yardsaftercontact

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Scars and Opportunity

"They come into pro football all instinct and nerve, without the surgical scars on the knees or the knowledge of what it’s like to get hit by a 230-pound linebacker. They burn brightly, and by the time they’re 30 or so they might still be around, but they’re different players. They know how to pass-block, and they can run their pass routes without making any mistakes; they can block in front of a ballcarrier, and they run just well enough to be considered runners. They dive – and survive.

Running back is a position governed by instinct, and many of the great ball carriers were never better than they were as freshman pros. It’s the most instinctive position in football, the only one in which a rookie can step in with a total lack of knowledge of everything except running the football, and be a success." - Paul Zimmerman, The New Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football.

Marcus Lattimore will wow us this year. It may be sparingly, however we will see flashes of what he was and what he will be. Mark my words. Best of luck M to the L, may the football gods be by your side.

4/18/2014

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Alex Mack strikes again and controls the 2014 NFL draft.

Let me explain.

First off, Alex Mack is a bad ass! Second he scores touchdowns in the pro bowl off a lateral. Yeah... a bad ass. In this one play you see his smarts by his running down field once he's eligible to be down field, his excellent hands and dexterity with the ball once it's pitched to him, his fluid and imposing athleticism as he charges down the sideline, initiating contact with the defensive back and then leaping into the end zone for a touchdown. While we must admit it's only an exhibition game and no one is really going 100%, all of the traits I just mentioned are undeniably noticeable.

Alex Mack is the fourth highest rated center in the NFL according to ProFootballFocus.com with 64 qualifiers for the 2013 season. The former first round pick (21st overall selection) for the Cleveland Browns in 2009 also earned his degree in legal studies from the University of California at Berkley and was the 2008 winner of the Draddy Trophy (aka the academic Heisman) for his academic prowess. Standing at 6 ft 4 in and 311 lbs he's physically imposing with the brains to match. The two time pro bowler has just signed a 5 year $42 million deal, with $18 million guaranteed over the next two years, from the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Cleveland Browns could and mostly likely will counter as they have the money under the cap and have the rights of the transition tag over Alex.

Why does this matter to any of us who might careless about the hapless Browns, Jaguars and an overly gifted center?

It matters because the Jags have the 3rd pick and the Browns have the 4th pick in this years NFL Draft. It matters because both teams will most likely take a quarterback, if their offensive line has an overly talented center. The thing about the Jaguars is that they are very serious about stocking their o-line with talent. The Jaguars have left tackle Luke Joeckel, last years number 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft, who unfortunately broke his ankle last year and ended the season on injured reserve and they recently acquired Zane Beadles formerly of the AFC champion Denver Broncos. The Browns themselves are bringing in veteran talent and adding depth with the likes of RB Ben Tate (formerly of the Texans), WR Andrew Hawkins (Bengals) and WR Nate Burleson (Lions). Neither team has made an off season move to acquire a quarterback through free agency. Both teams are desperate to end their losing ways and this battle over Alex Mack is most likely only in the beginning phases. Just like in a chess match, one move begets another and whichever team lands Alex Mack will be free to draft a quarterback. Manziel, Bridgewater and Bortles are well known top quarter back prospects in this years draft and all have the great P word attached to them, potential.

That's what these teams are currently fighting for in Alex Mack. The potential to take a quarterback and develop him in tandem over the next few years with an overly talented center. This is why Alex Mack controls the 2014 NFL Draft.

Posted 4/10/2014

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Yards after contact explained and the top running backs of 2013 by yac and yac/a!

Yards after contact is defined by Pro Football Focus (PFF) as: The cumulative number of yards gained after contact with a defender. 

Yards after contact per attempt is defined (by PFF) as: The cumulative number of yards gained per attempt.

According to PFF for the 2013 NFL regular season Adrian L. Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings lead the league in total yards after contact with 829 yards. He was also tied for 3rd in the league for 3.0 yards after contact per attempt (for qualifying running backs*).

Q: Who did Adrian Peterson tie with?

A: Chris Ivory of the NY Jets.

Q: Who was number 2 on the list for yards after contact per attempt?

A: The electric 6th round pick out of Clemson  and rookie sensation for the Arizona Cardinals, Andre Ellington. He had a 3.2 avg yards after contact per attempt.

Q: Number 1?

A: And trust me this surprised the heck out of me... Donald Brown, with 3.3 avg yards after contact per attempt. Formerly of the Indianapolis Colts and newly signed with the San Diego Chargers, his new contract is worth $10.5 million for 3 years with $4 million guaranteed.  I guess so long are the "Dammit Donald" days. The former 27th pick overall in the 2009 NFL draft was also the first player from UConn to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft.

*qualifiers had a minimum of 237 offensive snaps and reflected a minimum of 25% of a teams rushing snaps. Only 55 qualifiers according to PFF.

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Ultimate Giovani Bernard Highlights from College: Even a year after TheFootballman175 created this YouTube post I still get excited watching it. Giovani Bernard's elusiveness, superior stiff arm, functional power and excellent receiving ability are now more popularly known after his rookie season in the NFL. Now with a year under his belt, a full off season with former running backs coach and new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson and with Marvin Lewis stating that he envisions "second-year growth" similar to Ray Rice well then Giovani's fantasy upside looks to be massive this year.