I'm opposite of that, I like to look at the reports first and record as many games as possible then make my own notes and reports from game tape, I don't believe in highlight videos at all. I then base everything off of my notes and compare them to other reports.

The reports I read early(usually sometime between now and midsummer is when the majority come out) just give me an idea of what games to watch and who to watch for. Helpful on who might leave early and such.

I usually take a month or 2 off before starting in on the next draft, but I'm excited about the extra 2nd and some of the players in next years class

Im real excited about next year already. The day after the draft I was mentioning to my girl that it might be a bad thing that im already excited about next year because ill be begging for it to get here faster. Im already falling in love with Eric Berry and he might not even go pro? It would suck to have to wait until 2011 to see Berry in an NFL uniform. I love college football, but the NFL is truly the test to see what your made of.

I always pick out about 5 guys that I think will be drafted next year and watch each of their games, and gather as much info on them as possible.

This high school football season im taking my BLESTO scouting sheet to local games, meeting some area scouts and taking notes like the rest of them.

you're going to scout high school football? without pay, for fun?
who were the other 4 guys you scouted last year besides Curry? who's gonna shine who's gonna flop?

Yep, without pay, for fun. Getting my name around to the other guys and meeting people. Thats the best way to get into the scouting business. On the downside, if you become a full time scout, you wont have much of a life outside of it due to constant traveling. I knew a guy that had to quit his professional scouting career just to keep his family. He never had any time with them, his kids, his wife, or anyone. He loved it other than that.

Anyways, I kept a good eye on Stafford last year. I would go out on a limb and say "hes gonna shine" because trust me, he has every tool you look for in a QB. He has mental lapses at times, but being in Detroit im afraid will truly hinder his growth as an NFL QB. I dont want to see him turn into David Carr, constantly on his back getting sacked.

I watched a few games on Brian Orakpo, not all of them. But I saw 7 so I had a fair evaluation on him. He will be a hit or miss prospect. You will either not hear his name in 5 years, or he will have gone to 2 pro-bowls. If the Redskins D-line coaches can really get on him, and teach him how to rush the passer in the NFL he will be fantastic. He does disappear sometimes in games, but he knows how to play when hes needed most. He was mostly dominant against good competition.

I watched 3 games on Heyward-Bey, and was not real impressed. I guess to be fair Maryland just doesnt throw the ball that much. He has awesome straight-line speed obviously, and can accelerate away from defenders. But that was in college, in the NFL I dont see him being anything special. He drops too many passes from what ive seen. I would say, Crabtree, Maclin, Harvin, Nicks, even Ramses Barden will end up with better NFL careers than Heyward-Bey. I think he is an alright kid, pretty soft-spoken in his interviews but I will be very surprised if he ends up having a good NFL career. Hes the type of player that might have 50 catches for 800 yards his rookie year, but NFL teams will quickly figure him out and be able to shut him down.

I watched 9 games on a guy named Will Davis from Illinois. Hes a DE drafted in the 6th round this year. Was only a junior, but I think he has nice upside in the NFL. Hes very athletic, although he didnt run a good 40 time at the combine. He needs a lot of technique work when rushing the passer, he doesnt get off blocks very well initially. but I think the perfect team drafted him. He will fit in Arizona's scheme very well if they keep the hybrid which it looks like they will.

Other than these guys, I watched a few guys in a couple games, but didnt actually break down and watch each game. Hakeem Nicks reminds me A LOT of Dwayne Bowe when I watch him. He will be an interesting player, and I think he has a great future in the NFL.

Next year I need to pick out an O-lineman and do some work on him. But the DB's in next years class look incredible. This years class was very weak overall. But next year if we get a top 10 pick I dont think we can miss on whoever we draft.

Ya, I was just thinking I'd rather just watch college and take notes if I felt like doing that, but there's something to be said for the live experience. Not sure which gives you the better view, though. I like to be able to pause, rewind, and rewatch a play a few times to figure out what happened if I need to. It would be fun to watch football for a job, that's for sure.

As for next year, lookin forward to seein those pass rushers :)

Pro scouts are rarely at a game past halftime. They like to beat the traffic. The vast majority of scouting is tape not live.

This is very true, but when a scout wants to actually meet the kid hes recruiting and test his personality, its best to go to the games live. They still travel non-stop though.

My top five for our first rounder next season:

1. Jermaine Gresham, TE; OU
2. Brandon Spikes, ILB; Florida
3. George Selvie, OLB/DE; South Florida
4. Sergio Kindle, OLB; Texas
5. Ndamukong Suh, DT; Nebraska

Top five second rounders:

1. Dennis Pitta, TE; BYU
2. Ciron Black, OT; LSU
3. John Jerry, OG; Miss
4. Sam Young, OT; Notre Dame
5. Antonio Coleman, DE/OLB; Auburn

Why a TE and ILB as your top two? I think we will still be drafting in the top ten.

My top five first rounders are as follows:
1) Carlos Dunlap
2) Terrence Cody
3) Sam Bradford (flame reerunant vest - deploy!)
4) George Selvie
5) Berry/Mays

In the second round, I think there will be a metric ****ton of QB value.

Who?

I think you could see a lot of QBs slide due to the sheer number. I mean, you have Bradford, Snead, McCoy, and Tebow and that's just off the top of my head. Sure they're a bunch of spread monkeys, but they could develop over time.

I agree with your claim that they'll slide, but I'd be shocked to see any of the latter three selected before round 3.

Tebow might become the '10 Pat White and climb into the 2nd, but I doubt it.

Don't count out Jevon Snead.

The only true pro-style QB of the group. If he has a decent senior season, I wouldn't be shocked to see him go mid-late 1st round.

I mean, Christ, if Josh Freeman can go 20th...

Because I've never been a draft spot/player position relevance type of guy. You get the best player available at the greatest position of need is my philosophy. If that's a TE or a ILB, then you take the ILB or TE, even if it's a top ten pick. And god knows that the Chiefs could stand a decent ILB regardless.

Spikes is an absolute beast. Big, physical, athletic and seems to have that rare trait that separates great MLB's from average ones in that he genuinely seems to want to decapitate people every single hit. I think he has a chance to be a special player in the NFL.

And Jermaine Gresham is one of, if not the, best tight end I've ever seen at the college level. Has every single tool that you could possibly want in a tight end. The prototype for that position in the modern football era.

That's why I have them as #1 and #2 on my wish list for next year. Also, I'm hoping that the NFL and the players association will work out a new CBA that sets a rookie draft cap a la the NBA so people/GMs/whoever are no longer as worried about taking a specific position due to the immense costs relative to the players draft spot and teams can actually focus on getting the best players available at positions of need in the draft. I think it would help bring a bit more parity to the league, at least in terms of teams getting players that could/might help them rather than reaching on positions that correspond to the pay scale.

Tebow is going in the first round. Bank on it.

Especially considering that Urban brought in a pro style guy to work with Tebow on throwing mechanics, and will install pro style sets. I think he's genuinely concerned about getting Tebow into the first round (I mean, the kid, if anybody, deserves it if he's capable - he's a good kid, and a hell of a football player, and I'd never count out anybody with that much physical talent and drive).