Answer Friday, Part 4
If you bought the new EA Sports college football video game, comment here on its accuracy.
Q: D. Kennard really showed the talent he has at the recent camp, but Randall Carroll did not seem to impress anyone. Do you think there is a lot of "overhyping" some of these kids who are still learning to drive and do Algebra?
A: Of course. Recruiting services should really be used to identify prospects and see who colleges are interested in. But they should not be used to actually judge how good a recruit is. But there is a lot of interest in Randall Carroll from a lot of schools and he did dominate at the state track finals, so I don't doubt his ability just yet.
Q: Do you think the latest USC player ratings for EA Sport's NCAA Football 09 are pretty accurate? Are any of them way off (ie Stanley Havili with an 81, you got to be kidding me EA!)?
A: I haven't seen the game, but in the past they didn't even get the ethnicity of some players right.
SW, the EA Sports game does not come out until mid-July. It usually comes out just before (maybe 2 weeks prior) to fall camp.
As a person who has followed EA Sports and the NCAA franchise for a long time, I have a lot of strong opinions on the game. For one, they still have not put all in the I-AA teams in the game. In the past, they had about 80% of them...then they removed all of them completely! In addition, they only have about 50-80 players for each team. There are usually some notable exceptions including Heisman candidates late in the year.
With respect to player ratings, EA could definitely use some help. This year, the player ratings for SC are WAY off. Some of the guys down the depth chart have amazing ratings, and then Taylor Mays has a speed of something like 92 or 94. I mean...I can't imagine how fast of a 40 the guys with 95-99 run. And Stan at 81? You've GOT to be kidding me.
I should point out that the reason I brought up I-AA teams is because App State beat Michigan this year and was receiving top 25 votes! Not to mention the fact that the Mountaineers play LSU early in the season.
What's the term Petros uses? "Scout-sheet hero" or something.
I never understood how they could really judge a recruit much when 99% of the guys they're playing against in high school won't be setting foot on a field a few months later, they're not exactly playing against people who will be their peers at the next level.
Here's some of my scout.com translations.
Route running skills = the WR can run a post without tripping.
Locker room leader = he tells the WR when his shoelaces are untied so he doesn't trip.
Field vision = he's tall enough to see over the vicious 5'7" linebackers the other team is fielding.
Focus = he doesn't wave to his mom in the stands before every play.
Good point, Sam Gilbert, about the degree of competition in high school making it difficult to obtain an accurate read on many of these college-bound recruits.
And "the vicious 5'7" linebackers" crack was my best laugh of the day.
Also, PT is listed as an "impact" player on offense. Let's hope that actually happens this season!