NFL Combine
The NFL Combine: one week of intense measuring, testing, interviewing, poking, prodding, gossiping, rumoring and thousands others ing’s in the bid to find the perfect draft pick. There is not one other event on the face of this earth where tenths of seconds, quarters of inches and fractions of weight cost millions of dollars.
At first look, the class of 2007 looks pretty solid. Two big time quarterbacks, a freak of nature running back, some really quick lineman and some equally fast defensive backs. But like always, looking good coming out of college means pretty much nothing when it comes to success on the field. Sure, many top draft picks turn out to be great; Peyton Manning is doing pretty good. And yes you can find a great one in the late rounds; thank you Tom Brady. But trying to pick these guys is about as difficult as filling out a good March Madness bracket; it’s a crapshoot. But that doesn’t stop everybody from trying to find the perfect formula to see how a pick will turn out. The draft can measure speed, quickness, strength, size, intelligence and public relations ability but it lacks a gage on the key things that make up great athletes. Attributes like heart, desire, character, will power, discipline and being able to play nicely with others. It’s an imperfect science and always will be. Coaches and GM’s or the Dallas’ case, owners, need to stop basing their picks purely on ability and more on the X-Factor. Vince Young might not have scored well on the Wonderlic nor had the greatest throwing motion but he knows how to lead and how to win and he’s showed it already. Meanwhile, guys like Pacman Jones and Chris Henry have all the ability in the world but wouldn’t be able to stay out of trouble at a senior citizen club’s bingo day. Winning is determined by an awesome combination of skill and desire. Maybe the guys at NASA can one day invent a machine to calculate that.
With all that said, what’s a good commentary without going against everything previously said try to pick out the best picks? The Oakland Raiders have an offense as bad a Britney Spears’ shaved head so it’s a good thing they have the number one pick in the draft. They need a quarterback so Jamarcus Russell and Brady Quinn look prime candidates with their big arms to throw to Randy Moss and Jerry Porter. That’s considering those guys actually play hard. So now everybody wants to know who the better between the two is and the answer is nobody knows. They both have big arms while Quinn is being criticized for is inability to win big games and Russell is taking heat for his desire, or rumored lack their of. They’re both pretty good and they both have flaws, so go ahead and get your quarter out. But what the Raiders really need is some protection for their quarterback. That O-line is horrible so Joe Thomas, the lineman out of Wisconsin who ran a 4.92 forty is looking attractive. Oakland has the chance to get the players they need, let’s just see if Al Davis can totally blow the pick.
The other prime candidate is Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson who will probably be chosen by Cleveland. Rarely have we seen with such an awesome combination of power, size, speed and will to score touchdowns. He’s one of the best ever to come out of Norman and he would have been the Sooners’ undoubted greatest if he could have stayed healthy. But that becomes the question; will he be able to survive the NFL beating? If he can, he’ll be in Canton one day.
Calvin Johnson is also going to be a top-five pick. At 6-5, 235 pounds and running a 4.35 forty, he has all the tools to succeed. But other than quarterback, wide receiver is the hardest to pick because they’re so flaky. Tampa Bay with the number four pick has solid defense, several quarterbacks in Chris Simms, Jake Plummer and Jeff Garcia along with Cadillac Williams running the ball. Johnson may be the highlight reel they need to go to the next level.
Now for the players getting little publicity but could make big impacts. Steve Smith has got little credit while at USC but has played well and is a smart player. If he can find the right system, he can flourish. His receiving partner Dwayne Jarrett isn’t too shabby himself either, although he is getting plenty of attention. LaRon Landy is a safety who ran sub 4.0 and he proved he could produce at LSU. With that speed at that position, he is the safety defenses dream of. Miami’s Greg Olson was another great Hurricane tight end who just happened to be in South Florida at the wrong time. He’s a big time player and if he finds the right quarterback and scheme, he’ll be a Pro Bowler. Finally, the way out of left-field and incredibly bold prediction on who will get no love from anybody but be a solid NFLer. Florida’s Jarvis Moss might not be the biggest or most talented but that man lost his helmet in the national championship game and still tracked that Ohio State player to make the tackle downfield. With that kind of passion, and craziness, some team will definitely benefit for picking him.
We’ll its draft time: weeks and weeks of second guessing in the quest to find the next Marvin Harrison or Ray Lewis. Strap in for in the long ride.
At first look, the class of 2007 looks pretty solid. Two big time quarterbacks, a freak of nature running back, some really quick lineman and some equally fast defensive backs. But like always, looking good coming out of college means pretty much nothing when it comes to success on the field. Sure, many top draft picks turn out to be great; Peyton Manning is doing pretty good. And yes you can find a great one in the late rounds; thank you Tom Brady. But trying to pick these guys is about as difficult as filling out a good March Madness bracket; it’s a crapshoot. But that doesn’t stop everybody from trying to find the perfect formula to see how a pick will turn out. The draft can measure speed, quickness, strength, size, intelligence and public relations ability but it lacks a gage on the key things that make up great athletes. Attributes like heart, desire, character, will power, discipline and being able to play nicely with others. It’s an imperfect science and always will be. Coaches and GM’s or the Dallas’ case, owners, need to stop basing their picks purely on ability and more on the X-Factor. Vince Young might not have scored well on the Wonderlic nor had the greatest throwing motion but he knows how to lead and how to win and he’s showed it already. Meanwhile, guys like Pacman Jones and Chris Henry have all the ability in the world but wouldn’t be able to stay out of trouble at a senior citizen club’s bingo day. Winning is determined by an awesome combination of skill and desire. Maybe the guys at NASA can one day invent a machine to calculate that.
With all that said, what’s a good commentary without going against everything previously said try to pick out the best picks? The Oakland Raiders have an offense as bad a Britney Spears’ shaved head so it’s a good thing they have the number one pick in the draft. They need a quarterback so Jamarcus Russell and Brady Quinn look prime candidates with their big arms to throw to Randy Moss and Jerry Porter. That’s considering those guys actually play hard. So now everybody wants to know who the better between the two is and the answer is nobody knows. They both have big arms while Quinn is being criticized for is inability to win big games and Russell is taking heat for his desire, or rumored lack their of. They’re both pretty good and they both have flaws, so go ahead and get your quarter out. But what the Raiders really need is some protection for their quarterback. That O-line is horrible so Joe Thomas, the lineman out of Wisconsin who ran a 4.92 forty is looking attractive. Oakland has the chance to get the players they need, let’s just see if Al Davis can totally blow the pick.
The other prime candidate is Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson who will probably be chosen by Cleveland. Rarely have we seen with such an awesome combination of power, size, speed and will to score touchdowns. He’s one of the best ever to come out of Norman and he would have been the Sooners’ undoubted greatest if he could have stayed healthy. But that becomes the question; will he be able to survive the NFL beating? If he can, he’ll be in Canton one day.
Calvin Johnson is also going to be a top-five pick. At 6-5, 235 pounds and running a 4.35 forty, he has all the tools to succeed. But other than quarterback, wide receiver is the hardest to pick because they’re so flaky. Tampa Bay with the number four pick has solid defense, several quarterbacks in Chris Simms, Jake Plummer and Jeff Garcia along with Cadillac Williams running the ball. Johnson may be the highlight reel they need to go to the next level.
Now for the players getting little publicity but could make big impacts. Steve Smith has got little credit while at USC but has played well and is a smart player. If he can find the right system, he can flourish. His receiving partner Dwayne Jarrett isn’t too shabby himself either, although he is getting plenty of attention. LaRon Landy is a safety who ran sub 4.0 and he proved he could produce at LSU. With that speed at that position, he is the safety defenses dream of. Miami’s Greg Olson was another great Hurricane tight end who just happened to be in South Florida at the wrong time. He’s a big time player and if he finds the right quarterback and scheme, he’ll be a Pro Bowler. Finally, the way out of left-field and incredibly bold prediction on who will get no love from anybody but be a solid NFLer. Florida’s Jarvis Moss might not be the biggest or most talented but that man lost his helmet in the national championship game and still tracked that Ohio State player to make the tackle downfield. With that kind of passion, and craziness, some team will definitely benefit for picking him.
We’ll its draft time: weeks and weeks of second guessing in the quest to find the next Marvin Harrison or Ray Lewis. Strap in for in the long ride.
posted by William Allison @ 6:31 PM
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