Spencer Adkins And The Importance Of Projects

by Dave Choate on Jun 24, 2009 12:00 PM EDT

So by now you've heard that the Falcons signed Spencer Adkins, a sixth-round pick at linebacker in this year's draft. Adkins offers something that arguably no one else in this draft class does though, and that's a near-mythical project status.

When you think about it, the Falcons mostly drafted guys who are ready to help somewhere right away. CB William Middleton and DT Vance Walker can provide depth at their positions, while OT Garrett Reynolds could actually compete to start in the near future. Our higher round picks will have positions on the depth chart locked up and are safe bets to contribute in some form in their rookie seasons. Adkins isn't like to see the field for the first several weeks of the season, and then it's likely to only be on special teams.

Normally, a guy like that wouldn't even make the team in the first place, but Adkins has a lot to recommend him. He's got game-breaking speed for a linebacker, a solid tackling technique and....well, that's really it. The coaching staff will have to do some molding to turn his physical tools into on-the-field success, but I believe in the talent. Clearly, Thomas Dimitroff does too.

Perhaps even more important than Adkins is what the linebacker represents. Teams which get in the habit of drafting the sure thing regularly sacrifice potentially superior talent for steadiness. That's not a bad thing, per se, but a team of average to slightly above average players rarely goes further than the first round of the playoffs. Especially late in the draft when you're practically spelunking for talent, swinging for the proverbial fences makes an awful lot of sense. Guys like Adkins represent the outside chance that you can turn lead into gold, and it's a great way to fill out a roster.

How important do you think projects are for an NFL roster?

Tweet Comment 9 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Great take, Dave.

I like your perspective. You’re right, if he’s coachable, he could wind up being a player. You can’t teach speed. And I doubt Dimitroff would have signed him if he didn’t think he was coachable. The question is, how long will it take him to learn his position? I hope he succeeds, because who knows how long Peterson will plug the hole and whether Nicholas is really the answer (I hope so). We need some depth at LB, for sure.

by TomQ on Jun 24, 2009 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

You have to have these kinda guys to develop...

You’re salary cap can only take the hit from so many Peria Jerrys. You need guys with potential. He could be very good in 2-3 years.

I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I only lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three.

Elayne Boosler

by NaGaNole on Jun 24, 2009 2:17 PM EDT reply actions

Ask James Harrison ...

Reporter: How will you address all of the dropped passes?

Mike Smith: I don’t think that we were as sharp as we have been catching the football. It’s something that is very fixable. It’s VERY fixable.

by FrankyWren on Jun 24, 2009 3:32 PM EDT reply actions

Or Tom Brady

Or Matt Cassel

Its true. I'm a Falcoholic! I just can't live without Falcohol!

by phoenix falcoholic on Jun 24, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

or ...

Dahl
Clabo
Grimes
Redman
Babs
Boley (not sure if he counts)
Hartsock

You could make a case for why each of them was a “project,” so to speak.

Reporter: How will you address all of the dropped passes?

Mike Smith: I don’t think that we were as sharp as we have been catching the football. It’s something that is very fixable. It’s VERY fixable.

by FrankyWren on Jun 24, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Yup

Can’t remember who said it, but the kid is built like a dump truck. I trust the coaching staff to put him to good use, and with time, hopefully his upside will show itself.

Reporter: How will you address all of the dropped passes?

Mike Smith: I don’t think that we were as sharp as we have been catching the football. It’s something that is very fixable. It’s VERY fixable.

by FrankyWren on Jun 25, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions

A special teams monster...

…is a pretty good haul for a 6th-round pick. When you hear about a late-round rookie linebacker with really good speed and hits like a wrecking ball, that’s usually what you’re talking about. It’d be great if he developed into a monster OLB, but being an ace is no small thing.

by NeedATicketToTheGame on Jun 24, 2009 9:57 PM EDT reply actions

Adkins was a top recruit out of high school that always had a difficult job grasping basic fundamentals and although he was a superior physical specimen proved always a step slow.

Hopefully they can improve his football smarts.

by Jon Cushman on Jun 24, 2009 10:07 PM EDT reply actions