Rams ~ 6033/300
The Gutters are riddled with the Corpses of Teams that were built around so-called "skill" Players ~ teams that delighted their Fantasy FootBall Fans every Year, all the way until January...when The Only Games That Really Matter are played.
It is then, of course, that the Capacity ~ or lack thereof ~ to Move The Chains and protect the QuarterBack against PlayOff Caliber Defenses rears its ugly head. And another Team built for Fantasy FootBall bites the dust.
These are the Aspects of their Games that I place greatest emphasis on, when evaluating Offensive Centers:
Power. Above all: Core Power. Upper body Strength is important, but Core Power, from the Knees to the Ribs, is absolutely crucial. All the upper body strength in the world still fails if you can't dig in your heels. But Core Power enables a Lineman to project Power in the Running Game and to reject Power in the Passing Game. And those Players who invest the time and effort to develop superior Core Power are far likelier to enjoy sustained good Health and stay on the Field.
Agility. Lateral Velocity, Acceleration, and above all: Fluidity or Core Agility. Core Agility is even more essential to sustained good Health ~ and to sustained good FootBall ~ than Core Power. The ability to react with Serpentine smoothness is a tremendous asset in all Aspects of the Game, and certainly in the Hand to Hand Combat that characterizes Trench Warfare. All the Power in the World goes only so far if you're stiff and lumbering out there.
Combat Skills. Mechanics. Launch Velocity, Paw Power, and Technique.
Intangibles. Diagnostic Capacity, Processing Speed, and Motor. How effectively he masters Spatial Diagnostics & Angles, how rapidly he recognizes and implements Blocking Schemes based on changing Defensive Tactics, and of course: Drive. How badly he wants it. These are of course difficult things to assess, but it's crucial to at least try to.
Agility. Tremendous. Impressive Fluidity & Lateral Agility, and phenomenal Acceleration to the Flanks or the Second Level.
Combat Skills. Excellent. There's room for improvement, to be sure, but he's surprisingly developed.
Intangibles. Awesome. Already graduated, last Year. Has devoted extensive time to kids and to the developmentally disabled each of the last several Years, now. National Honor Society. CrossTrained in High School as a QuarterBack, a MidFielder, a Defensive Lineman, a record-setting ShotPutter, an Hurdler, for God's Sake, and a BasketBall Player, before graduating with a 3.4 GPA. Team Captain who led his Team to an undefeated Season. Started Games at Colorado State at Center, at Guard, and even at Tackle. Absolutely relentless for the full 60 Minutes, every time. Maniacal Work Ethic.
He's exceptionally Strong, he's exceptionally Agile, and he's incredibly Smart.
His Capacity to Process Information both well and quickly is stunning.
Even his Mechanics are Advanced, despite the Tier of School he went to.
And he is absolutely and passionately dedicated to'is Craft.
He's got a voracious appetite for Work, and it shows in every Aspect of'is Game...and of his Life.
And he is, not to put too fine a point on it, an awesome Human Being.
And he's a Team Captain, wherever he goes.
He's even the right Height for Center, which with his Brains and natural Leadership skills he was clearly born to Play.
I'd like to see'm put on another 10 or 15 Pounds of Beef, but regardless of his eventual Weight, I'm absolutely convinced that Weston Richburg is going to forge an exceptional Career...and an extraordinary Life.
Thanks, as always, to the extraordinary Work by the men of Draft BreakDown!!
Perceived Market Value 3rd/4th Round!! | Yankee Grade 1st Round!! |