Tools over Players?
I watch a lot of college football and love the game. I love the passion associated and how intense each player is because the pro game is different and it should be. As they say, the college game is about the name on the front while the pro game is about the name on the back.
When players come from high school to college they are evaluated and then from college to pro. Many times players are offered scholarships based on tools alone meaning they are fast, quick, strong armed, big…just the tools. Other players are offered because they are simply good players that dont’ grade out so well if you were to see how high they could jump or how fast they could run.
In the pro game it is the same. Each year we have a combine where players go and run and jump and throw and it is a tools showcase where athletes really shine and really help their draft status or hurt it by not performing well.
I’m still undecided what I want more tools or players. The hope with the tools players is that they will get it and some do. The NFL and collegiate ranks are loaded with players who are both. Where my issue is players who have only tools and it takes away from the fact that they aren’t great football players or they be afraid of contact or can’t figure out offense or defense. These things bother me. I want football players who understand the game and aren’t afraid. I will take those kids all day long and I’d rather risk a scholarship or a draft pick on a kid like that over a questionable 5 star recruit or anyone the Detroit Lions have taken for the past 10 years.
