What happened to development in the NFL?

[DKphin]

Is Devante Parker making the leap?
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

There was a time, not so long ago, when the general wisdom was that it took skill position players three years of development before a team could really see what it had gotten in a draft pick. This was true of defensive ends, wide receivers, corner backs, tight ends and quarterbacks. The concept was that the talent level coming from the college game to the professionals was both a huge jump in: level of competition and complexity of the playbook. It took young players the time to develop the skills and knowledge required to be playmakers.
This brings us to DeVante Parker. There have been big expectations placed on the wide receiver position over the last few seasons with big names making big plays early in their careers. Mike Evans, Odell Beckham Jr., Kelvin Benjamin, and Ashlon Jeffery, among others, have come in and lit up the league almost immediately. It’s easy to say, it’s a put up or shut up league. It’s easy to say that these new kids are more prepared for the NFL. It’s easy to say that a highly touted rookie SHOULD make an impact immediately.

http://www.thephinsider.com/2017/6/...evelopment-nfl-bobby-mccain-nickel-cornerback

 

[DKphin]

Short answer: Free Agency

 

[NorFlaFin]

College, fewer college teams are running systems with true pro concepts married to high quality coaching. The prospects coming out are really drafted and athletic measurable's and not true knowledge of their position. Look at the top 50 to 100 players each year and you'll find athletic freaks of nature and lesser athletes who've gone to the big schools for high quality coaching that make the NFL.

Look at Alabama how many guys they send to the NFL both as top 50-100 all the way to udfa.

Add-in free agency and its easy to see how bad NFL teams turn into the Montreal Expos.

*******

Honestly I look at the above and foresee a day, when the NFL return to a more simplified power I offensive and defense due lack of practice time and player development time. Better to have excellence of execution of offense/defense than misfire with complicated offense/defense.

Easier to remain dominate with a simplistic attack and high quality fast-twitch athletes.

 

[Geforce]

Short answer: Free Agency

Maybe but I think the reduction in time the coaches can spend with the players, especially young players, is a bigger reason for the slower development of some players. Two-a-day practices are a thing of the past. Three to four hours on the practice field is also a thing of the past. If a team hires a new head coach, he cannot really interact with the players until the new league year. The last CBA really emphasized this and it is affecting a lot of the younger players.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

It's tied to practice time/rules, but it varies by position. Despite the spread/up-tempo offenses, QB's and WR's are coming in and playing well early. RB's are sometimes held back by their ability to block, but people need to understand that these players are processing more information than players from past eras. RB's ready to block typically play well early.

Many OT's play from a 2-point stance. Geoff Schwartz wrote a nice piece on why this is problematic.

http://www.sbnation.com/2017/4/25/1...sive-line-prospects-evaluation-geoff-schwartz

LB's and DT's tend to take some time, because they have to process info so quickly. DE's/pass rushers tend to take some time, because many DE's win in college with pure athleticism, and that won't work in the NFL. The DE's that win with technique find that they're no longer more skilled. The ones that do well early tend to have both (Von Miller, Joey Bosa).

CB's always take time, because it's a very demanding position - particularly for teams that play a lot of man. Jalen Ramsey and James Bradberry were the best rookie CB's last season, and they're both long and very athletic (even by CB standards). The year prior, Marcus Peters continued what he was in college - someone who gives up some plays but has elite ball skills and instincts.

Safeties are in a similar position to LB's. They're not as close to the action, but they have to react as quickly, because they have more space to cover.

TE doesn't exist in college the way it does in the NFL, so they're basically learning a new position. Hunter Henry is a recent exception - with Arkansas running a pro-style offense.

Overall, the talent is better than ever, but the college game is as different from the pro game as ever, and practices are shorter and more restricted. Just like always, though, teams excel when they're efficient with their resources, and teams struggle when they're not.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-are-wide-receivers-entering-the-nfl-more-league-ready/

(^PFF, so add salt to taste)