Tag: NFL Bust

NFL BUST: Cordarrelle Patterson

We usually investigate QBs however today we are going to take a look at a WR. The NFL PAM categorizes Vikings WR Cordarrelle Patterson as a 12GT-ML.

The NFL combine report on Patterson finished with this summary:

NFL Comparison Demaryius Thomas

The Bottom Line: He may be considered raw with his ability to handle physical coverage, but Patterson is one of the more naturally talented pass catchers to come along in the last few years. He only has one year of tape against FBS level of competition, but from the first game Patterson showed his versatility by making plays from a variety of alignments. If the Vol can start using his hands to release off the line and tighten up some technique issues, he should be one of this class’ top playmakers. He should be a first-round selection and could be the first receiver off the board.

From: http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/cordarrelle-patterson?id=2540145

We have a very different view on Patterson. The NFL Personality Analysis Method flashed a red flag on him. He has a similar problem to RG3 – that of being uncoachable. Patterson adds to it by never owning his mistakes. Even though Cordarrelle has many other natural talents, this personality doesn’t translate well to the NFL. They are a law unto themselves. In other words, team laws and rules don’t apply to these people. How this practically plays out is when he’s asked to run a curl route he will instead run a go route. You ask him to block and he runs a slant. When the coach asks him about it, Cordarrelle doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong. Physical talent is only part of the picture for successful NFL player and personality (which is the mental ability to process the game) is perhaps more important. It doesn’t matter that Cordarrelle ran a 4.42 and is a physical beast.  This personality has never translated well to the NFL nor experienced extended NFL success.

The NFL PAM would have steered the Vikings scouting department away from Patterson. Cordarrelle and RG3 are both examples that a player needs the right physical/football skills and the right personality traits to process the game. Sometimes the turn of a person’s career (and life) can be traced to the moment of humility and accepting that he’s wrong. Cordarrelle, it isn’t everyone else who’s at fault, you need to own it but he probably doesn’t care enough – remember rules and laws are for everyone else.

Surprisingly there’s a QB with the same personality who experienced a short term of NFL success was Tommy Kramer who also played for the Vikings.

If you are wondering about the NFL Combine report which compared Cordarrelle to Demaryius Thomas, Thomas and Patterson are very different people. The NFL analysis, primarily focusing physical traits, is way off in linking the potential career outcomes of those two players.

Outside of football, Cordarrelle Patterson has a high temperament correlation with Apple founder Steve Jobs. These talented characters are difficult to work with.

Beyond any doubt there’s more to an NFL player than bench press and 40-yd dash times. Certain NFL teams have figured this out (Patriots come to mind) and other teams will get a leg up on them by using the NFL PAM to find the best players for their team.

NFL BUST: RG3

According to the NFL Personality Analysis Method, Robert Griffin III is a bust. Some (such as Jerry Jones) might think that’s a little premature. However from our research there’s a slim to zero chance that he’ll win or even play in a Super Bowl. If the Redskins had been using the NFL PAM these traits would have been easily identified long before drafting him. Let’s review his mental approach to the game and see why RG3 is a bust.

QBs are leaders on the field and their mental approach is the difference maker between success and failure. RG3 has these traits:

Positive Traits: Originality, Dexterity, Resolve, Style, Tolerance.

Negative Traits: Disobedience, Selfishness, Anxiety, Rebellion, Cruelty.

There are no top historical NFL QBs with mental makeup correlation and we’ll explain why.

First let’s review RG3s positives and his mental approach to life. He is smart, interesting and energetic. Also he is intelligent, dedicated and desires freedom. He loves his family. His desires more from life than just money, he desires an interesting life. Physically RG3 is obviously gifted. However our research clearly shows that physical gifts matter less and than a QBs mental approach to the game.

Like everyone, RG3 has negative traits too. However according to our research his particular negative traits are proven to be undesirable for NFL QBs. We would never have drafted him in the first round. It was recently summed up when Rodney Harrison called RG3 a jerk …not a ringing endorsement of a team leader. Let’s expand on Harrison’s comment. A key trait for NFL QB success is a team-first mindset and someone who can relate to the guys. If your QB is a jerk, who cares how physically gifted he is. Nobody will rally around a jerk. It doesn’t matter if he is or is not a jerk – there’s a perception and perception is reality. According to our research RG3 never feels like he fits in even when he’s in the middle of a group, except with family. It’s just a sense this particular personality feels – he doesn’t fit in. Perhaps this is why he comes off as a jerk, he feels disconnected from the group. Another characteristic to RG3’s mental approach to the game is that he is too busy anxiously over-thinking. Also he is stubbornly independent. RG3 will tell the coach that ‘he’ll listen this time and do it the coaches way’ but in the end is going to do whatever he wants. Therein lies the problem, he is uncoachable. As intelligent as RG3 is, he forgets that he cannot win by himself. Everyone from the coaches to the waterboy play a role. His role is to execute the offense exactly as the coaching staff says. Instead he goes off script. Therefore RG3’s mental approach has made him uncoachable and unsuccessful NFL QB. Looking at his above negative traits; Disobedience, Selfishness, Anxiety, Rebellion…he is not a team player nor is he someone who will execute the coach’s game plan.

In conclusion, RG3 has all the physical talent in the world but as a NFL QB he will never win a Super Bowl. A winning NFL QB follows the coaches’ game plan and relates to the other guys. A football team follows the QB’s lead and they look up to him. For this and other reasons mentioned, RG3 at QB will never find NFL Super Bowl success. As a human RG3 has many good sides and even a hidden fun/zany side. However as an NFL QB RG3 is a bust. He’s uncoachable and stubbornly so. Perhaps the thought that goes through his mind is, “I was successful in college/high school playing this certain way so why should I change?”

Historically this mental approach type has had zero NFL success at QB. RG3 was drafted for his athletic ability but his mental approach is ruining his career. This confirms, again, how important mental makeup is when building a football team. RG3’s story reminded me of an old proverb: ‘Be not wise in thine own eyes…’ His 1st round draft selection has wasted money and years for the Redskin organization. Don’t make the same decision – contact us to use NFL PAM for your organization.