“When Is The Last Time What Somebody Did In College Translated To The NFL?”
April 8th, 2018
A highly-intelligent, film-guru Buccaneers legend has very little use for game film of college prospects.
General managers across the NFL, along with the legions of amateur and professional draft analysts out there, might not like this take from Ronde Barber. But remember, Barber spends his summer and fall weeks studying game film in preparation for FOX broadcasts — after 16 seasons as a cornerback known for his work ethic in the film room.
During an interview on Westwood One with his brother Tiki, Barber acknowledged that he doesn’t follow the draft much because it’s too much guesswork for his liking.
“It’s interesting for a guy that covers football on Sundays in me, 21 weeks if you count preseason, who just doesn’t pay attention to the draft,” Barber said.
“There’s a reason for that. Well, I’m about to tell you why there’s a reason for that. Because I watch all this coverage and I hear about what guys do in college. Tiki, when was the last time what somebody did in college translated to the NFL. Very few. There’s some exceptions.”
Barber went on to acknowledge that a running back’s performance in college translates well to the pros, but there might not be another position. On college performance and tendencies once players arrive in the NFL, Barber said, “Nobody cares. Nobody gives a crap about that any more.”
On the 2018 draft, Barber said he believes Saquon Barkley is the best player in the draft but he could fall to the Bucs at [No. 7]. Brace yourself, Barber says he’s unsure the Bucs would take Barkley. “I think they’re looking for defensive help more than offensive help,” Barber said of Bucs officials.
The moral of the story is the draft is a huge gamble. The good general managers hit on about 60 percent of their first- and second-round picks. The guys in the 40 percent ballpark are the ones who get fired.
April 8th, 2018 at 10:30 am
If you do not count the picks that were traded, and even if you count Drug Martin as a good pick, Talk Show host dominik was 30%!!!!!!!! what a loser, failure that buffon that guy was who pretended to be a GM!!!! Shame on all the sheep that would defend and thought he was doing a good job!!!! Shame on the local media who had his back only because he would txt and slip his side of the story to them behind the scenes!!!!!!!!
Some of the sheep and so-called fans, and local media say they are fed up, angry and want accountability!!!!!!! The Buc Realist ask where they years ago during the disaster years of talk show host dominik/loser lovie years when those two incompetent imbeciles were running the Bucs into the ground??????????????
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 8th, 2018 at 10:34 am
Yet another testimonial on the unquestioned value of a mister Saquon Barkley, and this time by an ex-CB no less. He wont drop to #7. And Ronde…everyone knows the draft ad a whole is a numbers game, gamble historically on average.
Go Bucs! Go Bold! Go Barkley! Go Primetime!
April 8th, 2018 at 10:38 am
College game film is easily the most important indicator of how well a College prospect will do and will be able to transition into the NFL.
A wise GM “evaluates” by putting 80% focus on the game tape – !5% focus on interviews and getting inside the young man’s head – and maybe pays 5% attention to “measurables” gathered at the combine.
These “workout warriors” that wow the draftniks with their combine measurables and steadily climb up the mock draft charts in March and April to heights unimaginable just a couple months previous (due to so-so game tape) are rarely a good idea to risk draft picks on – especially premium picks.
Obi was one last year – being projected into the mid 1st round by many. Davenport will be one this year I betcha. Hope we don’t go that route.
April 8th, 2018 at 10:39 am
So…if Barber does not pay attention to the draft or college guys, then why do we care about his opinion on the players???? He’s admitting to be uneducated on them!
April 8th, 2018 at 10:52 am
If we pass on Barkley I will loose it! Not sure I will watch football again!
April 8th, 2018 at 10:52 am
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Barber’s comment is absurd … is he saying he puts 90% stock in their combine numbers and 10% on game film? If so … he should be banned from ever even being considered for a GM position!
As for Saquon … if he’s there at #7 and Licht passes on him for someone like Viti Vea or Marcus Davenport … I may need to buy a new TV as the one I’m watching the Draft on will likely have a hole in it after that pick is made!
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April 8th, 2018 at 10:54 am
Realist.. Dominik never wasted 2 high draft picks on a kicker!
April 8th, 2018 at 10:55 am
Careful with that attitude Ronde . Some people around here think all those people are right and college means everything. And some players should get 4,5 or 6 years to develop. Others get 1 year and out. If they can’t do the job today good bye.
April 8th, 2018 at 11:03 am
@Ben
The greatest Buc in History Rhonde Barber only considers it 1 high draft pick!!!!!!!! His definition of 3rd and 4th are mid picks!!!!!!!!!
And when talk show host dominik has 7 busts out of 10 picks!!!!!! does it matter if they were on a kicker, DT, DE, or WR????????
talk show dominik the worst gm in Buc history!!!!!!!!!!!
followed by the worst coach hired in Buc history loser lovie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 8th, 2018 at 11:06 am
So let me see if I got this – – – you cannot look at film from college to evaluate how good most players are…..so just HOW do you evaluate them?? How high they jump?? 40 speed?? (see Dri Archer from a few years ago, who is now out of the league ) I’m not sure about this comment from Ronde…..and if the Penn St RB is avail maybe it is a good pick but I am PRAYING the OL from Notre Dame is there at 7……he will be our next Paul Gruber.
April 8th, 2018 at 11:06 am
Barber has limited time to follow college prospects…and is no doubt thankful he has “insiders” like Buccaneer BrownEye to lean on for deep knowledge and expertise.
April 8th, 2018 at 11:13 am
Luckily he’s not a scout. Not every technique changes much from college to pros. What he is saying makes no sense.
April 8th, 2018 at 11:22 am
What he should have said was, “A player’s NCAA team’s success means nothing when evaluating individual players” as that is true. No one cares that Josh Allen’s team sucked and his W/L record sucked … they care about his arm talent.
April 8th, 2018 at 11:23 am
So basically Ronde is a fool. Anything a guy does or doesn’t do well in college translates in one way or another to the NFL.
How would he suggest they evaluate players then? Put a name in a hat and cross their fingers? Throw darts at a board with names on it? Let a monkey pick the players?
I’ve heard some former players say some dumb things, Ronde seems to say the dumbest on a consistent basis.
April 8th, 2018 at 11:30 am
NFLNut, that I can get behind. It must be what he meant because otherwise he is saying that all draft picks have to forget everything they learned from coaching when they get to the NFL. Prospects might have to unlearn bad habits but rookies aren’t starting from scratch.
April 8th, 2018 at 11:30 am
Can someone tell me how our Forrest Gump still has not brought in a FA cornerback?
We were the 32nd ranked secondary and actually losing our most consistant corner Mclain . Does this make sense?
Kobe Faker
April 8th, 2018 at 11:33 am
“our most consistant corner Mclain”
Further proof why Kobe Liar is not an NFL scout…
April 8th, 2018 at 11:35 am
College football is a simple formula….recruit the best athletes, you’ll compete for conference championships and bowl games. That model doesn’t work at the NFL level….Everyone is a great athlete.
April 8th, 2018 at 11:46 am
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LostinPA,
Yeah, I think that’s what Ronde meant to say … at least I hope that’s what he meant to say.
NCAA W/L record means nothing … if it did TeBow, Danny Weurfell, Gino Toretta, Tee Martin and other title winning QBs would have made it in the NFL rather than SUCKED, while guys like Elway, Brady, Favre, etc., all would have flamed out rather than turned into HOF’ers.
HOWEVER … while a lot of fans understand this … they don’t understand it’s the exact same thing in the NFL … a QBs W/L record is all about TEAM and means next to nothing in evaluating individual talent. Stafford, Rivers, Jameis and Russell Wilson all watched the playoffs last year while Tyrod, Mariota, Bortles and Keenum all played in the playoffs … TEAMS win games.
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April 8th, 2018 at 11:57 am
Wow did Ronde touch a nerve or what? I get the upset here but I think Ronde’s real point is that people place FAR too much on the draft to begin with given a 60% rate in the first two and it drops after that.
Maybe Ronde is referring to players like ASJ who put up great film but had plenty of other issues.
I think if Ronde had said that the draft is critical but just a piece…and video is ONE tool used to determine the talent in that draft but that many other pieces are involved in talent evaluation he would have been closer to the truth.
I still totally respect Ronde’s opinion and largely agree with what I think he’s trying to say…but of course video is a critical element in evaluating the talent but just a piece of the puzzle.
April 8th, 2018 at 12:02 pm
uhhhhhhh what in the actual F is Ronde talking about?
Kareem Hunt anyone? Marshon Lattimore? Joey Bosa? The list goes on and on and on. Literally every year players translate what they did in college to the pros.
This is probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard Ronde say.
April 8th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
If Barkley is there a 7, the Jason’s phone will be ringing off the hook. Take a ransom for him or embrace the luxury pick for a second year in a row. Honestly, Barber is right, we need defense (secondary) help more than anything. A good value at RB will be there in the second round.
April 8th, 2018 at 12:14 pm
He has a point when it comes to certain positions. Different college schemes have left the NFL starved for o Linemen for example. Additionally with regards to cornerbacks, the rules are very different from college to pro. That said, a superior athlete will show well in most schemes, and thrive in college and the NFL. The biggest thing on tape for me, to see if players take plays off, and if they are playmakers that show up in the big moments of the games. But just looking at college numbers isn’t worth much.
April 8th, 2018 at 12:19 pm
The biggest reason a player busts is between the ears. Playing football at the pro-level is hard on the body and mind. Players that don’t love the game are the ones that bust. You can only push yourself so hard for the money. It’s also why swaggy Baker didn’t pan out. We need players with want to and passion. That’s hard to quantify and measure especially when players are literally coached on what to say. Evaluation of measurables are easy. Game tape from college shows what a player does when they think no one is watching. You simply cannot fake a love of the game for 3 or 4 years. I would say it’s easier to evaluate talent in losing teams in college. You can see how a player plays when they have nothing to play for but pride.
April 8th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
Want more examples? Mike Evans, Aaron Donald, J.J. Watt, T.J. Watt, Desean Watson etc… And that’s just off the top of my head.
Also, if Licht were to do as Ronde says, and pass on Barkley in favor of a less talented Defensive player, than he should be ashamed of himself. As a GM, you never want to be remembered as the guy who passed on an All-pro talent due to need. The kicker here would be, Running back is a huge need so passing on Barkley would be double stupid.
April 8th, 2018 at 12:40 pm
LostinPA Says
” I would say it’s easier to evaluate talent in losing teams in college.”
The opposite is likely true as well to some degree – especially with some schools and certain positions where the prospect looks great within a winning program – surrounded by high end talent (cough – Minkah! – cough)…
April 8th, 2018 at 12:42 pm
BTW did everybody read the piece in the Times on Joe Hawley’s future.
It was great and Hawley is a smart man who knows when enough is enough.
He’s purchased a van and had it equipped to take on the road. He’s sold all of his stuff from his rental apartment…has rescue dog to travel with him…and they are going to see all 48 contiguous states travelling and living in the van.
He figured it out…he’s 29..not married…and can do whatever he wants. Good for you Joe…we loved you despite your physical limitations and injuries…you gave us everything you had in the tank and played to the whistle. Hawley was the ant-swaggy.
April 8th, 2018 at 12:43 pm
Ronde is right
Every player in the draft and every single draft is unproven.
Ppl really need to stop with those YouTube mix tape highlights montages on players making look better than they actual are. These guys will never reach potential
April 8th, 2018 at 12:48 pm
Vh3 would ball out with a Dc that knows how to coach
April 8th, 2018 at 12:53 pm
Joe, you quoted Barber saying he doesn’t watch a lot of college film. Next, you quote him saying Barkley is the best player in the draft. How can you quote Barber saying Barkley is the best player in the draft, when you just quoted him saying he doesn’t watch a lot of college film?
April 8th, 2018 at 12:55 pm
Your heard it here first TBBF believes the only way the Bucs pass on Barkley is if Chubb is there also……what are the chances of that? So, there is little way TBBF can be proven wrong.
And, if both Chubb and Barkley are there at 7…..Licht needs to trade everything to Chicago to get their pick……
April 8th, 2018 at 12:57 pm
I’d venture to say Hawley’s NFL career is not yet over SPBF. He’s likely to get a call at some point this year when injuries start piling up for some team. If not sooner. Hard to imagine even the vet min which is probably $950k or so in his case would not be enough enticement to come back and play the game he loves if a team wants and needs his services.
April 8th, 2018 at 1:04 pm
So Joe–can you get some intel on what VH3 is doing this offseason to mount a comeback?
Just seems if he is doing nothing more than what he did before there will be no change and as such he will be a huge embarassment, in fact what do any of the cornerbacks do in offseason to improve.
April 8th, 2018 at 1:35 pm
@Pickgrin
I realize I am one of the few here who get the Times. Papers are dying.
Perhaps you can read it online.
But it’s clear he’s done. It’s a great read. Only Hawley’s close friends on the team knew of his plans. He made up his mind last year. When Licht and Koetter called to tell him they weren’t re-signing him he told them no sweat he had already decided to quit.
He made 13 million in his close to ten year career…he’s not poor. His knees are shot!!! No cartilage and he’s a smart man. He’s already lost 50 pounds pretty much negating any NFL play..and he’s said his knees are already feeling better with the lost weight. He plans on losing even more. He’s young single and a multi millionaire…he does not need the money and in the article he claimed he realized last year he also no longer had the fire. A statement like that pretty much has ended any NFL interest.
Try on go online an see if you can read it Pickgrin and everybody else. It’s a terrific human interest story. He’s starting a blog complete with video he plans to shoot on his trip. It’s called the “Man, Van, Dog blog”.
April 8th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
If Barkley is there when the bucs pick,they will take him.no question about that!!however,he will be long gone by the bucs pick!
April 8th, 2018 at 1:51 pm
Good for Hawley. 10 years in the NFL is a lifetime supply of hurts to heal from. Sounds like he is hanging them up at the right time and to some extent on his own terms. Pick us right, he could have made another team this year but once your passion is gone you resort to humping trees instead of showing up to play football. I hope we can find someone like him in the draft.
April 8th, 2018 at 2:24 pm
Yea- SPBF – I don’t read the newspaper anymore. LOL Used to read the sports page religiously combing for any tidbit of Bucs news but haven’t gotten the paper in over 10 years now. Pretty much the same goes for listening to WDAE/the self importantized poodle/et al…
So while I did hear about Hawley’s “plans” to live in a van down by the river X48 states 2nd hand – I didn’t read the article so figured he was just kind of posturing or kidding about the US Tour idea and waiting for a call from the Bucs or some other team in need.
If he’s choosing to walk away from the game on his own terms and while he CAN still walk away – then I respect that and bid Joe Hawley good luck and safe travels on his adventures.
April 8th, 2018 at 2:30 pm
Does anybody else remember all of the NFL Draft’s Top-5 (or even 1st overall) Penn State RBs that went on to BUST in the NFL? Has there actually ever been a truly GREAT Penn State RB to go so high? I remember guys like Blair Thomas & Ki-Jana Carter who looked every bit as dominant (or even more so) than Barkley come out of Penn State only to fail.
My point is NOT that Barkley is destined to be a bust, but he is FAR from a sure thing. There are some things a discerning eye will find truly concerning about him.
April 8th, 2018 at 3:02 pm
DCRules
Totally agree with your fundamental point that there are NO sure things in the NFL draft…we know statistically 40% of the first two rounds will be disappointments. So if you’re tempering our premature excitement I totally get it.
I’m not a Big 10 or 12 or whatever they call themselves now so I’m not particularly wired in to the Nittany Lions.
Before I moved to Florida though I grew up in Cincinnati as a Bengal fan.
Ki Jana Carter was a number one pick in the entire draft for the Bengals. Hard to judge his talent though…he blew his knee out in the first preseason game.
Nobody knows what could have really been.
Kind of like Cadillac down here except we did get to find out what he could have been because of that outstanding start. Too bad his knees went as well.
April 8th, 2018 at 3:05 pm
^Of all the arguments against Barkley, that one is absolutely the laziest.
By that logic, Derek Carr should have been destined to be a colossal failure due to his brother and the fact that he attended Fresno St.
Every player is an Individual.
April 8th, 2018 at 3:33 pm
Well let’s see vh3 was awful against Future pros he went up against in college….
Jameis had inconsistencies in his accuracy in college
Lavonte was a tackling machine at Nebraska..
I can go on
April 8th, 2018 at 3:37 pm
I was referring to DCR’s post btw.
April 8th, 2018 at 5:50 pm
If Barkley falls to 7 by some miracle and the Bucs don’t take him i’m disowning this franchise
April 8th, 2018 at 8:42 pm
If somehow Saquon Barkley falls to 7, you take that guy. If we pass on the chance to take him at seven, then there will be a full on mutiny.
Passing on Barkley will hurt more than taking Mark Barron over Luke Keuchly.
April 8th, 2018 at 10:44 pm
@NFLNut. I love Ronde Barber but I agree with you. First of all, there is obviously no better indicator than the game film on a college player. What else is there? Combine and personal references? Please, that was an asinine comment by Ronde. Not quite as asinine as saying the Bucs might pass on Barkley if he were available to him. You and I would both need new TV’s. I might just go ahead and break the rest of them in my house too just in case anybody else is watching the draft in my house.
April 8th, 2018 at 10:44 pm
* available to them.