Scouting: Diamond in the Rough

[Molten]

Every year, a lot of good teams rank low. A great scout finds this team and chooses them regardless of rank. It seems that ranks really don't matter as much as people believe. I'd like to hear some stories about this occurrence. The times when the scouting really paid off to take note of all of the teams. Anyone got a great story? Please post them here.

[EricH]

I can remember one. Second pick of the #2 alliance on Newton in 2005 was team 503. Both the other teams (330 and 67) wondered why they were not picked until then, but were more than happy to pick them. They had a very reliable scorer that wasn't the fastest or flashiest, but they had really good strategy to go with it. This was shown in the second match of the Einstein finals--they left a cockeyed tetra cockeyed because the goal was already owned by one below. One world championship resulted.

[jgannon]

In 2005, team 108 seeded 79th out of 85 on Curie, and went on to win the division.

[Akash Rastogi]

Palmetto 06, We seeded 8th (might've been a different seed captain though) and picked 1251, 41st seed, and 247, 44th seed. Went on to win the regional undefeated.
http://www2.usfirst.org/2006comp/events/SC/rankings.html

[AndyB]

We ended up picking team 2549 last year in the 2nd round. If you looked at their bill of materials, you'll see they spent only $50 on their robot. A lot of teams wrote them off when they saw it was just a kit-bot. But we noticed that they had very talented drivers and seemed very under control. We ended up winning the regional largely because of their ability to keep the track free and moving.

[BenX02]

At Peachtree this year, we picked team 2415, who were 43/47, and we ended up winning. A lot depends on what alliance partners you get during the qualifiers. So rank doesn't really mean all that much.

[Ian Curtis]

At Battlecry in 2006 we seeded 18th and picked from the 14th seed spot. (BattleCry runs a 16 seed draft), picked the Gaelhawks (seeded 48 out of 48), and were given the Chop Shop. We went on to beat the #2 seed, before ultimately being knocked out during the Semifinals.

[J-Brock]

858 is a really good defensive robot, but doesen't rank very high.

[RMS11]

Like BenX said, we were picked this year by 2655 (the 8th seed) ranked 43/47. We had lots of bad luck and mechanical problems throughout qualification (like 3 matches we didnt run, lol) but they saw some moments when we really competed well and those 3 hours between qualification and playoffs were all we needed to work out the remaining issues and get some work in on the practice field. Thankfully they saw this, and were able to see how our strengths could work well with out 3rd partner 832 and we ended up coming out on top. Really, rank only matters in top 8 vs. not top 8. If you are a great robot but out of the top 8, you must rely on another team to pick you and to have worked out a good strategy to have bots that will work great together. So really you must rely on another team if you are out of the top 8, but hopefully these teams have done their scouting and have a plan to form a winning alliance.

[Adam Freeman]

I can remember one. Second pick of the #2 alliance on Newton in 2005 was team 503. Both the other teams (330 and 67) wondered why they were not picked until then, but were more than happy to pick them. They had a very reliable scorer that wasn't the fastest or flashiest, but they had really good strategy to go with it. This was shown in the second match of the Einstein finals--they left a cockeyed tetra cockeyed because the goal was already owned by one below. One world championship resulted.

Ahh, the days before the serpentine draft. 503 was #4 on our alliance selection list.

I believe 330 was the 2nd seed, selected 67 with the 2nd pick....then 7 other teams were selected before 503 was selected by our alliance.

I remember marking off the teams, hoping that 503 would be there for us. When they were, I signaled to our student on the field, she discussed with 330's student (I am sure 330 was thinking the same thing) and the pick was made.

We asked 503 to protect the back row, while 67 handled the right side, and 330 handled the left side. The strategy worked incredibly well and it 503's performance was well beyond what was expected of them.

If the matches were available to watch, 503's performance was on par with both 67 and 330. No way they should have been available for our alliance to select them.

[Alex Dinsmoor]

At Detroit this year, my team picked 3119. When I first mentioned them as being on my scouting list, my team gave me weird looks as if I was crazy. It was until they proved to be the best defense robot out there that my team still didn't believe in me. Sadly we only made it to the semifinals due to some mechanical errors with an alliance partner.

Oh, and one week later they went on to win Troy with 67 and 217 :)

[AlexD744]

2007 Florida regional. PINK didn't bring out there robot until the last three matches. Something messed up in the algorithm and we played tehm in all three matches. Our machine had soooo much pushing power that we would push them up against the rack and we pushed the rack about 2 feet every time. THey lost every qualifyer and ended up 51 out 51 in the ranings. Then they went on to be semi-finalists. (Maybe even higher) Not to mention 2nd place at championship.

[DBiehl]

2007 at Boilermaker. We seeded 3rd and got drafted by the first ranked team 1730. When we got to the very last pick at the end of the 2nd round, we managed to get one of the top 3 lifting bots in the regional with 1555. During match 3 of the finals, not a single ringer was scored by either alliance and 1555 lifted both us and 1730 up to win the regional.

[EricH]

Ahh, the days before the serpentine draft. 503 was #4 on our alliance selection list.

I believe 330 was the 2nd seed, selected 67 with the 2nd pick....then 7 other teams were selected before 503 was selected by our alliance.

I remember marking off the teams, hoping that 503 would be there for us. When they were, I signaled to our student on the field, she discussed with 330's student (I am sure 330 was thinking the same thing) and the pick was made.

We asked 503 to protect the back row, while 67 handled the right side, and 330 handled the left side. The strategy worked incredibly well and it 503's performance was well beyond what was expected of them.

If the matches were available to watch, 503's performance was on par with both 67 and 330. No way they should have been available for our alliance to select them.Memory correct. And I am looking for some of the Einstein matches from that year, if I can find them...

[Alex Cormier]

1902 was clearly the steal of the draft process in CT this past weekend. The best defense-offensive bot. (Seek CT thread to learn more about that) That pick completed the alliance so well. I had chosen that alliance to win it all. Excellent Scouting work done by 126, 1155.

[lukevanoort]

Memory correct. And I am looking for some of the Einstein matches from that year, if I can find them...
They're actually on the 67 website.... http://www2.huronvalley.k12.mi.us/schools/mhs/activity/hot_team/hot_video_gallery.htm

[EricH]

They're actually on the 67 website.... http://www2.huronvalley.k12.mi.us/schools/mhs/activity/hot_team/hot_video_gallery.htm
I knew they'd be somewhere... Makes sense that one of the champions would have them.

[KF987]

Anyone remember 2007 Championships? 8th seeded alliance from Newton won it all. 190 Was ranked 9th and then moved up to 8th seed. 987 was ranked in the upper 30's and I'm not sure where 177 was.

Goes to show that alliance number doesnt always translte into wins.

[Nuttyman54]

Anyone remember 2007 Championships? 8th seeded alliance from Newton won it all. 190 Was ranked 9th and then moved up to 8th seed. 987 was ranked in the upper 30's and I'm not sure where 177 was.

Goes to show that alliance number doesnt always translte into wins.

987 was ranked 37th, 177 was ranked 50th...

From personal experience this year, 190 found an great partner in 1099 at Boston, who were instrumental in getting us through semis against the beast that is 1153.

971 was also elated to be able to pick 852 again at SVR, who kept 668 in a corner during semis and never let 1280 score in the finals.

I would also say that 1868 (who were finalists at SVR with 192 and 1280) shouldn't have lasted that long in the draft. They are an excellent team with a quality robot and top-notch driving (and from what I hear, were even more formidable at Davis with the improved collector). Keep an eye out for these girls at championships, they may be one of those diamonds.....(if they don't do well enough to pick up a few themselves)

[shortone1320]

1902 was clearly the steal of the draft process in CT this past weekend. The best defense-offensive bot. (Seek CT thread to learn more about that) That pick completed the alliance so well. I had chosen that alliance to win it all. Excellent Scouting work done by 126, 1155.

We knew they were good and were shocked :yikes: that they were still there when the picks came back around to us. we definitely wouldnt have won without them and theyre incredible pinning and scoring ability.

[dwaynetrip3119]

At Detroit this year, my team picked 3119. When I first mentioned them as being on my scouting list, my team gave me weird looks as if I was crazy. It was until they proved to be the best defense robot out there that my team still didn't believe in me. Sadly we only made it to the semifinals due to some mechanical errors with an alliance partner.

Oh, and one week later they went on to win Troy with 67 and 217 :)
Thanks for the complement bro. We gave it everything we had in us to win that district final. After Wayne State, we prepared for Troy and it turned out that we were not picked but then we had to come back. It was amazing playing with 67 and 217. I made good friends with them and I hope that 3119 can go out this weekend and hopefully pull out another win. We really want to compete in ATL and this is our chance. Also it is amazing that we have so many people saying that we are the best defensive team in the state!! That is such a huge honor for us to be a rookie team.
See Ya At EMU!!!

[Peter Matteson]

For us those picks have been teams either dramatically improve on Saturday or got missed by everyone else.

In 2006 at the Hartford regional our selection of 1124, the Uberbots who everyone over looked they were seeded around 40 but showed smart play and great capabilities on the field to play our strategy, with a durable robot and great drivers.

Also in 2006 at the Championship we got a second round steal in the Galileo draft from the #2 seed when we added the FEDS, 201, to round out our alliance with 1126, SPARX. Everyone else missed their great auto mode and consistent shooter so they slipped to us at the 23rd overall pick and were seeded up the 60s I believe. The FEDS auto mode helped us complete 13 straight victories on the Galileo and 1 on Einstein before the Newton alliance knocked us out.

Also In Hartford Saturday we agree Bacon slipped too far.

[EricLeifermann]

My senior year on 93 in 2005 we were dead last after qualifications at Boilermaker, but got picked by 135 in the 2nd round and made it to the finals. We pushed the #1 seeded team to 4 matches and almost won.