Draft Flops: What Makes a Good Player

Today, Rivals.com has a really interesting article about players from the 2007 draft that didn’t pan out. How would teams have picked differently, knowing what they know now?

Unfortunately, teams can’t go back in time and pick someone new, but hopefully they learn from bad picks every year so that their scouts can get the good picks the next year.

What makes a good player, though? I don’t think that it is sheer talent. If I was a scout, here’s what I’d be looking for:

• Dedication to the Sport: Did the player have a lot of off-the-field problems? Was he anxious to talk to the media or to get to the locker room? What does the coaching staff have to say? I want a player that is fully committed to football, not fully committed to being a star.
• Flexibility: This is especially key with quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. How did they do when playing with people other than the other starters. For example, if the best wide receiver missed easy catches when the starting quarterback was out of the game, that’s an indication that he’s only the “best” with the person he’s comfortable playing with. It might take three or for years to be comfortable with your team.
• Solid Performance: From week to week, is the player slowly and steadily getting better? To me, being solid is more important than having a few stand out games. Consistency is key.
• Team Player: How does the player get along with teammates? Having that chemistry is important, because if a player is miserable with a team, he’s going to play miserably as well. 

Something else that I think is important? Looking at the coaching the player received. The best players in college sports usually have the best coaches. They aren’t doing this on their own. So, if you see a “pretty good” player who had a BAD coach, chances are you can take that player and mold him into someone who will work for your team.

Thoughts? What do you think makes a good player?