If I hear one more time about how we passed up on Gabe fat lazy Watson I'm going to blow. The guy has no potential he wasn't good on the college level, he takes plays off, and he has lousy work ethic. The potential everyone loves is actually fat. Just because a guy weighs 340 doesn't make him a good DT. I could find a few 340 pounders at McDonalds too and I bet if you put them in football uniforms Mel Kiper would have them as day 1 picks instantly.
Let me throw this out there and see what people think... This is a player who has good measurables, and can make big plays, but is apparently not consistant, or is even labled as lazy, or has poor work ethic, or character. Now, this is a kid in his early 20's-- still learning how to be a man, and still learning football. he has the tools to be great, but maybe has underachieved. To me, this is the type of player who GOOD coaches would have no problem taking. It is THEIR job to make him good, and to make him work his ass off to be a pro bowler. Work ethic can be learned, character can be changed- but physical tools are god given, and no coach can change that. I look back to Bobby Engram from Penn State-- early in his PSU career he was caught stealing a TV-- Joe PA could have kicked him off the team for good, and not had to deal with the headache. however, he told him he would suspend him for a year, but give him a second chance after that. Joe took the time to work with Engram, and help him become a man, and he helped this kid very much. When was the last time you heard anything negative about Engram? he was just in the SB, and started over former #4 pick Peter Warrick. I think passing on a possible big time talent like Watson is a bad move-- if you have confidence in your coaching staff, you can make a guy like him into a special player. Coles had a bad rep- so did Miller- they didn't seem to have any problems. On the other hand, Poaha was a Mormon, who saved a woman from a burning building, but can't play a lick. i am not saying you take the TO's and marcus vicks, but I am sure that a guy like Watson, or Lendale White can mature, and improve his work ethic with some leadership from good teammates, and a good coaching staff. Agree?
Hah, I was actually thinking the opposite. Players can practice, workout, and study film to get faster, stronger, and better, but they can't change who they are. Headcases are headcases. There really isn't much changing that.
Hmm, I actually tend to agree more with hateourdraft. Talent is inherent, character can be developed, that's what I think anyways. I wanted Watson too, but there was no way that Tangini was going to take him. Character is much too important to them for that to have happened.
Gabe Watson may be this years A. hawthorne. Remember last year we had people proojecting Hawthorne to be a 1st round talent. He ended up falling to the 6th and eventually was cut by the Raiders (I believe it was the Raiders). Throughout the draft people were screaming for us to take him. He seems to be a similar type player to Watson. A big NT with a lot of potential but a poor work ethic. I have no problem not taking Watson or the FO excluding anyone they don't want on the team no matter how big a talent or how far they fall. But I think many peoples problem with the draft is not that we didn't take Watson but that we took players many rounds early. The fact that there were so many quality players that dropped and were also availbale just added salt to the wound.
I just want to see how many years he signs for...so the year before I can start posting how we must sign him as a restricted free agent. Seriously, its the first time I have seen his name...when I saw the thread..I thought it was a front office signing...perhaps advertising.
I think size and speed are very difficult to change-- but 22 year olds mature- and they can mature even faster with the right influences around them- like good coaches. it is one thing if you are talking about a guy with 3 prior arrests for serious crimes, it is another thing if you are talking about a guy who doesn't work as hard as he should, who could thrive with a few kicks in the ass, and a nutritionist. Rodney harrison went from an NFL Scum Bag to a locker room leader because of some good influences.
