MMQB: Greg Olsen's "media audition" at the Combine

[KB_fan]

MMQB writer Emily Kaplan followed Greg around during his day as an analyst for NFL Network at the scouting combine.

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/03/02/nfl-greg-olsen-carolina-panthers-tight-end-nfl-network-combine-analyst

A really interesting read.  Here are a few excerpts:
 

Quote

 

Nine years after the Bears drafted him in the first round, Olsen has returned to the combine to make his debut as an NFL Network analyst. “Do you know exactly what time I’ll be on?” he says on the final Saturday in February, barely slowing down. “My dad is blowing up my phone. I think he’s kind of excited for this.”

[...]

Olsen isn’t sure if he wants to be a traditional analyst like Hoge, opine like Stephen A. Smith or host a show like Dan Patrick. Two seasons ago, Olsen debated Smith on ESPN’s First Take and defended Cam Newton. Smith argued that Newton’s putting a towel over his head represented defeatism. Olsen countered that Newton puts a towel over his head after interceptions, punts and touchdowns. “That’s his thing,” said Olsen, who thought of himself as a lawyer in that scenario. He had to make his case, support it with evidence, and be more persuasive than his opponent.

“I just love information,” says Olsen, a self-described news-junkie who patrols Twitter for stories on topics as varied as football and entrepreneurship. To prepare for his NFL Network spot, Olsen memorized statistics and characteristics of the tight end prospects. It wasn’t taxing work; he follows college football and has a strong foundation of knowledge. When Hoge mentions that his son, Beau, is a quarterback at BYU, Olsen rattles off the names of the last four Cougars QBs without any hesitation. Olsen is most concerned about avoiding clichés while on TV. “That’s a guy with upside, that’s a guy who needs to keep his head on straight,” Olsen says. “If you catch me saying either of those sayings…”

[...]

After signing a few autographs, Olsen is off to film the interview about Matt Forte. But first, a pit stop. Olsen pokes his head into the suite where Panthers coach Ron Rivera is evaluating prospects. “Hey, find us some players, why don’t you!” he says.

Olsen is then escorted into a storage room that has been turned into a makeshift studio. Even though he wasn’t given much time to prepare, Olsen answers every question about Forte with personal detail and fluidity. “I remember when I first time I saw him at a workout,” Olsen says, “And my first impression: that’s a quiet, humble guy.” The word “um” is absent from Olsen’s vocabulary. “If only every interview was this easy,” a cameraman says as Olsen exits six minutes later.

“You just can’t overcomplicate things,” Olsen says. “Just speak to the viewer like you're speaking regularly.”

An hour later, Olsen is sitting on the field, telling Brooks and Smith about why a prospect might be nervous for combine drills: “You’re not used to the routes that they ask you to run, they’re laying out cones, which is not realistic.”

A half hour after that, Olsen is back in his suit, sitting amongst four other NFL Network analysts and offering a candid assessment of the 2016 group. “The routes I thought, for the most part, were OK,” he says. “You saw a lot of guys sometimes struggling to  track the balls in the over the shoulders … I would have liked to see [Arkansas tight end] Hunter Henry run. He came in as the clear cut No. 1 guy in the group. We’ll have to wait for his Pro Day.”

The experience, Olsen says, wasn’t drastically different than speaking to a scrum of reporters after a game.

 

 

[ncsu12engr]

I would love to see Olsen as a regular on NFLN after he hangs up his cleats.

[Cary Kollins]

 “Hey, find us some players, why don’t you!” he says.

 

 

trouble in paradise?

 

[electro's horse]

Olsen wants to go into politics too. 

[KB_fan]

10 minutes ago, Cary Kollins said:

 “Hey, find us some players, why don’t you!” he says.

trouble in paradise?

 

Surely you're not serious?  I can just hear the laugh in Olsen's voice as he says that.  I think as a coach's son he's got an incredible respect & rapport with Ron, and vice versa.

[Cary Kollins]

5 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

Surely you're not serious?  I can just hear the laugh in Olsen's voice as he says that.  I think as a coach's son he's got an incredible respect & rapport with Ron, and vice versa.

I don't know sounded pretty serious and poo bruh

[Moose Hoover]

Sounds like Greg refused to wear his suit the entire day...shows character issues.

Seriously, though, Greg as an analyst is a no-brainer.