In a recent interview, former NFL QB and current ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer proclaimed on 101 ESPN Radio in St.Louis Dilfer that drafting Sam Bradford first overall would be a "catastrophic mistake." He is flat out wrong. Naturally, drafting any player, especially a QB with the first over all pick comes with some risk and bust potential, but he does not have very strong reasoning, and seems to hold some kind of grudge against Bradford. Let's take a look at what he says via Mike Sando:
Dilfer thinks the Rams would be best off taking defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh first overall, then trading up from the 33rd pick to select Colt McCoy as their quarterback.
Okay, I would not argue taking the best player available, but McCoy should be there at 33. This is an alright idea.
He thinks Jimmy Clausen is by far the best college quarterback right now.
No. No. Clausen has a better arm then Bradford, and is more polished, but that's it. Bradford has better accuracy, size, athleticism, smarts, and poise. Poise is Clausen's big bug a boo, and leaves some people to think he'll drop out of the first round. Daniel Jeremiah, a former scout who runs movethesticks.com has said in the past the one thing in common between all elite QBs is poise. He goes as far as to compare Clausen to J.P. Losman, another QB who has had his poise questioned, despite an impressive tool set. But when you sit back and look at it, who has had success recently at the QB position despite a lack of poise? Jay Cutler? He's had some good years, but was dreadful last year and lead the NFL in interceptions thrown. I can't really think of anyone else.
He thinks Sam Bradford faces a tough transition. He sees McCoy as the player most likely to develop into the best quarterback from this draft.
Wait, didn't Colt McCoy play in the spread offense too? Why won't he have to face a tough transition?
What makes you think McCoy will have the best pro career? His lack of arm strength, his slight frame, his system enhanced completion percentage, or the fact you have the same agent as him and workout with him? I think McCoy's ceiling is a Chad Pennington type.
What does Dilfer know? Well, he's played the position and studied the players. Dilfer said he has watched every 2009 snap from all three quarterbacks -- two and three times in some cases -- using a template he developed with input from Mike Holmgren, Brian Billick, Jim Zorn and others.
1) former players are usually bad talent evaluators. See Millen, Matt, Thomas, Issiah.
2)Bradford did not even throw 70 passes in 2009. Clausen threw 289 passes, McCoy threw 332. There is a serious sample size issue here, and talent evaluators study a player's entire career.
3)Holmgren is a good QB evaluator, but he thinks Jake Delhomme is a starting QB. Zorn never really drafted/broght in his own QB, and Billick drafted Kyle Boller in the first round. Not exactly the best people too ask.
Dilfer attributes Bradford's perceived rise to hype and misinformation from personnel people with agendas.
Yup, has nothing to do with his on field abilities. Talent evaluators don't even watch tape. They all sit back and believe the hype. This is probably the Rams' discussion about Bradford: "Every one says this guy is good, so he must be good. Lets not do our jobs by watching tape on him, and draft him first over all because of what other people say." His rise is because he has the intelligence, accuracy, and poise of an elite QB. Clausen's on elite trait is his arm, and McCoy doesn't have one. If anything, McCoy's the one that's all hype. He doesn't have one tool that makes him a first round pick. And as for "misinformation" it seems like your comments have a hidden agenda because you two have the same agent!
"In my opinion," Dilfer said of Bradford, "he is not even close to the best player in this draft."
You're the only one who thinks that.
Dilfer sees Bradford as extremely raw and a player who hasn't performed in a system even remotely close to the ones preferred by NFL teams. He thinks Bradford's accuracy falls off as the Oklahoma quarterback goes through his reads.
"Extremely Raw". Yup, the Rams are going to the play offs this year, they can't let him go through the growing pains that every young QB goes through. And it's not like he's going to get coached by professional QB coaches.
Once again, did McCoy play in a pro system in college? I don't think so. I've watched these two through out their careers, and Bradford has played significantly more time under center.
As for the accuracy thing, I've never noticed this my self, and have never heard it mentioned before.
"Bradford is a talented guy," Dilfer said. "I understand why the perception has become what it is -- because he looks good in shorts. But that is the way he has played football, too. He has played in a 7-on-7 environment, not an 11-on-11 environment."
He also looked good in pads too. I believe he orchestrated the highest scoring offense in the history of college football, and won some award, I think it's called the Heisman or something like that.
McCoy's competitiveness, leadership and athletic ability to extend plays will set him apart over time, Dilfer predicted.
Sam Bradford: Competitive, a leader, athletic, no noodle arm.
/FJM'd
No comments:
Post a Comment