What do you look for when scouting college players? (1 Viewer)

[Chaos Commish]

I watch quite a bit of college football during the season and I watch almost every bowl game. It is easy to see that Calvin Johnson is an amazing athlete, Quinn has all the "tools" and AP can carry the load in the NFL, but what about other players that most might not be as familar with?

When looking at a college QB, what skills do you look for? What about WR? RB? TE?

Hey Jeter. I'll also want a little time to respond but thanks for the topic. It's a good read that will let me vent some of my pet peeves in a longer reply (I've been seeking an outlet for this and look forward to more discussion). Briefly for now, I've tried to become a student of translation. I think I understand all the responses in this thread, and I respect most of the approaches and opinions (even where they differ from each other), but for me, when watching collegians, I am asking the same question over and over and over again. Does it translate? Does this kid's game make it at the next level? I don't care if a QB eats the ball and farts spirals. If the receivers are catching them and the production is there, mechanical analysis means little to me. Does it translate? Yes or no. If an RB carries the ball in the crook of his neck I don't care, IF if he's piling up yards and TDs without fumbling. I'll have more later, but I've said coolnerd can speak for me in the past, and he pretty much did with the following.

I will start with some general concepts. To some exent I am addressing the obvious, but it will keep me from assuming. Generally regardless of position I look for the following

1- Production- At the end of the day, in my fantasy league or for an NFL team this is all that matters. The player needs to put up yards and TDs as a skill player or an Olmen needs to block people or a defensive players needs to make tackles. I don't really care for the guy with the measurables and mininal production.

2- Consistent production- Make sure the guy does not run it up against the weak sisters of the poor and disappears when the level of competittion gets close.

3- Special skills- What does the player do that other guys at his position don't or can't do?

4- System- Is it a passing system where all QBs and Wrs put up numbers because of scheme or a offense which feeds the RBs no matter what. Make sure the numbers are based on talent not Xs and Os.

5- Surrounding Talent- Both around his team and who he plays. I expect players who go against inferior talent to put up stupid numbers, but if a player is around bunches of other great players I need to figure out if he is along for the ride.

Certainly, this is simplified and he went on to discuss positions, but it's what's missing from the above quote that I appreciate. There isn't a lot of concern for technique and mechanics, and really there shouldn't be. But that's a pet peeve I'll have to vent later.

 

[Colin Dowling]

Michael Griffin looked bad in the Alamo Bowl, IMO. Bad angles, bad speed in many instances. Okam looked good, not great. Blaylock was good, not great.

 

[jeter23]

This thread helped me last year during bowl season. A lot of good info here from our FBG draftniks.

 

[higgins]