Assessing Vontaze Burfict

by ursula on Jan 29, 2012 3:33 PM EST

I just got to get this out there. If you think Burfict is a good pick in round 1 or 2 then you just don't understand the guy. His mental um processes make him barely able to survive in college and he is totally unable to handle the subtleties of being a pro football player.

I just can't think of another player who is so extreme at both ends. He has a Grade A+ body and a Grade F mind. And it is not a mind that will just learn from Lewis how to be a pro as various writers are saying. This isn't a Jimmy Smith or even a Pacman Jones type of problem. This is more of a there's-not-any-wattage-upstairs type of deal. He's just not smart enough. Just look at some of the "expert" mockers out there you can see that some of them are beginning to see this. They are getting past that wonderous body and seeing that his cheap shots are both not easily correctable and that there's more to it than simply misguided passion. Soon all the mockers wil see this. But let's look at a couple of quotes:

<a href="http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6055" target="new">From Draft Insider</a> while discussing the Senior Bowl:

<blockquote>Before the practices even started the conversation turned to Arizona State junior linebacker Vontaz Burfict. Separate sources, including one close to the program, told me Burfict’s decision to turn pro was likely centered around the fact he was looking at potential eligibility problems in 2012. Everyone I spoke with said Burfict’s struggles in 2011 are directly related to the fact teammate Brandon Magee never took the field during the season after tearing his Achilles in August. I was told Magee, a leader on the ASU defense, was the one who made sure Burfict was properly positioned on the field and made him aware of assignments. This further confirms my report from the Shrine Game last week where different sources told me, “It’s a matter of Burfict not diagnosing plays correctly if put to the test, amongst other things.”</blockquote>

Or better, this is from <a href="http://rob-rang.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/13682485/34179390" target="new">Rob Rang a couple weeks ago</a>:

<blockquote>Outgoing head coach Dennis Erickson characterized Burfict's junior season as "average." There may not be a more accurate way of putting it.

While Burfict certainly has the hype and talent to warrant leaving school early, quite frankly he's been a disappointment over the past two seasons.

For a player nationally known as an intimidator, Burfict only registered 69 tackles (including seven for loss) in 2011, along with one interception and one fumble recovery. He was not recognized by Pac-12 coaches as a first, second or even honorable mention player following his junior season. This is quite a drop from Burfict's 2010 season in which he led the team with 90 tackles and earned Second Team accolades. It is an even bigger disappointment considering that in 2009 he was named the Pac-10 Defensive Freshman of the Year.

Burfict is explosive. He can rock ball-carriers in the hole, is particularly adept rushing the quarterback and plays with a ferocity that could quickly make him a fan favorite. As you'll read in our official NFLDraftScout.com profile for Burfict, there are plenty of aspects about his game that translate well to the next level.

However, he has been prone to immature behavior that has cost his team penalties at critical stages of games throughout his career. He's not as instinctive as his reputation might lead you to believe, has a soft build and hasn't shown any real improvement since first stepping onto the ASU campus.

As such, he's currently ranked third in our rankings of inside linebacker prospects.

Quite frankly, I think he's as overrated a prospect as there is in the country. He may prove me wrong. He certainly has talent to do so. However, Burfict won't soon get added to my ranking of the top 32 prospects in the draft. Burfict, in fact, wouldn't make my list if the Big Board contained twice as many players. </blockquote>

What happened with Burflict's year with Az St is that the opposing Pac-12 offenses learned that they could simply scheme him out of the game because he's simply not smart enough. That's what the two people I've quoted are saying. Burflict doesn't have a problem like someone who smokes too much dope or got arrested with a DUI. He just doesn't have the ability to understand the subtleties of the game. He is easily confused and that was the reason why his coach benched him. Just wait for the combine and his interviews. Us Pac-12 fans know that he is an awful interview: Ryan Mallet on a real bad day awful. We may pick up a LB in round 1 or 2 but once the Raven's get to talking with him, they will know that he's radioactive. I wouldn't pick him before round 6.

The opinions posted here are those of the administrator of this blog and his loyal readers. They are in no way official comments from the team, and should not be misconstued as such, even though he thinks he could do just as well or even a better job!

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Comments

I like the idea of Baltimore choosing Burfict, but still unsure what round it would be in. Everything stated has been said by many other people. He is top 20 talent that could fall to the 3rd round because of attitude.

Flacco has to trust his receivers to make catches, but shouldn’t throw towards coverage. He needs to attack deep more often, but shouldn’t hold onto the ball so long. He needs to show more awareness in the pocket and move to extend plays, but nothing good comes of him leaving the pocket. He should run with the ball if nobody’s open, but he definitely can’t run with the ball.

Flacco should have the awareness of Roethlisberger, the elusiveness of Vick, the control of the offense of Manning, the leadership of Brady, the accuracy of Brees, and the arm strength of … Flacco? - Ampallang

by Mr MaLoR on Jan 29, 2012 3:44 PM EST reply actions

He will be a first rounder

I guarantee. You can write that down :)

Would love him on the Steelers. I’m not overly concerned with “attitude questions”.

Formerly known as Steeler_

BTSC's token Kiwi fan. That means I'm a New Zealander. Yes, that small country next to Australia....no we are not part of Australia

by Michael Hewitt on Jan 29, 2012 9:12 PM EST up reply actions

I guarantee he will NOT

be a first rounder. Write THAT down.

The ONLY reason Jimmy Smith fell to the Ravens was “attitude,” and the reason Kindle fell to us the prior year was questionable behavior off the field. As much success they have with Smith, they are gun shy about Kindle-ing again and while I like Burfict, I do not see Ozzie taking the risk.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 30, 2012 9:29 AM EST up reply actions

But I am not sure if after the combine and pro-day, teams are going to be able to let “attitude issues” knock him into the 2nd round.

His head might not be on a swivel, but his talent sure is.

by Mr MaLoR on Jan 30, 2012 9:52 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed. Physically we are talking about probably the best MLB prospect since Willis. I think it will be too much for every team to pass.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Jan 30, 2012 10:01 AM EST up reply actions

Kindle fell in the draft because of problems with his knee, his off field stuff (DUI) was the second whammy.

by Mayne_Event on Jan 30, 2012 5:31 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

But it ain't attitude

Its brains. Or lack of said brains.

by ursula on Jan 29, 2012 6:35 PM EST reply actions

Very interesting

I was not put off by his attitude and immature label. That was something I thought mentorship by the Ravens would overcome. But if it is true, as you said, that his football IQ is that bad, well I may just have to jump right off the Burflict bandwagon.

Thanks for the perspective Ursula. I will definitely be paying attention to this as we go through the the combines.

"the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge."
Hamlet, William Shakespeare

by Fandemonium on Jan 29, 2012 11:32 PM EST reply actions

Great info. Thanks, Ursula

by Evan Skev on Jan 30, 2012 3:32 AM EST via mobile reply actions

While he may not be the smartest outside of football I’m still not so sure I 100% buy that he can’t get it all figured out on the football field. He had a horrible year as you mentioned this past season, but the prior season to that he showed great instincts and snap anticipation and that’s something that can’t be taught. While there definitely are some concerns there and it is a risk it’s just not that often you get somebody with his talent to fall to you that late. It’s a high risk, high reward, but I think he could get it figured out in Baltimore. He’s been the captain at ASU since his freshman year and i think he could benefit from being able to follow someone like Ray Lewis who can show him how to be a professional.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Jan 30, 2012 7:46 AM EST reply actions

Dennis Erickson Burfict’s coach at ASU who coached Ray at Miami said he felt from a physical standpoint that Burfict is very comparable to Ray Lewis. For me that is just too much talent to pass up. I could see if we were picking lower in the first that it would be too much of a gamble, but at the end of the first in an overall not so great draft class I think it’s a risk we should be willing to take.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Jan 30, 2012 9:15 AM EST up reply actions

Funny

Trying to compare Burfict with Lewis should make you run as fast as you can away from Burfict.

Lewis had a great LB body: strength and speed. Its still good after all these years as he takes care of that body. But what makes Lewis the greatest MLB of all time is not that he had a great body but what he did with it. He was and is both amazingly focused and smart as a player-beyond what all but the best LB’s ever to play the game were.

Line up Burfiuct next to Lewis you notice two things: Burfict has an amazing body too and he’s not in shape. He’s never been one to develop himself, to improve his speed or strength or study film. He came to AZ St with this great body and has done absolutely nothing to develop it.

The comparison between the two should put into stark relief that as great as Lewis is at motivating himself to very greater heights, Burfict is poor in the same qualities. There’s no motivation, no strategy, no planning, no thought involved with Burfict.Just reaction.

The Ravens over the years have developed several LB’s who were low draft picks and free agents into good players. In part that was because of Lewis and in part that was because finding a physically talented LB is not all that hard. A lot of football players can be 6’2"-6’6" and 240-270 and run well enough to play in the NFL. But it is what goes on inside the head that makes the real difference. That’s where Lewis is just several standard deviations better than the norm. Guys like Bart Scott or Jarett Johnson, Adelaius Thomas, Edgerton Hartwell, McClain, Ellerbie, etc. became good because Lewis and the coaches had something to work with, something to develop. I am saying that with Burfict you have less to develop than any of those guys. Where it counts the most-between the ears-Burfict has the least.

by ursula on Jan 30, 2012 11:23 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs

I’m not completely sold on the idea he has a low football IQ though and can’t improve his work ethic and all that. I have seen scouting reports quesitoning it, but not enough that he can’t ever get it figured out and have acutally seen some praising it. That’s one of those things I don’t think is conclusive. His aggression and stupid penalties I feel can be corrected. Hearing from teammates and others he’s actually a real quiet and shy guy off the football field, but they say when he puts on the pads it’s a complete 180. That shows me he does have the ability to control it and just needs to learn how. I think working with Ray could develop the mental part of Burfict. He has said Ray is his idol and it’s hard for me imagining somebody working with their idol and not really taking in what they are learning. He does actually watch film and talked about how his coach Erickson taught him about that and how to figure out what the O is doing before the ball is snapped which if you watch his sophomore film you see unbelievable instincs and snap anticipation by him. It’s really comes down to do you feel Burfict is the player of last year or the player from his sophomore year. I feel he is more of the player his sophomore year, where it seems like you feel he is the player from last year. With that said I think he does need some work and guidance and I think it’s really limited the places he can actually go and become a big time MLB. I just happen to feel this place is one of them.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Jan 30, 2012 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

I’ve mentioned this in another post is well that he has been the defensive captain since his freshman season. I feel being able to step down from a leadership role and being able to become a student will pay huge dividends for him.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Jan 30, 2012 11:51 AM EST up reply actions

this is also very astute. Two very good arguments. The cognitive dissonance is killing me

"And, don’t get me started on Joe Flacco," Simms continued. "Did the experts watch the game? Joe didn’t miss a throw, not one. I watched every play. Every time he had the opportunity, he hit the guy. And, he made some moves so he could complete other throws. Are these people watching? What was Joe supposed to do with Texans in his face? Throw it up and hope? Sometimes a sack is a good thing. The object is to win the game. You did."

by jackmca on Feb 1, 2012 9:37 AM EST up reply actions

Ray has also said that he has talked with Burfict multiple times to help him through this time in his life.

“I just spoke with him about discipline and how you need to make up your mind in life and on the field,” Baltimore Ravens star Ray Lewis said. “Make sure that you are doing the right things to be a productive player and more importantly, a productive person.”

I have always said that I would much rather have a talented player who gets in trouble on the field rather than off it. If he isn’t getting arrested, trust me, his actions can be corrected.

"Picture Me Rollin"

by Mr MaLoR on Feb 1, 2012 4:19 PM EST up reply actions

This. That’s why I’m still all for bringing him in. I would much rather have a guy who plays with a little too much intesity on the field, then a guy with multiple arrests. If he can harness that aggression then we are talking about a guy who could be a top 5 player at the position and maybe even right behind Willis. That’s the type of upside he brings and at the end of round one I just don’t see how you can pass that. You won’t ever find a player with that much talent and no big injury concerns sitting at the end of round 1.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Feb 2, 2012 7:36 AM EST up reply actions

I had to rec this.

by jackmca on Feb 1, 2012 9:35 AM EST up reply actions

As much as I am concerned about him

There will be a team that will cut thru the behavioral issues and draft him in the second round (IMO). That means he DOES have the qualities to be a pro football player and can change his attitude and behaviors once he reaches the pros and focuses full time on football. He will be a good pro, but his off the field issues and IQ will determine how long he is a good player.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 30, 2012 9:31 AM EST reply actions