If You Can Ball...

[Snaggletiger]

You can ball.  Appropriately named thread by Uncle Snags.  The last few weeks leading up to the NFL Draft have been a constant stream of analysis and measurables for all the college prospects.  And yes, it has to be done and these guys break down everything from bench press to 40 times, to intelligence (Or lack thereof) to long jump....

But how many times do they say, "I have no idea how he does it, but the kid can just flat out play."  Who are some guys in sports in general that you watch in amazement and think no way with that body...he's too small...he looks fat..how does he do it? 

I had the privilege of seeing Charles Barkley in person many times while at Auburn.  He got the name "Round mound of rebound" legit.  The guy was huge.  But when he jumped, he raised 300+ pounds through the roof.  It was incredible.  He was always listed at 6'6".  Extremely generous.  I know several of you have met him.  No way he goes close to that.

A lot of you younger guys may have only heard of a lot of the exploits of Doug Flutie.  The fact that Kellen Moore didn't get drafted got me to thinking about Flutie and how he defied the odds.  Yeah sure, at 5'9" or whatever he was, you can run around in college and be successful, but no way in the pros.  Now, not saying Flutie had some Hall of Fame NFL career but the guy stuck around a long long time and did have a lot of success during his career.

Kevin Durant. Most here don't really follow the NBA that closely.  I do and this guy is as good as there is in the game...bar none.  Dude can't go more than 170 soaking wet at about 6'9".  I recall a lot of analysts saying no way he can hold up in the NBA with that frame.  I'd hate to know I passed on him.

Dustin Pedroia is listed at 5'8" 165.  Never stood next to him but he doesn't look 5'5" on teh tubes. He can take a 95 m.p.h. heater and absolutely crush it. 

Anyone in sports that doesn't fit the mold? 

[Townhallsavoy]

Me. 

5'7 160 pounds as a junior in high school, and one of my defensive line coaches told me I'd never play a meaningful down of football. 

I asked him to move me somewhere else, and the next day, I was on the offensive line with an amazing coach that didn't give about my height as long as I could play.

He told me to gain 40 pounds and I could compete for a spot. 

8 months, 50 pounds, and tremendous gains in the weightroom later, I was the starting right guard at a 6a Alabama high school.

Run and tell that. 

[Snaggletiger]

Me. 

5'7 160 pounds as a junior in high school, and one of my defensive line coaches told me I'd never play a meaningful down of football. 

I asked him to move me somewhere else, and the next day, I was on the offensive line with an amazing coach that didn't give about my height as long as I could play.

He told me to gain 40 pounds and I could compete for a spot. 

8 months, 50 pounds, and tremendous gains in the weightroom later, I was the starting right guard at a 6a Alabama high school.

Run and tell that.

Styroids will make your willy shrink.

[Snaggletiger]

Let me tell you a little story. I once knew a guy who could have been a great golfer, could have gone pro, all he needed was a little time and practice. Decided to go to college instead. Went for four years, did pretty well. At the end of his four years, his last semester he was kicked out... You know what for? He was night putting, just putting at night with the fifteen-year-old daughter of the Dean... You know who that guy was Danny?
 

[Townhallsavoy]

Styroids will make your willy shrink.

True, but those magnums were damn expensive.

[GH2001]

True, but those magnums were damn expensive.

Decent hustle.

And yes - they still are expensive.

[AU_Tiger_2000]

Kevin Durant. Most here don't really follow the NBA that closely.  I do and this guy is as good as there is in the game...bar none.  Dude can't go more than 170 soaking wet at about 6'9".  I recall a lot of analysts saying no way he can hold up in the NBA with that frame.  I'd hate to know I passed on him.

Durant got knocked in the predraft workouts because he could not bench 180lbs(used kind of the standard for the NBA like 225 is for the NFL) once.  He was listed at around 220 coming out of college (which is generous) which means he most likely couldn't do a push up either.  He just won his 2nd scoring title.

One of my favorite players growing up was Muggsy Bogues.  Muggsy was 5'3" and 136lbs basketball player if you don't remember.  His high school team was ranked #1 in the nation his senior year (future NBA players Reggie Williams and Reggie Lewis were his HS teammates).  He was drafted 12th overall in the NBA, he was 5'3".  He led the league in steals, he was 5'3".  Aliens stole his ability to dribble in some kind of weird attempt to take over the world until they were thwarted by Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan. 

That guy always impressed the hell out of me.

[Snaggletiger]

Durant got knocked in the predraft workouts because he could not bench 180lbs(used kind of the standard for the NBA like 225 is for the NFL) once.  He was listed at around 220 coming out of college (which is generous) which means he most likely couldn't do a push up either.  He just won his 2nd scoring title.

One of my favorite players growing up was Muggsy Bogues.  Muggsy was 5'3" and 136lbs basketball player if you don't remember.  His high school team was ranked #1 in the nation his senior year (future NBA players Reggie Williams and Reggie Lewis were his HS teammates).  He was drafted 12th overall in the NBA, he was 5'3".  He led the league in steals, he was 5'3".  Aliens stole his ability to dribble in some kind of weird attempt to take over the world until they were thwarted by Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan. 

That guy always impressed the hell out of me.

Mugsy and Spud.  Both fun to watch.  Bougues played at Wake...no?

[AU_Tiger_2000]

Mugsy and Spud.  Both fun to watch.  Bougues played at Wake...no?

Yep, I think they retired his number.

[Buzz Killington]

Let me tell you a little story. I once knew a guy who could have been a great golfer, could have gone pro, all he needed was a little time and practice. Decided to go to college instead. Went for four years, did pretty well. At the end of his four years, his last semester he was kicked out... You know what for? He was night putting, just putting at night with the fifteen-year-old daughter of the Dean... You know who that guy was Danny?

Bob Hope?

[chinook]

Me. 

5'7 160 pounds as a junior in high school, and one of my defensive line coaches told me I'd never play a meaningful down of football. 

I asked him to move me somewhere else, and the next day, I was on the offensive line with an amazing coach that didn't give about my height as long as I could play.

He told me to gain 40 pounds and I could compete for a spot. 

8 months, 50 pounds, and tremendous gains in the weightroom later, I was the starting right guard at a 6a Alabama high school.

Run and tell that.

he's so little!

[AWK]

Me. 

5'7 160 pounds as a junior in high school, and one of my defensive line coaches told me I'd never play a meaningful down of football. 

I asked him to move me somewhere else, and the next day, I was on the offensive line with an amazing coach that didn't give about my height as long as I could play.

He told me to gain 40 pounds and I could compete for a spot. 

8 months, 50 pounds, and tremendous gains in the weightroom later, I was the starting right guard at a 6a Alabama high school.

Run and tell that.

You were a 210 lb Offensive Guard?  Shit...

[JR4AU]

You were a 210 lb Offensive Guard?  Shit...

Not uncommon in HS except at the largest programs and even then sometimes.

Snags...All the experts said Cam wouldn't make it too, but none for any physical shortcomings.  All speculation that he couldn't run an NFL offense, or jabs at his accuracy which, from my recollection were completely conjured up as a reason to knock him.   K. Moore is just under 6ft, yeah I know Flutie.  Citing exceptions doesn't invalidate the rule.  But more importantly, they all claim he hasn't the arm strength.   That's measurable, and it's real.  Yes, there's been some greats that didn't have a cannon hanging from their shoulder, ie Montana, but he came along in an age of offensive evolution and was coached by the father of all the current NFL offenses.   And, Montana wasn't exactly noodle armed either.  I think Moore is smart, and in the right situation, he might be good, but it would have to be a very slim margin for error in the situation, and he'd need coaches that really understood how to play to his strengths.  I thought like you did about Grahm Harrell.  He's made a roster with the Packers since 2010, and maybe we'll find out if the pundits were wrong about him, but they all basically said he was a "system QB" too.  To an extent he was, but I don't think Kellen Moore is.  They run a very multiple system at Boise, but let's face it, they didn't face big time defenses either.  We'll see.   

[Buzz Killington]

I don't want to brag, but on my 3rd grade basketball team, I was known as the bus driver...because I took everybody to school.

[JR4AU]

I don't want to brag, but on my 3rd grade basketball team, I was known as the bus driver...because I took everybody to school.

I was a javelin catcher on the track team.

[Buzz Killington]

I was a javelin catcher on the track team.

Lost art, much like long snapping...

[djsimp]

I taught Bobby everything he knows. H20 is better.

[wesfau2]

But more importantly, they all claim he hasn't the arm strength.   That's measurable, and it's real.  Yes, there's been some greats that didn't have a cannon hanging from their shoulder, ie Montana, but he came along in an age of offensive evolution and was coached by the father of all the current NFL offenses.   And, Montana wasn't exactly noodle armed either. 

Steve Young was on the SVP show last week and said that, on his list of attributes a QB must have, arm strength is about #10.

Of course, Steve Young isn't drafting anyone, but his opinion should hold some weight.

My entry for the topic: Darren Sproles.  Dude is tiny, but has been producing in the league for a while.

[Pell City Tiger]

Steve Young was on the SVP show last week and said that, on his list of attributes a QB must have, arm strength is about #10.

Of course, Steve Young isn't drafting anyone, but his opinion should hold some weight.

Yeah, but his brain is so gooshy from all of those concussions he suffered that he cant remember the other 9 attributes.

[War Eagle!!!]

He just won his 2nd scoring title.

3rd...

In a row...

Under the age of 23...

He is only the 3rd guy or so to do that in NBA history...