1) The NFL combine has given rise to more local strength coaches that have no idea what the hell they are doing, especially at the youth level. Some people still don't know the difference between testing and training.
2) The Combine has "Jumped the Shark". No one cares as much as they used to. I think anyone that has ever put on a jock knows there are some people that have a second gear during games. The Combine does not take this into account.
3) Analysts really make too much about small changes in draft position. If you draft in the first round, and get someone who is a started for a long time, you made a good pick. Research previous drafts, I think teams barely 50/50 in this regard.
4) There really should be no such thing as any "positions" that you should not take too early. The common theme is that you don't take the following positions early in the draft: OG, C, MLB/ILB, S. Troy Palamalu and Ed Reed were picked in the 20's, and they are absolute studs. John Lynch was a third rounder. A good middle linebacker is the captain of your defense. A good center or guard gives your offense options (think Pouncey, Mankins, or Hutchinson). A player is a player.
5) In my lifetime, I have only seen three "automatics" as far as first pick quarterbacks: Peyton Manning, Troy Aikman, and John Elway. David Carr, Jeff George, JaMarcus Russell, Sam Bradford, Matthew Stafford, Drew Bledsoe, Vinny Testaverda, Tim Couch, Michael Vick (yes, I am putting him here), Carson Palmer, Eli Manning were not. Which group would you put Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton.
6) I think with the first 8 picks in the draft so close talent-wise. I see teams pulling a Minnesota and just skipping a pick to select lower and pay less. This is going to be the modern version of "trading down".
7) Your draft board should not change much between December and April, but it does. If it does, it is probably for reasons that don't matter. Think of every stupid work meeting you ever had -- that is probably what is happening here.
8) I have a feeling Kiper and McShay totally missed on Tyson Alualu last year. Neither received much criticism for a someone drafted about 30 spot ahead of projected who became a immediate starter.
9) I think more of the crappy teams should trade down. They don't suck because they are missing one player. They are missing a lot of players. Three very good players are usually better than one great player. The teams that are very good are often missing just one player. Unlike basketball, football is about depth and not about superstars.
10) This draft is very deep, not so good on top level talent. Last year you had Eric Berry, Joe Haden, Suh, Bradford, Okung, and Williams. These players are much better than their counterparts this year.
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