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Chad Spann: Post Rookie Debriefing
Chad Spann is a reserve running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers after stops with the Colts and Buccaneers. I have interviewed Spann multiple times since this time last year. The former NIU walk-on who began his career ninth on the depth chart and ended it as the 2010 NCAA touchdown leader is a confident but…
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Chad Spann: Lessons Learned and Work Ahead
Chad Spann is a reserve running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers after stops with the Colts and Buccaneers. I have interviewed Spann multiple times since this time last year. The former NIU walk-on who began his career ninth on the depth chart and ended it as the 2010 NCAA touchdown leader is a confident but…
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Lloydesque Sleeper: ECU WR Lance Lewis
(Warning, soundtrack not safe for work): Brandon Lloyd was the subject of the second football-related article I ever wrote. This was two years before I launched the Rookie Scouting Portfolio. Lloyd was a fourth-round pick in his second year with the 49ers and he was beginning to make plays like the ones above. I have…
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Temple RB Bernard Pierce: All About The Angles
Author’s Note: If you haven’t entered the RSP Guess the 40 Contest for a chance to win a free past issue of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio, details here. Alshon Jeffrey still hasn’t run, so there’s time. Wednesday night, I Tweeted that there’s little better than watching a good angle blocking scheme in action. It’s like…
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David Wilson’s Vision: Part IV – Exploring the Gray Area
If you’ve missed David Wilson Week at the RSP blog you can catch up by reading parts I, II, and III. If you want to start here that’s fine, too. No one is going to write you a ticket for improper blog reading. Ever watch a ball carrier in a football game finish a good…
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RB David Wilson’s Vision: Part III – Flashes of Refined Play
This has been David Wilson Week at the RSP blog. In case you missed it, here’s the analysis I have done – and what is still slated – for the Va. Tech runner: Raw Skill in Action – Part I of series Low lights – Part II Flashes of Refined Play – Part III (today’s…
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RB David Wilson’s Vision: Part II – The Low Lights
As I explained yesterday, Vision is often poorly defined as an abstract, catchall intangible that is vital to the success of a ball carrier. Vision should be something we actively try to define and despite its intuitive characteristics I believe there are major components of the skill set that running backs learn as late as…
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RB David Wilson’s Vision: Part I Raw Skill in Action
To come to be you must have a vision of Being, a Dream, a Purpose, a Principle. You will become what your vision is. – Peter Nivio Zarlenga Vision is a magical term. Even in the world of business, visionary leaders are seen as semi-fictional characters. For all of his petulance, coldness, and cruelty…
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RSP Cutting Room Floor: College RB and WR Notes
If you haven’t noticed, the RSP blog is often my catchall area to write about anything I can relate to football. Nonetheless, rookie evaluation is still far and away the headliner. With the regular NFL season in the books I’ve ramped up my film study of college players. Here’s a few odds and ends about…
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Boycotting the Corner Store: A Lesson for RBs
Isaiah Pead is an NFL running back prospect for the 2012 NFL Draft. The 5’11”, 198-pound University of Cincinnati senior is agile, and quick. He earns his tuition gaining yards from spread and pistol sets. This morning I’m watching Pead gain 191 total yards from scrimmage and score two touchdowns against NC State. I’m not…