[sportscurmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Hail to the Redskins

OK, one thing I have learned over the years...

A) Putting down some one else's opinions doesn't automatically make you the smarter, wiser, or more intelligent person.

B) It's always best to actually READ everything that is written in someone's post before declaring someone is "right" or "wrong" with their OPINION.

... In the original post, I was talking about my impression of ROOKIE PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS BASED ON DRAFT POSITION... i.e. based on a CURVE as I was basing it on where we are right now, seeing as how it isn't 2013.

Grading Kerrigan an A+ pick does not mean that he is an A+ LB and is offically better than Sigletary, Urlacher & Ray Lewis combined. It means that he is performing as good as I could have possibly guessed through 10 games playing a new position as a rookie.

90% of my opinion is what I have seen with my own eyes, not stats...

Jenkins, Hankerson, Paul have been praised on numerous occasions by teammates & coaches about their performance in practice, and I've seen things that show they know what the hell they are doing already in certain key areas, FOR A ROOKIE.

As for "stats," DeJon Gomes and his "one game." Mr. "Google Babe Laufenburg" how about you tell me how many 5TH ROUND safeties have made 13 tackles in their first career start as a rookie? Also notice that I didn't give him an "A" and I DID MENTION that it was just one game... but that he already looked better than Reed Doughty (IMO).

And Hankerson... 2 starts, 12 catches for 140 yards and a 2-point conversion where he looked VERY comfortable working the CB off to open space for the back shoulder catch. After watching D. Thomas and M. Kelly, how can you say that he has shown already to be a MUCH better value than either, having picked him in the 3RD ROUND.

As for Helu... If you can't see the difference between how he finds and hits holes compared to Hightower, Torain, Choice, etc. then that's where we really differ. As far as his stats.... Over the past 6 games, Torain has 51 yards on 36 carries, Helu is something around 120 yards on 24 carries... behind the same line.

You don't think you need to see stats to see talent.

Again, let me make the original post clear... the grades aren't player grades as compared to everyone in the NFL. It's based on what I've seen vs what the expectations were for that player based on their draft position.

Why don't you just share YOUR opinion instead of trying to trash someone else's (like others have done in this thread)? It's like those parents that sit in the stands, talk about how their vast experience playing a sport (in rec or high school), coaching their 10 year-old and trashing everything a coach does just so it makes them seem like the supreme guru... makes me shake my head.

Since you called me out, Mr. Hail, go back to your original post and find where you talked about "rookie expectations" What you said was :

"The biggest [positive] of all is that our 2011 draft is looking like one of the team's All-Time Best".

Then you go on to rave about individual players - - even ones who have not yet seen a minute of actual playing time on Sundays.

Since you asked, let me tell you about 5th round safeties who make a huge number of tackles in their first game:

1. That means the DL and the LBs aren't making nearly as many as they should.

2. It's one game; that's all it is. It is a better indicator that he might actually become a starter one of these days on a regular basis than exhibition game stats but there are lots of one-game wonders.

By the way, did you happen to take the time to Google "Clint Longley" as I suggested and see his "one-game wonder stats"? He would surely have gotten an "A+" as a signee after that game based on your grading system. His final grade for his career would have to be a D- at best.

Hankerson played well in two games, However, if you have to resort to saying he looked better than D.Thomas and M. Kelly to make your argument that he is an "A" graded pick, you are stretching more than a little bit. Thomas was a stiff; Kelly never played enough - - due to injury - - to be worth more than a used Kleenex. So, if Hankerson gets an "A" from you for being better than a stiff or a used Kleenex, - - you are entitled to your euphoria.

Sadly, Hightower is injured and his contract is up so he may not be back to compete with Helu for the starting RB slot next year.

What I tried to do originally was to point out that your grades were inflated by an awful lot. BTW, several other posters said the same thing; one wished you were handing out grades when he was in school. But now you have changed what you said in order to vent on the fact that most folks thought your original posting was over the top. That's fine; US Senators revise and amend their remarks all the time - - and we know how truthful and insightful they are on every issue.

I am not trashing your opinion; I am saying - - without any apology - - that your grades reflect a sense of "premature excellence".