Scouts Quotes on Prospects

[descendency]

Originally Posted by PossibleCabbage

Scouts are paid as much to come up with reasons "not to draft this guy" than anything else. Anybody who has watched a college football game in the past year can tell you that Cam Newton is talented, that doesn't take much in the way of critical analysis. It's a symptom of the "draft as entertainment" business that we try to make the best of everybody, since that way we drum up excitement and we can get people to come on our shows if we've been nice to them. Scouts have no reason to be nice, in fact they probably shouldn't be nice since most of the 255 guys drafted anyway won't even manage to be average.

Scouts are paid to paint as accurate of a picture of a person as possible and it is up to the GM to decide how to rank them.

[phlysac]

Andrew Luck*, QB, Stanford: 6-4, 234. "He's the best I've done (scouted)," said one scout with almost two decades of experience in personnel. "He's got it all and can do it all. He has no flaws. Smart. Winner. Productive. Decisions. Runs the offense. Got nobody playing with him. The receivers were 5-9 and run 4.8.

Or over 6' and run a 4.31

[Leon Sandcastle]

Originally Posted by phlysac

Or over 6' and run a 4.31

LOL! #thingsscoutssay

[McGahee]

Originally Posted by Brown Leader

Scout's quotes 2012: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama: 6-1½, 272. Projects as an OLB in a 3-4 or a strong-side LB in a 4-3. "The only reason Upshaw could go ahead of Ingram is because Upshaw actually played up and down and Ingram played all over the place," one scout said. "I don't think Upshaw was really outstanding in the Senior Bowl. I thought he was just ordinary. He's very physical, but he gets cut a lot. That's because he's stiff." Two-year starter with 16½ sacks. "(People) think he's Cornelius Bennett and he's not," another scout said. "He's a good, tough, nasty college football player that I think will get blocked a lot in the NFL." Scored just 9 on the 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test. "He's just a tough (expletive)," a third scout said. "He's really not a burn the edge guy. He is not fast. He's built like a fire hydrant. Maybe a 3-4 team will take him in the first."

Damn, Upshaw

[gpngc]

Fletcher Cox*, DT, Mississippi State: 6-4, 298. Started two of his three seasons, finishing with 8½ sacks. "He's probably a pure 4-3 DT who can give you reps at DE," one scout said. "He's got the athletic ability to be a better pass rusher in the future than his numbers have indicated so far." Nicknamed "The Beast." Said another scout: "Guy can run all day. He's explosive, strong hands, good hips. He's country. He's hard. He looooves football."

Cox is probably my favorite front-seven prospect.

And this article is a must-read. Awesome, awesome stuff. Really gives you some insight into the character of some guys and how much emphasis the scouts place on personality.

And the CB notes were very helpful - these guys have the all-11 film that we don't.

I was in agreement with most of the DL and LB quotes, except I like Upshaw more than the scouts they quoted.

[SenorGato]

Vinny Curry, DE-OLB, Marshall: 6-3, 266.Three-year starter with 26½ sacks. "Very, very talented football player," one scout said. "He may have a chance to stand up and be an outside linebacker. He's tough. The guy plays hard." Moved around rather well at the Senior Bowl when the coaches gave him a chance to play standing up.

Man I hope Curry runs something stupid like a 4.5 tomorrow...everybody likes him and nobody wants to throw him in the first round.

[Crazy_Chris]

Matt Kalil*, T, Southern California: 6-6½, 306. Two-year starter at LT. "He could be the second or third pick in the draft," one scout said. "He is very technically sound. Very athletic. He will need a little bit of strength in his lower body. He's an effortless pass blocker. He's not going to blow you away with power, but he's so good at just gaining position with quickness and just sustaining." His brother, Ryan, played for the Trojans and now plays for Carolina, where he is the NFL's highest-paid center. "I think he's overrated," another scout said. "I felt the same way about Sam Baker when he came out of there, too. He's like (Bryan) Bulaga but not as good. Bulaga is tough and strong and all that. This guy is not even strong. I don't know what the deal is with all these people saying how great he is."

This quote and the one about RG3 having nothing you look for in a QB gave me a good laugh.

[lowlife]

I bet it's the same guy saying all the neg ****. The Russian judge, if you will.

[PossibleCabbage]

Originally Posted by FUNBUNCHER

I would LOVE to know what team he works for, but he's probably a freelancer.

In terms of "guys with impeccable sources" in the draft business your two bets are pretty much Gil Brandt and Bob McGinn. I have no doubt that he found an actual NFL scout who's down on Griffin. I mean, actual NFL scouts are wrong all the time, so it's not surprising when you find one who hates or loves a given prospect.

I mean, teams employ a bunch of scouts, and because a bunch of different perspectives are appreciated you tend to select for people predisposed to strong opinions.

Also, the guy praising Bulaga is hilarious in retrospect considering the number of quotes from scouts that McGinn dredged in 2010 up just ripping Bulaga.

[dannyz]

Originally Posted by Crazy_Chris

This quote and the one about RG3 having nothing you look for in a QB gave me a good laugh.

Yeah plus the one about Andrew Luck, I think he got him confused with Tim Tebow on that one.

[PossibleCabbage]

I was amused by:

On Coples: "He will go in the first, but he scares me. There's a lot of things that I don't trust about those (North Carolina) guys."

On Zach Brown: "Can run like the wind. Underachiever. Those guys shut it down this year. Those guys are treated with kid gloves down there."

On Brandon Thompson: "Those Clemson guys don't translate to the NFL very good,... They just don't play well in the NFL."

On Andre Branch: "Clemson always (expletive) me up,... I don't trust those guys there."

I wonder how many different people supplied these quotes.

[gpngc]

LOL^

The funniest thing is that all of that is true. Historically, Clemson and NC guys are ******* scary.

[SchizophrenicBatman]

unc has a ton of busts but they at least have had nicks and peppers (although peppers being a lazy m fer is pretty consistent with their rep)

clemson has brian dawkins...and...uh...jacoby ford?

[SenorGato]

Originally Posted by SchizophrenicBatman

unc has a ton of busts but they at least have had nicks and peppers (although peppers being a lazy m fer is pretty consistent with their rep)

clemson has brian dawkins...and...uh...jacoby ford?

If I was a GM you couldn't pay me to take Clemson player.

That said, Andre Branch isnt very liked there because he's a meany poo head or something. So I actually like him better than your typical Clemson player.

[dunagan15]

Originally Posted by SenorGato

If I was a GM you couldn't pay me to take Clemson player.

That said, Andre Branch isnt very liked there because he's a meany poo head or something. So I actually like him better than your typical Clemson player.

Sammy may soon put that too rest for a year at least

[dhp318]

Originally Posted by phlysac

Or over 6' and run a 4.31

owusu barely played because of concussion issues. But you knew that, didn't you?

[phlysac]

Originally Posted by dhp318

owusu barely played because of concussion issues. But you knew that, didn't you?

Chris Owusu played in 28 of Andrew Luck's 38 games. Most assuredly, Andrew Luck didn't have the most amount of explosive offensive athletes of any BCS QB, but the thought that he didn't have hardly any support from his teammates is more than a bit short-sighted.

Of course he didn't have any "top" WR talent, but he did have the help of players like Toby Gerhart, Doug Baldwin, Coby Fleener, David DeCastro, Johnathan Martin, etc, to help him succeed. It also didn't hurt that he had the efficient offensive philosophy that Harbaugh brought with him and left behind.

[descendency]

Originally Posted by phlysac

Or over 6' and run a 4.31

Exactly. That D isn't great, but the offense is definitely better than that.

Two good TEs, Two elite OL, 1-2 very good WRs, and a running game... that's all you can basically ask for a good QB.

[NY+Giants=NYG]

If Austin's special feet can be special for us, next to the other talent, then I will be a happy guy for a while. He hasn't played in so long though. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and develop!

[keylime_5]

Originally Posted by SenorGato

If I was a GM you couldn't pay me to take Clemson player.

That said, Andre Branch isnt very liked there because he's a meany poo head or something. So I actually like him better than your typical Clemson player.

you guys can pass on Sammy Watkins, I'll gladly take him. He is the epitome of can't miss.

[bored of education]

Alameda Ta'amu, NT, Washington: 6-2½, 348. Made himself a lot of money with a terrific week at the Senior Bowl. "You can't single-block him," one scout said. "He's athletic for his size." Started 42 of 50 games, finishing with 7½ sacks. "He's very much like Paul Soliai of the Dolphins," another scout said. "He is a true space-eater. He didn't play like that (the Senior Bowl) all year. He did have a good Senior Bowl, he really did. He's got a big (expletive) and great big thick thighs on him."


I want Ta'Amu in KC if they don't get Poe since he has a big *****

[PossibleCabbage]

Originally Posted by bored of education

Alameda Ta'amu, NT, Washington: 6-2½, 348. Made himself a lot of money with a terrific week at the Senior Bowl. "You can't single-block him," one scout said. "He's athletic for his size." Started 42 of 50 games, finishing with 7½ sacks. "He's very much like Paul Soliai of the Dolphins," another scout said. "He is a true space-eater. He didn't play like that (the Senior Bowl) all year. He did have a good Senior Bowl, he really did. He's got a big (expletive) and great big thick thighs on him."


I want Ta'Amu in KC if they don't get Poe since he has a big *****

I really hope the scout is talking about his *** and not his ****, since I don't really want to know why a scout would know about the latter or feel compelled to report on it to Bob McGinn.

[phlysac]

Is Shaun Smith scouting for the Chiefs? He has techniques to determine size.

:P

[edgrenade]

Originally Posted by mqtirishfan

Did a scout bump his head and confuse Griffin with Jordan Jefferson?

^^^this ^^^

[Brown Leader]

Per PFT's "what scouts are saying." Quoted sometime after Senior week practices but before the combine. Seems like at least two different scouts. Interesting ones...

QB Andrew Luck - " is not special. He's missing something and it's hard to put your finger on it exactly - I've talked to other GMs around the league, and there is no one out there who thinks this guy is Peyton Manning or John Elway. A winner, yes. A game changer, no. Peyton is special now-he can carry a team by himself-he's proven that. He turns average players into pro bowlers"

QB Brock Osweiler - " the big guy at ASU has a lot of talent to work with now. He's not ready but he has tools - sick size, athletic ability, and he's a passer, not a thrower. The senior class is gross."

QB Ryan Tannehill - "What you have to keep in mind when you're looking at Tannehill - Mike Sherman's offense is not very good. He has plenty of arm talent. He's athletic, he can move around, he's got a ton of upside. If you have time to sit him, you can hit big in a few years."

RB Lamar Miller - " did not practice a lot. He wore a harness all year on his shoulder. He'd turn on contact - I don't question his toughness playing through the injury. He played hurt. He's not a power back but he'll hit it up in there.'

RB Bernard Pierce - " was really disappointing. He is not tough at all through the tackles. He loves to bounce runs to the outside. He has an NFL body and looks the part, but he has to find his heart if he wants to play here. I don't know if he will. Someone will get enamored with him though."

OT Mike Adams - " put on a clinic against Illinois' Whitney Mercilus"

OT Jonathan Martin - " I don't like him. He's soft. I don't think he is the athlete he is made out to be. He's going to be drafted in the first round - I would take him in the 4th. I would like to play against him. I hope he comes in our division."

OT Jeff Allen - " I was not expecting to see a player when I put on the Illinois tape, but # 71 impressed me. He has sweet feet, plays hard, is smart and productive as hell.

OG Kevin Zeitler - " I love him. I think he's a first round, can't miss guy. He is a OG only though" " I would not take him in the first, but someone will take him there."

OG Adam Gettis - "Throw on the game of him against Penn State and watch how he plays against Devon Still. He's going to shoot up. Physically, he is still underdeveloped. He came in at 220lbs and he played close to 280lbs. He's still got another 10 to 15 to add, but he's got starter potential."

DT Devon Still - " is a pretender. He is a project to me. He plays high. He gets knocked around. He has some initial quickness, but he's not a tough, explosive finisher. Someone is going to get their feelings hurt drafting him in the first round. I don't know how you play with guys who get hammered inside. I know we can't. "

LB Mychal Kendricks - " is the best senior we have at California. You wish he were taller but he's a good player. He'll play a long time in this league."

LB Donta Hightower - " If he played as hard as Upshaw he would be a wrecking ball. The games I watched, he didn't do anything. With his size and ability, I expected to see a lot better. "

LB Vontaze Burfict - " I did not like him at all. He's extremely undisciplined. He has a soft, fleshy body. He's not tough. I really question his instincts. He fills the wrong holes. He makes flash plays but does not make consistent plays. He's immature, off base and too emotional. A positional coach will be dog cussing the scouts for bringing him in."

LB Courtney Upshaw - " I love him. He may be my favorite player this year. Other scouts are killing him because he's short. I say, ok, let him go to Pittsburgh and turn into a pro bowler. "

CB Josh Norman - " will go in the second round just off the Shrine week. Granted, he was cheating the drill and squatting on routes, but he picked off about six passes during the week. He is talented."

CB Morris Claiborne - " His cover skills are a rare commodity. I wish he were a little more physical, but he has few holes in his game. "

CB Chase Minnifield - " I don't think he can play. He's not a very good athlete. I don't like him at all."

DB Trumaine Johnson - " He's really talented. He might be the best pure talent. He can do whatever you want. He's better than Ravens' Jimmy Smith. He could go in the first. It would take big balls, but he could. "

DB Phillip Thomas - " I was not a fan of him. He is a little, run around safety. I thought he was fake tough - pile jumping. He plays small. "