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Matt Waldman’s RSP Scout Talk with Russ Lande: NFL-CFL Scouting, All-Star Practices, CeeDee Lamb, and Tua Tagovailoa
In episode seven of Scout Talk, Matt Waldman and Russ Lande discuss the difference between scouting in the CFL and the NFL, why college all-star games must be placed in a proper context that takes years to do, trade thoughts on Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and Matt delves into the RSP mailbag to answer reader […]
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Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens: The Tight-Quarters Virtuosity of Vikings WR Stefon Diggs
Matt Waldman’s Rookie Scouting Portfolio NFL Lens examines the release on a slant route from Minnesota Viking wide receiver Stefon Diggs, a maestro of a route runner. I can’t tell you for a fact that Stefon Diggs practices new ideas slowly. However, I’d bet money that at some point during Diggs’ learning process, he’s breaking […]
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Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens: RB Devonta Freeman’s (Falcons) Processing And Conviction
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens shares a pair of Devonta Freeman runs with that showcase the conviction and processing speed of the Falcon’s running back. Last week, I wrote about Drew Brees as one of those players I’d love to get “stuck with” if my initial request for a quarterback wasn’t fulfilled. The player I […]
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Go Deep: What We’re About at the Rookie Scouting Portfolio (RSP)
Nine years ago, Matt Waldman began the Rookie Scouting Portfolio (RSP) website. It’s about time he has a page to welcome readers and explain what’s going on around here. Welcome to my site and thank you for visiting. If you’re new to the site or wondered about the invisible thread that runs through the work […]
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Matt Waldman’s RSP: The Talent-Work Ethic Question
Matt Waldman’s RSP examines the talent versus work ethic question as it applies to football and the NFL Draft. What is the nature of talent? How much of it is inherent? How much of it comes from persistent training? Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000-Hour Rule in his publication Outliers is a popular and hotly debated idea. I agree […]
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JuJu Smith-Schuster Pre-Draft Scouting Report
Matt Waldman’s RSP shares its pre-draft scouting report of Steelers rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster. “It would be incorrect to characterize [Smith-Schuster] as slow.” That was my assessment of the Steeler’s rookie before the draft. When it comes to receiver play, quickness, physicality, technical skills, and fit scheme fit matter more than sprinter’s speed. Read on and […]
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The NFL Lens: “Separation” with Marvin Jones
Matt Waldman’s Rookie Scouting Portfolio delivers an NFL Lens segment with Marvin Jones and Desmond Trufant to illustrate what “open” looks like at the professional level. When I first began evaluating NFL prospects, didn’t know anyone with NFL connections or experience. However, it only made sense that I use the players “who got there” as the […]
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RSP Boiler Room No. 109: RB Ray Lawry (Old Dominion), Reading The Field And Value of Effort
Matt Waldman’s RSP Boiler Room examines a great pre- and post-snap read of the defense by 2018 NFL Draft prospect RB Ray Lawry. In addition to athletic ability, the greatest differences between the college and NFL game is the amount of information that players must process immediately before and after the snap and how well […]
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Boiler Room: UGA WR Chris Conley
For many, the highlight of Christian Conley’s Georgia career was this 26-minute video: Not that Conley is bad at football, but most people were more familiar with Conley’s Star Wars fan film than they were with his athletic exploits until Saturday. After last weekend’s Combine, where Conley posted a record-setting broad jump, a 45-inch vertical, […]
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Listening to The Whispers: Changes to The RSP — WRs and TEs
Matt profiles changes to his TE/WR checklists and how his process encourages an interplay between logic and insight. I have spent the offseason reviewing and updating my evaluation criteria and scoring values for the Rookie Scouting Portfolio publication. I covered quarterbacks and running backs last week. Today it’s the wide receivers and tight ends. The […]