RSP Football Writers Project Begins (1 Viewer)

[Matt Waldman]

Rookie Scouting Portfolio Football Writers Project Begins

Download the tools to build your NFL Franchise at the link above.

Participating Writers include:

Matt Bitonti-Fooballguys.com writer and founder of Draft Daddy. He’s going to assist us with player valuations for offensive linemen.

Sigmund Bloom – Footballguys.com writer, the Audible co-host, and co-founder of Draftguys.com. Bloom will be valuing skill players.

Jene Bramel – Footballguys.com writer and Cincinnati area physician whose expertise with defensive players and analysis of football strategy makes his columns among the most popular on the site. Jene will be delivering values for the defensive side of the ball.

Wes Bunting – The National Football Post writer heads up the site’s draft coverage and prospect analysis.

Ben Muth – Ben played at Stanford for five years where he lettered for four years, started for two, and named 2008 first-team All Pac-10 as a senior. After his college career, the San Diego Chargers acquired him, but he was eventually released because according to him, “I was injured, and then not picked up again because I didn’t block that many people when I was healthy.” He’s currently writing at Football Outsiders.

Simon Clancy – Clancy is a BBC producer, Sports Illustrated contributor, and worked with Universal Draft’s Chris Kouffman to produce the Cam Newton analysis I reference with Kouffman below.

Cian Fahey – Cian is a contributor to the NFL coverage at Guardian.co.uk, writer of the Sports-Central blog for Irishcentral as well as a writer for ffblife and Bleacherreport.

Doug Farrar – The Football Outsiders and Yahoo! writer is well-known in the football world for his news coverage and analysis of the game. His podcasts with NFL Films’ Greg Cosell are particularly insightful.

Joe Goodberry – Joe is a contributor for CincyJungle.com and a draft analyst with a lot of participation on Twitter.

Scott Kacsmar – Scott is a contributor at Football Nation and Pro Football Reference. His projects there included the first ever standardization of fourth quarter comebacks and game-winning drives for NFL quarterbacks.

Chris Kouffman – Chris is a draft analyst with UniversalDraft.com and he contributes to Dave Hyde’s blog at the South Florida Sun Sentinel. His co-authored work with Simon Clancy on Cam Newton last winter was terrific analysis.

Cecil Lammey – Footballguys.com senior staff writer, Draftguys.com co-founder, and NFL Insider for Front Range Sports Network.

Russ Lande – Russ runs the fantastic GM Jr. publication and contributes draft analysis at The Sporting News. Before working for Sporting News, Lande served as a college scout for the Cleveland Browns for three years covering the mid-west region while evaluating all eligible prospects for the NFL Draft.

Jason Lisk – Jason is a football and basketball writer for The Big Lead.

Ryan Lownes – Ryan is a NFL Draft analyst, enthusiast, and writer for DraftBreakdown.com and Bleacher Report.

Matt Miller – Miller is lead NFL Draft Writer for the Bleacher Report.

Sam Monson – Sam writes for Pro Football Focus and is well regarded for his strategic analysis of the game.

Josh Norris – Josh does work for Rotoworld. He began his football analysis career as an intern with the personnel department for the St. Louis Rams. His analysis is detailed and insightful.

Dave Richard – CBS Sports fantasy football writer.

Michael Schottey – Associate editor for the Bleacher Report.

Dan Shonka – The former long-time, NFL and USFL scout now runs the site Ourlads.

Stephanie Stradley – Steph, a self-described “nice and helpful” lawyer, covers the Texans for the Houston Chronicle Online.

Chase Stuart – Chase writes for several outlets: Footballguys.com, the New York Times Fifth Down Blog, Pro Football Reference, and Smart Football. His statistical analysis is highly informative and entertaining.

Mike Tanier – Mike is a regular of the New York Times Fifth Down blog and Pro Football Outsiders.

Matt Williamson – The former NFL scout for the Cleveland Browns and recruiting GA for Pitt is an NFL analyst for ESPN.

Yours Truly – I get around.

 

[Mario Kart]

white dot

I am interested in hearing about these contests and doing one of these.

 

[NeonDeion21]

Are we allowed to try this on our own and post them?

 

[Matt Waldman]

Are we allowed to try this on our own and post them?

Sure, read the post and you'll see where to download the instructions and spreadsheet from the blog. I'll also probably have a contest at some point for readers.

 

[sspunisher]

Damn you, Matt, I'm in the middle of the most intense summer school semester and here I am spending hours messing with this awesome project of yours.

Just a heads up, your depth chart minimums in the Word Document are a bit off when compared to the Excel document tabs. I know QB was one of them, not sure about the rest.

 

[Donsmith753]

Did a quick one of these earlier, didn't think I'd gone too crazy, 37.5 million over and that was only filling the minimum positional limits.

 

[Matt Waldman]

Damn you, Matt, I'm in the middle of the most intense summer school semester and here I am spending hours messing with this awesome project of yours.Just a heads up, your depth chart minimums in the Word Document are a bit off when compared to the Excel document tabs. I know QB was one of them, not sure about the rest.

Thanks, I'll check it out. M

 

[griff321]

This is an insane complex project. I watch a ton of games and consider myself fairly knowledgeable on NFL personnel, but I feel like I'm drowning. Still, I think something like this will help my understanding of players and schemes, resulting in being an even better fantasy owner. This explains the lack of posts over on the blog. Thanks Matty.

 

[Matt Waldman]

This is an insane complex project. I watch a ton of games and consider myself fairly knowledgeable on NFL personnel, but I feel like I'm drowning. Still, I think something like this will help my understanding of players and schemes, resulting in being an even better fantasy owner. This explains the lack of posts over on the blog. Thanks Matty.

Yep. Dead time of year and seemed like a good time to get this ready. I'm having a difficult time with it as well. Kind of addictive though...

 

[eaglezzz]

Thanks Matt. This is a blast trying to piece together, helps my work day move right along.

 

[sspunisher]

This is an insane complex project. I watch a ton of games and consider myself fairly knowledgeable on NFL personnel, but I feel like I'm drowning. Still, I think something like this will help my understanding of players and schemes, resulting in being an even better fantasy owner. This explains the lack of posts over on the blog. Thanks Matty.

I'm with you man, I'll be specifically focusing my research on the oline, but looks like I should do a little more digging on the front 7 on D as well.

 

[Mario Kart]

Preliminary offense is set. Might have to rearrange for depth purposes rather than have "good" players all over.

Right now, I have spent 78.5 million with 26 players. This includes my kicker and punter.

Preliminary defense has been picked as well now. I currently have 46 players at 153 million. Have to fill in the rest for special teams purposes and depth.

I do believe my offense is now set. Time to tool the real team.

 

[Andrew Garda]

Round round get around, you get around/

The murderer's row of analysis

 

[Borden]

Are we allowed to try this on our own and post them?

Sure, read the post and you'll see where to download the instructions and spreadsheet from the blog. I'll also probably have a contest at some point for readers.

Super Draft Cap:160 Currently at 160QB1 RG3 12.5QB2 McCoy 3QB3 VY 3QB4 Tyrod Taylor 2RB1Tim Hightower 3RB2 Daniel Thomas 3RB3 Anthony Dixon 1RB4 Evan Royster 1.5FB1 Vickers 1TE1 Dallas Clark 2TE2 King 1.5TE3 Jacob Tamme 2WR1 Julio Jones 8.5WR2 Donald Driver 3.5WR3 Victor Cruz 6.5WR4 Devier Posey 2.5WR5 TJ Graham 2.5WR6 Golden Tate 1.5RT1 Michael Oher 4.5LT1 Nate Solder 4.5 ***Spelt Nate Soler****OT3 Bobby Massie 1.5OT4 Brandon Mosley 1.5RG1TJ Lang 2.5LG1 Peter Konz 2.5OG3 Shawn Lauvao 2.5OG4 David Arkin 1.5C1 Mike Pouncey 4.5C2 J.D. Walton 1.5P Brian Moorman 1.5K Alex Henery 2DEFENSELE Da'Quan Bowers 3.5RE Glenn Dorsey 3DE Chandler Jones 5.5DE Frostee Rucker 1DT1 Barry Cofeild 2.5DT2 Kyle Love 2.5DT3 Mike Martin 2.5LB1 Patrick Willis 9.5LB2 AJ Hawk 3LB3 Bart Scott 2LB4 Brandon Spikes 3.5LB5 Aaron Curry 3C1 Asante Samuel 6C2 Morris Claiborne 6.5C3 Orlando Scandrick 2C4 DeMarcus Van Dyke 1C5 Buster Skrine 1C6 Darius Butler 0.5SS1 Donte Whitner 3SS2 Taylor Mays 2FS1 Michael Huff 2FS2 Nick Collins 2FS3 Major Wright 1.5Also, Al Harris is on the list twice and Winston Justice is either the wrong value or the wrong color. Not complaining or anything, just trying help.

 

[Mario Kart]

How detailed are the questions supposed to be answered?

- length

- in depth vs. in general?

I ask because I could write a page for each answer given the different scenarios and players and stuff. So, just wondering what the "plan" is for that type of thing. If the above is near accurate, that is ~30 pages of stuff.

 

[Borden]

How detailed are the questions supposed to be answered?- length- in depth vs. in general?I ask because I could write a page for each answer given the different scenarios and players and stuff. So, just wondering what the "plan" is for that type of thing. If the above is near accurate, that is ~30 pages of stuff.

Yeah I'm the same point right now.

 

[Mario Kart]

How detailed are the questions supposed to be answered?- length- in depth vs. in general?I ask because I could write a page for each answer given the different scenarios and players and stuff. So, just wondering what the "plan" is for that type of thing. If the above is near accurate, that is ~30 pages of stuff.

Yeah I'm the same point right now.

Seriously, this thing is one big philosophy paper. I know what I am writing does not sound good to the casual reader and I may end up editing it big time but this could be of novella length. I won't give my roster up yet but I have 4 Elite, 6 Very Good and 16 competent players.

 

[Borden]

How detailed are the questions supposed to be answered?- length- in depth vs. in general?I ask because I could write a page for each answer given the different scenarios and players and stuff. So, just wondering what the "plan" is for that type of thing. If the above is near accurate, that is ~30 pages of stuff.

Yeah I'm the same point right now.

Seriously, this thing is one big philosophy paper. I know what I am writing does not sound good to the casual reader and I may end up editing it big time but this could be of novella length. I won't give my roster up yet but I have 4 Elite, 6 Very Good and 16 competent players.

I'm excited to see that roster. Sounds damn good.Picked your coaches yet?

 

[Mario Kart]

How detailed are the questions supposed to be answered?- length- in depth vs. in general?I ask because I could write a page for each answer given the different scenarios and players and stuff. So, just wondering what the "plan" is for that type of thing. If the above is near accurate, that is ~30 pages of stuff.

Yeah I'm the same point right now.

Seriously, this thing is one big philosophy paper. I know what I am writing does not sound good to the casual reader and I may end up editing it big time but this could be of novella length. I won't give my roster up yet but I have 4 Elite, 6 Very Good and 16 competent players.

I'm excited to see that roster. Sounds damn good.Picked your coaches yet?

I have my offensive coordinator. Don't know about my defensive one yet. And, of course, I am the head coach.We have four of the same players.

 

[Mario Kart]

Doesn't seem like many are taking on this task. I shouldn't be either since I had planned on writing other things this summer but if I really start doing this, I could finish by this weekend.

 

[Borden]

It's understandable why there isn't many people doing this. Picking the team isn't like doing a mock draft that takes 30-45 minutes and picking a team is the quick part.

I'm spinning my wheels with the last question right now. Every time I start to get into why my team is different, I end up saying "Dammit, that's how (whatever team) is doing it. I've wrote my response to that question five times now.

Are you just describing you "bread and butter" plays or doing diagrams?

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Just an FYI for those others doing this, Matt mentioned on his blog today that he'll be re-doing the Excel sheet/values/salary cap and re-posting it in the next few days.

Seems that he is of the mind that the $160m cap was making this "too easy." Buuurn. I was basically "done" with my first pass at not only the roster, but the write up too. Oh well, this is fun so doing it again won't be the end of the world.

 

[Mario Kart]

He better not change values. I thought they were pretty accurate. My team is awesome.

 

[Jene Bramel]

He better not change values. I thought they were pretty accurate. My team is awesome.

We feel like the values are still reasonable. Some of the teams we're seeing -- and those we've put together ourselves -- are probably unrealistic. While that wouldn't necessarily preclude good discussion, the mission of this exercise is to force tough decision rather than build an all-star team of sorts. The plan is to change a few values here and there, but the major thrust will be to decrease the cap significantly.Matt will fill in more details shortly, but readers who still want to use the current values and cap are welcome to do so. The writers, however, will be asked to bring their teams in line with the new guidelines.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Well, I'm not doing some "double standard/training wheel gimmick." Gimme the new values/cap!

 

[Mario Kart]

He better not change values. I thought they were pretty accurate. My team is awesome.

We feel like the values are still reasonable. Some of the teams we're seeing -- and those we've put together ourselves -- are probably unrealistic. While that wouldn't necessarily preclude good discussion, the mission of this exercise is to force tough decision rather than build an all-star team of sorts. The plan is to change a few values here and there, but the major thrust will be to decrease the cap significantly.Matt will fill in more details shortly, but readers who still want to use the current values and cap are welcome to do so. The writers, however, will be asked to bring their teams in line with the new guidelines.

Might as well stop writing. The format should follow the real NFL with similar salaries of players. Teams could be made up in a bubble of sorts.Also, by doing this, this could show what players appear to be overvalued as well as undervalued. Not sure why actual figures (rounded off of course) were not used to begin with.

 

[Borden]

Well, I'm not doing some "double standard/training wheel gimmick." Gimme the new values/cap!

Agreed. I'll be putting on my big boys pants just like everyone else.

He better not change values. I thought they were pretty accurate. My team is awesome.

We feel like the values are still reasonable. Some of the teams we're seeing -- and those we've put together ourselves -- are probably unrealistic. While that wouldn't necessarily preclude good discussion, the mission of this exercise is to force tough decision rather than build an all-star team of sorts. The plan is to change a few values here and there, but the major thrust will be to decrease the cap significantly.Matt will fill in more details shortly, but readers who still want to use the current values and cap are welcome to do so. The writers, however, will be asked to bring their teams in line with the new guidelines.

Might as well stop writing. The format should follow the real NFL with similar salaries of players. Teams could be made up in a bubble of sorts.Also, by doing this, this could show what players appear to be overvalued as well as undervalued. Not sure why actual figures (rounded off of course) were not used to begin with.

I would guess that actual salaries aren't used because we'd all have certain guys that were good values. The introduction of rookie salary caps and Cam Newton's value comes to mind.Thanks for the heads up boys. It would've sucked if I had gotten everything fined tuned then the cap switched.

A couple questions:

1) Is there going to be any more questions added?

2) Did this change happen because of the sexy team I posted?

 

[Mario Kart]

I am going to attempt to keep my team in tact... therefore I am not going to reveal my sexy team.

 

[Borden]

I am going to attempt to keep my team in tact... therefore I am not going to reveal my sexy team.

If the cap gets cut from 160 to 130 or lower, I think you have to post it.

 

[Mario Kart]

I am going to attempt to keep my team in tact... therefore I am not going to reveal my sexy team.

If the cap gets cut from 160 to 130 or lower, I think you have to post it.

The final question that will be answered is going to be:Q: If you made a team with the 160 cap but now had to switch to fit the new cap of (1xx) which players did you switch and why?

 

[PNRZ]

I'm sure there's other people messing around with it that don't post. Like me. But 1) I'm used to just picking players for a fantasy draft, not real football analysis 2) I don't do IDP so that part is daunting. Nevertheless its a lot of fun and is causing me to break Madden out again.

Thanks for starting this up - even if it only seems a few participate outside of the selected writers, I've enjoyed the exercise so far.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

I'm a coach so I love this.

My team is currently done at 140.5 million. I'm waiting to submit anything further until I know the official cap and value changes.

 

[Mario Kart]

I'm a coach so I love this.My team is currently done at 140.5 million. I'm waiting to submit anything further until I know the official cap and value changes.

I've left my data alone until the "final" numbers come out.

 

[Donsmith753]

Making some changes to sheet for Matt, looking at roles players might have. Here's what we have just now, any more suggestions...

QB

Pocket Passer

Wildcat QB

RB

Workhorse

3rd Down Back

Wildcat QB

WR

Flanker

Split End

Slot Receiver

Gadget Play Specialist

Wildcat QB

TE

H Back

Inline

Move TE

G

Pulling Guard

DE

4-3 OLB

LB

3-4 DE

CB

Nickel CB

ST's

Returner

Kick off Specialist

Short yardage fullback

Short yardage running back

3rd down pass rush defensive end

nickel linebacker

 

[Mario Kart]

Nothing has been updated, correct?

 

[Donsmith753]

Nothing has been updated, correct?

Not yet.Any suggestions on roles?Updated version should be out shortly.

 

[Mario Kart]

Nothing has been updated, correct?

Not yet.Any suggestions on roles?Updated version should be out shortly.

Not sure that there should be any roles. I guess I am in the thinking of translating the players salaries into smaller numbers and working with a cap that way. Kinda of like a fantasy draft but you have to fit them into a cap.The players "drafted" have to fit into the scheme that is presented, ideally. That is how I did my first team.