Posts tagged Matt Waldman

Quick Announcement 8/25

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I’ve had the pleasure to speak with NFL Films producer Greg Cosell a few times over the years. If you aren’t familiar with his work, read this excellent feature in the New York Times. Beginning Sunday, I will be posting Q&A’s I’ve had with Greg on two different occasions. A 45-minute conversation from three years go and an hour-long conversation we had this afternoon that was just awesome.

I felt a little bit like a kid in a candy store asking him about some of the things you’ll be seeing this week:

  • Offensive and defensive schemes and systems he likes in the NFL.
  • Takes on various rookies.
  • Takes on nearly 20 different veterans from every position.
  • He willingly played the game where I asked him to choose between several sets of players that I posed to him just to get him to share his historical knowledge of the game (Ray Lewis vs. Dick Butkus or Bo Jackson vs. Eric Dickerson).
  • The role of Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski in the Patriots offense.
  • A great anecdote about Michael Irvin paying a visit to NFL Films.
  • Past thoughts on players like Jerod Mayo, Vince Young, Tyrell Johnson, and Darren McFadden.
  • Emerging players.

So stay tuned. It was a lot of fun to pick Cosell’s brain. I think you’re going to enjoy his generosity.

M

RSP Flashback: RB Jamaal Charles

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Jamaal Charles could captivate one play and frustrate the next.

He was going to make the school forget Adrian Peterson. That’s what Jamaal Charles told the media when he arrived at the University of Texas after Peterson had spurned the Longhorns for Oklahoma. Bold stuff, but Charles did enough to back it up that at times, you at least had a momentary lapse of memory if you were a fan.

I grew to appreciate Charles’ confidence when I watched him perform at Texas. In fact, there were decisions he made at the line of scrimmage that cold only be described as bold arrogance. He didn’t just challenge defenses, he was challenging himself. Kind of a personal competition to see if he could get to that huge cutback lane all the way across the formation even when it wasn’t the wisest decision.

As a teammate this would probably frustrate me. As a fan, I got the feeling Charles sometimes got bored with taking what was in front of him. He wanted to stretch himself and take what he could see. Charles is now one of the most exciting runners in the NFL, but for the first couple of years it was far from a guarantee that it was going to happen. Here’s one of the evaluations I did on Charles when I evaluated him for the Rookie Scouting Portfolio. For additional samples of player evaluations go to this page on this blog.

Game Stats vs. Arizona State 12/27/2007 Continue reading →

Five Bold NFL Predictions

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Stop by and grab a cold one, I feel like making some bold predictions (BTW-best use of office supplies ever!). Photo by Muteboy.

I don’t get a chance to sit at the local bar and talk football very often because I’m always writing about it. At the moment I’m feeling like having a long neck on a stool. Since I can’t, I’m at least going to imagine what I would be talking about with a friend of mine if the subject of the NFL came up during our conversation. Pull up a stool and order a drink. Continue reading →

Conversation with Wes Bunting-Part IV

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Why is QB Matt Leinart an example of the "Four-Car Garage Theory?" National Football Post Director of College Scouting Wes Bunting explains in this conversation with Matt Waldman. Photo by TheBrit_2.

Waldman: Let’s talk about college football since the draft is your baby at the National Football Post. Tell me about some skill players that are not headliners, but they are prospects that those of us who follow the NFL Draft should become acquainted with.

Bunting: Running back Doug Martin from Boise State. Continue reading →

Conversation with Wes Bunting Part III

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In Wes Bunting's wildest dreams he'd be a receiver in the mold of Fred Biletnikoff. Photo by Lambdachialpha.

National Football Post’s Wes Bunting has been a featured interview this week at the Rookie Scouting Portfolio Blog. Here are links to Parts I and II of his conversations.

In Part III, Bunting discusses rookies making a good impression, young players in good situations, and young players in difficult situations. Bunting also reveals the players he liked that surprised others as well as how NFL defenses are reacting to a specific offensive trend.

Waldman: Let’s go to dreamland for a moment. If you could play any position in the NFL and you had the skills to do it what would it be?

Bunting: I’d be a tough, gritty receiver. Continue reading →

Conversation with Wes Bunting – Part II

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The Oakland Raiders were the gateway to Wes Bunting's love of pro football. Photo by Fonticulus.

Wes Bunting is a little like one of his mentors, former NFL offensive coordinator and current Montreal head coach Marc Trestman. Both got their start in the business early. Bunting earned his job as the National Football Post’s Director of College Scouting straight out of college after impressing Michael Lombardi as an intern. In Part I, Bunting discusses the role of stats and measurements in his evaluation process; a couple of teams that haven’t maximized its talent on the field; and a player who surprised him.

In this part of our conversation Bunting talks about his youth, how he fell in love with the game, and translated that passion into what he does now. He also reveals what he learned from Ravens director of college scouting Eric DeCosta and the differences between evaluating for a football team and as a member of the media.

Waldman: Tell me about your personal background. Where did you grow up? How did you develop an interest in football? How did that interest lead to scouting? What was your education in this field? What about your education in other endeavors? Continue reading →

Walk On The Wildside: Unwritten Rules Of Football (and Life)

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Derek Anderson, as my old friend Russ Bell would say, “It’s just f’n whiffle ball.” Photo by Matt McGee

This is an opinion piece of mine from last year that I delivered for my weekly segment “A Walk on the Wildside,” at The Audible on Thursday nights at 10pm EST. The opinions expressed here are not those of The Audible, Cecil Lammey, Sigmund Bloom, or Footballguys.com

As many of you know, I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, home of Coca-Cola.

If you’ve never been to Georgia then you might not realize how much Coke is a part of life around here. Unless of course, you’re a (North) Cackalacky like my wife who still wonders why people look at her funny when she asks for a Pepsi. There are some things you just don’t do – or at least have the sense to know what you’re getting into when you do it.

Coke is so ingrained around here that my buddy Russ Bell, who runs a local grocery chain in Athens, made the drink a semi-official sponsor for his obsession with wiffle ball.  Yes. Wiffle Ball.

Years ago, Bell became the owner-proprietor-groundskeeper of a wiffle ball diamond. Not so coincidentally it was part of a package deal in the mortgage that included his first home (as backyards generally are). Just off the bank of a small river that runs beyond the boundary of his backyard, Bell christened his ballpark Frank Field.

Frank Field was inspired by Bell’s love of two people: Continue reading →

Conversation with National Football Post’s Wes Bunting

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The National Football Post's Wes Bunting believes Philip Rivers is the most underrated QB in the league, but he also thinks the San Diego Chargers have not maximized its talent. Photo by Janna McLaughin.

Wes Bunting is a little like one of his mentors, former NFL offensive coordinator and current Montreal head coach Marc Trestman. Both got their start in the business early. Bunting earned his job as the National Football Post’s Director of College Scouting straight out of college after impressing Michael Lombardi as an intern. 

In this part of our conversation, Bunting discusses the role of stats and measurements in his evaluation process; a couple of teams that haven’t maximized its talent on the field; and a player who surprised him. I actually asked Wes Continue reading →

Eye Catching Tweets: NFL Preseason Week 1 (8/15)

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49ers RB Kendall Hunter is demonstrating that he's a good fit with the team because he's decisive and explsoive. Photo by Wunderlich Photography.

Randall Cobb

@gbpressgazette #Packers rookie receiver Randall Cobb shows ability to do damage in slot position: gbpg.net/n4FREL

@MattBowen41 I am impressed with #Packers rookie WR Randall Cobb. Post up at NFP at 11 E

The gist of the situation: Cobb’s 60 yards on 3 catches – 2 of them third down conversions – has everyone excited about the possibility of Cobb becoming a regular season factor on offense as a rookie. Even Packers cornerback Charles Woodson is impressed with Cobb. Even Aaron Rodgers was quoted in the Press-Gazette as saying that he’s excited about Cobb and looks forward to getting reps with him.

My take: The receiver depth chart is a crowded place in Green Bay. Donald Driver might be 36 in football years (47 in media years), but Continue reading →