Posts tagged Fantasy Football Rookies

The Jadeveon Clowney RSP Contest

July 2, 2013 0 Comments read RSP Publication

I think this would be a good tattoo for Jadeveon Clowney. Photo by ToteMoon.

I can’t think of a better tone setter for the college football season/2014 NFL Draft season than a piece on South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. I’m writing a piece on him for the fall and I want you to help me come up with clever names for what happens on this play below. The five-best entries will win a copy of the 2013 Rookie Scouting Portfolio or a past copy of their choice. Details below.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/gC44nP7ClxM]

Post your entry in the form below. You may enter as many times as you wish. I have a feeling that the fewer the words (four or less) used, the better. However, if you have a longer phrase to describe what Clowney does to Vincent Smith on this play by all means give it a shot.

As tempting (and entertaining for me) as it might be, entries with curse words will be disqualified from consideration. If I use more than one of your entries in the publication the prize remains your choice of one publication. I also reserve the right to deem you among the winners but not use the phrase in the article (although I hope to include the best five).

The contest ends in 10 days (Friday, July 12). Winners will be announced a week after the contest end date (Friday, July 19).

Ready?

[contact-form][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Location’ type=’text’/][contact-field label=’Comment’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]

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

August 5, 2011 0 Comments read Reads Listens Views

2011RSPCollage — 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 →

Top UDFA TEs

July 26, 2011 0 Comments read Players, Tight End

Iowa State's Collin Franklin has the pass-catching skills to contribute as a role player. Photo by Go Iowa State.com

Due to the lockout, 2011 could be more difficult than usual for undrafted free agents trying to make it in the NFL. Yet, there will be players with the talent, the skill, and the work ethic to enter a camp and make the most of their limited opportunities. This week, I’m profiling offensive skill players who I believe have the ability to develop into quality professionals if they have been training hard enough in this crazy offseason to hit the ground running. Profiles of these players are excerpts from my publication, the 2011 Rookie Scouting Portfolio, available at Footballguys.com

Will Yeatman, Maryland (6-6, 273): In some respects Will Yeatman reminds me of the Bears’ Kellen Davis and potentially Rob Gronkowski. All three are big, strong tight ends with fluid athleticism and soft hands. Davis has progressed enough in the Bears offense that there are rumors this offseason that starter Ben Olsen could be dealt away.

Yeatman is a former lacrosse player with quick feet. He makes fast turns as a route runner and he has enough strength to carry a defender on his back for extra yards. He’ll also lower his pads into contact and its this type of agility and flexibility for his size that makes him promising. He catches the ball away from his body and he’s a decisive player who seems comfortable on the field. He finds open seams very well as a receiver and he has a skill for creating space against single coverage.

Yeatman has limited game experience because Continue reading →

Top UDFA RBs

July 25, 2011 0 Comments read Players, Running Back

SAine — Brandon Saine is a terrific receiver from the backfield, but does he have the complete game to contribute in the NFL? Photo by Indiana Public Media http://www.flickr.com/photos/wfiupublicradio/

SpannPartIII — Chad Spann runs with the smarts, quickness, and toughness seen from the likes of Priest Holmes and Ahmad Bradshaw.

Chad Spann, N. Illinois (5-9, 198): Every year, I have at least 2-3 backs rated higher than most. Some of them are players who are drafted late or not drafted at all. Ahmad Bradshaw was one of them. Spann is another. He’s a fluid player with a high motor, a muscular bubble, and low center of gravity who can set up a defense to get an open lane and finish strong.

Spann ran through as many hits as any back I studied this year and he has a noticeably explosive burst from his cuts. He possesses a slippery but determined running style that has a lot of intelligent decision-making behind it. When I watched Spann, he reminded me of Priest Holmes Continue reading →

Top UDFA WRs

July 25, 2011 0 Comments read Players, Wide Receiver

Terrence Toliver has the size and budding skills to work his way onto a roster if he develops more consistency. Photo by Arete13 http://www.flickr.com/photos/arete13/4041805928/

Dane Sanzenbacher (5-11, 180): The two words that best encapsulate Sanzenbacher as a football player are “smart” and tough.” I saw the smarts up close at the Senior Bowl when Sanzenbacher was brought to Mobile as an injury replacement on day two of practice. He walked onto the field and received a crash course on the routes and the passing system that the Bengals used while he was still getting equipment. Fifteen minutes later, Sanzenbacher was consistently the best route runner on the field. He was also one
of the more adept receivers at gaining a release against press coverage in drills. The Bengals coach was effusive with praise with every rep because of Sanzenbacher’s precision and speed.

This skill with routes is nothing new to anyone who watched him at Ohio State. He understands zones and he knows how to fluidly run a route to set up the defense. Sanzenbacher also executes breaks with strong footwork and hip movement. He knows how to avoid jams at the line of scrimmage and his angles on breaks are consistently strong enough for him to get good depth and help his QB make an optimal throw.

Sanzenbacher’s pass catching is just as strong. Continue reading →

Conversation with NFL Draft Scout’s Chad Reuter Part I

July 24, 2011 0 Comments read Matt Waldman

Stopwatch — NFL Draft Scout Senior Analyst Chad Reuter and Matt Waldman discuss the science, craft, and art of talent evaluation.

If you thought ESPN analyst Matt Williamson’s path to becoming a paid evaluator of talent was unusual, consider NFL Draft Scout.com senior analyst Chad Reuter. The Wisconsin native learned about the craft of personnel evaluation from a decade of interactions with NFL scouts and general managers. Although he lacks a football background, he managed to transform a hobby into a job because of his tremendous analytical skills, sincere passion for the game, and a veteran scout’s work ethic. In this multi-part conversation, Reuter and I spent a couple of hours discussing a variety of topics related to player evaluation. In this portion of the conversation, Chad and I talk about offensive line play, evaluating technique versus results, and balancing these two behaviors with the craft of projecting a player’s future in the NFL.

Waldman: Are there any positions you enjoy evaluating more than others?

Reuter: I’m an offensive line guy. I love watching the line. I think it is one of the more under-appreciated positions in terms of scouting because it is not just about the physical or mental characteristics of the player. There is also a lot of differences with what coaches want.

Waldman: What are things the average person should appreciate more about line play? Continue reading →

UDFA QB Adam Froman

July 24, 2011 0 Comments read Players, Quarterback

Not a touchdown... — The most athletic QB in the 2011 Draft Class? Newton? Gabbert? Locker? Taylor? Maybe. But Adam Froman belongs near the top of this list. He can throw, too. Photo by algaedoc http://www.flickr.com/photos/by-ken/

This week, I’m profiling offensive skill players who I believe have the ability to develop into quality professionals if they have been training hard enough in this crazy offseason to hit the ground running. Profiles of these players are excerpts from my publication, the 2011 Rookie Scouting Portfolio, available at Footballguys.com

Adam Froman 6-4, 219: Froman is a JUCO transfer who really didn’t become a passing quarterback until he went to a junior college in Santa Rosa, California. He devleoped into an efficient JUCO passer and carried over that 60 percent completion rate during his next two seasons at Louisville.

There are other numbers that are even more impressive in the spring: 4.55 and 4.08. These times are his 40 and 20-yard shuttle numbers and they are among thebest of any QB in this class loaded with impressive athletes like Newton, Gabbert, Locker and Tyrod Taylor. Continue reading →

ESPN Analyst Matt Williamson Part III

July 20, 2011 0 Comments read Matt Waldman

San_Francisco_49ers-original — ESPN NFL analyst Matt Williamson discusses his transition from the NFL to major media. Photo by The Brit_2 http://www.flickr.com/photos/26686573@N00

ESPN analyst Matt Williamson is a former NFL scout for the Cleveland Browns. He agreed to talk about a variety of topics in a three-part interview at The Rookie Scouting Portfolio. In Part I, Williamson discusses an emerging NFL offensive trend with personnel and then explains the difference between scouting for a football team and a media conglomerate. In Part II, Williamson tells the story of his ascent to football’s biggest stage despite never playing the game. In this final installment, Williamson discusses his role with the Browns, his transition to ESPN, and the resources he uses to continue learning about the game and its players.

Waldman: What were your responsibilities with the Browns?

Williamson: I was equal parts NFL and college scout. I was in charge of the NFC West. I had to have a grade on every player in the NFC West at all times and be on top of all of the player movement for that position.

Then I had 20-25 schools: Penn State, Maryland, Marshall, West Virginia, Pitt, the New York area. More or less anywhere you could drive six hours from Cleveland. You put a circle around Cleveland – more east than anything – and that’s where I was. Then I was crosschecking on a lot of the other stuff, too. Everyone had their own region.

Waldman: You were there for the 2005 NFL Draft. Were you a part of that process?

Williamson: That’s the year we selected Braylon Edwards. We picked third in the draft. The war room leading up to the draft was amazing. I did speak my mind a little too much, but oh well.

Waldman: Why do you think that?

Williamson: Every GM or head coach is different. Some want more conversation about players in the war room than others. It’s something you have to get a feel for.

But it did surprise me how bashful some guys were. I mean, all of our reports were due well before we sat down to talk about these players so everyone knew what you thought of the player.

Speak your mind. The only way to be great and be able to sleep at night is to say what you think. You do that well on the air.

Waldman: Thanks. Without getting into too much detail, what was the basic scouting system like in Cleveland?

Williamson: It’s a standardized report that is entered into their system They still have them. I’m sure they can access my scouting report on DeMarcus Ware, Shawne Merriman, Pac-Man Jones, and all the guys I went to see.

Waldman: What were some of your favorite parts of the job?

Williamson: Like I said before, the war room leading up to the draft was great. So was game day. The intensity of it and being on the sideline was unbelievable – I really miss that. I also learned a lot from having the chance to drop into position meetings whenever I wanted.

Waldman: How did your time come to an end in Cleveland? Continue reading →

Emerging NFL Talents: WR “Big” Mike Williams

July 18, 2011 0 Comments read Players, Wide Receiver

Although my takes on the players in the next series of posts might be useful to fantasy owners, this isn’t a fantasy football article. I’m not projecting stats. I’m writing about talented players whose portfolio of work reveals techniques and behaviors that I think translate well to the NFL game. At the end of the year, you might look at the stats and conclude that the quantity of the production wasn’t eye-catching for each of these emerging talents. However, I believe their work will be impressive enough for opposing teams, fans, and more astute fantasy owners to take future notice.

Mike Williams technically “emerged” last year when he finally arrived at an NFL facility in football shape. He ascended from camp long shot to starting receiver and in 13 starts he accumulated 68 receptions, 751 yards, and 2 scores. Not bad for a guy who hadn’t played competitive football for two seasons.

Fortunately, Williams’ offseason workout regimen demonstrates that he has figured out what it takes to become a professional football player. At age 27, Williams could produce at a high level for another 7-8 years if he maintains this new-found work ethic. Considering the Seahawks lacked a quality veteran receiver with a strong, multifaceted game to start opposite Williams in 2010, I believe last year was a promising sign for things to come. Continue reading →

ESPN Analyst Matt Williamson Part I

July 17, 2011 0 Comments read Matt Waldman

FootballJayelAheram — ESPN analyst Matt Williamson joined Matt Waldman to talk football. Williamson, a former college director and NFL scout, shares his story and perspective on the game in this multi-part conversation. Photo by Jayel Aheram

Waldman: What is a positional trend in the NFL that you believe is really making a league-wide impact?

Williamson: One thing that I think is really becoming more prevalent and I think that we’ll continue to see much more of it is hybrid offensive players. People that come to mind are Aaron Hernandez, Dallas Clark, Reggie Bush, and Percy Harvin. Now Harvin doesn’t count as much as those others, but the rest of those guys are all in really good offenses with smart quarterbacks – which is absolutely a necessity.

The problem they present to defenses is how do you count them? If you are a defensive coordinator and Reggie Bush is on the field with a fullback, a tight end, and two wide outs are you going to call Bush a running back and just play a base defense against him? Okay, that’s cool… Continue reading →