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RSP Rorschach No.3: Cornell QB Jeff Mathews
Thrown too early or thrown too late? See below. Some plays are like Rorschach inkblots because there’s no definitive answer to why they unfold the way they do. This new series examines plays that have more than one viable explanation and may be too difficult to draw a single conclusion. The fun part is that…
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Reads Listens Views 2/7/2014
This Week’s RLV: Driving Blind, Mr. Clean, Talent On The Fringe, The Price Of Free, And Militant Frogs Views – “Driving Blind” A Film By Brian James Griffo Brian James Griffo asked me to check out his trailer and tell everyone that proceeds from the movie (rent for $4.99/buy for $8.99) are going to research.…
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Six Plays That Make Me A Fan Of WR Odell Beckham’s Game
Some schools are known for producing good athletes whose games don’t translate to the NFL. LSU’s Beckham doesn’t fit that pattern. Craig “Buster” Davis. Devery Henderson. Early Doucet. Brandon LaFell. Terrence Tolliver. These five receivers were good college players at LSU who failed to develop into productive starters that an NFL team feels it’s “set”…
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Boiler Room: QB Johnny Manziel and Why I Think of Ali
Manziel isn’t as haphazard and reckless as you think. The question is will the quarterback’s style become haphazard and reckless at the elevated level of pro football? The Boiler Room Series is my attempt to capture the state of an NFL prospect’s development into a single play. This is an impossible task, but what if…
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Futures at Football Outsiders: What’s After Clowney?
by Matt Waldman Jadeveon Clowney is one of the headliners of the 2014 NFL Draft, but defensive end is not this year’s marquee position. One of the predominant reasons is the current prevalence of the 3-4 scheme in the NFL. A true 4-3 end capable of stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback at an…
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Reese’s Senior Bowl Report Day 2: North-South Offense Notes
Today’s practice report will have a stream of conscious format minus my id. I wouldn’t do that to you. If you haven’t heard elsewhere, the jet stream made a personal appearance at Ladd-Peebles Stadium for Day 2 of Senior Bowl practices. I’m not sure if tomorrow will be as blustery, but the morning practice could…
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Boiler Room: Arizona State RB Marion Grice
One of my favorite players in this draft thus far is this 6-0, 204-lb. Sun Devils running back with the vision, balance, and grit to get the most from every play. A series I started last spring at the RSP blog is The Boiler Room. One of the challenges involved with player analysis is to be succinct…
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Below the Radar: Alabama Utility Back Jalston Fowler
Alabama FB/HB Jalston Folwer reminds me of Atlanta Falcons’ underrated ‘tweener Jason Snelling, only Fowler is a better ball carrier. The eye in the sky doesn’t lie. It’s a pithy football cliché. But the eyes in our heads can fool us. It happens to everyone while watching a football game and play-by-play commentary can reinforce…
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Aspire For The Catch, Settle For The Trap
Marqise Lee, Gator Hoskins, and Draftbreakdown.com, provide good examples why extending the arms to catch the ball is important. Draft Breakdown.com is a wonderful source for viewing cut-ups of games. When I don’t have a game I need from my own growing library of recorded games (probably in the thousands by now) this site filled…
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Isaiah Crowell
Based on talent only, Alabama State’s Isaiah Crowell is the best RB in this 2014 draft class. Talent isn’t everything. Watch an Alabama State football game and you’ll see a talented young man in a hurry. Isaiah Crowell has a sense of urgency that transcends the field of play. Every time the Hornets’ 5’11”,…