As we approach the 2008 NFL Draft, General Managers, Coaches, Scouts, and Owners all across the country continue to prepare feverishly in hopes of getting their next fresh batch of future NFL stars. So as teams figure out their needs, possible draft day scenarios, and continue to evaluate hundreds and hundreds of players how do they narrow their lists? How do they decide which players to take risks on and which players to pass over? As I have watched football over the past decade or so, here are a few things that I have learned about draft day and how to decide which players are going to make it in the NFL and which players have "bust potential".

Many players come into the draft more suited for one type of offense or defense than another. This has to due with their size, athleticism, speed, and how well they are able to grasp and read plays. For example, some defensive ends are more suited for a 3-4 defense, while some may be more suited for a 4-3 type of defense. On the contrary, a huge reason why so many versatile playmaker types make it in the NFL is because they have a unique ability to be able to adjust and adapt to different defensive or offensive schemes. A quarterback having already been subject to a spread offense in college, for example, may give him an edge for a particular team that runs a spread offense in the NFL. Coverages and schemes matter greatly when it comes to when and by whom a player may be drafted.

{mosimage}Size doesn't matter

If there is an extreme case, then size might actually matter. Like a 5'5" linebacker...it's not going to happen. Otherwise, for the most part, size has almost no bearing on how well a player will perform in the NFL, in my opinion. There are plenty of smaller players who have contributed greatly in the NFL. Barry Sanders is the first example that comes to mind when thinking about smaller players. He was lucky to be 5'8" and just look what he did to defenders. Jeff Garcia is well "undersized" for the quarterback position and he has had plenty of success in the league. There are plenty of good "undersized" players in the NFL and you cannot measure a guy's heart, passion, work ethic, or overall ability based solely on size. It just doesn't matter as much as people make it out to. Sure, taller receivers are nice, and so on, and so on, but at the end of the day there are so many different assets for each player that size doesn't have much of an effect when all is said and done.

Example: Justin Forsett (RB, California)

Don't overlook production

Football players don't have to put up gaudy numbers to prove capable of playing in the NFL, but in most cases when a player has produced on a consistent basis over his college career, even if it is at a smaller school against "weaker" competition, it translates well into the NFL. Producing on the field and work ethic go hand-in-hand. Players produce when they don't take plays off, so if a player is producing it usually is a sign of good character and the desire to keep working and keep improving his game.

Example: Earl Bennett (WR, Vanderbilt)

Look for signs of leadership

Ray Lewis is a perfect example of this. The guy may be outspoken, but when he gets on the field he is one of the best vocal leaders that there has ever been in the NFL and his teammates produce more effectively because of him. To succeed as a team in the NFL, all of your players must have leadership qualities in some fashion or another. Whether it be gathering everyone for team get-togethers and team meetings or pumping each other up in workouts, those intangible qualities of leadership speak volumes. Being a leader shows your entire team that you want to win as badly as they do. It also shows a passion and love for the game that goes way beyond the hitting and the trash talking.

Example: Jordon Dizon (LB, Colorado)

Maturity level

NFL personnel looking for that diamond in the rough on draft day should look no further than the maturity level of a player. Players who have good work ethic and good heads on their shoulders typically translate well into the league due to their commitment to the game and general understanding of what is important in life. Some players have experienced rough times throughout their life which actually makes them mature beyond their years.

Example: Ben Moffitt (LB, South Florida)

Versatility

Versatile athletes are becoming increasingly more important in the game of football today. These usually include players who are somewhat stuck between two positions, but have the athletic ability to play both if needed. There are so many facets to the game of football and it is evolving so much every day that it is extremely important to have a couple of pure athletes who can do multiple different things on your offense as well as your defense. Terrell Suggs is a prime example of this as he plays both defensive end at times as well as linebacker. Devin Hester is also a good example, however, still needs to polish up his receiving skills.

Example: Quentin Groves (LB, Auburn) or Marcus Howard (DE, Georgia)

Love for the game

This is the easiest, most obvious attribute to assess, in my opinion. If a guy takes any plays off, he does not have enough passion for the game of football to make it in the NFL. To come to practice every day and consistently try to prove you're worth being in the league, it takes a certain level of love for the game itself. Players who have enough passion for the game don't take plays off, have great motors, and are constantly working to improve their games. It is one of the most tangible attributes to assess and it's importance to making your team one that wins two games or one that wins ten goes beyond words.

Example: Mike Hart (RB, Michigan)

Most Overrated Players of the Draft

1. Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College

2. Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan

3. Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson

4. Calais Campbell, DE, Miami

5. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas

Most Underrated Players

1. Xavier Adibi, LB, Virginia Tech

2. Martin Rucker, TE, Missouri

3. Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon

4. Jordon Dizon, LB, Colorado

5. Thomas Brown, RB, Georgia

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