Beware the Mamulas

By Big Tex | Saturday, November 28, 2009 | ( 0 )

Got something to say?

As the NFL season proceeds into December, we are basically left with two distinct types of fans. One type of fan is anxiously awaiting the post season to see if their team will make it and how far they will go in the playoffs. The other type of fan is left only with the promise of April and the hope of draft salvation to come.

The NFL draft is far from an exact science. One of the best sources of draft information is Gil Brandt. Brandt was instrumental in the development of many of the practices used today in talent evaluation such as the use of 40 yard dash times. During his early draft days, Brandt has reported that some of his competitors would show up at the draft proceedings with a copy of Street & Smith's and make their selections accordingly. Before the NFL combine, measurements and times were obtained by individual scouts and sometimes shared through scouting coalitions such as BLESTO. Since the information could be somewhat suspect, it could make for some embarrasing results. The Cardinals once spent a first round draft choice on a QB who was almost completely blind in one eye. The Cowboys spent a second rounder on a WR years ago who timed a bit slower at training camp than he had at his campus workout. When the Cowboys remeasured the campus track they had timed him on, it was almost 10 feet short.

With the advent of the NFL combine, teams have the assurance of getting accurate measurables on hundreds of NFL prospects. The combine has also helped create a new danger. That danger is the "workout warrior". We often see players with limited college production whose height, weight, speed, and strength cause NFL coaches and GMs to fall in love. Mike Mamula was one of the first of these players. Considered a 3rd or 4th round prospect prior to the combine, he wowed the scouts with his bench press, his 6'5" 260 frame, his 4.6 speed, and his vertical jump. Philly decided they had to have him and traded up with Tampa Bay to get him. Mamula had a short and mediocre at best career. Tampa turned their picks into Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks.

A few years back, the Vikings decided to rid themselves of Randy Moss. They found a taker in Al Davis who gave a first rounder and players for the troubled WR. With their home run threat now gone, Minnesota had a hole at WR. Troy Williamson had been a moderately productive WR for South Carolina. He had caught passes for about 1800 yards and 13 TDs over his career but he's 6'1", about 205, and was a fomer track star who blistered the 40 in 4.3. The Vikings were sold. Williamson's career has been plagued by an inability to get open as well not being very good and hanging on to things that hit him in the hands. The Vikes swapped him to the Jags for a 6th rounder.

Last year we had a possible repeat. Darrius Heywerd-Bey had been Honorable Mention All ACC, but he is 6'1 1/2", about 210, with 4.3 speed. DHB caught passes for about 2000 yards and 13 TDs in college. (Where have we seen similar numbers before?) Like Williamson before him, DHB also seems to have issues with both getting open and catching the ball. He is on pace to have a worse rookie season than Williamson.

It just goes to show that the triangle numbers aren't everything. As the former WR, Jerry Levias answered when someone asked him about his ability to have a successful NFL career despite his small size, "No one has every stopped me at the goal line to measure before they let me across".

One more interesting thing that Mamula, Williamson, and Bey have in common. All three taken with the seventh pick in the first round.

Got something to say?