Archived Thread

PSA: Scouting Departments aren't fired when new GM is hired

jlukes : 12/5/2017 3:35 pm

it just doesn't happen in the NFL.

People need to stop calling for Marc Ross to be fired - it is 99.9% not going to happen until after the draft.

Scouting departments are neck deep in 2018 evaluations right now.

A new GM does not come in, no matter if he is hired tomorrow or the day after the season ends, and fire the scouting department.

Scouting departments are overhauled immediately after the draft. Like it or not, that is just the way it is.

https://nypost.com/2015/05/04/maccagnan-cleans-house-on-jets-scouting-staff-after-draft/

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/ct-bills-firings-nfl-draft-20170430-story.html

https://www.stampedeblue.com/2017/4/30/15493488/report-colts-fire-director-of-college-scouting-make-other-scouting-department-moves-chris-ballard

http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2017/05/01/major-changes-titans-scouting-department-two-days-after-nfl-draft/101156696/

https://247sports.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/Bolt/Report-Eagles-fire-two-scouts-immediately-after-draft-52581413

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2016/05/02/detroit-lions-scouting-department/83831952/

Good post......

BillKo : 12/5/2017 3:36 pm : link

I remember Chip Kelly firing a whole bunch right after the draft when he got full control as I remember........his last year with the Eagles.

Makes sense - thanks

lawguy9801 : 12/5/2017 3:40 pm : link

I guess, most immediately, the GM can change the focus of who the team drafts and what positions to focus on, and then bring in new scouts once the process begins anew for the 2019 draft.

Yep someone posted this yesterday

BigBlue4You09 : 12/5/2017 3:40 pm : link

Makes sense, too far along to start over

Unless a Mara

old man : 12/5/2017 4:09 pm : link

stepped in and picked guys, in spite of "Jerry gets the first(round) pick"-JM, over JRs possible disagreement, I have to believe JM and EA discuss that and some of them, including Ross who wears the hat,will be gone Monday/Tuesday after the draft.
I also think some outsiders will come in and make recommendations based on whatever JM wants the team to look like starting 2018.

Yes that make sense.

AnishPatel : 12/5/2017 4:16 pm : link

All the area scouts have and currently submitting their reports to Ross. If you fire everyone, and need to talk about a prospect, now you can't ask an area scout about a report since he may no longer be there. It makes things worse. You may still have a reports on hand, but you can never ask a regional scout why he put something on his report. Logistically it makes sense to keep everyone on until after the draft.

Remember that the Bills fired everyone

81_Great_Dane : 12/5/2017 4:28 pm : link

including the GM right after the draft. People made fun of it, but it's the only way they could have done that. It takes most of a year to get ready for the draft and you can't go in under-prepared. You bring in the new team right after the draft and they get ready for next year. It's counter-intuitive but there's really no other way to do it unless you want to risk blowing an entire draft.

Unless

Jerry K : 12/5/2017 5:06 pm : link

... your current scouting department does no better than darts thrown at Mel Kiper's Big Board.

Not to mention

Mike in NY : 12/5/2017 5:18 pm : link

Any self-respecting scout is not going to tank a draft because that is a surefire way to never get another job. The scouts know enough about the players that if the new GM/Head Coach provide a clear description of what they are looking for they know who meets that description.

Jerry's problem is that he did not have a long term vision.

KeoweeFan : 12/5/2017 9:19 pm : link

It is not out of the question for a new GM to tell an existing scouting department, "this is where we are going and here are the characteristics we need in players to fill that vision."
The GM can set the priorities (who really believed "the best player available"?) within a position, e.g high character vs demonstrated performance, as well as which positions to focus on. (Maybe OL?)
As others have said, the time to weed out scouts is immediately AFTER the draft.