Category Matt Waldman

Q&A w/Chron.com’s Texans Chick Steph Stradley

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Will the Texans draft a complement for Andre Johnson or his eventual replacement? Steph Stradley and talk Texans draft on her Houston Chronicle blog.

Steph Stradley, who is known as the Texans Chick, has an excellent blog on The Houston Chronicle’s web site. We took some time to do a Q&A about the Texans draft. Here’s an except below and a link to the rest:

. . . In any event, just as I love talking Texans football, Matt loves talking draft. My kind of people.

Our Discussion Below:

Steph: Everybody is talking Texans and wide receiver. Things I think that the Texans may value for their wide receivers over some other teams in no particular are:

1. Special teams ability and speed for same (very key for WR and corners. If they can’t get on field right away as starter, they want as special teams return option because Kubiak hates specialists).

2. Captain, leadership, love of football, good lockerroom guy, bright, hardworking, can pick up details of playbook quickly (applies to all positions on the field).

3. Route running

4. Hands

5. Blocking (this may translate into size–they like being able to run out of formations that usually signal pass but they can block with a WR players typically blocked by TEs).

6. From Texas/southern. Guys who may want to stay in this part of the world after their first contract. Can deal with heat.

I think they may take a big WR and a slot special teams sort of guy. I also think that their draft board tends to look very different than consensus Kiper boards. So I’m looking for some unconventional choices too. Think they are perpetually chasing the modern Rod Smith–a value who can take advantage of the offensive scheme.

Question 1: With these items in mind, which wide receivers might the Texans target at or near the bottom of the first round?

Matt: “A lot of the better NFL receivers of the past 10-15 years have remained productive well into their mid-thirties so I’m not concerned about Andre Johnson’s immediate future. So when I listen you’re run-down of what you believe the Texans want from their receivers I think you’re on the money. It means the team is likely seeking a flanker (Z receiver) to complement Johnson, but has the vertical prowess to take over Johnson’s role as the X.

The receivers projected to go in the 1st-2nd round after Kendall Wright and Justin Blackmon include Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd, LSU’s Reuben Randle, Rutgers’ Mohamed Sanu, and Georgia Tech’s Stephen Hill.

Neither Blackmon nor Sanu are vertical threats – they will never become X receivers. But they are physical, glue-fingered flankers that can get yardage after the catch and return kicks. Blackmon is the better route runner, but (read the rest of the Q&A here) . . .

Wake Up Call: Notable 40 Times

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Arian Foster breaks a ton of big runs, but the stopwatch at the NFL Combine ran out of juice before he crossed the finish line. See who else lost the Underwear Olympics, but helps NFL teams win games. Photo by Wade Rackley.

Riddles for you. What do you call a wide receiver that runs in the 4.61-4.72 range in the 40 at the NFL Combine or Pro Day?

What about a running back that runs 4.66-4.69?

A bust?

Yeah, in February. Maybe in April. But you better try on some different labels for the guy come September.

NFL starter. League receptions leader. Perennial Pro Bowler. Super Bowl star. Here are some notable 40 times for players in the annual Underwear Olympics broadcast on NFL Network. Continue reading →

Jene Bramel: Scheme Versatility

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Oklahoma State safety Markelle Martin is a fine example of a scheme versatile player. Photo by A Cooper Kemp.

NFL offenses continue to stretch the binding of their playbooks. Many offenses have gone to spread concepts as their base alignment, using multiple receivers on every down. Those receiving options aren’t necessarily traditional wideouts. The New England Patriots have generated match up nightmares over the past two seasons by huddling with two tight ends and/or a running back that could line up anywhere in the formation.

To adjust, many teams have chosen to become multiple with their defensive playbooks. Defenders who can match up well regardless of how an offense breaks the huddle have quickly become hot commodities. A player who can rush the passer effectively from a two or three point stance but also handle underneath zone responsibilities or a safety who can drop down and cover a tight end or receiver in the slot or a defensive lineman that can play multiple roles across the line will draw attention from more teams and see their draft stock rise accordingly.

NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock often preaches Continue reading →

Senior Bowl Day Three Observations

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Lennon Creer's pass protection had some bright moments today during his first day of Senior Bowl practice as Clemson FB Chad Diehl's replacement. Photo by Westside Shooter.

Wide Receivers

Marvin Jones, Cal: The North receivers ran a variation of a four-cone drill that ended with a pass thrown after the final turn among these four cones and then cut between a narrow alley between two cones. After Marvin McNutt felt his way through the cones at 3/4 speed, Jones breezed through the cones as fast as any receiver participating in the drill – on the first try. He’s a light-footed runner with strong change of direction and his technique was on display drill after drill at the beginning of practice Coach Stewart approached Jones and told him “excellent job today, Jones.”

Stewart said it loud enough from the 30 yard line to Jones at the 15 that I could hear the coach 28 rows up from the end zone. Later in practice, Continue reading →

Fifth Down Blog Sr. Bowl Practice Notes

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Combine this lunch at Saucy Q with the New York Times Fifth Down Blog Practice Reports and you almost have the complete Senior Bowl experience at home. Photo by Cecil Lammey.

Here’s a current list of links to this week’s practice notes from the Senior Bowl:

Tomorrow morning we’ll have a wrap-up of the practice sessions that includes overall thoughts. Jene Bramel and I may also share some thoughts here. I also have at least two more player interviews and forthcoming Q&A with ESPN 102.3 Broncos Insider, Audible Host, and Footballguys writer Cecil Lammey.

Senior Bowl First Impressions

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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 →

Roster Notables for 2012 Senior Bowl

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Cyrus Gray is one of my fave RBs this year in a class dominated by juniors. Photo by SD Dirk.

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 →

Free Playoff Fantasy Football

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Didn’t get to draft Calvin Johnson this year in your fantasy league? Draft him weekly (or as long as the Lions remain alive) at Fantasy Throwdown. Photo by MattBritt00.

You can’t beat the intensity of the NFL playoffs, but you can add to it with one-on-one fantasy football. Mike MacGregor and I are holding playoff fantasy football all the way through the Super Bowl at Fantasy Throwdown.

That’s right, you can have a Super Bowl fantasy match up. In fact, we’re holding a playoff tournament right now with 24 players participating in four, one-on-one games this week. If you missed the tourney, you can still challenge a friend or someone on the site – its easy to play and difficult to stop!

Here’s the basics (for more complete directions go here):

  • Challenge a friend or another person on the site.
  • You and your opponent determine the three games for that week that will comprise your player draft pool.
  • Pick your games wisely as well as your draft order, because you each get to block a player from the draft pool during the draft. If there’s only two good QBs from those games you selected, you can set it up to force your opponent to settle for a scrub.
  • Draft your team.

Drafts take 10 minutes if you and your opponent are both online. Or you can stretch out the draft throughout the course of the week or even do predraft settings. Play standard or IDP, PPR or non-PPR while chatting live with your opponent if you wish.

Mike MacGregor: Evolution of Fantasy Football Players

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Play me or your friends in free games of one-on-one fantasy football.

Mike MacGregor is the founder of the 1-on-1 game, FantasyThrowdown.com. and I thought I’d share his message with you about the evolution of the hobby and the people playing it. 

Evolution of Fantasy Football Players

We are right in the thick of traditional fantasy football league playoff time, Weeks 14-16 of the NFL season, and a lot of our players are concentrating on those playoffs over playing their typical slate of Fantasy Throwdown games.

That’s cool, and we’re perfectly fine with that. One of the great things about Fantasy Throwdown, in our not entirely humble opinion, is that you can play a lot, or play a little. It is completely flexible since we are playing new games week to week. Continue reading →