Posts tagged Rookie Scouting Portfolio

Reads Listens Views 4/11/14

0 Comments read Reads Listens Views
Portrait of the anonymous NFL executive. Photo by Sarah DeForche.
Portrait of the anonymous NFL executive. Photo by Sarah DeForche.

 This week’s RLV: Best commercial ever, The Chicken, The Bag Man, and a freudian slip. 

What is Reads Listens Views?

If you’re new to the Rookie Scouting Portfolio blog, welcome.  I post links on Friday to content I’m saving for later consumption. You may not like everything listed here, but you’re bound to like something.

Views -Best Commercial Ever

[youtube=http://youtu.be/uaWA2GbcnJU]

No contest. I might start watching this one daily.

Download the 2014 Rookie Scouting Portfolio

Friday’s are also my chance to thank you for reading my work, encourage you to follow the RSP blog, and download the Rookie Scouting Portfolio publication.

The RSP is available every April 1 for download. This year’s RSP is nearly 300 pages in the draft guide section and filled with analysis of  164 skill position prospects that has earned a loyal following:

  • Rankings
  • Draft history analysis
  • Overrated/Underrated analysis
  • Multidimensional player comparisons
  • Individual skills analysis by position

You can learn more about the RSP here. If you want to see samples of the play-by-play notes I take to write the analysis, you can find them here. If you want to know what my readers say about it, look here. If you want a quick video tour, here it is:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRsQwtyOCDM&feature=share]

If you don’t have time to look into details, know that once you look through the RSP, there will be no question in your mind that I do the work, that I have a plan about the work that I do, and that you get more than your money’s worth. It’s why more and more draftniks every spring can’t wait until April 1.

If you think that’s a ton, you ain’t seen nothing. When you purchase the RSP, you also get a free post-draft publication that’s available for download a week after the NFL Draft. Fantasy football owners tell me all the time that this alone is worth the price.

Best yet, 10 percent of each RSP sale is donated to Darkness to Light, a non-profit devoted to preventing and addressing sexual abuse through community training in schools, religious groups, and a variety of civic groups across the U.S.

Here is what the RSP donated to D2L this year. According to D2L, the RSP’s 2013 donation amount was enough to train 250 adults in communities across the country.

Pre-order the 2014 RSP and/or download past versions of the publication (2006-2012).

Coming Soon

  • The 2014 RSP Writers Project -Sometime after the draft, we’ll get this rolling.
  • Kapri Bibbs: Good vs. Great Vision
  • On the Couch w/Sigmund Bloom – Bloom, Lammey, and I will talk about the RB class.
  • No-Huddle Series: Wisconsin RB James White

Reads (Football)

Views

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

I couldn’t have written a more appropriate freudian slip to come from Fox News.

Reads (Life In General)

Listens

[youtube=http://youtu.be/TgntkGc5iBo]

Futures: Pitt DT Aaron Donald

0 Comments read 2014 NFL Draft, Players
Aaron Donald is as promising as Geno Atkins Photo by Ashley and Matthew Hemingway.
Aaron Donald is as promising as Geno Atkins Photo by Ashley and Matthew Hemingway.

I’m not a betting man, but if I were, Aaron Donald would be one of two players in this deep draft class that I’d have no reservations betting on as a future star.

Futures: Pittsburgh DT Aaron Donald

By Matt Waldman


Help Wanted: Football Players

Candidates must demonstrate efficiency and productivity while performing in a fast-paced, stressful environment. Speed, quickness, and strength required. Toughness and quick thinking are essential. Prototypical height and weight for role preferred, but will consider candidates with exceptional compensatory skills. Major college program is a plus. Relocation required. Job entails travel for 50-65 percent of work year. Submit a portfolio of work, at least five professional and five character references, and a working phone number to NFL.com. Eligible candidates should expect to receive a call in May for a summer training program at one of our 32 branches.

If only it was as easy as it looks on the page.

I don’t get to visit often, but I’m a big fan of The Sideline View. Lance Zierlein, John Harris and the rest of the team provide the goods on the game. As I examined the first round of Zierlein’s latest mock draft, it struck me that for a class noted for its depth of talent, there are few “safe” picks.

Greg Robinson, Khalil Mack, Ryan Shazier, Eric Ebron, Dee Ford, Johnny Manziel, and Anthony Barr have a ton of upside, but they are just a small list of the top 50 players on draft boards with notable shortcomings. However, most starters in the NFL have flaws and the NFL knows that the upside it covets from these headliners outweighs the risks.

Some of these flaws have nothing to do with a player’s work on the field. Jadeveon Clowney and C.J. Mosley are two prospects with unquestioned skill, but rumors about Clowney’s work ethic (which I think are questionable in origin) and Mosley’s injury history generate lingering questions about them fulfilling their vast promise.

My short list of safe picks — barring issues of character and injury — includes Jake Matthews, Sammy Watkins, Teddy Bridgewater, Odell Beckham, Mike Evans, and Darqueze Dennard. I am confident that barring catastrophic injury, these six players will at least provide 6-to-8 years of serviceable work as starters in the NFL.

If I were a betting man, there are only two players in Zierlein’s mock draft that I’d wager on developing into Pro Bowl players. The one from the above list of players is Watkins, and the other is Aaron Donald. Read the rest at Football Outsiders.

2014 Rookie Scouting Portfolio Video Tour

0 Comments read 2014 NFL Draft, RSP Publication

“I truly think the RSP is the best draft resource money can buy.” -Ryan Lownes, Draft Analyst for DraftBreakdown.com

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0Z7P_15wdc&w=420&h=315]

New to the RSP? Wondering what it looks like? Above is a 30-minute tour. At the bottom is a shorter tour of the publication:

  • What’s inside.
  • How to navigate it.
  • An explanation of the scoring.
  • How it all fits together as a concept.

Like what you see? Download the 2014 Rookie Scouting Portfolio now . Remember, you also get the post-draft publication free, which I upload one week after the NFL Draft and contains revised rankings based on draft position, team fit, and talent. You also get mock draft data and value analysis based on these early drafts.

Remember, 10 percent of each sale goes to Darkness to Light to help prevent and/or address sexual abuse in communities across the country.

Short Tour 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRsQwtyOCDM&feature=share]

“Purchased the RSP by @MattWaldman for the first time. Lots of “holy ____”‘s were said in an empty house. Incredible work” Zack Henkle via Twitter

 

The QB to Defend the Planet: The Finalists

0 Comments read Players, Quarterback, Walk on the Wild Side
Who would you pick to defend the planet in a science fiction football game? Photo by Frankula.
Who would you pick to defend the planet in a science fiction football game? Photo by Frankula.

Chris Trapasso (with some Waldman sarcasm) tallies the votes and reveals the finalists for who we’d pick to defend our planet in a game with an alien race.

 

By Chris Trapasso and Matt Waldman

The scenario is simple, albeit nutty: If an alien race invades earth and challenges the human race to a football game for the right to the planet, which quarterback from any era of history would we choose to defend our planet?

The follow-up question to this piece of science fiction included us picking a college passer just in case the aliens wouldn’t allow us to pick a current pro or all-time pro that they could reanimate to his prime.

The Twitter/RSP population has spoken.

There was an overwhelming favorite, but let’s start with some fun tidbits from the selection process.
  • Clemson’s Tajh Boyd received as many votes as Drew Brees and Tim Tebow (1) –   These three votes span the entire quality spectrum of the position. As well as the range of our voters’ survival instincts. 
  • Wyoming’s Brett Smith, earned the same number of votes as Dan Marino – Smith, who is slowly but surely falling into the “overrated because he’s so underrated” category among draftniks, received two votes—the same as Marino. Both have fast releases and can maneuver a pocket. Marino was just far more efficient at doing so. Personally we think the votes for Smith were to create a “Cowboys vs. Aliens” headline. No dice.
  • Jimmy Garoppolo earned one more vote than Joe Namath – Making good on guarantees doesn’t mean much anymore. I supposed that has to do with us being products of an informercial generation. Garoppolo captured more votes than Steve Young and Ben Roethlisberger. Good thing these were minority votes, we’d be enslaved by now.
  • College QBs were easier to pick than the NFL – The variety of great NFL quarterbacks split the vote for the pro player far more than the college passers. This is why players like Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Steve Young, and even some of our NFL finalists received fewer votes than middling college players above.
Now that we’ve finished profiling the voters who wanted to a chance to live free of alien rule, enslavement, or total annihlation, one man triumphantly stood out among his fellow gun-slinging peers— Johnny Manziel. 
 
Manziel earned a whopping 40 votes out of a possible 88. Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater was Manziel’s closest competitor, prospect or not, with 19 votes. 
 
These two  talented youngsters have yet to take a snap in the NFL. However, folks must have watched Manziel against Alabama and figured if he could hold his own against the Crimson tide, he could stare down an alien A-gap blitz. Plus, we have our suspicions that Nick Saban is an alien spy.
Manziel and Bridgewater represent two of the three college finalists. Blake Bortles earned the third spot (the play-not-to-lose GM vote). We’ll be shocked if Manziel doesn’t win the college vote. However, the NFL/All-time vote is still up for grabs.
 
Rookie QBs
Johnny Manziel (40 votes)
Teddy Bridgewater (19 votes)
Blake Bortles (7 votes)
All-Time or Current QBs
Joe Montana (14 votes)
Peyton Manning (11 votes)
Brett Favre (6 votes)
Matt will profile the pros and cons for each and hold a vote for the final two.

Futures: RB Bishop Sankey

0 Comments read 2014 NFL Draft, Players, Running Back
Bishop Sankey is part of a class of mature runners who may not have flash, but run with substance. Photo by James Santelli.
My take why Bishop Sankey is an NFL-caliber runner, but not necessarily a feature back. Photo by James Santelli.

If blocking schemes were types of questions on a test, Matt Waldman explains why Bishop Sankey would be much better at true/false than multiple choice.

by Matt Waldman

This week’s Futures contains excerpts from the 2014 Rookie Scouting Portfolio, my 1284-page scouting report on 164 prospects at the offensive skill positions, which is available for download now. The RSP donates 10 percent of each purchase to Darkness to Light, a non-profit organization devoted to preventing sexual abuse through the training of individuals, communities, and organizations on its dynamics.

The draft community is split on Washington running back Bishop Sankey. Some consider him a top-five back. Others see a committee guy, but never a featured starter. I side more with the latter viewpoint, but I do see how Sankey can develop into a full-time starter.

The reason for this split is scheme fit. When Sankey is reading the defenders directly in front of him he can be decisive, get downhill fast, and get his pads low enough to split the defense. When he focuses on his blocks, he can press and cut back to aid his lineman’s effort.

But ask Sankey to read linebackers, corners, or safeties a level behind the immediate blocks happening at the line of scrimmage and he struggles. He gets confused or hesitant and his reactions are tentative and slow. The speedy back with quick cuts and momentum to carry a defender for 2-3 yards is gone.

I think these lapses are often more conceptual than physical. Certain blocking schemes are easier for him to see the field than others. When Sankey gets confused, you can see it with his footwork. He’ll stutter rather than cut and he winds up exposed to the defense.

I believe Sankey’s best chance to develop into a starter depends on him going to a team that runs a lot of gap-style plays. This includes traps, power, counter plays, and sweeps — run designs where linemen pull and the runner has one option and doesn’t have to do much reading of the defense pre-snap. It’s the running back’s equivalent of an exam with true/false questions.

In contrast, zone blocking is like multiple choice: it requires a runner has the skill to anticipate what the defense will do on a play. Sankey has the athleticism to create, but when given two-to-three options he doesn’t read the line fast enough to succeed on a consistent basis.

He’ll often bounce runs in directions where there’s little chance to gain yards on a play where he had a clear opportunity to diagnose it differently. Sankey also misses some downhill opportunities that require a decisive, aggressive mindset.

Maybe this improves, but right now Sankey is better in a gap-style offense that places tigher boundaries on his creative options. When this happens, he displays greater shiftiness, layers of moves to make defenders miss, and burst from his cuts.

Still, today’s Futures is not a balanced illustration of Sankey’s good and bad plays. It’s focused solely on difficult plays that often mark the difference between a future NFL starter and a future backup. Read the rest at Football Outsiders

2014 RSP Ready For Download . . . Really!

0 Comments read 2014 NFL Draft, RSP Publication

2014 RSP

The 2014 Rookie Scouting Portfolio is now available for download . . . really!

There’s a first time for everything . . .

For the first time in over 700 posts, I hit “publish” instead of save and it had to be the post I was saving to announce the RSP and I can’t even blame it on the family pet. All’s good now. The 2014 Rookie Scouting Portfolio is ready for download.

The 2014 Rookie Scouting Portfolio Tale of the Tape

Standing at 1284 pages and covering 164 skill prospects, the 2014 Rookie Scouting Portfolio is now available for download at www.mattwaldman.com. Because a post-draft addendum is now a regular part of the RSP purchase, it has allowed me the luxury to weigh my rankings less on draft stock and more on talent until we see how opportunity knocks at the NFL Draft. Take video tour.

As was the case last year, many of the climbers and fallers in my pre-draft rankings surprised me. I look forward to sharing more of my thoughts about these players and  the process in the coming weeks.

Here’s what my readers have to say about the RSP:

“You should also know, that in fifteen years of playing fantasy football (I started in 1999 – Senior year of high school), I have never paid for fantasy football information. Not magazines. Not websites. Nothing. I read/listen to everything possible as I digest information and draw my own conclusions. I was apprehensive about ‘wasting’ twenty dollars. Thank you for the hours spent doing something you love. I appreciate it. Again, quality in-depth work. I would would pay double the price. Easily. Get some sleep.” – Josh Corbett

“Purchased the RSP by @MattWaldman for the first time. Lots of “holy ____”‘s were said in an empty house. Incredible work” Zack Henkle via Twitter

“The only thing I have read that I looked forward to more than the RSP was the Harry Potter books. Football Nerd Goodness” – Lisa London

“I truly think the RSP is the best draft resource money can buy.” -Ryan Lownes, Draft Analyst for DraftBreakdown.com

” Best pre-draft scouting report on every conceivable guy [at the skills positions] is by @MattWaldman. Very good read – mattwaldman.com.”  –Chris Brown, author of Smartfootball.com and Grantland contributor

“Just pre-ordered my annual copy of football gold.” – Aaron Statts via Twitter

“Yours is the ONLY publication I ever pay for in fantasy football. Mahalo for the quality!!!” – Jim

“Can’t wait for the #RSP. I am like Billy Madison on nudie magazine day! – Matt Austin via Twitter

“I first experienced the RSP last year and after reading several pages, you got me for only god knows how much time you’ll be doing it. I’d prepay this for the next ten years easily. I mean it in the most sincere way, this has become my most anticipated read of the year and once again, I know it will be awesome.” – Dom

“BTW, I first purchased your RSP in 2011, won my league that year, had a middling team, repeated in 2012, still a middling team.  How I have used RSP the most is during the season for my waiver pickups, always nice to reference your report when trying to decide between a few players. Thank you again. Oh, btw, the other 11 owners think I am lucky, lol, I am but for different reasons than THEY think 🙂 ” – Warren

“You won’t find a better resource. Matt Waldman delivers. Period. Cannot recommend more highly.” – Bob Harris, FSTA Hall of Famer

 

 

 

“Best dynasty rookie document there is. Can’t live w/o it.” – Tim Stafford, Dynasty League Football staff writer.

 

“In case you guys havne’t heard, @MattWaldman’s RSP will be availalble April 1st. A must buy for fans of the NFL Draft.” – BillsTalk.com via Twitter

 

For analysis of skill players in this year’s draft class, download the 2014 Rookie Scouting Portfolio available NOW. Better yet, if you’re a fantasy owner the Post-Draft Add-on comes with the 2014 RSP at no additional charge. Best, yet, 10 percent of every sale is donated to Darkness to Light to combat sexual abuse. You can purchase past editions of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio for just $9.95 apiece.

2013 RSP Flashback: RB Zac Stacy

0 Comments read 2013 NFL Draft, Players, RSP Publication, Running Back

[youtube=http://youtu.be/b9L8lAbcN4A]

The 2014 Rookie Scouting Portfolio is now available for pre-order for it’s April 1 release. Here’s a sample from 2013 of the underrated Zac Stacy.

There is not much flash in Stacy’s game, but there is plenty of substance. The Commodores runner has a low center of gravity and good power to keep his legs moving. He does not usually go down after the first hit or wrap.

He’s a decisive runner and will hit the hole on-time on gap plays (pulling guards) or show some patience and skill at pressing the hole on zone plays. Stacy optimizes the position of his blockers to access rushing lanes and this is probably his best skill. He rarely loses yards as a runner and he’ll keep the chains moving forward even if the runs aren’t for big plays.

His timed speed is a little more impressive than his on-field speed, but I have seen him show nice burst to the edge or through an open crease against fast defenses like Georgia. He lacks great agility to string together moves or make huge lateral cuts. Stacy can make a sharp cut if he has a step to gather his feet, but he’s not going to make big cuts at full speed and turn defenders around in the open field or with suddenness at the line of scrimmage.

He’s a one-cut down hill runner with enough speed to get into the third level, but not enough to create consistent breakaway runs. He has really good balance to carry defenders on his back
or stay upright after contact from a variety of angles. He has a shifty style where he can make defenders miss in the backfield or bounce to the outside and downhill. And Stacy protects the ball with either arm according to the location of the run and he keeps it cinched tight to his body.

His pass blocking is pretty good. He understands his protections, sets up angles to get square to his opponents, and will get good placement with his hands as a stand up blocker. He also delivers a good cut block on bigger defenders and hustles down field as a lead blocker in the run game.

It is possible that Stacy has an issue that his preventing him from punching opponents with good form as a pass or run blocker. However, what I saw is a player that tries to “load” up and deliver a shoulder or elbow/forearm. Although he sets a good angle to deliver a punch, the actual punch is out of control. There were plays where Stacy didn’t take a good angle to the
defender rushing the pocket and this forced pressure that he should have accounted for.

Stacy will be a fine backup in the NFL with enough skill to produce in a committee situation, perhaps even as a starter. However, he strikes me as a player that a team will say it’s happy with but continues to bring in other talented players to compete with Stacy while he has the starting job.

For analysis of skill players in this year’s draft class, download the 2014 Rookie Scouting Portfolio – available to pre-order now. The 2014 RSP will available for download April 1. Better yet, if you’re a fantasy owner the 56-page Post-Draft Add-on comes with the 2012 – 2014 RSPs at no additional charge and available for download within a week after the NFL Draft. Best, yet, 10 percent of every sale is donated to Darkness to Light to combat sexual abuse. You can purchase past editions of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio for just $9.95 apiece.

How to Find Your Mercedes: A Lesson to “Anonymous”

0 Comments read Walk on the Wild Side
Best Louisville prospect in this draft? Maybe, but don't give the short end of the stick to the Cardinals' safety Calvin Pryor. Photo by KYNGPAO
Teddy Bridgewater. Photo by KYNGPAO

A lesson for the anonymous NFC executive who can’t find the right car in a parking lot.

In case you didn’t know–or missed it–I’m fortunate to join Cecil Lammey, Sigmund Bloom, and Jene Bramel on Thursdays for the live Audible podcast that is now a Hangout (at bottom of page).  Last week’s 52-minute show covers topics from the NFL Draft:

  • Buy/Sell QB News
  • Match Game: “What Would Bloom Say?”
  • My rant on NFL executives and their discomfort with Teddy Bridgewater.

Funny how a this rant came a week before an NFL executive said that Bridgewater is soft. Just a word of advice to the anonymous NFC executive: If you want to disguise your discomfort with drafting an intelligent, dark-skinned black man as the leader of your offense, I suggest you find another criticism.

Bridgewater took some big hits during his career and never went into a shell. You clearly need an education. I suggest you travel down the hall to those offices that have the word “Scout” on the name plate and ask them to show you tape of this Rutgers game where Bridgewater comes off the bench with a broken wrist and a badly sprained ankle on his plant leg to lead a comeback against Rutgers.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/1ELPwI9_y5U]

Bridgewater put his team in the Sugar Bowl with this effort where he later stomped a top-ranked Florida defense that smacked him around early on.

I have to presume that you’re a product of rampant nepotism, otherwise you would have never used Byron Leftwich as an example of being soft. The former Jaguars’ starter may have had his share of issues on the field, but getting bent into a pretzel and coming back for more was never one of them.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/Oa1JhHcGD7g]

Leftwich was a top-10 pick – a good example that there are NFL organizations willing to invest in a high pick on a pocket quarterback of color.

As for you, anonymous NFC executive, it must be tough for you when you continue to mistake the Hyundai with your Mercedes in your parking lot (same paint color and all . . .). Let me help you:

Hyundai by Visual Pun.
Hyundai by Visual Pun.

 

Mercedes by Ahmad Hashim.
Mercedes by Ahmad Hashim.

One more time . . .

Hyundai - a pretty nice car that will get you from A to B . . . (Photo by Seng1011)
Hyundai – a pretty nice car that will get you from A to B . . . (Photo by Seng1011)
Best Louisville prospect in this draft? Maybe, but don't give the short end of the stick to the Cardinals' safety Calvin Pryor. Photo by KYNGPAO
Mercedes – a car that will get you to A to B with high performance. Photo by KYNGPAO

I know it’s difficult to tell the difference. Keep looking at the visuals of them in action and let someone else do the drafting for you until you figure it out.

For the rest of you, here’s the Hangout (Bridgewater part at 22-minute mark):

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61h5fKkn2oY&feature=share]

Futures: BYU OLB Kyle Van Noy

0 Comments read 2014 NFL Draft, Players
Tyrann Mathieu might inspire an NFL team to consider Lamarcus Joyner in a similar role. Photo by wxcasterphx.
Is Kyle Van Noy the Tyrann Mathieu of outside linebackers? Photo by wxcasterphx.

Van Noy has all the tools to become a quality starter in the NFL. He also has the vision and decision-making to become potential star.

Futures: BYU OLB Kyle Van Noy

By Matt Waldman

When my friend Ryan Riddle, Cal’s all-time sack leader, says outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy has great instincts, that’s a player I want to watch.

“Some things in football cannot be coached. When it comes to play making instincts, you either have it or you don’t,” says Riddle about Van Noy’s play-making abilities that he describes as “off the charts.”

“I like to compare him to a linebacker version of Tyrann Mathieu in terms of his ability to be incredibly disruptive by knowing exactly how and when to take chances.”

According to Riddle, Van Noy, who Football Outsiders projects as a first or early second-day pick, is earning mid-round grades. He explains that a player with good instincts can be often be characterized as product of a good system –- even lucky. Worse yet, a coach can sometimes mishandle a player with good instincts because the process isn’t by the book.

I watched enough of Van Noy to say that he was often lucky, but it wasn’t blind luck. Van Noy’s good fortune comes from smart decisions, creativity, effort, and patience.

Read the rest at Football Outsiders

Reads Listens Views 3/14/2014

0 Comments read Reads Listens Views
Golconda by Rene Magritte
Golconda by Rene Magritte

This week’s RLV: Previous Deckers, Guide to music at work, WWII told as a bar fight, Wonderlicked, and Norwegian Lady Day.

What is Reads Listens Views?

If you’re new to the Rookie Scouting Portfolio blog, welcome. Most Fridays (except this month, because I’m wrapping up the RSP Publication) I post links to content I’m saving for later reading when I have time. You may not like everything listed here, but you’re bound to like something.

Views – Good Use For Drones

[youtube=http://youtu.be/Bo_f8mV5khg]

In Case You Missed It

Manziel epitomizes the strengths and weaknesses of a creative manager. See below. Photo by Matt Velazquez.
Manziel epitomizes the strengths and weaknesses of a creative manager. See below. Photo by Matt Velazquez.

Pre-order the 2014 Rookie Scouting Portfolio

Friday’s are also my chance to thank you for reading my work, encourage you to follow the RSP blog, and download the Rookie Scouting Portfolio publication.

The RSP is available every April 1 for download. It’s a 250-page (give or take) draft publication filled with analysis of over 170 skill position prospects that has earned it a loyal following of happy readers:

  • Rankings
  • Draft history analysis
  • Overrated/Underrated analysis
  • Multidimensional player comparisons
  • Individual skills analysis by position

This is only some of what you receive in the RSP publication. I began writing the RSP 9 years ago. At the time, I was an operations and process improvement manager who was certified in an operations certification standard. The training included best practices for performance evaluation processes – and quality performance from my teams was a hallmark of my work for nearly 15 years.

As much as I loved and studied football, I knew that the only way anyone would buy into my analysis would be to show my work. This meant making everything as transparent as possible:

  • How I define everything I grade
  • The point values for my grading
  • The checklists/reports that I use for the grading
  • All the play-by-play notes I take for the games that I grade

That’s right, I show my work down to the play-by-play notes. The “back of the RSP” is often another 700-1000 pages of content that comes with the 250-page RSP pre-draft guide.

Don’t worry, at least half of my readers never look at this part of the RSP.  However, those who like to cross-check their own scouting reports (be it media, draftniks, or scouts), find this material a worthwhile resource. Even if they don’t agree with all of my assessments, the back of the book gives them a clear indication of why I made the calls that I did.

You can learn more about the RSP here. If you want to see samples of the play-by-play notes I take to write the analysis, you can find them here.

If you don’t have time to look into details, know that once you look through the RSP, there will be no question in your mind that I do the work, that I have a plan about the work that I do, and that you get more than your money’s worth. It’s why more and more draftniks every spring can’t wait until April 1.

If you think that’s a ton, you ain’t seen nothing. When you purchase the RSP, you also get a free post-draft publication that’s available for download a week after the NFL Draft. Fantasy football owners tell me all the time that this alone is worth the price.

Best yet, 10 percent of each RSP sale is donated to Darkness to Light, a non-profit devoted to preventing and addressing sexual abuse through community training in schools, religious groups, and a variety of civic groups across the U.S.

Here is what the RSP donated to D2L this year. According to D2L, the RSP’s 2013 donation amount was enough to train 250 adults in communities across the country.

Pre-order the 2014 RSP and/or download past versions of the publication (2006-2012).

Reads (Football)

Reads (Life In General)

Listens – Norwegian Girl Channeling Billie Holiday

[youtube=http://youtu.be/2da7N6ADm9s]

Views

How Come They Don't Teach You This In School? This is Brilliant... - Misc