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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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Senior Bowl Day 1: First Impressions, Offense
Matt Waldman shares his notebook on the weigh-in and Day 1 of practice. Prologue The first day of practice is both the most and least important of the week. It’s the least important when considering the results. Day 1 winners and losers are for pop media consumption and as forgettable as a sugary snack that…
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RSP Film Room No.93: OLB/DE Joe Mathis, Extended Look
Notable plays from OLB/DE Joe Mathis’ portfolio of work against Stanford and Arizona. Give me smarts and a high motor and chances are I’ll like the prospects of an athletic defender. Joe Mathis has that snap-to-whistle intensity and a good blend of creativity, and on-field maturity. Throw in Mathis’ array of pass rush moves, bend,…
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A Senior Bowl Primer
What I’ve learned about these practices and events and how I approach them. [Matt’s Note: I originally wrote this in 2017. With minor updates, these thoughts still apply.] Whether you’re a writer attending the Senior Bowl for the first time or you’re new to the all-star game as a fan, I’m sharing my perspective here.…
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RSP Boiler Room No.73: OLB/DE Joe Mathis (Washington)
The worst-kept secret of good edge prospects played for the Huskies. I’ll often watch one player only to have another perform so well that he hijacks my motivation to watch the original assignment. It happened a few years ago when Ryan Riddle and I were watching Denzel Perryman and Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah ran away with…
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Sr. Bowl Stories and Kicking Off “Mobile 2017”
Waldman shares a variety of memories about his annual trip to Mobile and what’s in store for this week’s event. Everything about Mobile, Alabama was new during my first few years as an attendee of the Senior Bowl. I wanted to soak up as much knowledge as I could from the field, the stands, the media…
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RSP Film Room No.72: WR Dede Westbrook (Oklahoma)
Oklahoma WR Dede Westbrook is one of the better 2017 NFL receiver prospects in this class, and one of its smallest. If two players are equal in every way with the exception of height, I’ll choose the taller one. Choosing players is not like selecting a car. NFL players don’t roll off the line at…
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RSP Film Room RB/WR Samajie Grant (Arizona)
Watch a 5-8 (-ish), 175-pound ballcarrier channel his inner Barry and Walter—on the same play. Good football players come in all shapes and sizes. The three things that most have in common are toughness, effort, and creativity. Arizona slot receiver and part-time running back Samajie Grant has these three qualities and pound-for-pound, he’s one of…
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RSP Film Room No.90: QB Brad Kaaya (Miami), Extended Look
The junior from Miami has the skills to earn a nice second contract in the NFL. Technically and athletically, Brad Kaaya is the polar opposite of Patrick Mahomes. While both players have starter potential, Kaaya is the textbook option. Kaaya’s footwork is consistent, he has experience under center, and he throws the ball away when…
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RSP Film Room No.89: QB Jerod Evans (VTech), Extended Look
Go ahead, ask me if I care about the two-year starter guideline. Jerod Evans is a one-year D-1 starter. There aren’t many one-year D-1 starters that have gone on to successful careers as NFL starters. Jerod Evans has a big arm. He throws the ball downfield with confidence and aggression. He displays touch, decisiveness, and…