How do feel as regards that same applying to DL?
Sorry, gang, for talking football, but I do that sometimes.
If you look at pro bowl numbers, and possibly nfl-wide numbers, about 20% were 5 star when coming out of HS. 20% were 4 star. 20% were 3 star. 20% were 2 star. 20% were unrated. It really is amazing.
So some people grow. Some people have the light bulb go off. Some people piss away their gifts. Some people were misevaluated. Some people are missed. Some people fall into the perfect (or fall into a nightmare) situation. And so on.
I believe to be a good offensive lineman you have to be a number of things. One of them is smart. You can trade off athletic ability with other traits, but you can't trade off not being a dumbass. We do not measure not being a dumbass in combine style testing, and only a dumbass would say, "Wonderlic" right here. This includes learning technique, being calm, learning patience, recognizing DL plans, and interpreting quickly what your eyes see.
DL is different. You basically need to maximize the sum of quickness and explosiveness (power is a part of explosiveness), with a certain minimum amount of each. You can be a dumbass, but not a total dumbass, as you still need to learn keys, technique, etc. But if you have a sculpted big man with bend who knows how to rip, he can be a dumbass and pick things up slower. Not so with an OL. And everything the DL needs to succeed can be measured at a combine.
Except heart, which both need.
So you get to know your recruits. That is how you recruit kids with heart. And if a four star OL recruit is a dumbass, that is how the top line coaches know to offer the three star kid instead.
JfL, your thoughts?