| Draft Principles: Eliminating Risk | ||||
|
|
At the end of each season NFL front offices, coaches, and scouting offices all join forces in the long and arduous process of getting next years team in place. At the forefront of the off season is the annual NFL Draft. The behind the scenes process teams undergo leading up to the draft is enough to make your head spin. Each team has their own philosophies and ideals on how to approach the draft and more importantly how they approach scouting talent. Many would suggest teams go a bit overboard with all the variables they put in to "their draft formula." Because of the salary cap teams need to be efficient with their picks. When a team drafts a player (especially on day one) it is a calculated risk. Teams can not afford to miss in the first 2 rounds. At the forefront of the "evaluation process" of the draft prospects is the annual NFL Combine in Indianapolis. At the combine they are asked to parade across the stage in their under amour underwear, they are measured to an eighth of an inch. They are also placed in the "bod pod" to measure their body fat. Each prospect undergoes a complete medical exam which includes a complete urinalysis. All of this information along with a photograph is then added to a file and charted in accordance with each teams process. Then there is the infamous Wonderlik Test. This test is best described as a combination of the SAT test and an IQ test. This test demonstrates to teams a prospects ability to grasp the mental portion of being an NFL player. Next it's on to the field for the testing. They do a whole series of test to determine speed, agility, athleticism, etc. In the eyes of the scouts they are able in their minds to create separation of the prospects by as small an increment as 0.05 seconds. Teams have charts that say a guy between this speed and that speed fall into this classification (which is nothing more than a way to calculate risk). Along with all this info comes years and years of charts, graphs, etc. of studies done to aid in drafting an minimize risk. Every position of every scheme has it's set of "ideals." Ideal size, ideal speed, ideal quickness, etc. Teams take all this info and begin creating their boards. Players who "fit" their system are put on the board. Those who don't are not put on the board. In addition to all of this are the game tapes (most important), interviews, the "eye-ball test," teams have even been know to talk to childhood friends, neighbors, teachers, ex-girl friends, etc. All for the purpose of eliminating risk.Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |