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Futures: My Expansion Franchise
You’ve just been awarded an NFL expansion team and must build your personnel department. Go. Futures: My Expansion Franchise By Matt Waldman When the writer of Smartfootball.com suggests that, “you should storify that series of tweets,” it’s a take on a subject worth further exploration. The topic came courtesy of Luke Easterling (@NFLDraftReport) who, on…
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Rehabbing the Wonderlic
The Wonderlic and the NFL’s misguided use of it continues to fascinate. I propose a solution. If you’ve seen the Audible Podcast where I commented on the Wonderlic exam, then you know my suggested alternative to the Wonderlic. This test was designed in 1936 and the military adopted it for measuring a pilot’s ability to think fast. One…
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Reads Listens Views 4/18/2014
Fran Duffy’s Scouting Notebooks, Voodoo Chile Trip, Trio of Doom, and Solar in the Dark What is Reads Listens Views? If you’re new to the Rookie Scouting Portfolio blog, welcome. I post links on Friday to content I’m saving for later consumption. You may not like everything listed here, but you’re bound to like something.…
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Futures: Alabama MLB C.J. Mosely
Seeking an lesson in playing middle linebacker? C.J. Mosely’s game is instructive. Futures: Alabama MLB C.J. Mosely By Matt Waldman He can’t catch, he’s had numerous injuries, and a well-executed read-option keeper can trip him up. But if these are the only damning aspects to middle linebacker C.J. Mosely’s game, and his injuries don’t present…
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A Game of Inches: The Talent Gap By the Numbers
Based on these numbers, less than 1 percent of the seniors playing college football will ever earn a second contract in the NFL. Greg Linton, an NFL agent, shared this on Twitter this morning. There’s another salient point embedded in this data that goes beyond the message of “get your education.” It’s how data displays…
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Gray Matter: RBs Andre Williams and Anthony Dixon
I see the good from Andre Williams, but will he show it often enough on the field? I’m often asked about my “misses.” Who were they? What did I learn? The answers aren’t always as simple as the questions. Sometimes the outcome is wrong, but the process is right. Cincinnati running back Cedric Peerman hasn’t…
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Futures: Pitt DT Aaron Donald
I’m not a betting man, but if I were, Aaron Donald would be one of two players in this deep draft class that I’d have no reservations betting on as a future star. Futures: Pittsburgh DT Aaron Donald By Matt Waldman Help Wanted: Football Players Candidates must demonstrate efficiency and productivity while performing in a…
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Boiler Room: Utah TE Jake Murphy
Utah’s Jake Murphy is a safe, late-round pick with upside when called upon to do more. One of the challenges involved with player analysis is to be succinct with delivering the goods. As the author of an annual tome, I’m often a spectacular failure in this respect. A series I started last spring at the RSP blog…
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2013 RSP Flashback: RB Zac Stacy
The 2014 Rookie Scouting Portfolio is now available for pre-order for it’s April 1 release. Here’s a sample from 2013 of the underrated Zac Stacy. There is not much flash in Stacy’s game, but there is plenty of substance. The Commodores runner has a low center of gravity and good power to keep his legs…
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Futures: BYU OLB Kyle Van Noy
Van Noy has all the tools to become a quality starter in the NFL. He also has the vision and decision-making to become potential star. Futures: BYU OLB Kyle Van Noy By Matt Waldman When my friend Ryan Riddle, Cal’s all-time sack leader, says outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy has great instincts, that’s a player…