How much education is enough?

Certain positions such as MLB or QB seem to require a person with good IQ. Others such as RB (some may argue this position) or CB just react basically to what they see or their opponent does. A DE usually just goes for the QB. Should a player that has some academic issues but exhibits good football skills be passed by in a draft?

First football IQ & actual intelligence are 2 different things IMO.

having said that, I mostly think it's just a position by position & scheme by scheme type deal . There are guys who've made careers purely off of instincts alone, (Barry Sanders, & Brett Favre come to mind) & then you have guys who mostly out-think the opponent, ( Montana, Brady).

I think that having a good balance of both is the right way to go but it's not so simple as favoring this type of player over the other.

Mr. Tex is right about football IQ and actual intelligence being 2 different animals...

I can't help but think of Alvin in "the Program". At one point they mentioned Alvin read at a 4th grade level, but then there is a scene in the film room where he rattles off the offensive formations -then- he yells out his defensive adjustments, alignments and responsibilities like nobodies business...

Ahhh, the program....now that's a great movie.....

But to the thread....I agree with the two post above....I have seen some less than intelligent guys who can play lights out football...

And I have also seen some guys who weren't that physically gifted be able to outsmart opposing players because they were fairly intelligent...

I can actually use myself as an example....

We use to run outside zone a lot so when DE's saw me take what we called a 'bucket step' like we were about to zone outside they'd almost turn and run to try and get the outside sealed off to force the RB or QB to cut it up earlier than they'd like to....

So what I started doing was when we ran an inside running play (like a play that was designed to hit in between me and the gaurd), I'd fake that bucket step to the outside as if I were trying to reach him and he'd fly out of there thinking it was a stretch play and I'd just turn and drive him out creating a gaping hole between me and the gaurd....

It worked two ways, because after that he wasn't so quick to fly outta there when we ran option or an outside zone because he didn't know if I was trying to trick him or not--which made it easier to seal him off....

So, I'd rather have a player who is both physically gifted and really intelligent because that just makes them that much better, but you don't pass up good ball players that aren't geniuses...

Texan_Bill said:

Mr. Tex is right about football IQ and actual intelligence being 2 different animals...

I can't help but think of Alvin in "the Program". At one point they mentioned Alvin read at a 4th grade level, but then there is a scene in the film room where he rattles off the offensive formations -then- he yells out his defensive adjustments, alignments and responsibilities like nobodies business...

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"let the paramedics sort em' out!" classic...

When I started this thread, I had read about the corner named Oliver that might go in the supplemental draft and had been valued as a top 5 CB but had lost elgibility for this college season. Would an NFL team be turned off by his academics and if not, why would he not go high in supplemental? We all realize the value of a good corner.

badboy said:

When I started this thread, I had read about the corner named Oliver that might go in the supplemental draft and had been valued as a top 5 CB but had lost elgibility for this college season. Would an NFL team be turned off by his academics and if not, why would he not go high in supplemental? We all realize the value of a good corner.

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The supplemental is a weird beast. I don't think wheter his elligibility is a LARGE issue but it definately is an issue. IMO i think the larger issue is grading someone out over a period of time. From what i remember he had a solid season. But you still have just last season to grade out and forfeit a pick in next year's draft. There are other emerging talents at CB this next season and one might come out of the blue and have a spectacular year. It's really a guessing game you might have a really good prospect...but you also have next year to evaluate talent.

That said i think a team might be willing to give Oliver or Gaither up for a third next season at best.The Supplemental is a slippery slope.

Goldensilence said:

The supplemental is a weird beast. I don't think wheter his elligibility is a LARGE issue but it definately is an issue. IMO i think the larger issue is grading someone out over a period of time. From what i remember he had a solid season. But you still have just last season to grade out and forfeit a pick in next year's draft. There are other emerging talents at CB this next season and one might come out of the blue and have a spectacular year. It's really a guessing game you might have a really good prospect...but you also have next year to evaluate talent.

That said i think a team might be willing to give Oliver or Gaither up for a third next season at best.The Supplemental is a slippery slope.

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I read on another thread that only one of the last 33 players taken in that draft was successful. That is a tough statistic to ignore.

Mr teX said:

"let the paramedics sort em' out!" classic...

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Loved Alvin....

badboy said:

I read on another thread that only one of the last 33 players taken in that draft was successful. That is a tough statistic to ignore.

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I'd at least rather have a another year to grade someone out before possibly making then my first or second choice in the draft. I agree though CB is a hard skill position to find someone that can man up every play. Still don't think we'll see either on our team though and still don't think anyone in the supplemental gives up more then a third.

badboy said:

I read on another thread that only one of the last 33 players taken in that draft was successful. That is a tough statistic to ignore.

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Actually its two, but thats not the point.

awtysst said:

There have been 33 players selected in the NFL suplimental draft since its inception in 1977. Of those 33 people only Bernie Kosar and Chris Carter went on to any noterity. Plus there are plenty of times when a team misses an opportunity on a good nfl draft prospect becuase they take someone in the supplimental.

I would not spend a pick in the supplimental draft if I were the GM. There is a reason these guys did not make it to the NFL draft. Maybe they have legal issues, maybe lack of desire, or whatever. Let someone else take a chance. I will stand far far away.

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The real point is that so few of these picks have really panned out. One reason might be maturity, lack of a willingness to push themselves in order get better, or maybe they got as good as they can be. I would prefer having an extra pick in the regular draft. Smith and Kubes had an excellent draft last year and seemed to have done well this year. I want them to have as many picks as possible.