Judgement.Most important criterion for QB.Must have good judgement.Where Intelligence comes in: Knowledge of game, Knowledge of Defense, Knowledge of own offense, utilizing people the right way, recognition of what the Safety & CB are doing for example. Ability to take advantage of the weakness: Not only as they set up, but as you're counting the cadence. You need to recognize as things differ, even as you·re counting, to change play at an instant. Criterion to judge this is: Amt of completed passes, based on level of difficulty. How does a QB know a LB is going to blitz? How does he feel pressure from the blind side? When does a QB call timeout? Is he prepared? Does he call a timeout when someone is not prepared & play won't work? How many timeouts are left?

Look for the guy that has a knack for finding the open receiver, doesn't force the ball into double coverage on a consistent basis, and knows when to throw the ball away or pull it down and run with it.

Locating receivers - Vital. The key to watch for here is whether the quarterback is able to find his second and third options when his first option is covered. Must be able to read 2nd & 3rd receivers. You don't want your quarterback to lock onto a receiver regardless of whether he is open or not. It doesn't take long for a defense to catch on and make things miserable for a QB who makes a habit of doing so. Must be smart. One thing to read. Must get the ball there. Locating non primary receivers is most important specific. It·s instinctive, inborn.

Leadership - I mentioned this in lesson two as a trait scouts look for at every position, but I'll mention it here again because I feel it is more important in a quarterback than any other position on the field.

Grading the Prospect - As I also mentioned in lesson two, grading prospects is a very subjective process. Qualities like arm strength, accuracy, and decision making are far more important than most other traits, so it is not as simple as assigning a number for each area of evaluation and averaging them out to get a final grade. You have to assign more weight to the areas you feel are most important before making a determination, therefore, it will take a little thought as to how you go about giving a final grade.

I like to grade each player's ability in each category with a grade from 1-5 with 5 being the best score. I then assign a percentage of weight to each category with the most important receiving a weight of 100% while other areas may get a weight of only 75% or even 50% depending on how important I feel they are to playing the position in the NFL. I then add together all the scores after factoring in the weight of each category to it's score. The total of these numbers is my final grade and it gives me an indication as to how a player stacks up against his peers. This system works well for me, but you may want to come up with a system of your own and tweak it as you feel necessary.

Lesson 4: Scouting Running Backs

Position Specifics:

Obviously a running back has to have the ability to run, preferably with a little speed, but there is so much more than foot speed when it comes to making it in the NFL. Lesson four takes a look at some of the keys to look for in running backs.

Speed and Quickness - Since I·ve already touched on this subject, we·ll discuss it first. Obviously, an NFL running back has got to have decent speed, but a faster back is not always a better back. Official 40-yard dash times are published after the NFL Combine in February, and will tell you how one running back stacks up against another in terms of all-out speed.

However, keep in mind that 40-yard-dash times can be deceiving, which is why I like to look at how fast a player looks as compared to the other players on the field around him.

Some players play faster than their timed runs might indicate, while other players seem to play slower. Obviously, at the college level players aren't going to be as fast, on average, as their counterparts in the NFL, but you can still get an indication of a player's speed by comparing him to his college competition.

And when you are scouting a running back, keep an eye on how quickly he accelerates when a hole opens up. This is what you will sometimes hear referred to as burst, and can be the difference between a good back and a great back. Having tremendous top-end speed is great, but it is the backs with the quickness to gain seperation or burst through the hole that are successful in the NFL.

Some guys have better top-end speed than others, but do not accelerate as quickly. Some guys have the ability to get up to top speed in just a few strides. A running back with a quick burst is probably going to be more successful than a guy that takes a half dozen steps to reach his peak. So when you are evaluating running backs for the draft, don·t assume one player is quicker than another simply because his 40-yard dash time is better. The 20-yard shuttle drill, which is also timed at the Scouting Combine, is probably a better indicator of a player·s explosiveness.

Size - Running backs come in a number of different sizes, especially when you include fullbacks, but there are some things to be wary of. The most obvious, although there are rare exceptions, are guys that are too small to hold up to the pounding they·ll take in the NFL. If you·ve got a guy on a six-foot frame who weighs just 175 pounds, chances are he·s going to get broken in half by your average NFL lineman.

I like running backs around the 5·10·-6·2· range, which is a frame that will allow them to carry the bulk they need in the NFL. Backs taller than this tend to be easier to get under by the defender. In other words, the defender can get in under the shoulder pads to stand the runner up and drive him backwards. I like the guy that·s a bit shorter, with a lower center of gravity. He tends to have better balance and sometimes defenders lose him behind his offensive linemen. I also like to see his weight somewhere between 210 and 230 for a halfback and 240-250 for a fullback, although I certainly would not rule out a player because he doesn·t measure up to these traits. There are always exceptions.

Running Inside - Your 190 pound back is probably going to have a tough time holding up to the punishment if he runs inside often, so size is usually somewhat of a factor in a back·s ability to consistently move the ball on the interior of a defense. Look at his ability to break tackles. Does he have the ability to get away from first contact or does  he go down easily when a defender gets a hand on him. Also look for a good forward lean. You want a guy that makes it tough to get into his chest.

Again, if the defender can get into his chest, he·ll drive him backward. When the running back impacts the defender, first contact should come with the top of his shoulder pad or pads. This puts his center of gravity behind the impact instead of under it, and it gives him the leverage to use his legs to drive the defender backwards. You also want a guy that continues to drive his legs until the play is dead.

Running Outside - Obviously, a back has got to have speed (or tremendous blocking) to get around the outside corner in the NFL. But watch how well he reads his blocks and the speed at which he can make the cut to get up field. Once he gets that corner, watch how well he gets his shoulder pads squared up to the line of scrimmage so he·s ready to take on any would-be tacklers.

Receiving - Catching the ball out of the backfield has become such a big part of many NFL offenses that it can actually cause one team to have little interest in a guy that another team might draft in an early round. Obviously, you want a guy that can catch the ball, so many of the same characteristics of a good receiver, which we will cover in lesson five, are important here.Look for a guy that rarely drops catchable balls and has soft hands. By soft hands, I mean the ball should almost stick in his hands like it·s falling into a big, fluffy pillow. Some guys have a tendency to let the ball bounce off their hands and bobble it slightly before controlling it instead of cradling and catching it softly as it comes in. A running back is often going to be in traffic when catching a pass, so you don·t want him moving that ball around much when he gets hit. You want to see him tuck it away as quickly as he pulls it in then get his shoulder pads squared up to take on the first defender.

Blocking - When scouting running backs, don·t just watch the plays in which they carry the ball. Watch what they do without the ball. Of course for fullbacks, you·ve got to analyze their blocking ability on running plays, but any back·s ability to pass protect is so important.

Many a talented runner has had a tough time staying on an NFL football field as an every-down player because they couldn·t get the job done when asked to help stop the pass rush.

Picking up the blitz is critical for a running back. Missing assignments, failing to stop pass rushers, and not finding where the blitz is coming from and intercepting it are definite red flags. The good news is blocking can be taught at the NFL level, but it certainly adds to a guy·s value to have that skill coming out of college.

Reading Blocks - Some backs just seem to have an innate ability to find the hole in a defense, while others are hit and miss. Look for guys that wait for the blocking to develop, spot their hole, and hit it. Avoid guys that consistently outrun their blocking, don·t follow their blocks, or simply run into the backs of their blockers.

Vision - Vision is something all the great backs have. The ability to see their blocks developing and knowing where the hole is going to be, and seeing it open are so important. Keep an eye on the decisions a back makes as he looks for a hole. Does he find a hole more often than not, or does he oftem miss the opening or not recognize it soon enough to hit it.

Handling the Ball Last, but certainly not least, is handling the football. Turnovers can, and often do, change the momentum of a football game. For some running backs, fumbling can be like a disease. Once they start, they can·t stop. And to compound things, once a player gets a reputation as a fumbler, the defense will relentlessly try to strip the player every time he carries the ball.

Having big, strong hands is a plus, but knowing the proper way to carry the ball is more important. Watch to see that the back has the ball tucked under his arm, not holding it out in his hand or hands. A good back will also switch the ball to the arm opposite a closing defender if he has time to safely move it before getting hit. A good back is also always aware of the ball. He keeps it protected at all times.

That concludes Lesson Four of this six-part series. Now get out some video tape, check out the above skills, jot down your thoughts, and you·ve got yourself a scouting report on an NFL Draft prospect.

Lesson 5: Scouting Wide Receiver & Tight End

Position Specifics:

Lesson five of evaluating Pro prospects takes a look at some of the basic keys to watch for when analyzing wide receivers and tight ends for the NFL Draft. Although there are a lot of differences in the positions, many of the skills looked for are basically the same. Of course, the tight end position has become a bit more specialized in recent years, with some players filling the role of receiver while others are utilized mainly for their blocking skills, so you·ll have to keep that in mind while evaluating the position.

Size
Players of all sizes have been hugely successful at wide receiver in the NFL, so there really isn't a clear-cut standard here. Having great size is a big plus for a prospect, but he must have the skills to play the position or all the size in the world won't do him any good.

On the other side of the coin, smaller receivers with their increased quickness and elusiveness can give defenses just as many headaches as your big, strong physical specimen. So don't fall in love with a guy simply because he has ideal size.

If you ask most scouts, they would probably tell you the ideal size for an NFL wide receiver is in the 6'3"-6'4" range with somewhere between 200 and 230 pounds. Tight ends generally run in the 250-260 pound range. And with both positions, sometimes what you gain in size, you lose in agility, so take a look at the whole package before making your grade.

Speed and Quickness
We touched on this in the lesson on evaluating running backs, but it is important enough to mention again here. As I pointed out in the previous lesson, 40-yard-dash times can be deceiving. In the NFL, so much of the passing game depends on timing and finding that small window of opportunity that closes much quicker than at the college level. So it is important for a player to not only have good top-end speed, but they also need the quickness in and out of their breaks and off the line of scrimmage to gain that momentary separation from the defender.

If a prospect is being drafted to fill the role of a deep threat on the outside, top-end speed might be more of a priority, but for a guy playing the slot or going across the middle on a consistent basis, you need a player who can make sharp cuts and get up to speed quickly. As with running backs, observe how quickly the receiver accelerates to full speed off the line or out of his breaks. Also keep an eye on how well he moves laterally, focusing on how quickly he can stop, cut, and start again.

Obviously, as it relates to tight ends, speed is going to be far more important for your receiving specialist than it is for a guy whose primary duty is blocking.

Release from Line of Scrimmage
Quickness is also an important factor in getting off the line of scrimmage. Top-end speed is great, but if a receiver doesn·t have the quickness to consistently beat the defender off the line, the timing of his routes will invariably suffer. Strength is also a big factor in getting a clean break from some of the more physical defensive backs in the league.

If you see a guy at the college level that has trouble getting off the line cleanly, chances are, he will have a real hard time in the NFL. Ideally, you want a guy that has the quickness to get around defenders, yet also possesses the strength to get off jams and possibly use them to give himself an advantage.

Route Running
As I said, timing is such a big factor in today·s game that a quarterback has to know that his receiver will be in the right place at the right time. That is why it is very important that a receiver is accurate and consistent in his route running. Often, in the NFL, a quarterback will actually release the ball before the intended receiver makes his break, so just a few feet off in either direction or a fraction of a second delay in making his break can be the difference between a completion and an interception.

Also, a player must consistently finish routes off even if they are not the primary option on the play. The safety will be looking for indications of where the ball is going, and if he picks up on a player ·dogging it· on plays designed to go in another direction, he·ll be much quicker to jump on the route of the intended receiver. If the receiver does not consistently run the route the same way over and over, defenders will pick up on the keys he is broadcasting to them and it will give them a decided advantage in defending the play. This is also a point where you will want to watch for crisp cuts and quickness in and out of breaks, and avoid the guys that have a tendency to round off their routes instead of making sharp cuts.

Hands
You just can·t say enough when it comes to a receiver·s hands. Many a world class sprinter has failed to make it in the NFL because he couldn·t consistently hold onto the ball, and conversely, there are receivers in the Hall of Fame who possessed nothing better than mediocre speed, but they made up for it by catching everything thrown in their direction.

Generally, you can judge a guy·s hands by how often he drops a catch able ball, but there are other things to look at. Some guys appear to have soft hands that the ball just seems to stick in while others look like their hands are made of stone. Watch for guys who consistently pull the ball in and tuck it away with little movement, while avoiding the guys that have a habit of bobbling the ball before bringing it in.

You also want to look for a guy who catches the ball out away from his body instead of letting it get into his pads where it is more likely to be mishandled.

Body Control All the great receivers have one thing in common. They all have great body control and the ability to adjust to the ball while it is in the air. Look for guys that can turn and catch the ball when it is thrown over the wrong shoulder, along with the guys that can get their toes down in bounds on passes along the sideline. Other things to keep an eye on include balance and how well the receiver uses his body to gain position on the defender.

Catching in Traffic
Some guys just don·t have the size or courage to consistently go across the middle, so it is a big plus when you find a player with the mental fortitude to catch the ball in traffic knowing he is likely to take a big hit. Good hands are of the utmost importance to a receiver who spends a lot of time in the middle of the field simply because of the number of defenders in close proximity. Any slight bobble can result in a costly turnover at this point on the field, so it takes a special player with a lot of courage to excel at this aspect of the game. Toughness is an area that is difficult to teach, so finding these characteristics at the college level is important when looking for a solid possession receiver.

Yards After the Catch
There·s really not a lot of detail to go into here other than to say that being able to fight through defenders and pick up extra yardage after the catch is a very desirable trait. Whether it be through physical strength or elusiveness, having the ability to pick up extra yards or even break long gains from short patterns can make a relatively conservative offense appear far more explosive.

Blocking Skills
Obviously, blocking is a very important part of a tight end·s repertoire. He is often used to help contain a defensive end in the passing game and is of huge importance in the running game. Wide receivers can also be of great importance in both the passing and running offenses on sweeps, draws, screen plays, slants, and other plays where the receivers can get out in front of the ball carrier.

You can evaluate a player·s blocking ability by watching how well he locks onto the defender and shields him from the play. A solid blocker is generally proficient at getting under the shoulder pads and into the chest of a player, and uses his leverage and leg drive to push him backward or away from the direction of the play.

Generally, a wide receiver does not need to sustain his blocks for long periods of time, so a little skill in this area can go a long way. Because a receiver can be taught to be a solid blocker at the NFL level, one of the biggest things I look for in a player is his willingness and enthusiasm when it comes to this sometimes undesirable task. If you find a guy who is willing to consistently stick his nose into blocking situations, you have a guy with the potential to be an adequate blocker at the least.

We·ll talk a little bit more about blocking skills in our next lesson, which focuses on the play of the offensive linemen.

Lesson 6: Learning to Scout Offensive Linemen

Position Specifics:

Lesson 8: Learning to Scout Linebackers

Lesson 9: Learning to Scout Defensivebacks

Grading Pro Prospects

This is what NFL scouts look for in general. These are the traits to look for in every prospect regardless of position.

• Character - How much character factors into the equation varies from team to team and scout to scout. I believe character is a very important factor when determining whether a young player can be depended upon on a consistent basis. Obviously character doesn't matter much if the guy doesn't have the athletic ability, but it can be the deciding factor between two players of similar talent. Did his father play in NFL? Does he love football? Also keep an eye out for players that make a habit of making the evening news with their off-field exploits or immature comments.
• Production - How Long has he been a starter? What has he done during that time?
• Competitiveness - How bad does this player want to win? Do they go all out on every down or do they take plays off? There's a fine line between being competitive and being overly aggressive. You want a player that has the intensity to go hard all the time, but you don't want to see a player lose his cool. Ideally, you want a guy who will give it his all until the whistle blows, but doesn't let his anger get the better of him.
• Mental Preparation and Awareness - Does a player seem to understand his duties and what the team is trying to accomplish on every play? Does he spend the necessary time with his nose in the playbook or watching game film? Does he understand what's going on around him at all times? Does he react well when the play breaks down?
• Athleticism - Playing speed, quickness off the ball, strength, and body control should all be factored into a player’s athleticism. Body control would include things like balance, turning and running, adjusting to the ball, timing jumps correctly, and ability to avoid or break tackles.
• Leadership - Look for the player that is always prepared to do his job properly and works hard whether in practice or a game. A good leader does not need to be vocal, but must be respected by his teammates. He also sets a good example with his work ethic, shows up to play on every down, and pulls the team together when things are not going so well.
• Consistency - Does the player put in a good effort every week or does he tend to disappear at times?
• Injuries - Unfortunately, injuries are a big part of football, so you have to be aware of a player's medical history. If a player is prone to injuries that keep him in the trainer's room as often as he's on the field, you might not want to risk a draft pick on him. Any type of knee injury should be noted, as should any degenerative disorders.

These next seven headings pertain to workouts at the NFL Combine, which is usually held in February, so you will not need to fill in these sections until that time.
• Bench
• 40-Yard Dash (40)
• Vertical Jump (VJ)
• Broad Jump (BJ)
• 20-Yard Shuttle (20SH)
• 60-Yard Shuttle (60SH)
• Cone Drill (Cone)

• Comments - We use this section to make quick comments as we watch the players in games. Our comments grow until our evaluations have concluded and it is time to then transfer them to a document in the form of a scouting report.  Each season, we add to our database as the season moves forward and as players begin to identify themselves as true pro prospects and get on our radar screen. 

Player Category (PC) - We grade the prospects into 4 player categories:
1) Draft
2) Priority Free Agent (PFA),
3) Camp
4) Free Agent

Player Category Definitions
1) Draft: This grade is applied to anyone we think is definitely going to be selected in the NFL Draft
2) PFA: This grade is applied to a player we believe should definitely be signed and brought into camp as a free agent
3) Camp: This grade is applied to players we believe have a decent shot to be brought into camp but who have a slim chance of making an active roster and are mostly brought in as camp bodies
4) Free Agent: We apply this grade to players we believe will go unsigned after the Draft and will become street free agents

When evaluating Pro Prospects for the NFL Draft or for other professional football leagues & teams we would further break down these player categories into positional grades...

TOP, SOLID  & FRINGE NFL PLAYERS

Players with a 9, 8, or 7 grade are top NFL players.Top NFL players are difficult to find. NFL teams want to rely mainly on their solid players as they will make up the core of the organization. The key to building a successful NFL franchise is to acquire plenty of solid players. These are players with a 6 plus grade. Anything under a 5.49 is a fringe player who can't really help you. He might make the squad especially during a rebuilding stage but shouldn't be looked to for much help.NFL teams should stay away from players with low 5 grades. A player with any grade in the 4's should have little chance to make an NFL team. A player with a low 4 grade might get into a CFL/AFL camp but is a long shot to make a roster. An NFL team should have no interest with any player with a grade in the 3's and any player with a grade of 2 or lower should not be written up for an NFL scouting report. All an NFL scout should be studying film for are top and solid players. The more of them the better the chances of winning..

Ken Robinson
Pro Personnel Director
Indoor Football Scouting Bureau
250 W Juniper Ave Ste #1
Gilbert AZ 85233
www.ifsbfreeagents.com
480-545-1256

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