When I get my final numbers together I will give you that comparison and for the record my statements had nothing to do with Love or Freeman in mind even though I like Love. I also think Freeman will be a “possible” 3rd round steal. Landing spot (scheme) is crucial with him.
ETA: I got Cook, Kamara, Mixon and Mack out of 2017 and I’m happy with those picks but I will get even better out of 2018.
Tex
What kind of numbers are you referencing here?
I am pretty curious about that.
I was thinking about trying to get a bit more serious about this for the 2018 draft and try to use a 1-10 rating in specific categories for the players, then once I am done with that for all the players of interest, to add them all up and see how that shakes out.
It is pretty much what I have already been doing, just not as detailed and specific before.
I was thinking to do it like this:
The following categories will be 1 for 1 in the composite grade
Vision - Spatial awareness and recognizing holes and cut back lanes.
Speed - pure speed
Acceleration - ability to change speed, make defenders miss with a burst of acceleration, gain separation.
Elusiveness - ability to make defenders miss. This is more related to juke moves and change of direction ability.
Burst - a combination of pad level and acceleration.
Power - ability to gain yards after contact and break tackles.
The following categories will be .5 for 1 in the composite grade
Footwork - The ability to make quick cuts in traffic. Similar to elusiveness but more subtle. Can just be changing a gap with step over moves.
Pad level - getting skinny and using leverage to make it difficult to tackle. Helps yards after contact.
Ball security - players ability to avoid fumbles.
Pass protection/blocking - blocking is important.
The following categories will be .5 for RB prospects but 1 for 1 for WR and TE.
Route running - related to vision but used for running routes in the passing game.
Hands - ability to catch the football.
That is 12 different traits. Some of these traits I think are more important than others, thus the different points awarded for them (1 or .5) in the composite score while still using a 1-10 scale for each one.
I do wonder if this is more effort than its worth? But these are basically the things I look for with college skill players.
Anything I have missed or should be trying to grade?
Maybe some think footwork is as important as say acceleration?
Since I have time I figured I would throw this idea out there and get some feedback.
I am curious what others may be doing while watching players and taking notes?
I will still consider things like college production and combine metrics also and try to convert those into a 1-10 scale as well. I think that is about how relatively important those things are. Maybe the college production should be worth two traits? I haven't really decided about that. The combine metrics being 1/14th or so of the overall grade seems about right to me though. I think the college production is a bit more important than that.
Then post draft the NFL draft position and fit come into play.
I will still try to fit the players into the 3 tiers for fantasy. But this more detailed way of grading the players should help me rank them a bit more precisely. It is still going to be very subjective though as far as what kind of grade I give each player in each of these traits.
I recognize there is some overlap with some of these traits. Trying to make each one distinct as I can.
