Blacks Overrated on Draft Boards

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Here are some of this years most blatant examples of blacks being grossly overrated on draft boards at WR:

Jacoby Jones: Lane, 6'3 210 lbs; a 3rd round selection by the Texans had these stats from "a non division one" school: 1st team All-SIAC RS, 2nd WR w/50-587-11.7-3 rec, 18-173-9.6 PR, 42-931-22.2-2 KR in '05. 2nd team All-SIAC in '04.
Ran a 4.5 at the combine "slightly" above average speed
for an NFL WR by my research. Your average starter in the NFL runs in the low 4.5s. Nothing spectacular about this small school product.

James Jones: San Jose State, 6'1 207 lbs; a 3rd round pick of the Packers had these measly stats at San Jose State: 30-278-9.3-1 rec, 8-48-6.0 rush, 20-106-5.3 PR in '05. 25 rec, 7.3 PR in '04. 1 rec, emergency LS in '03. He ran a 4.54 at the Combine and a 4.58 on ProDay, neither are impressive. By the way Mike Hass ran a 4.56 at ProDay and has "far superior" college stats good enough to win the Biletnikoff award! Plus Mike Hass had the best 3 cone time of "anyone" at their ProDay a 6.59!

Steve Breaston: Michigan, 6'1 193lbs; He had these measly stats at Michigan: 26-291-11.2-2 rec, 10-101-10.1 rush, 29-356-12.3 PR, 23-646-28.1-1 KR in '05. 34-291-8.6-3 rec, 24-292-12.2-1 PR, 28-689-24.6 KR in '04. Freshman All-American, Big 10 FOY in '03 w/38-444-11.7-3 rec, 45-619-13.8-2 PR, 9-191-21.2 KR. Redshirted '02.
He was drafted in the 5th round and is getting playing time as a returner for the Cardinals. But he ran a 4.46, so despite crummy stats and average size he is considered worthy of a 5th round selection and is already returning punts this year for the Cardinals. What about Tre Smith; at RB his college production outdoes Breaston. Is Tre not worthy of a draft pick with his ability to cut on a dime and 4.50 40 time and sub 4 short shuttle time? I think he's be a better punt returner than Breaston!

Roy Hall, Ohio State, 6'3 230lbs; A 5th round selection of the Colts, he had stats even worse than Breaston and they aren't even worth mentioning. However, he ran a 4.41 40 yard at ProDay so I guess he's got potential and worth more than Standeford, Fairooz, Deslauiers and all the talented whites with unbelievable production.

Syndric Steptoe: Arizona, 5'8.5 194 lbs; a 7th round selection had these unspectacular stats: HM All-Pac 10 w/37-493-13.3-1 rec, 20-221-11.1-1 PR, 19-484-25.5 KR in '05. HM All-Pac 10 KR w/30-446-14.9-3 rec, 17-384-22.6 KR, 6-39-6.5 PR in '04. 9-77-8.6 rec, 28-480-17.1 KR, 15-69-4.6 PR in '03.
And on top of being a midget he ran a 4.59 40 yard, same as Mike Hass at the combine! Yet even this guy will probably play before Hass.

F You Lovie!



Now for comparison, here's the "undrafted" white guys from this year:

David Ball: New Hampshire, 6'1 196lbs; He actually ran a hand-timed 4.58 40 yard when he was healthy. All-American, 1st team All-Atl 10 in '05 w/87-1551-17.8-24 rec, 3-4-1.3 rush. All American, 1st team All-Atl 10 in '04 w/81-1504-18.6-17. 38-486-12.8-4 in '03. HS state long/high jump champ.
Looks like he's much more worthy of a selection than Steptoe. And it wasn't because of being a small school product that he was snubbed, b/c as we see Jacoby Jones got selected in the 3rd round!

Aaron Fairooz: Central Arkansas, 6'6 209lbs!; 1st team All-Gulf South w/76-1197-15.8-12 in '05. To top this off he ran a 4.49 40 yard!

Or Eric Deslauriers: 6'3 208lbs, Eastern Michigan;
75-874-11.7-8 rec, 2-30-15.0 rush in '05. 2nd team All-MAC w/84-1257-15.0-13 in '04. 15-221-14.7-1 in '03. Redshirted '02 at QB.
What outstanding career stats these are! Selected in 1st round of '06 CFL draft, he is going to star in Canada where he will be allowed to play! He ran a 4.50 40 yard. Tell me why Jacoby Jones is drafted and this guy can't get a sniff of the NFL again? Oh I forgot, the answer is melanin how could I be so dumb.

How about Logan Payne: He had "decent" stats for Division one Minnesota in 2005, 6'2 204lbs; 37-529-14.3-2 rec, 1-11-11.0 rush, 9-93-10.3 PR in '05.
He ran a 4.51 and I will also mention his vert b/c it was a phenomenal 39 inches! Yet he wasn't even invited to a teams training camp!

Now we find this year Jordy Nelson is ranked 15th, yes 15th in the recent updates of NFLdraftscout.com! This is despite being second in Division I in receiving yards and the fact that he could go on to win the Biletnikoff award. Jordy is going to have to run a 4.4 40 yard I fear to be a 1st round selection. If Jordy was black a 4.55 would be fast enough with his stats to assure a 1st round selection IMO. I call this the .15 40 time affirmative action law against whites! What is the law for stats? Is it having to gain 500 more yards than a black at WR?

Edited to Add: I am going to look for these examples every draft year at WR and RB. And sometime this week I am going to find more examples from this draft year at WR and RB for another post!

Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins

 

[Don Wassall]

Logan Payne was a free agent this past summer with Seattle, which is about the same as not being invited to a training camp. But good stuff, this happens every year, white receivers with excellent production and measurable physical abilitieswell withinthe NFL norm are passed over in favor of "projects," players with "potential" and "explosiveness," etc.

 

[white is right]

I think this began around 78'. When Leroy Selmon came out scouting started changing and they started looking for more "pure athletes" and production was started to be discounted. Also I remember in the early 70's pure athletes that played in traditional black schools were recruited and their stats were thrown out as their competition was deemed to uncertain to quantify. At one time this was an excuse that held back drafting black quarter backs that played in these schools unless they had the pure pocket presence like a Doug Williams. These days it seems to hurt the small school White players that play DII or III.Edited by: white is right

 

[voice]

Great analysis ToughJRiggins!

 

[Thrashen]

Although these stats are truely sickening, I'll admit that James Jones has been very good this season with the Packers. Granted, he's in a pass-crazy offense and has a great QB (and an equally great a**hole) in Favre throwing him the ball.

Jakoby Jones was fawned over in pre-season after making a few flashy plays against scrubs (who he couldn't even compete against at the college level). He was said to take Kevin Walter's spot at #2 WR, but Gary Kubiak did something very strange...he actually played the better player. Weird, I know.

I watched nearly every Ohio State game the past 4 seasons, and I have but a vague recollection of the name Roy Hall. Should I be surprised? I guess John Standeford (See Big Ten Record Book) was cut in favor of this "project" at WR. Tony Dungy, despite his track record here at CF, is merely a wolf in sheep's clothing at times.

 

[Don Wassall]

Tony Dungy, despite his track record here at CF, is merely a wolf in sheep's clothing at times.

I see Dungy mainly as a company man, not that there's anything wrong with that. The formula that is working so well in Indianapolis was set in place by GM Bill Polian and offensive coordinator Tom Moore before Dungy was hired. Dungy is not a brilliant football mind or strategist, ala Bill Belichick. He is a feel-good figure around whom players and fans rally, and for whom players give their all, and not much more.

 

[white is right]

I don't think Dungy is a brilliant strategist either. Just watch the failures of Tampa in the playoffs under Dungy. Beyond Alstott up the gut I don't think he had another play in his play book...

I will give him credit to see that Mike had play making ability. I just wish that Tampa had an O-line and receivers to take advantage of their potential Dolphin running game. Tampa might have been able to win a few more titles...

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Tampa should have won that one year though when Bert Emanuel was incorrectly called for dropping a pass on a potential game winning drive. You could see from the replay that he clearly had his hand under the ball when it hit the ground. Dungy's team should have been in the Superbowl that year and it was with Shaun King at QB; so I think that is a pretty impressive track record for Dungy with the Colts. Dungy only lost his job because the Bucs thought they were getting Parcells for the next year.

Edited to add: BTW I agree that James Jones (despite unimpressive college numbers and athletic measurables) is doing well for the Packers and I think that proves how many white guys could do well with a QB who would believe in them if given the same opportunity!Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins