Analysis 
2013 1st Round Draft Thoughts and Links(4)
Looking for a little preview of my 2013 Rookie Scouting Portfolio Pre-Draft Rankings? The New York Times is posting the RSP top-five at each skill position. Quarterbacks Running Backs Wide Receivers Tight Ends (Posted soon) There will likely be a cluster of quarterbacks and receivers leaving the board in the second and third round who… Read More ›
14 Players at Risk of a Medical Red Flag on Draft Day
Reblogged from Second Opinion: The primary driver of a player’s draft position is talent. But the most talented players aren’t always drafted first. Many factors unrelated to talent prompt teams to take a talented player off their draft board entirely. This year’s draft includes a long list of talented players who may be flagged as… Read More ›
The Elusiveness Factor: Patterson-Austin-Woods By Nick Whalen
If you’re an NFL Draft junkie, this time of year feels like the weeks of anticipation leading to Christmas Day. When I was a kid, recordings of previous NFL Drafts were my “cartoons before bedtime,” before this blessed event that always brought a sense of euphoria when it finally arrived. I’m not normal. But I… Read More ›
Mike Glennon + Blaine Gabbert + Aaron Schatz = A 2011-2013 RSP Mashup
Football Outsiders Chief Aaron Schatz asked me a great question yesterday. One that I imagine some people with my business interests in mind would tell me not to answer within the context of a book season where I’m trying to generate sales. They want me to say – and only say – I was the… Read More ›
Instinct or Practice: Demystifying the Nature of Running Back
Is it instinct or practice? Nothing is as simple as it looks. Here’s a 2nd-and-five run by USC running back Silas Redd in the middle of the second quarter against Utah this year that begs the question. Nice run. Some might say Redd demonstrated excellent balance. Others might go further and say it was nice… Read More ›
“If You’re Looking For The Next Russell Wilson…”
WARNING: This is a post is about to engage in a severe form of nitpicking of two quality analysts of football – one whom I know and respect greatly. I only know the true intention of one of the two statements below about NFL quarterback prospects and that one came with Doug’s response after originally… Read More ›
Senior Bowl: Day Three
This is going to be a reasonably quick take of Day Three, because morning will be here sooner for us than many others staying in Mobile or flying out of here. As opposed to the detailed, player-by-player highlights I gave the first two days, here are the takes I think everyone needs to know based… Read More ›
How I Would Change The Senior Bowl
I’ll have practice observations from Day Three coming soon, but first I want to share what I would do to take the Senior Bowl into the 21st century if given the power to make major changes. The benefits would far outweigh the costs – especially in a league in its golden age making money hand… Read More ›
Senior Bowl: Day Two Skill Player Notables
Day Two of the Senior Bowl was packed with observations from both practices. This morning’s report covers wide receivers, quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends. There are also some thoughts about drills and the Senior Bowl selection process. Plenty of highlights today, most notably a football roundtable with Rotoworld’s Josh Norris, CBS’s Rob Rang, Football… Read More ›
Ezekiel Ansah: Next Man Up in the Potential vs Polish Debate
The scouting community and NFL player personnel departments love potential. It’s easy to project a player with elite combination of size and athleticism to future stardom. But the gap between potential and production is not trivial in the NFL. Jene Bramel explores this potential versus polish debate through the lens of defensive end Ezekiel Ansah… Read More ›
