🏈 2016 NFL Combine / Draft

[planomateo]

Does he have a choice?

I could probably argue that the reason Bama's "injury rate" is less than other SEC teams is due to players playing through those injuries rather than sitting out.

Saban is a master at using the media... I think he makes valid points. But my general opinion isn't changed.

I'd be willing to bet that injury rates and injury time in the NFL have increased in the last 10 years. Perhaps it's across the board vs limited to just Nick Saban players.

 

[Tidestalker]

I'd be willing to bet that injury rates and injury time in the NFL have increased in the last 10 years. Perhaps it's across the board vs limited to just Nick Saban players.

I could see that. Even if true, which I do think it is to a certain extent, I don't think it's a big deal.

You can't be first at everything... Saban is first at winning Championships. Sacrifices are made to be in that position. Same way the scholarship situations play out every year where guys get asked to grey shirt at the last minute... Have to trade a little bad P.R. for better talent. It is what it is.

Did wear and tear cost Reed/Robinson a first round contract? Maybe, maybe not?

I think there's a lot of guys who'd trade that for a National Championship anyway.

 

[planomateo]

Did wear and tear cost Reed/Robinson a first round contract? Maybe, maybe not?

Not from what I've read. But who knows.

 

[bamachine]

Here is the rub.

Team A has 40 players on active rosters. They average 4 players hurt per season.

Team B has 20 players on active rosters. They average 2 players hurt per season.

Ooh, lookit team A, they got twice the hurt players as Team B, let's not draft anymore from team A, they are twice as likely to get hurt.

Media are idiots, NFL execs are idiots, they pass their "numbers" along to the masses, masses believe the idiots.

 

[Tidestalker]

Here is the rub.

Team A has 40 players on active rosters. They average 4 players hurt per season.

Team B has 20 players on active rosters. They average 2 players hurt per season.

Ooh, lookit team A, they got twice the hurt players as Team B, let's not draft anymore from team A, they are twice as likely to get hurt.

Media are idiots, NFL execs are idiots, they pass their "numbers" along to the masses, masses believe the idiots.

Eh, I'm not sure that's it.

I'd like to hear from someone on here with a legitimate hypothesis on why both of our DT's fell out of the first round. I personally think it was a combination of a few things, with this issue playing a small part.

I think McShay was the only mock and/or evaluation I'd seen that didn't have A'Shawn as a first rounder. Reed was higher on his board though also.

As far as my own personal opinion, it's based on what I believe to be a cornerstone of Saban's program. Toughness. Just as a rule, I think he always wants the marginally hurt guys to practice rather than sit out. It's worked well for him. Unfortunately some guys just can't get healthy in time afterwards... Jon Allen a good example. Played and practiced all year with a bum shoulder and despite the first round grade, stayed due to his medical issues.

 

[TerryP]

. Played and practiced all year with a bum shoulder and despite the first round grade, stayed due to his medical issues.

To be fair, Allen's draft grade was a second rounder. There were a handful of pundits that said he'd get a look in the first round, but NFL.com along with other outlets like Alabama Media Group all reported a second round grade. It fits. Saban has always said if his players are receiving a first round grade he's encouraging them to move to the next level.

I'd like to hear from someone on here with a legitimate hypothesis on why both of our DT's fell out of the first round. I personally think it was a combination of a few things, with this issue playing a small part.

This is no different than the reason we only see guys like the bigger DT's only getting reps on first and second downs—Bama moving into sub packages. The NFL defenses run sub-packages about as often as Alabama does. Bama runs their's about 80% of the time, the NFL roughly 70% of the time.

It's a bit ironic, really, when we look back over the last few years at the defensive line at Bama. We've had lines/schemes that were push the pocket types of approaches—not rushing the passer. While the game hasn't passed the run stopping big bodies on the DL, it's certainly been phased out. If we were to step back five to ten years we'd see both of those guys as top 15-20 picks. It's just not that game anymore in the league.

Now, that's not my opinion. That's one I've seen referenced several times coming from scouts on the NFL clubs.

 

[TerryP]

Media are idiots, NFL execs are idiots, they pass their "numbers" along to the masses, masses believe the idiots.

How often have we seen the media create a perception/narrative, 'force feed' it on the general public, then turn around and treat their perception as reality and tell the sporting world something needs to be changed?

The latest example is probably AU is going to win the SEC in 2015. Then, when it all fell apart they were spouting "this was a team picked to win the SEC." By whom?

Coker is going to win the starting job in his first year. Who started that?

I'll tell you what I find disappointing. So many fans will read an article and make their opinion based on that article—despite evidence to the contrary.

 

[planomateo]

The stuff I've read (not via McShay or any of the mediots on ESPN), suggested that Reed (great against the run) and Robinson (interviews) could slip into the 2nd round and Kelly would move up to the 1st round. Again, all this stuff is based on opinion and what insight these insiders have with the scouts.

 

[Tidestalker]

How often have we seen the media create a perception/narrative, 'force feed' it on the general public, then turn around and treat their perception as reality and tell the sporting world something needs to be changed?

The latest example is probably AU is going to win the SEC in 2015. Then, when it all fell apart they were spouting "this was a team picked to win the SEC." By whom?

Coker is going to win the starting job in his first year. Who started that?

I'll tell you what I find disappointing. So many fans will read an article and make their opinion based on that article—despite evidence to the contrary.

The Coker as the starter idea seemed to be a simple understanding that if Saban already has 4 QB's on scholarship, why bring in a 5th if he didn't need a starter?

Plus... People saw Blake Sims and and QB crew for themselves in the previous A-Day game that year and wanted to jump off a cliff. Sound familiar?! lol