is not big, not fast, but he is plenty quick and has the attitude teams like from their slot receivers. Wade would be perfect in the Rams' offense, playing the role Az-Zahir Hakim once filled. We love this kid.
Others who got consideration: Jimmy Wilkerson, DE, Oklahoma; Shane Walton, S, Notre Dame; Donny Nickey, S, Ohio State; Kevin Curtis, WR, Utah State; Julian Battle, S, Tennessee. Matt Walters, DT, Miami.
. I like Larry Johnson, but he has done just enough to go high. If I was looking for a runner this year, I might look a grabbing one in the late second to early third range, since as a whole this runningback class sucks.
