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Performance In Context: Play Design Matters
You don’t need to be an X and O’s genius to develop a good eye for talent. However, a solid understanding of basic play design is an integral part of developing perspective and context. A carry of Florida running back Matt Jones in the Gators’ contest with Kentucky offers a simple, but compelling example. First, watch the…
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RSP Sample: Cardinals RB Kerwynn Williams
My pre-draft analysis of the Cardinals’ new back from the 2013 RSP and a play-by-play breakdown of Williams and Marion Grice from Sunday’s Chiefs’ game. Williams was one my underrated backs in the 2013 Rookie Scouting Portfolio. You’ll also notice that I was a big fan of Williams’ skill as a receiver and thought he…
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Jameis Winston: Leadership (On Stage and Behind the Curtain)
I find it wholly appropriate that I’m writing about Winston two years to the night that a FSU freshman accused the quarterback of rape, because the man’s off-field behavior requires analysis within the context of evaluating his NFL prospects. I could pretend to be objective about Winston, but I won’t. His off-field behavior disturbs me. I…
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Trick Shot Hero: WR Ezell Ruffin
This week’s Boiler Room isn’t on a top prospect, but the Aztecs’ Ruffin often makes his position look E-Z. I don’t know if he will be fast enough for the NFL. And as soon as he has a serious block of time to devote to routes, he better hit the practice field with an expert. What I…
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No-Huddle Series: Have You Seen WR Sean Price?
Do you know the whereabouts of this talented wide receiver who has been missing since booted from his team in October 2013? Kinks in the “Draft Is a Good Predictor of Talent” Model I don’t buy the argument that the NFL Draft does a good job of predicting talent. If you look at the…
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RSP Film Room No.15: A Duo of WR Devantes
Matt Harmon and I review two receivers by the name of “Devante” and if we had our druthers, it’s the lesser-known one we’re more excited about. Batman and Robin. Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens. DeVante Parker and Devante Davis. When I think of the comic book duo Johnson and Owens come to this football writer’s…
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Futures: Six Memorable Lessons About Talent Evaluation
This week’s Futures makes a visit to the past. Matt Waldman lists the 10 most influential prospects in his development as a talent evaluator. This will be the tenth season that I publish the Rookie Scouting Portfolio. One of the most frequent questions readers ask is, Who were your greatest hits and misses? It’s an…
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RSP Film Room No.14: QB Jameis Winston w/Sigmund Bloom
Sigmund Bloom returns to the RSP Film Room for a first look at Jameis Winston and the FSU quarterback makes it look easy under difficult circumstances. Say what you will about the Florida State quarterback off the field, but when he dons the pads and helmet he’s impressive. Bloom and I studied the 2014 Notre…
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No-Huddle Series: Rice WR Jordan Taylor
Who is Jordan Taylor and why should you keep tabs on him? Seeing what others don’t when scouting a player often means you’re either equipped with pixie dust or the gunpowder. Get it right and it’s magic, get it wrong and it can blow up in your face. That’s the dramatic, bottom-line story you’ll see in…
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Futures: Dorial Green-Beckham
Futures: Oklahoma WR Dorial Green-Beckham By Matt Waldman In the end, we’re going to overcomplicate the simple, and they’re likely to oversimplify what’s complicated. “We” are the media and fans, “they” are the NFL, and wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham embodies both “simple” and “complicated.” The ridiculously talented football player with a hyphenated last name (which…