Alright, let’s talk about my little project looking into Davin Vann ahead of the NFL draft. It wasn’t anything super formal, just me doing my usual routine when I hear some buzz about a player.
So, I first heard his name pop up, maybe saw a highlight or someone mentioned him online. My first step, always, is just to get a feel for the guy. I pull up his basic info – NC State, defensive lineman, got his height and weight noted down. Just the basics, you know?
Digging into the Tape
Then comes the real part, the part I actually enjoy. I started hunting down game footage. Not just highlights, I need to see the regular plays too. Found a couple of games from this past season. I think I watched parts of the Clemson game and maybe the Notre Dame one? Can’t recall exactly, just clicked around until I got a decent chunk of snaps.
I grabbed my notepad – yeah, I still use pen and paper for this sometimes – and just started watching him. Play after play. Rewinding bits. What I look for initially isn’t complicated. Does he jump off the screen? Where does he line up mostly? How does he react when the ball is snapped?
With Vann, the first thing that struck me was his effort. Dude seems to play hard, chasing plays down sometimes. Saw him holding his ground pretty well against the run in the snaps I watched. He seems strong, uses his hands okay to shed blockers in the run game.
Forming Some Thoughts
After watching for a bit, maybe an hour or so spread out, I started jotting down more specific thoughts.
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Seems powerful at the point of attack.
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Motor runs pretty hot, doesn’t give up on plays easily.
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Versatile enough to move around the defensive line a bit, saw him inside and outside.
But then, you also see the other side. I didn’t see a huge range of pass-rush moves. A lot of bull rush or just trying to overpower the guy opposite him. Maybe needs some coaching up in that area? His get-off didn’t always look explosive to me, sometimes a fraction late.
So, my process wasn’t about reading a bunch of expert reports first. It was about watching the guy play with my own eyes, forming my own initial ideas. I looked up his stats later, saw the production, but the tape tells you how it happens, you know? Is he just cleaning up plays or is he making things happen?
It’s all about the eye test for me, initially. Watching how he moves, how he fights in the trenches. That’s my practice. Now I have my own baseline opinion on Davin Vann. Not saying I’m a pro scout, but I did my homework watching the film, and that’s how I got my own read on him heading towards the draft.
