If you’re going to
Bills training camp at St. John Fisher you might as well get something out of
it. So, starting this week, I’m issuing scouting guides to help keep your mind
occupied through all the stretching and hydrating. Now your trip will be more
useful than a tube of toothpaste.
This
information is based on a book by the late Tony Razzano called Secrets of an NFL Scout. Razzano scouted
for the 49ers, Patriots, Chargers, and Redskins, and helped build the great
49ers teams of the ’80s. I baked his insights down to a scrumptious soufflé of
qualities NFL scouts look for at different player positions. Then I see how
three current Bills compare. This week I focus on defense. Next week, just in
time for the start of camp on July 31, I take a look at the offense.
Defensive linemen
They should be at
least 265 pounds and have speed, though quickness is more important. Bills
defensive tackle Sam Adams grossly exceeds the 265 mark and isn’t speedy, but
he positions quickly and is rarely off balance as the play begins.
A
DL must be agile, strong, and have smarts. He has to think quickly, but doesn’t
need a quarterback’s intelligence, though it helps to be smarter than say, Rob
Johnson.
           This guy has to have good hands,
arms, and shoulders, with excellent upper body strength. There must be flash of
quickness when the ball is snapped, and the quicker a lineman gets his hands on
his opposition, or eludes his opposition, the bigger his advantage.
           A DL must have explosion, and can’t
waste time getting his hands off the ground and to the opposition’s body, or to
a move that eludes his opposition. Pass rushers must successfully hand-fight a
guard, tackle, fullback, or halfback, and must not relent in reaching the ball
carrier. Pursuit, stamina, and competitiveness are essentials.
           Razzano: “The pass-rushing man
outside has to have more ability to run, chase, and contain. The interior
linemen, in contrast, should be a little bigger and quicker with better and
stronger use of the hands.”
           Analysis of Bills RDE Aaron Schobel: Good pursuit, has
strong upper body and is fearless, but needs better hand-fighting to get free,
make tackles, and harass quarterback. Left tackles often neutralize him and
make him a non-entity.
Linebackers
They should be at
least 6’1″ or 6’2″ and 230 to 235 pounds, because there is just too much
offensive-line bulk upfront. Size is more important for an inside/middle
linebacker than for an outside linebacker.
           Weakside linebacker (plays outside,
opposite side of tight end) has to cover running backs and doesn’t need to be
as heavy as a middle or strongside linebacker. He must pursue and blitz and do
all the things a middle linebacker does.
           An inside linebacker must get
upfield. When he tackles a ball carrier five yards down the field, something is
wrong. To be most effective, he must quickly get inside so interior linemen
can’t block him. He must be mentally strong and have stamina, because he runs
everywhere, and he must tackle consistently, exploding into the ball carrier.
He should be able to ward off blockers.
           Razzano: “Scouts should look for
ability to take on, stabilize, neutralize, or even avoid the offensive linemen
while getting to the ball. That is the major consideration — getting to the
ball. A linebacker may be big and fast enough but still have a problem getting
to the ball because he’s not smart enough to read the offense…. Look to see if
linebacker gets bogged down in traffic…. Look to see how often the linebacker
is tied up on a blitz from the inside or gets to the ball carrier when coming
from the outside. Watch to see if he gets in clean, or if he’s blocked, how he
reacts to that. Can he free himself?”
           Analysis of Bills ILB London Fletcher — Excellent speed
and pursuit. Explodes into tackles, but does not have height for defending
passes. Is most effective when he’s protected upfront by a big defensive
tackle, such as Sam Adams, which prevents interior linemen from engaging him.
Does anything to gain advantage, including playing dirty. Needs to do a better
job of anticipating plays.
Defensive backs
Cornerbacks should be
5’10” or 5’11”. Safeties are bigger because they usually play inside.
Cornerbacks can be smaller if they’re good in coverage. Speed is essential to
stay with receivers who run the 40 in 4.4 seconds. DBs must be smarter than in
the past, because of new defensive complexities. Quickness, agility, and
balance are essentials.
           Competitiveness, stamina, strength,
and explosion are also important, especially at safety. Safeties must have
intelligence because they coordinate the defensive backfield.
           The strong safety (plays on the side
where the tight end is) must be a better hitter than the free safety. He must
read plays, and come up to tackle in run support.
           A good coverage player cannot be
mechanical. He has to have good hands, and have closing quickness. Scouts
should determine why the DB gets to the ball. Does he have exceptional closing
quickness or does he just like to gamble?
           Razzano: “Here’s what to look for: a
defensive back who is getting to the ball, batting it down, intercepting it now
and then, showing proper support and good reaction to the ball. Defensive backs
do a lot of tackling too. Sometimes too much, in fact. Again, the safeties are
supposed to be the hitters, while the corners must be able to stop someone.
There are a few NFL corners who simply don’t like to tackle, even though that’s
what they’re getting paid to do.”
           Analysis of Bills SS Lawyer Milloy: Once excelled for the
Patriots. Still a strong hitter, but needs better positioning for the tackles,
forced fumbles, and interceptions that have been his career’s trademark.
Buffalo Bills Bausch & Lomb Training Camp at St. John Fisher College, Sunday, August 1, to Thursday,
August 26. First practice: Sunday, August 1, 2:45 to 5:15 p.m. Browns
scrimmage: Saturday, August 7, at 10 a.m. Night practices: Wednesday, August 4
and Wednesday, August 11, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 1-800-441-5942.
This article appears in Jul 21-27, 2004.
