Posts tagged Jene Bramel

Reads Listens Views 6/1/2012

0 Comments read Reads Listens Views

[youtube=http://youtu.be/gRk5Jo8iSYQ]

Welcome to Reads Listens Views. It’s my Friday space where, in contrast to the rest of the week, I write less about football and share a little more about life in general. I’d like to thank my avid readers for your patronage during the quiet months of late spring-early summer. I’m growing more attached to this blog with each passing month. Hopefully, everyone has been getting good use of the 2012 RSP and 2012 RSP Post-Draft addendum.

If you have a dynasty draft coming up and haven’t downloaded it, you’ll love it. I have a lot of first-timers this year that have told me how pleased they are with it. I’m also days away from cutting my second donation to Darkness to Light, thanks to my readers. Every $10 I’ve been able to donate on behalf of the RSP pays for training of an adult to understand how to combat and prevent sexual abuse in the community.

Football Reads Continue reading →

Reads Listens Views 4/20/2012

0 Comments read Reads Listens Views

12th Rounder…

[youtube=http://youtu.be/sdZi8ajZRfA]

Appreciation

I’m incredibly thankful to have the readers I do. I have thoroughly enjoyed the feedback I’ve received this month from those of you downloading the 2012 Rookie Scouting Portfolio. And by popular demand, I am finally writing a post-draft add-on to the 2012 RSP, which will be available with the publication beginning May 6.

If you purchase the 2012 RSP before the draft, keep your login and password and it will allow you to download the add-on at no extra charge (Note: I am not selling the add-on separately, because the information is based on the research and analysis presented in the book.). So far the response to the add-on has been spectacular. Continue reading →

Reads Listens Views 2/17/2012

0 Comments read Reads Listens Views

Here’s What A Once In A Lifetime Player Looks Like

[youtube=http://youtu.be/H0GCixb2QjI]

Lather, rinse, repeat . . .

Thank You And More Comin’

NFL Draft Season is clearly underway and there’s a lot of great information available online. For those of you just getting acquainted with the Rookie Scouting Portfolio, thank you for visiting – and thank you for the massive (at least for me) immediate following on my RSP Facebook page. Check it out and like it if you haven’t (I gave away 8 free copies of past RSPs there yesterday). If you’re a long-time listener be a first-time caller and leave me a post about the RSP on the wall.

Best of all, Continue reading →

Stacking Up To Jason Pierre-Paul

0 Comments read Players, Reads Listens Views
A good template for any aspiring, 4-3 NFL defensive end is Jason Pierre-Paul. Jene Bramel breaks it down as well as anyone. Photo by Mike Morbeck.

By Jene Bramel

Editor’s Note: Dr. Jene Bramel is a staff writer at Footballguys.com where he is among the best in the fantasy football business analyzing individual defensive players and player injuries. His top-notch work includes the columns “Reading the Defense,” “Second Opinion,” and his popular segments on The Audible podcasts. You can find more of his analysis of Quinton Coples against the run and the pass. Follow Jene on Twitter @JeneBramel.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/0p8dO-6nlcU]

When asked at the Senior Bowl to compare his playing style to that of any current NFL defensive lineman, Quinton Coples chose Jason Pierre-Paul – the latest in a recent line of talented New York Giants’ defensive ends.

The comparison isn’t unreasonable. Both players are long and athletic and capable of stretches of dominant play. At times, when he uses his refined and preferred inside swim move or is able to get under his opponent’s pads and set a strong edge against the run, Coples’ play resembles that of Pierre-Paul.

Unlike Coples, Pierre-Paul has learned to play with a consistent pad level on every snap. In my last post, I highlighted two plays in which Coples quickly and cleanly beat the tackle off the ball but fail to finish the play due to poor technique. In this post, I’ll contrast Coples’ sloppy pad level, footwork and pass rush angles with those of the technically sound Pierre-Paul. Continue reading →

UNC DE Quinton Coples: The Importance of Pad Level

0 Comments read Players
Is UNC defensive end Quinton Coples the next Jason Pierre-Paul? Jene Bramel says the potential is there but like everything earned in life, he has to put in the work to hone his gifts. Photo by Jene Bramel.

By Jene Bramel

Editor’s Note: Dr. Jene Bramel is a staff writer at Footballguys.com where he is among the best in the fantasy football business analyzing individual defensive players and player injuries. His top-notch work includes the columns “Reading the Defense,” “Second Opinion,” and his popular segments on The Audible podcasts. Jene would never tell you these things himself, but since I get to play editor he just has to deal with the fact that he’s getting the praise he deserves. Whenever I get the chance I beg him (and on occasion, “throw” a basketball game or two), to contribute here at the RSP blog. Follow Jene on Twitter @JeneBramel.

UNC’s Quinton Coples has the frame and body type that makes scouts drool and defensive line coaches want to stand on a table. That’s not hard to do when a defensive end from an ACC school has the height (6’6″), weight (281 pounds), hands (10-plus inches), arm length (33-plus inches), and wingspan (in excess of 80 inches) that makes him a top-10 prospect in most drafts.

Although his frame and athleticism are NFL-ready, Coples has flaws in his technique that may keep him from reaching his vast potential during his rookie year. Coples isn’t alone in this regard. Continue reading →

Super Bowl Linkstravaganza

0 Comments read Reads Listens Views
Ahmad Bradshaw and Aaron Hernandez have been two of my current favortes at their positions. I understand why Bill Parcells mentioned them as pivotal players to watch this weekend. Photo by Ted Kerwin.

Here’s some notable posts past and present from here and elsewhere to get you prepped for the game:

Super Bowl Preview: Bill Belichick’s Blitz Package – I may be an offensive guy, but I love Blitzology. I feel like I should be paying this blog for the lessons.

Jokers – Why Aaron Hernandez is the ultimate chess piece for the Patriots.

Pats Two-TE Sets: A Long Time Coming? Later this year, I read a good Yahoo! piece on Belichick experimenting with this two-TE set in Detroit with Charlie Sanders and David Hill.

Ode to the War Daddies – Chris Brown’s fantastic piece on the way Belichick approaches defensive schemes.

Play Defense, Not Defenses – Jene Bramel paving the way in Week 1 with this thought Brown elaborated on at Grantland.

 

Reads, Listens, Views 1/27/12

0 Comments read Reads Listens Views

The RSP Caption Contest Winner is….

Having to play catch up. I thought I’d have it later in the day but I changed this entry to reflect the entry I made later about readers voting on it.

Views

[youtube=http://youtu.be/boy0tkwcv-A]

Marvin Jones Highlights from 2010 (Hat tip to ninersnation.com for mentioning my blog and finding this highlight package). What you’ll find here are strong examples of body control, hand-eye coordination, patience and toughness (not necessarily power) as a runner, and good speed and quickness. I also think you’ll see some of the light-footed precision as a route runner.

Reads

Jene Bramel’s list of Senior Bowl participants with Scheme Versatility.

Wes Bunting’s Senior Bowl Stockwatch and the Senior Bowl’s Top 10 Prospects.

Josh Norris’ Senior Bowl Report of the offense.

The most popular books bought by Smart Football readers.

Listens

[youtube=http://youtu.be/ZrJzzjx583c]

John Abercrombie trio “Bo Diddy”

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 →

Fifth Down Blog Sr. Bowl Practice Notes

0 Comments read Matt Waldman
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

0 Comments read Matt Waldman

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 →