[Stoney]

Originally Posted by JRL

Stoney - So you think the NFL is wasting 150 - 200 millions dollars a year scouting players and preparing for the draft when they could simply ask the beat writers? Do you know where the beat writers get their scoops - GM's, coaches and scouts are the main sources.

The salaries have gotten so high teams can't afford repeated bad drafts - thats why they spend money rather than read the local paper.

So then why do teams have so many busts in the draft?

[JRL]

Originally Posted by Stoney

So then why do teams have so many busts in the draft?

They must listen to ESPN or read the local papers

[Stoney]

Originally Posted by JRL

They must listen to ESPN or read the local papers

Think of it this way JRL as a Georgia fan you watch football week in and week out. Nobody here follows Georgia football like you do. So who is more qualified to talk about the team or the players than you the loyal fan? So exactly how many GMs pay as close attention to the team as you do? NONE! These so called "Experts" are too busy trying to cover regions of schools and don't really look at the players profiles like they ought to. If they truly followed the teams correctly they would have a much higher percentage of acquiring players who were not busts. You as a fan have a much better perspective than a scout because you invest more time in your team than the scout does.

[bears9]

Stoney the draft is just like recruiting, a crap shoot, you just don't know. Julio Jones has just as good of a chance to be a bust in college as Jake Long does in the pros.

[Stoney]

Originally Posted by bears9

Stoney the draft is just like recruiting, a crap shoot, you just don't know. Julio Jones has just as good of a chance to be a bust in college as Jake Long does in the pros.

I totally disagree.... Julio Jones is a phenom at the high school level. He is yet to be tried by fire at the college level. Jake Long on the other hand played on a so-so team the reason he was drafted so high was the fact he is Howie Longs kid. Pedigree has something to do with the draft, I'm sure you have heard something about being a chip off the old block. That is why Jake was taken because they hope he is as good and durable an athelete as his dad was. The draft is not just pure speculation as you have assumed. There are certain mitigating factors as to who is chosen and why.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Stoney

I totally disagree.... Julio Jones is a phenom at the high school level. He is yet to be tried by fire at the college level. Jake Long on the other hand played on a so-so team the reason he was drafted so high was the fact he is Howie Longs kid. Pedigree has something to do with the draft, I'm sure you have heard something about being a chip off the old block. That is why Jake was taken because they hope he is as good and durable an athelete as his dad was. The draft is not just pure speculation as you have assumed. There are certain mitigating factors as to who is chosen and why.

First off, CHRIS Long is Howie's kid. JAKE Long is the Michigan tackle.

Second of all, the transition from prep to D-I and from college to the pros is very similar in a lot of ways. Both require adjusting to a whole different breed of athlete, bigger, faster, more aggressive. Jones and Long were both big fish in smaller ponds. Both could be rousing successes or abysmal failures. How many Heismans was Ron Powlus supposed to win again?

[JRL]

Stoney you need to take a step back, get a fresh breath and play what if on the draft - this is a good place to start NFL Draft History

You can spend days sorting and looking - pretty amazing really as it goes back to the dart throwing draft picks.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by Stoney

I totally disagree.... Julio Jones is a phenom at the high school level. He is yet to be tried by fire at the college level. Jake Long on the other hand played on a so-so team the reason he was drafted so high was the fact he is Howie Longs kid. Pedigree has something to do with the draft, I'm sure you have heard something about being a chip off the old block. That is why Jake was taken because they hope he is as good and durable an athelete as his dad was. The draft is not just pure speculation as you have assumed. There are certain mitigating factors as to who is chosen and why.

I wasn't saying Julio would be a bust, but I'm saying there is just a good of chance of him being bust as there anything draft pick. It's a crap shoot.

[Stoney]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

How many Heismans was Ron Powlus supposed to win again?

Here is a list of Ne're do wells....

QB Troy Smith 2006 Ohio State
QB Jason White 2003 Oklahoma
QB Eric Crouch 2001 Nebraska
QB Chris Weinke 2000 Florida State
RB Ron Dayne 1999 Wisconson
RB Ricky Williams 1998 Texas
QB Danny Wuerffel 1996 Florida
RB Eddie George 1995 OhioState
RB Rasshan Salaam 1994 Colorado
QB Charlie Ward 1993 Florida State
QB Gino Toretta 1992 Miami [Fla]
QB Ty Detmer 1990 BYU

The list goes on and on and on.... I just got tired of typing all of them.

[bamatothecore]

Originally Posted by bears9

Stoney the draft is just like recruiting, a crap shoot, you just don't know. Julio Jones has just as good of a chance to be a bust in college as Jake Long does in the pros.

This is a good quote. Gary Beban, Heisman Trophy winner 1967, was touted to be a highly successful NFL QB. He was a legend at UCLA. He played 2 years in the NFL, was a bust, and never played again after the 1969 season. You can also look at Heath Shuler of Tennessee. Almost the same MO.

This years seniors did not have a good combine. The combine is where they can showcase talents and improve their chances to become a high, or just a draft choice. This years seniors did not accomplish this feat, therefore, they did not increase their stock or get drafted. NFL teams do not draft personnel they do not feel have the talent necessary to play at this level.

As was evident from last seasons finish, the players did not adapt to the new coaches system. NFL teams look at this, because in this league, if you do not win, you are gone. If the players cannot adapt to a new coaches techniques, they do not need to be at the NFL level.

Stoney, I know you are a Bama fan and as dedicated as I am. But, if the players do not make the grade, then they are left behind. Hopefully, this will not happen again.

Bob

Roll Tide, Beat Auburn

[Stoney]

The talent level last season was less than desirable but there were a few bright spots. The recievers we had DJ Hall and Keith Brown were adequate were they Jerry Rice or Terrell Owens? Certainly not. Will they find a NFL team that can utilize them we will find out. I am glad Wallace Gillberry will be given a chance to make the Giants squad. The combine numbers don't always tell the truth especially about the heart of the player or the stamina of the player. Every year there is a rookie stud that everybody goes 'How did we miss him?" like Steve Smith WR Carolina Panthers. I think the combine process is flawed as is the talent scouting.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Stoney

Here is a list of Ne're do wells....

QB Troy Smith 2006 Ohio State
QB Jason White 2003 Oklahoma
QB Eric Crouch 2001 Nebraska
QB Chris Weinke 2000 Florida State
RB Ron Dayne 1999 Wisconson
RB Ricky Williams 1998 Texas
QB Danny Wuerffel 1996 Florida
RB Eddie George 1995 OhioState
RB Rasshan Salaam 1994 Colorado
QB Charlie Ward 1993 Florida State
QB Gino Toretta 1992 Miami [Fla]
QB Ty Detmer 1990 BYU

The list goes on and on and on.... I just got tired of typing all of them.

So wait, Stoney... what is the point of this list. You have a few first-round busts on here. You have a few guys like Dayne and Weinke who have had decent sized NFL careers, you have Ricky Williams, who definitely has NFL talent. And then you have Eddie George, who was a fantastic player in both pro and college. Charlie Ward might have been a good NFL player but opted for basketball instead. I just don't get what this list is supposed to prove.

[JRL]

It proves Stoney can type

[Stoney]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

So wait, Stoney... what is the point of this list. You have a few first-round busts on here. You have a few guys like Dayne and Weinke who have had decent sized NFL careers, you have Ricky Williams, who definitely has NFL talent. And then you have Eddie George, who was a fantastic player in both pro and college. Charlie Ward might have been a good NFL player but opted for basketball instead. I just don't get what this list is supposed to prove.

These guys were supposed to be the next superstars the next NFL MVPs and well they were'nt. Just because the scouts think they have talent and do well in the combine does not translate into superstar success. The list just goes to show how many heismans were horrible draft picks.

[bamaga]

there is no bias here, We had 3 real prospects, and all had flaws. Our best prospect DJ hall, allegedly has a poor work ethic, and is affraid to catch balls in the middle of the field. gilberry was a tweener, too slow for LB, to small for DE, and castille was burned early and often his senior year. All are real victims of club Shula!
the only thing the draft showed was that our best players didn't graduate, they are still on campus. Bama has a projected possible #1 overall in OT Andre Smith in 2010 draft, also the #1 CB in Jackson, the #1 LB in Mcclain in 2011 ( posible #1 overall) and many more to come according to NFL draft scout .com projections
As for future recruiting classes, the 2009 classs will be a top 10 at best due to the low # of schollies to give, but quality will be there. i'm not real worried about prospects not commiting to bama because of this years NFL draft. Saban has proven he can recruit and in 2-3 more years we will be reloading instead of rebuilding......the future is bright, just be patient !