QB can be both one of the simplest and hardest positions to scout.  It is simple because there are only a handful of grades to hand out and you get hundreds of reps to clearly see them, since the QB is the center of attention.  It can be hard though, because it is sometimes impossible to see what truly makes a QB great -  the intangibles.  While it is true that the character and attitude of every position counts, nowhere is it more significant than at the single-most important position on the football field:  at QB.

It matters how they talk, how they walk (pigeon-toed is acceptable!), what they say about themselves and what they say about their teammates.  But as stars of their teams, there is usually no shortage of material to assess when trying to come to conclusions on their character and attitude.

With that in mind, MHR Scouting Services would like to take a "passing" look at some of the physical traits and qualities to analyze and judge when watching QBs.  They can be one of the funnest positions to scout, regardless of difficulty, so let's get right into it!

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As Denver moves forward in free agency and the draft they will likely be looking for some long-term developmental prospects at the TE position, but one thing about lining up off-tackle; it takes a rare combination of size, speed and power to be an all-around TE.

TEs generally get divided up into "blocking" TEs, and "receiving" TEs, but this is something of a misnomer.  ALL TEs who are worthy of the title of Tight End have to be good blockers.  It is simply too important to the method of usage, and TEs who don't eventually get their blocking skills up to an acceptable level tend to find themselves out of work.

Denver has had the privilege of watching the development of one of the all-time-best TEs in Shannon Sharpe, and then we got to see just how different two TEs can be with Graham and Schefller splitting time in the starting lineup.  Let's take a look below at what characteristics are at the heart of the division between the two players, and what kinds of qualities merge the two ideas together in a single prospect.

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As we continue with our Analyzing the Prospects service, we will take a look at one of the most technical positions on the roster, Wide Receiver.  Of all the positions, this one definitely requires a lot of rewinding, as you compare the receiver's routes to other routes on the field, gauging depth of routes and timing of cuts.  Despite this repetitiveness, there is a silver lining to all that rewinding;  what you see is clear and concise and usually quite easy to identify, once you know what you are looking for.

With that in mind, let's check out the chart for wide receivers...

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Analyzing the play of defensive-line players can be among the more difficult tasks to attempt when watching football.  The action in the trenches is quick and furious, and often is over as quickly as it starts.  Players are in such close proximity to one another that sometimes it is hard to tell where one player stops and the other begins, and often, the play in the trenches gets buried beneath the pileup at the line of scrimmage.

But there are a handful of traits that can be caught by an eye that is quick enough, and with time, this selective viewing of the prospect can become so natural that often you can watch the play of the defensive line from snap to whistle and have a good 'feeling' about which players were effective on that play, and where the weak links are.

MHR Scouting Services has joined with MHR University to bring you a basic list of defensive-lineman qualities that you can watch for when evaluating the play of any defensive player lined up over the line of scrimmage opposite the offensive line.

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Some of the most natural defensive athletes occupy the linebacker position, and these ferocious hitters tend to be in the middle of every play, making them a joy to analyze.  Perhaps because the position has come to rely so much on athleticism, there tend to be fewer requirements demanded of a linebacker analysis.  When you factor in the ability of young players to consistently step in and produce, it makes sense that it is a simpler position, both to see and understand:  see the ball?  Go get it!!

The good news for you is that MHR Scouting Services has teamed up with MHR University to bring you a breakdown of what to watch for from the LB position.  While there are significant differences in the responsibilities of one linebacking position to the next, rest assured that they all share some fundamental traits that can easily be analyzed in any potential prospect.

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Welcome to another installment of Analyzing Prospects--An Extension of MHR University.  Today we are looking at Defensive Backs--safeties and cornerbacks--the last line of defense and critical foil to the NFL's increasingly pass-happy offenses.

Denver has been blessed with one of the best ever in Champ, and as you scan the list of  assets and qualities DBs are expected to have, you can't help but notice how highly Champ would grade out in every single area.  He is definitely one of a kind, a once-in-a-generation player at his position.  The beauty of his skills is that outside of straight-line speed, they never wane, unless ignored, and Champ has never been one to rely on his "makeup speed", or to skate by on past accomplishments.  His quickness, intelligence, feel for the position and superb physical gifts guarantee that he will always be at a high level of play, even when those around him aren't.

This should serve to remind that corners tend to be one of the hardest positions  to find.  Press DBs have to have a rare combination of strength and speed.  Zone backs, believed to be the easiest to find and utilize, need to have terrific instincts and above-average intelligence, which hardly makes them standard issue.  Man-coverage backs are the rarest of all, needing to grade highly in nearly every physical category, as well as having great instincts.  For these reasons, teams often feel compelled to take quality defensive backs when they fall to them in the draft. Coupled with the ability to provide run support, DB can be one of the most versatile positions on the field. Despite fans' lack of familiarity with them, it is always a joy to analyze good talent at the position.

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Welcome back to another installment of MHR University's Extension Learning Center.  We'll dive right into this lesson with a quick description of some of the blocks that offensive linemen are responsible for, primarily in run blocking.  This will help you to decide which set of strengths and skills you should be looking for when analyzing the player.

"Drive Block":   In this block the offensive lineman fires off the line directly into the numbers of the defender.  His hands are located in the defender's chest, and his back should be flat and low.  In the second phase of this block, he will drive his feet, keeping them constantly moving, while extending his body and arms until his elbows lock.  At this point he must keep his momentum going forward, continuing to drive the defender back, keeping his feet churning.

"Read Block":  Much like the drive block, rather than sustain a forward push, the player "reads" the defensive lineman's intention to choose a side to go around him, and attempts to redirect the player in that direction, only backwards.

"Trap Block":  a blocker (usually a Guard) pivots the foot furthest from the direction he is going, driving off that foot and coming down the line of scrimmage in order to trap or kick out a defender left unblocked for this very purpose. More times than not the unblocked defender will penetrate into the backfield, making the trap block both highly visible and effective.

"Down Block":  This is when the player blocks diagonally towards the defender.  Usually the target is the hip of the defender, though the player must quickly ascertain who has the better angle of attack, he or the defender.  If the defender has the better angle, the player needs to attempt to "hook" the defender, by blocking up under his shoulder to get him off balance and turned towards the player.

"Pulling ":  This is where the player "pulls" off the line, usually going to the opposite side where he reestablishes a block in the running lane, or continues to the second level to engage the LBs.

"Reach Block":  this occurs when the line shifts and everyone blocks one player over from him.  Because this results in a highly diagonal "down" block, balance is extremely important.

With these concepts in mind, let's take a look at what qualities you should be looking for when you see an offensive lineman trying to control the trenches with them.

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One of the more exciting positions to analyze, Running Backs have a whole range of responsibilities, styles and physical qualities, and many times formations are designed around what they are capable of doing.

When analyzing them you have to answer questions like:  Is he a starter, a slasher, or a power running back?  Does he have a second gear, or additional speed which can cut through the second level of defenses?  Does he belong in a  2-back scheme, and if so, should it be I-formation or split-back?  Is he primarily a fullback or can he be used in other ways?  If he is best suited to FB, should he be primarily a  blocker or a pass-catching outlet?

To answer these questions one merely needs to add up all of the parts.  Read on to find out how to go about identifying and measuring the relevant qualities...

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