Originally posted by dtg_9er:
Originally posted by Mr.Mcgibblets:
Originally posted by OnTheClock:
Draft guides are garbage. Over the past few years, I've seen the ones my buddies buy and fans are better off researching prospects online.
This is the truth. I used to buy them just for additional stuff to read when I was killing time waiting for something. They were all rather inaccurate in some way or another, and with the internet availability today? not really worth the bother unless you don't mind blowing the money on them just for extra kicks.
With the increased availability of broad band it is less necessary to have hard copies of almost any info, but for those of us who are still addicted to holding books and magazines in our hands as we move about they are still fun to have. PFW lists the 9ers needs as: Offense--WR, QB and TE while defense is DT, OLB and S. Those are accurate assessments...even now. They try to increase accuracy by listing DTs in three categories, but I find that overkill...but interesting. They list WRs as X, Z or F and I find that to be overkill as well...although instructive.
I really doubt Harbaugh cares whether a WR is listed in any category, he no doubt sees the athlete in terms of overall ability and then thinks about what he could do with that player...not whether the player fits as a Z versus F. What I enjoy about the whole lead up to the draft is comparing what is said about any given player by five or six sources. Then two years later you read the sources again, harder to do on the net, and see where they were accurate or not. My collection of Lindy's is growing and every time I put them in the throw away pile...they keep winding up back in my bookcase!
Oh, no doubt, they can provide some decent info and help cross-check accuracy from other sources. I wouldn't scoff at anyone that buys them. When I traveled years ago, I'd buy them and read every word to help get my draft fix (and pass the time). Now that I barely leave the house and surf all day? I won't bother so much with the mags. Maybe I will, just for the heck of it... but it's not at all the priority it was back then.
Yes, if I really want to be serious in research I might rely more on the net, but I'm still just stealing moments from the day to read posts on here and then some magazines when I'm between meetings, etc. I'm not sure how involved I'll be once I retire but it might be fun to really watch more video and draw more of my own conclusions. I get a lot reading the various threads on here...speaking of which, are you going to update your prospect list? I have been using your list, and Maddog's, to compare with CBS and ESPN. When I see a mock that has a guy going in the seventh round, but is listed in the top fifty on all the lists it helps me "judge" the mock.
