What’s important to George Paton and the Broncos: Skill or desire?
Apr 26, 2022, 6:20 AM
Say you’re George Paton. You’ve got nine draft picks to work with. That’s potentially nine new young men on your team and you get to choose who they are.
What is the most important trait you’re looking for?
Speed? Strength? Hand size? Playmaking ability? Toughness? Intelligence?
Intelli-tough-egence?
There are hundreds of traits to judge draft prospects, but really only one goal: Find players who make your team better. That might sound easy, but it’s an inexact science. Right, Cecil?
(Let me finish!)
Or maybe it’s not a science. Maybe it’s an art. Maybe this is why George Paton prefers a collaborative process.
Look at this thing from as many angles as possible. Listen to observations from the scientists and listen to some from the artists. Form a picture, then take your shots.
Nine of them.
This weekend.
Assuming you choose a variety of positions no matter what, the position you go after is not as important as the kind of player you go after.
So what’s more important to you, George: Skill or desire?
College football is full of passionate players. Gutsy kids who love football and know how to make plays. But do they have the football skills to make it in the NFL? And if they do, is that all they need to make your team better?
How long until the technician who can’t deliver a hit gets exposed? Or a playmaker who takes a lot of chances gets burned?
Do you prefer a defensive end who walks in with an arsenal of pass-rush moves or do you want the dude who played every defensive position in high school and recorded three sacks in the state championship after breaking his leg in the first quarter?
Do you want the 250-pound linebacker who runs the 4.38 or the cat who lost a shoe and still chased down the running back from 70 yards away and caused a fumble?
Skill or desire?
Almost every college player comes into the NFL raw by industry standards. As a Division-III receiver, I was particularly raw.
My first minicamp for the 49ers in 2002, I stepped to the line of scrimmage and starting cornerback Ahmed Plummer greeted me in man-press coverage. He stepped up so close I could smell his Doublemint gum. The ball snapped and I tried my normal outside release move that I did in college and was met with hands in my chest, two big handfuls of my jersey, stopping me cold.
Many young receivers have a similar experience, and then start working immediately to improve that bad technique. The thing is, hard work won’t take you all the way. Everyone is working hard. Everyone is “improving” their skill sets. But the ones who end up standing out are the ones who play with something extra.
Something burning.
Those are the guys who, if they can marry their passion with their skill, can be special football players on your team.
Take the curious case of Jerry Jeudy, for example.
Jerry Jeudy was one of the most-polished receivers ever to come out of the draft, (so I’ve been told). He came into the NFL with moves on moves on moves. Best receiver in the best receiver class in the history of the draft.
In minicamps and training camp, he turns heads with his route running skills. No one looks better than Jerry. Monday through Saturday, he is a god. And then on Sunday comes the moment of truth, and his wings disappear.
Sure, he’s running the routes and getting open—because he’s got the skills. But something is missing from his game. Something that has nothing to do with skill.
Have you seen Jerry run down a DB after an interception?
Have you seen him throw a block that springs his running back for a touchdown?
Have you seen him make the tough catch in traffic on third-and-six, up by three points and trying to protect the lead?
Have you seen Jerry make the play that has to be made, not the one he wants to make?
And if not, why not?
George Paton really needs to know the answer to that question, Jerry, because he’s got nine shots to take this weekend. And he doesn’t intend to miss.
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