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Embracing The Craft of Player Evaluation
Player evaluation is an imperfect endeavor. Understanding one’s limitations is a huge step towards getting better at it. The most compelling thing about the NFL Draft is that no matter how hard it tries, it cannot escape its humanity. It’s this human element that makes player evaluation – and evaluating what good evaluation is –…
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Picking on Jarvis Landry
I promise, I really do like a lot about Landry’s game, but when a player provides good teaching opportunities, you take it. I’ve already heard from some LSU fans who feel it was unfair to criticize Landry’s effort in an area where I stated most college receivers aren’t playing at top intensity (run blocking). Forget…
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Futures: Louisville S Calvin Pryor
When it’s all said and done, Teddy Bridgewater might not be the best Louisville player in this draft. Futures: Louisville S Calvin Pryor By Matt Waldman One of my favorite football players during the past 15 years began his college career as a corner, but finished it playing both safety positions and earned a first-team…
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Funny Thing Happened at the Senior Bowl . . .
Only I didn’t get the full extent of the punchline until this evening. Media Night at the Senior Bowl is a loosely organized event. Imagine four long life rafts filled with sailors in a sea filled with twice as many sharks. In case you’re not too swift on the uptake this evening, the sharks aren’t…
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Talents on the Fringe: RB Shakir Bell
Every draft has a handful of players where the talent is there, but they don’t register on the draft media’s Richter Scale. When it comes to the lens of the media, I’m drawn to players on the periphery. I enjoy uncovering the mystery behind players who perform well enough on the field to earn more…
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Six Plays That Make Me A Fan Of WR Odell Beckham’s Game
Some schools are known for producing good athletes whose games don’t translate to the NFL. LSU’s Beckham doesn’t fit that pattern. Craig “Buster” Davis. Devery Henderson. Early Doucet. Brandon LaFell. Terrence Tolliver. These five receivers were good college players at LSU who failed to develop into productive starters that an NFL team feels it’s “set”…
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Boiler Room: QB Johnny Manziel and Why I Think of Ali
Manziel isn’t as haphazard and reckless as you think. The question is will the quarterback’s style become haphazard and reckless at the elevated level of pro football? The Boiler Room Series is my attempt to capture the state of an NFL prospect’s development into a single play. This is an impossible task, but what if…
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Futures: Louisiville QB Teddy Bridgewater
Bridgewater is fluid, relaxed, and confident, but does his arm, deep accuracy, and hand size inspire the NFL’s confidence? Futures: Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater By Matt Waldman The question of what makes a good NFL quarterback isn’t much different than the question of what is healthy eating for a human being. Most want a simple…
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Reese’s Senior Bowl Offensive Practices Day 3
Players Who Grew On Me Oregon’s Josh Huff leads this list of players who I like more as I leave Mobile than I did upon my arrival. The receiver demonstrated that he could catch the ball with his hands on a consistent basis. While he doesn’t make receptions at the level of difficulty we see…
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Futures at Football Outsiders: What’s After Clowney?
by Matt Waldman Jadeveon Clowney is one of the headliners of the 2014 NFL Draft, but defensive end is not this year’s marquee position. One of the predominant reasons is the current prevalence of the 3-4 scheme in the NFL. A true 4-3 end capable of stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback at an…