Every spring, NFL teams meet with prospects for the upcoming draft in the months leading up to the draft itself. There are many opportunities for players and teams to meet with one another, including all-star games, pro days, the NFL Scouting Combine, workouts, and private visits. Each type of meeting has different rules that govern…
NFL teams throughout the league have a quarterback problem, and they’ve had it for a while. It’s not difficult to figure out that there is a shortage of franchise quarterbacks in the NFL. That’s why teams pour a ton of money into trying to sign or draft their next franchise quarterback – sometimes simultaneously. The…
The Los Angeles Rams’ 2017 draft was peppered with small-school reaches. While the Rams may not have gained the best value from the 2017 NFL Draft, the overall process did contain a few positives. The offensive selections demonstrate that the front office has a clear acknowledgement of the scheme that new head coach Sean McVay…
Many were surprised that Jonathan Allen was available with the 17th overall pick for Washington. Allen’s ‘fall’ in the first round was not due to any medical reasons. Sure, having two potentially arthritic shoulders was a cause for concern. However, the main reason for Allen’s drop was how he tested at the NFL Combine. Pre-combine,…
The first round of the NFL draft is in the books, and three quarterbacks heard their names called, all in the first dozen selections. This is in line with what some were expecting, given the number of teams picking in the top 12 that needed to address the quarterback position. However, the order in which…
Now that we have moved through the Big Four of this draft class, it is time to take a look at the signal callers in my second tier of this year’s prospects. Of the four players in this group, two have received early round buzz, while the other two are staying somewhat under the radar.…
While playcalling could seem simple at times (insert Darrell Bevell joke here), it’s far more complicated in actuality. Offensive coordinators may come out with a formation or motion in the first quarter, only to return to it late in the second half and repeat that concept or tweak it just enough to confuse the defense.…
With the Super Bowl upon us and the football season finish line right in front of our eyes, what better time than now to reflect on past big games and how their participants compare to this year’s combatants: the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots. In my previous article looking at recent conference championship…
The 2016 NFL regular season has come to a close and the Chicago Bears finished with a very disappointing 3-13 record, which is the franchise’s worst record for a 16-game season. However, there was a bright spot during an otherwise dark season, and that was the performance of fifth-round rookie running back Jordan Howard out…
The counter trey is a running play that perfectly combines deception and physicality. The down blocks on the playside move downhill and hit hard, while a fake in the backfield freezes the defense enough to allow two pulling linemen to charge the playside to wipe out the defensive front for the runner. Nearly every team…
The Lions’ offense faced questions entering this season, and have quelled any doubts to this point. Matthew Stafford establishing himself as a premier quarterback might have even converted a lifelong Patriots fan. Dave Archibald breaks down the Lions’ signal caller most recent late-game heroics, something the veteran is making habitual. The 2016 season marks Detroit Lions quarterback…
The NFL Playoffs kick off with a NFC Wild Card matchup between the 5th-seeded Green Bay and the 4th-seeded Washington. The ITP editors have collected our coverage of these two teams from the 2015 regular season. Washington When Robert Griffin III was lost last year, Mark Schofield showed how Washington’s offense could succeed with Kirk Cousins under center.…
Putting together a successful football team is a daunting task, and finding the right person for that task is crucial. The candidate must be capable of evaluating talent, managing the salary cap, and performing many other duties. Dan Hatman explains the NFL general manager position and reveals some of the potential GMs currently in the NFL.…
The rope given to NFL coaches is very short. Chip Kelly learned that the hard way when he was fired by the Philadelphia Eagles. Dave Archibald breaks down the innovative coach’s tenure in Philadelphia and points out what went wrong and what went right. After Philadelphia lost to division rival Washington, dropping their record to…
Director of the Scouting Academy and ITP contributor Dan Hatman has written ten short pieces using Matt Miller’s tweet list as inspiration, hoping to illuminate readers on aspects of the scouting and player evaluation business that are misunderstood, glossed over, or ignored. This is Part 4, Traits Not Scheme. Scouts are looking at the same players, on the…
Mark Schofield spent a short lifetime playing quarterback. Now he is in the midst of a second lifetime watching, evaluating, and writing about the position. In this summer series covering techniques for playing QB he takes us through some of the books he used to learn to play the position, using film to illustrate these important concepts. Many small elements comprise…