11 Questions with Jordan Weimer

The pursuit of wisdom in any walk of life quickly reveals that what you think you know is not nearly enough to get you to where you want to go. As I'm starting out in my football scouting journey I challenged myself to reach out to those already working in various roles in football to answer a short list of questions. My goal wasn't to get answers but relevant perspectives on the game within the game.

Here is Jordan Weimer:

How did your first opportunity in football come about?

I was part of an agency start up in 2015, my role was to produce reports on potential clients.

What attracted you to media/data/scouting? What’s more intriguing now names or numbers?

I’ve always found the fundamental process of scouting interesting. Analyzing a players performance to the finest detail might sound monotonous, but I love it. Names will always be more intriguing to me, numbers are a tool to make sure they’re the right names. 

What type of player fascinates you? What caught your eye?

It’s easy to have preconceived notions of what players in certain positions should be doing at any given moment. Watching a player who can redefine a role/position is by far the most fascinating to me. 

What is the biggest misconception you’ve found in this space?

The gap between aspiring amateur scouts/analysts and professionals is often overstated. Some of the work that’s shared on Twitter is exceptional, and clubs are starting to pick up on that. 

If you could start over what skill would you build on first?

Broadening your horizons and watching other leagues would be a big one for me. It’s easy as a fan to focus on the league your team competes in. But having an understanding of other styles of football is so important.

What is more important domain knowledge or curiosity?

Curiosity, professional sport is all about fine margins. Looking down a different avenue could be what gives you your break. 

What is your favorite sports moment? Why?

As a Watford fan it has to be Troy Deeney’s goal vs Leicester in the Championship Play Off Semi Final. There’s no other option. 

What coach or player would you give a lifetime contract to? Why?

His time at Watford came to an unfortunate end, but I’d go with Javi Gracia. Firstly I think he’s a very good coach. He had some bad luck, and failed to adapt what he had worked on the previous season. But he was loved by the Watford fans, and gave them a connection most hadn’t felt since Graham Taylor was in charge. 

What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into this space?

Put your work out there consistently. Create a portfolio of work, you never know who might end up seeing it. 

Who is your favorite athlete? Why?

Tony Romo, former QB of the Dallas Cowboys. An undrafted free agent that became a starter in the NFL through a mixture of hard work, talent and becoming a student go the game. 

What is your favorite quote or saying?

When you want to win a game, you have to teach. When you lose a game, you have to learn. - Tom Landry