As I have been playing these draft mental exercises--which has been more fun than normal this year--the thought came across my mind that I have actually never really seen any of these players play outside of cherry picked youtube videos. I didn't really watch the combine or the Senior Bowl.
I have read about many of these players from the experts--who get it wrong more times then they get it right. BBI has been informative as well, but really my opinions have been based on second hand and third hand information. I like Barkley because I saw a 7 minute clip of his best runs and catches and saw him make a few moves that seemed extraordinary and reminded me a little of Barry Sanders. That is it. That is why I want him number 2 as well as the idea of if he is the real deal then I think it makes sense.
That all being said, and with the threads including, the remote throwers, making the biggest mistake, generational talent, Hall of Fame, bust, can't miss, ect . . ., what are you really basing your opinions off of? Is it real personal knowledge or is it more just what you are reading from others? I know we do actually have some amazing experts on this site, college coaches, HS coaches, former players, but I tend to think it is more the later with how opinions are changing so much. After the pick is made, people will be all over the spectrum of happy or not because we got or didn't get their guy--I remember being upset not getting Aaron Gibson. Then the opinions will change and shift as we all read more, rate the drafts, and embrace the new player because they are a Giant. I know I will find a way to convince my self to be happy in the end no matter what but probably because I really have no clue.
Just curious what is driving the discussions which many have been great.
I watch 5-6 college games every weekend. I've watched all the top QB prospects at least twice, yes including Wyoming (thank you Joe Tiller)
I prefer the college game these days. Army/Navy is better than Superbowl these days.
Ditto
And I've been watching it for 25+ years. Which ever games I watch, I usually have a list of NFL prospects that have been targeted and try to focus on how they play.
Barkley is a play maker, but I don t know about picking him at 2
I prefer the college game these days. Army/Navy is better than Superbowl these days.
Not sure about being better than the SB, but it is a great game, especially to attend live. The atmosphere is just terrific. And it's been better the last few years now that Army has won the last two games after Navy ripped off 14 in a row...
I saw Barkley a little bit but not much...I have never seen Chubb play or any other of the top guys.
I know when I watch a Giants game and then see the recap of the game or the national commentary sometimes it is clear that they didn't see the whole game. A lot of time performance needs to be seen in the larger context that comes from watching the whole game. For example you are not going to see a highlight of a running back getting no gain because an online keeps missing his block or a receiver that keeps getting opening but the QB is not looking their way or throwing poor passes. More times than not I have felt that Eli had a better game than stats and highlights showed because of audibles he made, dropped passes, or wrong routes--not making excuses as he has had some awful games.
Point being, there is often a larger context of evaluation that does not come across in clips or stats. Someone could give the running or passing stats of x player for a game or season and said they had bad games but sometimes the context in my opinion is just as important.
That being said, I have seen many of the players being discussed beyond Barkley and Lamar Jackson.
I have caught some of Sam Darnold, and it’s easy to see what the scouts like about him. He can semi scramble and make big plays down the field. It’s the way he can extend plays that excites the scouts and it’s hard to come by, especially his accuracy when doing so.
The only thing that would make it better is to expand the playoffs
The only thing that would make it better is to expand the playoffs
The one thing the college game needs to address is the auto ejection for targeting. They really use little leeway when making the call and even when they review it on replay. I'm okay with erring on the side of caution but there needs to be a dial back for those times when the hit is clearly incidental...
Chubb is gonna be a good one . I think Barkley is the best
player in the draft . If Barley was gone and we don't go QB Chubb is definitely in play .
I really like the feel and differences of each of the big conferences.
The SEC is a conference with great, great talent. And you can see the conference going into this modern age of spread offenses, despite so much tradition of power football, kicking and screaming. By and large, they easily play the best defense.
The B1G still plays more of the conventional game of trying to be run dominant and bully the other team - Michigan, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State, Indiana. Purdue tries to spread teams out with a more NFL approach. OSU will spread you out, but they still are run first and totally RPO driven with the QB more inclined to run first.
The Big 12 is a travesty. They are run and gun like their is the game clock in 15 seconds. The lack of defensive talent and scheme is absurd. But they do have their share of athletes.
The PAC12 is by far the softest conference. I don't think it's close. But they have a mix of everything - spread offenses (UCLA, USC, Washington State), RPO offenses (Oregon, Washington), and old time power running attacks like Stanford and Utah...
Do college teams actually get to practice more than NFL teams with the new NFL CBA restrictions? If so, could that be part of their being a better product.
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if you don't believe it, look at the size of the fans in the stands. NFL is lucky to fill a stadium with a top team, and still a 20-30k smaller. The best thing the NFL can do is take some of the money out of the game and get back to the play.
Do college teams actually get to practice more than NFL teams with the new NFL CBA restrictions? If so, could that be part of their being a better product.
May also have something to do with the "effort". Maybe less commercials and walking back to the huddle.
Nothing beats watching a game in the Big House though.