As the NFL season kicks off, fans are eagerly gearing up for a thrilling year of football action. This season, however, there's an exciting new way to enhance your game-day experience and deepen your football insights: say hello to Gridiron Grades! Designed for the passionate football aficionado, Gridiron Grades is the app that lets you step into the shoes of a scout and analyst, offering unparalleled tools to create and share your own scouting reports and ratings for NFL players and Draft prospects.
Gridiron Grades is more than just an app—it's your personal scouting hub. With its intuitive interface, you can easily produce detailed evaluations of both current NFL players and upcoming Draft prospects. Whether you’re assessing a rookie’s debut performance or tracking the progression of seasoned stars, the app allows you to rate players based on a wide range of metrics and criteria. This season, you’re not just watching the game; you’re analyzing it with professional-grade tools right at your fingertips.
Furthermore, Gridiron Grades offers the ultimate platform for Draft enthusiasts. Craft your own NFL Draft Big Board, track player performances, and refine your rankings as the season unfolds. Compare your insights with those of other fans and join a dynamic community of football experts and hobbyists alike.
So, when football season kicks off, don’t just watch the action—become a part of it with Gridiron Grades.
Scouting Reports Feature
The scouting report feature is the main feature of Gridiron Grades! On the app users will be able to create and publish their very own detailed scouting reports for any NFL player or NFL Draft prospect.
There are templates for users to choose from including the Scouting Academy, PFF, and SIS Sports. Users can also choose to create their own template.
Players are separated into the following position groups: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Offensive Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edge Rushers, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks, Safeties.
Using these position groups a scouting report template will be provided for the user based on position and which of the template options mentioned earlier that the user selected.
Scouting Report Templates
Users will be able to grade the player on many different aspects of their position. This can include anything from a wide receiver’s release package to an edge rushers first step explosiveness.
Below is an example of traits that a wide receiver will be evaluated using all of the templates mentioned earlier:
Scouting Academy Wide Receiver Traits: Athletic Ability, Play Speed, Competitive Toughness, Mental Processing, Play Strength, Release, Separation Quickness, Hands, Adjust/Body Control, Yards After Catch (YAC), Find Seam, Concentration/Courage
PFF Wide Receiver Traits: Route Running, Vertical Ability/Long Speed, Release/Footwork, Hands, COD Acceleration, COD Flexibility, Run After Catch/Contact, Play Strength/Blocking, Competitive Toughness
SIS Sports Wide Receiver Traits: Hands, Separation, Run After Catch, Release, Route Running, Route Savvy, Play Speed, Contested Catch, Playmaker, Tracking, Body Control, Clutch Performance, Blocking, Toughness
These traits are available in each template for players at all positions.
Strengths, Weaknesses, Summary, and Final Evaluation Section
There will also be parts of the scouting report for users to write in their own notes in the strengths, weaknesses, and summary sections.
This is designed for users to write as much as they wish to. If they want to keep the scouting report short and brief it can be a couple of sentences in each. Alternatively, if a user wishes to go in depth they can write as much as they would like in any section.
Also included in the scouting report is a final evaluation section for users to provide a position rank and projection for the NFL Draft prospects.
Below is an example of how I envision the strengths, weaknesses, summary section, and final evaluation will look for a scouting report.
Marvin Harrison Jr. Scouting Report Example
Strengths
Combination of size, speed, explosiveness, and COD is generational
No wasted movements at any points in his route running – consistently moves at a higher level than his opponent
High level long speed – consistently able to win over the top against DBs to create big plays
Very sudden for someone at his size – don't expect a 6-4 WR to be able to change directions and speeds nearly as well as he does
Can go toe-to-toe physicality with any CB and have the edge
Consistently able to fight through contact to make plays whether that’s on a release, stem, or at the catch point
Displays a good ability to manipulate DBs to create separation against man coverage – most notable by selling in breakers before breaking outside for separation
Creates separation on intermediate in breaking routes very well as he executes the stair-step technique well
Effective on routes coming back to the ball as he threatens CBs vertically & is sudden in his breaks to create separation on these routes
Possesses very high-level body control as he is good at getting his feet inbounds along the sideline – capable of executing catches along the sideline that most WRs can only dream of doing
Adjusts to passes high & outside of his frame very well, as well as low passes required him to go the ground
Gets off the LOS & into route against press man coverage very well
Able to win off the LOS in a variety of ways including using speed releases, secondary releases, or swim move
Sells that he’s going one direction before going another on releases very well
Fights off contact extremely well on catches – can hang on when defender is pulling at his arms or attempting to shove him out of bounds when hauling in a pass along the sideline
Displays a good ability to adjust his route & settle into space in-between defenders against zone coverage
High level competitor who rose to the occasion in big games at Ohio State – 2022 at Penn State: 10 Rec, 185 Yds 2022 Michigan: 7 Rec, 120 Yds, 1 TD 2022 Georgia (CFB Playoff Semi): 5 Rec, 106 Yds, 2 TD 2023 Penn State: 11 Rec, 162 Yds, 1 TD at Michigan: 5 Rec 118 Yds 1 TD
PFF 2023: 1,211 Receiving Yards - 9 in FBS & T1/41 Big Ten WRs, 14 Rec TD - T3 in FVS & 1/41 Big Ten WRs, 3.44 Y/RR - 5 in FBS & 1/41 Big Ten WRs, 13 Contested Catches - T15 in FBS & T1/41 Big Ten WRs, 15 Rec on Deep Passes (20+ air yards) - T3 in FBS & 1/25 Big Ten WRs
Weaknesses
Prone to occasional focus drops in 2023 tape at Ohio State
Didn’t display elite elusiveness to make tacklers miss consistently in the open field – PFF 2023: 5 MTF – T15/41 Big Ten WRs
Summary
Arrived at Ohio State being known as the son former HOF WR Marvin Harrison and is now making his own impact. Showcased his abilities as a true freshman with a three-touchdown performance in the Rose Bowl. One of the best players in college football for the last two years. High level production as he went for over 1,200 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in each of the last two seasons. Possesses elite physical talent and athleticism as there are simply very few wide receivers who can move the way that he does at his size. Separation ability is elite as he’s able to consistently win at all levels of the field with in-breaking, out-breaking, back to the ball, and vertical routes. Ability to make high-difficulty catches is rare as he adjusts to throws outside of his frame, utilizes his body control to secure catches along the sideline, and fights through contact extremely well. Intangibles are very good as he is a high-level competitor who relentlessly works to develop into the best player he can be - a mentality that positively impacts the rest of the team. No player is flawless but he’s about as close as you’re going to find as there’s no notable weakness to his game. He checks every box that you want out of a WR and possesses rare ability in three of the most important factors: athletic ability, separation ability, and adjust/body control.
Final Evaluation
Position Rank: WR1
Projection: Top 3 Pick
Designs
Does this sound like the app for you? Good news because Gridiron Grades is coming soon as the app is set to launch at the start of the NFL season! Subscribe to this Substack or follow Gridiron Grades on Twitter for more updates!