"within our system"


your boy is the worst

Christian McCaffrey

Most everyone in scouting seems to agree on Christian McCaffrey…not a main-workload running back because of his size, but has skills to take carries in the NFL and will be a hell of a third-down/receiving RB in the NFL with the added bonus of being able to work in the return game. The typical scouting summary on McCaffrey is almost a dismissal, a pat on the head…a rushed commentary so they can hurry up and go praise Dalvin Cook some more. Rarely is anyone engaged in discussing McCaffrey as a better NFL RB prospect than Cook…or even the best RB prospect in the 2017 class. I think it’s open for some discussion.

You cannot fairly compare Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey as prospects because there will be a rift. Some people like their running back to get 20–25 touches all between the tackles with a bruiser like Fournette. Fewer people prefer their running back to get 20–25 touches from 5–8 carries, 5–10 targets, and 1-5 returns per game. Thus, the bias…the artificial lid on what McCaffrey brings to the table. Most people like their running backs as workhorses delivering punishment. Marshawn Lynch is ‘cooler’ than Danny Woodhead, to set a visual. I like the power guys too, and every team should have one…along with having their ‘McCaffrey’ (see: Super Bowl champ New England Patriots…Blount + Lewis-White).

How do you value a running back if they are not a between-the-tackles Mack truck, but have the best receiving hands of any RB prospect in the draft (or in most any draft), and run a 40-time in the 4.4s with historic agility times at the NFL Combine? If this person attended Ohio State or Alabama, we’d call them a top 15–20 overall pick and ‘the future of the NFL’. When they are a West Coast player and are a white running back (and this bias exists in scouting…no sense hiding from it)…we call them a ‘sleeper’ who needs to find the right fit. How Dalvin Cook can be considered a slam dunk NFL star and yet run just as fast with less agility and worse hands than McCaffrey is beyond me…or the reverse of that – how McCaffrey is not considered a slam-dunk first-round prospect (if Cook is) is beyond me.

It’s not just the measurables, because McCaffrey destroyed opponents in the PAC-12 and beyond in his entire career. The NFL Combine measurables only confirmed that what McCaffrey did on the field was no fluke or ‘system’. We’ll get into the numbers in the next section.

What I do want to get across – it’s too simplistic to just see that McCaffrey was great in college and to hear people say he is a ‘third-down back’ because of his profile and the ‘good hands’ label that gets tossed out there causing us to say, “Yep, he’s a change-of-pace back. He’ll be handy.” McCaffrey is not ‘good’…he’s potentially great/sensational because of his superior gift of pass-catching ability.

McCaffrey doesn’t simply have ‘good hands’, he’s a Julian Edelman-like slot receiver who happens to be classified as a running back. He could be an NFL starter at receiver. His hands are so fluid and natural…his dad, former NFL WR Ed McCaffrey, was tall with notoriously great hands, but was not a great athlete. His son, Christian, inherited the hands and got a dose of NFL athleticism…without the height. ‘Great hands’, when describing McCaffrey, is an understatement in the same way it was when I discussed David Johnson from the jump, back at Northern Iowa…DJ was a first-round draft pick level/quality wide receiver talent who just happened to be the perfect running back specimen as well. McCaffrey has elite hands with elite agility and NFL+ speed in a smaller body.

When you think of McCaffrey you have to go beyond ‘third down back’ or ‘good hands’. It’s underselling him.

McCaffrey has no injury history or off-field issues. He’s Stanford educated. Was raised around the NFL because of his dad. He is well groomed in interviews. He was made to be an impact starter in an RB-duo in today’s NFL.


A storybook career…he should have been the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner (2,019 yards rushing, 645 yards receiving and 13 TDs…returned a kick and punt for a TD, and threw for 2 TDs, so 17 TDs total in 2015). There’s not much to pick at or hype up with McCaffrey’s numbers.

In his last 23 games, McCaffrey has averaged: 152.1 yards rushing and 38.0 yards receiving (190.1 combined) and 1.2 TDs per game.

In three career games against USC: 164.7 rushing yards and 69.3 receiving yards (234.0 combined) with 1.7 TDs per game.


The NFL “Speed RB” whom Christian McCaffrey most compares with statistically in college, within our system:

Our computer scouting models are trying to tell us to cool our jets a little on McCaffrey – that he’s good, but let’s not put him into the Hall of Fame. He’s just 202 pounds and only benched 10 reps and has great hands…and that there may be more of these unicorns out there than we think. Don’t overvalue it. The fact that D.J. Foster is a close comp should make you pause…Foster is a sensational receiver at running back, and is on the Patriots already, as are Dion Lewis and James White. How bad do the Pats need another ‘good hands’ guy out of the backfield? You’d love to have McCaffrey, but is he worth a 1st-round pick? Our models would say “No.” He will succeed in the NFL, but be careful on the valuation.



2017 NFL Draft Outlook

Pre-NFL Combine you see McCaffrey usually projected somewhere between picks #25–40…a late first, early second-round prospect. I think that’s likely where he will wind up, and more likely in the second round, because the totality of the NFL machine (media, analysts) will not fully respect what McCaffrey brings to the table, so they’ll undervalue him…and NFL teams will follow it.

NFL Outlook: God bless America if McCaffrey winds up on the Patriots…and why do I feel like that is likely to happen? I am thinking this is between New England and Denver with the Broncos having an upper hand. McCaffrey has a relationship with the Broncos and Elway (among many other connections in the NFL).

McCaffrey is going to be taken on purpose to be used for his purpose, and if it’s the right head coach/organization…McCaffrey could lead all NFL RBs in receptions as a rookie. He’s that good. And then go on to a fine career from there.

"within our system"


your boy is the worst
- Crimsoninja

John Ross

What is the value of a really fast wide receiver in the NFL?

It has a value, for sure. But how valuable is it?

You might ask about the other attributes of said speedy receiver. What if I said this receiver is not physically tough (as a receiver) and has decent-not-great hands and is 4.2–4.3 ‘speedy’? Which is how I would describe John Ross. What is that kind of receiver worth to you? What current/recent NFL WRs come to mind?

The last two drafts had college-productive, 4.3- running, first round picks – Will Fuller and Phillip Dorsett. Have either of them really mattered? What do teams do with them in the NFL? Typically, they use them as decoys – send them deep to pull away a safety and throw the ball somewhere else. Occasionally, the ball is fired downfield for a deep-ball score…but that’s a little rare in the NFL. Mostly, you get John Brown or Mike Wallace or DeSean Jackson performances…one, maybe two, breakout seasons, some ‘moments’ in other seasons…but nothing radical – and forking over a lot of money for 4–6 really cool, long TDs per typical season.

Whatever that’s worth to you…is what John Ross is worth to you.

Actually, Ross is probably worth less. The injuries matter towards the value: 2014 torn meniscus in left knee. 2015 blew out his ACL on the right knee. 2017 torn labrum surgery.

But Ross is really, really fast.

I mean, you saw the record-breaking 4.22, right? The one where he tracked slower than Chris Johnson’s side-by-side video comparison…but still came in as ‘faster’ at the Combine anyway? I mention that petty item because if Ross didn’t break the Combine record I think his current draft buzz would be cut in half. No doubt – he’s fast. Setting the record makes him become more myth than reality. It deflects away from noticing the recent trend that these types of smaller, speedy receivers are useful/valuable, but not that valuable…and it ignores the massive red flag injury history for Ross – for those projecting him as a first-round pick.

The more I watch Ross on tape, I don’t see a 4.22 guy at all. I mean, I know he is fast, but he doesn’t play with speed that catches my attention. He could be so smooth it evades me. I could be so biased I can’t see it. But honestly, his tape does nothing for me. All I see is a pretty fast guy beating college DBs for medium and long TD strikes. I’d add – I see Ross get caught from behind way too often for a 4.22 runner. I also see he is brought down easily upon any contact (he hesitates into contact often) and has difficulty making catches under duress. He looks great three steps ahead of a DB for an untouched TD, and there’s a value in that, but those types of plays don’t happen that often in the NFL.

With John Ross, you are getting ‘really fast’ with mediocre hands, a frail frame, and a history of injury. You can use him deep, but not so much middle of the field or running bubble screens (for fear of injury). Most NFL teams will try to use him as a deep ball guy, a return man, and an occasional runner of the ball. In this era, in the NFL, that won’t be a lot of touches/output normally (4–6 targets, 0–2 returns, 0–1 carries per game?)…with the risk on him of getting hurt so easily. Do you want him on your team as a weapon to deploy in situations? Sure…I guess. Do you want to spend a top 50 pick on it? I wouldn’t. Too much downside for the price for me. I’m sure he’ll have a good year, surrounded by many mediocre seasons like a Mike Wallace or DeSean Jackson…and I don’t think Ross is as good as DJax or Wallace when they are/were at their best. Ross is good and he has value, but I don’t think it’s as much as early projections.


John Ross scored an impressive 17 TDs in 2016, slightly less impressive under the microscope of Washington throwing for 47 TDs last season. 36% of the team’s TD catches is solid but not anything amazing.

In Ross’s five toughest games/defenses faced in the 2016 season, against Stanford, USC, Utah, Colorado (top DB prospects), and Alabama, Ross averaged 5.0 catches for 72.6 yards and 1.0 TDs per game…not bad. If you ignore his 70-yard TD catch against USC where a defender slipped and fell and gave him an easy score – 4.8 catches for 58.6 yards and 0.8 TDs per game…which is OK but not 4.22-runner amazing I just never felt like I was watching a dominant wide receiver for the next level when watching Ross at work.

The NFL “Small WR” John Ross most compares to statistically in college, within our system:

Santana Moss had a long, steady, mostly boring career…he had 1–2 really good seasons and several OK/nice seasons. All these speedsters listed here had moments but they never seemed to sustain it. I would take most of these receiver comp names ahead of Ross, back in their draft days.

Two guys who were close but not close enough as a final comp for Ross – Brandin Cooks and Tyreek Hill. To me, John Ross is nothing like Hill or Cooks. Ross is not a full-route-tree receiver or in possession of jaw-dropping speed you can see on tape. Brandin Cooks was dominant. Tyreek Hill’s NFL debut was amazing. Ross’s tape never made think any of those things.




2017 NFL Draft Outlook

Most draft projections have Ross in the first round, so I’ll assume the combination of 4.22 speed + the media push + the history of the NFL never learning and taking these guys first round (Fuller and Dorsett last two seasons)…it will all = Ross in the first round.

Al Davis may come out of the grave and make this pick.

NFL Outlook: A few fancy moments, but aside from a good season…is mostly a piece of the puzzle, not a key piece of the puzzle. Has something to offer the NFL but not stardom.

Offensive Players

My Boy's Boys

Mitch Trubisky - Solid starter, potential to be a pro bowl level QB
Taywan Taylor - Solid starter, potential to be great if paired with good QB
Cooper Kupp - Really good slot WR, (taller) Edelman or Keenan Allen potential
Zay Jones - Amari Cooper-like, but a tier below
D'Onta Foreman - Workhorse starting RB, steal in the 3rd round or later
OJ Howard - the real deal, will be a consistent pro bowl TE if he lands on a team with a decent QB
Leonard Fournette - Stud


Non-Boys

Deshaun Watson - Career backup
Carlos Henderson - Depth WR at best
David Njoku - Decent, but overrated
Alvin Kamara - Overrated and more of a backup talent
Mike Williams - massive bust, will be useful in the NFL but nothing more than a depth guy
Dalvin Cook - another massive bust, top comps are langford and powell lol

I'll do defensive guys and o-line tonight or tomorrow

Offensive Players

My Boy's Boys

Mitch Trubisky - Solid starter, potential to be a pro bowl level QB
Taywan Taylor - Solid starter, potential to be great if paired with good QB
Cooper Kupp - Really good slot WR, (taller) Edelman or Keenan Allen potential
Zay Jones - Amari Cooper-like, but a tier below
D'Onta Foreman - Workhorse starting RB, steal in the 3rd round or later
OJ Howard - the real deal, will be a consistent pro bowl TE if he lands on a team with a decent QB
Leonard Fournette - Stud


Non-Boys

Deshaun Watson - Career backup
Carlos Henderson - Depth WR at best
David Njoku - Decent, but overrated
Alvin Kamara - Overrated and more of a backup talent
Mike Williams - massive bust, will be useful in the NFL but nothing more than a depth guy
Dalvin Cook - another massive bust, top comps are langford and powell lol
- Nucker101

He will be a huge bust.

He will be a huge bust.
- Gramps28

only injuries can stop him

Regarding Trubisky. History isn't on his side. Only one QB that was a one year starter in college has made a pro bowl.

only injuries can stop him
- Nucker101

he doesn't have NFL game speed. Put it this way. His performance will be the same as you can get from a RB drafted in the middle rounds. Taking him in the 1st round is a total waste of a pick.

Regarding Trubisky. History isn't on his side. Only one QB that was a one year starter in college has made a pro bowl.
- Gramps28

My boy has a better track record than all the mainstream idiots and the wannabe nfl scouts on twitter so I believe in him.

he doesn't have NFL game speed. Put it this way. His performance will be the same as you can get from a RB drafted in the middle rounds. Taking him in the 1st round is a total waste of a pick.
- Gramps28

I don't agree with taking RB's early either, but he wouldn't be a bad pick at all as long as doctors aren't concerned with his durability.

Mitch Tribustky


Hope he goes to Browns...

My boy has a better track record than all the mainstream idiots and the wannabe nfl scouts on twitter so I believe in him.
- Nucker101

has nothing to do with opinion. its a fact.

mahomes is the guy jefferoning it lately.

has nothing to do with opinion. its a fact.

mahomes is the guy jefferoning it lately.
- Gramps28

Well he did say "pro bowl upside", so chances are that his realistic projection is just a solid starter.

I don't agree with taking RB's early either, but he wouldn't be a bad pick at all as long as doctors aren't concerned with his durability.
- Nucker101

his ankles could be a problem. he still isn't exceptional at anything to warrant a 1st round pick. someone will take him there and regret it.

Well he did say "pro bowl upside", so chances are that his realistic projection is just a solid starter.
- Nucker101

i don't like him i think he is going to struggle learning a offense at the next level.
he seems kinda dumb.

btw. the only one year starter to make a pro bowl? cam newton. however, its mitigated by the fact he was a 2 year starter in juco.

Offensive Players

My Boy's Boys

Mitch Trubisky - Solid starter, potential to be a pro bowl level QB
Taywan Taylor - Solid starter, potential to be great if paired with good QB
Cooper Kupp - Really good slot WR, (taller) Edelman or Keenan Allen potential
Zay Jones - Amari Cooper-like, but a tier below
D'Onta Foreman - Workhorse starting RB, steal in the 3rd round or later
OJ Howard - the real deal, will be a consistent pro bowl TE if he lands on a team with a decent QB
Leonard Fournette - Stud


Non-Boys

Deshaun Watson - Career backup
Carlos Henderson - Depth WR at best
David Njoku - Decent, but overrated
Alvin Kamara - Overrated and more of a backup talent
Mike Williams - massive bust, will be useful in the NFL but nothing more than a depth guy
Dalvin Cook - another massive bust, top comps are langford and powell lol
- Nucker101

i hope cook is a bust.

i don't have anything against him i'm just tired of hearing his name.

i hope cook is a bust.

i don't have anything against him i'm just tired of hearing his name.
- kicksave856

with the 14th pick in the 2017 draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select.....

with the 14th pick in the 2017 draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select.....
- Gramps28

they don't need him now. they are talent laden at the position.

i hope cook is a bust.

i don't have anything against him i'm just tired of hearing his name.
- kicksave856

same, really also just to put KENZO in his place


also I am now rooting (cheering) for Fournette to be the GOAT to knock gramps down yet another peg


for some reason i really want watson to be good

remember the time Watson posted all the draft picks correctly and crims thought he was a genius?

same, really also just to put KENZO in his place


also I am now rooting (cheering) for Fournette to be the the GOAT to knock gramps down yet another peg


for some reason i really want watson to be good
- Crimsoninja

not a watson fan either.

got tired of hearing his name last year.

with the 14th pick in the 2017 draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select.....
- Gramps28

Mike Williams

Caper??