Do you know what a T rex can't do?

1. reach his wallet
2. scratch his nose
3. wipe his bum
4. play Nintendo, apparently he can't hit the buttons and fire at the same time.

Did the guy make plays? Freeney was too short and too light to play DE. Leonard didnt play in a big time conference, taken too high. Manning wasn't the athelete Leaf was.

DID THE GUY MAKE PLAYS?

Ryan Leaf made plays

Length is helpful for a DL because it allows them to get their hands on the OL first, which disrupts the OL's technique, which makes it easier to win any rep. Length also can help with establishing leverage, which, again, helps to win any rep. A player with shorter arms will be at a disadvantage in those situations, because OL will be able to lock on to them easier, and breaking free of blocks will be more difficult. If you watch tape of players who have length, examples of these scenarios come up all the time. One of Tillery's sacks against Stanford, for example, happened almost entirely because he was able to lock his right arm on the guard's shoulder, completely knock him off balance and not allow him to establish a block, and that allowed him to walk the guard right back to the QB. Using the eye test to see if someone can make plays is good. Understanding how they made those plays and determining if their skillset is such that it will translate to being able to make similar plays at the next higher level of competition is better.

Did mathis have really long arms?

Lots of guys make plays at the college level, but that doesn't always translate to the pros. I'm pretty sure you know this. The idea is that ideal measurables give the player a better chance at succeeding in the NFL, which increases the chance that using a draft pick on that player will turn out well. Does it always? Of course not, and some people buck the trend and play at outstanding levels despite imperfect measurables. However, all of that is in the future, and right now teams are just trying to lay their bets down on the players most likely to succeed.

Yes, he did. 34.5", which is very long for a DL of his height.

Darius Leonard does.

Same people who said russell wilson and drew brees were too short. That ricky williams was better than the Edge.

Its not just the outside, its whats inside. Mathis had it. Leonard and Luck have it. Pete Metzalaars and Andre Reed had it. Jeff Saturday absolutely had it.

Thats what Ballard is looking for, and its not on a tape measure. Its talent and the character to maximize their opportunity and all that other nonsense is for the gm wannabes

No I think internet wanna be GMs take themselves too seiously

Reportedly Tampa Bay has now informed McCoy that they will release him.

https://twitter.com/NFLSTROUD/status...05004455403520