Most overused cliches in analyzing CFB talent

[Billso]

First off, I don't agree with this notion that because people product in the 90th percentile they are elite. Stats don't ever make you elite. What makes a player truly elite is that they are one of the few that historically dominate their position.

You're confounding what truly elite play is with very good play. I don't blame you too much though because frankly the term is the most overused cliche in analyzing CFB talent.

Being elite isn't just about putting up nice numbers. Kellen Moore says "hi".

Hogeye's post seems worthy of its own thread. Elite is overused - but is it the most overused? What other cliches are contenders?

"Short arms" is definitely an up-and-comer...

 

[BlackandGold81]

Upside

 

[Cover3]

"4.4 speed." There really aren't as many true 4.4 guys out there as high school stopwatches would have us believe. In that sense, this has become a cliche tag meaning "this guy is really fast."

 

[Calculator]

He's a high motor guy with a great football IQ.

 

[hogeye]

I really shouldn't have limited it to CFB. I think in general the term is inappropriately used too often in sports.

Other cliches in scouting that I get tired of hearing:

- referring to a players motor
- he can make all the throws (few QB's can make all of the throws required in the NFL, including some of those in the NFL)
- big arm

Those are a few that immediately come to mind that I almost exclusively ignore.

 

[CWooD4]

scrappy and gym rats when describing white athletes.

 

[hogeye]

Upside

Good one.

 

[Ronco]

Rather than cliches I prefer to think of them as terms people like to use to make them sound knowledgable.

Elite
Makes all the throws
Gets separation
Makes plays in space
Good Motor/High Motor
Big Arm
Anything.....off the charts
Intangibles (regardless of how it's used)
Huge upside/ceiling
Mean streak

 

[EddyP]

skill set

 

[jo12208]

skill set

 

[hogeye]

Rather than cliches I prefer to think of them as terms people like to use to make them sound knowledgable.

Elite
Makes all the throws
Gets separation
Makes plays in space
Good Motor/High Motor
Big Arm
Anything.....off the charts
Intangibles (regardless of how it's used)
Huge upside/ceiling
Mean streak

You'll notice these get better when you compound them.

Also, I forgot to add the favorite McKiper phrase: He's a poor man's...

The first one I remember is referring to Josh Freeman as a poor man's JaMarcus Russell. There is a poor man's version of someone in every draft from those two.

 

[GhostofBTT]

He's a high motor guy with a great football IQ.

Un-athletic white guy. Or probably an athletic white guy too.

My favorite is "Coach's son". This was a big reason why a WR was inexplicably drafted as a first round, franchise QB.

 

[jsmith337]

Phone booth

 

[Section136]

My favorite is "Coach's son". This was a big reason why a WR was inexplicably drafted as a first round, franchise QB.

Who was this?

 

[ihawkeye]

It makes me laugh to hear these. Cant forget, "That QB can really spin it."

 

[hoffahawk]

Tweener

 

[hogeye]

Who was this?

I am guessing Tannehill since he was the former WR converted QB to be drafted in the first round this year, but I am not familiar with the reference to Coach's son.

 

[clicheusername3]

shutdown corner

 

[CPHAWK82]

He's a football player!!
Heady player
Blue collar lunch pail guy (white guy of course)

 

[LG210]

Philosophic acceleration.