Posts tagged NFL

Lesson One of a Route Clinic From Wes Welker

Video of Wes Welker running routes in practice is like the MGs giving a clinic on the Stax sound. Photo by Brian J. McDermott

I believe the best way to prepare to watch college players is to study the pros. The reason is that if I’m trying to project a prospect’s potential at the NFL level then I need to have good reference points of what works in the NFL. I also have to understand the differences between the college and NFL games when it comes to execution.

I can tell you that the process is ongoing and I’m still learning. This week, Coach Rob Paschall, PR director for the site Coach Huey, tweeted a link to a video titled, “Wide Receiver Technique Release Drills.” I expected an  instructional video.

However, if my eyes aren’t betraying me – and they might be – it was something a lot better. Continue reading

RSP Football Writers Project: July 23rd

Some of the top draft analysts, football writers, and former scouts are channeling their inner talent evaluator, coach, and GM to participate in the RSP Writers Project that will debut July 23.

With the NFL Draft over and mini camps underway, we’re getting close to that time of year where football writers can take a breather. That’s my rationale for delaying the RSP Writers Project a few months (if you’re new around here, I’m re-posting the original description of the project below). It’s a nice way of saying that those of us involved have been way too busy to set it up and deliver the information our owners need to build teams.

Good news! The project will be delivered to the writers on June 18 and they will have until July 20th to submit their teams and questionnaires. I’ll begin posting one team at a time beginning July 23rd.

Details (Original Post)

Secretly, we all want to build a football team. It’s why we’re passionate about every player recruited, drafted, traded, and signed. It’s why we play fantasy football. It’s why many of us are fanatical about the NFL draft. Continue reading

2012 Post-Draft RSP Ready for Download – Reads Listens Views 5/4/2012

Press “Play,” then read the news when the music begins…

[youtube=http://youtu.be/KbJrcpqLui8]

The 2012 Post-Draft RSP Add-on is Ready for download! You know you feel like dancing!

That’s right, 56 pages of post-draft goodness:

  • Post-Draft analysis and commentary.
    • Depth chart competition
    • Team fit
    • Long-term prospects
  • Rankings
    • Overall
    • By Position
    • Tiered Rankings
  • Draft selection data for dynasty leagues
    • Average spot of selection
    • High selection spot
    • Low selection spot
    • Value designation scores that relate to my RSP rankings to help navigate your draft
  • Overrated/Underrated Players

This analysis is part of the overall 2012 Rookie Scouting Portfolio product. If you already downloaded the RSP, just return to www.mattwaldman.com, enter your login and password from your original purchase, and download the post-draft analysis from the 2012 folder.

That’s right, 1031 pages of 2012 NFL Draft-Fantasy Rookie analysis. If you haven’t bought the 2012 RSP, now’s the time. Get on it!

Reads

What All Teachers Should Learn from Jazz-band Teachers

Listens

[youtube=http://youtu.be/RmtIWHTO2AE]

Views

You’re kidding, right? 56 pages of the 2012 RSP Post-Draft Add-on!!! Go get it.

NY Times Fifth Down Top-Five Series: No.1 WR Michael Floyd

[youtube=http://youtu.be/7dI0DqRS630]

1. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame (6-2, 220)

From the standpoint of on-field performance, I believe Floyd has the best all-around skills and talents among the receivers in this draft class. This is a talent-rich group, but none of the prospects in this class have all of the qualities that Floyd brings to the game. When evaluating the last two years of receiving talent, I believe the only receiver with more promise is A.J. Green.

One of the factors that might have clouded the picture in the evaluation of this year’s receiver class was the condition of Floyd’s right knee. While Floyd was still healing, he had to gather his steps to accelerate. If he had to make a break to the quarterback, he could not get a great bend on the knee when he had to use his right leg to plant.

However, after watching Floyd get completely healthy, [Read the rest here]

Download the 2012 Rookie Scouting Portfolio for analysis of over 151 prospects at QB, RB, WR, and TE.

NY Times Fifth Down Top-Five Series: No.3 WR Kendall Wright

[youtube=http://youtu.be/Y6KG1eUf37w]

3. Kendall Wright, Baylor (5-10, 196) (Video above different from video at NY Times)

There was a time that I considered Wright the best receiver in this draft class. He’s not big, but he is physical and that is what you need from an N.F.L. player with his speed and quickness. He has no problem lowering his pads into secondary defenders and bouncing off their hits for extra yardage. He is strong for his build, and his acceleration aids that strength to run through hits or grabs by a defender.

Wright adjusts well to the ball and tracks vertical passes at a high level. He ran by many college cornerbacks who gave him a cushion, without the aid of trickery. He showed that he understood how to find open zones in the Baylor offense, but his change of direction is so good that he will eventually thrive against man coverage.

His routes need refinement. He needs to be more careful about [Read the rest here]

Download the 2012 Rookie Scouting Portfolio for analysis of over 151 prospects at QB, RB, WR, and TE.

Get Er Done: QB Mechanics by Brett Favre

If scouts, analysts, and media ascribe the Emily Post finishing school of QB mechanics, Brett Favre belongs to the Larry the Cable Guy technical college of Get Er Done. Photo by Tiger Girl.

This weekend I watched the 2010 NFC Championship between the Saints and Vikings so I could study Drew Brees for my first “Futures” column at Football Outsiders, but I couldn’t skip the Vikings possessions. Not because of Adrian Peterson or Percy Harvin, whose  physical skills I marvel with each viewing. The truth is, I’m an unabashed fan of Brett Favre’s game.

I don’t care about the will-he-or-won’t-he drama at the end of his career or the possibility that he thought a cell phone portrait of his Continue reading

Cal WR Keenan Allen: Creating Separation With His Hands

Keenan Allen might have DeSean Jackson’s fancy footwork in a 6’3, 205 lbs. frame, but he also flashes some quality hands in more ways than one. Photo by John Martinez Pavliga.

I’ll still be writing about 2012 NFL Draft prospects in the coming months, but with the 2012 Rookie Scouting Portfolio in the books – and available for download – I’m also beginning my work for next year’s draft. See below.

If you’ve been reading my blog for at least a couple of months then you know I have an appreciation for former Cal wide receiver Marvin Jones. As much as I enjoy his technical skill at the position, Jones’ contributions were sometimes overshadowed by the terrific athleticism of his teammate Keenan Allen. The rising junior is 6’3″, 205 lbs. of quick-twitch, X-box-inspired moves once the ball is in his hands. Continue reading

Pre-Order the 2012 Rookie Scouting Portfolio

Ahmad Bradshaw was an RSP fave and 2012 has a lot of players capable of out-playing their draft position. Pre-order the 2012 RSP for the low-down. Photo by Ted Kerwin.

If you haven’t heard, the 2012 RSP is now available for pre-order. Now in its seventh year, I publish the Rookie Scouting Portfolio every April 1. I  have evaluated 161 players at the offensive skill positions thus far. The publication essentially has three parts:

1. Rankings, analysis, and player comparisons: This is generally 120-130 pages of material, much like a draft magazine, but focused solely on QBs, RBs, WRs, and TEs.

2. Appendix of my game-study notebooks: All my raw notes from my database and I also supply a complete grading checklist for each player and game I study. This also includes my scoring process. And last but not least, I also provide play by play notes on each player that is often pages of analysis for each prospect. This blog analysis of players you’ve seen this month draws from these notes.

3. Defined criteria for my scoring methods: How I define a technique and the value I give it.

You can also order back issues of the RSP (2006-2011) from this same link. This year, I’m donating 10 percent of all 2012 sales to Darkness to Light. Its mission:

Our programs raise awareness of the prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse by educating adults about the steps they can take to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to the reality of child sexual abuse.

You can learn more about this excellent organization and its noble aim through the link above. In the spirit of transparency, I will provide an annual update and documentation of the monies donated to Darkness to Light on this blog.

Once again, you can pre-order the 2012 RSP or immediately purchase and download past RSPs through this link.

 

 

Chad Spann: Post Rookie Debriefing

UDFA RB Chad Spann began his rookie year with the Colts, mid season with the Buccaneers, and the rest of the year as a Steeler. Spann explains how Coach Mike Tomlin and the team create a culture that he appreciates.

Chad Spann is a reserve running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers after stops with the Colts and Buccaneers. I have interviewed Spann multiple times since this time last year. The former NIU walk-on who began his career ninth on the depth chart and ended it as the 2010 NCAA touchdown leader is a confident but grounded player who learned early that everything he’s going to get as a football player will be earned with hard work and persistence.

It won’t be a surprise to most fans if Pittsburgh drafts a running back in the mid-to-late rounds as a hedge for Rashard Mendenhall’s recovery from a knee injury. Even so, Spann is still the only healthy running back on the roster with change of pace, third-down skills. There’s a strong likelihood that Spann’s name becomes more common on the lips of beat writers this summer.

Q: I read your DLF interview and I’d like to build on it. You talked about the Steelers organization with me in the past. Now that the season is over and you’ve had time to reflect, tell me specifically what you like about being in Pittsburgh.

A: Man, it was really just a culture shock going in there after being in Tampa and Indianapolis. It was completely different. The environment. The coaches. The players. The very first day I was there Coach Tomlin Continue reading