Posts tagged 2012 NFL Draft

Managing the Pocket Part I: Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill

0 Comments read Players, Quarterback
When it comes to managing the pocket, Texas A&M Ryan Tannehill put on a clinic in the first half  versus Oklahoma State in September ’11. Photo by SD Dirk.

Note: The analysis you’ll find in blog posts on RB David Wilson, WR Kendall Wright, and today, Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill are merely snapshots of plays I have compiled from game study. These spotlights focus on a subset of the individual’s talents or deficiencies and are not an overall report on the player. My comprehensive analysis of the player will be available April 1 in the 2012 Rookie Scouting Portfolio – now in its seventh year of publication.

Former Jets coach and personnel manager Pat Kirwan noted in his book Take Your Eye Off The Ball, that the only scrambling quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl was Steve Young. Some may infer from that fact that scramblers are not the ideal style of quarterback for an NFL team. I think it’s probably more accurate to take this statement as a historic reflection, but not a basic truth about today’s NFL.

I’m nitpicking the point because Fran Tarkenton, Steve McNair, John Elway, Brett Favre, and Donovan McNabb could all scramble and they led their teams to the Super Bowl. I believe the spirit of Kirwan’s statement is Continue reading →

Kendall Wright and the Money Catch

0 Comments read Players, Wide Receiver
Nyan Boateng earning his scholarship over the middle versus USC. This is the kind of play that receivers must make between the hashes to earn that second NFL contract. Photo by Avinash Kunnath.

If you didn’t see yesterday’s post, there’s more analysis of Kendall Wright’s routes here.

I love the intellectual component of football. There’s rich material to explore with every position, unit and team from the perspective of technique and strategy. It’s what I do here almost daily.

But to say football is essentially an intellectual game is horseshit. It’s far and away an emotional game. Hitting might require a technical component to doing it the right way, but it also requires violence to do it properly and violence is an emotional act.

Think I’m wrong? Take up boxing or a martial art and spar with an opponent. There’s a big difference between knowing how to Continue reading →

When “Flat” is Good: Route Running and Baylor WRs Kendall Wright and Terrance Williams

0 Comments read Players, Wide Receiver
Baylor WR Kendall Wright is a top prospect, but he still has things to learn as a route runner. Photo by GoIowaState

[Editor’s Note: The second route is actually one from Terrance Williams. Thanks for pointing this out, Bryan. However, the concept of making a correct break and not drifting away from the ball is still the same. ] See Also: Kendall Wright And The Money Catch.

For the next two months, I’ll be providing excerpts of film study I’m doing for my 2012 Rookie Scouting Portfolio publication, which will be available here on April 1. The David Wilson Vision Series is one example of what you’ll be seeing: analysis of one particular skill set of a player and his position. Although the Wilson Series was a little more comprehensive, you’re going to find highly critical or praiseworthy analysis on an aspect of a player that might not match my overall take that you’ll find in the 2012 RSP.

Kendall Wright is likely an example. There is a lot like like about the Baylor wide receiver and I won’t be surprised if he’s among my top prospects at his position. He’s explosive, dynamic after the catch, and he demonstrates some strong skills as a perimeter deep threat. In many respects he reminds me of what Mario Manningham brings to the table for the Giants, but has potential to become much more (of course, so does Manningham).

However, today’s post is about route running and like Manningham, when it comes to this aspect of the position Wright has things to learn. So does his talented counterpart, underclassman Terrance Williams. Continue reading →

David Wilson’s Vision: Part IV – Exploring the Gray Area

0 Comments read Players, Running Back
Wrapping up David Wilson Week at the RSP Blog with some good plays that might have been better in more experienced hands. Photo by Tech Sports.

If you’ve missed David Wilson Week at the RSP blog you can catch up by reading parts I, II, and III. If you want to start here that’s fine, too. No one is going to write you a ticket for improper blog reading.

Ever watch a ball carrier in a football game finish a good run and still wonder if his choices were the best ones? If you watch the game with any regularity it has probably crossed your mind numerous times. The “what-if” game is a natural part of being an avid football fan.

I had these questions arise while studying Virginia Tech RB David Wilson’s Sugar Bowl performance against Michigan. I frequently saw good runs where Wilson deserved praise for the work he did, but his decisions still left me wondering if he left better choices on the field. Would a runner with Wilson’s physical skills and greater vision been able to do more with these attempts? I don’t know if I have a good answer.

These runs are “gray area,” plays. I watched these runs enough to believe there’s a chance Wilson could have made a different decision and generated a better outcome on the play, but I think its highly debatable. Still, the alternative for each run profiled below is obvious enough to generate a post and potentially some worthwhile discussion. Continue reading →

RB David Wilson’s Vision: Part III – Flashes of Refined Play

0 Comments read Players, Running Back
David Wilson might rely too much on his superior athleticism, but there are flashes of maturity that I think he'll continue to develop as a pro. Photo by VaMedia

This has been David Wilson Week at the RSP blog. In case you missed it, here’s the analysis I have done – and what is still slated – for the Va. Tech runner:

What I have seen from Wilson this game are things that I’ve seen from him in other starts: He’s a runner with tremendous athleticism and fundamental skills, but occasional bouts of immaturity when it comes to applying the tools of his trade. One could have said the same thing about LeSean McCoy or Jamaal Charles when they were prospects – I know I did.

If you agree that Wilson is a quality RB prospect and accept the fact that he has shortcomings to address before he becomes a consistent and productive NFL starter, then the question becomes “how long will his transition take?” I think one telling indicator is if a running back prospect flashes moments of NFL-caliber decision-making. Another is how often that back flashes these moments despite immature plays like the ones I profiled of Wilson in the previous post.

I’m going to examine runs in this and the next post that I believe are good indicators for NFL success. The analysis in this post is a list of plays where Wilson shows some refined decision-making and skill. Continue reading →

RB David Wilson’s Vision: Part II – The Low Lights

0 Comments read Players, Running Back
David Wilson has the physical tools of a Pro Bowl RB, but the decision-making and patience of a college player. There's reason for optimism with this pro prospect, but find out his specific deficiencies as a runner based on film study. Photo by Michael Miller.

As I explained yesterday, Vision is often poorly defined as an abstract, catchall intangible that is vital to the success of a ball carrier. Vision should be something we actively try to define and despite its intuitive characteristics I believe there are major components of the skill set that running backs learn as late as years into their pro careers. Reggie Bush, C.J. Spiller, LeSean McCoy, and Jamaal Charles are recent backs that had to improve some aspect of their vision to complete that transition from promising prospect to effective performer.

One of the runners in the 2012 class with the skills to potentially make that transition from college star to NFL starter is Virginia Tech’s David Wilson. This four-part series on Wilson comes from analysis of a single game from Wilson for the 2012 Rookie Scouting Portfolio available here on April 1, 2012. I’m going to group the analysis of Wilson’s runs into four categories:

After studying two games and over 50 touches from the 2011 season, I believe Wilson is one of those players that my evaluation checklist will deliver a lower grade than the analysis seen in my evaluation profile. What I love about the RSP evaluation process is that when this happens, I generally know that I have a player with immense upside but clear deficiencies that might take time for him to address. Continue reading →

RB David Wilson’s Vision: Part I Raw Skill in Action

0 Comments read Players, Running Back
Virginia Tech RB David Wilson is the subject of a four-part study on his game, specifically his vision. Photo by Michael Miller.

To come to be you must have a vision of Being, a Dream, a Purpose, a Principle. You will become what your vision is.

  – Peter Nivio Zarlenga

Vision is a magical term. Even in the world of business, visionary leaders are seen as semi-fictional characters. For all of his petulance, coldness, and cruelty towards friends, employees, and business partners, Steve Jobs’ vision transformed Apple into a real life WonkaVille.

Football players with great vision also seem magical. Watch a highlight of Gale Sayers, Barry Sanders, or Ladainian Tomlinson in their prime and their performances frequently dance along the borders of the impossible. Great vision in football is said to be intuitive. Many scouts say it can’t be taught. I agree with much of the first statement, but not with the second.
Continue reading →

What to Expect from the Senior Bowl

0 Comments read Reads Listens Views
Quinton Coples anchors a South squad defensive front that should have a good day in the Senior Bowl game. Photo by Jene Bramel.

College all-star game practices are different every year because there’s always a new coaching staff running them. This year, both the Redskins and Vikings coaches did less with its running backs and quarterbacks than what I saw in team practices run by the Lions, Bengals, Bills, and Dolphins in recent years. The same can be said about defensive players in general, because they are not allowed to finish plays.

The game will provide a little more insight into these players where practice couldn’t. Although film study of players during their college careers is still far and away more important than what this game will reveal, I thought it worthwhile to share what I believe you’ll see in the actual North-South match up. Here’s what I saw in Mobile this week that I believe will translate to the game: Continue reading →

Jene Bramel: Scheme Versatility

0 Comments read Matt Waldman
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 →

2012 RSP Writers Project Update

0 Comments read RSP Writers Project
The RSP Football Writers Project is no fantasy league. You'll pay the price for taking a player the caliber of Tom Brady. Photo by Jeffrey Beall.

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 →