THE NSFL DRAFT IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
John Wesley Hardin, Arizona Outlaw Herald-Tribune | Apr 6, 2020 | Phoenix
The coronavirus pandemic has cancelled or postponed almost every sport, but with no human-computer transmission, the NSFL has been able to continue business as usual.
With little else going on in sports and other entertainment, the league is making every effort to impress for the upcoming draft on Friday, April 17. This draft class is historically large and will likely last multiple hours. Similar to the NFL draft starting on April 23, the NSFL will conduct the draft remotely. Expect plenty of production value, special effects, celebrity appearances, and in-depth commentary from both leagues.
The NSFL is sticking to its normal calendar even as the league continues to follow the social isolation guidelines laid out by the CDC. The travel restrictions and closure of team facilities has forced teams to adapt their pre-draft evaluations. Without the benefit of in-person interviews and physicals, many around the league are concerned that draft hopefuls might not be properly evaluated. It’s a huge deal for a league where the most common avenue to acquire talent is through the draft.
“When we look back at this draft in a couple of seasons, we’re going to see some huge steals from guys flying under the radar. Sadly, we might see more busts than usual since familiarity will weigh more heavily without the face-to-face interactions. At least we don’t have to worry about guys going undrafted like you might in other leagues,” said Todd Brown, an NSFL analyst and President of Todd Brown Enterprises.
Social distancing, which is intended to contain the outbreak, has forced most people in the US to work from home – the team scouts, general managers, and other personnel in the NSFL are no different. Team doctors cannot conduct physicals for the draft. But, that lack of in-person interviews is perhaps the worst. These franchises often project years into the future, and one bad draft can do significant damage.
Of course, team scouts have already spent countless hours on the road in order to scrutinize the top prospects in the DSFL. The NCAA football season was not affected, so scouts were also able to attend college games, speak to coaches and families, and watch all-star events. They also had brief opportunities to interview players during the Combine before the most restrictive travel recommendations were imposed.
That might not be enough for some players and teams though. Most draft boards look pretty similar heading into the days before the draft. The last minute changes, often based on late interviews, are where good drafts become great and poor drafts are salvaged. The ability to adjust for the up-and-coming late-rounder or avoid the top-25 pick with off-field issues before the other teams can react cannot be overstated. It also gives players a second chance to make another impression.
It’s happened multiple times over the years. Some players in the DSFL are buried on the depth chart. Having individualized meetings and workouts allows coaches to make informed decisions. Maybe he had some family problems and had to take some time off. Maybe that ankle injury bothered him all season. Maybe his team was bad and he was overlooked because he didn’t put up huge numbers.
Look at Pete “Plop” Miller from the S21 draft. A 10th round pick in the S20 DSFL draft, Miller had a solid season for the Norfolk Seawolves, but he wasn’t well known. He was able to schedule meetings with interested teams, and he improved his draft stock to the 2nd round. The team leadership appreciated his knowledge, preparation, motivation, and candor. He was also able to connect on a personal level by speaking about his family and home life.
“We all loved him. He met four or five us, and we all knew he was a great fit,” said unicorn, the GM of the Arizona Outlaws.
The team took him with their first pick in the draft. Leading all rookies in sacks, Miller did not disappoint.
“He’s been huge for us on and off the field,” unicorn added.
Teams, dealing with the new reality of isolation, are relying on phone interviews and Zoom meetings. It’s more difficult to get in contact with coaches and friends/family, an important way to gauge character. Watching more game film, trying to find that last bit of new information, only goes so far. There might be a couple of sideline shots that show interactions with team personnel, but there’s not enough to nail down personality traits, like narcissism or openness to criticism.
“I know the NFL catches some flak when they go over the line, but sometimes you need to see how someone will respond to an uncomfortable questions or situation. How did they react? Did it throw off the rest of the interview? It’s easier to do that kind of thing face-to-face,” said dankoa, co-GM of the Outlaws.
Many war room members who are involved in making these picks say they have been unable to do their jobs appropriately. Some have even suggested postponing the draft until the travel restrictions are eased. Even before the virus, this offseason was expected to be hectic. The addition of two new teams, the Sarasota Sailfish and Honolulu Hahalua, necessitated team hirings and an expansion draft. These unexpected logistical hurdles have made it even tougher on Head Office and commissioner bex.
“This is not some fantasy draft with your high school buddies. You can’t show up to the draft with a couple of lists and expect to be competitive,” Frostbite, the GM for the newly-formed Sarasota team, said during a recent press conference. “There is an unbelievable amount of work that goes into it. I was co-GM for the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers, but the expansion and NSFL drafts are on another level. It’s very difficult to prepare with these restrictions.”
Complicating matters, the NSFL Union of Physicians informed HO that team doctors would not be available to examine players this year.
“I love football as much as the next guy, but team physicals are not nearly as important as helping those affected by SARS-CoV-2,” said Dr Andrew Lewis, the union president. “I’ve spoken with our members, and we are united in the belief that our limited resources should focus on those who need our help the most.
The difficulty with finding doctors means organizations have to sign players and rely on whatever information they already had. It’s even worse for the injured players; there is no way for teams to assess rehab progress without the physical exams and individual workouts.
“Adapt and overcome,” said an NSFL GM who wished to remain anonymous. “That’s all we can do. I wish I could tell you that we planned for something like this, but that would be a lie. This is unprecedented, but we’re working through it, and I’m confident with the preparation we have done.”
Despite these difficulties, the NSFL is confident and satisfied with their current contingency plans. Even if they did want to reschedule, there is no way to know when things will calm down enough to return to normal.
“Will it be one month? Six months? A year? We just don’t know,” bex said. “Plus, every draft we’ve ever had has been online. This does not affect us nearly as much as the NBA, MLB, or NFL.”
Regardless, NSFL S22 is going to be unique. Expansion and the corona virus might be the headlines, but something else will come up too. It always does.
Editors' Note April 12, 2020
COVID-19 is a serious issue. Please follow CDC guidelines to minimize transmission. Wash your hands with soap and water (or hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol) after being in public, blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay at home as much as possible. Maintain distance from other people when in public. Cover your mouth and nose with cloth when in public. Cover your coughs and sneezes. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.
John Wesley Hardin, Arizona Outlaw Herald-Tribune | Apr 6, 2020 | Phoenix
The coronavirus pandemic has cancelled or postponed almost every sport, but with no human-computer transmission, the NSFL has been able to continue business as usual.
With little else going on in sports and other entertainment, the league is making every effort to impress for the upcoming draft on Friday, April 17. This draft class is historically large and will likely last multiple hours. Similar to the NFL draft starting on April 23, the NSFL will conduct the draft remotely. Expect plenty of production value, special effects, celebrity appearances, and in-depth commentary from both leagues.
The NSFL is sticking to its normal calendar even as the league continues to follow the social isolation guidelines laid out by the CDC. The travel restrictions and closure of team facilities has forced teams to adapt their pre-draft evaluations. Without the benefit of in-person interviews and physicals, many around the league are concerned that draft hopefuls might not be properly evaluated. It’s a huge deal for a league where the most common avenue to acquire talent is through the draft.
“When we look back at this draft in a couple of seasons, we’re going to see some huge steals from guys flying under the radar. Sadly, we might see more busts than usual since familiarity will weigh more heavily without the face-to-face interactions. At least we don’t have to worry about guys going undrafted like you might in other leagues,” said Todd Brown, an NSFL analyst and President of Todd Brown Enterprises.
Social distancing, which is intended to contain the outbreak, has forced most people in the US to work from home – the team scouts, general managers, and other personnel in the NSFL are no different. Team doctors cannot conduct physicals for the draft. But, that lack of in-person interviews is perhaps the worst. These franchises often project years into the future, and one bad draft can do significant damage.
Of course, team scouts have already spent countless hours on the road in order to scrutinize the top prospects in the DSFL. The NCAA football season was not affected, so scouts were also able to attend college games, speak to coaches and families, and watch all-star events. They also had brief opportunities to interview players during the Combine before the most restrictive travel recommendations were imposed.
That might not be enough for some players and teams though. Most draft boards look pretty similar heading into the days before the draft. The last minute changes, often based on late interviews, are where good drafts become great and poor drafts are salvaged. The ability to adjust for the up-and-coming late-rounder or avoid the top-25 pick with off-field issues before the other teams can react cannot be overstated. It also gives players a second chance to make another impression.
It’s happened multiple times over the years. Some players in the DSFL are buried on the depth chart. Having individualized meetings and workouts allows coaches to make informed decisions. Maybe he had some family problems and had to take some time off. Maybe that ankle injury bothered him all season. Maybe his team was bad and he was overlooked because he didn’t put up huge numbers.
Look at Pete “Plop” Miller from the S21 draft. A 10th round pick in the S20 DSFL draft, Miller had a solid season for the Norfolk Seawolves, but he wasn’t well known. He was able to schedule meetings with interested teams, and he improved his draft stock to the 2nd round. The team leadership appreciated his knowledge, preparation, motivation, and candor. He was also able to connect on a personal level by speaking about his family and home life.
“We all loved him. He met four or five us, and we all knew he was a great fit,” said unicorn, the GM of the Arizona Outlaws.
The team took him with their first pick in the draft. Leading all rookies in sacks, Miller did not disappoint.
“He’s been huge for us on and off the field,” unicorn added.
Teams, dealing with the new reality of isolation, are relying on phone interviews and Zoom meetings. It’s more difficult to get in contact with coaches and friends/family, an important way to gauge character. Watching more game film, trying to find that last bit of new information, only goes so far. There might be a couple of sideline shots that show interactions with team personnel, but there’s not enough to nail down personality traits, like narcissism or openness to criticism.
“I know the NFL catches some flak when they go over the line, but sometimes you need to see how someone will respond to an uncomfortable questions or situation. How did they react? Did it throw off the rest of the interview? It’s easier to do that kind of thing face-to-face,” said dankoa, co-GM of the Outlaws.
Many war room members who are involved in making these picks say they have been unable to do their jobs appropriately. Some have even suggested postponing the draft until the travel restrictions are eased. Even before the virus, this offseason was expected to be hectic. The addition of two new teams, the Sarasota Sailfish and Honolulu Hahalua, necessitated team hirings and an expansion draft. These unexpected logistical hurdles have made it even tougher on Head Office and commissioner bex.
“This is not some fantasy draft with your high school buddies. You can’t show up to the draft with a couple of lists and expect to be competitive,” Frostbite, the GM for the newly-formed Sarasota team, said during a recent press conference. “There is an unbelievable amount of work that goes into it. I was co-GM for the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers, but the expansion and NSFL drafts are on another level. It’s very difficult to prepare with these restrictions.”
Complicating matters, the NSFL Union of Physicians informed HO that team doctors would not be available to examine players this year.
“I love football as much as the next guy, but team physicals are not nearly as important as helping those affected by SARS-CoV-2,” said Dr Andrew Lewis, the union president. “I’ve spoken with our members, and we are united in the belief that our limited resources should focus on those who need our help the most.
The difficulty with finding doctors means organizations have to sign players and rely on whatever information they already had. It’s even worse for the injured players; there is no way for teams to assess rehab progress without the physical exams and individual workouts.
“Adapt and overcome,” said an NSFL GM who wished to remain anonymous. “That’s all we can do. I wish I could tell you that we planned for something like this, but that would be a lie. This is unprecedented, but we’re working through it, and I’m confident with the preparation we have done.”
Despite these difficulties, the NSFL is confident and satisfied with their current contingency plans. Even if they did want to reschedule, there is no way to know when things will calm down enough to return to normal.
“Will it be one month? Six months? A year? We just don’t know,” bex said. “Plus, every draft we’ve ever had has been online. This does not affect us nearly as much as the NBA, MLB, or NFL.”
Regardless, NSFL S22 is going to be unique. Expansion and the corona virus might be the headlines, but something else will come up too. It always does.
Editors' Note April 12, 2020
COVID-19 is a serious issue. Please follow CDC guidelines to minimize transmission. Wash your hands with soap and water (or hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol) after being in public, blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay at home as much as possible. Maintain distance from other people when in public. Cover your mouth and nose with cloth when in public. Cover your coughs and sneezes. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.
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