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NFL Draft Dictionary -
2008 Edition
by
Michael Abromowitz
NFL Draft Director
3/14/08
Every
year as we start reading draft analysis on
websites and watching the analysts on television, we start
hearing the same terms referencing different prospects in the
draft. When referring to
many prospects, it
seems to be just a system of filling in the blank with the proper
term. Some terms are just way overused, other terms seem to be
racially sensitive. These are the definitions of what draft
analysts are really meaning when they reference them.
Athlete
– Very quick, and usually not a protypical position player.
Commonly references black
quarterbacks and kick returners like DeSean Jackson and Devin Hester.
Blue-collared
– Usually a reference to a “white” player who plays tough and
gets down and dirty.
Boom
or Bust – A player that has potential to be an NFL star, but if
he fails to become a star will most likely will become a bust.
Very commonly this is associated with a lot of headcases, players who
lack motivation, or some other element. Calais Campbell, 6-8 DE,
is one of these guys. Has the size to be a star, but easily could
just bomb, especially after a poor junior season.
Burner
– extremely fast, under 4.40 speed.
Cover
2 Corner – Any cornerback who runs over a 4.50 40. If a
guy
runs a slow 40, an analyst will always say that he could best be
utilized in the cover 2 defense.
Freak
– Similar to physical specimen, but far more exclusive group of
players. Has the physical and athletic ability that is beyond
normal. Randy Moss is considered a freak for his outrageous
skills. Darren McFadden is probably the closest thing to a freak
in this draft because of his combination of size and speed.
Mock
Draft
Definition 1 - A prediction of what the writer thinks is going to
happen in the actual NFL Draft.
Definition 2 - An analysis of what the writer thinks SHOULD happen in
the actual NFL Draft.
Physical
Specimen – Any player who is either really tall (James Hardy,
WR), very fast (Darren McFadden, RB), or very strong (Quentin Groves,
DE).
Playmaker
– Someone who scores a lot of touchdowns or makes a lot of
interceptions. Overused.
Plays
Fast - A player who timed slowly, but seems to be quick on the
field and makes plays. A good example is WR Mario Manningham
(4.60 40).
Pocket-Passer
– Quarterback with very little mobility.
Possession
Receiver – Usually taller receiver that lacks great speed.
Quick-footed
– Offensive lineman who runs
under 5.00 40.
Raw
– Not much football experience or underclassman, but has the
body/ability to improve and be a much better prospect. DE Calais
Campbell is a great example.
Sleeper
– Someone who could be a great NFL player that most likely will get
drafted in later rounds or even be undrafted. Usually the players
are unfamiliar to the normal football fan. Used to be small
school prospects, but no longer because guys like Joe Flacco and
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are getting drafted higher and are becoming
household names.
Smart
– normally references the
“white” player who is slower than the athlete, but makes it up
elsewhere. Just reference Penn St. linebackers
Shutdown
Corner – Used to mean something, now every first round
cornerback seems to be a shutdown corner. Purpose was to
reference corners that would not let any balls go by them and
"shutdown" the opposing receiver.
Soft hands
– Someone who is good at catching a ball. Used way too much about
receivers. If a player is a receiver he should be able to catch a
ball.
Tweener
– Someone who fits between
two positions. Most common example is the 3-4 OLB (Quentin
Groves). Smallish DE who has the speed to play LB.
Undersized
– A person below the protypical size for a certain position. WRs,
RBs, CBs – 5’10 or smaller, LBs – under 6-0. QBs – 6-1 or
smaller.
Versatile
– A player that can play multiple positions. Usually
cornerback/safety (Reggie Smith) or guard/tackle (Branden
Albert).
Weakness
- Level of Competition – So many draft analysts
immediately put this as a weakness for all small school
prospects. It seems sometimes these analysts are having
trouble finding a weakness and this is an easy one to put.
Winner
– Someone who may not have
the ideal measurables, but had a winning college football career.
Used a lot to reference quarterbacks. "Troy Smith may be
undersized, but I like him because he was a winner."
A
Wes Welker – Small receiver that would be an ideal slot receiver.
Workout
Warrior – Someone who uses the combine/workouts to increase
their NFL Draft stock. Would not have been drafted high before
the combine/workouts. Many times these guys bust in the
NFL. Mike Mamula is the best example.
A
Zach Thomas – undersized MLB (under 6-0).
Feel free to send me your NFL Draft Terms at Michael@thefootballexpert.com
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