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Scouting

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  • Is there a limit on the number of scouts you're allowed to have? Reason I ask is, most teams seems to only have about 6 college scouts, for example (generally single figures). Given that there are more than a hundred colleges, each with something like 60-80 players, that roughly a thousand players each to analyse fully in about 12 games.

    Why don't teams have more scouts? Obviously the quality of scouting needs to be factored in, but you're telling me that there are only about 200 guys in the world who can break down game tape on players?

  • Is there a limit on the number of scouts you're allowed to have? Reason I ask is, most teams seems to only have about 6 college scouts, for example (generally single figures). Given that there are more than a hundred colleges, each with something like 60-80 players, that roughly a thousand players each to analyse fully in about 12 games.

    Why don't teams have more scouts? Obviously the quality of scouting needs to be factored in, but you're telling me that there are only about 200 guys in the world who can break down game tape on players?

    @gftchris said:

    Is there a limit on the number of scouts you're allowed to have? Reason I ask is, most teams seems to only have about 6 college scouts, for example (generally single figures). Given that there are more than a hundred colleges, each with something like 60-80 players, that roughly a thousand players each to analyse fully in about 12 games.

    Why don't teams have more scouts? Obviously the quality of scouting needs to be factored in, but you're telling me that there are only about 200 guys in the world who can break down game tape on players?

    I would not think there would be a limit. The only limit is on how much you want to spend paying these scouts. I think a lot of teams use "regional scouts".....they will have a guy scouting the West Coast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, Northeast etc.

  • Given the millions thrown around willy nilly trying to chase the ring, I would think that an extra million on an extra 10-20 scouts would be nothing.

  • Longish article on the history of NFL scouting:

    http://www.nfl.com/historyofscouting

  • Chris,

    Teams also buy the output of "scouting services"... AKA "outsources".

  • Longish article on the history of NFL scouting:

    http://www.nfl.com/historyofscouting

    @the-gipper said:

    Longish article on the history of NFL scouting:

    http://www.nfl.com/historyofscouting

    Interesting read. Have bought Belichick Sr's book and plan to read it this weekend if I get time

  • Chris,

    Teams also buy the output of "scouting services"... AKA "outsources".

    @tour2ma said:

    Chris,

    Teams also buy the output of "scouting services"... AKA "outsources".

    As they do the same in my HS recruiting to college. and may I say these guys our pain in the asses & want it all for free

  • outsourced scouts?

    sounds like the equivalent to what mike h is to journalism.

  • Is there a limit on the number of scouts you're allowed to have? Reason I ask is, most teams seems to only have about 6 college scouts, for example (generally single figures). Given that there are more than a hundred colleges, each with something like 60-80 players, that roughly a thousand players each to analyse fully in about 12 games.

    Why don't teams have more scouts? Obviously the quality of scouting needs to be factored in, but you're telling me that there are only about 200 guys in the world who can break down game tape on players?

    @gftchris said:

    Is there a limit on the number of scouts you're allowed to have? Reason I ask is, most teams seems to only have about 6 college scouts, for example (generally single figures). Given that there are more than a hundred colleges, each with something like 60-80 players, that roughly a thousand players each to analyse fully in about 12 games.

    Why don't teams have more scouts? Obviously the quality of scouting needs to be factored in, but you're telling me that there are only about 200 guys in the world who can break down game tape on players?

    I would think they aren't gonna analyse every college player.....1000 per scout????.....that would be silly.....probably 50% of college players can be disqualified pretty quickly.....and another 10%-15% can immediately be qualified as pro potential.....so that leaves a few in the middle.....but, Id think that too many scouts would only muddy the waters and create a lot of grey area that the team would have to work through...

    Imagine 5 different guys saying their guy is the best bet etc.....and, if there are 200 college scouts and 200 pro scouts in the league, would it not make sense that #400 scout has a lot less talent than #1 pro scout....?.....and would you want scouts who really arent very good?.....no point in that...

  • It's 85 scholarship players per team, but at least 10 are redshirting, and most aren't eligible for the draft/aren't actually seeing the field.

    Someone link one of the recent articles on Saban's new support staff. He has an unbelievable amount of "consultants" running around. In the playoff games, they packed the press box full of guys doing in-game analytics. He even had his new DC (old DC was staying on until the season was over before starting the Georgia HC job) in the box working breakdowns.

    Yeah, if it's legal, we should have more.