Quote:Yeah, it's a possibility but I try not to deal with immeasurable hypothetical statements. There are tons of examples of players developing well with Freeney-like veteran mentors, tons of example of players developing well without them, tons of players busting with Freeney-like veteran mentors, and tons of examples of players busting without them. There is zero measurable basis to make a claim like that either way, so I try to avoid it. 

 

I'll stick with Beasley being successful because he had great college production, great college tape, great traits, great measurables, and a very good rookie season. 

 

   I'm not discounting the importance of natural ability.   However,  where we significantly disagree is the level of value of having highly accomplished players on the roster as mentors.   Which is fine.  There are many different ways to look at the similar data.  

 

   One example comes to mind relates to a couple of players that I know you are very familiar with especially because you following the Jaguars and the SEC closely:

 

   In 2013,  the Lions drafted CB Darius Slay out of Mississippi St.  in the upper part of Round 2.   Before going to Miss. St. ,  he was a Junior College player.   Based on Slay playing mostly in man to man coverage in College,  he was raw coming into the NFL.   But not many CBs have Slay's natural physical gifts.  

 

  That summer,   the Lions signed former Jaguars all time great CB Rashean Mathis as an UFA.   Though Mathis had two very good seasons,   before tailing off in 2015..... before a concussion ending his season and ultimately he retired,    the greatest value Mathis provided was being a mentor to Slay.   The two spent a considerable amount of time together in the off-season,  including in the Jacksonville area where Mathis has a home.   In addition,  Slay spent time with HOFer CB-S Rod Woodson in two off-seasons.   This before Woodson went on to become a coach with the Raiders this past off-season.   Slay raised his game substantially in 2014 and in 2015 became one of the NFL top CBs.   PFT,  among others,  agrees with that opinion.   To the point that he signed a lucrative contract right before training camp this summer.  

 

 As much ability as Darius Slay has,  even with good coaching he's received,  I'm 99.99% convinced he wouldn't be close to his current level if not for the work that he did with Mathis and Woodson.   Being that coaches have a limited amount of time in the off-season to work with players,  it makes having mentors very valuable.   Rashean Mathis is now retired but with the development of Slay and the strides CB Nevin Lawson has made,   Mathis continues to pay huge dividends.  

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