Do NFL Prospects Really Develop That Much?

[bomebadeeda]

Bad example. Cooper Kupp got of the bus knowing how to run precise routes. Fisher would have loved that ability, it's just whether Sam Bradford would have been on the field to get the ball to him or not...

There. Fixrd it for you........

 

[Loyal]

Tyler Higbee had to develop. Athletically there is a fine line between a D1 player and an NFL player. What seems to be the difference maker is what's between the ears. And there's no way to measure that

It's precisely that ability that can't be coached, but is utilized by coaching

 

[Loyal]

If Kupp was that good out the gate he would have been drafted higher. He was a polished route runner but are you seriously telling me a spring and summer of work with McVay didnt improve him any?

My God man, watch his college tape. He SHOULD have been drafted higher, except scouts didn't value the lesser division from which he came. They didn't value the tape of Kupp shredding the University of Oregon whenever they played Eastern Washington

 

[Loyal]

I think he didn't become the bonfide starter until his 3rd year in the league.

.

*shrugs...how long did Sean Mannion have in the NFL learning and developing?

 

[pmil66]

Littleton and Kupp sure developed, coaching had a bit to do with it, and drive from the player. Opportunity was there for both too, which helps.

 

[Loyal]

Littleton and Kupp sure developed, coaching had a bit to do with it, and drive from the player. Opportunity was there for both too, which helps.

Each must have had an internal drive that can't be coached. Situational awareness in a NFL environment was taught, but what Kupp has done and continues to do with his route running is something he practiced and honed to a fine edge, before the Rams, imo. I wasn't watching Littleton as closely, so don't know...

 

[Dieter the Brock]

Some players like Jacob Easton a QB in this draft, are like Tim Tebow and Ryan Leaf are simply in it to make easy money and so they bust because they lack the commitment from day one. Easton might not even finish his first contract.

I liked your Ebukam comment but not your Jacob Eason comment

First off it’s not EasTon it’s Eason. He is the son of former Patriots QB Tony Eason - who I recall took the team to the Super Bowl with Steve Grogan. What gives you this idea he simply in it to make “easy money?”

How is playing in the NFL “easy money” to begin with.? Secondly, your examples of Tim Tebow and Ryan Leaf are on total opposite spectrums. Leaf wasn’t able to deal mentally whereas Tebow wasn’t able to deal physically. I mean if you’re gonna name a QB as an example for not caring about anything but money why not purple drank JaMarcus? But man, to put a class kid like Eason who has been raised in a football family as a money whore who lacks commitment is bullshit. I mean where do you come up with that shit?

 

[MadGoat]

If Kupp was that good out the gate he would have been drafted higher. He was a polished route runner but are you seriously telling me a spring and summer of work with McVay didnt improve him any?

Kupp is such a strange example. He was basically the same age as Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods, who both had been in the NFL for years when he first arrived. So he's a bit of an outlier, and probably should have been expected to be a more polished product.

It took Woods five years to really break out in the NFL. I guess there is some room for debate as to whether the issue was development or opportunity, but I think he's the modern poster child for not giving up on young WRs, even if they don't seem to be progressing at age 22 or 23.

 

[MadGoat]

If you want the Rams to draft a guy like Kupp, who enters the NFL knowing how to run routes and the small details of playing the position, root for the Rams to draft Van Jefferson out of Florida. He'll be 24 when the season starts, but needs almost no development.

 

[ScotsRam]

My God man, watch his college tape. He SHOULD have been drafted higher, except scouts didn't value the lesser division from which he came. They didn't value the tape of Kupp shredding the University of Oregon whenever they played Eastern Washington

Ok, I get the premise of the thread now. It's for you to tell everyone else you're smarter than the guys who do this for a living. Got it.

 

[Loyal]

Ok, I get the premise of the thread now. It's for you to tell everyone else you're smarter than the guys who do this for a living. Got it.

No, you have nothing.
The premise of the thread is what I stated in the opening thread, and it's disputable. You keyed on the one example that I am the most passionate about and you got the most blowback from me, about. Cooper Kupp has gotten better, but the pros got it wrong in that draft about him, and that IS undisputed. He was a skilled, polished route runner from day one. I can't believe you are contrary about this.

 

[Loyal]

If you want the Rams to draft a guy like Kupp, who enters the NFL knowing how to run routes and the small details of playing the position, root for the Rams to draft Van Jefferson out of Florida. He'll be 24 when the season starts, but needs almost no development.

If he's like Kupp, then HAIL YES!

 

[Loyal]

Yes.

 

[Ram65]

Great topic with different slants on the subject. It's impossible to give one reason why later round draft picks can become solid pros.

I think coaching can have something to do with it. It probably takes a mix of coaching (technique), training, diet, motivation, and opportunity. NFL teams don't have a long time to get players up to speed. It helps if they can contribute on special teams and work on improving to become a regular player. Cory Littleton is a good example of that.

 

[FarNorth]

If Kupp was that good out the gate he would have been drafted higher. He was a polished route runner but are you seriously telling me a spring and summer of work with McVay didnt improve him any?

Kupp was one of the most complete receivers I have ever seen coming into the league. Yes, he had to adjust to the NFL, and yes he had good coaches-- but the skills came from Kupp himself, not McVay or the Rams.

 

[Selassie I]

The answer to that question is YES... they do. At least the ones who continue to hold down a roster spot on a team do.

Certain positions usually require much more time to develop on this level than others as well. QB is the obvious one... but WR is another that normally takes a long time too. With QBs... even the greatest had shitty rookie seasons before they could catch up. As for WRs... you can find a few who come in as rookies that can do a few things well... but once the tape is there... defenses will take their strength away and they will be forced to master their trade completely.

There are obviously players who step into the NFL with generational talent levels... but those players are few and far between. Those players still take time to develop into top level NFL players though.... no matter what position they play.

Considering that the league is made up of mostly later round picks and UDFAs... it's crazy talk to think that players just step into the NFL playing at NFL level. There's really nothing to debate with this. It's real.

On top of that... certain coaches are better teachers than others could ever hope to be. Those coaches are even able to make chicken salad out of chicken shit sometimes... while others can turn caviar into shit on a shingle in the matter of 1 to 2 seasons.

 

[Loyal]

The answer to that question is YES... they do. At least the ones who continue to hold down a roster spot on a team do.

Certain positions usually require much more time to develop on this level than others as well. QB is the obvious one... but WR is another that normally takes a long time too. With QBs... even the greatest had shitty rookie seasons before they could catch up. As for WRs... you can find a few who come in as rookies that can do a few things well... but once the tape is there... defenses will take their strength away and they will be forced to master their trade completely.

There are obviously players who step into the NFL with generational talent levels... but those players are few and far between. Those players still take time to develop into top level NFL players though.... no matter what position they play.

Considering that the league is made up of mostly later round picks and UDFAs... it's crazy talk to think that players just step into the NFL playing at NFL level. There's really nothing to debate with this. It's real.

On top of that... certain coaches are better teachers than others could ever hope to be. Those coaches are even able to make chicken salad out of chicken shit sometimes... while others can turn caviar into shit on a shingle in the matter of 1 to 2 seasons.

homer fish lover

 

[yrba1]

Bad example. Cooper Kupp got of the bus knowing how to run precise routes. Fisher would have loved that ability, it's just whether Sam Bradford could have gotten the ball to him or not...

A bad combine tends to drop your draft stock, his cerebral abilities allowed him to shine

 

[Loyal]

A bad combine tends to drop your draft stock, his cerebral abilities allowed him to shine

I think he's probably my favorite non-first round pick the Rams have ever made. I was shocked at how good he was from the first time I saw him in Horns, and that amazement hasn't dimmed.