49ERS WAR ROOM

What's the formula to all this?
 

Who better to model your scouting philosophy after than the great late Bill Walsh? In fact, Walsh's basic talent evaluation guidelines are out there for anyone to view if they wish. They may be a bit outdated when it comes to the size dimensions of players, but the basic player traits and abilities to look for still very much apply. This scouting manual can be found here.

Many scouts work on a nine or ten-point grading system. I use a simpler 5-star rating system. Among many factors, key criteria would include physical traits, raw athleticism, technique, production, level of competition, and of course character. It's easy to evaluate when you know what you're looking for - know what qualities tend to transfer to the NFL and trust your eyes.