Jene Bramel Part III

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Jene Bramel (pictured to the right) grew up a Bengals fan. Cartoon by Bearman2007

If you’re an offensive-centric fan of the NFL or you play fantasy football the same way your older brother taught you then you need to read this interview with Jene Bramel.

The Footballguys.com staff writer is one of the best fantasy writers you don’t know about because he is recognized as one of the go-to guys for leagues featuring individual defensive players (IDP). Even if your leagues are strictly offensive players, his knowledge of defenses will make you a better decision maker with offensive talent.

In part III of our conversation, Jene and I use the phrase “crap shoot,” enough to think it’s a PG-13 summer movie, but I promise its only in the context of discussing fantasy football.

Waldman: Why are you such a fan of the defensive side of the football?

Bramel: I think that’s sort of what drew me to football in the first place. Continue reading →

Eye Catching Tweets 8/9

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Tebow is a "gamer," not a practice player. But he better improve as a practice player to see the field. Photo by Jeffrey Beall.

 

Norv Turner announces San Diego will use a two back system (Ryan Mathews, Mike Tolbert)

SigmundBloom: Two back system in SD: chargers.com/news/article-1… – Tolbert is not going away, folks.

evansilva: Ryan Mathews to miss preseason opener w/ leg strain. Has also battled conditioning, toe inj, “general soreness” in camp http://bit.ly/pikOX3

My Take: Of course Tolbert isn’t going away! At the same time, the two back system Norv Turner is now mentioning to the media is a 180 change Continue reading →

Conversation with Jene Bramel Part II

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DeSean Jackson is probably glad that Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will be a player he only faces in practice. If the free agent acquisition plays to his potential, Jene Bramel sees 1-2 more sacks per game for the Eagles defense. Photo by MPR529.

If you’re an offensive-centric fan of the NFL or you play fantasy football the same way your older brother taught you then you need to read this interview with Jene Bramel.

The Footballguys.com staff writer is one of the best fantasy writers you don’t know about because he is recognized as one of the go-to guys for leagues featuring individual defensive players (IDP). Even if your leagues are strictly offensive players, his knowledge of defenses will make you a better decision maker with offensive talent.

In part II of our conversation, Jene and I discussed 2011 free agency on the defenses that fared well or poorly in the open market for players. We also continue the conversation about the difficulty of evaluating safety talent, which NFL Draft Scout’s Chad Reuter broached in an earlier interview. And to wrap up this portion of our conversation, Jene and I discuss the roles of head coaches and coordintors and why he favors the zone blitz. Continue reading →

Eye Catching Tweets from NFL Camp 8/8

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According to Falcons RB Michael Turrner, Jacquizz Rodgers was a victim of child abuse in Sunday's practice. Photo by Greg Keene.

Quick Takes for Monday

Jacquizz Rodgers

Atlanta_Falcons: Mike Peterson gives Jacquizz Rodgers a friendly pop after a screen. Turner yells to Pete, “Quit picking on little kids!

My Take: Looks like Rodgers got a taste of Monday a day early. Welcome to the NFL. I’m sure you’re time will come. But this year will be a seat at the kiddie table. Continue reading →

Conversation with Footballguys’ Jene Bramel

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Despite the excitement over the DT duo of Vince Wilfork and Albert Haynesworth, Footballguys.com Jene Bramel believes that Bill Belichick will need to be at his imaginative best to mask the vulnerabilities of this 4-3 unit. Photo by 0B1.

If you’re an offensive-centric fan of the NFL or you play fantasy football the same way your older brother taught you then you need to read this interview with Jene Bramel.

The Footballguys.com staff writer is one of the best fantasy writers you don’t know about because he is recognized as one of the go-to guys for leagues featuring individual defensive players (IDP). Even if your leagues are strictly offensive players, his knowledge of defenses will make you a better decision maker with offensive talent.

In the first part of this conversation, Bramel and I discuss how the new Patriots 4-3 alignment might be more vulnerable than people think despite the current excitement in training camp over the defensive tackle tandem of Albert Haynesworth and Vince Wilfork. Continue reading →

Eye Catching Tweets From NFL Camps 8/7

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Is Browns runner Montario Hardesty dealing with a setback or just the reality that he's not yet physically at the point where he orignally told reporters? Photo by Tennessee Journalist Wade Rackley.

While training camp is in session I will be selecting eye catching tweets from NFL beat writers, fantasy football writers, and football analysts, posting them here, and providing my take on the tweet.

Steve Smith (Carolina)

@josephperson Steve Smith: CAR new O is refreshing. Says Chudzinski is using him more effectively than Fox’s staff.

My Take: Smith says that Chudzinski is motioning him around the formation to gain more mismatches prior to the snap. This movement should also create easier opportunities for Cam Newton to process under center. I’m still skeptical that Smith is going to return to a level of production that rivals the height of his career, but the ability is still there. I also expect Greg Olsen to preoccupy safeties enough for Smith to see more single coverage. For you fantasy owners out there, I think Smith is worth a mid-round risk.

(More) James Starks

RobDemovsky: Looks like Starks is the third down back. He was in on third-and-13 with three wides and a TE.

Continue reading →

Hall of Fame and Tweets 8/6

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Lott's bust even looks fierce. Might be the best rendition of any player in that sense.
A couple of months ago I had a chance to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here’s the link to the original post with a slideshow of the exhibit.

Blaine Gabbert

ChrisWesseling: From @PriscoCBS: What I saw from Gabbert is “like nothing I’ve witnessed on any #Jaguars‘ practice field in 16 years.” http://bit.ly/ptc4Mw

Continue reading →

Reads, Listens, and Views…and Tweets 8/5

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How good are UTEP's Kris Adams (Bears) and Cincinnati's Armon Binns (Jags)? The 2011 RSP has the low-down. Collage by Matt Waldman.

A great week of football at the Rookie Scouting Portfolio. A healthy dose of training camp helps. Special thanks to all of you who have subscribed to the blog or have made it part of your daily ritual. If you like what you’ve seen thus far, please consider these three acts of kindness: Continue reading →

Eye Catching Tweets From NFL Camps 8/4

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I don't know what kind of arm Ochocinco has, but Dez Bryant apparently has a great one. Link to a video demonstration at the end of this post. Photo by Navin Rajagopalan.

Twitter is a great place to get camp updates but they come so fast and furious, I thought I’d pick a few about players from various beat writers and provide my takes on these quick reports. 

Derrick Mason:

@jamisonhensley is reporting Derrick. Mason will sign with the #Jets tomorrow. If he does Floyd needs to be a Raven by the end of the day

My Take: I don’t know about Floyd “needing” to be a Raven. Sounds like panicky thinking to me if that happens. Seriously is it just me, or does the Ravens possibly  going from Derrick Mason to Malcolm Floyd feeling like settling? Continue reading →

Sigmund Bloom Part III

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Footballguys/Draftguys writer Sigmund Bloom mentions Cadillac Williams as an under appreciated NFL player - not fantasy player - NFL player. Bloom could see him as the 2000s version of Rocky Bleier. Photo by Sienc.

In this part of my conversation with Sigmund Bloom, Footballguys senior staff writer and Draftguys co-founder, we discuss under appreciated NFL players, emerging NFL players, the Bloom 100, what he’s watching when he’s evaluating players, and why he plays in 25-plus fantasy leagues .

Waldman: Aside from fantasy football, just as a fan of the game, tell me about some players you’ve seen as you watch all of these games who you feel are underappreciated to the average fan.

Bloom: Yeah. Wow. Of course, I’m going to start with the Pittsburgh Steelers. If you watch what they ask their players to do then you’ll understand why James Farrior is the guy that James Harrison, Lamar Woodley, and Lawrence Timmons get a lot more attention because of him. Posse is just there every game whether it’s coverage, whether it’s run-stuffing, whether it’s blitzing. This is the guy that has really been the unsung hero of that Steelers defense. And I really believe that because of the guys he plays with – Troy Polamalu – he is never going to be one of the first people mentioned in a discussion of great NFL linebackers but as a lifelong Steelers fan and someone who is passionate about the Steelers organization, he is one of those guys.

Some of the other players…somebody who has never gotten due is Cadillac Williams. He’s persevered through so many injuries. To come all the way back and then suffer another catastrophic injury twice…and he was clutch for Tampa Bay last year! Them becoming a winning team last year was a lot due to the offense and he did some amazing things on third down for this team. I’m honestly shocked that they aren’t trying to bring him back. I think whomever he goes to will find that he will be an important contributor and fan favorite. I can only hope that the Pittsburgh Steelers will be one of the teams that eventually gets in the running for him. We’re not going to talk about how great Williams is for fantasy football, but I do believe he is a player who has great value to a team.

Waldman: He could be the modern day version of Rocky Bleier.

Bloom: Yeah, without the shrapnel in his leg… Continue reading →