New article on Spence

[jbjarko]

I want this kid in a bad way at 29.

http://www.nfl.com/theascent

Jones on one side. Spence, golden. Watch out.

 

[Harry]

I wouldn't be shocked to see the Cards take him, though I think he goes earlier in the draft. The article doesn't fully cover the small incidents during his EKU career that make him still a question mark. Everyone sees the talent. Now they're trying to see the maturity and self-control. It's rare to see a player do what TM has done. The few that have made it usually exhibit his total lifestyle change. I'm not confident Spence is there.

 

[jbjarko]

I wouldn't be shocked to see the Cards take him, though I think he goes earlier in the draft. The article doesn't fully cover the small incidents during his EKU career that make him still a question mark. Everyone sees the talent. Now they're trying to see the maturity and self-control. It's rare to see a player do what TM has done. The few that have made it usually exhibit his total lifestyle change. I'm not confident Spence is there.

It's hard to risk a 1st on a player with question marks such as these, but hed be in the perfect spot with TM to help him pursue his goals and become a better person IMO. I doubt he'll be there, but it would be a nice surprise and I think Keim may take a flyer on him if the opportunity does arise.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Spence was always regarded at OSU as a good kid who just needed to mature. He is correct in that he got into the party scene and he was more into having fun than taking football seriously.

If he's there, I'd take him. But will Keim? I've said all along that it will show a lot about Keim if Spence is there at 29 and passes. It will show whether he's a play it safe guy in round 1 or will put talent first.

 

[Vermont Maverick]

If he's there, I'd take him. But will Keim? I've said all along that it will show a lot about Keim if Spence is there at 29 and passes. It will show whether he's a play it safe guy in round 1 or will put talent first.

Kiem answered this question last year. He drafted Golden when Randy Gregory was still on the board. That was Round 2, not Round 1, but that's the answer. He's said it a hundred times about character, and he drafts team leaders. Honey Badger was the exception, but that was Round 3, and a slightly different situation, and likely some inside information from PP.

 

[Mitch]

Kiem answered this question last year. He drafted Golden when Randy Gregory was still on the board. That was Round 2, not Round 1, but that's the answer. He's said it a hundred times about character, and he drafts team leaders. Honey Badger was the exception, but that was Round 3, and a slightly different situation, and likely some inside information from PP.

I'm not sure that in this case the analogies you are making are accurate. I could be wrong but at their presser BA&SK said they now have a football character grade and that if a player has made some mistakes but they are convinced the football character is strong enough, they said they would take that player.

When they said this, two players immediately jumped out---DT Robert Nkemdiche and OLB Noah Spence. BA&SK have met privately with both of them and have done their homework on them---now, the both might be taken earlier than #29, but if one or two of them are on the board, we will see if their pre-draft comments did apply to one of them.

 

[Vermont Maverick]

I'm not sure that in this case the analogies you are making are accurate. I could be wrong but at their presser BA&SK said they now have a football character grade and that if a player has made some mistakes but they are convinced the football character is strong enough, they said they would take that player.

When they said this, two players immediately jumped out---DT Robert Nkemdiche and OLB Noah Spence. BA&SK have met privately with both of them and have done their homework on them---now, the both might be taken earlier than #29, but if one or two of them are on the board, we will see if their pre-draft comments did apply to one of them.

I've certainly been know to be wrong plenty of times before. Valid points, Mitch. It has to do with due diligence, I guess. You are correct that Kiem did mention the "football character". I have to admit, I do not know why he meant by that. I've never heard that term before.

 

[oaken1]

Kiem answered this question last year. He drafted Golden when Randy Gregory was still on the board. That was Round 2, not Round 1, but that's the answer. He's said it a hundred times about character, and he drafts team leaders. Honey Badger was the exception, but that was Round 3, and a slightly different situation, and likely some inside information from PP.

Honey Badger was not really an exception. He was a team Leader at LSU...he always worked hard at football. The only real issue he had was that he never really left the south Louisiana area he grew up in,....and he still associated with the same people he grew up with.
Having a friend on the team to provide a bit of guidance lowered the risk...but primarily,...getting Badger the hell out of Louisiana is what did the most in helping him clean up his act. Had he been drafted by the saints,...he is likely on suspension instead of looking at a new contract.

 

[cardpa]

Not sure what to think about Spence. I do know that the football players at Bishop McDevitt got away with more than the normal student. My children went there so I know and I also coached soccer there. I am pretty sure he went to OSU with a pretty big head and ego. I can see how he would easily get in with the wrong crowd. The real question is did he right the ship and realize he almost blew a chance at a great paycheck and career.

 

[Ohcrap75]

I think Spence has a good chance to overcome his past troubles. His parents have been a good support system and it seems like letting them down truly hurt him. He's very intelligent and has proven that in the classroom before and after his violations by earning academic all american honors at OSU and graduating in 3.5 years from E Kentucky. He has set and a achieved goals off the football field. I'm not saying its a guarantee but I think he has realized how close he came to losing football and most players that have lost football didn't realize it until it was too late. I think he is worth a shot at 29.

 

[football karma]

On the off field risk scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest risk: Randy Gregory was an 11. When was the last time you had a players agent saying during the draft that the team who takes the player needs to assign someone 24x7 to that player.

Noah Spence strikes me as a 6 ( so does Nkemdiche). History has shown that teams drafting late, and think of themselves as neededing just a bit more to win a SB-- will take risks on guys like that to get talent their draft spot wouldn't normally allow.

 

[cardpa]

I think Spence has a good chance to overcome his past troubles. His parents have been a good support system and it seems like letting them down truly hurt him. He's very intelligent and has proven that in the classroom before and after his violations by earning academic all american honors at OSU and graduating in 3.5 years from E Kentucky. He has set and a achieved goals off the football field. I'm not saying its a guarantee but I think he has realized how close he came to losing football and most players that have lost football didn't realize it until it was too late. I think he is worth a shot at 29.

Let's not get carried away with his graduating. His degree was in general studies which means he took a lot of easy classes and the degree really means nothing. A degree in general studies means you took classes in a lot of areas (basic classes) but never studied anything that could get you an actual job. It's a pretty worthless degree. Even a Liberal arts degree is worth more than a general studies degree.

 

[GatorAZ]

Definitely sounds like a solid kid with problems rather than a core scumbag (Nkemdiche).

 

[Dougmo]

I keep thinking BASK's concept of football character discredits Nkemdiche but possibly exempts Spence.
I agree with CBus, I think the consensus at OSU was that Spence was a good kid, but partied too much and didn't stop when given his last chance. Hopefully he turned it around in Kentucky after the reality of getting booted from OSU set in. When he was on the field at OSU, he performed very well.
What I've heard about Nkemdiche is, aside from some Spence-like off-the-field shenanigans, he also had questionable on-the-field issues, centered around effort. Supremely talented but often under-performed. To me, that says poor football character.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

NFL announced that there was not a single player that tested positive for illegal substances at the NFL combine.

Good news for Noah Spence. Doubt he is going to be there at #29.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/11262/noah-spence

 

[unseenaz]

NFL announced that there was not a single player that tested positive for illegal substances at the NFL combine.

Good news for Noah Spence. Doubt he is going to be there at #29.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/11262/noah-spence

I thought a story came out that a kid failed the combine drug test..?

edit: i must be thinking of last year, i can't find anything on it

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I thought a story came out that a kid failed the combine drug test..?

edit: i must be thinking of last year, i can't find anything on it

No, you are right.

Supposedly, there was a cornerback that failed, but I guess he didn't.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

No, you are right.

Supposedly, there was a cornerback that failed, but I guess he didn't.

Maybe it was Ramsey

 

[overseascardfan]

Maybe it was Ramsey

Some d-bag "beat reporter" tweeted it was a top SEC CB, everyone assumed it was Hargreaves III.