Breaking Down Rudolph Film: Where He Lacks in Reads and Mental Awareness

Friend of (and contributor to) the blog, Adam Lunt, recently asked me if I’d be interested in him doing some pre-NFL Draft film breakdown of Mason Rudolph where he takes plays on YouTube, talks over them and points out stuff the rest of us plebeians might have missed.

Am I interested in elite #content about the most popular athlete in recent Oklahoma State history and his next steps as a professional football player while learning more about the sport I cover myself? Yeah, I am.

So Lunt broke down a ton of Rudolph tape, and we’re going to start taking a look at it today. First up is where Rudolph struggles with reads and lacks some awareness when it comes to defenses.

The whole video is must-watch, but here are the highlights:

• Walking through what QBs are thinking pre-snap (1:15).

• A look at what coverage Texas Tech’s defense is in (1:50).

• Explanation of why a defender’s hips can be a tell (3:00).

• Showing which player you’re reading in half-field coverage (6:05).

• How pressure affects what you’re seeing (7:10).

• What determines your decision in a RPO (7:55).

• Rudolph’s pre-snap determinations (9:45).

• Manipulation of secondaries by a quarterback (11:30).

This entire breakdown made me lament the Bedlam pick even more. Not only was it a bad throw but the read that led to it was probably even worse.

Anyway, this video made me a smarter football fan and writer, and I think you’re all going to love what Lunt is cooking up in the future.