Posts tagged NFL draft

UNC DE Quinton Coples: The Importance of Pad Level

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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 →

Kendall Wright and the Money Catch

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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 →

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

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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

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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 I Raw Skill in Action

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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

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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 →

Fifth Down Blog Sr. Bowl Practice Notes

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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 Interview with WR Jeff Fuller

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Fuller has the build and core skills of a future NFL starter, but his status as a top-tier player at his position in this class is now questionable due to an inconsistent senior year.

This Q&A of Texas A&M wide receiver Jeff Fuller took place at the Senior Bowl’s media night. I was unable to identify the reporters at the beginning of this session so I have labeled them Reporter 1 and Reporter 2. Fuller is a 6’4”, 217-pound receiver with experience in a pro-style offense brought to College Station by former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Sherman. Here’s what Fuller had to say about his up and down senior year, his learning progression during his college career, and what he expects to face during his transition to the NFL. Continue reading →

Roster Notables for 2012 Senior Bowl

Comments Off on Roster Notables for 2012 Senior Bowl read Matt Waldman
Cyrus Gray is one of my fave RBs this year in a class dominated by juniors. Photo by SD Dirk.

This will be my third season watching prospects at the Senior Bowl and my second covering it for the New York Times Fifth Down Blog. Here are some of the prospects on the current roster list that I’m looking forward to watching up close and a few notes as to why.

WR Joe Adams, Arkansas: I don’t think Adams is the speed demon that Jacoby Ford is, but he has made a number of exciting plays the past couple of seasons when the ball is in his hands. I want to see Adams in drills where Continue reading →