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Senior Bowl Practice Wrap: Defense – 2017 NFL Draft Prospects
The week of Senior Bowl practices is a worthwhile evaluation period. NFL coaches take teaching drills seriously and are encouraging but demand improvement. Many of these players are facing the best competition they’ve seen all season. However, it’s important to understand the limitations of the week. Practices are non-contact and repetitions are limited. This year’s…
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Senior Bowl Day 1: First Impressions, Defense
Prologue In reality, college players turned aspiring NFL athletes get many chances to make a positive impression. Teams evaluate multiple games on film and get access to players for interviews here in Mobile, at the combine, and at Pro Days. But Senior Bowl Week is the first time the NFL calendar and news cycle turns…
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RSP Film Room No.82: LB Darron Lee w/Jene Bramel
Jene Bramel returns to the film room and shows his chops on the defensive side of the ball. Darron Lee has been the most requested player for the film room episodes of the 2016 season. The Buckeyes’ outside linebacker is an athlete, but Bramel shows us why Lee is a solid prospect with room to…
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Rod Marinelli: Mickey Goldmill and the Physics of Defensive Line Play
Widely recognized as one of the best teachers in the game, Rod Marinelli’s direct, passionate, encouraging, and personable demeanor was on display throughout practice. As I stalked Rod Marinelli from one end of Ladd-Peebles Stadium today, I kept hearing Mickey Goldmill and Richard Feynman in my head. Stay with me. The parallels to Rocky Balboa’s…
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Defenders I’ll Be Watching In Mobile
Bramel shares where practice helps analysts value defensive prospects and who he’ll be watching perform these drills in Mobile. Some argue the limited playbook and lack of full contact during team drills prevent a full reckoning of a defensive player’s talent during Senior Bowl practices. I always counter that there’s much to see in the…
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Footballguys Thursday Live Audible 4.9.15
This week’s Audible Live show was an excellent podcast/hangout. Details inside. or listen to the podcast format. Mariota falling in the draft? Mike Mayock’s ranking change of Mariota three weeks before the draft. Expected and Unexpected Destinations for Todd Gurley. Randy Gregory, Marijuana, and Marijuana Testing. Discussion of Todd Gurley’s prospects. Discussion of Melvin Gordon’s…
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RSP Film Room No.30: UCLA LB Eric Kendricks w/Jene Bramel
It may seem strange to many of you, but the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Jene Bramel and football isn’t injuries, but defense. But some of you diehards know exactly why. I’ve been waiting patiently for Jene to be my guest in the RSP Film Room and when I got…
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Jene Bramel: Sr. Bowl Day Three From the Trenches
Bramel parcels his defensive observations into categories that you can use. I like to think of the third day of Senior Bowl practices as Confirmation Day. Talented players keep their momentum and continue to win the majority of their reps. Projectable players improve as they adapt to better competition and respond to coaching. Others…
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Jene Bramel’s GM Decision: With the Flow or Against the Grain?
What is 2014’s Writer’s Project? This year’s RSPWP is a different take on team building. I will have 15-20 written scenarios based on true NFL stories provided to me from current and former NFL employees (scouts, players, and consultants). In each scenario, the participating writer is the general manager of an NFL team has a…
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Jene Bramel’s Day 2 Defensive Practice Reports
Starring “Zach Thomas” and “The Maniac” headlining a dozen notable players catching Bramel’s eye. Tuesday is Momentum Day at the Senior Bowl. Players who started quickly on Monday can build on their performance and generate a positive buzz that can last until the NFL combine and beyond. Players who disappointed at the weigh-in or during practice on Monday need…