Posts tagged Wes Bunting

Reads Listens Views 6/11/2012

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Film Study is a Dangerous Job

My life has been a whirlwind these past two months. In addition to writing the 2012 Rookie Scouting Portfolio here’s the rest of the past eight weeks:

Of course this list doesn’t include the more personal elements of my life that make life a fun (sometimes) challenge.  Continue reading →

Reads, Listens, Views 1/27/12

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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”

Reads Listens Views 1/20/2012

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Can you tell which man is wearing Depends? (One of the caption entries I liked for this week's RSP Caption Contest)

It has been a little over 24 hours since I announced the RSP Photo Caption Contest and the response has been good. Cecil, Chad, Michael, and Wes will be judging the quality of the captions on Wednesday after Senior Bowl practices. Since I’m just the tiebreaker, I thought I’d list some of the early favorites (from my perspective) for a shot at a free RSP (contest details and entry form can be found on this page):

  • “Failed Fathead concepts.”
  • “Bravo’s new hit series: The Real House Husbands of Tampa Bay.”
  • “Can you tell which man is wearing Depends?”
  • “AVN’s winner for worst adult film of all time: The Island of Misfit Boys”

A special thanks to these guys for taking one for the team. Now, onto the reads, listens, and views of the week – including some LaVon Brazill highlights. Continue reading →

RSP Caption Contest: Win a free RSP

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Caption Contest: Best caption for this photo of my colleagues at the Shrine Game practices wins a free past edition of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio. The usual suspects are: (L-R) Bleacher Report's Michael Schottey, NFL Network's Chad Reuter, National Football Post's Wes Bunting, and ESPN Radio/Footballguy Cecil Lammey.

I lifted this photo from Cecil Lammey’s Facebook page. You have one week from tonight to give me a fitting caption for this photo. Make it funny, but keep it (reasonably) cool. If you want the nomination to even come before the judges panel don’t cross the line.

Most likely we’ll all be having dinner together on Wednesday night. I want to have a strong collection of nominees to present to these four to judge the best caption to go with the photo. I will be the tie-breaker judge if needed. The winner gets a free Rookie Scouting Portfolio publication from 2006-2012. Second and third place winners get a free RSP from 2006-2011 or a 50 percent discount on the 2012 RSP.

You must answer every question on the form to qualify. I might give out more RSPs for really funny self-deprecating facts. If you’re going to win for potentially busting on these guys, you better be able to deliver something funny about yourself.

The Caption Contest is Over. Winners Announced Here

RSP Football Writers Project

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I anticipate Drew Brees starting for at least one team for the RSP Football Writers Project, published this spring. Details below. Photo by eschipul.

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.

After a few weeks of my rants to Footballguys writer Sigmund Bloom about Steelers tight end Heath Miller as one of the more underrated players in football or how the Browns don’t use Josh Cribbs’ talent, Bloom got the kernel of an idea:

Why not let football writers build teams and write about them? And I want your help. Continue reading →

Suggested Reading

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If this blog hit you out of nowhere the way Denarius Moore was a welcome surprise to you, read on for suggested links. Photo by Wade Rackley.

In recent weeks there have been a lot of new readers to the Rookie Scouting Portfolio. This site is constantly evolving and one of the things I intend to do during the next few weeks is to add a page that categorizes links to every article on the blog for easier navigation.

Whether you’re new to the site and haven’t had a chance to delve into it or you’ve been returning for a while, I thought it would be a good idea to provide some suggested reading:

Interviews

If you became acquainted with the RSP blog from the Greg Cosell or Dan Shonka conversations, I highly recommend checking out these posts.

Conversation with NFL Draft Scout’s Chad Reuter: This is the first part of a series of conversations I did with Reuter. It was pleasure to engage in football talk with a dedicated, intelligent evaluator of talent who uses his economics and player evaluation skills to present research information to NFL teams.

Conversation with National Football Post’s Wes Bunting: Just like Reuter, Bunting does the work. I should know, their processes sound eerily familiar to my early mornings. A very interesting read.

Film Study

Chad Spann is currently on the Colts' IR. He's a long-term sleeper to monitor. Learn more about his mind for the game below.

Grinding Tape: Chad Spann – Stiff arms and Green Dogs: How often do you get to read an interview where the interviewer and the subject are studying football together? This excerpt from a 2-hour study session (Just search “Chad Spann” for more) includes play diagrams and explanations of what the NCAA’s 2010 touchdown leader was thinking about with each play.

Walk on The Wild Side

The Unwritten Rules of Football and Life: These are transcriptions of podcast editorials I occasionally deliver at The Audible’s Thursday Night Roundtable with Sigmund Bloom and Cecil Lammey.

I’ll suggest other pieces each week until I create the navigation page. I hope these are enjoyable reading for you.

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 →