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RSP Top-Five Pre-Draft RB Rankings from 2015-2021
Matt Waldman shares the top running backs in his pre-draft rankings from 2015-2021 and some thoughts about these classes. A longtime reader asked me about my past top-five running backs from previous draft classes tonight. After sharing them with him and then on Twitter, I thought it would make a fun post for an expanded…
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Matt Waldman’s RSP Sample Pre-NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Marcus Mariota (Tennessee)
Matt Waldman’s RSP shares a sample scouting report on Tennessee Titans QB Marcus Mariota, a player whose pocket presence and the potential turnstile of NFL coaches he might (and has) have to endure could be barriers to his upside. 3. Marcus Mariota, Oregon (6-4, 222) There’s no shame to Mariota’s game that he’s No.3 on…
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Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens: Finding A Fit for TE/WR Darren Waller (Oakland)
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens profiles Darren Waller’s 2018 stretch-run with the Raiders and what it reveals about Oakland’s potential use of him in 2019. A former big-play, split-end at Georgia Tech, Darren Waller has always been an impressive physical specimen. A 6’6″, 238-pound option, Waller had impressive pre-draft marks: a 37-inch Vertical Jump, a…
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RSP NFL Lens LB Eric Kendricks (Vikings): Technical, Intelligent, and Sneaky
Matt Waldman’s Rookie Scouting Portfolio NFL Lens showcases a trio of great plays by Minnesota LB Eric Kendricks—one that prevents a long touchdown by Ezekiel Elliott without tackling the runner. Eric Kendricks is one of my favorite linebackers in the league. He excels in underneath coverage, he’s a sure tackler, and he’s sneaky smart. “Sneaky” is…
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Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens RB Todd Gurley (Rams): Footwork and Movement
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens showcases Todd Gurley’s excellent movement in compressed space. If Todd Gurley’s game was a dish at my Imaginary football diner, he’d be the “Eddie Georgia Plate.” If you’re under 35, you probably only saw George well have his expiration date as an elite running back. George was a smooth, powerful runner…
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RSP Sample: QB Brett Hundley, Packers
My pre-draft ranking and profile of the Packers’ QB on the rise. 2. Brett Hundley, UCLA (6-3, 226) The difference in ranking between Hundley and Marcus Mariota came down to the smallest details. They are essentially tied on my board, but one exercise of ranking players —be it a draft board for a team, media,…
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Cardinals RB David Johnson: A Pre-Draft RSP Summary
I’m a big proponent about context over rankings. What I reported on David Johnson explains why. Note the team choices in the analysis from March-April. I’ve had my share of rankings successes and failures, but I’ve never been one to get too hooked on the number when I’m not creating a board for a specific…
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A Special Thank You
If you bought the Rookie Scouting Portfolio this year, thank you for making a difference with protecting children and communities. Listen. Every year since 2012, 10 percent of each sale of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio publication has been donated to combat sexual abuse. It’s helps. There’s tremendous value of having a knowledgeable community about this issue. We…
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I Hear My Train A Comin’: RB Karlos Williams
[Author’s Note: I wrote this exactly a year and a day ago, but never published it. I tend to let some of my drafts collect dust as something else comes to my attention. I gave it a look today and decided to publish it. I also added my RSP pre-draft sample to the end of…
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RSP Film Short: Jets DE Leonard Williams in 40 Seconds
I discuss play structure a lot in when it comes to player evaluation. Top players execute inside and outside the structure of a play. You’ll hear me mention it with quarterbacking, but Ryan Riddle broached the same idea with defensive line play in our recent RSP Film Rooms on Robert Nkemdiche and Adolphus Washington. Riddle…