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The Rookie Scouting Portfolio (RSP)

The Rookie Scouting Portfolio

A Seat in Matt Waldman’s Film Room: The Most Comprehensive NFL Draft Scouting Reports of Offensive Skill Positions (QB, RB, WR, TE) Available.

Grinding Tape: Chad Spann – Stiff arms and Green Dogs

NIU RB Chad Spann led the NCAA Divison I-A with 22 rushing touchdowns in 2010. That’s one more than LaMichael James and two more than Colin Kaepernick and Cam Newton. Recently, I had the chance to watch tape with the 2010 MAC MVP. This week we discuss two plays where there are problems with the […]

June 19, 2011
Remove The Beer Goggles (A Sober Look at Terrelle Pryor)

I’m going to give you a ton of analysis on Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor. But if you subscribe to the “Keep It Simple Stupid,” approach, here’s an executive summary: All NFL prospects have physical talent. All NFL starters have technical skill. However, few NFL prospects in a given year become NFL starters because they […]

June 15, 2011
In Perspective: Marshall Faulk Defensive Back???

Every year the draft brings rookies into the league and many of the prospects have question marks about their game. Pick a player and there’s a criticism: too short, too light, too slow, not muscular enough, didn’t play well against top competition, came from a lesser program, you name it. This is why I love […]

June 13, 2011
Grinding Tape Part III – NIU RB Chad Spann

In Part I of the Grinding Tape Series, Mid American Conference MVP Chad Spann explained the concepts behind plays that require a running back to understand blocking schemes, defensive tendencies, and reading keys. In Part II, he revealed how quickly a runner needs to be able to process information to choose a hole, ball security […]

June 12, 2011
An Unexpected Visit With Family

On Saturday, my wife and daughter drove to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to attend a family event, which I hoped to make, but I had work that kept me home. At least that’s what I thought. Then I received news that my grandmother passed away. By Sunday morning I was on the road for an 11-hour […]

June 8, 2011
Grinding Tape: NIU RB Chad Spann Part II

In Part I of the Grinding Tape Series, Mid American Conference MVP Chad Spann explained the concepts behind plays that require a running back to understand blocking schemes, defensive tendencies, and reading keys. This week, he reveals how quickly a runner needs to be able to process information to choose a hole, ball security protocol, […]

June 6, 2011
Grinding Tape: NIU RB Chad Spann Part I

This is the first in a series of posts will feature a film study session I had with former NIU RB Chad Spann, 2010’s Division-I leader in rushing TDs and the Mid-American Conference’s Most Valuable Player. If you don’t know about Chad Spann, you’re probably not alone. He wasn’t drafted in April. However, that doesn’t […]

June 2, 2011
Losing Your Football Innocence

Readers often ask me for advice on how to watch football with a more critical eye. My answers are below, but if you take my advice you’ll lose your football innocence. Let’s dispense with the obvious: You love football. I love football. We wouldn’t be interacting on this blog if we didn’t. I’m stating these […]

May 30, 2011
Speed In Context

Jerry Rice is a perfect example of speed in the proper context. Speed (noun, verb, sped or speed·ed, speed·ing. –noun) 1. rapidity in moving, going, traveling, proceeding, or performing; swiftness; celerity: the speed of light;the speed of sound… 6. Slang . a stimulating drug, as caffeine, ephedrine, or especially methamphetamine or amphetamine. Legendary NFL owner […]

May 12, 2011
Evaluating the Evaluator

With its vast knowledge of strategy and technique and a wealth of financial resources at their disposal, NFL organizations not only have the potential to discover if that linebacker prospect fits their scheme, but they can also find out what he did with that blue pencil sharpener in Mrs. Beam’s second grade social studies class. […]

May 8, 2011