It’s up, over at Rotoworld.

The 2012 draft class had some solid, intriguing pass rush prospects, but overall it was considered a weak year – especially compared to a 2011 class that featured Von Miller, Aldon Smith, and Ryan Kerrigan.  This year is a different story, however.  We’re looking at two of my personal favorites this week, but I can’t stress how much edge rushing talent this draft class will likely end up having.  If your favorite team misses out on one of these two guys it’ll hurt, don’t stress too much….unless they go to a division rival.  Then you should worry.

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It’s up, over at Rotoworld Draft:

E.J. Manuel‘s career up to this point has been marked with inconsistency – a guy whose size, athleticism, and arm make you drool over the possibilities, but possessed too many holes in his game to overlook or bet on him at Party Casino. His biggest flaw (holding the ball too long) has been a notable career killer for many an NFL quarterback. Holding the ball too long can be a symptom of many factors, but the root of the problem almost always goes back to the quarterback being unsure and uncomfortable with the defensive coverage and how it affects his progressions. Further, Manuel would exacerbate this problem by “shrinking” in the pocket (squaring up to the line of scrimmage and crouching, entering a running stance) and trying to improvise – often leading to self-induced pressures and sacks. Even when not pressuring himself, his movement Keep Reading…

It’s up, over at Rotoworld NFL Draft:

I’ve been highly intrigued with Tyler Bray as a prospect since the Volunteers played the Gators last season. During that game, Tennessee lost then sophomore receiver Justin Hunter on the first drive. Bray showed a ton of grit, helping to keep the game close while getting hammered behind a completely overmatched offensive line – not to mention, the velocity he could put on some of his throws absolutely jumped off the screen. While the rest of Bray’s year was derailed by injury, I thought the arm talent and pocket toughness he exhibited in that game against Florida could lead to a potential breakout season if Bray could iron out other facets of his game.

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It’s up at Big Cat Country this week.

Announcers and analysts often talk about coaches “scripting” out their first 10-15 plays, but fail to elaborate why. It has everything to do with “tendencies” – distinct playcalling or decision-making patterns that can be tracked through detailed playcharting. It’s how you figure out whether a team will run or pass out of a certain formation, what their go-to play is on 3rd and medium, or what protection the offense is likely to use with a particular personnel grouping so you can get a blitz with a free rusher. Conversely, offenses can pick up on what fronts, run fits, sub-packages, and coverages a defense will use against certain formations and personnel groupings. Figuring out these tendencies is what coaches spend all their time breaking down film and charting plays for.

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Most of you know Ryan Mallett’s story: highly touted pocket passer transfers from Michigan to Arkansas after the Wolverines bring in Rich Rodriguez and his spread offense.  Puts up pretty prolific passing numbers in the SEC.  Drug rumors off the field and bad decisions under pressure on the field kill his draft stock and he falls to the third round – to the New England Patriots, a team that knows how to develop quarterbacks over the long term.

While studying Mallett’s week one preseason debut, I noticed something contradictory in his game.  For a big, slow-footed quarterback, he is surprisingly adept at moving and re-setting in the pocket, as well as playing in confined spaces.  This goes back to his college days, actually.  While Mallett’s decision-making under pressure was really questionable during his college career, from a skillset standpoint, he always displayed the arm talent to make throws with bodies Keep Reading…