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Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens LB Lorenzo Alexander (Bills): Pre-Snap Psychic
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens showcases a tackle for loss thanks to Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander’s effective pre-snap read of the Broncos’ play design. When a defender correctly anticipates an offensive play, he can appear psychic. Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander’s backfield corralling of Bronco C.J. Anderson is a perfect example. All professional defenders understand how…
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Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens Misdirection And Mind Games: the Chiefs Give the Eagles a Campus Tour
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens showcases a pair of plays that worked together to help Kansas City’s offense dismantle the eventual Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Andy Reid, Matt Nagy, and the Chiefs embraced the spread offense and option concepts of the college game with great success last year. This should continue in 2018 with…
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Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens: Taysom Hill and Tre’Quan Smith
Matt Waldman’s Rookie Scouting Portfolio examines a play involving the Saints pitch-and-catch combo of Taysom Hill-Tre’Quan Smith. I’ve been hearing good things about Hill and Smith throughout the summer. Both are athletic prospects who can run with strength and burst for their position and have baseline technical skills. Smith reminds me of players with a…
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Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens: LB Reuben Foster And Coverage Responsibilities In Context
Matt Waldman’s Rookie Scouting Portfolio examines a pass breakup by 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster and reveals why it’s a play that’s more expected than amazing. A friend of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio contacted me today. He understands defenses as well as anyone that I know and has an impressive football resume. We often discuss why…
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Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens: The Value of Stacked Looks For Tight Ends
Matt Waldman’s Rookie Scouting Portfolio explains the value of stacked alignments that we’re seeing more often with NFL offenses. Stacked looks have been around a long time in football but we’re seeing them return to the NFL with a greater variety of usage in recent years. Two tight end sets is a great example. Depending on where…
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Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens Box Counts, Down-and-Distance, and Numbers Advantages: Context for Consideration
Matt Waldman’s Rookie Scouting Portfolio examines running play on third-and-long against nine defenders in the box and explains why the execution and the decision were good. This year, I’ve seen questions raised about NFL play calling from analysts who are tallying the success rates of run plays. A notable criticism is that many NFL teams…
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Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo, Creative Movement, and Short-Order Cooks
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens shares an improvisational play by 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and discusses what makes this throw good and replicable. The quarterback is one part baker, one part chef, and one part short-order cook. Like baking, some throws require following the recipe with exacting precision. Like cooking fine cuisine, other plays require…
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RSP NFL Lens Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky: Accuracy in Progress by Mark Schofield
Mark Schofield analyzes two plays from Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubsiky’s portfolio of work and illustrates why Trubisky is making progress with his accuracy. Who will be Top Gun of the 2017 quarterback class? That was last year’s burning question with four dramatically different choices: DeShone Kizer, Patrick Mahomes, Mitchell Trubisky, and Deshaun Watson. Watching…
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Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens QB Russell Wilson: Rule-Breaking Like An Artist
Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens posts a throw from the film portfolio of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson to illustrate the unwieldy application of technical rules in football evaluation. “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” — Pablo Picasso “Any fool can make a rule And any fool will…
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Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens WR Chris Godwin: Red Zone Specialist?
If you’re seeking a long-term bet at wide receiver, Buccaneer Chris Godwin is among the safest and steadiest prospects around. Chris Godwin has a quiet game. He lacks elite physical characteristics at the position, he’s not an elastic player at the catch point, and he’s not a terror in the open field. It doesn’t help that…