Stick with me on this one...

and you are correct, it is common sense. We need great atheletes who are determined to learn the pro game and continuously improve and so does everyone else. Our problem is we have no one in the front office who can identify such people with any degree of accuracy. Let’s think defense for the moment. Over the last several years (since Bruce in his prime) has any opposing offense come up to the line of scrimmage and looked around thinking “where is player "x” and how are we going to defend against him on this play?" I don’t think so.
We will not get better until the front office can identify play making atheletes, desirous and capable of continuous improvement. Our front office team of Curly, Larry and Moe are just not good enough.

While great athleticism and a High IQ would be ideal for every position on the team thats just not always the case……I think certain positions fare better with high IQ’s and less athleticism than others (QB being one of them) meanwhile a RB is better suited being a very athletic player but doesnt have to be over smart I think…..same goes for WR……so I think it mainly just depends on the position.

Players need some instincts too. Whitner seems to have pretty good athleticism, an above average level of football IQ, but no instincts whatsoever.

I’ll offer a few thoughts on some of the players according to your criteria:

Brian Orakpo – I know Texas players get a bad rap for not working hard and lacking the drive to improve the technique behind their athleticism, something Kerry Collins, one of those too old but really wise frisbee guys you were talking about, took advantage of to hang on to a starting job. But I don’t think we should use that to overlook every player coming out of that school. I think Orakpo has the drive to be the best he can. I know it sounds silly but the fact that he is a workout warrior is very very encouraging. Based on my experiences of trying to balance work and still finding time to go to the gym, which I know means nothing because I am no athlete, I think Orakpo’s dedication to the gym demonstrates a tendency for discipline and a willingness to do work when you really don’t have to. This to me should translate well into a guy who wants to develop his pro technique to the best of his ability. We all know Kelsay is a workout warrior and that he is as hard of a worker as they come. Orakpo seems to possess that characteristic of Kelsay in addition to the fact that he is an athletic freak. Chris Brown says he takes plays off but to be honest with you, when I read that BB.com link that MRW put up I found that Brown’s assessment came across to me as a way for him to prepare the fans for the fact that Buffalo was once again going to look to draft “high character” guys who lack in the athletic department. As if he was saying the Bills aren’t going to go for a playmaker but don’t worry, he takes plays off. I don’t think Brown buys his own answer and I don’t either.

Clay Matthews – I’m surprised this name hasn;t come up more on these boards because there is a good chance this guy falls to pick #43 because his USC teammates are bigger names. To me Clay Matthews comes across as a great balance of smart, hard worker and playmaker. He hits big, can rush the passer with good pass rushing moves, and he plays special teams all out which is a sign he is a tough, hard working kid. I like this guy and if he’s there in the second and we got a center in free agency it would be really tough to pass on him.