-
Mark Schofield’s RSP NFL Lens: The Jarrett Stidham Edition of ‘Playing Quarterback Is Hard’
Mark Schofield begs to differ with Ted Williams by revealing how even the most mundane decisions for a quarterback often require an immense amount of on-field awareness and split-second processing. Follow Mark on Twitter @markschofield So you want to play quarterback in the NFL? Good luck with all…that. It is a standard line, one that…
-
J. Moyer’s RSP NFL Lens: WR Curtis Samuel (Panthers) And Revisiting Scouting Report Stereotypes
RSP contributor J. Moyer explains why Carolina Panthers wide receiver is on his way to becoming an elite perimeter receiver in the NFL. Follow J. o Twitter at @jmoyerfb Projecting players from the college game to the pros is difficult. Physical attributes poorly predict performance. Production is heavily influenced by contextual factors such as the…
-
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens: RB Ronald Jones (Tampa Bay) More Patience Required
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens examines a run from Ronald Jones’ preseason game against the Buccaneers and explains why more patience is needed for the second-year running back. Ronald Jones has been one of the significant storylines from the NFL preseason. He’s added weight, cut down on mistakes, and he’s playing with greater decisiveness than…
-
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens: RB Alexander Mattison (Vikings) Cramming Well
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens showcases a decisive run from Vikings running back Alexander Mattison on an outside zone scheme. Zone runs are multiple-choice by nature: A. Cram the run at the designed landmark. B. Bounce the run further outside the designed landmark. C. Cutback the run away from the schemed side of the landmark.…
-
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens: RB Ito Smith’s (Falcons) Diagnosis of a Cutback
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens examines a cutback by Falcons running back Ito Smith and the concept behind the decision. Continuing the conversation that we have an abundance of football analysis that oversimplifies the running back position when they refer to it as instinctive, and therefore easy, let’s examine this Ito Smith run against the…
-
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens: RB Damien Harris (Patriots) And the Eyes-Feet Connection
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens examines the footwork and processing of Patriots RB Damien Harris. What is mental processing for a running back? A simple way of describing it is the connection between the eyes and the feet. If you can see the feet react logically to what the eyes should see on the field…
-
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens: RB Darwin Thompson’ (Chiefs) Pass Protection
Matt Waldman’s Rookie Scouting Portfolio examines the pass protection of running back Darwin Thompson, a compelling rookie for the Kansas City Chiefs. If you’re a regular at the Rookie Scouting Portfolio, you’ve known about Darwin Thompson as far back as last February. A short running back whose game resembles Brian Westbrook or Dion Lewis “with…
-
Dwain McFarland’s RSP NFL Lens: Does Preseason Matter?
Rookie Scouting Portfolio analyst Dwain McFarland explains how to filter the signal from the noise during the preseason. Follow Dwain on Twitter @dwainmcfarland Does preseason football matter? It depends. For some teams and players, it matters a lot. For others, it doesn’t matter at all other than emerging unscathed by injury. For which teams and…
-
J. Moyer’s RSP NFL Lens: RB Darrell Henderson’s (Rams) Transition to Zone Blocking
Rams rookie Darrell Henderson is one of the most exciting backs from the 2019 NFL Draft, but J. Moyer explains why his transition from start collegian to complete runner won’t be immediate. Perhaps the draft’s most electric back, Darrell Henderson’s arrival in the Rams’ hyper-efficient rushing offense offers plenty of justifiable excitement. It never meant…
-
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens: RB Ito Smith’s (Falcons) Blitz Pickup
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens examines a play from Atlanta RB Ito Smith’s preseason portfolio—a blitz pickup against a Miami Dolphins linebacker. The Atlanta Falcons have transitioned from the Devonta Freeman-Tevin Coleman plan that was Kyle Shanahan’s offense (and maintained by Shanahan’s replacement, Steve Sarkisian) to Dirk Koetter’s offense. Although Koetter has had seasons as…