Sooner or later when you take your car into the garage for preventative maintenance the technician will look you square in the face when handing you back your keys, as well as presenting you with a bill for the damages, and say “You might be in need of new tires the next time around. Your tires are getting… Read More »
I cannot believe today’s “NOW” society at times. I’m still pulling together numbers and notes from the NFL Combine, and being accused of living in the past by some. The Combine wrapped up less than one week ago! How can it be old news?! All of our observations cannot be based on first impressions, so I will continue… Read More »
Seems like I never learn from some of my previous mistakes. Every year I make the same mistake around NFL Combine time. I watch hours and hours of coverage on NFLN and take notes while I watch. Then I decide to wait until I see a bit more the next day before writing anything for the website. Before… Read More »
Now it’s time to finish up my group rankings as we prepare for the NFL COMBINE this coming week. ILB Group There is always a bit of disagreement within the scouting community on ILB vs OLB, but not too many would dispute that the best pure LB prospect may be REUBEN FOSTER?alabama. FOSTER reminds me a lot of… Read More »
Our defensive discussion will start with the big guys up front. For this year’s projection I am going to work with the time honored position groups of DE, DT, ILB, OLB, CB & S. But bear in mind this kind of breakdown is starting to feel more and more outdated with the absolute lust for edge-rushers about to… Read More »
Let’s take a look at the remainder of the offensive position groups.. RB GROUP As often happens in the NFL, it appears to me that the importance of the running back positions is back on the uptick. The passing game can be more exciting to fans than a good run game, but depending upon the opponent’s defensive scheme,… Read More »
The COMBINE plays a larger role for me with every year that passes, it seems. I want to see more of those underclassmen in action, as well as small school guys. I also like having an idea how fast players are in comparison to their peers, even if it is only in their underwear. But while we wait… Read More »
Now that I have had a couple weeks to digest All-Star Game results it is time for my initial Top 100 Prospect rankings. I will remind you that my rankings are based almost entirely on my own observations from watching players in action. At least for now, I am not trying to “guess” what has transpired in interviews… Read More »
Like any other sporting event that spans a full week of activities not everything that is observed and/or experienced fits into neat little categories like All-Practice teams. So I’d like to share with you some opinions and observations that came out of the weeklong extravaganza in Mobile. 1) The effort by PHIL SAVAGE, his staff and the army… Read More »
It somehow seems appropriate to name a final All-Star team for the nation’s elite All-Star Game. Not only was the game decided by 1-point, on a failed 2-point conversion play, but the South won despite losing the turnover battle 5-1. Teams are not supposed to win games where they post a turnover margin of -4. So the vast… Read More »
Time to wrap up the week with my picks for the week’s All-Practice Team. With over 110 players here any endeavor of this type is a bit hit-or-miss. I plead guilty to not being able to watch all of those guys in detail, so to a great degree this team represents what I saw and I certainly could… Read More »
I am sad to say it but today was the last day of real practices and our last contact with the players until after the game. I am feeling melancholy already that my best two weeks of the year are almost over. The NORTH took the field first this afternoon, on a more typical Mobile weather day in… Read More »
Once again not too shabby on the weather front considering it’s January in Mobile. Cloudy and mild, with more wind than Tuesday. But the rain held out for both team practices. My Draftnik companions wanted to talk QB among other topics. So we tried to reach a consensus on the QB rank and failed miserably. So let me… Read More »
The week is off to a roaring start with multiple events to cover including the annual Weigh-in as conducted by National Scouting. As usual Director Phil Savage gave the NFL and Media folks a rundown on why certain players were not in Mobile for the week. Players who declined invites to the Senior Bowl. JONATHAN ALLEN/DL/ALABAMA TACO CHARLTON/DE/MICHIGAN… Read More »
Its an off-day for the East-West Shrine squads so let me take this opportunity to post my Shrine All-Practice Team for the week. Offense QB ALEK TORGERSEN/PENN 6’2/215 #15 RB JOE WILLIAMS/UTAH 5/11/202 #28 RB De’VEON SMITH/MICHIGAN 5’11/224 #2 WR AUSTIN CARR/NORTHWESTERN 6’0/201 #80 WR DEANGELO YANCEY/PURDUE 6’1/220 #88 TE ERIC SAUBERT/DRAKE 6’5/247 #85 T SAM TEVI/UTAH 6’5/312… Read More »
Today was the peak practice day of the week. Thursday will begin the wind down as the teams get prepared to play a game on Saturday with game planning and walk-throughs. Spirited play and hard hitting contact highlighted both practices Wednesday. But first let me mention the most shocking thing about this week in my world. For the… Read More »
Another sunny and warmer than normal January day in Central Florida and just before the East morning practice began the field was invaded by a complete crew of area referees to oversee practices and give players tips on what penalties might have been called and why. Good idea says Pigskin Paul. The more I see of Kansas S/Fish… Read More »
Monday marked the first day of practices for Shrine Week in St. Pete. Partly cloudy skies which gave way to full sunshine by late afternoon and a high temp of about 78F. The EAST SQUAD took the practice field at Shore Crest Academy on the North side of town. A miscellaneous group of mostly young NFL assistant coaches… Read More »
Players will begin showing up for the Shrine Week activities this weekend, with the game scheduled for the 21st. Sunday will be the day that players find out what this game is really all about with visits to the Shriners’ Children’s Hospital in Tampa. ‘Strong legs run, so weak legs may walk’. This year’s event will mark the… Read More »
Just when you thought we might be through with prospect thumbnails I have dusted off my notes from the second half of the Bowl season. By this time next week I’ll be deeply immersed in prep work for Shrine Week. But I did find some impressive work from prospects during the past couple of weeks, and wanted to… Read More »
From a Bowl standpoint this is the last day of Bowling for Dollars, NCAA style. One big game remains for next week, but that’s another story. These games should be pretty darn good. FLORIDA (8-4) VS IOWA (8-4); OUTBACK BOWL; 1 PM ET; ABC … If both offenses play at their highest level this could be a real… Read More »
The regular season is all but over and it’s time, IMO, to take a look back at the Rookies who stood out in 2016 around the NFL.Not just a starting lineup, but an actual roster of top first year men. I fact, I’d go so far as to say I’d like to see this roster face off in… Read More »
Rolling along toward the big time games we come across out first real match up in the Orange Bowl, but first let’s check everything on the 30th. GEORGIA (7-5) Vs. Texas Christian (6-6); LIBERTY BOWL; NOON PM ET; ESPN … Somewhat down years for both programs in 2016. But both teams have solid talent and look to be… Read More »
PITTSBURGH (8-4) Vs. NORTHWESTERN (6-6); PINSTRIPE Bowl; 2 PM ET; ESPN … The Wildcats are a feisty bunch under HC PAT FITZGERALD. They started the season slowly, but played some really solid ball to end the year at .500. The play a bit of Offense and a bunch of Defense. But they are likely to be outclassed in… Read More »
It’s our last chance to see prospects in live game action as the Bowl season trudges on. In some cases the games are bereft of serious prospects to thumbnail because almost 150 were done during the regular season play. But in some cases there are also previously injured players who are returning to action. On the downside the… Read More »
