JohnnyU
Footballguy
Then possibly he just didn't take it seriously which opens up a different can of worms. I can understand having a bad day, but not that bad.
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RB Dalvin Cook, DAL (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Faust
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Grahamburn
Footballguy
I watch my fair share of FSU games, however not as religiously as you of course, Cap. And I wouldn't say I'm a huge "fan," so something like the RB blocking wouldn't be as noticeable to me. I was basing that opinion off of a few different draft breakdowns I've watched after he's been connected so often to the Bucs. As a runner and receiver he has looked amazing, but as a blocker he got completely blown up on a few different attempts, whiffed on others, and then resorted to cut blocking, which defenses game planned for and simply jumped over him as they were ready for him to do it.
That technique can be taught of course, and his vision and instincts with the ball are the best I've seen in a long time. He's so smooth in the open field and even between the tackles in the wash.
There has also been a breakdown of his "game speed" on Sport Science being the best in college football last year. It doesn't surprise me that he's the fastest in pads player in this draft matching John Ross' 20 yard split time at 2.67.
Some people put more stock in watching a guy run around cones in his shorts than they do in watching him dominate actual games.
If you were to weigh combine as more important than game film, cook would go undrafted.
Capella
Footballguy
He's definitely been blown up and he's whiffed but I don't think it's ever been for a lack of effort and him having a freshman QB back there trying to spot blitzes is a big unmentioned part of it imo.
Gandalf
Footballguy
farfromforgotten
Footballguy
So we should have more faith in the great collegiate player who had a historically bad combine, on top of off the field issues, and injury concerns?
I think, for what it's worth, that Cook is being downgraded a little too much and McCaffrey is being upgraded a little too much by the community here. Cook's combine isn't a huge concern for me, baffling but the tape doesn't lie, and I believe that McCaffrey has a great shot of carving out a significant role in the NFL with the way that the game currently operates. I'd be happy with either player on both my NFL squad and fantasy team.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I'm definitely more of a "watch him play" guy than a combine numbers guy, but this statement does go a little too far. It has to be of some concern that he tested worse than 90% of all RBs that have come through the combine. But no means am I saying he will fail due to these poor metrics but it could give some teams a pause.
He's gonna end up falling to a really good team/situation and being a steal. I'd LOVE to see him fall into the 2nd and the Eagles grab him.
Grahamburn
Footballguy
I don't think so. Everything I'm hearing has the Eagles going CB in the first, their hugest area of need. I'm just hoping McCaffrey goes before that so there is no temptation to take him.
Grahamburn
Footballguy
The Bucs have had pretty much every projected mid-round RB in for a visit at some point. Hunt, Mack, Foreman, Perine, Mixon, and some others I can't remember...
Bigboy10182000
Footballguy
Dalvin Cook and the Stories Behind the Red Flags: poor choices, a hard upbringing. And a bit of sabotage.
Long read but very, very well done.
Long read but very, very well done.
Biabreakable
Footballguy
Borden
Footballguy
Good article. Thanks for the link.
I don't know if I feel any better about his off field concerns. It seems like he's not turning the corner on this stuff. He "left that life behind him" about 3 times in the article. As a senior in high school and twice in college. Then he denies the arrangement to he has with a coach about getting people to leave. He could've went to the draft (and brought Miss Betty) but decides to stay home in Dade which sounds like where his problems come from. He already has a new Benz.
None of this things are "bad" and he sounds like a good kid but he has a poor choice in friends. I just wanted to read that he's taking Miss Betty to the draft or "Miss Betty said as she sat on the new furniture Dalvin bought her". Or Cook say, "I'm always excited to go back at see Miss Betty and few other people but I'm leaving Dade in my past". Something, anything to indicate that he is leaving that world behind him.
I've stated before that I don't take character concerns into consideration with my rankings, evaluations, whatever so this doesn't bother me in that aspect. But I just want to hear people/players succeeding. How many NFLers have had their careers or lives derailed by bad family members or friends? He seems like a generally humble and good kid from coaches and Miss Betty. I hope he surrounds himself with excellent people and makes the most out of his opportunities. But I'm worried.
Borden
Footballguy
Bigboy10182000
Footballguy
@Borden I agree with a lot of your take on the article. I've read a few people say that one of their top concerns with him is that he's already "made it" and when he starts seeing the money he's done. I attribute that attitude toward his combine disaster as well. His only saving grace for the Eagles at 14, or anyone picking near there, is if he had amazing private workouts IMO.
Hankmoody
Footballguy
][chucknorris]You didn't want it at the top of the page. You posted and the page determined you are the one worthy of stating it.[/chucknorris]
Can I use the excuse that I wanted the article at the top of a new page?
steelers1080
Footballguy
Damn, someone out to get you right before one of the biggest moments of your life is really rough. That said, the runner wasn't making up run-ins with the cops, or his history, just recent character concerns.
He's got this part right: “Once you get into this whole process, you really figure out it’s a business,” Cook says with a quiet authority. “They trying to figure out the person you are, who you are, what you is, what tick you off, all that. More than anything else, it’s a business.”
Guys that understand that it's a job, albeit a short term one, and put forth the effort can stick around for a decade plus...like Frank Gore. Other guys like Trent Richardson, who never took it seriously, fall on their faces. He's a guy who came into the league, got paid big $, thought it would be easy and coasted until no one wanted him anymore. You just can't measure that in an interview. All you can do is ask tough questions and try and decipher if they are just full of BS.
Guys that understand that it's a job, albeit a short term one, and put forth the effort can stick around for a decade plus...like Frank Gore. Other guys like Trent Richardson, who never took it seriously, fall on their faces. He's a guy who came into the league, got paid big $, thought it would be easy and coasted until no one wanted him anymore. You just can't measure that in an interview. All you can do is ask tough questions and try and decipher if they are just full of BS.
Snorkelson
Footballguy
Or see him fumble on tape, or are worried that he will be in the news getting in a fight outside a nightclub at 2:30 am before his first contract is done, or that he may have been hung over at the combine, not willing to try and silence his combine critics at his pro day, etc...
Snorkelson
Footballguy
Yes I agree, say what I will about why he's in the 2nd he's still a top pick in the right spot.
Gandalf
Footballguy
Gandalf
Footballguy
I think the NFL is not immune to the herd mentally and his off field stuff and poor combine is giving people pause. I don't fault Cook for doing whatever it took to survive growing up in his community. He was never convicted of a crime as far as I know and that is not nothing
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Snorkelson
Footballguy
I would worry about who he's hanging out with, and NFL teams have ways of finding that kind of stuff out and it's not info that ever gets made public. His coaches say he's great, but yoy can't rely on what is a biased opinion. Rarely will a coach come out and throw his player under the bus and cost him a lot of money sullying his draft stock. Plus the coach has a lot to gain recruiting wise when his players get drafted early. If I'm hiring a guy I don't want some unresponsible dog owner, I want a guy who understands that he has to take care of business on and off the field. I hope he succeeds, but I wouldn't be willing to bet my job on it by making him a first round pick.
Gandalf
Footballguy
Okay I understand that it matters who you hang out with. At the same time, how much do we penalize someone for that? 2nd round feels right. If he doesn't go in the second, it will make me start to think there are things we don't know about Cook...
Snorkelson
Footballguy
I guess my comments are for the people who are "completely baffled" as to how he could fall. I agree he should go in the top half of the 2nd.
I'll admit I don't know a lot about his life growing up, but if it was rough and he makes his way out then great. However when exposed to poverty and violence it can find its way into your life if you don't sever a lot of ties.
starks
Footballguy
steelers1080
Footballguy
I hope GB doesn't take one of them, I think GB might be overrated as a landing spot. Either one could do amazing their, but Rodgers loves to throw inside the 10 and he usually doesn't throw it to the RB down there. They didn't have RBs as good as Cook or Mixon, but I think that trend would still hold true.
I'd rather see them go to Oakland, Philly, Tennessee, or Indy. Tennessee is just for selfish reasons, my friend has Mixon and Henry.
need2know
Footballguy
JohnnyU
Footballguy
I'd be willing to bet teams hire private investigators to find out everything about a player's personal life. Stuff that isn't available online.
Johnny Bing
Footballguy
Heck the scouts follow these guys in their personal life. Bucky Brooks was saying the other day he remembers as a NFL scout, putting on disguise and following prospects to restaurants or clubs to see the kind of people they hang with and how they act in public.
I don't think we have any clue how much homework is done on these guys.
need2know
Footballguy
Or hire some random chick to accuse a player of rape a month before the draft to make him slide a bit. Just saying
Biabreakable
Footballguy
In a recent press conference Rick Spielman said they have 2500 different traits that they grade players by, which if that is for every player, is kind of mind boggling.
Part of these traits are the phychological and charecter traits, as well as combine measurables (going back to high school) traits from film study grading and so on.
I really wonder how the balance all of this information into one comprehensive score, with many of the data points being unrelated.
I was thinking about trying to grade players based on five or ten different traits, to develop one score for all the players I watched. How much time this would take to do, even for 100 or so players. 2500 traits kind of blows my mind.
Gandalf
Footballguy
2500 traits they grade. Hahahaha there's no way that could actually be true. And i would wagers like 2475 of them would be irrelevant
