SCOUTING
REPORT
DEL SHOFNER
Updated:March7,2016
http://www.kencrippen.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
Overall Analysis __________________________________________________________________________________________ 1
Game Reviews ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 3
Grading Scale _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 8
REVISION LISTING
DATE
June15,2015
March7,2016
DESCRIPTION
InitialRelease
Addedthefollowinggames:10/27/57and12/6/58
OVERALL ANALYSIS
OverallAnalysis
STRENGTHS
•
Ranexcellentroutes
•
Excellenthands
WEAKNESSES
•
Didnotgivefullefforttoplaysruntotheoppositesideofthefield
•
Struggledattimeswithblocking
BOTTOM LINE
Shofnerranexcellentroutes.However,hedidnotselltheroutewhentheplaywenttotheoppositesideof
thefield.Hehadexcellenthandsandconcentrationwhencatchinginacrowdofdefenders.Excellentrun
afterthecatch.Competitiveandfoughtforextrayardage.However,hiscompetitivenesswaslackingwhenhe
wasnotthetarget.Shofnerwasinconsistentonblocking.Heshowedverygoodabilityattimes,butwasnot
alwayswillingtocompletetheblock.
Page1
http://www.kencrippen.com
OVERALL ANALYSIS
POSITION
SplitEnd,Flanker,Tight/Closed/LeftEnd,RightDefensiveHalfback.
TEAMS
1957-60LosAngelesRams,1961-67NewYorkGiants
UNIFORM NUMBER
29(1957-60),85(1961-67)
GRADING SPECIFIC FACTORS
SPECIFIC FACTOR
OVERALLATHLETICISM(QAB):
Quickness:
Agility:
Balance:
STRENGTHANDEXPLOSION:
COMPETITIVENESS:
MENTALALERTNESS:
INSTINCTS:
INITIALQUICKNESS:
GRADE
SPECIFIC FACTOR
7.9
7.8
7.9
7.9
7.5
7.3
8.0
8.0
7.9
RELEASE:
PASSROUTES:
SEPARATION:
RECEIVELONG
RECEIVESHORT:
HANDS:
ADJUSTTOBALL:
RUNAFTERCATCH:
BLOCKING:
GRADE
8.0
8.0
8.1
8.0
8.1
8.2
8.0
8.0
7.3
OVERALL GRADE
7.8
NUMBER OF GAMES REVIEWED
8
SCOUTS
Primary Scout: Ken Crippen
Secondary Scout: Matt Reaser
Page2
http://www.kencrippen.com
GAME REVIEWS
Game Reviews
GAME REVIEW
DATE
OPPONENT
October27,1957
DetroitLions
OVERALL GRADE
7.7
BOTTOM LINE
Shofnerplayedrightdefensivehalfbackinthegame.Shofnerwasaggressivewhentheballcametohisside.
Forexample,earlyinthesecondquarter,theLionstossedaquickscreenpasstohissideofthefield.Shofner
triedtogoafterthepass,missedandtheplaywentwellpasthim.Afewplayslater,heallowedthereceiver
togetbehindhimforareception.Thereceivergotcaughtintraffic,whichallowedShofnertocatchupand
makethetackle.Laterinthequarter,Shofnermadeanexcellentplaytostoparunnerinthebackfield.The
quarterbackpitchedtotherunner,wholostyardagetryingtoeludedefendersashewassettinguptopass.
Shofnercameinandstoodhimupuntilthewhistleblew.Veryquicktoreadthetossandmaketheplay.On
thefirstplayofthethirdquarter,Shofnerbackpedaledtostaywithhisreceiver.Thepasswastotherunning
backintheflat.Shofnerimmediatelychangeddirectionandcamebacktomakethetackleforashortgain.
Veryquick.Afewplayslater,hisreceiverwastargetedonaquickpost.Shofnerhadtightcoverage,butthe
receiverwasstillabletogettheball.Shofnerimmediatelystoppedhim.Lateinthethirdquarter,Shoferwas
coveringhisreceiveronanoutpattern.TheballsailedhighanditlookedlikeShofnergothishandsonthe
ball,butwasunabletobringitin.Overall,verygoodcoverage.Veryaggressiveinhiscoverage.However,his
aggressivenesswouldoccasionallyputhimoutofpositiontomakeaplay.Veryquick.Excellentagainstthe
runandcominguptomaketacklesonthescreen.
GAME REVIEW
DATE
OPPONENT
December6,1958
BaltimoreColts
OVERALL GRADE
8.5
BOTTOM LINE
ShofnerplayedLeftSplitandalittleflanker.Hewasalsothepunter.Shofnerwasnottargeteduntilthemiddle
ofthefirstquarter.Theballwasoverthrown.Itlookedlikehegotthetipsofhisfingersontheball,butwas
notabletopullitin.Onthefirstplayofthegame,hecaughtashortpassforafour-yardgain.Onthenext
offensiveseries,Shofnermadeaverygoodcatch,withanexcellentrunafterthecatch.Thepassitselfwas
about10yards,butShofnershedmultipletacklesonhiswaytoa63-yardgaintobringtheballtwoyards
fromthegoal.Onthenextpossession,Shofnercaughta15-yardslant.Later,hecaughta24-yardpassona
slantpattern.Bothpassesshowedexcellentrouterunningandhands.Onthelatterpass,heshedafewtackles
Page 3
http://www.kencrippen.com
GAME REVIEWS
beforebeingbroughtdown.TherewerenotargetsforShofnerinthethirdquarter.Earlyinthefourthquarter,
Shofnercaughta15-yardoutandturneditintoa69-yardtouchdown.Aftercatchingthepass,Shofnerran
down the sideline, shedding a tackle. Downfield, he received an excellent block from his teammate and
anotherteammatescreenedthefinaldefender,allowingShofnertoscore.Aneffectivepunter,however,his
puntingwasnotincludedinthegrade.Overall,anexcellentdayreceivingforShofner.Hedidlookalittlelazy
onsomeofhisroutes,buthealwaysgotopen.Greatrunafterthecatch.Hisblockingwasgoodtoverygood.
Notalwaysaggressiveinlookingfortheblocks,buteffectivewhenhedidblock.
GAME REVIEW
DATE
OPPONENT
December31,1961
GreenBayPackers
OVERALL GRADE
7.9
BOTTOM LINE
Shofnerplayedsplitend,flanker,andtight/closed/leftendinthegame.Hewasprimarilyasplitendand
strictlyontheleftside.Thetightcameraanglesmadeitdifficulttoevaluatetheentireroute.Onthesecond
offensiveseries,Y.A.Tittle(#14)threwapasstoShofneralongtheleftsideline.Thepasswasunder-thrown
andShofnerlosthisfooting.Incompletepass.CharleyConerly(#42)replacedTittleinthesecondquarter.
Lateinthesecondquarter,Shofnerlineduptight.Offthesnap,hereleasedandblockeddownfieldforasweep
tohisside.Heshowedverygoodblockingskills.Tittlereturnedlateinthethirdquarter.HethrewtoShofner
runninga quickslantpattern.Shofnercaught the passwiththreedefendersaroundhim,andstillgained
aboutfiveyardsafterthecatch.Shofnershowedgoodhandstonotonlyreceivetheball,butstrengthtohold
ontoitwithmultipledefenderstyingtostriptheball.Excellentconcentration.TittlehitShofneragaininthe
thirdquarterforashortgain.Shofnerranaquickslantpatternandcaughttheball.Hewashitintheheadby
thedefender,ranayardortwobeforebeingtackled.Inthefourthquarter,Tittlethrewalongpassonanineroute.Theballwasslightlyunderthrownandwasinterceptedbythetrailingdefender.Shofnerrodehimfor
afewyardsbeforehebroughthimtotheground.Laterinthefourthquarter,Tittlethrewashortslantto
Shofner,whocaughtitwithJessieWhittenton(#47)hangingonhim.Noyardsafterthecatch.Tittlethrewa
passonanoutpatternalongtheleftsideline.Thepasswasshortanduncatchable.Oncatchablepasses,he
madethecatchonallbutone,whichwasalowpassonasidelineoutinthefourthquarter.
Page4
http://www.kencrippen.com
GAME REVIEWS
GAME REVIEW
DATE
OPPONENT
December30,1962
GreenBayPackers
OVERALL GRADE
7.6
BOTTOM LINE
Thewaythisfilmwasedited,notallplayswereshown.However,therewerenointerruptionsinthebroadcast
audiotofillinthedetailonmissingplays.Shofnerplayedsplitend,flankerandtight/closed/leftend.Always
on the left side of the line. On the first offensive series, Shofner was penalized for pass interference. He
pushedoffdefensivebackJesseWhittenton(#47)onasidelineoutpattern.Laterintheseries,Y.A.Tittle
(#14)overthrewShofner.Theplaywasnotshowntoseeiftheballwascatchable.Onthesecondoffensive
series,Shofnerwaslineduptight.HebrokethroughthedefenseonacrossingrouteandTittlehithimin
stride.Thedefendersclosedquickly,buttherewasdecentyardsafterthecatch.Onthenextplay,Shofner
wassplitwidetotheleftandrananoutroute.Tittlehithimalongthesideline.Shofnershowedverygood
handsandtheabilitytokeephisfeetinboundsforthecatch.Notargetsinthesecondquarter.Onthefirst
offensive series of the third quarter, Tittle threw an out to Shofner, who showed very good hands and
concentrationtopullintheballandkeephisfeetinbounds.Theballwasalittlehighandoutside.Shofner
hadtostretchouttogetthereception.Onthenextoffensiveseries,Shofnerwastargeted,butWhittenton
knockeditoutofhishands.Theplaywasdescribedonaudio,butnovideowasshown.Onthenextplay,
ShofnerwastargetedandmadeanexcellentcatchwithWhittentonhangingonhim.Shofnerleaptintothe
airtocatchthehighpass,butwastackledimmediately.Onthesameseries,Shofnerranacrossingpattern.
Tittle targeted Shofner, but Willie Wood (#24) interfered and was penalized. Wood was ejected from the
game for bumping the official. On the next play, Shofner was targeted in the end zone, but the pass was
overthrown.Inthefourthquarter,TittletargetedShofneronalongnine-route,buttheballwasoverthrown.
Uncatchable.Onthefinaloffensiveseries,Shofnerwastargeted,butthepasswasincomplete.Novideoof
theplay.Also,novideoofShofner’slastreceptionaminutebeforetheendofthegame.Blockingwasgoodto
verygood,butinconsistent.
GAME REVIEW
DATE
OPPONENT
September15,1963
BaltimoreColts
OVERALL GRADE
7.8
BOTTOM LINE
ThisisanNFLGameoftheWeekfilm.Asaresult,notallplayswereshown.Shofnerplayedsplitend,flanker,
andtight/closed/leftendinthegame.Thetightcameraanglesmadeitdifficulttoevaluatetheentireroute.
Inthefirstquarter,Y.A.Tittle(#14)threwanoutpasstoShofnerfora14-yardgainandafirstdown.Hedid
agreatjobtogetbothfeetinboundsforthecompletion.Inthesecondquarter,Shofnerranacurlpattern.
Page5
http://www.kencrippen.com
GAME REVIEWS
TittlethrewtheballhighanditwentthroughShofner’shandsforanincompletepass.Afewplayslater,Tittle
hitShofneronanoutpattern,butitwasnegatedduetoapenaltyontheoffense.Afewplayslater,Tittlehit
Shofneronthesameoutpatternforanine-yardcompletion.Twoplayslater,TittlethrewapasstoShofner
atthesideoftheendzone.Thepasswasoverthrown.Shofnerhadafewfingertipsonit,buthewasoutof
bounds.Inthethirdquarter,TittlehitShofneronashortpassforafive-yardgain.Afewplayslater,Tittlehit
Shofneronaslant.Shofnercontinuedtostreakacrossthefieldfora43-yardreception.Verygoodhandsand
speed.TittleisinjuredonatouchdownrunandisreplacedbyRalphGuglielmi(#9).Alsointhethirdquarter,
GuglielmithrewasidelinepasstoShofner.Thepasswasunderthrownandwasinterceptedbythetrailing
defender.Shofnertackledthedefenderintheendzone.Shofnershowedgoodtoverygoodblockingabilities.
HewasabletoknocklinebackerDonShinnick(#66)tothegroundinthefourthquarter.Hedidanexcellent
jobgettingopenonoutroutes.
GAME REVIEW
DATE
OPPONENT
November24,1963
St.LouisCardinals
OVERALL GRADE
7.9
BOTTOM LINE
Shofnerplayedsplitend,flankerandtight/closed/leftend.Shofnershowedverylittleeffortwhentheplay
wasnotruntohim.NoreceptionsforShofnerinthefirstquarter.Inthesecondquarter,Y.A.Tittle(#14)
threwanoutpasstoShofner.Theballwasincomplete.Hardtotellifitwascatchable.Afewseries’later,
Shofner had a very good reception near the left sideline. After the catch, he was hit immediately by two
defendersandstoppedwithoutyardsafterthecatch.Shofnershowedverygoodhandswiththereception.
Laterinthequarter,TittlethrewalongpasstoShofner,buttheballwasunderthrownandalmostintercepted
byLarryWilson(#8).Twoplayslater,TittlehitShofneronamid-rangepass.Shofnergothisbodyinfrontof
thedefensivebacktogettheball.HebrokeawayfromthetackleofWilsonandgainedanextra12yards.Very
goodefforttogetyardsafterthecatch.Inthethirdquarter,Shofnerranadeeppostpattern.Theballwas
underthrown by Tittle and intercepted by Wilson. Shofner ran back over 30 yards to make the tackle.
Excellent hustle. Later in the quarter, Tittle underthrew a sideline pass to Shofner, which was again
interceptedbyWilson.Laterinthequarter,TittlethrewanouttoShofner,whoshowedanexcellentability
toturnupfieldtogainyardsafterthecatch.Thereceptionwentfor20yards.Inthefourthquarter,Shofner
caughtashortout.Hewashitimmediatelyandhadnoyardsafterthecatch.Afewplayslater,Shofnerrana
deeppost,beatingthedefenderbyabouttwoyards.Tittlehithiminstride.JimmyHill(#41)caughthimand
trippedhimupattheone-yardlinefora48-yardreception.Excellentconcentrationandhandstocatchthe
over-the-shoulderpass.
GAME REVIEW
DATE
Page6
OPPONENT
OVERALL GRADE
http://www.kencrippen.com
GAME REVIEWS
December29,1963
ChicagoBears
7.2
BOTTOM LINE
This is a highlight film. As a result, not all plays are shown. Shofner played split end, flanker and
tight/closed/leftend.Inthefirstquarter,ShofnerbeatDaveWhitsell(#23)totheendzone.Tittlethrewthe
passbutitwasalittlehighandslightlybehindShofner.IthitthehandsofShofner,buthewasunabletocatch
it.Itshouldhavebeenatouchdownreception.Tittleleftthegameinthesecondquarterwhenhewashitin
thelegbylinebackerLarryMorris(#33).HewasreplacedbyGlynnGriffing(#15).NotargetsforShofnerin
thesecondquarter.Tittlereturnedatthebeginningofthethirdquarter.Onthefirstoffensiveseriesofthe
thirdquarter,ShofnerwastargetedbyTittleonacurlroute.DaveWhitsellsteppedinfrontofShofnerforthe
interception.ShofnertackledWhitsellforonlyaboutaone-yardreturn.Shofnerwastargetedagainatthe
endofthethirdquarter,butthepasswastoofarinfrontofhim.Withaboutsevenminutesleftinthefourth
quarter,Shofnerranadeeppost.Hebeathisdefender,butTittle’spasswasoverthrown.Shofnerdidnothave
areceptioninthegame.Hiscompetitivenesswasgoodatbestinthisgame.
GAME REVIEW
DATE
OPPONENT
October22,1967
GreenBayPackers
OVERALL GRADE
n/a
BOTTOM LINE
ThisisaGameoftheWeekfilm.Asaresult,notallplaysareshown.Oftheplaysshown,Shofnerwasonthe
sidelinesanddidnotplay.
Page7
http://www.kencrippen.com
GRADING SCALE
GradingScale
GRADING SCALE
CLASS
GRADE
HallofFame
HallofVeryGood
Other
Page8
Rare
ExceptionaltoRare
Exceptional
VeryGoodtoExceptional
VeryGood
GoodtoVeryGood
Good
AboveAveragetoGood
AboveAverage
AveragetoAboveAverage
9.0
8.5
8.0
7.5
7.0
6.5
6.0
5.5
5.0
4.5
DESCRIPTION
http://www.kencrippen.com