A Look back on NFL Draft Scouting Reports

[congressmanreality 1]

QB TOM BRADY

(6-4 1/2, 211, 5.25) Michigan

Notes: Baseball catcher and football quarterback in high school who was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 18th round of the June 1995 baseball draft. Opted for football and redshirted at Michigan in ’95. Saw limited action in ’96 and ’97 and started the past two years. Completed 3-of-5 passes for 26 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in ’96, 12-15-103-0-0 in ’97, 214-350-2,636-15-12 in ’98 and 180-295-2,216-16-6 in ’99, when he often shared time with super sophomore Drew Henson. Went all the way against Alabama in the Orange Bowl and completed 34-46-369-4. Unlike many Michigan quarterbacks, Brady is a pocket-type passer who plays best in a dropback-type system.

Positives: Good height to see the field. Very poised and composed. Smart and alert. Can read coverages. Good accuracy and touch. Produces in big spots and in big games. Has some Brian Griese in him and is a gamer. Generally plays within himself. Team leader.

 

Negatives: Poor build. Very skinny and narrow. Ended the ’99 season weighing 195 pounds and still looks like a rail at 211. Looks a little frail and lacks great physical stature and strength. Can get pushed down more easily than you’d like. Lacks mobility and ability to avoid the rush. Lacks a really strong arm. Can’t drive the ball down the field and does not throw a really tight spiral. System-type player who can get exposed if he must ad-lib and do things on his own.

 

Summary: Is not what you’re looking for in terms of physical stature, strength, arm strength and mobility, but he has the intangibles and production and showed great Griese-like improvement as a senior. Could make it in the right system but will not be for everyone.

 

 

QB Joey Harrington

(6-4 1/8, 220, 4.87) Oregon

Notes: Redshirted in 1997 and played in just one game in ’98, when Akili Smith and Jason Maas were the team’s top two signalcallers. Started four of the eight games he played in ’99, including the team’s bowl game, after he ended the season beating out injured A.J. Feeley for the job. Kept the job from Feeley (who was drafted by the Eagles in the sixth-round in 2001 and made the team), and started every game in 2000. Top Heisman candidate in ’01 and finished fourth in the voting. Was the Pacific-10’s Offensive Player of the Year and an Academic All-American. MVP of the Fiesta Bowl. Completed 84-of-158 passes for 1,180 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in 1999, 195-375-2,694-20-13 in 2000 and also ran the ball (or was sacked) 61 times for 125 yards and six touchdowns. Completed 186-322-2,415 with a terrific 23-5 TD-interception ratio in ’01. Then played his best game in the Fiesta Bowl, completing 28-42-350-4-1 and made some near-perfect long throws. Was unable to play in the Senior Bowl after hurting his knee in the East-West Shrine game, operating behind a subpar offensive line with no true tackles.

Positives: Good size. Tall. Sees well. Supersmart. Team leader. Is poised. Really cut down on his mistakes in 2001 and learned to better control his emotions. Does an excellent job of managing the team and running the offense the way he is coached to do it. Was much more consistent in ’01 and avoided the horrible games he had earlier in his career (Oregon State 2000), in which he let things snowball on him. Very clutch and has a great ability for bringing his team back at the end of games. Led at least 10 fourth-quarter comebacks and has the best won-lost record of any Oregon quarterback in history. Won 25 of the last 28 games he started. Sets up quickly and reads coverages well. Has quick feet and senses the rush well. Is tough to sack. Has good, but not great, arm strength. Has stretches when he throws with pinpoint accuracy and really nice touch. Was much more mechanically sound and poised in 2001, and that really helped him with his accuracy.

 

Negatives: Does not have a great arm. Must have his feet set and use a full delivery to get the ball downfield with accuracy and velocity. Still can be erratic and streaky with his accuracy. Is not that mobile or much of a threat to run for big yardage. May have looked better than he really is because he is in such a good offensive system.

 

Summary: Great intangibles and a super kid, but he does not have David Carr’s arm strength and is not John Elway, but he could be slightly more gifted than Tom Brady and will be a first-round pick.

 

 

WR Chad Johnson

(6-1 1/8, 190, 4.56) Oregon State

Notes: Went to Langston University in Oklahoma in 1996. Played at Santa Monica College in ’97 and ’99 but did not play in ’98. Came to Oregon State in the fall of 2000 with just one year of college eligibility left. Head coach Dennis Erickson wanted Johnson because he was familiar with him from his prep days as a star player and athlete at Miami Beach (Fla.) High School. Despite showing up in August of 2000 in less-than-ideal shape, he started all but one game in 2000 and caught 33 passes for 713 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season. Had a 74-yard TD catch in the Fiesta Bowl, which really should not have counted since he dropped the ball a couple yards before crossing the goal line, and a four-yarder later in the game. Johnson is the cousin of Titans CB Samari Rolle. Johnson ran in the high 4.5s at the Combine because he has awful sprinting form and does not know how to start. However, with proper form and an average start, he could shave two-tenths of a second off his time and be running in the high 4.3s.

Positives: Good size. Long arms and big, soft hands. Terrific athlete. Great body control. Smooth as silk. Plays much faster than he times. Exceptional playing speed. Can get deep and make a big play. Will generally catch in traffic. Can make the circus catches. Has some shake-and-bake and run after the catch. Improved by leaps and bounds in one year. Should only get better with experience. Had a great week at the Senior Bowl. Seemed to improve every day. Also was impressive catching the ball at the Combine.

 

Negatives: Green as grass. Basically spent one semester practicing and playing in a major college system. Can be a lackadaisical route-runner. Must learn how to read and adjust to coverages. Ran a very disappointing set of times at the Combine. Looks like a burner on tape, but he was a high 4.5 guy at the Combine and did not jump well either. Lacks concentration and focus. Drops a lot of passes for a player with really exceptional hands and pass-catching skills because he does not concentrate on the ball until he has secured it. At times, seems to march to the beat of a different drummer and likes to do things his own way.

 

Summary: Great upside, high-risk (for where he will be drafted) player who will need a lot of development and refinement, but he can be an impact player. In one week at the Senior Bowl, he went from a middle-of-the-pack receiver to a an upper-echelon prospect. Was hurt by the Combine times, but he can redeem himself by running better before the draft.

 

TIM COUCH

(6-4, 225, had not run as of presstime/4.75e) Kentucky

Notes: High-school All-American and Parade high-school Player of the Year. Regarded as the top football recruit in the country in 1996 and also was considered a top basketball prospect. Signed with Kentucky in ’96 but was really unhappy in Bill Curry’s option offense. Did not fit in and started just two games, completing only 32-of-84 passes for 276 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Came into his own in ’97, when Hal Mumme and his four- and five-receiver passing game came to town. Hit on 363-547-3,884-37-19 and led the nation in passes attempted, completions, yards per game and completion percentage. Continued to improve in ’98, when he hit on 400-553-4,275-36-15, won All-Southeastern Conference honors, made many All-America teams and finished fourth in the Heisman voting. Was healthy at the Scouting Combine but did not test, throw or run as a result of the advice he received from the group representing him.

Positives: Loves the game. Good work ethic. Solid intangibles. Seems to have command of the game. Reads the field extremely well. Has almost uncanny ability to quickly get his body into good throwing positions. Excellent size. Good, high release. Holds the ball high and can flick the ball quickly with just his wrist when he has to. Fine athlete. Handles bad snaps in the shotgun well. Good feet. Can dash off when he is in trouble and throw on the move. Shows some ability to scramble, avoid the rush and improvise. Nice, soft touch. Throws a very catchable ball. Extremely accurate short passer. Can put the ball in nearly perfect places for his receiver to catch it. Completed 72.3 percent of his passes in ’98. Has enough arm to throw the longer patterns. Has become better every year and improved by leaps and bounds.

 

Negatives: Played in a four- and five-receiver offense in which he generally threw a lot of short passes. System helps build great stats and is somewhat similar to the University of Houston’s run-and-shoot, which hid the shortcomings of Andre Ware and David Klingler from the pros. In the system Couch has played in, they wanted him to throw passes of under 20 yards and very few passes in the 20- to 30-yard range. Thus, he has very little experience throwing those types of passes. Does not have a great John Elway/Dan Marino-type arm. Ball will flutter at times, and he rarely drives the ball, but at times he does show he can drill the ball 20 yards on a line. Needs a lot of work on his deep passing and must adjust to the fact that NFL defensive backs will break on the ball a lot faster than the college players he generally faced. Usually lined up in the shotgun. Only played three years of college ball, and his first year was pretty much a washout. Aside from his freshman year in college, has known nothing but great success and could have a hard time if he goes to a bad team and is thrown to the wolves.

 

Summary: Will probably be the first player taken in the draft and is potentially a special quarterback. Physically, he is a more mobile and athletic Peyton Manning, but Manning played four — not three — years of college ball and was in an offense that was more similar to what NFL teams use.

 

 

AKILI SMITH

(6-2 5/8, 220, 4.7) Oregon

Notes: Parade high-school football All-American, one of the top handful of prep QB prospects in the country and a top baseball player. Signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates out of high school and spent three years in their minor-league chain. Resumed football career at Grossmont Community College (Calif.) in 1995. Came to Oregon in ’97 and shared time at quarterback, starting six games. Completed 104-of-190 passes for 1,298 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions and ran 87 times for 195 yards and two scores. Seemed to really get his act together and to mature as a senior. Was much more focused and dedicated. Lived up to his press clippings on the gridiron, starting every game and completing 191-325-3,307-30-7 and rushing 74-183-3. Was named Pacific-10 co-Offensive Player of the Year, along with UCLA’s Cade McNown. Had a great week of practice prior to the East-West Shrine game and then started well, but he struggled a little later in the game. Pulled out of the Senior Bowl, where he would have played and faced the best of the best in most cases.

Positives: Nice size. Mobile and athletic. Can buy time with his feet, scramble and then run or pass off the scramble. Can also run and run the option. Has a very strong and accurate arm and generally holds the ball up and has a high release. At times will combine athleticism, arm strength and accuracy to make the great throws and plays. Does not have to have his feet set to get something on his throws. Can throw the ball off balance and still zip it at times. Is seeing the field much better now and is doing a much better job of reading coverages after seeming to be almost clueless at times as a junior. Has dramatically improved timing, touch and accuracy at all distances. Can improvise but is doing a much better job of giving the called play time to develop before he starts to free-lance. Has been durable to date, although he took a beating in college.

 

Negatives: Still rough around the edges and somewhat inconsistent. Does not always throw with a very fluid delivery. Needs a lot of work on reading the entire field. (The Oregon offense generally had him reading just half the field in ’98.) Maturity and character were concerns heading into the 1998 season. At times, he still shows poor judgment and forces the ball. Needs to learn when to give up on a play and to just throw the ball away and go on to the next play. Slightly overaged. Will be 24 years old before he starts his rookie year.

 

Summary: Definitely has the physical tools to become an upper-echelon NFL quarterback. Still could go as high as second in the first round but also could drop down quite a bit lower in the round because he did not go to the Senior Bowl, where scouts had hoped to get answers to their remaining questions.

 

 

QB Michael Vick

(6-0¼, 215, 4.4 E) Virginia Tech

Notes: Left-handed passer. Redshirted in 1998. Set the college football world on its ear as a second-year freshman, when he completed 90-of-152 passes for 1,840 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions and carried the ball 108 times for 585 yards and eight scores. Named All-Big East while finishing third in the Heisman voting and leading Virginia Tech to a perfect regular season and the right to play Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. In that game, Vick’s team came up short, but he was valiant in defeat, completing 15-29-225-1 and carrying the ball 23-97-1. Was in the running for the Heisman in 2000 until he suffered a high ankle sprain vs. Pittsburgh. Tried to play but was not effective in the Miami (Fla.) game and really struggled until the Gator Bowl, when he won game MVP honors. For the season, Vick completed 87-161-1,234-8-6 and ran 104-617-8.

Positives: Natural leader who other players seem to gravitate to. Great competitor. Wants to be the best and wants to win. May have been the best pure athlete in the country the past two years. Has superior speed and quickness. Outstanding runner and scrambler with a great blend of speed, quickness, power and niftiness. Very difficult to sack. Must be kept inside the pocket because if he gets outside, he can run or throw for big yardage. Has a superquick, no-windup throwing motion and terrific arm strength. Arm is so strong he can throw with great velocity and great distance despite the fact he does not step into his throws. Has exceptional football instincts and vision. Can make the amazing pass or throw at any time. Will literally flick the ball with his wrist and throw a BB 15 yards or throw a perfect arched pass 59 yards down the field. Great improvisor. Can turn any broken play into a big play. A defensive coordinator’s worst nightmare. Could develop into a true franchise player.

 

Negatives: On the short side. Is just barely six-feet tall. May have some trouble seeing from the pocket. Only played two years of college football and is not prepared for the NFL. May have a hard time going from everyone’s hero in college to a multimillionaire player whom everyone seems to want a piece of. More of an option-running-type quarterback in college. Has undeveloped throwing mechanics and some bad habits. Does not always hold the ball up like he should. A lot of times, he throws without stepping into the throw, relying solely on pure arm strength. Never has had to do much in the way of reading coverages. Will make some bad decisions with the ball at times. Has small (eight-inch) hands, which could lead to problems holding on to the ball and gripping it in rainy or very cold weather. (Remember Dave Krieg?) Lacks patience. Generally does not go through his progressions and just bolts the pocket if his primary receiver is covered. At times holds on to the ball too long and seems confused. May not know how to really watch game films. Within two weeks of entering his name into the NFL draft pool, he changed agents and supporting cast, which may show instability and immaturity on his part.

 

Summary: Is not ready for the NFL but may still be the first player picked because he is such a great and magical athlete and has such a remarkable combination of speed, running skills, football instincts, toughness and arm strength. By coming out this early, he has a far greater chance of never fully realizing his potential in the NFL. May be in a position where he has to play right away because of the type of money the top pick in the draft gets. Then the team that drafts him will probably have to just turn him loose and let him continue his schoolyard, spontaneous style of play without learning the correct way to maximize his throwing ability and read coverages.

 

 

 

http://archive.profootballweekly.com

[congressmanreality 1]

Couldn't find any scouting reports earlier than 1999, would really like to see what the "experts" had to say about players like Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Walter Payton, you know...the classics....

 

anyone know where to find this info, post a link.

[murf74 461]

Are you Joey Harrington's wife? You seem to have a deep seeded love for the man . Not that there's anything wrong with that. 90% of your posts have been about Joey.

[congressmanreality 1]

Are you Joey Harrington's wife? You seem to have a deep seeded love for the man . Not that there's anything wrong with that. 90% of your posts have been about Joey.

 

 

I just like to annoy people by going against the grain...I hate Joey Harrington, believe he's one of the worst mistakes the lions ever made....I just like to argue....

[murf74 461]

I just like to annoy people by going against the grain...I hate Joey Harrington, believe he's one of the worst mistakes the lions ever made....I just like to argue....

 

I love debate.

 

But don't debate something you don't truely believe in or nobody will take you seriously

[Parja 0]

Actually, most of these aren't that far off.

• Brady was a beanpole coming out of college. Beefing up to around 225 has done him a lot of good.
  
• Harrington was more physically gifted than Brady coming out of college, but that doesn't necessarily mean a whole lot.
  
• Chad Johnson was raw as hell and obviously had a lot of upside.
  
• Not sure what they were talking about Couch being more athletic than Manning. A bit more mobile, maybe, but that was about it.
  
• Akili Smith...
  
• Mike Vick STILL isn't ready to be an NFL quarterback. Has had success in Atlanta only because of his running ability and I don't think he has the mental prowess to run an NFL offense.
  

[murf74 461]

Actually, most of these aren't that far off.

• Mike Vick STILL isn't ready to be an NFL quarterback. Has had success in Atlanta only because of his running ability and I don't think he has the mental prowess to run an NFL offense.
  

 

How true.

[Wildman 0]

Actually, most of these aren't that far off.

• Brady was a beanpole coming out of college. Beefing up to around 225 has done him a lot of good.
  
• Harrington was more physically gifted than Brady coming out of college, but that doesn't necessarily mean a whole lot.
  
• Chad Johnson was raw as hell and obviously had a lot of upside.
  
• Not sure what they were talking about Couch being more athletic than Manning. A bit more mobile, maybe, but that was about it.
  
• Akili Smith...
  
• Mike Vick STILL isn't ready to be an NFL quarterback. Has had success in Atlanta only because of his running ability and I don't think he has the mental prowess to run an NFL offense.
  

 

 

The problem is generally the shorter reports that summarize everything into a final, is he going to make it in the NFL answer. This is why I like watching the film and giving much more than a summary. Here's some of those summaries, though for entertainment value. Remember a GM isn't watching all the film, he's getting info second and third-hand--and if that info isn't good, well...Jerry Angelo's comments on LT and though he watched the film, he didn't watch enough of it to determine whether LT could run inside and then jumped to the conclusion LT wouldn't be a premier player because of it.

 

 

 

RUNNING BACKS AT A GLANCE

Player School Ht. Wt. 40-yd dash Projection

1. LADAINIAN TOMLINSON Tex. Christian 5-10 221 4.45 1st Round

"He can run inside and outside," San Diego general manager John Butler said.

"He can run with vision. He runs over people. I don't know if he's really

got the speed to take it to the house every time but he can carry it 25, 30

times. Comes to play every week." Led the nation's rushers in each of the

last two seasons and was fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Compared by

some scouts to Emmitt Smith but not by Jerry Angelo, Tampa Bay's director of

player personnel. "This kid doesn't have Emmitt's instincts or Emmitt's

balance," he said. "What this kid has better than Emmitt is more burst, more

suddenness, more explosion." Had only 40 receptions in four years but didn't

fight the ball in workouts. On the short side and will fumble. Answered a

lot of critics at the combine and by being MVP at the Senior Bowl, as did

quarterback Cade McNown two years ago. "And McNown hasn't done squat in the

NFL," one scout said. "You want your running back to be one of your five

best players, and if we brought him in here I don't think he'd be one of our

10 or 12 best. Those runs at TCU, he was wide open so many times on those

wide-field options."

 

Player School Ht. Wt. 40-yd dash Projection

2. DEUCE MCALLISTER Mississippi 6-1 221 4.42 1st Round

"In pro football he'll be a better back than he was in college because

they'll use him different," St. Louis general manager Charley Armey said.

"This guy is a can't-miss." Three-year starter whose best year was 1999.

Remarkably gifted, he might be the best punt returner and best kickoff

returner in the draft, and the best receiver among the running backs. "He's

a little bit like Fred Taylor," New Orleans general manager Randy Mueller

said. "His skills would outweigh any concerns I have. He just needs a crease

and he can go." Hasn't been durable, partially because he runs high and

takes shots. Toughness is an issue with some teams, too. "I don't know how

much he likes it," one scout said. "He's a little too cool, too flippant. He

doesn't play up to his ability." Real name is Dulymus Jenod McAllister.

 

Player School Ht. Wt. 40-yd dash Projection

3. LAMONT JORDAN Maryland 5-10 232 4.48 1st-2nd Round

"He's a master blaster," Indianapolis general manager Bill Polian said. "He

slams it in there." Four-year starter who rushed for 1,632 yards and 16

touchdowns in 1999, then merely 920 and 11 in 2000. "He has more ability

than Tomlinson," one scout said. "He can run over people and around them.

You just worry about the off-field stuff. Never shows up for anything.

Doesn't want to work." Made some amends at the Senior Bowl and workouts.

"They hired a guy just to take him to class every day so he could be

eligible," another scout said. "That's not good. If he was an A-1 guy he'd

be a sure-fire first because on grass he's running 4.4s. He's got great

hands, too."

 

Player School Ht. Wt. 40-yd dash Projection

4. MICHAEL BENNETT Wisconsin 5-9 207 4.38 1st-2nd Round

"Speed kills," one scout said. "With his quickness out of a break he's going

to have those linebackers stumbling and falling all over themselves. He will

undress them. I'm concerned about him being a one-year wonder and all that

but he's a terrific kid and his hands will be good enough." Really played

only one year, gaining 1,681 yards as Ron Dayne's successor. "I'm mixed on

him," another scout said. "Some people say he's not instinctive and not a

shake guy. (Expletive), he only has to make one move and if you lean the

wrong way he's gone. Great, great speed, and he plays fast. Maybe when he

matures he'll be your every-down guy. Not now." His uncle, Tony Bennett, led

the Packers in sacks in 1991-'92. "He's not real big and he can't be a

third-down back because he doesn't catch very well," a third scout said.

"He's a spot player that might give you a great big play. He should have

stayed in school and worked on catching the ball."

 

Player School Ht. Wt. 40-yd dash Projection

5. ANTHONY THOMAS Michigan 6-1 225 4.59 2nd Round

"This may be crazy but if you got him at the end of the second round or in

the third round, I'm not sure that's not a better buy than those other

backs," said Phil Savage, Baltimore's director of college scouting. "You

know exactly what you're going to get. He can run and catch." Broke the

school record for rushing yards with 4,472 overall. "He's a hard runner,"

said Tom Braatz, Miami's director of college scouting. "He's a hammer."

Married, mature and dependable. Will need constant tutoring but Michigan

coaches recommend him highly. Lacks long speed. "He's going to chatter his

feet in the hole," one scout said. "He's like Eddie George in style. He

can't plant and make that decisive, sudden move. His speed is better than

what you think it is."

 

Player School Ht. Wt. 40-yd dash Projection

6. KEVAN BARLOW Pittsburgh 6-1 238 4.55 2nd-3rd Round

Gained 1,053 yards in 2000 and 2,324 in four-year career. "He's one that you

could hit on big," one scout said. "Boy, he's an enigma. He was in the

doghouse early. He fumbles. But you put on the last three games and he

turned it on." Fast for his size, shifty runner and adequate receiver

despite only 36 receptions. "He's a goofball," another scout said. "We had

him in and he'd be happy-go-lucky one minute and the next minute act like

he's (expletive) off because he's having to spend two or three hours here.

He could be a problem."

 

Player School Ht. Wt. 40-yd dash Projection

7. TRAVIS HENRY Tennessee 5-9 223 4.55 3rd-4th Round

Replaced Jamal Lewis as the starter in 2000 and gained 1,314 yards, giving

him overall school mark of 3,078. "He's almost a bowling-ball type," Oakland

scout Jon Kingdon said. "Just plays really hard." Caught only 20 passes in

college but hands are more plus than minus. His limitation is speed, but he

has timed surprisingly well this spring. "He's a guy that can hit the crease

if it's there but he's not going to deliver the home run," said Jerry

Hardaway, Arizona's national scouting coordinator. "He's not magic beyond

the block point and block lane."

 

Player School Ht. Wt. 40-yd dash Projection

8. RUDI JOHNSON Auburn 5-9 1/2 227 4.74 3rd-4th Round

Former junior-college player who spent only one semester at Auburn before

declaring for draft a year early. Named Southeastern Conference player of

the year, rushing for 1,587 yards and 13 touchdowns. "Some people think he's

the second coming of Ron Dayne," one scout said. "He's not as big but he

keeps keeping on. Not quite as fast as Dayne but decent speed." Average

receiver. Poor blocker.

 

Player School Ht. Wt. 40-yd dash Projection

9. CORRELL BUCKHALTER Nebraska 6-0 229 4.57 3rd-4th Round

Started only nine of 46 games in college but gained 2,522 yards and scored

27 touchdowns. "He had a great Shrine game," Kingdon said. "He's not rocket

speed but his size-speed combination works." Excellent athlete and an

instinctive runner.

 

Player School Ht. Wt. 40-yd dash Projection

10. JAMES JACKSON Miami 5-10 1/2 210 4.55 4th Round

Didn't become a starter until 2000, when he had 1,006 yards and 11

touchdowns. "James Jackson is a heck of a football player," Braatz said.

"He's just not fast." Finished college with 2,953 rushing yards and 38

receptions. "He can catch the ball and he's got some elusiveness," said Rich

Snead, Tennessee's director of player personnel. "You're just not going to

get a lot of big plays out of him."

[congressmanreality 1]

4. MICHAEL BENNETT Wisconsin 5-9 207 4.38 1st-2nd Round

 

 

To bad he has no skills whatsoever at RB, while running track for UW he ran a 4.25 40, (no pads of course)...that made him the 3rd fastest man in the world at the time....this guy needs a good RB coach.

 

 

Imagine what he could do in a place like KC or Denver....

[Deadpool 0]

Good stuff. I always like going back and reading scouts takes on players from a few years ago. Just goes to show you that even though they can evaluate a player pretty well as far as what they are, that they still cannot predict what they will do once in the NFL. Players can progress or regress mentally and/or physically quite a bit.

 

Since I started doing Dynasty leagues a few years ago, I have tried to keep all of my Sporting News draft guides and my own personal notes so I could go back and see how far off scouts and even my own predictions are.

[Wildman 0]

Good stuff. I always like going back and reading scouts takes on players from a few years ago. Just goes to show you that even though they can evaluate a player pretty well as far as what they are, that they still cannot predict what they will do once in the NFL. Players can progress or regress mentally and/or physically quite a bit.

 

Since I started doing Dynasty leagues a few years ago, I have tried to keep all of my Sporting News draft guides and my own personal notes so I could go back and see how far off scouts and even my own predictions are.

 

 

I did the same...Then I started wondering how these guys came up with their numerical scores. There seemed to be little explanation as to how they scored this information or supporting analysis. I'm sure some publications have it, but choose not to publish it.

 

What's even better are the player comparisons. I picked up one publication and wondered if they even watched the games, because I just couldn't fathom why they would make some of the comparisons they did...

[swamp dog 0]

Couldn't find any scouting reports earlier than 1999, would really like to see what the "experts" had to say about players like Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Walter Payton, you know...the classics....

 

anyone know where to find this info, post a link.

 

joe montana was drafted in either the 2nd or 3rd round by san fran. he certainly wasn't though of as anything super special.

 

bill walsh made him what he was. the perfect storm: right place, right time, perfect system for him.

 

jerry rice was taken at pick 1.16 i believe...walter payton was a top-10 pick (i think). rice was considered "slow" when he came out.

 

Actually, most of these aren't that far off.

• Brady was a beanpole coming out of college. Beefing up to around 225 has done him a lot of good.
  
• Harrington was more physically gifted than Brady coming out of college, but that doesn't necessarily mean a whole lot.
  
• Chad Johnson was raw as hell and obviously had a lot of upside.
  
• Not sure what they were talking about Couch being more athletic than Manning. A bit more mobile, maybe, but that was about it.
  
• Akili Smith...
  
• Mike Vick STILL isn't ready to be an NFL quarterback. Has had success in Atlanta only because of his running ability and I don't think he has the mental prowess to run an NFL offense.
  

 

living in mich and watching almost all of the wolverine games, there was nothing and i mean NOTHING to see in brady that would have predicted his nfl success. henson supplanted him and everybody was ga-ga over drew and his "measurables" and brady was mr. ho-hum.