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Every so often, a sports television innovation emerges that is so compelling and addictive that it demands recognition. This year, that innovation is Evan Washburn's 'Instant Film Room.' Instead of posing the standard postgame questions, the CBS Sports sideline reporter has been presenting key plays to NFL quarterbacks such as Bryce Young, Aaron Rodgers, and Josh Allen on a portable video monitor. In many instances, it is the first time the players have seen the actual game footage after it occurred. Their immediate, from-the-field film breakdowns are offering fascinating insights for football viewers.
On Sunday, Young described how his fake handoff froze Eagles linebackers long enough for him to connect with tight end Tommy Tremble on a play-action pass for a touchdown. 'As much 'sell' as possible to try to sell 'keeper,'' the Panthers quarterback explained. The typically reserved Rodgers was delighted to narrate how hulking 265-pound Steelers tight end Darnell Washington turned a short pass into a 48-yard gain that led to a go-ahead field goal. Said Rodgers: 'All I'm trying to do is get him the ball where he can catch and turn. Because once he catches and turns, it's pretty incredible the big man. If you run it back, I don't do anything. I throw a ball for two yards.' Earlier this week, Washburn spoke with Front Office Sports about his Instant Film Room and the possibility of incorporating it into his March Madness coverage. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Key Analysis
Washburn explained that the idea for Instant Film Room had been brewing for a while, tracing it back to a game last season between the Seahawks and Panthers in Carolina. A viral cutaway showed a Seattle fan in Charlotte who looked exactly like Sam Darnold, and Washburn wanted to show Darnold the clip during the postgame interview. Although that plan didn't materialize, the concept stuck. He also drew inspiration from golf coverage, where players are often walked through their rounds on a monitor. 'I think it's a great way to get perspective from the player,' Washburn said. 'But especially football players, they are programmed to watch film and break it down. It's what they do more than even play on the field. So I think it's a real natural spot for them.'
Among his favorite moments, Washburn highlighted the Rodgers interview, which he believes stands above the rest. 'The thing that was so great about Aaron, that I think has been part of what's the secret sauce to this, it's an opportunity for these guys to talk about their teammates too—which the best leaders love to do,' he said. 'And the thing that struck me in that Rodgers interview was that he listed off the guys that were making blocks for Darnell Washington all the way down the field. So it wasn't a great throw or play by Aaron Rodgers, but it was one where he was so excited because of everybody around him.'
Washburn noted that the segment often provides the first look at the play's outcome for quarterbacks, who are usually buried under a pile of defenders. 'The ability to see it, and their first time seeing it, that's when you get that genuine reaction,' he said. 'It's not as if we're watching the play on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. They've already seen it X number of times, whether it be on their phone or in the film room. And I would say it's a more muted reaction. But on the field, in some cases, like the Josh Allen play to win the game in Houston, or Aaron's play to Darnell, those were plays late in the game that they had just finished actually completing in reality. And they get to relive it. And I think that's led to an unintended benefit to this that I didn't see coming.'
While players still review still photos on the sidelines, Washburn pointed out that video offers a different level of insight. 'I think there's been some evolution, but it's all stills. It's not a video,' he said. 'So they're kind of scrolling through. You'll see a quarterback, or really any position, and coaches obviously, doing it as well, they're swiping through the screen. It's just different still shots of that kind of the All-22 look where you get to see what happened or what didn't happen. In some cases, college basketball, they've started to allow video, like live feeds or replays for one person on the bench to have to show to coaches, to show to players. So it goes to what we talked about earlier. Their livelihood is built on film study and looking at these pictures and looking at monitors. And again, the ability to then show them the live action of it, as opposed to the still, again engenders some good reactions.'
Looking ahead, Washburn sees potential for Instant Film Room in various scenarios, including CBS's NFL playoff coverage and the Super Bowl in 2028. 'I would hope so. I think it has legs in so many scenarios,' he said. He mentioned that postgame interviews are now taped due to the tight broadcast window, but he believes the segment can work live as well. 'I think you have the monitor there, you get the quick shot of it and then boom, we cover the entire thing for the viewer at home. So they get to see the play that the guy's breaking down.' He also envisions expanding the concept to feature non-star players, such as an offensive lineman who made a crucial block. 'I think I want the plays to dictate who's doing the breakdown—not always the biggest star,' Washburn said.
As for March Madness, Washburn is eager to pitch the idea. 'We haven't gotten in any discussions about March but when the opportunity arises, I'm definitely going to pitch it,' he said. However, he acknowledged a logistical hurdle: 'I don't know if I have remote monitors for college basketball, because I'm usually just parked in a seat behind the bench, and I'll have your traditional monitor, basically a TV screen that I'm able to watch. But since I'm not really doing a mobile thing, like I am with football where I'm walking around the field constantly. So that might be a hurdle we'd have to figure out.'
Originally reported by yahoo.