The Smokescreen Theory

[Lout]

If we invite someone in for a private workout, or show great interest in a prospect before the draft, like "Carlos Dunlap", where we spent 15 minutes with him 1on1, we most likely will not draft them. I am almost positive we where there to watch The Golden Calf of Bristol.. the whole thing with Dunlap was a smokescreen.

[methodtoll]

If we invite someone in for a private workout, or show great interest in a prospect before the draft, like "Carlos Dunlap", where we spent 15 minutes with him 1on1, we most likely will not draft them. I am almost positive we where there to watch The Golden Calf of Bristol.. the whole thing with Dunlap was a smokescreen.

Or could it be that we just wanted to see what Dunlap was all about? Your right that we probably won't draft Dunlap but to say that we only looked a player because we want to disguise who we really want would be pretty stupid by the Panthers.

[Lout]

Or could it be that we just wanted to see what Dunlap was all about? Your right that we probably won't draft Dunlap but to say that we only looked a player because we want to disguise who we really want would be pretty stupid by the Panthers.

I never said "only".. I said "most likely". I agree it would be pretty stupid if they "only" looked at players as a smokescreen.

[panthers55]

Or could it be that we just wanted to see what Dunlap was all about? Your right that we probably won't draft Dunlap but to say that we only looked a player because we want to disguise who we really want would be pretty stupid by the Panthers.

I would almost guarantee that some of the guys we have in for private workouts are invited as a smoke screen. Teams do this all the time. I don't know the details but how many guys that we have worked our privately have we drafted in the past 5 years. Seriously I don't know the answer so I am asking. I can't remember one but you know us old people forget things alot.

[Woodie]

I thought we had our doctor meet with Stewart? Didn't we also meet with Beason?

After the draft, Beason said he hadn't really talked to the Panthers and they didn't show any interest in him at all leading up to the draft, so he was shocked when they picked him.

In fact, I don't recall the Panthers ever taking a guy whom it was reported they spent significant time talking to/working out. Usually, if they are interested, they may just give him a basic look. And if it is a first round target, they won't show anything more than cursory interest. Like many teams, they interview as many players as they can at the combine, and have a representative at most pro-days, that way other teams cannot distinguish which players they really covet, and which ones they are not particularly interested in.

[markbm62]

Woodie I think they talked to Jeff Otah before the draft and he said that he was shocked that they did not pick him in the first, but was happy when they traded back into the first to get him.

[rayzor]

Or could it be that we just wanted to see what Dunlap was all about? Your right that we probably won't draft Dunlap but to say that we only looked a player because we want to disguise who we really want would be pretty stupid by the Panthers.

why? every team does it. it's part of the game.

just because you don't see the sense in it doesn't mean that it isn't done or that it isn't a very effective strategy.

[rayzor]

If we invite someone in for a private workout, or show great interest in a prospect before the draft, like "Carlos Dunlap", where we spent 15 minutes with him 1on1, we most likely will not draft them. I am almost positive we where there to watch The Golden Calf of Bristol.. the whole thing with Dunlap was a smokescreen.

that spending only 15 min with dunlap could be just to hide how interested we are in him. 15 min = passing or mild interest.

[Lout]

that spending only 15 min with dunlap could be just to hide how interested we are in him. 15 min = passing or mild interest.

I suppose that could be. That is why this time of year is so fun to me.. it's a big chess game. There is no telling why team's why team's are scouting who they scout.. is their a legit interest? Are they facading their interest in someone else? Who knows? I personally don't think Dunlap falls out of the first round, so in this case I would be inclined to lean towards smokescreen.

[rayzor]

I suppose that could be. That is why this time of year is so fun to me.. it's a big chess game. There is no telling why team's why team's are scouting who they scout.. is their a legit interest? Are they facading their interest in someone else? Who knows? I personally don't think Dunlap falls out of the first round, so in this case I would be inclined to lean towards smokescreen.

dunlap is a flat out beast but he is also known for being lazy and that DUI right before the bowl game really hurt him that was just stupid. biggest game of the year and you are caught passed out drunk sitting in the middle of an intersection.

not much you could rely on there.

[methodtoll]

why? every team does it. it's part of the game.

just because you don't see the sense in it doesn't mean that it isn't done or that it isn't a very effective strategy.

Wrong. You just don't look at a player just because you are trying to blow smoke. I am not saying they are interested in drafting him but they look at everyone, not just The Golden Calf of Bristol. They evaluate all talent and choose who they think will benefit the team more.

[Woodie]

Wrong. You just don't look at a player just because you are trying to blow smoke. I am not saying they are interested in drafting him but they look at everyone, not just The Golden Calf of Bristol. They evaluate all talent and choose who they think will benefit the team more.

What do you base this on? Particularly since pretty much everyone involved with the draft process says it happens, as well as common sense saying a team does not want to flag their draft plans by only talking with or working out guys they are targeting. Teams have to throw red herrings out there to keep teams from guessing their intentions.

[rayzor]

Wrong. You just don't look at a player just because you are trying to blow smoke. I am not saying they are interested in drafting him but they look at everyone, not just The Golden Calf of Bristol. They evaluate all talent and choose who they think will benefit the team more.

but they are doing it. all teams do it. all teams will talk to players to get other teams and players agents to think they are going a certain direction when they fully intend to go another direction.

again, it doesn't matter if you don't believe its happening or think it doesn't make sense....it is happening and it always has.

[methodtoll]

What do you base this on? Particularly since pretty much everyone involved with the draft process says it happens, as well as common sense saying a team does not want to flag their draft plans by only talking with or working out guys they are targeting. Teams have to throw red herrings out there to keep teams from guessing their intentions.

Who is everybody? Former coaches? Former GMs?

Every team has a draft strategy, they go out to the combine and Pro Days, records times, drills, etc... It's called evaluating talent and again, teams don't just look at one player from the college, they look at multiple players at various positions, again, it's called evaluating. Once they determine where all the players rank on their draft board, it is a deck of cards from there... I'll admit, there is a little smokscreening during the actual draft process because the draft is unpredictable and teams just don't know who will make a gamble and jump in front but again, a team has to be completely stupid to look at just one player because they are trying to signal smoke.