The Rookie Scouting Portfolio (RSP)

Tag: Scouting

  • ESPN Analyst Matt Williamson Part I

    ESPN analyst Matt Williamson is a former NFL scout for the Cleveland Browns. He agreed to talk about a variety of topics in a three-part interview at The Rookie Scouting Portfolio. In this post, Williamson discusses an emerging NFL offensive trend with personnel and then explains the difference between scouting for a football team and…

  • Emerging NFL Talents: RB James Starks

    Although my takes on the players in the next series of posts might be useful to fantasy owners, these aren’t fantasy football articles. I’m not projecting stats. I’m writing about talented players whose portfolio of work reveals techniques and behaviors that I think translate well to the NFL game. At the end of the year,…

  • Emerging NFL Talents: RB Ryan Mathews

    Although my takes on the players in the next series of posts might be useful to fantasy owners, this isn’t a fantasy football article. I’m not projecting stats. I’m writing about talented players whose portfolio of work reveals techniques and behaviors that I think translate well to the NFL game. At the end of the…

  • Execution

    While researching YouTube highlights for my last blog post, I came across a series of short videos on fundamentals for wide receiver and tight end. One set of these videos features former Packers, Chiefs, and Vikings tight end Paul Coffman, who does a fantastic job of demonstrating fundamental techniques for blocking, releases, routes, and pass catching.…

  • Remove The Beer Goggles (A Sober Look at Terrelle Pryor)

    I’m going to give you a ton of analysis on Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor. But if you subscribe to the “Keep It Simple Stupid,” approach, here’s an executive summary: All NFL prospects have physical talent. All NFL starters have technical skill. However, few NFL prospects in a given year become NFL starters because they…

  • In Perspective: Marshall Faulk Defensive Back???

    Every year the draft brings rookies into the league and many of the prospects have question marks about their game. Pick a player and there’s a criticism: too short, too light, too slow, not muscular enough, didn’t play well against top competition, came from a lesser program, you name it. This is why I love…

  • Grinding Tape: NIU RB Chad Spann Part I

    This is the first in a series of posts will feature a film study session I had with former NIU RB Chad Spann, 2010’s Division-I leader in rushing TDs and the Mid-American Conference’s Most Valuable Player. If you don’t know about Chad Spann, you’re probably not alone. He wasn’t drafted in April. However, that doesn’t…

  • Losing Your Football Innocence

    Losing Your Football Innocence

    Readers often ask me for advice on how to watch football with a more critical eye. My answers are below, but if you take my advice you’ll lose your football innocence. Let’s dispense with the obvious: You love football. I love football. We wouldn’t be interacting on this blog if we didn’t. I’m stating these…

  • Speed In Context

    Jerry Rice is a perfect example of speed in the proper context.  Speed (noun, verb, sped or speed·ed, speed·ing. –noun) 1. rapidity in moving, going, traveling, proceeding, or performing; swiftness; celerity: the speed of light;the speed of sound… 6. Slang . a stimulating drug, as caffeine, ephedrine, or especially methamphetamine or amphetamine. Legendary NFL owner…

  • Evaluating the Evaluator

    With its vast knowledge of strategy and technique and a wealth of  financial resources at their disposal, NFL organizations not only have the potential to discover if that linebacker prospect fits their scheme, but they can also find out what he did with that blue pencil sharpener in Mrs. Beam’s second grade social studies class.…