Prospect Evaluation Process

I was recently listening to Vikings VP of Player Personel Rick Spielman discuss the evaluation process of first round QB Christian Ponder. Podcasts sure are a delightful little thing. It is a very interesting process. Evaluating QBs is a little more involved, but it is pretty interesting for all players.

Throughout the Brad Childress years and this year with Leslie Frazier, the Vikings bring in their "top 30" players for a group dinner and visit. It's not always the top 30 players on their draft board, but it is 30 players that they want to look at in this setting. I always thought that it was an odd way of visiting with players. A bit too crowded. I later learned that this event has an underlying psychological or sociological purpose. The Vikings want to see how these players respond to this setting. How they interact. I have also heard that other teams have similar events. I have always found it interesting to compare this guest list, if I can find it, with the players that they actually draft. I don't recall if Ponder was part of this party. I do know that the Vikings visited with Ponder down in Talahassee. Spielman mentioned that in visits such as this that the team asks the player to pick out a restaurant and invite a guest. This too probes the thought process, actions, organization and responsibility of the prospect. He is judged on the restaurant and guest that he selects. I hope that the Vikings pick up the tab. I guess that since the team is sinking millions into the kid they need to know as much as possible.

I'm sure that all players are put up on the white board to diagram plays, breakdown schemes and draw nice little x's and o's. This little exercise is especially critical for QBs. Spielman mentions the Vikings process of having the offensive coordinator and position coach describe, diagram and breakdown four of the teams passing concepts. The young QB is expected to take it all in, take notes, then approach the board and regurgitate everything. I was very shocked to hear that some QBs took no notes. That kid won't last long in the league. I have a hunch that this is where Ponder sealed his selection in the first round. I was recently listening to Ponder's college coach, Jimbo Fischer, talk of  Ponder's ability to not only understand the concepts of the offense, but the reason behind all of it too. If you understand the basis of something, why something is done, it is much easier to act and react instinctively.

Just listening to Spielman talk of how the Vikings came to decide on Ponder was interesting. As was the entire process that every draft eligible player goes through. Most of the time, we only see what happens on the field in the fall and winter. It's nice to see or hear some of what makes all of that possible.