Leach: Measurables more important for NFL Draft than on-field production

USA Today

Perhaps the most infuriating indignity towards former Washington State wide receiver Gabe Marks came last Saturday early in the seventh (and final) round of the 2017 NFL Draft when the Seattle Seahawks, of all teams, selected David Moore, a wide receiver from East Central University, a Division II school in Oklahoma.

In doing so, the Seahawks reinforced Mike Leach’s long-held view of the NFL Draft – measurables (height weight, 40 time) are far more important to NFL executives and scouts than actual production on the field in college.

And if you’re unfairly labeled a “system receiver” as Marks apparently was by NFL talent evaluators, your chances of being draft6ed are extremely slim and none.

Even though he encountered far inferior competition at East Central than Marks, who battled Pac-12 caliber defensive backs for four years and finished as the conference’s all-time receptions leader, the virtually unknown Moore likely got the nod over the Marks because of his height (6-2) and weight (225).

Moore wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine (as Marks was) and he was the only wide receiver out of the 32 chosen without a draft rating.

“I’m always surprised at who’s drafted and who’s not,” Leach said Monday during the Pac-12 coaches spring football teleconference. “Over the years, I’ve found the draft to be very random. A lot of times guys are selected based on measurables rather than how good of a player they are.”

Leach acknowledged the 5-foot-11, 189-pound Marks lacked some of the “measurables” NFL folks are looking for, but contended he was a better wide receiver than some of the receivers that have more impressive physical numbers.

If Marks was a few inches taller, would he have been drafted? Probably. Twenty-three of the 32 wide receivers drafted (72 recent) stand 6-feet or taller, so height does matter to NFL general managers and scouts making the selections.

Marks was signed by the New York Jets to a free agent contract shortly after the conclusion of the draft, so he will get a shot to make a NFL roster.

“The most important thing is the be the best player he can be for that team,” Leach said. “He has the ability to accomplish things. He’s the all-time leading receiver in the history of the Pac-12. That’s a lot of receivers. Now he has to work extremely hard and become an important part of the team in order to make it.”

NOTES:

-- Leach said many of WSU’s younger players on both sides of the balls improved “a lot” over the course of spring practice. “That was a step we needed to take,” Leach said.

-- Leach said Luke Falk doesn’t have “one big weakness” to work on between now and the start of the 2017 season, but must continue to work on being the best at “everything.”

-- Leach on OL Cody O’Connell: “The best thing he can do is be steadily more consistent. The offensive line is a series of corrections. If you fail to do that, your play will go downhill very quickly. You have to constantly maintain your technique. Offensive line is a very technical position. You have to constantly maintain your technique and reinforce it.”

-- Leach said wide receivers Isaiah Johnson-Mack and Tavares Martin Jr. steadily improved during spring practice but must do better staying focused throughout a practice or game. “They’re both fairly talented guys and once they focus in, they’ll steadily improve. Both of them are a work in progress.”