Marvin, let’s talk about the technique involved with playing wide receiver. Continue reading
Senior Bowl Interview with Marvin Jones
Date Archives January 2012
Senior Bowl First Impressions
Day 1 Impressions
By Jene Bramel
Under the mentorship (and light hazing) of Matt and Cecil Lammey, I’m credentialed to cover the Senior Bowl for the first time and getting a crash course in the world of pre-draft scouting in Mobile this week. You can read our detailed scouting observations from Day 1 and check out Matt’s detailed thoughts on the Minnesota Vikings’ approach to teaching WR play at the New York Times’ Fifth Down blog [link forthcoming], but I thought I’d share a newbie’s perspective of the weigh-in and first afternoon practice. Continue reading
2012 RSP Writers Project Update
This project has generated a lot of positive feedback on the blog. Readers want to build teams with the guidelines we provide you and they have sent me questions to ask you (I have over 100 to choose from).
Just to refresh your memory, here’s the basics of the project:
The RSP Football Writers Project will include various football writers from around the country. They will each create a football team. They will be selecting these players from salary tiers provided for every player in football on a spreadsheet. Each football writer will have a salary cap. The job is to pick a team (starters and depth at each position) and then explain in writing the personnel decisions relative to salary, experience, talent, and system they plan to use on offense and defense. Think of it like one of those fantasy football games where you can pick any player (so no draft) but have to fit it in under the cap. The difference is more thought and care to an overall team concept is given and we’re not competing with the teams just presenting them and answering questions.
So far we have 24 participants – including the readers’ generated team – and there may be a few more before the month is over. Sigmund Bloom is developing the salary guidelines for the players and we have determined a basic schedule for the project: Continue reading
With draft season on its way, I’m putting this up the flagpole once again.
Reads Listens Views 1/20/2012
It has been a little over 24 hours since I announced the RSP Photo Caption Contest and the response has been good. Cecil, Chad, Michael, and Wes will be judging the quality of the captions on Wednesday after Senior Bowl practices. Since I’m just the tiebreaker, I thought I’d list some of the early favorites (from my perspective) for a shot at a free RSP (contest details and entry form can be found on this page):
- “Failed Fathead concepts.”
- “Bravo’s new hit series: The Real House Husbands of Tampa Bay.”
- “Can you tell which man is wearing Depends?”
- “AVN’s winner for worst adult film of all time: The Island of Misfit Boys”
A special thanks to these guys for taking one for the team. Now, onto the reads, listens, and views of the week – including some LaVon Brazill highlights. Continue reading
RSP Caption Contest: Win a free RSP
I lifted this photo from Cecil Lammey’s Facebook page. You have one week from tonight to give me a fitting caption for this photo. Make it funny, but keep it (reasonably) cool. If you want the nomination to even come before the judges panel don’t cross the line.
Most likely we’ll all be having dinner together on Wednesday night. I want to have a strong collection of nominees to present to these four to judge the best caption to go with the photo. I will be the tie-breaker judge if needed. The winner gets a free Rookie Scouting Portfolio publication from 2006-2012. Second and third place winners get a free RSP from 2006-2011 or a 50 percent discount on the 2012 RSP.
You must answer every question on the form to qualify. I might give out more RSPs for really funny self-deprecating facts. If you’re going to win for potentially busting on these guys, you better be able to deliver something funny about yourself.
The Caption Contest is Over. Winners Announced Here
Shrine Game Notables at Skill Positions
All-Star games are under way and if you want some good practice reports for the East West Shrine Game check out Cecil Lammey’s work, which will be posted daily on the Footballguys.com Shark Pool.
Cool Intermission
[youtube=http://youtu.be/mgLEAlYpSUQ]
While I’m finishing up more game film on Juron Criner and Chris Polk and still 8-10 hours from giving you some takes on the Shrine Game Participants, here’s a video performance of an old friend of mine who is a performer, arranger, and composer. Once you hear Darren Kramer play you’ll never hear the “paperclip” the same way again.
Roster Notables for 2012 Senior Bowl
This will be my third season watching prospects at the Senior Bowl and my second covering it for the New York Times Fifth Down Blog. Here are some of the prospects on the current roster list that I’m looking forward to watching up close and a few notes as to why.
WR Joe Adams, Arkansas: I don’t think Adams is the speed demon that Jacoby Ford is, but he has made a number of exciting plays the past couple of seasons when the ball is in his hands. I want to see Adams in drills where Continue reading
A Bait and Switch Fiesta: How Oklahoma State’s defense revealed chinks in Andrew Luck’s armor.
I’ve always loved movies about con men. I think con men are as American as apple pie.
-Bill Paxton, American actor and director.
Good football is about successfully perpetrating a con. Almost every element of the game is designed to persuade the opponent to fall for a bait and switch. The most basic techniques of head fakes, dead legs, spin moves, and swim moves are used to execute strategies like play action passes, trap blocks, shotgun draws, and fire zone blitzes to trick opponents into a vulnerable position and ultimately earn a team an advantage.
One of the best football games I saw last week was a seesaw affair in the Fiesta Bowl where Oklahoma State edged Stanford 41-38 in overtime. The most fascinating moments of the game came when OSU’s defense faced Stanford’s offense. Both units excel at the art of the bait and switch and the game’s first quarter was a display of strategic and technical savvy that makes football a riveting contest of trickery thinly disguised as a battle of brute force.
If the Cardinals offense is a road gang of con men, Continue reading