All-Star games

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/01/east-west-shrine-game-practice-report/By National Football Post
Posted January 13, 2009
East West Shrine Game Report

FROM JOHN MURPHY:

Houston, TX – The “Meat Market” portion of the all-star game circuit kicked off yesterday morning shortly after 9am as players from both teams had their arm, hand, height and weight measured and recorded as a full room of scouts and evaluators from the NFL and CFL received their first true look at the prospects body types.

“You look for body types… can a player add weight… how are they proportionate for the position they play and then you can even make note of some scars or possible past surgeries to review later on the players bio sheet”, explained one evaluator when asked about what he was looking for this morning.

Near perfect weather conditions greeted the East team, who practiced first as Bobby Ross, a former NFL and college head coach, led his squad through a fast paced two-plus hour practice session.

Here’s what I gathered from an initial look at the East Roster:

- Michigan State QB Brian Hoyer… throws a very catchable ball, has a bad habit of patting the ball prior to his release, but has a good release and shows good leadership skills in the huddle.

- Louisville QB Hunter Cantwell… looked too hesitant to make mistakes today and held the ball for an eternity on several plays. Looks skinny for his size and just had a few issues with both the plays and maybe playing in a new scheme for the first time with the pressure of all the scouts watching too.

- Clemson WR Aaron Kelly… showed very consistent hands, was open on most of his routes during 7-on-7 and even team drills. Uses his size (6’5”) to his advantage when the ball is in the air.

- Tennessee State RB Javarris Williams… has good drive in his legs, keeps moving upon initial contact and showed a decent burst on a few good runs.

- Iowa OG Seth Olson… handled his opponent effectively during most of his 1-on-1’s, including a few times where he stoned him or drove him right back off the snap.

- Kent State OT Augustus Parrish… had good footwork during 1-on1’s, he was active on his feet and did not over-extend, was better today than on most senior tapes, but during team and run plays he lacked strength at the point of attack and took a step back into the middle rounds based on his overall performance.

- Memphis DT Clinton McDonald… very quick off the ball, shed initial blockers in most of his 1-on-1 reps, made good use of his hands and stood out among DT’s.

- South Carolina ILB Jasper Brinkley… first look he seems a little stiff and upright running to the ball, but he shows good feet, balance and explodes well both when he plants his foot and comes forward and when getting to the ball carrier.

- Stillman (AL) DT Sammie Lee Hill… very good natural size, wide-body frame, flashed some quickness off the snap, had a nice spin move that would have led to a sack if it was a live drill, but later had a slight limp to his step due to a slightly strained left hamstring.

- Wisconsin DE Matt Shaughnessy… showed a good first step off the ball, liked his burst to the ball and showed a few moves during 1-on-1 drills that gave Ohio State OT Alex Boone some problems. Was the most refined of the outside pass rushers in this group.

- Iowa CB Bradley Fletcher… has the best size of the CB’s on his side and it helped today as he had a few good plays, including an interception during the 7-on-7 portion of the workout. Area scouts already know he ran 4.4’s in the spring, so a big week here could push him towards being a 3rd-4th round choice.

Over on the West side, the stoic former Alabama, Texas A&M and NFL head coach Gene Stallings marched his team right on time and had a strong tempo to their late afternoon practice session.

First look at West side prospects:

- Central Washington QB Mike Reilly… his ball was a little inconsistent today, seemed like he might have been pressing a bit during his first chance to impress the large contingent of NFL evaluators, gripping the ball too tightly can lead to some misfires, but during warm-ups and individual drills I liked his foot work and he’s athletic for his size.

- Colorado State RB Gatrell Johnson… showed up trim and down 10-12 pounds from the start of his senior campaign. Ran hard during team drills and showed some of the same burst and hustle that now has him rated among the Top-5 senior backs on many boards, but he needs to work hard on his pass routes and developing more quickness/agility to his game.

- Texas A&M FB Jorvorskie Lane… made a pair of one-handed catches during his first practice. Needs to do everything at full-speed in order to impress, just something missing from his all-around game, not sure he’s only 275 pounds as listed; would seem higher to me in-or-out of pads.

- Rice WR Jarett Dillard… caught the ball very well, went up and grabbed it away from defenders and was not shy from contact on inside routes. He has a chance to improve his standing among this group of receivers as he is still more quick-than-fast, but is so sure-handed as anything near him was caught today.

- Houston OT Sebastian Vollmer… rotated between left and right tackle, under-rated, homegrown talent who is still very new and raw to football; born in Kaarst, Germany, long, lean frame and could be a nice developmental type tackle for a team that employs a zone blocking scheme.

- Texas DT Roy Miller… short, stout interior defender that makes his money by having a strong motor. He keeps fighting opposing blockers, but has limited pass rush moves, needs to play with leverage and use his low pad level to drive the pocket back; nice situational guy for a team that rotates their DT’s.

- Western Illinois LB Jason Williams… certainly passes the eye-test with flying colors, well-defined upper-body, little tight in the hips when dropping back into coverage, but he flies to the ball and shows an extra burst of closing speed in the open field.

-USC CB Cary Harris… really was excited to see him up-close as he played as well as any senior cornerback this season on tape, good size, can matchup with most of the smaller receivers here at the game. Keeps his feet active and is not caught flat-footed on shorter routes, drives well on the ball, but needs to get a better judgment of his make-up speed when the ball is in the air.

-USC Safety Kevin Ellison… did not show any ill effects from late season injuries, very good natural size, some scouts indicated that his best fit might come as a 4-3 WLB, all-star game practices are the worst thing possible for guys like Ellison who is better playing in the box and given short area pass coverage responsibility, but you still see his intensity and willingness to be physical. The game itself will be a better evaluation of his talents.

-USC K David Buehler… big, athletic kid for a kicker, he kicked field goals at the end of practice when everyone’s attention was free, but on his own he was warming up and kicking off on a side field; his leg strength on kickoffs alone will earn him a shot to make someone’s team as a rookie as he can knock it through the end zone with regularity.

Overall, most scouts initial reaction was that the West side might have more talent player-for-player, but it’s early in the week and the next two days of practices will really tell the tale of the tape here in Houston.

WHAT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL POST IS HEARING…

* The Senior Bowl has invited West Virginia linebacker Mortty Ivy, who will remain in Houston for the remainder of the Shrine Game festivities. They also invited Wisconsin offensive lineman Andy Kemp who weighed in this morning, but has opted to sit out the week and will be replaced by Nebraska offensive lineman Matt Slauson, who will join the action in time for Tuesday morning’s practice.

* Texas offensive guard Cedric Dockery seemed the most surprised of the players in attendance that he had not yet received an invite to the NFL Combine; his brother Derrick is a long-time NFL offensive linemen.

* Several familiar faces were seen along the sidelines during this afternoon’s practice sessions including Houston Texans All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson, Houston Texans cornerback Dunta Robinson, former NFL GM Ron Hill, Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Robaire Smith and roughly 40-50 NFL player representatives.

* Word has it that the Detroit Lions may be contemplating the idea of offering a front office position to former Cleveland Browns GM Phil Savage, who attended all of today’s activities while keeping a low profile and taking judicious notes as if he were still working in his former capacity; his humble beginnings as a scout will now aid his search for a new gig.

* According to several NFL sources over 150 underclassmen have submitted paper work in the hopes of receiving a current draft grade or evaluation of their respective talents. The same source said that an expected 45-50 junior/red-shirt sophomores could opt into the NFL Draft.

* According to an NFL source, Oklahoma red-shirt sophomore defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has opted to return to school for one more season rather than entering this year’s draft.

* According to USC defensive back Josh Pinkard he has filed all the necessary paper work to the NCAA in order to potentially receive a medical hardship year for a past knee injury that would allow him to return to the Trojans next season.

* According to LSU defensive tackle Charles Alexander he has turned down the chance to attend this year’s NFL Combine as he plans to return to the Tigers for a sixth-season of eligibility because of a past knee injury, and the chance to likely replace junior Ricky Jean-Francois in the starting lineup since he has declared his own intentions to leave for the NFL a year early.

* A total of 43 players were drafted out of the 83rd annual East-West Shrine Game.

* According to Shrine Game staffers over 300 credentials were created for NFL coaches, scouts and support staff for this year’s game.

[ParanoidPatriot]

When are the games on TV? I hope they are not on NFLN.

[Box_O_Rocks]

When are the games on TV? I hope they are not on NFLN.East-West Shrine
When: 01/17/09 Time: 3:00 PM Central TV: ESPN2

Senior Bowl
When: 01/24/09 Time: 6:00 PM Central TV: NFL Network

Texas vs The Nation
When: 01/31/09 Time: 1:00 PM MT TV: CBS College Sports

[Box_O_Rocks]

A bit outdated by the first practice report, but here's the preview of the players for the Shrine game. Part 1, East.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/01/east-west-shrine-game-prospects/By National Football Post
Posted January 10, 2009
East West Shrine Game Prospects

As the junior class continues to grab all the headlines with their early entries for the 2009 Draft, NFL scouts and executives will flock to Houston, Texas this week for the first senior All-Star game of the season. With the deletion of the Hula Bowl this year, the East West Shrine game has attracted some of the top mid-round prospects in the nation and has both rosters loaded with draftable prospects. Wes Bunting of the National Football Post breaks down each player in this years contest with a projection of his current draft grade.

EAST TEAM

Quarterbacks

Hunter Cantwell: Louisville (6-5, 236) Projection: 5th Round

Possesses a big frame with the arm strength to make all the throws in the NFL. Needs more time to develop, but has all the tools to really climb up the draft boards.

Chase Daniel: Missouri (6-0, 225) Projection: Free Agent

An undersized quarterback prospect that lacks the arm strength to make all the throws. Displays good accuracy, but will struggle finding throwing windows at the next level.

Brian Hoyer: Michigan State (6-3, 215) Projection: 7th Round/Free Agent

Isn’t a real accurate passer and lacks the athletic ability to buy time in the pocket. Is smart with the football, but lacks the tools of a big time prospect.

Running Backs

Tyrell Sutton: Northwestern (5-9, 190) Projection: 6th Round

An instinctive runner with good vision and burst through the hole. Showcases some wiggle at the second level, but lacks the size to take the consistent pounding of being a workhorse back.

Kory Sheets: Purdue (6-0, 206) Projection: 7th Round

A high cut runner with smooth footwork and an explosive first step. Isn’t a real shifty back, but has the vision to see the cutback lane and attack up field

Javarris Williams: Tennessee State (5-11, 220) Projection: 7th round/ Free Agent

A solid, well built back that runs behind his pads and can wear down opposing front sevens. Lacks great speed, but has the quickness to make a man miss and accelerate into space.

Full Backs

Collin Mooney: Army (5-10, 247) Projection: Free Agent

A thick, physical full back with the ability to push the pile and drive for tough yards. Displays good power and has the mindset to sell his soul week in and week out as a lead blocker.

Wide Receiver

Deon Butler: Penn State (5-10, 168) Projection: 6th Round

A frail looking receiver with an explosive first step and the ability to get vertical. Shows good ball skills down the field and will be able to create big plays from the slot.

Greg Orton: Purdue (6-3, 199) Projection: 7th Round

A big, well built receiver with good body control and awareness on the outside. Isn’t going to run by anyone, but uses his body to shield defenders well in traffic.

Darius Passmore: Marshall (6-3, 188) Projection: 4th Round

A tall, athletically gifted receiver with good burst and body control in and out of his breaks. Is a smooth route runner that showcases the ability to get down the field.

Aaron Kelly: Clemson (6-5, 190) Projection: 6th Round

A finished product that combines size, length and body control on the outside. Lacks any type of explosion to his game and will need to be a possession type receiver at the next level.

Tight Ends

Brian Mandeville: Northeastern (6-7, 253) Projection: 5th Round

A small-school tight end that possesses a nice sized frame and good athletic ability for his size. Is a smooth route runner that displays the strength to hold his own in the blocking game as well.

Anthony Hill: NC State (6-6, 265) Projection: Free Agent

Has struggled with injuries throughout his career (knee, chest), but has the size and frame to at least attract some attention in later rounds. Is a coordinated route runner with good body control, but his knee injuries have really caused him to lose a lot of his explosion.

David Johnson: Arkansas State (6-2, 270) Projection: Free Agent

A natural athlete with good ball skills and fluidity in the passing game. Lacks the size of a typical tight end, but has the versatility to line up at full back and H-back as well.

Offensive Linemen

Alex Boone: Ohio State (6-8, 312) Projection: 4th Round

A former five-star prospect out of high school, has never really lived up to expectations. Is a bit tight hipped and struggles with his lateral mobility, a right sided player only.

Ryan Durand: Syracuse (6-5, 303) Projection: Free Agent

A tall, natural bender inside with a quick first step and good athleticism in space. Lacks strength and doesn’t showcase much power or drive in any aspect of his game.

Ramon Foster: Tennessee (6-8, 325) Projection: 7th Round

A massive right sided prospect that lacks flexibility and isn’t real nimble in space. Showcases good length and when he gets his hands on defensive lineman, the battle is over.

Andy Kemp: Wisconsin (6-6, 316) Projection: 6th Round

A tall, blue-collar offensive lineman who plays with good grit and power inside. Isn’t the most fluid of athletes, but gets by with his technique and toughness.

Jamon Meredith: South Carolina (6-5, 301) Projection: 4th Round

A natural athlete with good bend and body control in space. Isn’t real explosive and lacks girth. Is more of a finesse blocker who might be best suited to play inside.

Cecil Newton: Tennessee State (6-3, 300) Projection: 5th Round

A physical, small-school center with good athleticism and power in the run game. Needs to become a little more polished, but has the natural tools to become a starter at the next level.

Seth Olsen: Iowa (6-5, 305) Projection: 6th Round

A typical Iowa offensive lineman that displays good technique and hand placement inside. A natural bender with good athletic ability, but needs to add more girth and strength to his base.

Augustus Parrish: Kent State (6-5, 305) Projection: 4th Round

Has the skill set and athletic ability to play left tackle in the NFL. Is still very raw and needs to polish his technique, but is one of the most athletically gifted tackles in the draft.

A.Q. Shipley: Penn State (6-1, 297) Projection: 5th Round

A technician inside that plays with good hand placement and understands angles. Lacks size but plays with good leverage and lower body strength off the snap.

Jamie Thomas: Maryland (6-4, 330) Projection: 6th Round

A thick, squatty guard with impressive lower body drive and power in the run game. Displays good length and has created big holes in the run game all year for Maryland.

Defensive Linemen

Lawrence Sidbury: Richmond (6-4, 265) Projection: 6th Round

A long limbed defensive end that exhibits the body control and suddenness to disengage from blockers. Lacks great burst around the corner, but re-directs and slips blocks well in space.

Stryker Sulak: Missouri (6-5, 250) Projection: 6th round

An undersized pass rusher with good closing speed, but lacks natural flexibility and burst out of his stance. Plays with an impressive motor, but isn’t the kind of athlete his 40 time (4.65) would indicate.

Ron Brace: Boston College (6-3, 324) Projection: 4th Round

A big, physical tackle with good body control and agility inside. Displays the ability too not only hold the point of attack in the run game, but slip blocks vs. the pass as well.

Terrance Taylor: Michigan (6-0, 319) Projection: 5th Round

A girthy nose tackle that plays with good leverage and power inside. Tough to move inside, but is limited as a pass rusher and is no more than a two down lineman.

Etienne Legare: Laval (6-4, 265) Projection: Free Agent

The Canadian standout is a tough, blue-collar defender that uses his hands well to make up for his average athleticism.

Orion Martin: Virginia Tech (6-2, 252) Projection: 5th Round

Played both defensive end and linebacker at Virginia Tech, but looks best suited to play in a three point stance. Has an explosive first step with the ability to get after the quarterback.

Sammie Lee Hill: Stillman (6-4, 329) Projection: 7th Round

A developmental prospect with great size and athletic ability inside. He displays a quick first step with the ability to eat up blockers inside. Will need to adjust to playing at a higher level.

Matt Shaughnessy: Wisconsin (6-6, 252) Projection: 3rd Round

A tall, athletic defensive end that coils up well in his stance and can fire off the edge. Isn’t real laterally gifted and lacks power but has the closing speed to turn the corner.

Darryl Richard: Georgia Tech (6-4, 290) Projection: 5th Round

A smart, hard working tackle that combines average size with good athleticism and technique.

Linebackers

DeAndre Levy: Wisconsin (6-3, 228) Projection: 6th round

An athletic sideline-to-sideline backer that chases the ball well in pursuit. Showcases good re-direction skills and coverage, but lacks consistent power inside the box.

Dannell Ellerbe: Georgia (6-1, 232) Projection: 4th Round

An undersized mike linebacker with good range and fluidity in coverage. Lacks great size and is washed out too easy on plays right at him.

Mortty Ivy: West Virginia (6-3, 236) Projection: 4th Round

A strong, explosive linebacker that flies all over the field and makes plays with reckless abandon. Needs to become a bit more instinctive, but has the tools and attitude to fill a variety of roles at the next level.

Jasper Brinkley: South Carolina (6-2, 275) Projection: 5th Round

A massive inside linebacker with good body control and power inside. Is a powerful tackler with natural pass rush ability. May be best suited to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

Robert Francois: Boston College (6-2, 235) Projection: 7th Round/Free Agent

A typical tough, instinctive Boston College linebacker with good athleticism and burst in space. Is a bit stiff, but has some upside and displays the ability to get after the passer off the edge.

Defensive Backs

Curtis Taylor: LSU (6-3, 204) Projection: 5th Round

Has the ideal build of an NFL safety with good straight-line speed and power at the line of scrimmage. Will bite on play fakes and needs to do a better job wrapping up in space.

Brandon Underwood: Cincinnati (6-1, 190) Projection: 7th Round

A natural cover safety with the frame and build of a corner. Is fluid in man coverage and has the ability to line up over the slot. A versatile athlete in the Cincinnati secondary.

Otis Wiley: Michigan State (6-2, 210) Projection: 5th Round

A physical, well-built safety with good instincts and ball skills in coverage. Loves to attack downhill, but has a tendency to over run plays and not take proper angles.

Trent Morgan: Michigan (6-1, 188) Projection: 6th Round

A tall corner with decent technique but lacks burst and explosion in and out of his breaks. Will really struggle in man coverage at the next level and is best suited for a cover two scheme, where he can use his instincts.

Jahi Word-Daniels: Georgia Tech (6-0 194) Projection: 5th Round

A tall, lean corner that showcases good bend and a fluid backpedal. Has the ability to go up at the highest point and break on balls. Is at his best in press coverage.

Courtney Greene: Rutgers (6-2, 215) Projection: 3rd Round

A well-built safety with good power at the line of scrimmage and straight-line speed in the secondary. A bit “leggy” and struggles re-directing in space.

Specialists

Jake Richardson: Miami (6-1, 208) Projection: Free Agent

A strong legged punter who averaged 45.3 yards per punt in 2008.

Graham Gano: Florida State (6-1, 193) Projection: 5th Round

The Lou Groza Award winner was 24/26 on field goal opportunities and also averaged 43.6 yards per punt in 2008.

[Box_O_Rocks]

Part 2, West.

West Team

Quarterbacks

Tom Brandstater: Fresno State (6-5, 225) Projection: 6th Round

Showcases the prototypical build for the quarterback position with good arm strength and touch down the field. A lacking athlete that didn’t have the type of year many expected.

Mike Reilly: Central Washington (6-3, 212) Projection: 6th Round

A dominant small-school prospect that is a dual run/pass threat. Showcases good accuracy on the move and has the ability to buy time in the pocket.

Stephen McGee: Texas A&M (6-3, 207) Projection: 7th Round/ Free Agent

Displays a very intriguing skill set, he just needs time to develop. A good athlete with the arm strength to make all the throws, has some Tony Romo in him.

Running Backs

Ian Johnson: Boise State (6-0, 196) Projection: 7th Round

An instinctive runner with good lateral mobility and body control. Lacks a second gear and doesn’t showcase any kind of explosion to his game.

Gartrell Johnson: Colorado State (5-11, 230) Projection: 7th Round

A thickly built back with a powerful lower half and good “wiggle” for his size. Showcases good vision and lateral mobility at the line of scrimmage, but lacks the speed to out run anyone at the second level.

Aaron Brown: TCU (6-1, 196) Projection: 7th Round/ Free Agent

A tall, high cut runner with decent power and agility for his size. Has the ability to step out of tackles, but lacks body control and isn’t real sharp cutter.

Full Backs

Jorvorskie Lane: Texas A&M (6-0, 285) Projection: 7th Round/ Free Agent

A massive, thick framed full back that exhibits very nimble feet for his size. A natural runner, but needs to learn to become a more consistent lead blocker.

Wide Receivers

Ramses Barden: Cal Poly (6-6, 227) Projection: 3rd Round

A king sized wide out with good body control and hands over the middle of the field. However, he is a strider with below average deep speed, but showcases good suddenness out of his breaks.

Jarrett Dillard: Rice (5-11, 185) Projection: 5th Round

A frail receiver prospect with excellent hand eye coordination. Displays the ability to consistently go up and pluck the ball at the highest point. However, he will struggle big time with bump coverage in the NFL.

Marko Mitchell: Nevada (6-3, 210) Projection: 5th Round

A physically imposing receiver with good burst and body control in and out of his breaks. Isn’t a burner, but shows some explosion and can separate on all levels of the field.

Mike Thomas: Arizona (5-8, 195) Projection: 6th Round

An undersized slot guy with good agility and acceleration in the open field. Is more quick than fast, but has the ability to uncover down the field.

Sammie Stroughter: Oregon State (6-0, 186) Projection: 4th Round

A bit frail framed, but showcases good footwork and burst in and out of his breaks. Displays an explosive first step and knows how to separate on all levels of the field.

H-Backs/Tight Ends

Mark Hafner: Houston (6-3, 235) Projection: 6th Round

A smooth, natural receiver in the passing game that does a nice job getting in and out of his breaks quickly. Lacks the size and power to play tight end, but can create mismatches at the next level.

Jared Bronson: Central Washington (6-4, 255) Projection: 6th Round

A smooth, good looking tight end prospect with impressive straight-line speed. Lacks great change of directions skills underneath, but is a reliable pass catcher.

Bear Pascoe: Fresno State (6-5, 260) Projection: 4th Round

A tall, well built tight end that not only displays good hands and body control in the passing game, but showcases the ability to block on the edge and get good push in the run game.

Offensive Linemen

Travis Bright: BYU (6-5, 318) Projection: 6th Round

A tall, thick bodied lineman with decent pop and flexibility out of his stance. Plays a bit high, but showcases good fight and technique in 1v1 battles.

Jon Cooper: Oklahoma (6-3, 290) Projection: 7th Round

An undersized center that displays good quickness and technique inside. Lacks the ability to hold the point of attack vs. bigger D-linemen and is best suited for a zone blocking scheme.

Rey Feinga: BYU (6-5, 331) Projection: 4th Round

A massive guard prospect with good power and quickness for his size. Is surprisingly nimble in pass protection and should become a solid in-line blocker at the next level.

Juan Garcia: Washington (6-3, 305) Projection: Free Agent

A 6th year senior that lacks power and lateral mobility in pass protection. Showcases good pop in the run game, but struggled like the rest of the Washington team in 2008.

Dan Gay: Baylor (6-5, 282) Projection: 7th Round/Free Agent

Was overshadowed by teammate Jason Smith this season, but Gay is an impressive natural athlete in his own right. He needs to add more girth and power to his frame. However, he has the athleticism and length to be an intriguing late round guy.

Simeon Rottier: Alberta (6-6, 286) Projection: Free Agent

A tall, long armed prospect with average athleticism and an under developed frame. Lacks the girth to be able to hold the point of attack on the outside.

Fenuki Tupou: Oregon (6-6, 322) Projection: 3rd Round

A right sided player with good length and body control on the outside. Is very coordinated and re-directs well in space for a man his size.

Sebastian Vollmer: Houston (6-8, 315) Projection: Free Agent

A tall, long limbed tackle that lacks flexibility and struggles with leverage on the outside. Showcases decent athletic ability, but is consistently walked backward vs. the bull rush.

Louis Vasquez: Texas Tech (6-6, 335) Projection: 7th Round/Free Agent

A massive guard prospect with good size and length. Lacks flexibility and struggles re-directing in space. Has never been asked to run block at Texas Tech and is not as powerful as his size would indicate.

Cedric Dockery: Texas (6-4, 315) Projection: 3rd Round

An underrated prospect with good bend and athleticism in all areas of his game. Showcases the feet to slide laterally in pass protection, but needs to do a better job staying on blocks.

Defensive Linemen

Michael Bennett: Texas A&M (6-4, 277) Projection: 5th Round

Displays an impressive first step with the power and suddenness to consistently shed blocks. However, he needs to learn to play with better flexibility off the snap.

Pannel Egboh: Stanford (6-6, 270) Projection: 4th Round

Possesses a nice frame with long arms, but doesn’t display any kind of explosion to his game. Might be best suited to add more weight and play the five-technique in the 3-4.

Jarron Gilbert: San Jose State (6-6, 280) Projection: 5th Round

A natural bender inside who coils up well in his stance and displays excellent first step quickness off the snap. Consistently gets up field and uses his length nicely to shed blocks. Will need to prove he has the power and girth to hold the point of attack inside.

Ra’Shon Harris: Oregon (6-5, 321) Projection: Free Agent

A tall, thickly built tackle with decent power and push inside. Lacks laterally mobility and struggles shedding blocks inside. He doesn’t make many plays on his own.

Phillip Hunt: Houston (6-1, 260) Projection: 6th Round

An undersized pass rusher with good quickness and the ability to slip blocks outside. Showcases natural dip around the corner and closes quickly on the quarterback.

David Veikune: Hawaii (6-3, 250) Projection: 5th Round

A natural athlete with good body control and the suddenness to shed blocks. Lacks the burst to consistently reach the edge, but uses his hands and power well to make his way into the backfield.

John Faletoese: Cal Davis (6-2, 295) Projection: 7th Round

An explosive, quick twitch interior lineman who makes a living in his opponent’s backfield. A one gap tackle who loves to shoot gaps and get after the quarterback inside.

Roy Miller: Texas (6-2, 295) Projection: 6th Round

A tough, blue-collar lineman that displays a good first step and powerful drive off the ball. Isn’t physically imposing, but works hard and plays with good leverage at the point of attack.

Linebackers

Victor Butler: Oregon State (6-2, 238) Projection: 6th Round

An explosive defensive end at Oregon State who will make the transition to linebacker in the NFL. An ideal 3-4 outside linebacker prospect with natural pass rush ability

Anthony Felder: California (6-3, 235) Projection: 7th Round/Free Agent

A stocky, well built athlete with good power and stack and shed ability inside. A 3-4 middle linebacker at California and could be able to find a home there in the NFL.

Kaluka Maiava: USC (6-0, 230) Projection: 6th round

An under the radar prospect with good power inside and explosive sideline-to-sideline range. Like former USC linebacker Thomas Williams, Maiava should shoot up draft boards during the post-season process.

Jason Phillips: TCU (6-1, 234) Projection: 4th Round

An athletic looking inside linebacker with good straight-line speed. A bit slow to re-direct, but showcases good instincts and a nose for the ball.

Worrell Williams: California (6-0, 250) Projection: 4th Round

A shorter, powerfully built inside linebacker with good girth and lower body strength. Exhibits a good first step and has the athleticism to play any linebacker spot in a 3-4.

Jason Williams: Western Illinois (6-3, 237) Projection: 6th Round

A small-school prospect that has dominated his level of competition. Has a good sized frame with explosive sideline-to-sideline range. Makes a lot of plays in pursuit.

Defensive Backs

Kevin Ellison: USC (6-1, 230) Projection: 4th Round

Has the build of a linebacker and can really lay the wood in the run game. Is a bit stiff to re-direct in space, but displays good instincts in the pass game.

Cary Harris: USC (6-0, 180) Projection: 7th Round/Free Agent

A tall, long armed corner with good flexibility and instincts in zone coverage. Lacks great range and struggles playing with his back to the ball.

Lendy Holmes: Oklahoma (6-1, 201) Projection: 6th Round

A former wide receiver and cornerback that is still adjusting to the safety position. However, he is a good looking athlete that displays the instincts and ball hawking ability to makes plays in the passing game.

Brandon Hughes: Oregon State (5-10, 184) Projection: 7th Round

A smaller, undersized corner that relies on his technique and fluid hips. Showcases a quick, compact backpedal and is best suited to play in the slot at the next level.

Darcel McBath: Texas Tech (6-1, 197) Projection: 5th Round

Displays impressive closing speed in the secondary with a nose for the ball. Has the range to cover the deep half and takes good angles in pursuit.

Ryan Palmer: Texas (5-10, 186) Projection: Free Agent

An undersized corner prospect with good deep speed and decent footwork in and out of his breaks. Lacks ball skills and will struggle in man coverage at the next level.

Ryan Mouton: Hawaii (5-10, 180) Projection: Free Agent

He has played well this year and displays the deep speed to consistently turn and run with receivers down the field. Lacks polish and gets too “long-legged’ out of his back pedal.

Specialists

Thomas Morstead: Southern Methodist (6-4, 220) Projection: 7th Round

One of the top punter/kicker prospects in this year’s draft. Averaged 41.7 yards per punt in 2008 and also hit 11/15 field goals with a long of 49.

Nick Sundberg: California (6-0, 244) Projection: Free Agent

Has been the starting long snapper for California since his freshman year and was 128/129 on snaps in 2007.

David Buehler: USC (6-2, 225) Projection: Free Agent

A strong legged kicker who went 9/13 on the year with a long of 43. He was 7/8 inside of 40 yards, but only 2/5 from outside.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/01/east-west-shrine-game-preview/By National Football Post
Posted January 12, 2009
East West Shrine Game Preview

FROM JOHN MURPHY:

HOUSTON, Texas – The 84th annual East-West Shrine Game began recently as 100 of the top senior prospects arrived at the JW Marriott Hotel with NFL scouts and a handful of scouting directors waiting anxiously to get their post-season evaluations underway.

Players were greeted by an abundance of player profile sheets, HRT and Troutwine (TAP) testing. Sunday, they made their visit to the Shriners Children’s Hospital, which gives these young men some perspective before three days of practice in the shadows of Reliant Stadium.

The Houston Texans act as hosts for all 32 NFL teams, with some 200 scouts and front-office personnel in town for Monday morning’s weigh-in process. The teams will alternate morning and afternoon practice sessions through Wednesday before most scouts head home for a few days of rest before heading to Mobile, Ala., on Sunday.

While the game is important in order to judge players on film, it’s the individual one-on-ones and positional evaluations that are watched more closely by scouts.

There were a number of updates to the game’s roster the past two days as the Under Armour Senior Bowl continued to deal with its own issues. Several players are not expected to play in the game at Mobile.

From the East roster: Boston College defensive tackle Ron Brace (Senior Bowl), Michigan State safety Otis Wiley (own choice), Wisconsin linebacker DeAndre Levy (knee injury), N.C. State tight end Anthony Hill (Senior Bowl), Purdue running back Kory Sheets (Senior Bowl), Georgia Tech cornerback Jahi Word-Daniels (hamstring) and Penn State center A.Q. Shipley (personal).

From the West: Cal-Poly wide receiver Ramses Barden (Senior Bowl), SMU punter Thomas Morstead (Senior Bowl), Hawaii defensive end David Veikune (Senior Bowl).

East head coach Bobby Ross welcomed several new faces throughout the day on Saturday, including Memphis defensive tackle Clinton McDonald, Mississippi State safety Kevin Fitzhugh, Kentucky linebacker Johnny Williams, Alabama tight end Nick Walker, Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky, Iowa cornerback Bradley Fletcher and Maryland center Edwin Williams.

While West head coach Gene Stallings was busy getting his coaching staff together for meetings, the day was marked by the arrivals of Oklahoma State punter Matt Fodge, Oklahoma wide receiver Manuel Johnson and Oregon defensive end Nick Reed.

Williams (Kentucky) and Reed (Oregon) will have the longest trips to Houston as they received late word of their invitations, and after waiting to pick up their football gear on Saturday evening were scheduled to arrive Sunday in time for meetings and the first real day of the event.

What The National Football Post is Hearing

* One interesting note came from a former high school coach of SMU punter Thomas Morstead, who claimed the local prospect had been threatened with the loss of his Senior Bowl invitation if he didn’t drop out of the Shrine Game.

* Some of the most popular prospects on day one of interviews and scout-to-player interaction were Texas Tech DB Darcel McBath, San Jose State DL Jarron Gilbert, Fresno State QB Thomas Brandstater, Richmond DE Lawrence Sidbury and several of the impressive big-bodied offensive linemen on the East roster.

* Also, a west coast agent continued to baffle game officials and NFL staff members by having several signed players pass on all-star game invites to train for the NFL Combine. It left many shaking their heads.

* Keep an eye out for Valdosta State junior wide receiver T.J. Williams, a name that could be overlooked when the list of declared underclassmen is released to NFL teams on Jan. 16. The talented, speedy Florida native began his career at Michigan State before heading closer to home. He led the Blazers with a 16.6-yard average per catch and flashes the vertical speed to become a hot topic at his pro day. At roughly 6-feet-2 and 185 pounds, he expects to run between low 4.4’s to high 4.3’s when he works out for scouts.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/01/east-west-shrine-game-report-3/By National Football Post
Posted January 15, 2009
East West Shrine Game Report 3

FROM JOHN MURPHY:

HOUSTON – Scouts got to see what is often the most crucial day of practice for the 100 or so prospects in attendance here before taking their notes home and breaking down game film to create a final grade on each player in the Shrine Game.

Local or regional scouts who live in the Houston area will remain, along with longtime supporters of the game, then will make their way to Mobile, Ala., on Sunday morning for the Senior Bowl.

Today’s practices will be more game-oriented than scout friendly as players could be down to just shells. There’s likely to be less activity on the field.

I like how the East guys have come together so far, talking and acting as a group that has bonded off the field. And West coach Gene Stallings has taken time to speak directly to many players after a good play, or has offered advice and encouragement after a mistake. That plays well in a short week as the West team will play hard for him on Saturday.

EAST ROSTER

– Louisville QB Hunter Cantwell: Gaining momentum as we get closer to the game. His setup and delivery were better Wednesday, which helped him throw some nice, deep balls. When he drops back and sets up properly, his velocity and accuracy with the ball are much different than what I saw on days Day 1 and 2.

– Marshall WR Darius Passmore: A fleet-footed receiver who has shown good ability during the practices. He can make defenders miss after the catch and also caught kickoffs and punts during the special teams period. His play on tape this season has him riding about a third-round grade on some boards right now.

– South Florida WR Taurus Johnson: Had a solid day catching the ball in one-on-one and team drills. The NFL Combine will be a big decider in terms of how he enters the league; scouts have him at 4.55, while school officials say he will run in the 4.4 range.

– South Carolina OL Jamon Meredith: Really has worked his way back up to potentially being the highest-rated player taken from this year’s Shrine Game. Has stayed in front of nearly all defenders he has faced, winning the majority of his one-on-ones. Would still like to see more of a nasty streak in him. He’s not a great finisher and still plays way too high at times.

– Tennessee OL Ramon Foster: Big, physical blocker who has done a good job on the right side in the first three practices. Has shown good footwork and balance even though he could probably still stand to shed a few more pounds to play tackle. Most area scouts say they plan to seek out his junior tapes to see more.

– Richmond DE Lawrence Sidbury: Has shown a good burst to the ball, gaining separation from blockers and finishing hard during one-on-ones. Has good upper-body strength and plays faster than his supposed 4.8 times in the 40. Productive athlete who could earn a solid third round pick if he has a good Combine workout.

– Michigan DT Terrance Taylor: Has had a rougher week than expected, but, to his credit, has not complained or talked back to a coaching staff that is preaching tough love to the interior defender. He’s built low to the ground but has misfired on a few one-on-ones. While showing some burst and power at the point of attack, he has not been beating his man often enough to be considered in the top two rounds of the draft.

– Iowa CB Bradley Fletcher: Continues to make plays and earn the respect of every receiver he lines up against. “Man you are getting on top of me fast. I didn’t know you were there until the last second and then you knocked the ball out my hands,” said an East receiver running back from a one-on-one matchup.

– Norfolk State CB Don Carey: Has proven to be a solid addition to the game, showing good toughness. Better straight-line speed and much more fluid than I expected after watching his tapes. He was a productive small school defender that now has made a good impression here. If he finishes the week strong, it could put him among the top five cornerbacks to come out of this game.

– LSU S Curtis Taylor: Jumps out at you sometimes during the practice, thanks to his size and the fact he gets a good break on the ball. Big kid who likes to play physical and also has some ball skills. Seems a little underrated right now, but if he runs in the high 4.4’s as he says he will at the NFL Combine, that will change quickly.

– Mississippi State S Kevin Fitzhugh: Brings good energy and intensity to the practice field each day. Likes to jump right into one-on-one, seven-on-seven and team drills; has been knocking guys around since the first day. He knows what he does well and it shows here, but he has some limitations in pass coverage, especially if caught in one-on-one situations or covering over the top.

WEST ROSTER

– Nevada WR Marko Mitchell: His size and length keep you watching, but he’s been too inconsistent with his route running and pass catching. Shows some good acceleration while the ball is in the air but then struggles to adjust to the ball and allows the defender to get into better position to make the catch. Has looked a little tentative; you want to see a bigger receiver be aggressive and go after the ball as if it were his ball.

– Rice WR Jarett Dillard: Continues to catch the ball and make plays. Hard to overlook his slight stature, but he reminds me of Davone Bess or Shaun McDonald (without his top-end speed) as he has the ability to make catches in tight quarters and then slip out of danger and gain extra yardage. If he can produce a surprising 40 time, he could move into mid-round range.

– BYU OG Ray Feinga: Sat out practice with an apparent minor injury. He pointed and winced when asked by a game official what was wrong, but no official announcement was made. According to a member of the team’s offensive line, Feinga will find out today if he can play Saturday.

– Alberta OL Simeon Rottier: One of two Canadian prospects who are annually in the Shrine Game. He was quiet the first day, learning to play on the right side after playing left tackle during his time in the CIS. Has long arms and decent footwork for a young kid from Edmonton with only about five years of football under his belt. Once he shifted over to his natural side, his confidence came out and he did a nice job, especially during team drills. He locked onto Texas A&M defensive end Michael Bennett on a few plays and stayed on him downfield.

– San Jose State DL Jarron Gilbert: Big-framed kid who has shown an improved motor and worked at a very good tempo all week. He’s got scouts heading back to watch more tape of him as he exploded on the scene by consistently creating havoc in the backfield starting about Week 3-4 of his senior campaign. This week was a good starting point, but improving on a suspected 5.3 estimated 40 time from the spring will be what evaluators wait to see at the NFL Combine.

– Texas A&M DE Michael Bennett: Has a very good body type for the NFL. Long arms and can probably add another 10 pounds without sacrificing speed or athleticism, but something is missing at times, which likely will cause him to slip into the later rounds of the draft. He has a good get-off but not enough moves to consistently defeat an opponent. And once he is blocked, he stays blocked. Does not always fight his way back to the play. Had two plays against Alberta OL Simeon Rottier in which he was taken right out of the play and blocked 5-8 yards down field.

– TCU LB Jason Phillips: A good-looking athlete on tape but has looked a little sluggish here at times. Not nearly as explosive to the ball or making big plays as his 4.55 speed might indicate. He is a smaller-framed defender who could get absorbed at the point of attack without having the benefit of two big defensive tackles in front of him. Disappointing is too tough a word because he’s productive on tape, so I’ll wait to see him in the game before making a final judgment.

– Texas CB Ryan Palmer: Shorter than you would like in a cover cornerback, but he’s feisty, keeps himself in the play and has shown very good ball skills. He will get beaten over the top and on an occasional jump ball because of his limited size, but he plays hard, shows better football speed than his 40-time would indicate and should find himself taken off the board between the third and fifth rounds depending on his Combine results.

– Utah State S/LB De’Von Hall: Has plenty of size, which jumps out at you seeing him line up in place of USC’s Kevin Ellison. He is athletic but not always as fluid as you would desire, so it would not surprise me to see some teams think about adding 10-12 pounds to his frame and moving him to WLB. Interesting athlete who has late-round potential.

– Oklahoma State P Matt Fodge: Had a very good day kicking the ball, especially during the dedicated special teams period where scouts saw him boom a few good punts and then angle one inside the five-yard line. The game could provide him another chance to impress since he can also handle kickoffs.

WHAT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL POST IS HEARING…

* Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe will not participate in the upcoming Senior Bowl, according to several sources close to the top-rated senior offensive lineman. Instead, Monroe will continue to train for the NFL Combine with Mike Gough in Florida. He has a much higher grade on most boards than those in attendance at the Shrine Game. Ole Miss’ Michael Oher and Baylor’s Jason Smith would need solid performances in Mobile to be within 10 picks of Monroe when he comes off the board in April.

* Some NFL evaluators noted that several of prospects are being told or sold storylines by agents and others trying to get into the business that do not match up with their actual draft grades. One such prospect they spoke about was Central Washington quarterback Mike Reilly, who one scout noted has spent more time on the Internet writing about his experience than actually showcasing the talent necessary to make a favorable impression.

[Box_O_Rocks]

Shrine Game prospects on the BOR watch list: It's very unlikely any of these kids will make it into round 3 or higher, but with comp picks NE is going to have plenty of Day Two ammo.

CB - East
#8 Brandon Underwood (also a FS)
#27 Don Carey
#29 Bradley Fletcher

CB - West
#2 Ryan Palmer
#21 Ryan Mouton (also a FS)
#25 Cary Harris
#36 Brandon Hughes

S - East
#4 C.J. Spillman
#6 Curtis Taylor
#21 Keith Fitzhugh
#36 Courtney Greene

S - West
#20 Al Afalava

ILB - East
#35 Robert Francois
#44 Mortty Ivy
#52 Jasper Brinkley

ILB - West
#6 Jason Williams
#9 Anthony Felder
#51 Victor Butler (DE converting to LB)
#55 Worrell Williams

DE to LB (kids playing DE in this game, but could be LBs in the pros)
East
#90 Orion Martin (ILB or OLB)
#92 Matt Shaughnessy (ILB or OLB)

West
#49 Nick Reed (OLB)

3-4 DL - East
#91 Sammie Lee Hill (NT - may not play, hamstring)

3-4 DL - West
#90 Jarron Gilbert (DE)
#95 Ra’Shon Harris (DE)

WR - East
#1 Darius Passmore
#3 Deon Butler
#81 Taurus Johnson

WR - West
#10 Mike Thomas
#19 Sammie Stroughter
#81 Jarett Dillard

TE - East
#89 Brian Mandeville

TE - West
#84 Jared Bronson
#85 Bear Pascoe

OL - East
#56 Augustus Parrish
#63 Edwin Williams
#70 Ryan Durand
#71 Seth Olsen
#76 Jaimie Thomas
#77 Jamon Meredith
#78 Ramon Foster

OL - West
#57 Fenuki Tupou
#65 Simeon Rottier
#76 Ray Feinga
#79 Sebastian Vollmer

RB - West
#23 Aaron Brown (change of pace RB - think Faulk)
#41 Ian Johnson (change of pace RB - think Faulk)

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=508775Seven prospects with something to prove

Posted: January 19, 2009
Russ Lande

MOBILE, ALA.--More than 1,000 NFL people will invade Mobile today to evaluate the players during Senior Bowl practices. Draft expert Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts take a quick look at the players with the most to prove this week:

Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech. Harrell is this year's Colt Brennan and needs a big week to give himself a chance to be anything but a sixthor seventh-round pick. On film, Harrell has proven to be an accurate passer who makes great decisions but shows weak arm strength. Brennan showed better arm strength and overall traits at Hawaii, only to be exposed at the Senior Bowl. Harrell could be in for a similar fate.

Victor "Macho" Harris, CB/S, Virginia Tech. Harris is a tough and instinctive cornerback who made a lot of big plays in college, breaking up passes and intercepting them. The concern is whether he has the explosive burst and speed NFL teams feel is necessary to be a productive cornerback. He must prove he can flip his hips to turn and run with receivers man-to-man without losing a step. With a strong week, Harris could put himself in position to be a second-round pick.

Herman Johnson, G, LSU. Johnson is massive, causing debate amongst evaluators. Many scouts view Johnson as a natural athlete with the quickness, agility and balance to be a good NFL starting tackle. Others, however, say Johnson is a lumbering athlete who is not a top guard prospect and definitely cannot play tackle. He must show up in Mobile in excellent condition and show good athleticism and quickness to have a chance to be a high pick.

Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss. Oher was expected to challenge Alabama's Andre Smith to be the No. 1 offensive tackle, but Oher's inconsistent senior season has personnel men wondering about his ability to handle the mental side of the game. He is a rare athlete but plays with bad technique (upright and without leverage) nearly all the time. He must show his great athleticism this week, play with better technique and, more important, handle the interviews with GMs and coaches. A big week would get him back into the first round.

Derek Pegues, S, Mississippi State. Pegues is widely viewed as the best all-around safety on film, but at 5-9 GMs wonder if he can maintain such a high level of production. The Colts' Bob Sanders made it at that size, but Pegues is not as big or muscular and thus might not be as consistent a tackler vs. NFL ballcarriers. Pegues' size has him sitting in second- or third-round consideration. He could move into the first round with a big week of practice.

Clint Sintim, ILB, Virginia. Opinions vary greatly on Sintim, and the big debate centers on his athleticism. He must prove he has the quickness, agility and speed to take advantage of his size/strength and become a good NFL starter. With a big week of practice, Sintim could move into Day 1 consideration. If he looks limited athletically, as many think he will, he could slide into the fourth round.

Pat White, QB/WR/RB, West Virginia. White is trying to prove he is a legit QB prospect and should not be switched to wide receiver or running back. He has the arm to make all NFL throws but must prove he has the other tools. He must show he can drop back from under center, plant and throw quickly, driving the ball downfield with zip and accuracy. If White has a big week, he still probably is only a fourth- or fifthround QB prospect. If he fails this week and switches to running back or wide receiver, he likely would still be a mid-round prospect.

[theotherNE]

my pick for Faulk to groom, Marlon Lucky, wasn't in any of your write ups, I wonder why? He was the MVP of that shrine game, gaining around 65 yards with a nice touchdown run.

[Box_O_Rocks]

my pick for Faulk to groom, Marlon Lucky, wasn't in any of your write ups, I wonder why? He was the MVP of that shrine game, gaining around 65 yards with a nice touchdown run.Between boughts of illness, family, snow removal, etc. I'm behind on my draftnikking. Lucky was a stud at the Shrine game and I hadn't forgotten your recommendation - thanks for pointing him out to the other readers.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/01/senior-bowl-day-1-recap/Posted January 19, 2009
Senior Bowl Practice Recap

FROM WES BUNTING:

Senior Bowl practices kicked off today in front a packed house of NFL officials at Ladd-Pebbles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. The tempo picked up quickly as North players, wearing only shells and shorts, were put through a workout by Bengals coach Marvin Lewis and his coaching staff. The National Football Post was on the scene and breaks down today’s action.

Day One Studs

QB Graham Harrell was very impressive. He showcases good accuracy on all levels of the field. He also displayed exceptional timing with his receivers considering it was only the first day. A guy who could really move up boards as possibly the third quarterback off the board in April.

Also among the quarterback group, QB Nathan Brown performed well. He displays a live arm and can fit the ball into tight windows. He looked a bit hesitant early, but he moves around well in the pocket and exhibited the ability to throw receivers open on all levels of the field. Another quarterback with a shot to move up draft boards with a strong week.

DT B.J. Raji was the most impressive defensive lineman on the day. He displays impressive power and body control during one-on-one sessions and was consistently able to drive defenders into the backfield. He exhibited a power rip and knows how to make plays versus the pass.

Raji’s teammate, DT Ron Brace also had a good day inside. He showcases impressive bend for his size. However, it’s his first step, hand technique and rip that allows him to consistently shed blocks.

Outside of the Boston college duo, DT Ziggy Hood was the only other interior D-lineman to have his way inside. Hood displayed an explosive first step with the lateral mobility and body control to consistently make offensive linemen miss. His spin move left guard Trevor Canfield grasping air.

C Alex Mack displayed good versatility bouncing back and forth between center and guard. He showed better athleticism in space than first thought by consistently getting out to the second level. Mack has by far the quickest and most powerful punch at the Senior Bowl.

Still Need Work…

WR Derrick Williams was the most explosive receiver, showing a consistent ability to get behind corners down the field. However, he isn’t a real sharp route runner or natural catcher. He dropped two punts today, one drilling him right in the facemask.

WR Brandon Gibson seems to lack any kind of second gear to his game. He plays at one speed and doesn’t display any kind of explosion out of his stance.

LT Xavier Fulton is a natural, fluid athlete but lacks technique and power in pass protection. He consistently oversteps on his punch and lacks the strength to simply stay on blocks. A guy who needs to play in a zone-blocking scheme.

QB Rhett Bomar was solid. He has a compact motion with good zip and arm down the field. However, he lacked timing in the pass game and wasn’t as natural in the pocket as the other two. He should improve as the week goes on, but his lack of playing at a high level was apparent.

Not only did 5-foot-11 CB Victor Harris weigh in at just 186 pounds, he also struggled with his footwork in one-on-one drills. He didn’t look natural getting out of his stance and was turned around big time on some inside moves.

SS Patrick Chung struggled playing the center field-type role during 11-on-11 drills. He was turned around a couple times and lacked the range and re-direction skills to make up for a false step. This looks like a trait that will follow him through his NFL career.

Speaking of safeties struggling in coverage, former Oklahoma SS Nic Harris will attempt to make a transition to OLB in front of scouts this week. He displayed quick feet and good range to the perimeter against the run. However, he is very slow to read and react at the line of scrimmage and struggles taking on blockers inside. He is a work in progress, but, as many expected, he struggled in his first action.

[theotherNE]

I didn't mean he wasn't in the write up's because of you. The info you provide is like gold to me, keep up the good work. Sorry if I (even slightly) offended. Now, GO GET ME MORE INFO

[Box_O_Rocks]

I didn't mean he wasn't in the write up's because of you. The info you provide is like gold to me, keep up the good work. Sorry if I (even slightly) offended. Now, GO GET ME MORE INFOWork, work, work... :sulk:

[Box_O_Rocks]

ROFL During the South Squad's practice - LB blitz/RB-TE blitz pick-up one-on-ones - TE Shawn Nelson (So. Miss.) pancaked Rey Maualuga (USC) and nearly duplicated the effort on the next match-up. This is what I meant when I assessed his Rose Bowl - let an OL get a fingernail on him and he's out of the play. Nelson isn't known for being a strong blocker, he's undersized at 238, 15 or so lbs lighter than Rey-Rey the overhyped.

NFLN coverage reported Maualuga looked out of shape at the weigh-in and sluggish in the first practice. Maualuga's response when asked by the NFLN reporterette? I'm Samoan, "big boned." He claims he's at his playing weight from this season. I don't think he helped his cause in these two practices.

[Box_O_Rocks]

Senior Bowl weigh-in: http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/01/senior-bowl-weigh-in-breakdown/

Observations from around the web:

North's practice (both days, they'll probably keep updating it after each practice): http://www.gbnreport.com/seniorbowlreport.htm

NFL Draft Countdown's Senior Bowl page with links to individual practice reports and reports on NFL teams and the players they've been seen talking too: http://www.draftcountdown.com/features/SeniorBowl/Senior-Bowl.php

DraftDaddy Senior Bowl page: http://www.draftdaddy.com/features/senior_2009.htm

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=509069Ex-Sooner Bomar shines at Senior Bowl practice

Posted: January 20, 2009

MOBILE, ALA.--Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts provide news, notes and observations from Monday's Senior Bowl practices:

North Squad

Ramses Barden, WR, Cal-Poly. Barden is a tall receiver but looks thin. He shows the hands to make tough catches but needs to work on route-running skills and improve at escaping jams at the line.

Rhett Bomar, QB, Sam Houston State. He showed a good arm, making all the NFL throws. He clearly was the best North quarterback.

Nathan Brown, QB, Central Arkansas. He looked athletic and showed a strong arm, but his accuracy was all over the place. He did not look like he belonged competing with Bomar on Monday, didn't look like a draftable QB.

Tony Fiammetta, FB, Syracuse. He showed good athleticism and did a solid job in pass protection.

Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech. He did not show a strong arm but did throw accurately. His passes lacked zip, but almost all had a tight spiral and were on target. He even hit two nice deep throws with good touch.

Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma. As expected, he reached out and plucked passes out of the air with his hands, looking very natural. Despite running sharp routes, he did not show any quickness or burst off the snap.

Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma. He looked great in the weigh-in at 343 pounds. He struggled to protect the corner from speed rushers when at left tackle but was much more effective in pass protection when aligned at right tackle.

B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College. Raji showed the quickness and power shooting into backfield to blow up running plays.

Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State. He looked smooth and professional running routes -- he clearly has been coached well. He showed excellent hands, caught passes with defenders climbing over his back.

Kory Sheets, RB, Purdue. He looked quick and athletic, making sharp cuts and showing a good burst out of cuts to get through holes.

Max Unger, C, Oregon. He is a tough and competitive kid who blocked with great intensity and aggressiveness on every drill.

Derrick Williams, WR, Penn State. Williams had an up and down day, but not so much inconsistent as he was terrible when he fielded punts. However, he looked great as a receiver. He did not look comfortable fielding punts -- he didn't get under the ball and allowed the ball to play him, leading to two muffs on three attempts. As a receiver, he made good adjustments to make tough catches. He consistently reached away from his body and pulled in off-target passes. He really looked good laying out and catching one well overthrown pass.

South Squad

Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee. He showed good burst on edge as a pass rusher and flashed good strength when bull rushing.

Coye Francies, CB, San Jose State. He looked like a top athlete with loose and fluid hip movements; He was able to turn and run with receivers without any issues.

Herman Johnson, G, LSU. At 382 pounds, he was the heaviest player at Monday's weigh-in. For the first time in a number of years, he actually looked good at his weight. He didn't look fat or flabby; he looked in shape and solid.

Troy Kropog, OT, Tulane. He looked slow out of stance and could not slide outside to protect the corner vs. edge rushers. He got jolted and beaten by aggressive, straight-ahead pass rushers, too.

Fili Moala, DT, USC. He flashed excellent strength in jolting and tossing an offensive lineman out of the way.

Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss. Nelson showed good athleticism, especially the quickness and speed in routes. He must improve route-running skills; he took a lot of little steps in and out of cuts. He caught the ball well and showed natural hands.

Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss. He looked good sliding outside to cutoff speed rushers but struggled when forced to re-direct and change directions quickly. He was beaten inside too easily.

Derek Pegues, S, Mississippi State. He helped himself a lot by measuring in more than 5-9 and looked excellent in practice. He is muscular, ripped up and well built.

Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest. He showed explosiveness and burst to catch up when he gets behind and can close in time to make a play on the ball. He looked great jumping routes and made an interception.

Patrick Turner, WR, USC. Despite making the catch of the day, he struggled catching the ball. He looked uncomfortable and fought the ball, leading to a number of drops. He did show surprising quickness and speed.

Pat White, QB, West Virginia. He really struggled to throw with accuracy; More than half his passes were dipping.

John Parker Wilson, QB, Alabama. Wilson was the best QB on the South squad. He showed the strongest arm, was technically sound and was consistently accurate.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=509070Senior Bowl serves as key litmus test for NFL prospects

Posted: January 20, 2009
Russ Lande and Albert Breer
Sporting News

One-hundred-and-four college seniors have descended on Alabama's Gulf Coast for the most important job interview they'll ever have.

By the time the game -- the least important part of Senior Bowl week -- kicks off Saturday night, some NFL prospects will have made millions and others will have lost just as much. The evaluations don't come just in practice. NFL personnel monitor what time the players wake up, when they go to sleep, how they spend their downtime, what they eat, how they act. The players will interact with NFL coaches, GMs and scouts morning, noon and night, on and off the field.

All of it's important.

Those aforementioned millions aren't invested on whims.

Players weighed in and practiced in shorts Monday. Things really ramp up today and Wednesday, with padded workouts. Here is a quick look at a few guys riding momentum from Monday's proceedings:

Best first impression: LB Brian Cushing, an All-American from Southern Cal, showed up to the weigh-in cutting an imposing 6-3, 243-pound frame. However, he failed to impress in the same manner at practice.

Biggest arm: QB Rhett Bomar, the former Oklahoma starter turned Sam Houston State star, flashed the strength to make every NFL throw during workouts. He drove into his passes downfield, displaying accuracy and zip.

Fastest man: CB Alphonso Smith, a first-round prospect from Wake Forest, showed elite explosiveness and speed, recovering to catch receivers downfield and closing on passes thrown in front of him.

Strongest man: DT Fili Moala, a 6-4 and 303-pounder from Southern Cal, stood out from the rest with his strength, at one point scooping up an offensive lineman and tossing him aside in a pass-rush drill.

Best athlete: CB Coye Francies of San Jose State edges Smith, looking smooth and athletic during South team drills. Francies' burst and change-of-direction skills were impressive.

Best catch: After struggling for much of the afternoon, WR Patrick Turner of Southern Cal laid out to haul in a badly overthrown pass.

Best pass rush: DE Larry English of Northern Illinois showed explosive ability in blowing past Oklahoma All-American offensive tackle Phil Loadholt.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/01/19/senior.bowl.day1/
Posted: Monday January 19, 2009 7:44PM; Updated: Tuesday January 20, 2009 3:02PM

Senior Bowl practice report, Day 1

By Tony Pauline, Special to SI.com, TFYDraft.com

The 2009 Senior Bowl kicked off in earnest Monday morning, as 104 players weighed in for NFL scouts and then participated in practice. Several high-profile players are taking part in this year's event -- one of the most important weeks of scouting leading up to April's NFL Draft. And a number of those well-known names started the week slowly. Here are the players who helped themselves during the Senior Bowl's first day and those who did not fare as well:

Risers

BJ Raji/DT/Boston College: The Eagles' massive interior lineman was almost unblockable throughout the day in the North's practice. Raji displayed a very quick first step off the snap, which gave offensive linemen fits. He made it harder on his opponents by swatting blockers to the ground as they were left wondering how he got by them so easily.

Shawn Nelson/TE/Southern Mississippi: Nelson looked formidable during weigh-ins this morning, then took his athletic frame onto the field and impressed scouts. He's fluid moving around the field and fast -- very fast. Nelson was constantly beating opponents in the secondary and made a number of good plays in the secondary.

Cullen Harper/QB/Clemson: The Tigers quarterback was much maligned during the season and at one point was benched for poor play. On Monday, he showed the reason why scouts were so high on him coming into the season. Harper displayed poise, threw with accuracy and made good decisions in the pocket. He tossed several nice deep passes, connecting with USC's Patrick Turner for a long gainer of 40 yards in one instance.

Darius Butler/CB/Connecticut: Butler stood head and shoulders above all other cornerbacks from the North squad in Day 1. The former Husky was very smooth in coverage and used his athleticism and size to deny opponents a chance at the ball. None of the North wide receivers was able to shake Butler throughout the entire practice.

Rashad Jennings/RB/Liberty: Jennings is the top small school player in Mobile this week and proved as much in Day 1. His 234-pound frame looked impressive this morning during weigh-ins, then Jennings looked athletic and fast on the field at practice. He has a burst through the hole and looks frighteningly powerful running in the open field. Jennings also caught the ball well and stood out in blocking drills.

Mike Thomas/WR/Arizona: Scouts compare Thomas to All-Pro Steve Smith in style and the Arizona senior was one of the top receivers on the field on Monday. He ran crisp pass routes and had cornerbacks twisting in the wind in their attempt to stay with him on the field. Thomas also displayed solid hand and natural pass catching skills. His size (5-foot-8) will discourage teams from using an early selection on Thomas, but he proved today he can play with the best.

Ashlee Palmer/LB/Mississippi: Palmer was a bit of a surprise invitation to the Senior Bowl yet proved Monday he is worthy of a spot in the event. Palmer practiced with a lot of explosion, quickness and strength. He also aggressively chased the action and worked hard in every single aspect.

Sliders

Rey Maualuga/LB/USC: Maualuga looked rusty today, both physically and mentally. He's not in the best of shape and was very hesitant to make decisions on the field. Maualuga seemed to get his bearings as the day proceeded, but his play was not reminiscent of a potential top-five pick.

Pat White/QB/West Virginia: Scouts wanted to give White a chance to prove he can play quarterback at the next level, but the early returns have not been positive. White struggled throwing the ball. White was not accurate, could not drive deep passes even though he was throwing with the wind; and at this point, he looks like a college signal caller who may be better off at a different position in the NFL.

Graham Harrell/QB/Texas Tech: Harrell displayed good mechanics in Day 1 lining up under center after taking most of his snaps in college out of the shotgun. He was also relatively accurate. The problem for Harrell is poor arm strength as his passes had relatively no zip and he was unable to drive deep passes.

William Moore/S/Missouri: Moore has been labeled as a run defending safety with poor coverage skills and did nothing to shake that reputation on Monday. He struggled moving laterally and at one point was left lying on the ground after attempting to cover a receiver from the North squad.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g8YG6COkIv7NeDLf27nw71Opn4uwD95P7FLO0Lucky leads East to 24-19 win in Shrine

By CHRIS DUNCAN

HOUSTON (AP) — Marlon Lucky rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown and the East defense stopped the West three times inside the 10-yard line to secure a 24-19 win in the East-West Shrine Game on Saturday.

Javarris Williams and Tyrell Sutton had touchdown runs for the East. Tom Brandstater and Stephen McGee threw touchdown passes for the West.

Brandstater threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Mike Thomas with 8:11 left in the third quarter to cut the East lead to 17-13. Early in the drive, Brandstater converted a third down with a 28-yard pass to tight end Bear Pascoe, his Fresno State teammate.

The East was aided by a pass interference penalty on its next series and backup quarterback Brian Hoyer threw a 20-yard pass to Penn State's Deon Butler to set up first-and-goal. Sutton, who played at Northwestern, finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.

McGee, who missed most of his last season at Texas A&M with a sprained shoulder, threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jarett Dillard with 14:07 left in the game. Dillard finished his career at nearby Rice with an NCAA record 60 touchdown receptions. He dropped a pass from McGee on the 2-point conversion try.

Central Washington quarterback Mike Reilly replaced McGee for the West's final drive and moved his team inside the 10. Under a heavy pass rush on fourth down, Reilly's last-ditch pass to Marko Mitchell sailed out of bounds with 1:55 left.

The East won for the first time since 2005 and set the tone with an early goal-line stand.

Gartrell Johnson, Colorado State's leading rusher the past three seasons, broke a 39-yard run on the West's first possession and a 12-yard pass from Brandstater to Thomas set up first-and-goal.

But West fullback Jorvorskie Lane, who set a Texas A&M record with 49 career rushing touchdowns, was stopped three times inside the 5-yard line and the East took over at its own 1.

Hoyer replaced East starter Chase Daniel late in the first quarter. He eluded West defensive end Michael Bennett and threw a 27-yard pass to Butler before Lucky scored on a 7-yard run.

David Buehler kicked a 49-yard field goal for the West to make it 7-3 with 7:52 remaining in the half.

Louisville's Hunter Cantwell replaced Hoyer on the East's next series and completed a 22-yard pass to Butler. Lucky ran 47 yards on the next play to set up Williams' 3-yard touchdown run.

East cornerback Morgan Trent, from Michigan, then intercepted a pass by Reilly and returned it to the West 18. Lucky had another long run, but the East settled for Graham Gano's 24-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 17-3.

Brandstater returned for the West's final drive of the half and threw a 30-yard pass to Boise State star Ian Johnson to the 3-yard line. But the East defense held again and Buehler kicked a 21-yard field goal on the last play of the first half.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nfldraftbible.com/Newsflash/east_west_shrine_game_practice_report_part4.htmlAl l Star: East-West Shrine Game Report IV
Written by Next Level Scouting
Saturday, 17 January 2009 21:19

HOUSTON – Practices drew to a close late this week as the East and West teams got down to the business at hand: preparing for today's Shrine Game at Robertson Stadium on the University of Houston.

More special teams, two-minute drills and even a few gadget plays were par for the course. The energy level was high as players seemed anxious to finally hit someone on the other roster.

Friday's schedule consisted of a one-hour walk-through for both teams followed by the annual banquet. The featured guest was Shrine Game Hall of Fame inductee Doug Williams, the former Grambling State quarterback who won the Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins.

Here are some prospects I have yet to update and a couple of others who have given me more information after Thursday's workouts:

EAST ROSTER

–Northeastern TE Brian Mandeville: Has done a good job catching the ball. Has been able to get a clean release most of the time and made several athletic catches. A little stiff as a runner as I do not think he always plays to his 40 times. Has room to get bigger, especially in the upper body. Did a better job than expected when called on to block but was thrown to the side by West Virginia linebacker Mortty Ivy on a run play during team drills.

–Kentucky LB Johnny Williams: Has looked good as a late addition to the roster. Moves well for his size, gets good depth on his drops and shows the type of hustle that could earn a roster spot this summer as a back-up outside linebacker and special teams player. Several teammates have noted that he's one of the hardest workers here and someone they've grown to respect in a short period of time.

–Georgia LB Dannell Ellerbe: Has not been the active playmaker he was on game film as a junior. Does have the ability to play multiple spots in the pros but now seems more of a late-round prospect than a second- or third-rounder as previously thought. Waiting to see that spark that was missing most of his senior campaign. In the right system, he could still develop into a starting linebacker at the NFL level.

–Cincinnati DB Brandon Underwood: Has shown the raw tools to be considered in first 3-4 rounds along with his two senior teammates, who will be playing in next week's Senior Bowl. Nice size, long arms and has broken up several passes. The Ohio State transfer says he will run in the 4.4 range but seems to take a little longer to reach full speed than some of the similar size defenders in this game.

–Rutgers S Courtney Greene: Has good natural size and runs pretty well, but he lacks ideal instincts and has not shown great ball skills during practices. He has been right there on several plays and allowed the receiver to make the catch. Shows good range and has tried to come up on a few plays to lay a big lick, but his timing is not always on the mark.

–Florida State K/P Graham Gano: Shows a nice leg in practice, hitting on most of his field goals. Has turned over some of his punts during his warm up action and seems like he could be a reliable guy if asked to do both chores at the NFL level. Looking forward to judge his kickoffs during the game and the hang times on his punts.

WEST ROSTER

-Fresno State QB Tom Brandstater: Flashed the type of arm strength that teams desire in a pocket passer. Threw some good deep balls when he got his feet set under him. Can still be erratic at times with his accuracy, and I do not think he has the best natural intangibles of the QBs in this game. But he does have enough tools.

–Texas A&M QB Stephen McGee: Had a very good week and now has scouts talking about watching film from sophomore and junior seasons. Has a live arm, is active in the pocket, made good reads and showed the ability to run with the ball if he has to pull it down.

–Colorado State RB Gartrell Johnson: While some have criticized his lack of game-breaking speed, I've noticed that he runs with the same speed, desire and toughness on most of his carries. May not break too many long runs in the NFL, but if he carries the ball more than 15-20 times, he will start to wear on opponents. I like him as a change-of-pace type back for an offense like the Houston Texans; pairing him with a slasher-type guy like Steve Slaton would give them a nicely balanced running attack.

–California LB Anthony Felder: Received far less media attention than either of his former college teammates the past two years, but he looked good in space. Gets good depth on his drops and made a number of plays on film this season considering his two teammates are also in college all-star games.

–USC LB Kaluka Maiava: Related to former WWE wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Has very good speed, shows good strength against the run and was able to get out and make plays during the week. Rarely stays blocked and was very active. Sees the play quickly and takes proper angles to the ball.

–Hawaii CB Ryan Mouton: A little shorter than ideal, so some evaluators might write him off as a nickel or dime defender at the next level. He's a fluid runner with good hips and has been able to turn and run with all of the West receivers. Will also be a solid contributor on special teams; can return kickoffs and punts. Says he will run in the 4.3 range in the 40-yard dash.

–USC CB Cary Harris: Will not play in the game because of a minor hamstring injury he sustained earlier this week. He's the second Trojans defender to opt out after an injury, joining safety Kevin Ellison. Did a very good job in practices, and several noted that he was one of the better senior defenders on the west coast. His 40 times at the NFL Combine will be important to his progress up the charts.

GAME DAY PREVIEW

The game is probably more important to the players than to NFL scouts and evaluators, most of whom are already gone. However, there is a short list of players on each roster who either need to continue their solid play from practice or change the minds of scouts by coming up big today. Among them:

East: Tennessee State RB Javarris Williams, South Carolina OT Jamon Meredith, South Florida WR Taurus Johnson, Norfolk State CB Don Carey and Memphis DL Clinton McDonald.

West: Texas A&M QB Stephen McGee, Boise State RB Ian Johnson, Rice WR Jarett Dillard, San Jose State DL Jarron Gilbert and Texas CB Ryan Palmer.

WHAT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL POST IS HEARING…

* Area scouts from the south and west were mixed in their evaluations of the two star quarterbacks to enter the NFL Draft this week, but they agreed that the Detroit Lions will face a tough decision picking between Georgia's Matthew Stafford and USC's Mark Sanchez. They could also look at offensive tackle with the No. 1 pick, then take a quarterback later in round one with the choice they have from the Dallas Cowboys.

* Kentucky defensive tackle Myron Pryor replaced Stillman (Ala.) defensive lineman Sammie Lee Hill in the game after Hill suffered a minor hamstring injury. Pryor's spot in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Challenge has been accepted by Shaw University defensive tackle Louis Ellis, a former Mississippi State recruit who has a chance to impress in two weeks at El Paso.

* Maryland outside linebacker Moise Fokou has been invited to the Senior Bowl, so his spot in the Texas vs. the Nation Challenge has been accepted by Notre Dame linebacker Maurice Crum.

*Arizona wide receiver/return man Mike Thomas was added to the Senior Bowl roster, according to a source.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nfldraftbible.com/PRO-DAY-RESULTS/2009_cactus_bowl_recap.htmlAll Star Update: 2009 Cactus Bowl Recap
Written by NFL Draft Bible
Monday, 12 January 2009 01:03

INGSVILLE, Texas — Nebraska-Omaha LB Jeff Souder was named Defensive Most Valuable Player and two other MIAA seniors scored touchdowns as their West squad snapped a three-game losing skid in the Valero Cactus Bowl Division II All-Star Football Game with a 28-27 decision over the East team Friday night (Jan. 9) at Javelina Stadium.

Souder, a first-team All-MIAA performer in ‘08, earned postgame honors after making a team-high seven tackles (three solos) and breaking up one pass.

Pittsburg State WR Marques Nelson and UNO TE/QB Zack Miller each caught go-ahead touchdown passes for the West team.

Nelson connected with the game’s Offensive MVP, QB Craig Null of West Texas A&M, on a 38-yard scoring play with 8:54 left in the second quarter to make it 14-13. The West squad took over at the East 38 following a 26-yard punt by Nick Krut of East Stroudsburg (Pa.).

Nelson finished with three receptions for 56 yards.

Miller and Minnesota-Duluth QB Ted Schlafke got together for a 14-yard TD pass with 8:18 left in the third period to put the West on top, 21-16.

Miller, who earned second-team All-MIAA recognition as a quarterback, had five receptions for a team-high 116 yards in the game. Pitt State RB Caleb Farabi had three carries on the scoring drive for 18 of its 48 yards — he finished with nine carries for a team-high 53 yards.

Null put the West squad up to stay with 4:20 remaining in the game with his third touchdown pass of the game, a 2-yarder to Winona (Minn.) State TE Todd Burkoth, making it 28-25. Null was 19-of-27 passing for 240 yards and no interceptions.

The West conceded a safety with 1:41 left rather than punt from its end zone for the final margin.

Windy conditions, which led to the decision to concede the safety late in the game, didn’t help Missouri Western P Jamie Hanson on his only punt of the evening. He had a 32-yard boot into the wind during the first quarter, but also logged a 50-yard free kick after the safety.

UNO RB Brian McNeill finished with 33 rushing yards on five carries, while Miller rushed three times for 10 yards. Souder also was credited with one carry for no yards.

On defense, Truman DL Les Hammers made five stops (one solo, one for loss of 3 yards) and logged a quarterback hurry. Central Missouri DL John Wood recorded one tackle.

Farabi, Wood and Northwest Missouri State OG Tom Pestock drew starting assignment for the West. Northwest OL Reid Kirby also saw action in the game.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nfldraftbible.com/Newsflash/senior_bowl_report_day_one.htmlAll Star: Senior Bowl Report - Day 1
Written by John Murphy
Tuesday, 20 January 2009 20:35

Mobile, AL – A total of 104 senior prospects started the process of impressing the NFL scouts, coaches and front office staff that has traveled to Alabama following a week of doing evaluations in Houston, Texas at the East-West Shrine Game.

A host of star names failed to depart their current training facilities, so the group features a handful of possible first round picks, but mainly 2nd to 4th round choices following this year’s group of underclassmen entering the draft.

I headed over to the North practice site on Monday afternoon as both teams spent 90 minutes on the field at the same time, which will not happen the next two days. I had two evaluators, one a former NFL scout, in attendance for the South practice, which is reflected in the proceeding report.

Tuesday and Wednesday’s workouts will feature two-hour workouts in full pads, so the 1-on-1 sessions and team drills will provide some lively action and big hits.

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS:

Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew… stood out as a clear cut above the other tight ends thanks to his natural size and than today showing he can get open down-field and be a solid blocker at the point of attack. Has good, but not great straight-line speed; still carries a mid-to-late first round grade at the moment.

- Sam Houston State quarterback Rhett Bomar… had the most “Live” arm of the three North QB’s; Graham Harrell (Texas Tech) and Nathan Brown (Central Arkansas). He had the most velocity on his out routes and the windy conditions had little or no effect on his ball. Well-built has a sturdy frame and among this group his physical traits have a real chance to shine.

- San Jose State cornerback Coye Francies… passed the eye-test during the morning weigh-in. Shows fluid hips and very good make-up speed, closing on the ball several times. His excellent size and footwork helped make him someone scouts were talking about at the South practice.

- Iowa defensive tackle Mitch King… won most of his 1-on-1’s thanks to impressive quickness and use of his hands. Did not stay blocked too often during the first practice. Quick to see and read the play, very good penetrating his gap off the snap, but lacks ideal size to play every-down inside.

- USC linebacker Brian Cushing… made a very good impression during the morning weigh-in; he’s a solidly built 6’3”, 245 pound ‘backer. Can look a little stiff at times, struggles to get proper depth on drops, needs to turn and run sometimes rather than being fluid enough to just adapt on the move. Looks best attacking the line of scrimmage and making plays in front of him.

- Cal-Poly wide receiver Ramses Barden… great natural size, long, lean frame and did not appear to be 227 pounds as he did not have much fat on his body. Not a natural route runner. Had some trouble adjusting to similar level of competition in terms of ability, caught some balls against his body. Will still do well on jump balls or vertical routes, but he had some issues gathering himself and accelerating in-and-out of his cuts.

Purdue running back Kory Sheets… showed good hands out of the backfield and opened some eyes with his burst in the open field. Had good vision as a runner and several scouts noted he could be a very good all-purpose type back at the NFL level.

SECOND LOOK:

- Cincinnati defensive end Connor Barwin… he was given jersey #82 and practiced the entire afternoon at tight end after spending his senior campaign on the defensive side of he ball. Following practice he said that a lot of teams wanted to watch him practice at tight end, but that he could still take reps at defensive end or even play both ways in the game itself.

- West Virginia quarterback Pat White… struggled throwing the ball, handling the windy conditions and then when he did throw a good ball it was dropped by one of his receivers. Not sure if he was not use to the NFL football or it was just a bad day at the office, but at Tuesday’s practice it will be huge for him to rebound before scouts think about seeing him at wide receiver.

WHAT WE’RE HEARING:

* A quick poll of those watching the afternoon practice session at Ladd-Peebles Stadium revealed that most believe Mike Singletary (49ers), Rex Ryan (Jets) and Raheem Morris (Buccaneers) will have the most success as first-year head coaches next season.

* An assortment of underclassmen and even some of the seniors that opted to pass on playing in the actual Senior Bowl game are expected to arrive on Tuesday and be around the practices and team hotel in order to attract the attention of NFL scouts and coaches.

* According to several sources the annual Monday night welcome cocktail party was far less attended than in years past. It also seems like although Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Miami Dolphins executive VP of Football Operations Bill Parcells were in attendance Monday morning that the total number of decision-makers currently in Mobile is also down a significant amount.

* The wheeling-and-dealing among current staff members, both coaches and scouts, that have seen major adjustments in their head coach or front office was obvious during the weigh-in process and shortly there after as those wearing Chiefs, Browns, Buccaneers and Lions gear were all concentrating on making contact with friends throughout the room after taking care of the initial business at hand; charting the height, weight arm and hand of the 104 senior prospects.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nfldraftbible.com/Newsflash/senior_bowl_report_day_two.htmlAll Star: Senior Bowl Report - Day 2
Written by John Murphy
Tuesday, 20 January 2009 20:36

DAY TWO NOTES FROM BOTH PRACTICES:

* Liberty U./Pittsburgh running back Rashad Jennings… impressed everyone during the weigh-in; solidly built upper-body and carries 235 pounds very well. Shows an extra burst in the open field. Coachable kid that listens to his position coach and then responds by improving portions of his game. Made a cut and move in the open field that kept the defender off-balance, but for his size he plays as fast as some of the smaller RB’s on the roster. Should he run in the 4.4 range at the Combine he could easily move his way into being the highest draft senior RB in this class.

* Oregon running back Jeremiah Johnson… is shorter than ideal, but well-developed and looks like he could add ten pounds to his frame. Has shown good acceleration, took the ball on an off-tackle to the right side and was able to hit the corner and propel himself down the sideline during team drills. Running hard both days and has given team’s something to think about in terms of his ability to be an every-down back.

* Oklahoma offensive tackle Phil Loadholt… has played both left and right tackle during the first two practices. Has played on the left side in college, but many NFL scouts see him as being just a right tackle prospect for the next level. He does a good job when he locks onto defenders, but struggles with quicker, more athletic pass rushers on the left side. Gets way to erect off the snap, gives up too much of his big frame and than does not have the ability to re-direct if he misses on his initial punch. Carries more of a fourth-round grade as of today, but if the run on OT’s starts as early as expected than it could impact his final grade in a positive way.

* Southern Miss tight end Shawn Nelson… has really gained the attention of everyone watching the tight end position. He is smooth in his routes, catching most balls with his hands and then accelerating well in the open field. Appears to be about 4.6 40-time and then has done much better than expected in terms of his in-line blocking. Was able to block USC linebacker Ray Maualuga to a standstill during pass rush drill. Still needs to get bigger/stronger in the upper-body, but the effort and production has been there throughout both practices.

* Connecticut offensive tackle William Beatty… this is my guy long-term at the tackle position. He can play left tackle at the NFL level, brings a very good combination of natural size, foot work and athleticism. Has room to grow, will over-extend at times and also not create as much force as desired with his initial punch, but he can slide and mirror with any defender on the North roster, including Larry English and Cody Brown. Just moves so well and effortlessly for a 290-pound blocker. Has the frame to one-day weigh in at 315-320 pounds. Over the course of his career I could see Beatty earning just as many trips to Hawaii as guys like Jason Smith, Michael Oher and Andre Smith, and with the added benefit that you would not have expend a high first round choice to choose him.

* Cincinnati defensive end/tight end Connor Barwin... practiced again at tight end, but did see a few late practice reps at defensive end. He will play defensive end for the most part on Wednesday. He also stands a great chance of setting a record on Saturday as he can become the first player in the history of the 60-year contest to play on both sides of the ball during the actual Senior Bowl game.

* Northern Illinois defensive end Larry English… thickly built natural pass rusher that continues to flash that all important quickness off the ball while also getting scouts talking about where he fits best at the NFL level. One key evaluator said that he would play OLB in a 3-4, but another countered with the idea that he should remain at defensive end like Alex Brown (Bears) or Robert Mathis (Colts).

* Ole Miss linebacker Ashlee Palmer… while a lot of the media and internet scouts have said this kid was added to the roster because he’s an SEC defender the NFL scouts know for a fact that this kid could be one of the best all-around athletes on the South defensive roster. Runs as well as some safeties, gets a very good break on the ball and attacks the line of scrimmage on run plays. Little under-sized for certain schemes, but he can make big-plays and should standout in the game itself.

* Tennessee defensive end Robert Ayers… his grade has skyrocketed since the start of his senior campaign and the past two days have done nothing to stop that progress. He is strong at the point of attack, relentless in his pursuit of the football and has flashed good pass rush moves, as well. Has done very well in his 1-on-1 match-ups. He could turn out to be one of the best strong-side 4-3 defensive ends in this draft and a solid second round choice.

* Georgia defensive tackle Corey Irvin… does not impress with his body type, but he has a very good motor, physical and looks to finish the play. Did so both during 1-on-1’s and in team drills. Nearly killed one of his own QB’s by running over them in team drills and has gotten the better of most interior defenders on run plays. Has only one real year of game film for scouts to observe, so that could keep him from jumping into the first few rounds.

* USC defensive lineman Kyle Moore… the most under-rated of the Trojans’ prospects in attendance this week. He can play several positions, but will likely be drafted as a defensive end by a team using a 3-4 scheme. It is hard to find quality 5-technique DE’s that has the length, bulk/size and then talent to actually make plays. He can add 10-15 pounds to his frame over time and become a starting caliber player in the right scheme.

* USC outside linebacker Clay Matthews, Jr… more unsung and under-rated but either way he is making a name for himself in-spite of being a future second-generation NFL player. Has done very well as a pass rusher and just plays with great intensity on every rep. Very good strength; does not stay blocked and has hustled to the ball on each down. Could also be used as a stand-up DE depending upon the scheme.

* Mississippi State defensive back Derek Pegues… have liked his play style, getting aggressive with receivers and showing the ability to stick with nearly all of them during 1-on-1 drills. Fluid hips and likes to come up and get involved versus the run. Certain teams view him at cornerback and others free safety. Can also provide a dangerous return man to the team that selects him.

* West Virginia kicker/punter Patrick McAfee… has a huge and naturally powerful leg, able to really boom both his punts and kickoffs. Accurate on field goals, but the ability to handle all of the kicking duties for a team may allow him to now sneak into the back end of the draft.

WHAT WE’RE HEARING:

* Purdue defensive lineman Alex Magee was in uniform and practicing today, although he was not on the initial roster and did not weigh-in with the rest of the game’s prospects on Monday morning.

* Utah sophomore defensive end Paul Kruger, BYU junior wide receiver Austin Collie and Southern Mississippi were not listed on the list of underclassmen that declared for the NFL Draft because they have already completed their fifth year of eligibility. Collie and Kruger both did a Mormon mission while Gerald McRath missed a season due to an injury.

* Tuskegee senior defensive back Derek Douglas has spent the past two days watching the practices from the sidelines and handing out his bio and highlight DVD to scouts. Thus far he’s been able to meet up with evaluators from 14-16 teams and has contacted Auburn University about working out at their Pro Day.

* Questions are now surrounding what issue or issues might have come up last week in regards to Wisconsin offensive guard Andy Kemp. Kemp weighed in at the East-West Shrine Game only to leave shortly there after when it was announced and shared with all in attendance that he had been invited to the Senior Bowl. He was never listed on the roster here in Mobile and when questioned the game staff and even a former teammate denied that he was ever suppose to attend this week’s game. The speculation is that he either failed his physical or had some type of personal issue arise last week in Houston.

* A total of eight offensive tackles were taken in the first-round of last year’s NFL Draft, according to several evaluators on-hand they expect that number to potentially be lower (4-5) in round one, but the Top-4 tackles could come off the board before the first 15 picks are made.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nfldraftbible.com/Newsflash/east_west_shrine_game_practice_day_1.htmlEast-West Shrine Game: Practice Day 1
Written by John Murphy
Tuesday, 13 January 2009 11:29

Houston, TX – The “Meat Market” portion of the all-star game circuit kicked off this morning shortly after 9:00 AM as players from both teams had their arm, hand, height and weight measured and recorded as a full room of scouts and evaluators from the NFL and CFL received their first true look at the prospects body types.

“You look for body types… can a player add weight… how are the proportionate for the position they play and then you can even make note of some scars or possible past surgeries to review later on the players bio sheet”, explained one evaluator when asked about what he was looking for this morning.

Near perfect weather conditions greeted the East team, who practiced first as Bobby Ross, a former NFL and college head coach, led his squad through a fast paced two-plus hour practice session.

Here’s what I gathered from an initial look at the East Roster:

- Michigan State QB Brian Hoyer… throws a very catchable ball, has a bad habit of patting the ball prior to his release, but has a good release and shows good leadership skills in the huddle.

- Louisville QB Hunter Cantwell… looked too hesitant to make mistakes today and held the ball for an eternity on several plays. He looks skinny for his size and just had a few issues with both the plays. Maybe playing in a new scheme for the first time with the pressure of all the scouts watching too.

- Clemson WR Aaron Kelly… showed very consistent hands, was open on most of his routes during 7-on-7 and even team drills and uses his size (6’5”) to his advantage when the ball is in the air.

- Tennessee State RB Javarris Williams… has good drive in his legs, keeps moving upon initial contact and showed a decent burst on a few good runs.

- Iowa OG Seth Olson… handled his opponent effectively during most of his one-on-one’s, including a few times where he stoned or drove the defensive lineman right back off the snap.

- Kent State OT Augustus Parrish… had good footwork during one-on-one’s, he was active on his feet and did not over-extend. Parrish was better today than on most of his senior tapes, but during team and run plays he lacked strength at the point of attack and took a step back into the middle rounds based on his overall performance.

- Memphis DT Clinton McDonald… very quick off the ball, shed initial blockers in most of his one-on-one reps, made good use of his hands and stood out among DT’s.

- South Carolina ILB Jasper Brinkley… at first look, he seems a little stiff and upright running to the ball, but he shows good feet, balance and explodes well both when he plants his foot and comes forward and when getting to the ball carrier.

- Stillman (AL) DT Sammie Lee Hill… very good natural size, wide-body frame, flashed some quickness off the snap, had a nice spin move that would have led to a sack if it was a live drill, but later had a slight limp to his step due to a slightly strained left hamstring.

- Wisconsin DE Matt Shaughnessy… showed a good first step off the ball, liked his burst to the ball and showed a few moves during one-on-one drills that gave Ohio State OT Alex Boone some problems, was the most refined of the outside pass rushers in this group.

- Iowa CB Bradley Fletcher… has the best size of the CB’s on his side and he used it today as he had a few good plays, including an interception during the 7-on-7 portion of the workout. Area scouts already knew he ran 4.4’s in the spring, so a big week here could push him towards being a 3rd-4th round choice.

Over on the West side, the stoic former Alabama, Texas A&M and NFL head coach Gene Stallings marched his team right on time and had a strong tempo to their late afternoon practice session.

First look at West side prospects:

- Central Washington QB Mike Reilly… his ball was a little inconsistent today, seemed like he might have been pressing a bit during his first chance to impress the large contingent of NFL evaluators, gripping the ball too tightly can lead to some misfires, but during warm-ups and individual drills I liked his foot work and he’s athletic for his size.

- Colorado State RB Gatrell Johnson… showed up trim and down 10-12 pounds from the start of his senior campaign. He ran hard during team drills and showed some of the same burst and hustle that now has him rated among the Top-5 senior backs on many boards, but he needs to work hard on his pass routes and developing more quickness/agility to his game.

- Texas A&M FB Jorvorskie Lane… made a pair of one-handed catches during his first practice. He needs to do everything at full-speed in order to impress. Something is missing from his all-around game and I'm not sure he’s only 275 pounds as listed; would seem higher to me in-or-out of pads.

- Rice WR Jarett Dillard… caught the ball very well, went up and grabbed it away from defenders and was not shy from contact on inside routes; has a chance to improve his standing among this group of receivers as he is still more quick-than-fast, but is so sure-handed as anything near him was caught today.

- Houston OT Sebastian Vollmer… rotated between left and right tackle, under-rated, homegrown talent who is still very new and raw to football; born in Kaarst, Germany, long, he has a lean frame and could be a nice developmental type tackle for a team that employs a zone blocking scheme.

- Texas DT Roy Miller… short, stout interior defender that makes his money by having a strong motor, he keeps fight opposing blockers, but has limited pass rush moves, needs to play with leverage and use his low pad level to drive the pocket back; nice situational guy for a team that rotates their DT’s.

- Western Illinois LB Jason Williams… certainly passes the eye-test with flying colors with a well-defined upper-body. Is a little tight in the hips when dropping back into coverage, but he flies to the ball and shows an extra burst of closing speed in the open field.

- USC cornerback Cary Harris… really was excited to see him up-close as he played as well as any senior cornerback this season on tape. He has good size, can match-up with most of the smaller receivers here at the game, keeps his feet active and is not caught flat-footed on shorter routes. Harris drives well on the ball but need to get a better judgment of his make-up speed when the ball is in the air.

- USC safety Kevin Ellison… did not show any ill effects from late season injuries and has very good natural size. Some scouts indicated that his best fit might come as a 4-3 WLB. All-Star game practices are the worst thing possible for guys like Ellison who is better playing in the box and given short area pass coverage responsibility, but you still see his intensity and willingness to be physical. The game itself will be a better evaluation of his talents.

- USC kicker David Buehler… is a big, athletic kid for a kicker. He kicked field goals at the end of practice when everyone’s attention was free, but on his own he was warming up and kicking off on a side field; his leg strength on kickoffs alone will earn him a shot to make someone’s team as a rookie as he can knock it through the end zone with regularity.

Overall, most scouts initial reaction was that the West side might have more talent player-for-player, but it’s early in the week and the next two days of practices will really tell the tale of the tape here in Houston.

SIDELINE SCUTTLEBUTT:

* The Senior Bowl has invited West Virginia linebacker Mortty Ivy, who will remain in Houston for the remainder of the Shrine Game festivities. They also invited Wisconsin offensive lineman Andy Kemp who weighed in this morning, but has opted to sit out the week and will be replaced by Nebraska offensive lineman Matt Slauson, who will join the action in time for Tuesday morning’s practice.

* Texas offensive guard Cedric Dockery seemed the most surprised of the players in attendance that he had not yet received an invite to the NFL Combine; his brother Derrick is a long-time NFL offensive linemen.

* Several familiar faces were seen along the sidelines during this afternoon’s practice sessions including Houston Texans All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson, Houston Texans cornerback Dunta Robinson, former NFL GM Ron Hill, Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Robaire Smith and roughly 40-50 NFL player representatives.

* Word has it that the Detroit Lions may be contemplating the idea of offering a front office position to former Cleveland Browns GM Phil Savage, who attended all of today’s activities while keeping a low profile and taking judicious notes as if he were still working in his former capacity; his humble beginnings as a scout will now aid his search for a new gig.

* According to several NFL sources over 150 underclassmen have submitted paper work in the hopes of receiving a current draft grade or evaluation of their respective talents. The same sources said that an expected 45-50 junior/red-shirt sophomores could opt into the NFL Draft.

* According to an NFL source Oklahoma red-shirt sophomore defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has opted to return to school for one more season rather than entering this year’s draft.

* According to USC defensive back Josh Pinkard he has filed all the necessary paper work to the NCAA in order to potentially receive a medical hardship year for a past knee injury that would allow him to return to the Trojans next season.

* According to LSU defensive tackle Charles Alexander he has turned down the chance to attend this year’s NFL Combine as he plans to return to the Tigers for a sixth-season of eligibility because of a past knee injury, and the chance to likely replace junior Ricky Jean-Francois in the starting lineup since he has declared his own intentions to leave for the NFL a year early.

* A total of 43 players were drafted out of the 83rd annual East-West Shrine Game.

* According to Shrine Game staffers over 300 credentials were created for NFL coaches, scouts and support staff for this year’s game.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nfldraftbible.com/Newsflash/east_west_shrine_game_practice_report_part2.htmlAl l Star: East West Shrine Game Report II
Written by Next Level Scouting
Friday, 16 January 2009 00:32

HOUSTON – Things got hotter on the field as the temperature dropped and the wind picked up on the second day of practices for the 84th East-West Shrine Game.

Here are my evaluations after watching both squads practice for two hours:

EAST ROSTER

– Missouri QB Chase Daniel: While his size is an obvious drawback, he does make plays when he’s put in his comfort level. Looks very average in the pocket, and his footwork in terms of dropping back makes his arm strength mediocre by NFL standards. But once he gets into shotgun formation, he appears to be the same guy that was a Heisman Trophy candidate the past few years.

– Michigan State QB Brian Hoyer: Had an inconsistent morning practice. Had some trouble finding the right receiver in team drills and did not always do a great job of progressing through his reads. Throws a catchable ball but tends to explain himself or what he thinks he saw on a play rather than listening to what the coaches are saying; that will annoy or turn off NFL QB coaches quickly.

– Louisville QB Hunter Cantwell: Had a better day throwing the ball. Has the best natural size, but too long of a release to be an effective NFL quarterback right now. His mechanics still need some tweaking, but that can be a tedious process since he’s been throwing the same way since high school.

– Penn State WR Deon Butler: Has good hands, shows very good quickness in and out of his routes and has a bit of a burst in the open field. But he’s put a few too many balls on the ground this week for a guy who will have to make his living catching everything thrown his way and create big plays after the catch.

– South Florida WR Taurus Johnson: Did not catch my attention on the first day but started off very well on Tuesday. Caught the ball well several times in traffic and won the majority of his one-on-one match-ups. Still not sure of his straight-line speed, but he showed some suddenness and an ability to make catches in tight coverage.

– South Carolina OL Jamon Meredith: His upside has made area scouts say they want to watch some of his junior tapes in order to get a better read on his ability. He seems relaxed and confident the past two practices, which does not equate to what I saw on most film this season. He’s athletic on the right side, able to set and keep his feet under him and not over-extend in nearly all of his one-on-one match-ups. It’s a deep upper-class of OT’s, but he’s showing a real turnaround here.

– Stillman (Ala.) DT Sammie Lee Hill: A slightly strained left hamstring will sideline him for possibly the rest of the week and the game, although he will remain in Houston with a chance to rehab here. If his injury improves, he may attempt to play in Saturday’s game.

– Kentucky DT Myron Pryor: Will replace Hill on the East roster. He should arrive in time to practice this afternoon. Compact, penetrating interior defender who had a big season for a rejuvenated Wildcats defense. Has one key practice session to impress scouts since most will head home for two days before going to the Senior Bowl.

WEST ROSTER

–Texas A&M QB Stephen McGee: It would not surprise me to see him perform the best of the three quarterbacks in Saturday’s game. Seems to feel more comfortable in a pro-set offense. He is throwing the ball well, making good decisions and is very likeable, according to several teammates I spoke with after the first two practices.

–TCU RB Aaron Brown: Has shown an extra gear that others have lacked so far. Good acceleration once he gets the ball in the open field. Has the best hands/routes of any RB in this game. Does not have great top-end speed in terms of 40 times, but he’s football fast, and come game day is a guy who does not get caught too often from behind.

–Oregon LB/DE Nick Reed: You know one thing from watching this kid — he’s a football player. Forget about Combine numbers or his lack of size; he is just a baller when he suits up. Making a transition to outside linebacker this week. Still learning but always in the mix. He’ll make a roster somewhere and play longer than most of the guys drafted above him, mainly because of his motor and intensity.

–Oregon State CB Brandon Hughes: His size and long arms are what keep me interested in watching more of him. Pretty fluid, but I don’t see that great make-up speed that others in this class will feature. He is a solid cover corner who will have the ability to start at the NFL level.

–USC S Kevin Ellison: A sore knee will sideline him the rest of the week. Initial indications are that there is no new injury, but with the NFL Combine next month, he felt safer taking a step back and rehabbing so he can prepare for his workout. Passing the medical at the Combine will now become more important to his final grade.

–Utah State S/LB De’Von Hall: Will arrive in Houston to replace Ellison. Has very good height/weight/speed numbers, but played out of position at linebacker for the Aggies this past year. He’s just over 6-foot-2, 215 pounds and has run at or above 4.5 in the 40-yard dash.

–New Mexico defensive back Glover Quin: Arrived Tuesday night to replace Texas Tech defensive back Darcel McBath, who tweaked a hamstring injury he first suffered in the Cotton Bowl. Quin is being evaluated as both a CB and FS by NFL scouts but will play mostly free safety over the next two days of practice.

The two teams swapped practice times today with the West team kicking off Day 3. The play of the quarterbacks on Saturday afternoon is likely to affect the outcome of the game more than any other position currently being evaluated.

WHAT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL POST IS HEARING…

– USC head coach Pete Carroll is feverishly working on getting updates from NFL GMs about quarterback Matt Sanchez in the hope it will steer him back to the Trojans for one more season. Carroll is very player-friendly and works hard to make sure his guys do not slide or receive bad information from agents. Many evaluators believe Sanchez could be a top 10-12 pick this year, but another year of maturing and adding weight to his upper body could make the California native a top-5 draft pick in 2010.

– Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio was in attendance for the two practices, watching the majority of the defensive teams’ reps with newly named GM Gene Smith.

– Former Florida State offensive lineman Shannon Boatmen was among the onlookers. He is now 100 percent healthy and is cleared to continue his football career. Having grown up outside Houston, this was a chance for him to speak with scouts and coaches from the NFL and CFL.

– Senior Bowl countdown continues. According to several scouts and agents, you can expect a number of top-rated seniors to continue the trend of sitting out the Mobile, Ala., game and training for the NFL Combine.

– A straw poll among the 200-plus credentialed NFL staff members at yesterday’s practice revealed that most believe this year’s Super Bowl will pit the Baltimore Ravens against the Philadelphia Eagles.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nfldraftbible.com/Newsflash/east_west_shrine_game_report_part3.htmlAll Star: East West Shrine Game Report III
Written by Next Level Scouting
Friday, 16 January 2009 00:35

HOUSTON – Scouts got to see what is often the most crucial day of practice for the 100 or so prospects in attendance here before taking their notes home and breaking down game film to create a final grade on each player in the Shrine Game.

Local or regional scouts who live in the Houston area will remain, along with longtime supporters of the game, then will make their way to Mobile, Ala., on Sunday morning for the Senior Bowl.

Today’s practices will be more game-oriented than scout friendly as players could be down to just shells. There’s likely to be less activity on the field.

I like how the East guys have come together so far, talking and acting as a group that has bonded off the field. And West coach Gene Stallings has taken time to speak directly to many players after a good play, or has offered advice and encouragement after a mistake. That plays well in a short week as the West team will play hard for him on Saturday.

EAST ROSTER

– Louisville QB Hunter Cantwell: Gaining momentum as we get closer to the game. His setup and delivery were better Wednesday, which helped him throw some nice, deep balls. When he drops back and sets up properly, his velocity and accuracy with the ball are much different than what I saw on days Day 1 and 2.

– Marshall WR Darius Passmore: A fleet-footed receiver who has shown good ability during the practices. He can make defenders miss after the catch and also caught kickoffs and punts during the special teams period. His play on tape this season has him riding about a third-round grade on some boards right now.

– South Florida WR Taurus Johnson: Had a solid day catching the ball in one-on-one and team drills. The NFL Combine will be a big decider in terms of how he enters the league; scouts have him at 4.55, while school officials say he will run in the 4.4 range.

– South Carolina OL Jamon Meredith: Really has worked his way back up to potentially being the highest-rated player taken from this year’s Shrine Game. Has stayed in front of nearly all defenders he has faced, winning the majority of his one-on-ones. Would still like to see more of a nasty streak in him. He’s not a great finisher and still plays way too high at times.

– Tennessee OL Ramon Foster: Big, physical blocker who has done a good job on the right side in the first three practices. Has shown good footwork and balance even though he could probably still stand to shed a few more pounds to play tackle. Most area scouts say they plan to seek out his junior tapes to see more.

– Richmond DE Lawrence Sidbury: Has shown a good burst to the ball, gaining separation from blockers and finishing hard during one-on-ones. Has good upper-body strength and plays faster than his supposed 4.8 times in the 40. Productive athlete who could earn a solid third round pick if he has a good Combine workout.

– Michigan DT Terrance Taylor: Has had a rougher week than expected, but, to his credit, has not complained or talked back to a coaching staff that is preaching tough love to the interior defender. He’s built low to the ground but has misfired on a few one-on-ones. While showing some burst and power at the point of attack, he has not been beating his man often enough to be considered in the top two rounds of the draft.

– Iowa CB Bradley Fletcher: Continues to make plays and earn the respect of every receiver he lines up against. “Man you are getting on top of me fast. I didn’t know you were there until the last second and then you knocked the ball out my hands,” said an East receiver running back from a one-on-one matchup.

– Norfolk State CB Don Carey: Has proven to be a solid addition to the game, showing good toughness. Better straight-line speed and much more fluid than I expected after watching his tapes. He was a productive small school defender that now has made a good impression here. If he finishes the week strong, it could put him among the top five cornerbacks to come out of this game.

– LSU S Curtis Taylor: Jumps out at you sometimes during the practice, thanks to his size and the fact he gets a good break on the ball. Big kid who likes to play physical and also has some ball skills. Seems a little underrated right now, but if he runs in the high 4.4’s as he says he will at the NFL Combine, that will change quickly.

– Mississippi State S Kevin Fitzhugh: Brings good energy and intensity to the practice field each day. Likes to jump right into one-on-one, seven-on-seven and team drills; has been knocking guys around since the first day. He knows what he does well and it shows here, but he has some limitations in pass coverage, especially if caught in one-on-one situations or covering over the top.

WEST ROSTER

– Nevada WR Marko Mitchell: His size and length keep you watching, but he’s been too inconsistent with his route running and pass catching. Shows some good acceleration while the ball is in the air but then struggles to adjust to the ball and allows the defender to get into better position to make the catch. Has looked a little tentative; you want to see a bigger receiver be aggressive and go after the ball as if it were his ball.

– Rice WR Jarett Dillard: Continues to catch the ball and make plays. Hard to overlook his slight stature, but he reminds me of Davone Bess or Shaun McDonald (without his top-end speed) as he has the ability to make catches in tight quarters and then slip out of danger and gain extra yardage. If he can produce a surprising 40 time, he could move into mid-round range.

– BYU OG Ray Feinga: Sat out practice with an apparent minor injury. He pointed and winced when asked by a game official what was wrong, but no official announcement was made. According to a member of the team’s offensive line, Feinga will find out today if he can play Saturday.

– Alberta OL Simeon Rottier: One of two Canadian prospects who are annually in the Shrine Game. He was quiet the first day, learning to play on the right side after playing left tackle during his time in the CIS. Has long arms and decent footwork for a young kid from Edmonton with only about five years of football under his belt. Once he shifted over to his natural side, his confidence came out and he did a nice job, especially during team drills. He locked onto Texas A&M defensive end Michael Bennett on a few plays and stayed on him downfield.

– San Jose State DL Jarron Gilbert: Big-framed kid who has shown an improved motor and worked at a very good tempo all week. He’s got scouts heading back to watch more tape of him as he exploded on the scene by consistently creating havoc in the backfield starting about Week 3-4 of his senior campaign. This week was a good starting point, but improving on a suspected 5.3 estimated 40 time from the spring will be what evaluators wait to see at the NFL Combine.

– Texas A&M DE Michael Bennett: Has a very good body type for the NFL. Long arms and can probably add another 10 pounds without sacrificing speed or athleticism, but something is missing at times, which likely will cause him to slip into the later rounds of the draft. He has a good get-off but not enough moves to consistently defeat an opponent. And once he is blocked, he stays blocked. Does not always fight his way back to the play. Had two plays against Alberta OL Simeon Rottier in which he was taken right out of the play and blocked 5-8 yards down field.

– TCU LB Jason Phillips: A good-looking athlete on tape but has looked a little sluggish here at times. Not nearly as explosive to the ball or making big plays as his 4.55 speed might indicate. He is a smaller-framed defender who could get absorbed at the point of attack without having the benefit of two big defensive tackles in front of him. Disappointing is too tough a word because he’s productive on tape, so I’ll wait to see him in the game before making a final judgment.

– Texas CB Ryan Palmer: Shorter than you would like in a cover cornerback, but he’s feisty, keeps himself in the play and has shown very good ball skills. He will get beaten over the top and on an occasional jump ball because of his limited size, but he plays hard, shows better football speed than his 40-time would indicate and should find himself taken off the board between the third and fifth rounds depending on his Combine results.

– Utah State S/LB De’Von Hall: Has plenty of size, which jumps out at you seeing him line up in place of USC’s Kevin Ellison. He is athletic but not always as fluid as you would desire, so it would not surprise me to see some teams think about adding 10-12 pounds to his frame and moving him to WLB. Interesting athlete who has late-round potential.

– Oklahoma State P Matt Fodge: Had a very good day kicking the ball, especially during the dedicated special teams period where scouts saw him boom a few good punts and then angle one inside the five-yard line. The game could provide him another chance to impress since he can also handle kickoffs.

WHAT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL POST IS HEARING…

* Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe will not participate in the upcoming Senior Bowl, according to several sources close to the top-rated senior offensive lineman. Instead, Monroe will continue to train for the NFL Combine with Mike Gough in Florida. He has a much higher grade on most boards than those in attendance at the Shrine Game. Ole Miss’ Michael Oher and Baylor’s Jason Smith would need solid performances in Mobile to be within 10 picks of Monroe when he comes off the board in April.

* Some NFL evaluators noted that several of prospects are being told or sold storylines by agents and others trying to get into the business that do not match up with their actual draft grades. One such prospect they spoke about was Central Washington quarterback Mike Reilly, who one scout noted has spent more time on the Internet writing about his experience than actually showcasing the talent necessary to make a favorable impression.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nfldraftbible.com/Small-School-Spotlight/2009_cactus_bowl_prospect_report.htmlCactus Bowl: Prospect Report & Draft Hopefuls
Written by Josh Buchanan
Saturday, 10 January 2009 01:02

RISERS
TE Zach Miller, Neb.-Omaha - Miller blazed 4.5s on a track surface for scouts at 6'4, 233 pounds and followed that with a great week of practice. His size/speed combo has intrigued teams. Miller also caught 5 balls for 115 yards and a touchdown and has moved onto the draft board.

ILB Dan Skuta, GVSU - Skuta has 3-4 teams excited as he was the best player in the practices all week long. He only had two tackles in the game but his versatility and athletic ability have teams interested in him. A 3-4 team could take him in the late rounds with a solid pro day.

QB Keith Null, West Texas A&M - Null was inconcistent this year but had a great Cactus Bowl with 240 yards and three touchdowns, not to mention no picks. His arm, size, and upside has him on the radar.

CB Gregory Toler, St. Paul's - Toler measured in at 5'11 185 and ran 4.4s on a track surface and then followed that up with 4 tackles a pick, and pass breakup in the game. Don't be surprised to see him garner attention at his pro day and move onto a few team boards.

SLIDERS
OG Louis West, Henderson State- West looked out of shape and was exposed during the practices. Teams have put him as a reject and might have dropped the former late round projection to tryout status.

UPDATED D2 PRO HOPEFULS BOARD

Rank Pos Stock First Name Last Name School Ht Wt 40 Time Combine Rd. Proj.

1 DT same Sammie Lee Hill Stillman 6037 329 5.08/5.25 yes 5th

2 OG same Roger Allen Missouri Western 6031 318 5.39/5.60 yes 5th-6th

3 QB same Michael "Mike" Reilly Central Washington 6026 211 4.78/4.80 yes 5th-6th

4 WR same Johnny Knox Abilene Christian 5115 183 4.44/4.55 yes 6th-7th

5 RB same Anthony "Bernard" Scott Abilene Christian 5104 197 4.49/4.60 no 7th

6 TE same Jared Bronson Central Washington 6041 253 4.67/4.69 no 7th

7 RB same Branden Ore West Liberty State 5110 212 4.48/4.50 no 7th-PFA

8 ILB up Daniel Skuta Grand Valley State 6022 259 4.71/4.72 no 7th-PFA

9 TE up Zachary Miller Nebraska-Omaha 6035 233 4.53/4.57 no 7th-PFA

10 QB up Keith Null West Texas A&M 6031 232 4.95/5.00 no PFA

11 OT same Samuel Allen Grand Valley State 6054 300 5.00/5.06 no PFA

12 WR same Julius Pruitt Ouachita Baptist 6015 210 4.55/4.57 no PFA

13 WR same Charles "Charly" Martin West Texas A&M 6010 205 4.58/4.60 no PFA

14 CB up Gregory Toler St. Paul's 5106 185 4.41/4.46 no PFA

15 QB same Billy Malone Abilene Christian 6022 236 4.98/5.25 no PFA

16 ILB same Terrence Jackson Indiana PA 5105 236 4.79/4.82 no PFA

17 CB same Darren Banks West Liberty State 5087 179 4.66/4.72 no PFA

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/01/senior-bowl-media-night-recap/By Wes Bunting
Posted January 20, 2009
Senior Bowl Media Night Recap

Monday evening marked the Senior Bowl’s Media Night, with every prospect in attendance to enjoy dinner and field questions from reporters. The National Football Post’s Joe Fortenbaugh and I were there to talk to some of the teams’ top prospects. Here is some interesting information we gathered:

Boston College DT B.J. Raji is an intelligent, well-spoken individual who was very relaxed and funny with reporters. He discussed with me the first-day weigh-in and the experience of a being 6-2, 334-pound man asked to parade around in his underwear in front of scouts. Raji also laughed about the push-ups and sit-ups that many of the receivers, corners and running backs did to get that last second “pump” before they walked on stage.

Oklahoma State TE Brandon Pettigrew proclaimed to me that he is “Superman” when discussing his flaws. Pettigrew later talked in detail about striving to get better in every area and came off as a confident and likeable guy.

Speaking of confident individuals, I interviewed a couple of USC linebackers, MLB Rey Maualuga and OLB Brian Cushing. Both men had quite an aura about them. You can tell both of these guys know they have what it takes to succeed at the next level. They were not arrogant or cocky but were very polite and well spoken during their interviews. If I learned anything about them, it was that they both love to compete — that’s why they’re here — and that can’t be emphasized enough.

Cincinnati DE/TE Connor Barwin admitted to me that he’s a better DE then TE but was unable to get an invitation to the game as a DE. However, he wanted to be involved in the action and decided to take the invitation as a TE, a position he hasn’t played in over a year. When I asked who would win if Connor Barwin the tight end were to block Connor Barwin the DE, he laughed and said, “There is no way he could block himself.”

LSU OG Herman Johnson might be the biggest human being I have ever seen. He actually looked straight down at me during the interview. However, Johnson is a soft-spoken kid and seemed to enjoy our talk. He said he’s used to all this attention and that being 6-7 and 380 pounds seems to always draw a crowd. After the interview, I shook his hand, kind of. His hand pretty much went about two inches from touching my elbow.

I also spoke with Penn State WR Derrick Williams, who was the top senior high school player coming out four years ago. He reiterated that the reason he was not as productive as some other receivers here is because of the talent around him at Penn State. He said it was a three-headed monster and it taught him maturity and patience.

I also spoke with Central Arkansas QB Nathan Brown. Not only does his Southern twang soothe the ear, he was also very well spoken and told me he was just thankful do be doing interviews right now. He seems like a guy who can handle himself and the big stage — and that this whole stage isn’t bigger than he is. He talked about Saints QB Drew Brees and how he really looks up to him being of similar size at 6-1. A really impressive young man who will excel during the interview process.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/01/20/senior.bowl.day2/Senior Bowl practice report, Day 2

By Tony Pauline, Special to SI.com, TFYDraft.com

The second day of practice at the Senior Bowl saw an increase in intensity and performance (Day 1 Report). Players are leaving final impressions on NFL decision makers as to their level of skill on the football field. As a result, a number of prospects have cemented better draft grades for themselves heading towards April while others have watched their stock move in the other direction. Here's a look at Tuesday's results.

Risers

Derrick Williams/WR/Penn State: Williams' vaunted athleticism was on display as he established himself as the best receiver on the field. Williams displayed speed, effective route-running skills and reliable hands. He beat defenders for the deep reception or physically beat them down to make the underneath reception. There's no doubt scouts were excited by Williams, who showed signs of pulling it all togher.

Alex Magee/DT/Purdue: Magee was a late arrival to the Senior Bowl after a communications mishap but made up for lost time Tuesday. The Purdue product was impossible to block and consistently got penetration behind the line of scrimmage, beating blockers with quickness as well as power.

Trevor Canfield/OG/Cincinnati: Canfield has a reputation for being a nasty, fierce competitor and he showed why Tuesday. The former Bearcat starter was dominant at the point and handled almost everyone he faced. He's not only strong but also mean; he never let up. More than once he continued to play after the whistle, getting an extra shove in after the play had ended.

Louis Delmas/S/Western Michigan: Delmas has been the best safety on the field and the feisty defender consistently put himself in a position to make plays on the ball all day. He throws his body around the field in an effort to stop ball handlers and delivered a number of blows that made scouts take notice. Delmas was effective in run defense and against the pass.

Coye Francies/CB/San Jose State: Francies is another defensive back whose aggressive play impressed scouts. Francies knocked several defenders to the ground Tuesday with hard hits, which got a loud response from the crowd of approximately 1,000. More importantly he was effective in coverage, displaying top ball skills, which scouts wanted to see.

David Veikune/DE/Hawaii: Veikune has worked hard the past two days and improved his game. The former Warrior was tenacious in run defense and also flew off the edge as a pass rusher. Several of his battles against top-rated left tackle Michael Oher ended up in his favor. In one instance he had the potential first-round pick twisted like a pretzel as Oher failed to protect the quarterback from Veikune's speed.

Peria Jerry/DT/Mississippi: Jerry is standing out to NFL decision makers not only as a football player but also a leader on the field. He has displayed good quickness off the snap and really pushes the pocket as an interior defender. Jerry's ability to shoot gaps and disrupt offenses has been apparent to all at the Senior Bowl.

Alphonso Smith/CB/Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons' corner was yet another defensive back who stood out Tuesday. Smith looked fast, physical and very instinctive all day. He battled against larger receivers and his 5-foot-9-inch frame never backed down. Smith defended a number of passes and played like a starting NFL cornerback.

Sliders

DeAngelo Smith/CB/Cincinnati: Smith possesses the athleticism to play at the next level but was very hesitant and unsure of himself Tuesday. He consistently lost a half step to opponents off the line of scrimmage and gave up several long receptions and an even larger number of underneath routes.

Nathan Brown/QB/Central Arkansas: The small-school passer has struggled so far and done nothing to improve his status in the eyes of NFL decision makers. Brown throws with a three-quarter delivery and the result is poor accuracy and passes that scatter. His inability to throw the deep pass Tuesday resulted in a number of receivers slowing up in their routes and waiting for the ball to arrive.

John Parker Wilson/QB/Alabama: Wilson was another passer who struggled Tuesday. He showed a weak arm and was unable to get speed on passes and under threw a number of receivers who were open down the field. Late in the day Wilson threw a terrible interception into triple coverage.

Herman Johnson/OL/LSU: Johnson has lined up at both his natural position of guard as well as right tackle. His size (6-feet-7, 382 pounds) has not transitioned into the ability to dominate the opposition. Johnson's immobility is obvious to all and at one point he was knocked to the ground due to his inability to move. Much was expected from Johnson this week but he has not responded and his draft stock is plummeting.

[chef]

word is pettigrew has been pretty dominant at blocking and is looking a solid reciever, pretty much showed himself as the clear #1 TE above gresham

[Box_O_Rocks]

word is pettigrew has been pretty dominant at blocking and is looking a solid reciever, pretty much showed himself as the clear #1 TE above greshamSince Gresham stayed in school, Pettigrew is free to out-muscle his competition.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft09/insider/news/story?id=3847744USC linebackers take over on Day 2

By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.

MOBILE, Ala. -- The temperature dipped nearly 20 degrees on Tuesday and swirling winds factored into both practices. It was the first of two days in which both teams will practice in full pads and the intensity level was ratcheted up a few notches as a result.

We have yet to reach the midway point of the 2009 Senior Bowl week, yet players are beginning to separate from the pack in both positive and negative ways. Here's a quick list of some of the early-week standouts from across both rosters:

Biggest risers
1. Boston College DT B.J. Raji
2. Southern Miss TE Shawn Nelson
3. USC linebackers Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews
4. Western Michigan S Louis Delmas
5. California C Alex Mack

Biggest fallers
1. KSU G Herman Johnson
2. Central Arkansas QB Nate Brown
3. Alabama QB John Parker Wilson
4. Oklahoma OT Phil Loadholt
5. Penn State WR/RS Derrick Williams

The South team's second day of practice at the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl was notable for a few reasons, including USC linebackers running wild, a Clemson QB frustrating scouts and an LSU lineman's surprising struggles.

• USC's Brian Cushing is the rare prospect who will fit in any defensive scheme in the NFL. He can play inside or outside in either a 3-4 or 4-3. Very few linebackers have that ability. Where he looked best, though, was over the tight end as a strongside linebacker in the 4-3. His body type, power and aggression lend well to doing battle with opposing tight ends. For a taller linebacker, he gets low and is not a leverage liability. He showed quick hips turning and running with the tight ends. The one area in which he didn't look quite as comfortable was in his read-and-react skills while working in zone coverage. But overall, Cushing's wide skill set drastically reduces his draft-bust factor. If anyone here is a great fit for New England, it's Cushing.

• Cushing's teammate at USC, Clay Matthews, continues to be extremely impressive. He bends very well and always seems to be in proper football position. His change of direction is abrupt yet smooth. As an edge rusher, he did not lose speed bending the corner and got his shoulder low to the ground, making him very difficult to block. His pad level is consistently exceptional and he is an excellent hit-on-the-rise player who makes contact with the same leg and shoulder when taking on blocks. Matthews is very fundamentally sound but also very athletic. He would be an immediate demon on special teams while learning the linebacker position at the NFL level. At this point, it won't surprise us if the USC trio of Cushing, Matthews and Rey Maualuga are all off the board in the first 40 picks.

• Southern Miss TE Shawn Nelson continues to turn heads. He isn't the biggest tight end and this type of forum plays very well to his skill set, but his tools are undeniable. He looks like a Dallas Clark-type prospect who can create a lot of schematic problems for an NFL defense if he ends up with a creative and innovative offensive coordinator at the next level. Nelson is a seam-stretching presence who is capable of plucking the ball outside his frame and presents a big target area for his quarterback. He covers a lot of ground and can run past linebackers in man coverage. More surprising, however, has been Nelson's effectiveness as a blocker -- particularly in pass pro. His lateral agility and ability to recover were on full display during the one-on-one drills. He also was able to drop his hips and handle the bull rush from the linebackers off the edge. Needless to say, Nelson is climbing up NFL draft boards this week.

• There are some things that just make you scratch your head in wonder. Take Clemson QB Cullen Harper's Tuesday performance, for example. Harper displayed great balance in the pocket and the arm strength to make all the throws, including a deep out throw from the opposite hash to Arizona WR Mike Thomas that had plenty of zip and hit Thomas directly on the numbers during one-on-one drills. But Harper then missed wide-open South Carolina WR Kenny McKinley a few throws later. This is the same inconsistency that plagued Harper throughout last season. It is also evident Harper struggles with accuracy when he has to anticipate and throw to a spot. A clear example came during seven-on-seven drills when Harper was late anticipating Thomas on a deep dig route, forcing Thomas to open up and make a circus catch. Harper appears to have the physical tools for the NFL level but it is his mental capacity that has scouts weary at this point.

• Speaking of Thomas, he has taken full advantage of the all-star game circuit, starting with the East-West Shrine game and continuing to add to his solid resume here at the Senior Bowl. Thomas' consistency has caught the attention of scouts. He continues to display excellent quickness off the line of scrimmage that gives him an adequate initial cushion to work with against defenders. He also has been able to create separation with quick and crisp cuts out his stem. His hands have been his most impressive trait, though. He's been able to haul in almost every pass he can get his hands on over the past two weeks. Thomas has a chance to make himself a lot of money coming out of this week if he can sustain his current level through Saturday's game action.

• Another receiver who flashed this afternoon was McKinley. He can be extremely dangerous after the catch and shows good wiggle in open space to leave defenders reaching for air. However, there are concerns about his ability to get open. McKinley is raw with his routes and at times appears to get lazy and rises up coming out of his breaks. This tips off defenders, allowing them a quicker jump on the ball. Scouts have also expressed concerned about the 182-pound McKinley's ability to get off the line against the more physical corners he will face at the NFL level. He w
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[chef]

Since Gresham stayed in school, Pettigrew is free to out-muscle his competition.

shit, i missed that, i thought he was coming out

[Box_O_Rocks]

shit, i missed that, i thought he was coming out
>)


http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/695EC475CBAB7BA28625754500126706?OpenDocumentUSC linebacker Rey Maualuga is a hot commodity
By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/21/2009

MOBILE, Ala. — The suitors lined up near midfield as soon as the South team had broken its huddle to end Tuesday's Senior Bowl practice.

Kansas City, New Orleans, New England and Baltimore all were setting up interviews for that night with Rey Maualuga, star linebacker from the University of Southern California.

"You can have me whenever you want," Maualuga told one scout.

"How 'bout April 25?" the scout replied.

Which would be the first day of the 2009 NFL draft.

There's no doubt Maualuga will be one of the most coveted defensive players in this year's draft. This season's winner of the Bednarik Award as college football's top defensive player, Maualuga was one of the centerpieces of a dominating Trojans defense.

As such, he looks like a sure top 10 pick. And someone who might perfect for a team looking to get bigger and more physical. Like say, the Rams with the No. 2 overall pick. Top-tier draft picks frequently skip the Senior Bowl, but Maualuga apparently has nothing to hide.

"No sir," he told the Post-Dispatch on Tuesday. "This is something that I've been working hard for in my last couple years. To be able to be out here with a group of phenomenal athletes, and share my abilities with everyone else and to compete at the highest level. It's an honor to be here."

Then came the clincher.

"I'm just trying to be discovered," he said.

Discovered?

Make no mistake, every one of the hundreds of NFL scouts and coaches assembled here knows about Maualuga. However, what they're trying to "discover" is whether Maualuga is an every-down linebacker. No one doubts his strength and physical presence.

"He's a kamikaze," said one veteran scout. "He wants to kill people out there. He seems to run well once he gets going. But he may be just a 'triangle' player."

In other words, Maualuga's future in the NFL could be as a run defender at middle linebacker, hitting anything that moves between the tackles but coming out on passing downs.

There are some questions about Maualuga's coverage skills, and that could mean all the difference in the world in terms of his draft value. An every-down linebacker gets taken in the top 10. Someone who comes out in passing situations isn't as valuable.

"I've got a lot to prove (this week)," Maualuga said. "Like I said, I came out here to get discovered and show the coaches that the things I established during the season, I've gotten better at. I'm trying to show them that I'm a complete player."

Sometimes, Maualuga's coverage skills suffer because he over-commits to the run.

"During the season, I had tendencies of trying to make that big play," Maualuga said. "Leaving my feet and trying to make a phenomenal play when coach would say just make the plays you can make. Or don't try to be someone that you're not."

Maualuga has excellent size for a linebacker, even by NFL standards. But some critics wonder if he's so big that his speed suffers.

"People doubted my weight — being overweight," Maualuga said. "I'm Polynesian. I'm Samoan. We've got big bones, and our family, we're known for being big."

Maualuga said he measured in for Senior Bowl week at 6-1½, 254 pounds, after spending most of his senior season playing at 255-260.

"I'm positive about my speed, and I'm positive about myself covering the ground," he said.

As for a legitimate 40 time?

"I would love to surprise some people, so I'll just leave it at that," he said.

Which means, scouts and coaches may have to wait until the NFL scouting combine in February to gauge his speed — if Maualuga chooses to run there. (No timing is done at the Senior Bowl.)

Maualuga is wearing his familiar jersey No. 58 for the South squad, the same number that former USC linebacker (and current Seattle Seahawk) Lofa Tatupu wore for the Trojans. Tatupu also is of Samoan descent.

This week, he's still wearing eye-black under each eye with the word "Dad" on it.

"I wore my dad's eye-black for (almost) every game since I've been at USC," Maualuga said.

His father, a U.S. Army veteran and Pentecostal minister, died of brain cancer at the end of the 2005 season. For Maualuga, wearing that eye-black in Mobile is a sign that he means business at the Senior Bowl.

"Just being out here is a game atmosphere for me," he said.

Especially when you're trying to be discovered.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=509436Senior Bowl Dish: Raji, Robiskie, Ayers impress

Posted: January 21, 2009

MOBILE, ALA. -- Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts provide news, notes and observations from Tuesday's Senior Bowl practices:

NORTH SQUAD

Alex Mack, C, California: He definitely looked the part in uniform with a thick lower body. He showed he is very quick out of his stance to get into blocking position, and gets his hands up and onto a DT quickly. He did a good job overall Tuesday, but was overmatched and driven back by Boston College DT B.J. Raji one time.

Trevor Canfield, G, Cincinnati: Showed very good competitiveness with good motor. Showed good strength holding ground against DT pass rush, but was inconsistently moving feet to adjust to quick spin move.

B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College: Another dominant performance. Basically jolted and shed center to make and disrupt plays against the run. Consistently overpowered offensive linemen when he bull-rushed and was able to pressure QB.

Ron Brace, DT, Boston College: Was able to consistently drive offensive linemen back on bull rush and showed good instincts to find the ball and make and disrupt plays against the run.

Cedric Peerman, RB, Virginia: Showed good hands catching ball and did a good job in pass protection drills. He showed good toughness in taking on linebackers in pass rush drills. Showed toughness running strong on inside runs. Good quickness into and through holes.

Kory Sheets, RB, Purdue: Showed good vision and instincts running with the ball and the foot quickness to make sharp cuts. Struggled holding ground against linebackers in pass protection and was defeated too easily.

Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State: He looked very good blocking Tuesday --dominated linebackers in pass blocking drills. Without question looks like the premier TE prospect at the Senior Bowl.

Nic Harris, LB, Oklahoma: Played high at point of attack Tuesday and has to do a better job of bending knees and playing with base and leverage. Showed loose and fluid hips in drills and was able to flip hips with no problems.

Scott McKillop, LB, Pittsburgh: Looks slow-footed and unathletic. Really looks limited playing in space and will be limited at the next level because of it.

Brooks Foster, WR, North Carolina: He was really good Tuesday. He ran very sharp routes and showed quickness out of his cuts to get a little space. He showed excellent hands, both plucking the high ball out of air and making the tough catch on off-target passes down the field. He used hands well to fight through press and contact and to get a little space when CB was close to him.

Derrick Williams, WR, Penn State: He looked very smooth and fluid in and out of cuts and breaks. He caught the ball very cleanly as receiver, but still struggled fielding punts.

Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State: He had an excellent day Tuesday, the best of any receiver. He ran excellent routes; knows how to set up defenders, uses hands and body well to create space and consistently got open. Very smart receiver who clearly had learned from good coaching. He did an excellent job of catching the ball; made some highlight catches and consistently caught ball with a defender trying to come over his back to break up the pass. He still showed limited explosiveness and speed to get separation from defender.

Victor Harris, CB, Virginia Tech: Really did a bad job of waiting to open up hips and got turned around over and over by receivers, especially Robiskie, who just killed him. From his play Tuesday, he looked like he does not have the quickness, burst or speed to recover well enough to play CB and will need to make the switch to safety for the NFL.

SOUTH SQUAD

Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss: He was slow with his footwork, getting beaten to the outside by edge rushers more than once, although he did better against straight-ahead pass rushers and on run plays.

Fili Moala, DT, USC: Showed good strength jolting and driving offensive guards back onto heels when he bull-rushed. He did a very good job of jerking centers off their feet and to the ground on pass rush.

Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee: Showed very good competitiveness and a high motor. Hustled and chased after plays down the field. Displayed good smarts maintaining outside force and contain responsibility. Showed pass rush skills to lower shoulder and rip through the OT's outside shoulder to get the corner.

Rey Maualuga, MLB, USC: Showed good playing speed and does a good job using hands to take on and shed blocks quickly. Displayed natural instincts and feel for the ball. Was consistently around the ball.

Darry Beckwith, MLB, LSU: Showed good athleticism and speed. Flashed good hand-use to shed blocks. Displayed good tackling ability. Keeps play in front of him and gets man to the ground.

Brian Cushing, OLB, USC: Showed very good athleticism dropping off ball into pass coverage. Flashed top speed running to ball and showed hip snap to explode up and make hard, violent hits.

Arian Foster, RB, Tennessee: Showed good balance keeping feet against the initial hit. Did a good job of pass-blocking LBs. Surprising athleticism and strength to stay on block and eliminate man. Showed good hands catching the ball.

Coye Francies, CB, San Jose State: Showed very good athleticism Tuesday. Very fluid in pedal and showed ability to turn and run without losing a step. He consistently showed a willingness to step up and make hard hits, but will need to improve his tackling technique. He impressed me with his willingness to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage; slowed receiver's release and played physically throughout the route to disrupt timing.

Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest: Looked very smooth and athletic dropping deep in zone and was able to cut inside to make a nice interception. He is fast and very aggressive with his hands, so he can maintain contact with receivers during their routes. His lack of height showed when a receiver made a good catch on a deep pass even though Smith was in a good position to make a play.

Derek Pegues, S, Mississippi State: Did not do anything big to grab attention, but just looked like he was doing everything right on Tuesday. Consistently used good technique and was in the right position.

Domonique Johnson, CB, Jackson State: Very upright in backpedal and was not able to turn and run with receivers; lost a step consistently. Lacks burst and speed to stay with receivers deep.

Quan Cosby, WR, Texas: Did not show the speed to get separation from cornerbacks deep.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2009practice3.php2009 Senior Bowl: Practice Day 2 - Afternoon

By Matt McGuire
Jan. 21, 2009

The afternoon practice had many in attendance, as people were eager to see the South team perform after missing out on them yesterday as they practiced at Fairhope Stadium. Many draftniks I have been talking to were extremely excited to see Michael Oher in 1v1 drills, the USC linebacking corps, and super-sleeper Rashad Jennings. Needless to say, it was a very intense atmosphere on the practice field and I am getting a better read for some prospects I didn't get much film on this football season. The only familiar face in the audience was Redskins head coach Jim Zorn. Let's get right to the practice:

The quarterbacks this afternoon were just absolutely pitiful. How do we get all of these 4- and 5-star prospects from Rivals.com every year, yet finding decent arms is so hard? John Parker Wilson really struggled today with his accuracy and footwork, and he didn't put good touch on the football. Pat White displayed decent accuracy and touch, but his arm strength is pretty minimal and he really struggled in footwork drills. Being left-handed and six-foot even doesn't help. Cullen Harper really looks undraftable at times and his junior season is like that 27-point game you had in middle school basketball. It's fun to talk about, but unfortunately, what have you done for me lately? The answer is nothing. Quarterbacks coach Mike Shula was really dogging him because of his lackadaisical footwork. Harper had to stop the drill three times in a row because he just wasn't focusing. His confidence is completely shot. I kind of feel sorry for him, but scouts sure don't.

I didn't get a chance to see the South team yesterday, so I was very excited to see Michael Oher, whom I interviewed the night before. In fact, my MVP for Tuesday's afternoon practice was Big Mike. He simply made it look easy and he only got beat once from what I saw in 1v1s against Hawaii end David Veikune. Oher was manhandling him for most of the day, displaying phenomenal footwork and hands. At one point, Oher flashed some serious attitude and got nasty, throwing Veikune to the ground as Oher's helmet came off. This received a bunch of cheers from the audience and an NFC East scout to my right raised his eyebrows and seemed very impressed. Veikune then got under Oher on a bull rush and put him on the ground. Next time in 1v1s, Oher countered Veikune and kept his hips low to the ground and displayed great attitude by not getting down on himself. Oher has really stepped up his game this week and displayed a very competitive attitude. I already think he is too good to fall out of the top 10, but he is making a very strong case to be a top-five pick. If he continues to flash that nasty attitude, the NFL scouts are going to have a tough time keeping down on him.

We all know Todd McShay's No. 1 pick last summer was Fili Moala, so I wanted to see how good Todd's top dog was this week. Moala has been pretty inconsistent. At times he flashes real athleticism and quickness, but sometimes on film he's softer than the Pillsbury Doughboy. He stayed low to the ground against Tyrone Green and exploded right past him with a dominant rip move. All in all, I am far from sold because he is just so inconsistent in games. I'll have my eye on him for the rest of the week because he flashed some real potential today.

One of the defensive ends whom I feel is among the most underrated in the country is Robert Ayers, and today he flashed some real talent. He and Troy Kropog battled on more than one occasion. They both had their wins and losses, but Ayers flashed great technique, and one time completely destroyed Kropog on a spin move.

The 382-pounder, Herman Johnson, was the talk of the day yesterday. Nearly all the draftniks I talked to had high expectations today after how in shape he looked. Unfortunately, he simply looked awful in 1v1s. His feet are very sluggish and he just looked lethargic. Lawrence Sidbury beat him with speed on more than one occasion and Johnson overextended. I am personally worried he just lacks the quickness to be taken in the second round. Losing weight isn't going to help him in my opinion. I am rooting for him because I want him to prove me wrong, but yesterday's effort isn't going to cut it.

Antoine Caldwell had some nice battles today and displayed good hands. However, there was one battle that drew a lot of cheers from the crowd. Kyle Moore devastated him with a spin move off the edge, and then on the very next play, he countered with a bull rush and put Caldwell on his back.

Eric Wood is a really tough guy and I was sold on him on Tuesday night during the press conference. He has a great head on his shoulders and is a very articulate speaker. He told me he watches a lot of tape of Olin Kreutz and admires his nasty demeanor on the field. It's pretty easy to see why.

One player who has a ton of buzz this week among all the scouts from what I have been told is Ole Miss DT Peria Jerry. He is so extremely quick, stays low to the ground, and uses great technique. I have been very impressed with him, and after the Senior Bowl it wouldn't shock me if everyone has him in their first round of their mock. He's been that good and has really balled.

Richmond defensive end Lawrence Sidbury is a player I have been curious to see because, well, I don't get many Richmond games on ESPN. He really lacks explosive athleticism, but he showed a nice dip against Jason Watkins and blew right by him. That win was more Watkins' loss rather than Sidbury's gain. Sidbury needs to flash more plays tomorrow to get that buzz generated among the NFL scouts.

Corner Coye Francies had a huge hit today on receiver Kenny McKinley that you could hear from outside the stadium. I like what I have seen in Francies' instincts this week, and I will focus more on the defensive backs tomorrow.

A common criticism of Rey Maualuga is that he is overaggressive. I caught him taking a terrible angle today when the offense ran a burst over the left guard. He has looked like, by far, the most fluid linebacker in individual drills today, but he needs to flash the top-10 talent he has. Being a disappointment at the weigh-in isn't good, and then following that up with a mediocre practice has me worried. All this said, at least he is out here. USC players don't wuss out.

The hit of the day goes to Brian Cushing, as he completely lit up Liberty tailback Rashad Jennings. Cushing was very solid all day long when I had my eyes on him, and I'm starting to think he might be able to play weakside in the pros because of his great range.

One player who has a lot of potential in the first round I feel like is Alabama safety Rashad Johnson. He displayed great instincts today and some range. I won't be shocked if he comes up with two or three interceptions tomorrow because he seems to be getting a better feel for the Jaguars practices. I talked with an Alabama beat writer for the Tuscaloosa News, and he absolutely raved about Johnson, telling me he is extremely smart, a great leader, and well spoken. He says Johnson is going to do great in interviews. I am going to get an interview with Johnson after practice tomorrow.

After practices, the positional coaches and scouts go around interviewing players. This doesn't mean they really love a player, but they just want to get a better feel for them. Remember, hundreds of interviews are being conducted every day at the hotel, and it wouldn't shock me if every team tries to interview every player. Are some teams targeting certain positions over others? Here is the list of my record of which teams interviewed which players:See the contact list thread for the players NE is reported to have contacted.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2009practice2.php2009 Senior Bowl: Practice Day 2 - Morning

By Matt McGuire
Jan. 21, 2009

It was a beautiful, sunny day in Mobile this morning for the North team practice, but it was somewhat cold and very windy - not quarterback weather. Scouts and positional coaches roamed around following their assigned positions and you could really feel how much pressure is riding on these practices. And let me say, Lindsay Soto is much hotter in person than on the NFL Network. I also saw ESPN reporter Michael Smith. I'll have to catch up with him later in the week. On to what I saw at practice today:

Brandon Gibson is a player I had my eye on a lot today. He wasn't very productive on a soft team at Washington State, but a West Coast scout told me he is head and shoulders the best receiver in the Pac-10. Then, I asked him if he has ever heard of Damian Williams and he got pretty quiet. Gibson was very fluid and really sunk his hips on comeback routes. He showed consistent hands and is really making a name for himself. I think he could be this year's Eddie Royal, and if he keeps at it in practice, there is no doubt his name will be called in the second round. He is a smart player who flipped Patrick Chung's hips completely around on a double move.

Derrick Williams is a player I have been extremely frustrated with on film, and after today, I just think he needs to make a full time move to corner. He displayed, by far, the worst ball skills of any receiver out here, even muffing a few punts. His routes are lazy and he doesn't put much effort into selling them. The natural receiving skills just aren't there, but can he fly in the open field. Yeah, he can run a 4.3, but when it gets down to it, this is football. I really have a hard time liking this player. The receiving coach was really dogging him today and I can see why.

The safety/weakside linebacker Nic Harris put on a show today. He was very aggressive and is extremely athletic when you move him to linebacker. He looked the part, and I think he has the frame to put on 10 pounds without losing much speed. He was instinctive, disciplined, and maintained his gaps. I liked his initial acceleration and agility. A lot of the people I talked to felt like he really stood out today, so I think it I safe to say his stock is slowly rising.

The quarterbacks down here are absolutely terrible to say the least. Nathan Brown can put some zip on the ball, but he was inaccurate on many of his throws. Rhett Bomar has a three-quarters release and it gets too low at times, causing his throws to sail wide right. Graham Harrell fumbled the ball at least three times from what I saw under center and the quarterback coaches really can't like that. He put great touch on the football today, but struggled with the deep out. Someone needs to step up or they will all be late second-day picks.

Everyone's MVP today is Western Michigan product Louis Delmas. He put a huge hit on Ramses Barden, knocking him off his feet and doing it with authority. He was always around the football and displayed great range and instincts. I talked with Chris Steuber of Scout.com and he really felt Delmas is a pure free safety. Delmas' stock is skyrocketing and Taylor Mays returning to USC really helps him.

In the 1v1 battles going on at the North end zone, Ziggy Hood continued to dominate, but not if Kraig Urbik had anything to say about it. Urbik handled Hood's spin well and stood him up and displayed a nasty demeanor. B.J. Raji continues to impress, but Ron Brace looked really sluggish today in defensive line drills. He just lacks the agility and quickness to be a three technique and the more I see him, the more I feel like he is strictly a 3-4 nose tackle. Alex Mack pulled away in the center battle with Max Unger and he displayed a lot of strength and great technique. I really liked what I saw in Andy Levitre as he destroyed Alex Magee. Playing left tackle this year really helps his pass protection resume at guard and he is quickly becoming one of my favorite interior linemen since Duke Robinson dropped out this week.

I can't remember the last time I saw a better blocking/receiving tight end ever since I looked at Brandon Pettigrew's tape last summer. He really is nasty and loves to block. It's fun to watch. Unfortunately, he struggled getting off the line of scrimmage in passing drills, but he is a solid enough receiver to be taken in the first round.

Tyrone McKenzie is a player I feel is one of the more underrated linebackers in the country and he has a unique set of physical tools that is going untalked about. He showed very good range today in zone coverage and does a great job of anticipating and pursuing.

This is the second day William Moore has struggled somewhat in 11v11s. He looks sluggish and unnatural dropping back, and some people I have talked to don't feel he can play strong safety in the pros. Rashad Johnson reportedly had a great practice yesterday, Delmas is a hot prospect, and Patrick Chung flashed some plays, so if Moore doesn't step up soon, he could see his stock fall a little.

The receiver who has generated a ton of buzz this week among scouts and the media is Cal Poly product Ramses Barden. Barden displayed some consistent hands today, making a difficult grab on the sideline, but I am just not sold on him as a route runner. He looks awkward coming out of his breaks and a little slow off the line of scrimmage. Maybe I just watch him at the wrong times today, but it doesn't bode well if you can't separate from the better corners in the country.

Cincinnati defensive back DeAngelo Smith showed a lot of athleticism today, but he should have come up with at least two interceptions. His hands are not soft at all, but the good thing is he was in position to make plays and showed solid anticipation.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2009practice1.php2009 Senior Bowl: Practice Day 1

By Matt McGuire
Jan. 20, 2009

The buzz of the first day was in the air at Ladd Peebles Stadium as the North team began practice. It's impossible to track everything going on. That is why teams have their entire scouting department here, as well as positional coaches. They have their eyes on everything. Today, I focused on the offensive and defensive linemen.

After drawing "awws" at the weigh-in due to his long arms and low fat build, Oklahoma tackle Phil Loadholt followed up with an impressive showing. On film I saw slow feet, but today he looked quicker in person. He devoured Donald Brown in one-on-ones, but we are talking about nearly a 100-pound weight differential. Brown had no chance.

The battle royale for the No. 1 center spot was on between Max Unger and Alex Mack. As projected, Unger looked more athletic in drills and showed quicker feet, but I feel like Mack showed more toughness and strength in 11v11. This is the battle we have all been waiting for and millions are on the line. It will be interesting on how it all plays out.

William Beatty is a player I was really looking forward to since I only saw Connecticut play once. He has great feet and a quick kick step, but once he was in position, he simply lacked toughness and couldn't lock on. Larry English demolished him with a rip move (best rip move I have seen in years on film) and Beatty didn't have a chance.

I really feel like English made a name for himself today. He shows athleticism and a solid jump off the snap. He lacks the elite lateral agility of an Everette Brown, but he makes up for it with experience and a fierce motor. He showed great discipline on a few running plays maintaining his gaps. Can he play in the 4-3? I love his passion for the game and when all is said and done, I think I will be surprised if his name isn't called in the first round.

While Mack and Unger battle it out, they have to worry about their competition against the defensive tackles in practice. Mitch King put a show in one-on-ones, displaying great agility and tenacity. Unfortunately, there is no place in the league for 6-1, 275-pound defensive tackles. He is an underdog everyone is rooting for in Mobile, like Rudy.

B.J. Raji has a lot of buzz right now. Many of the draft scouts I talked to were blown away with his performance today, including myself. As to no surprise, yours truly feels like he is one of the more underrated players in the country, and I have him going to the Packers at No. 9 in my mock draft. That's probably his ceiling, but if he continues to show great agility, strength, and quickness, then why not the top 10?

Another defensive lineman who had a great day was Ziggy Hood of Missouri. He is the prototype three technique and he played like it today. He shows a great ability to dip and explode through the guard. He executed a swim move to perfection against Max Unger when he was at right guard. He really impressed me at the weigh-in because he carried his weight well and had proportional lengths. His play and build led me to believe he has a strong work ethic.

Some receivers who really impressed me today in which I saw limited action of were Ramses Barden and Brandon Gibson. Barden made a great sideline catch and just has a phenomenal frame towering over 5-10 corners. Consistency is the key for him to be a high second-round pick. Washington State gave Gibson nothing to work with, so he could be this year's Eddie Royal. I liked his speed and he ran a beautiful speed out against Mike Mickens.

This is just the first day and the players are just settling in, so I expect to see a more clear view of what is really going on tomorrow at Ladd.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2009blog3.php2009 Senior Bowl Blog: Day 3

By Matt McGuire
Jan. 21, 2009

Today was a great day to be an American draftnik. On Sunday, Rey Maualuga was wearing a "VOTE AND WON" shirt, so I'm pretty sure he was in a good mood going into this morning's practice. I missed out on Barack Obama's inauguration, but good for you that I caught a lot of the day's football action at Ladd-Peebles. It was windy and the temperature felt like it was in the low 40s at practice in the morning.

I met up with Scott Wright again and scouted with him for most of the day. We both were highly impressed with Michael Oher's performance, and we both feel like he is a near lock for the top 10. Oher displays so much talent and he is really answering some "finesse" questions by playing with a nasty attitude. Off the field he is very personable and treats me like he would anyone else. I'm really rooting for him especially since Eugene Monroe and Jason Smith dropped out this week. Being too scared to play shouldn't be tolerated among the scouts. I feel like Oher could have dropped out too, but I am getting more sold on his competitiveness every day. Before long, I think a lot of haters will be eating crow.

Let me just say, wow, NFL Network reporter Lindsay Soto is really hot. Not only is she beautiful, but I think she is a natural journalist. Too often Rachel Nichols tries too hard and is extremely cliche. Sorry, Walter. Maybe we can double date sometime once they become our trophy wives.

I was about to go up and talk to ESPN reporter Michael Smith, but I missed my chance. I have been a big fan of his since he was with the Boston Globe and then Around the Horn. If I can get any NFL insider information about free agency from him I'll post it in my blog.

Mike Mayock's top five by position was recently released. There are no "Darren McFadden shockers" this year, but the draftnik community is buzzing about him having Jason Smith as his No. 1 tackle. I am going to have to ask him why he has him No. 1 considering he rarely does any run blocking.

While I was watching the receivers and defensive backs in the morning practice, I was approached by Larry English's agent. His name is Jeff Reno (spelling?). He told me WalterFootball.com does a phenomenal job with our mock drafts, but he gave me a hard time for not having a 2010 NFL Mock Draft up yet. I assured him there will be one up by next week, and I was waiting for all the juniors to decide what their futures were. He told me he visits the site to get a feel for the prospects in the college game he has the potential to sign.

I met the guys from one of the best independent team sites on the Internet, PewterReport.com. They cover the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and simply do a phenomenal job. Yes, I have a membership to their site and it is well worth it if you are a Bucs fan like myself. They gave me some great inside information on the Bucs coaching situation. They told me Jon Gruden is by far one of the hardest-working coaches in the NFL, but he simply lacked social skills. He also is really hard-headed and makes up his mind on players without giving them a chance. It is pretty obvious why he was fired, but I still think highly of him in the right situation. The bottom line is Gruden can't develop a young quarterback, period. You have better have a veteran in place (Rich Gannon, Brad Johnson, Jeff Garcia) if you want to keep Gruden from going insane.

On the second floor of the Riverview Hotel, where all the players and coaches stay, there is usually a lot of action taking place. Players are hanging out, interviewing with coaches/scouts, and getting approached by businesses such as Merrill Lynch about their financial futures. I happened to talk with a gentleman who heads Defensive Line Inc. This is a program a lot like Athletes Performance, and they refine techniques for players and improve their conditioning. Former Atlanta Falcon defensive lineman Chuck Smith coaches there, and he handed me a DVD and said, "DEFENSIVE LINE INC. BELIEVE THE HYPE!"

I have no idea what he expected me to do with this since I told him I just write for a Web site, but I just realized that I am repping his service on this blog update, so I guess he has psychic powers. Among players training at Defensive Line Inc. are Kyle Moore, Ron Brace, Cody Brown and Robert Ayers.

In the morning practice, I really felt Washington State receiver Brandon Gibson stood out. Lucky enough, I caught him before he went into the locker room.

MM: Brandon, you looked great in today's practice with your route running. What are some routes you are most comfortable with?

BG: I think I do a pretty good job with verticals, stops and comebacks. I try to just focus on getting in and out of the breaks, then getting after the ball.

MM: Whom do you model yourself after in the NFL?

BG: I like Anquan Boldin's physicalness, and I think he is a specimen. I really enjoy watching him play. Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne do a great job.

MM: No one is born as a great route runner. What do you do to work on those skills?

BG: I try to watch a lot of film. I always practice the end of routes and just focus as much as possible.

Brandon was a very well-spoken person and answered my questions quickly. I am really starting to take a liking to him, but I want to see him tear it up again tomorrow.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2009practice4.php2009 Senior Bowl: Practice Day 3 - Morning

By Matt McGuire
Jan. 22, 2009

The weather and temperature was really nice at today's South team practice at Ladd Stadium in Mobile. I caught up with a few people including the Draftguys and they are here interviewing players. Check them out it is a must see site for all draftniks because they don't cover the first- and second-round guys. They do most of their work with the smaller-school and less-heralded prospects and I really applaud them for that. On to the practice today:

One quick note is Manuel Johnson from Oklahoma was a late add and Brooks Foster from UNC has been scratched for the week. Corner Morgan Trent from Michigan replaced Mike Mickens. More on Trent in tonight's blog. Andrew Whitworth from the Bengals was in attendance and he seemed to be giving advice to the O-linemen from time to time.

Going into the week I was looking forward to watching kicker Louie Sakoda of Utah, but he didn't show much power early in the morning. However, he was accurate and didn't miss anything from what I saw out from 40-plus.

Phil Loadholt has a lot of buzz this week with great practices on Monday and Tuesday, but in footwork drills I felt he gets too high in his stance.

A receiver who is really making an impression is Buckeye Brian Robiskie. He is catching everything this week and has been a tough corner for the defensive backs because he knows how to sell his routes. His lack of separation and speed still really worries me, but some people in attendance have been very impressed this week, including myself. He drew high praise from Bengals receiving coach Mike Sheppard for his physicality and competitiveness on the line of scrimmage.

Ramses Barden proved to me today he is definitely a project at the next level. It was the second day in a row I saw sluggish footwork in his route running, and he doesn't look very coordinated out on the field. My advice is to not buy into the hype.

I was in the minority when I said Derrick Williams looked pitiful yesterday, but today he really turned it on. By far, he is the fastest receiver here and has so much explosion. I saw some good hands and competitiveness, but he isn't impressing the special teams coaches by dropping so many balls on punts and kickoff returns. This is a clear example of why I am adamantly not sold on his ball skills.

My MVP for the morning practice has to be Brandon Gibson. He was simply dominating early in the day and he just completely abused several defensive backs. By far, Gibson is the best route runner I have seen out here and no one in attendance has any idea where he is going because he doesn't give anything away. He sinks his hips, sells the stutter step, then gets out of his break.

On more than one occasion he gained a lot of separation against Louis Delmas, who is one of the better players here. On one play he had to adjust to the football which came low and away on the far sideline on an out route. Gibson went down for the football and made a great grab. He lated pulled his hamstring and he had ice on it at the end of practice. I asked him what was up and he told me it was just a little sore. Hopefully, he is here tomorrow for practice and doesn't drop out because he is just simply abusing the competition and making it look easy.

Michigan corner Morgan Trent is really big for his position and displayed soft hands on lob drills this morning.

Signal caller Nathan Brown displayed a quick release today, but he struggles in putting zip on the ball and I was less than impressed with his touch. He threw a beautiful ball to Juaquin Iglesias on a go route to the left pylon. It was about a 45-yard throw, but on this one, he had a nice spiral.

Speaking of Iglesias, he has really generated a lot of buzz from most of the draft experts I have spoken with. His route running and consistent hands really stood out this morning and receivers coach Mike Wallace told him he was taking "good angles."

David Bruton flashed some big hitting ability, but I think he will be relegated to strong safety in the NFL. He is slow and high coming out of his backpedal and doesn't have much range on the field.

Oregon State product Keenan Lewis continues to flash playmaking ability, and I saw a nice interception and pass breakup on the day. His ball skills are somewhat underrated and I am sure the defensive back coaches in attendance have taken a liking to him.

The defensive line group for the North team continues to draw some buzz. B.J. Raji continued to impress today and seems to be really picking up the scheme in 11v11s. Connor Barwin had a great day after being moved from tight end to defensive end and was very fluid in dummy drills. He exploded past Xavier Fulton who didn't kickstep and he showed a lack of awareness. Tim Jamison really lacks short-area quickness, but his play against the run today impressed me.

Louis Delmas had an average practice, but he displayed much leadership as he yelled at DeAngelo Smith, "Get deep! Get deep! Get deep!!!" I like to see this kind of direction and leadership as the quarterback of the defensive backfield.

Purdue defensive tackle Alex Magee was a late add this week. I have been impressed with his lateral agility and quickness off the ball, but he lacked power and got mauled by Alex Mack on more than one occasion.

Kory Sheets continues to show a little flash, but he hasn't exactly won me over. On some runs, he really explodes and displays a second gear, then on others he displays bad vision and doesn't identify cutback lanes.

Brandon Pettigrew absolutely looks the part in a uniform and he is one of the better route runners of all the receivers in practice today - not just tight ends, but receivers too. He was fluid out of his breaks and didn't give anything away when facing Nic Harris in zone coverage. Pettigrew ran a solid post and gained a few yards of separation despite lacking explosive speed.

Overall, I would say the receiving corps really stepped up their game to another level today with the exception of Barden. The defensive linemen continue to be the buzz of the week, and the defensive backs have a lot of ground to make up on Wednesday's practice.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2009practice5.php2009 Senior Bowl: Practice Day 3 - Afternoon

By Matt McGuire
Jan. 22, 2009

The afternoon practice had more media than in past days and there were many fans in attendance hoping to catch a glance of the future stars of the NFL. The positional coaches were intense. There was a great buzz outside the hedges of the field. A familiar face I saw watching linemen 1v1 drills was Jim Haslett. The talk of the Senior Bowl for the large part has been the play of tackle Michael Oher, so there was much anticipation on how he would follow up a very impressive Tuesday practice. Was he my South team MVP today? Read and find out:

A late addition for the day was Florida State receiver Greg Carr. I thought he struggled to accelerate quickly, but he displayed some really solid hands in red zone drills.

Not much to say on the quarterback front. Pat White by far is putting the best touch on the football of anyone here, but he overthrew many receivers today and is really losing his confidence. This doesn't hurt his stock because he is going to be a wide receiver in the NFL anyway. Cullen Harper made some nice throws, but his stock is staying in the gutter.

Michael Oher displayed phenomenal footwork yet and jaw-dropping athleticism again. He didn't have a perfect practice because he was beat a few times. Linebacker Clay Matthews bull rushed him to the ground; then on the next play, Oher handled his speed off the edge very impressively. I really don't understand why so many people don't like Oher.

I can't say the same for everyone else on the South team O-Line. Center Eric Wood struggled mightily today with speed off the edge from linemen such as Corvey Irvin and Peria Jerry.

Center Jonathan Luigs looked pitiful today and didn't seem to pick up his opponents' tendencies.

The bum of the week sadly has to go to Herman Johnson. Forget about his ability to play tackle in the NFL because he has looked dreadful at guard. Corvey Irvin really slapped him around a few times and Johnson isn't showing any fight or competitive attitude. His feet are sluggish and his draft stock is as colder than Skip Bayless' playoff picks.

Troy Kropog didn't show much aggressiveness and had trouble keeping his feet against Vance Walker. On one play, Walker simply overpowered him with a bull rush and threw him to the ground.

I was really impressed today with Antoine Caldwell, as he showed toughness and intelligence handling Vance Walker's swim move. Caldwell stayed low to the ground and showed impressive anticipation.

One lineman who is quickly making a name for himself is Hawaii defensive end David Veikune. He is giving all of the linemen fits this week because of his outstanding motor, array of pass rush moves, and short-area quickness. I am worried about his fit though because he is too small for 4-3 teams, and he looks really comfortable with his hand in the ground. I am not sure if he can pass rush standing up in the 3-4.

One player really shined today and generated a ton of buzz among virtually everyone I spoke with. My MVP for today's practice is N.C. State tailback Andre Brown. Brown was hitting the hole extremely hard today, displaying outstanding vision, and impressing the crowd when he juked Clay Matthews on a sweep. I really can't wait to watch some Wolfpack tape when I get home to see if I underrated Brown's play. He has no second gear, but he flashed some impressive talent and upside.

Rey Maualuga had a rough outing in yesterday's practice, but really impressed me against the run today. On a tailback lead over the left guard, he did a great job of instinctively going to his gap and filling quickly. He showed some range and had a big few hits.

After a great outing yesterday catching everything thrown his way, tight end Shawn Nelson dropped a few balls, two of which were extremely catchable. He had a great opportunity to prove yesterday wasn't a fluke, but he has NFL scouts scratching their heads.

One player who has flashed some great athleticism and speed is West Virginia defensive back Ellis Lankster. He has been impressive in press man coverage, but struggles at times and attempts too many arm tackles.

Troy defensive back Sherrod Martin blew up tailback Reshad Jennings and put him on the ground. This drew many laughs from the crowd as we all love to see big hits.

Maybe I am in the minority here, but I really thought linebacker Ashlee Palmer (Ole Miss) brought his A-game this afternoon. He was very active and showed great lateral agility today. Kudos to him.

Another "You got JACKED UP" moment was when USC linebacker Brian Cushing debacled Zona receiver Mike Thomas on a slant route. It was really fun to watch as Cushing laid his shoulder into him, stayed up on his feet, and stared down Thomas when he was on the ground, Ali style. Corvey Irvin and Robert Ayers were really fired up on that play, slapping Cushing on his helmet.

Overall, it was a really solid day, as players such as Peria Jerry, Michael Oher, Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews have been the players putting together very notable back-to back practices. Like I said, we can't sleep on Andre Brown because he was a man possessed with the football in his hand and running with authority.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2009blog4.php2009 Senior Bowl Blog: Day 4

By Matt McGuire
Jan. 22, 2009

I have to say I love doing what I am doing, scouting for the Senior Bowl and representing the best football site on the Internet, but this is really exhausting. Not only that, but I have never had any lunch since I have been down here simply because there isn't any time between practice. I hope my malnourishment hasn't affected my scouting abilities (or lack thereof depending on how the draft goes).

You hear about the prospects, the hype, and the scouts, but what you don't know is the Senior Bowl is in a lot of ways is just as much a social trip as it is a football trip for everyone involved. Trainers are here watching their clients before they prepare for the Senior Bowl, and agents are tending to their clients' every need.
I was speaking with founder of TEST sports clubs in New Jersey, Brian Martin. TEST is a facility that trains athletes and teaches football skills. I asked Martin what he felt like the most underrated physical aspect of football is, and he preached to me about flexibility. He says everyone talks about strength and bulk, but the best athletes in the league are the most flexible ones. One of his clients in Mobile is corner Morgan Trent of Michigan. He really works with Martin on hip flexibility, and they do a lot of special stretching. At TEST, everyone does yoga at least once a week. Martin told me Joe Flacco was a client of his last year and was really blown away by his speed. I was told Flacco ran the fastest 3-cone drill of any quarterback in the last five years at the Combine, and we are all believers after his phenomenal rookie season, displaying a lot of athleticism running the ball.

One of my most favorite reporters in the country is NFL Network's Adam Schefter - up there as well is ESPN's Michael Smith. Fortunately, I talked with Mike for a few minutes today at the beginning of the afternoon practice. Smith's sources are very legitimate and he is extremely credible around Draft Day when he releases information on teams' draft picks. He was the guy last year who reported the Rams were taking Chris Long No. 2. He gave me around five handshakes for all the high praise. Then I gave him my business card and he said he was definitely going to check out the site. By the way, ESPN must be paying him very well because he was rocking Armani glasses.

I had a conversation with an NFC South scout and he gave me a lot of unique views on what he was looking for on the field. When I asked him how much he valued technique in these practices, he told me he was really focusing on the physical aspects of the prospects. The South scout also said he wasn't worried about technique too much this week if he feels like the player is capable of learning it. The entire South all made bank in the first round last year, but let me just say this scout was extremely instrumental in his team's first-round selection and he knows what he is talking about.

There was a conference call around noon today with Mike Mayock and Charles Davis. I had to get back to my hotel room ASAP to get the password to access the conference call. Mike made a few interesting comments, notably that he wouldn't take Mark Sanchez or Matt Stafford in the top 10; he feels like James Laurinaitis can play weakside linebacker in the pros; and he thinks Clay Matthews is one of the more underrated linebackers in the draft. I was too late to the call to ask Mike a question, so I am going to try to catch up with him tomorrow. Mr. Positive (aka Davis) mentioned he felt Laurinaitis was getting undeserved hate because he performed so well as a sophomore.

I caught up with Cincinnati guard Trevor Canfield at the end of practice because he was looking like one of the better guards on the day:

MM: Trevor, who do you have this year in the Super Bowl? Why?

TC: Pittsburgh. I like their O-Line. That's why I am picking them.

MM: You played with a lot of aggression out on the field today. What fires you up so much?

TC: I don't know; it's my passion for the game. A lot of stuff my coaches have taught me has carried over.

MM: How would you say you did in practice today?

TC: I would have to say this is one of my better practices. I'm improving every day; getting after it every day. I am showing everyone my physical, hard-nosed style of play.

Days like these are what have made the Senior Bowl a life-changing experience for me. I have gotten a ton of great comments on the forums and in e-mails, and I just wanted to thank everyone for visiting the site. I appreciate all the positive words, and that really keeps me motivated to be one of the best draft analysts on the Internet.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nfldraftbible.com/All-Access-Football/teams_have_questions_do_they_have_answers.htmlAll-Star: Do They Have Answers?
Written by Daniel Mogollon
Wednesday, 21 January 2009 13:49

1. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech – The Red Raiders’ signal caller is coming off back-to-back 5,000-yard/40 touchdown seasons…yet NFL scouts still have questions regarding his ability to throw the football. Is it fair? To answer a question with a question – how have Kliff Kingsbury (5,017 yards, 45 touchdowns in 2002), B.J. Symons (5,883 yards, 52 touchdowns in 2003), Sonny Cumbie (4,742 yards, 32 touchdowns in 2004) and Cody Hodges (4,197 yards, 31 touchdowns in 2005) fared in the NFL? While Harrell is a far better pro prospect than any of his predecessors, the fact they have done absolutely nothing in the league where they play for pay doesn’t help the Texas native. Most of Harrell’s passes travel 10 yards or less and he will have to adjust to playing under center after playing in the spread offense not only in his entire college career, but in high school as well.

2. Pat White, West Virginia – Pat White wishes he had Harrell’s problems…as he has to prove to NFL personnel people that he is in fact a quarterback, otherwise he is headed to wide receiver. While Harrell was reaching the 400-yard mark on a regular basis the past two seasons, the Mountaineers’ leader in the huddle didn’t turn in his first 300-yard performance until his career finale. White is a winner – he is the first quarterback ever with four bowl wins as a starter – but did as much damage with his legs as he did with his arm at the college level, if not more. White’s Meineke Car Care performance (26-of-32 passing, 332 yards, three touchdowns) opened some eyes and proved he deserves at least the opportunity to prove he is a quarterback. Thus far, White is sticking to his guns and playing exclusively at quarterback in Mobile. It says here that in all likelihood when White lines up in shut-gun on Sundays, it will be in some sort of “Wildcat” package, not as a traditional quarterback.

3. Ramses Barden, Cal-Poly – The only thing small about this wideout is the competition he played against in college. At over 6’5 and 225 pounds with mittens for hands, Barden is among the biggest and longest receivers in the class of 2009 and the Football Championship Subdivision stud is as productive as any wide receiver not named Michael Crabtree. He will pass the eye test for sure, but how will he fare on the field against big-school competition? This week of practice at the Senior Bowl and the game on Saturday is Barden’s best opportunity to show NFL scouts that he belongs with the big boys. With former FCS stars Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Arizona), Tim Hightower (Arizona) and Joe Flacco (Baltimore) helping their teams advance deep into the playoffs in the NFL, you can be sure Barden will be given every opportunity to prove just that.

4. Nic Harris, Oklahoma – While this Boomer Sooner got to keep his No. 5, Harris isn’t playing his customary safety position this week at the Senior Bowl. Instead, the First Team All-Big 12 defensive back is lining up at linebacker. At 6’3 and 230 pounds Harris is bigger than many college linebackers and even saw some time there when Oklahoma suffered a rash of injuries at the middle linebacker position. Harris is at his best playing in the box and moving towards the line of scrimmage with the speed to cover ground. His move to linebacker is clearly a sign scouts are not impressed with his cover skills. Now he must prove that he can play in the front seven or he could be in danger of being labeled a ‘tweener – not quick or rangy enough to play safety and not big or physical enough to be a linebacker.

5. Connor Barwin, Cincinnati – Like Pat White, this Big East product has scouts arguing about where he should play. In fact, many teams differ as to which side of the ball best suits this Bearcat. So far at the Senior Bowl he has played predominately at tight end, with a few reps sprinkled in at defensive end towards the end of day two. Tight end was where Barwin lined up during his first three seasons at Cincinnati and he recorded 31 receptions for 399 yards and two touchdowns in 2007. As a senior, he made the switch to defense and made a major impact despite being a neophyte at the position. Taking to his new position with relative ease, Barwin turned in 10 sacks this past season. At 6’4/255 pounds he has the build, as well as the athleticism, to either get after the quarterback or catch passes from one. Only the team that will call his name on the last weekend April will know where Barwin will ultimately play on Sundays.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/01/senior-bowl-wednesday-recap/Posted January 21, 2009
Senior Bowl Wednesday Recap

FROM WES BUNTING:

Day three kicked off with the North team practicing in the morning, followed by the South squad in the afternoon as both teams continued preparing for this Saturday’s All-Star game. The National Football Post was on the scene at Ladd-Peebles Stadium to bring you coverage of all the action.

North Practice

Day Three Studs…

WR Derrick Williams has grabbed headlines all week, but it was Oklahoma WR Juaquin Iglesias who stole the show today. Iglesias has been the most natural receiver here and consistently showcases an ability to separate on all levels of the field. What makes him stand out is not just his ability to create plays in one-on-one drills but also during seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills. Iglesias looks to be solidifying a spot in the top 60 on draft day.

Offensive tackle William Beatty has been the North squad’s top offensive lineman all week and was impressive again today. During 11-on-11 drills, he consistently sealed the edge and did a nice job reach blocking and opening up holes on the outside. During one-on-one drills, he did a great job staying low, extending his arms and mirroring defensive ends is pass protection. A guy who’s had a stellar week and should be headed toward the latter parts of the first round.

Beatty’s teammate, CB Darius Butler, rebounded nicely after a subpar performance yesterday. Butler is an excellent athlete who bounced back and forth between corner and receiver this year at UConn. He did a nice job today being patient in his backpedal and closing out of his breaks. He has been one of the few corners to stick with WR Derrick Williams down the field as well as mirror him out of his cuts.

Still Need Work…

Oklahoma OT Phil Loadholt has struggled all week with his flexibility and footwork, and his flaws really stood out today. Loadholt lacks the first-step quickness to get out to the corner and struggles playing with leverage. DE Tim Jamison consistently was able to get inside of him on the counter move, and DE/TE Connor Barwin was able to win their battles by gaining leverage and driving his legs. Loadholt needs to play on the right side to have any chance in the NFL.

Also at tackle, Illinois product Xavier Fulton had the worst day among offensive linemen. He was not only bull-rushed to the ground by DE Cody Brown but was consistently worked over by defensive linemen. His lack of power has forced him to play a bit more aggressively this week, which has caused him to struggle with his balance and footwork. A guy who has struggled in pass protection throughout the week and may be best suited to play inside in a zone blocking scheme.

Virginia OLB/DE Clint Sintim was unable to get after the passer and struggled to beat blockers off the edge during one-on-one drills. He was stonewalled twice by FB Tony Fiammetta and RB Cedric Peerman, and for a guy who depends on his pass rush, Sintim must show better during these drills. He looked a bit sluggish during 11-on-11 drills and could just be wearing down a bit. But for a guy who is supposed to make his living as a pass rusher, he needs to prove he can beat backs consistently off the edge.

Observations…

Cincinnati TE Connor Barwin finally got his shot to prove his value as a DE, and in limited opportunities he showed well. Barwin relies on his first step with a violent rip out of his stance. He was able to gain the edge against OT Xavier Fulton as well as dip under OT Phil Loadholt on consecutive series. I think Barwin projects much better as a DE, but he can only enhance his value playing both sides of the ball.

OL Max Unger has done a nice job not only rotating between center and guard, he’s also seeing time as the middle wedge man on special teams. Unger is so fluid and smooth in pass protection that at times he has been dominant. Unger has only struggled vs. DT B.J. Raji this week, like everyone else, but his ability to mirror defensive linemen and extend him long arms in pass protection makes him nearly impossible to get around.

Illinois DE Will Davis got some work inside as a DT, a position he played primarily on third downs as a senior. He displayed impressive lateral mobility during one-on-one drills and showed the burst to shoot gaps inside during 11-on-11s. He lacks the size to be an every down DT, but he could find his niche as an inside passer rusher at the next level.

QB Rhett Bomar has been the most impressive quarterback on the North squad during one-on-one drills. He is consistently able to showcase his strong arm and throw receivers open in space. However, as soon as the practice goes into seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills, Bomar really starts to struggle. He made one good throw outside the numbers toward the end of practice, but other than that, he lacks the ability to consistently get the ball out accurately and on time. He has all the tools but needs to mature in the pocket and learn to go through his progressions more quickly.

Cal Poly WR Ramses Barden is struggling to get any kind of separation in and out of his breaks. He does a nice job using his long arms to pluck the ball away form his body, but like many of the mammoth receivers who have come along in recent years, he lacks suddenness and always is forced to make plays with corners draped over him.

Oklahoma prospect Nic Harris is really making strides as a linebacker this week. He possesses good footwork and changes directions as well as any linebacker on the North team. Plus, he was able to get consistent pressure off the edge and proved he can slip blocks and get after the QB.

South Practice

Day Three Studs…

The more I watch South Carolina WR Kenny McKinley, the more I am convinced he will make an impact at the next level. He displays an explosive first step and has the footwork and body control to cleanly get out of his breaks. He did a great job snapping off his routes and showcased the suddenness to constantly gain separation on all levels of the field.

Hawaii DE prospect David Veikune may not get the publicity some of the other defensive linemen here receive, but during one-on-one drills today he was downright dominant. He possesses a much better first step than scouts give him credit for, with the body control and athleticism to side-step blocks and counter inside. He abused Florida tackle Jason Watkins on two separate occasions. He has a type of blue-collar feel to him and showcases the ability to not only dip his shoulder around the edge but get his hands inside and bull-rush the tackle into the QB’s lap.

I wrote yesterday about the Clay Matthews-Brian Cushing debate, and today did little to help me make up my mind. Cushing looks more natural as a stand-up 4-3 linebacker than Matthews. Cushing did a great job using his hands to engage blocks and showcased the burst and suddenness to quickly shed and attack up field. Matthews, on the other hand, was very impressive during one-on-one drills working as a stand-up rush linebacker in a 3-4. On his first attempt, he bull-rushed LT Michael Oher and absolutely manhandled him into the QB’s lap. On his next attempt, Matthews took Oher up the field with his first step, only to break off a quick spin, which allowed him to walk untouched to the QB. These two have put on quite a show this week and are by far the top OLBs here.

Still Need Work…

Jackson State CB Domonique Johnson really struggled in off coverage. He is a gifted straight-line athlete but is unable to cleanly get in and out of his breaks with any kind of explosion. Johnson looks like he’s gliding at times when trying to change directions, and he lacks any kind of base or balance when asked to close. He struggled staying with the quicker, more fluid South receivers (Quan Cosby, Kenny McKinley).

Louisville center Eric Wood struggled mightily in pass protection during one-on-one drills. Wood is a powerful, physical center who likes to get his hands on defensive linemen right off the snap. However, he was unable to mirror DT Corvey Irving and DE Robert Ayers in pass protection and consistently lost his balance when attempting to overextend. This has shown up consistently on film, as Wood doesn’t look confident playing in space.

Observations…

San Jose CB Coye Francies might be the South squad’s top bump corner. He did a great job delivering a strong, balanced punch and re-routing receivers off the line. He has a tendency to get a bit “leggy” after contact but showcases the explosion to close quickly on the ball.

Wake Forest safety Chip Vaughn has quietly had a very solid week. He possesses much better flexibility and bend than his safety counterparts on the South squad. Also, Vaughn was able to run stride for stride with WR Mike Thomas down the field and showcased the ability to locate the ball quickly and break up the play. A very impressive play for a man of his size.

Tennessee DE Robert Ayers saw some time inside at the DT position. He looked very explosive off the snap and does a nice job attacking the outside shoulder. He beat C Eric Wood with a quick first step and then came back with a very coordinated spin move to counter C Andre Caldwell inside. Ayers has performed well all week and today proved he has some versatility as an inside pass rusher on third down.

Also making plays inside was Georgia DT Corvey Irvin. Irvin has a good-looking frame at 6-3 and 296 pounds, but it’s his lateral quickness and violent rips and swats that consisntly allow him to disengage and get after the QB. Did a great job using his hands to keep C Eric Wood off his body and get up the field cleanly.

I don’t know who told SMU punter Thomas Morstead to kick the ball into the stands during practice (most likely his agent), but the noise it created certainly was enough to draw my attention. The 6-4, 228-pound punter averaged nearly 42 yards per punt last season and was absolutely hitting bombs during the South practice. That kind of leg will definitely warrant some later-round consideration.

The South’s running back group has been a bit lackluster this week, but one guy who is starting to draw some attention is N.C. State running back Andre Brown. Brown is your typical meat-and-potatoes back who displays good vision and power between the tackles. Has exhibited good lateral mobility and shiftiness in and out of his breaks and was very impressive during 11-on-11 drills.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=509752Senior Bowl: Rising players in Day 3 workouts

Posted: January 22, 2009
War Room Scouts

MOBILE, Ala. -- Former NFL scouts from Sporting News' Pro Football War Room are at Senior Bowl workouts to provide news, notes and observations. Here are some of their evaluations from Wednesday's sessions:

William Beatty, T, Connecticut

Really helped himself by displaying great feet and quickness in the open field. Had the first step to make reach blocks, and played with excellent leverage, consistently getting underneath and neutralizing smaller defensive linemen like Larry English.

Mitch King, DE, Iowa

Really helped himself this week. Showed good hands and beat his man by outworking him. With his frame, could fit well in a 3-4 scheme.

Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan

Stock is rising this week, with another strong performance on Wednesday. Showed once again his ability to stay step-for-step in man coverage.

Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia

Had a good day, showing the quickness and burst to get penetration while rushing the passer. Also moved well through traffic. Filled the hole quickly, holding his ground at the point of attack.

Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss

Had an outstanding day, continually beating his man off the line of scrimmage with his quick first steps. Showed good hands and excellent intensity.

Coye Francies, CB, San Jose State

Continued to shine. Showed quickness; was fluid and athletic. Good speed and quickness tests at the Combine could move him into the first round.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://football.realgm.com/src_encroachment/150/20090121/senior_bowl_notes_from_tuesday/Senior Bowl Notes From Tuesday
Authored by Jeff Risdon - 21st January, 2009 - 11:04 am

The North practiced in the morning in bitter cold and a stiff north wind. The temperature was well below 40 degrees all morning. It was fun watching the lowest-ranking scouts and staffers scramble to provide coffee for the GM's and coaches.

North team notes

Star of the morning: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College. He drew audible “oohs” for absolutely planting Max Unger on a bull rush. Raji was basically unstoppable one-on-one with a bevy of power moves and great hand placement.

The QB's are often rough to watch. Rhett Bomar is the most NFL-ready of the three, certainly the most consistent. Nate Brown looks awful and somewhat overwhelmed although, interestingly, he throws the best deep ball of the three. He makes 30-yard posts and corners look effortless but missed 4 short outs in a row; none were even close. Graham Harrell is the opposite--he’s perfect on short throws although lacking zip, butwith anything over about 12 yards, he just doesn’t have the accuracy and certainly not the arm strength.

Harrell fumbled the first snap from center in the drills without RB's and LB's. He fumbled two others, as well, and is clearly watching the ball into his hands instead of the first steps of the defense. When paired with his underwhelming arm strength, it’s hard to see him being more than a late-round pick.

The WR's are not really impressive but have isolated moments of greatness. Brandon Gibson is the fastest of the group, and he made a great sliding catch; however, he also got chewed out for being passive on a release and for turning his head around too early on a deep pass, which allowed Deangelo Smith to jump the route and get an INT. Brian Robiskie had a bunch of drops, but he also made a fantastic stab in heavy traffic. One GM pointed out that Robiskie worries about defenders he can’t see or feel, but when they’re tight on him, he does great because he knows where they are and where the hit is coming from.

Ramses Barden needs a lot of work, but his size is going to attract suitors. The hands are there, and he shows good body control, but he had issues getting separation from the more physical corners.

Cincinnati DE Connor Barwin is being used at TE, which he played before 2008, and he really looked good. He sealed the edge nicely on run plays and showed good hands and burst. It will be interesting to see how NFL teams would use him, as he proved he’s quite a pass rusher last season.

Biggest loser of the morning: Raji’s BC linemate Ron Brace. He was the last guy out on the field for practice, and was the only guy I saw hit the oxygen machine, which he sucked on after almost every set. He jumped offsides 3 or 4 times and was consistently driven back by even the lesser offensive linemen.

Buzz Up

Illinois T Xavier Fulton, Michigan DE Tim Jamison, South Florida LB Tyrone McKenzie, Iowa DL Mitch King, Oregon State CB Keenan Lewis, Virginia TE John Phillips

Buzz Down

Utah K Louis Sakoda (clearly flummoxed by the cold wind), North Carolina WR Brooks Foster, Cincinnati G Trevor Canfield (plays way too high), Oregon RB Jeremiah Johnson, Western Michigan S Louis Delmas--who made some very nice plays but also some serious coverage problems

South Team Notes

It was still cold when the South team took the field, but the wind was less gusty. It was interesting to see the differences between how the Bengals staff handled the AM practice and what the Jaguars staff did with this group. Generally speaking, the North team does more scout-friendly drills and more things that the common fan would recognize.

Star of the day: tie between Michael Hamlin, S, Clemson, and Michael Oher, T, Ole Miss. Hamlin had two massive de-cleating hits that drew oohs and aahs, and he consistently closed quickly with authority and control. Oher dominated all comers in pass protection, showing nice agility and devastating hand punch. He also consistently sealed the edge in run blocking.

Georgia WR Mohammad Massaquoi is making himself some $$. He separated well and snatched the ball from the air, showing an extra gear to chase down a long throw.

Really almost all the South WRs look good, vastly better than their North counterparts. Mike Wallace of Ole Miss has really impressed me with his all-around game. He flashed nice speed and did well avoiding jams. The only WR who doesn’t look NFL-worthy is Arizona’s Mike Thomas, who is real small and has issues with route running and hands. Quan Cosby is real small too but he’s got explosive quicks and better hands.

Kenny McKinley WR South Carolina is the victim of awful luck. Twice he toasted his coverage but the QB (Cullen Harper once, J.P. Wilson once) missed him by several yards. The Harper one was only a 10-yard cross over the middle and Harper threw it at least 8 feet over his head, in a drill with no pass rush.

Southern Miss TE Shawn Nelson stood out Tuesday. Best hands of any TE here, and he impressed with his ability to turn and run after the catch. He also locked up Brian Cushing during pass rush/protect drills, putting Cushing on the ground 2 out of 3 times.

The USC contingency is faring well. The Jaguar coaches (clearly looking for one) are pushing Rey Maualuga hard to be the defensive leader and difference-maker at MLB, and he looks and acts the part. I’ve been impressed with his assignment discipline and patience, qualities he didn’t always demonstrate at USC. Clay Matthews has a nice array of pass rush moves, though he let blockers get into his pads a few times. DT Fili Moala is playing himself up draft boards, displaying nimble feet and great arm extension power. One team gushed openly about his ability to play as a 3-4 DE. His linemate Kyle Moore is gaining momentum as a 3-technique tackle who can quickly slide into gaps and shed blocks. LB Brian Cushing seems a bit robotic and was the recipient of a few coaching lectures, but his athleticism is undeniable.

The defensive backs were quite up-and-down, mostly down aside from Hamlin and Wake Forest CB Alphonso Smith. Jackson State CB Domonique Johnson sure looks like he has shutdown CB potential, but it won’t come right away; he needs to improve his feet coming out of his backpedal, and he gives up inside position too easily, lacking the closing speed to jump in and break up ins and curls. Alabama safety Rashad Johnson closes with authority but bungled an INT and was surprisingly easy to block.

Buzz Up

West Virginia QB Pat White--showing he has the arm strength and touch needed, Tennessee RB Arian Foster, Liberty RB Rashad Jennings, Tennessee DE Robert Ayers, Ole Miss LB Ashlee Palmer

Buzz Down

Clemson QB Cullen Harper and Alabama QB John Parker Wilson, both of whom struggled with the wind and displayed inconsistent mechanics, Tulane T Troy Kropog, LSU G Herman Johnson, Maryland LB Moise Fokou, Clemson RB James Davis

From the “Overheard” file

The Ray Lewis-to-Dallas talk is drawing more snickers than affirmation. As one rival GM opined, “They can have my oldest, most expensive player too.”

At the end of North practice, someone loudly espoused to no one in particular, “What a sh***y year to need a quarterback!” That drew more acknowledging nods and smiles than anything all week.

“The cover-2 is all but dead as a base defense. You’re still going to see it when teams have a lead, or when their corners are (crap). But you cannot sit back and let offenses pick you apart when they know where everyone is going to be. Our practice squad QB can pick apart cover 2.”

“Brandon Jacobs had better stay in New York. He needs that o-line. Put him behind the line in San Francisco or KC, and he wouldn’t sniff 4 yards per carry.”

And one observation of my own: I feel downright bad for the Raiders' contingency here, at least the guys I’ve seen and talked with a little. They treat their job security like a macabre joke, knowing it could very well be over by the end of week. As a disclaimer, I have not seen Tom Cable here.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://football.realgm.com/src_encroachment/149/20090120/checkin_in_from_the_senior_bowl/Checkin' In From The Senior Bowl
Authored by Jeff Risdon - 20th January, 2009 - 10:38 am

Monday was arrival day for most of the NFL's movers and shakers. My plane ride from Atlanta to Mobile was a veritable "who's who" of NFL management, coaches, and notables.

As is typical of my experiences at the Combine in Indianapolis, some of these folks are willing to talk to the "lesser" media like myself, and some treated me like the cool girl clique in high school treats the fat new girl with bad teeth. An honest thank you to the nice guys!

Monday's practices were divided, so I wound up catching the very end of the North team practice and did not see the South. Today's workouts are both at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, so I will see both teams in action. Last evening was media night, a wonderfully pompous and fluffy affair held at the USS Alabama, which is definitely worth the visit if you ever find yourself near Mobile.

Player Notes:

Phil Loadholt, T, Oklahoma - He's massive at 343 pounds but has no kick and slow feet. Larry English got around him with almost no problem. Loadholt will be an NFL right tackle, and he needs to show ability to find defenders in space and lock them up during run drills if he is going to be drafted before about the fifth round.

Larry English, DE/OLB, Northern Illinois - More than a speed rusher, he showed some inside strength. Reminded me and another seasoned observer here of Lamarr Woodley and looks to be best suited for playing right-outside lineback in a 3-4 defense.

Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State - He is clearly the cream of the North wide receiver crop. It shows that his dad is an NFL coach, both in his approach and also how he handled himself with the media last night. He's bulkier than I thought, but it doesn't appear to slow him.

Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech - He showed good accuracy, but his throws don't have any mustard. It's like watching Trevor Hoffman throw. When I asked him about adjusting to taking snaps from center, his answer indicated he is self-aware and confident. He has worked hard at turning to hand the ball off, and he knows all eyes are on how he adjusts. He could become a shorter Brad Johnson.

Nathan Brown, QB, Central Arkansas - If Harrell is Trevor Hoffman, Brown is Bartolo Colon (not in physique, as Brown is nicely cut). He throws the ball really hard, but I'm not sure even he knows where it's going.

Buzz Up:

Max Unger, C, Oregon; B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College; Alex Mack, C, California; Coye Franceis, CB, San Jose State; Sherrod Martin, CB, Troy; Macho Harris, CB, Virginia Tech, trying hard, but unsuccessfully, to go by Victor; Kraig Ubrik, G, Wisconsin; Robiskie, see above; Cedric Peerman, RB, Virginia

Buzz Down:

Loadholt, see above; Pat White, QB, West Virginia, who almost certainly will have to change positions; James Davis, RB, Clemson; Brandon Gibson, WR, Washington State; Joaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma. Really every wide recevier on the North except Robiskie failed to impress. Both Iglesias and Cal Poly big man Ramses Barden showed great hands, but neither showed any sort of quickness or route polish. When jammed in press coverage by Macho Harris, Barden wound up four yards behind the line of scrimmage on one play.

"Insider" meat:

It's not free agent season yet, and any "official contact" equals tampering at this point, but that doesn't mean general managers, coaches, and agents aren't talking...

I asked one highly prominent NFL exec about the recent firings in Tampa Bay. I can't provide an exact quote (it was on an airplane), but the skinny: Coach Gruden seemed genuinely unaware that their collapse was such a problem, as if he's in major denial about his own culpability. Some of the personnel moves he desired did not mesh with how the team wants to progress, and his inability to develop quarterbacks or work with veterans was a real issue. Deposed GM Bruce Allen was seen as too wishy-washy and too in-step with Gruden. They did not want to lose the younger, cheaper talent that they promoted to fill those spots and felt 'genuinely threatened' that both would take jobs elsewhere this offseason, specifically with the Rams.

--"Anquan Boldin is as good as gone even if he wins the Super Bowl MVP."

--"Brett Favre sure looks and sounds like a guy ready to accept the end of his career."

--"San Diego has a real problem with LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles. If they keep LT and let Sproles walk, they are putting all their eggs in next year's basket, and they'll all (GM, coaches, many players) be gone if they don't win it all. Keeping Sproles and dumping LT would indicate they are building to stay strong for a long time, but how do you just up and cut an icon who might have another good year left? Nobody in their right mind would trade for (LT) with how he's looked, but nobody I know is burying him yet either."

--"All the success of Mike Smith, John Harbaugh, and down in Miami is creating overwhelming pressure on the old guard coaches. Executives too. Owners with a pulse are not going to tolerate more than one down year anymore. Heads are going to roll because of it...those heads might be the very guys who made this whole thing start if those teams regress quickly."

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://football.realgm.com/src_encroachment/151/20090122/senior_bowl_notes_wednesday_edition/Senior Bowl Notes, Wednesday Edition
Authored by Jeff Risdon - 22nd January, 2009 - 11:13 am

It felt much warmer on Wednesday despite still not hitting 40 degrees before the morning practice ended, as the howling wind is all but gone. It really showed in the performances of the quarterbacks, who turned in a much better overall day.

North Team

Star of the morning: This is not a broken record, but Boston College DT B.J. Raji is the unquestioned Crown Jewel of Mobile. His explosive power and quick feet are superior to that of last year’s star DT Sedrick Ellis. Raji weighs nearly 25 pounds heavier but appears just as fast and certainly quicker to disengage from blockers. He is playing his way into the Top 5 overall of the draft.

Other players having a good day:
Cal OL Alex Mack, who took some reps at LG and looked very good leading the run while pulling. He is the only lineman here who has done anything against Raji. He also handled a strong bull rush and shows good ability to recover from a bad step or lost contact.

UConn DE Cody Brown drew oohs for running right through Illinois OL Xavier Fulton. Brown is consistently showing good burst off the snap and solid hands to disengage.

Wisconsin G Kraig Ubrik got beat in his first rep on pass protect drills, but after that, he controlled the action. He was also responsible for the day’s funniest moment, lining up as a gunner on kick coverage.

Cincinnati’s Connor Barwin took all his reps at DE today after being mostly a TE earlier in the week. He needs to add some lower-body strength, but he’s certainly got the motor and bevy of inside/outside moves teams covet. He was quick to point out he’s an experienced special teamer to anyone who asked.

Oregon S Patrick Chung showed good closing speed and anticipation. He is the last guy to pull up after every rep.

Ohio State LB Marcus Freeman made an outstanding INT off a deflected ball. He also fared quite well in blitz drills, showing the power to get an inside rush and the footwork to not get sucked past the QB. He needed a good day, and he delivered.

Cal LB Zack Follett sniffed out a screen pass and showed great closing speed to blow it up. He also fared well in blitz drills.

Guys not faring well:
If Oregon C Max Unger were a basketball player, his line would read something like this: 1-10 FG, 6 fouls in 15 minutes. He continues to struggle with snapping the ball, sending one meters over Cullen Harper’s head and putting two others into the shins of the QB. Raji has made Unger his own personal whipping boy. He did make a very nice seal block on a run, however, showing he can engage defenders at the second level. I can’t imagine him not being moved to G in the NFL.

Missouri S William Moore had issues keeping the play in front of him, and he and Western Michigan S Louis Delmas had major communication issues whenever they were paired together. That is to be expected in such limited practice time, but while Delmas went and talked with the coaches about the play, Moore stomped aside and sulked with his hands on his hips.

Oregon State G Andy Levitre had trouble with leverage and let the defenders dictate his actions too readily. He needs to work on consistently bending his knees and staying balanced over his feet.

South Team

I spent the bulk of the afternoon practice watching the WR's and DB's and the red zone drills, so this is real light on line play. I’ll focus more on that after a trip to the film room.

Good Days:
San Jose State CB Coye Francies put on a nice jam, and he demonstrated quick feet and great burst out of his breaks. He plays bigger than his size.

Wake Forest S Chip Vaughn, is probably the best cover safety here in Mobile. He has enough technique and speed to play nickel corner against most receivers. Real fluid hips and comes out of his backpedal nicely.

Vaughn’s teammate, CB Alphonso Smith, is consistently the best man coverage corner here. Outstanding ball skills and closing speed, and he does a pretty good job keeping his outside shoulder square. He did get exploited for being short by Patrick Turner, another guy who had a nice day.

SMU punter Tom Morstead really put on a show. Standing in the corner of the end zone, he was booming kicks into the bleachers across the field. Two kids started shagging balls, and no matter where the kids moved to, Morstead nailed it right to them. Great height on his kicks. Not that I advocate drafting a punter, but Morstead certainly belongs in the NFL.

Troy CB Sherrod Martin needs work on directing receivers, but when they went to a zone set he looked real solid. Made a nice play in the red zone drill where he jumped a lazy route by FSU WR Greg Carr.

USC LB Rey Maualuga also looked very good in zone coverage. As I stated yesterday, Rey has pleasantly surprised me with his fluidity and patience. He has solidified a place in the top 20.

Richmond DE Lawrence Sidbury flashed both a nice bull rush and a hyper-quick spin move that left Michael Oher lunging for air. He needs to work on disengaging and finding the ball, but he looks the part of a strong pass-rushing RDE.

I heard several people humming about Andre Brown, RB, NC State, who looks very fast for his size.

Bad Days:
Tennessee G Anthony Parker suffered what looks like a nasty ankle injury and was carted off.

Alabama S Rashad Johnson had some real issues with footwork and locating the ball in coverage. He came out of breaks flat footed a couple of times.

USC OLB Clay Matthews looked very much like a 4-3 DE and not a 3-4 OLB in coverage drills. He crossed his hips while dropping back and missed some keys in his reads. Shawn Nelson outran him on a pattern although Matthews broke up the pass on a terrible throw from Cullen Harper.

Alabama C Andre Caldwell had some real problems with quickness. He leans and doesn’t keep a strong base consistently against smaller, quicker linemen. He did fare quite well in power run blocking, including a short stint at RG.

West Virginia CB Ellis Lankster struggled to get a jam. Twice, he basically whiffed and had to sprint down the receiver. He also had issues locating the ball, problematic because it was one-on-one, and the receiver was looking back early.

Domonique Johnson of Jackson State really had a rough afternoon. He is really slow coming out of his backpedal and struggles with the intricacies like shoulder placement and breaking sharply. He was several yards late on a couple of out patterns. He’s a real nice kid and a willing learner, but he’s got a lot to learn.

Not much to report in the way of rumors or whispers on the NFL front, as I spent the evening hanging out with a couple of scouts and an out-of-work scouting director down here and we had a kind of scouting round table. Comments from that will be in the next update of the Top 103 and mock draft v5.0.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://football.realgm.com/src_encroachment/152/20090123/senior_bowl_notes_thursday_edition/Senior Bowl Notes, Thursday Edition
Authored by Jeff Risdon - 23rd January, 2009 - 10:54 am

Another bright and sunny day, and today I didn't even have to wear a jacket. The atmosphere at Ladd-Peebles Stadium was more warm and intimate too, as many of the prominent movers and shakers departed this morning.

For those of us who remained, we got much better access to the players and coaches still here. After the North practice in the morning, I wound up spending much of the rest of the day conversing with a Sirius NFL Radio personality, a veteran personnel executive, and two team scouts, one of whom was recently let go. As such, I only caught about 15 minutes of the South team practice.

North Notes

Oklahoma WR Manny Johnson came late as an injury replacement, but he looks like he more than belongs here. In the red zone drill he demonstrated polished routes, quick cuts, and consistent ability to snatch the ball with his hands.

Brian Robiskie should make an excellent red zone target at the next level. He snared a couple of tough throws and showed great balance and awareness in getting both feet down. Robiskie also makes a lot of guttural noise as he plays.

Derrick Williams of Penn State got some heavy-duty coaching on his lack of precision on his cuts and how to position his shoulders as a target. He seemed to respond well, and his hands and ability to transition quickly from receiver to runner are top notch, but he really turned off a couple of NFL coaches I was standing with on another point. He cut a little shallow towards the back of the end zone and didn't even extend a hand towards a ball that was not well thrown but also not uncatchable, then rolled his eyes and glared back at the QB (I can't recall which) and slowly walked off. The reaction of the QB Coach standing next to me, "Just what we need, another wideout who ain't half as good as he thinks he is."

Oregon RB Jeremiah Johnson stood out in receiving drills. He ran clean routes, looked the ball into his hands every time, and showed real nice burst immediately following the catch. He struck one coach who would know as similar to Steve Slaton.

Ramses Barden merely stood around, apparently with a tweaked hamstring. When a fellow web-based reporter asked him about it after practice, he didn't elaborate.

I spent the bulk of the remaining practice watching the offensive linemen and linebackers.

Quick Impressions:

Alex Mack didn't stand out as prominently today, but he keeps great balance and explodes out of his stance ready for combat.

Kraig Urbik is very powerful and has a good understanding of how to use his power. His hand placement is textbook, and he sinks his hips nicely.

Andy Levitre gets too far out over his feet at times. During one drill he consistently placed his hands too high, and he has a habit of dropping his head when engaged.

Phil Loadholt was coached up about standing up too straight after initial contact. When he keeps good technique he can really maul, and he showed quicker feet today.

Xavier Fulton continues to impress. He needs to build lower body strength and sink his hips more comfortably, but his arm extension and ability to engage from a position of strength are consistently good.

William Beatty is quite athletic but lacks functional strength. He looks and plays lighter and less fierce than some of the tight ends here. He compares to Duane Brown from last year although Brown had better bulk and a stronger hand punch.

Marcus Freeman had another good day. He is faster than any TE or FB here and showed good ability in coverage to direct his man and to locate the ball. Reminds me of a faster Boss Bailey.

Scott McKillop is really athletically limited. He does everything the way it's supposed to be done, just not fast enough or with enough power. I'm afraid he's about 30 years too late for the NFL.

Clint Sintim needs to play with more consistent energy and tenacity. He did not look impressive in the blitz drill on Wednesday, and he was up and down in coverage today. At times he looks like he can be an impact OLB,\ while other times it looks like he's going through the motions.

Tyrone McKenzie is the antipode of Sintim, always exuding boundless energy and with unlimited gas in his motor. He runs and flows well, but he is raw in coverage and has a tendency to take three steps when two will do. Think a less ferocious Ernie Sims.

Nic Harris is making the transition from safety to OLB, and it shows he's never played the position before. He seems tentative and clueless on how to disengage from blocking and fighting through traffic. Harris lacks the foot speed and range to play safety at the next level, but from what I've seen this week he is much more Darnell Bing than Thomas Davis, two other college safeties who went to the NFL as linebackers.

Instead of shallow quick-hit observations on the South, I'll instead focus on my conversations with the NFL personnel.

Some Highlights:

Several prominent seniors are not here in Mobile. For some (Aaron Curry, Malcolm Jenkins), it's not really a big deal as they have shown enough and satisfactorily answered all the questions. But there are two players that definitely hurt themselves by not working out here: Georgia Tech DE Michael Johnson and Ohio State LB James Laurinaitis.

I've talked to quite a few people about Johnson, and the perception that he's a one-dimensional, situational pass rusher is now accepted reality in part because he failed to come here and prove otherwise. His stock appears to be plummeting.

Laurinaitis is more highly-regarded but still faces lingering questions about his athleticism and ability to navigate around blockers and through traffic. Rey Maualuga's strong performance this week makes Laurinaitis' absence more troublesome.

Opinions on USC QB Mark Sanchez are widely varied. His performance and skill-sets impress everyone, but his lack of experience and talent gap between his supporting cast and the weak Pac-10 defenses trouble many people here. Trojans' coach Pete Carroll came here to lobby for Sanchez, and lots of prominent NFL talent evaluators think he's the top QB in this draft. But some folks are seriously scared by his inexperience and how little he's faced tough competition.

The same questions dogged Sam Bradford, and the BCS Title game gave credence to those same concerns with him, sending him back to school next fall. My personal opinion: the lack of experience troubles me, but he has the arm, brain, and persona to become a star in the NFL. I wouldn't draft him to throw him into the fire right away, but for a team with an aging vet (think STL or SEA) that can afford to let him sit and learn for a year, I wouldn't hesitate to use a high first round draft pick on Sanchez.

I asked the personnel exec what the most common mistake teams make in player evaluation. Without hesitation he responded, "They worry too much about what other people think. If I really like a kid, I'm going to trust myself. Matt Millen is the classic example. He wasn't crazy about Mike Williams and a lot of his people weren't crazy on him either. But Millen saw what other teams thought of him and got nervous. He thought 'Not all those guys who love him can be wrong' and he blew it...It happens on veterans too. Look at Jacksonville and the receivers they brought in. I know there were people down there who hated the idea of Jerry Porter and (Troy Williamson), but (former GM Shack Harris) knew they needed better wide receivers and he panicked. They didn't want to miss out on the chance. If they would have trusted their own eyes and minds instead of worrying about missing out on what might be, they could have avoided most of their problems. Now they need receivers even worse, and they’re stuck with (crap)."

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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/super-bowl/01/23/seniorbowl5/Senior Bowl 2009: Recapping the week's biggest winners in practice

By Tony Pauline, Special to SI.com, TFYDraft.com

MOBILE, Ala. -- The scouts and general managers have all left Mobile as practices have come to an end. All that's left to do is play the game, which kicks off Saturday at 6 p.m. Here's a list of the players who came out of the practices as the biggest winners and those who disappointed.

Risers

B.J. Raji/DT/Boston College: Raji walks away from Senior Bowl practices as the unquestionable big winner. He was unblockable each and every day. Raji manhandled opponents in one-on-one drills then collapsed the pocket in scrimmage when he faced double team blocks. Coming into the week Raji was considered a mid-to-late first-round pick but he enters the game now ranked as a top 15 selection.

Derek Williams/WR/Penn State: Williams was always thought of as a great athlete who showed flashes of excellence at receiver. He pulled all the pieces together this week and was just plain brilliant. His athletic skills translated into football dominance on just about every snap. He solidified himself as the draft's top senior receiver moving towards the combine and now grades out as a late first-round pick.

Larry English/DE-OLB/Northern Illinois: English was the best pass rusher on the field this week. He beat offensive tackles off the edge and made several higher rated prospects look like amateurs. His speed and ability to make plays up the field is enticing and has solidified English as a late first-round selection.

Alphonso Smith/CB/Wake Forest: Smith came to Mobile as a fringe first-round pick but enters the game knowing he has solidified himself as a top 20 selection. Smith took on all receivers, including those bigger or faster, and shut them down. He displayed great ball skills and made a living defending or intercepting passes all week.

Alex Magee/DT/Purdue: He was a late arrival to the Senior Bowl yet made his presence felt the moment he stepped onto the field Tuesday. Magee made life miserable for those who tried to block him. He showed great athleticism on every snap. Magee was considered a late second-round choice before the week began, yet it's not out of the question he could slide into the final few choices of round one after his performance in Mobile.

Evander Hood/DT/Missouri: Hood could've been an easy guy to miss with all the available talent on the defensive line, yet he made his mark and stood out when the opportunity arose. Hood played with a non-stop motor, working hard until the whistle blew. He was another whose quickness and explosion gave blockers fits. Hood now grades as a solid early second rounder, about 20 spots better than where he stood a week ago.

Juaquin Iglesias/WR/Oklahoma: Iglesias positively answered the question about his ability to play in a disciplined pro-style offense versus the wide open spread system at Oklahoma, which made him so productive. He displayed consistent hands all week and now ranks below only Derrick Williams on the list of senior receivers available this April.

Louis Delmas/S/Western Michigan: Delmas displayed an array of skills from day one. He was effective in pass coverage, very tough against the run and showed a lot of leadership in the secondary. He has positioned himself as one of the top three safeties in the draft.

Trevor Canfield/OG/Cincinnati: The Bearcat All American dominated opponents each and every day. He's strong like a bull and as mean as they come. Canfield went up against the best defensive linemen offered by the Senior Bowl this year and held his own. He is now positioned to be one of the top three guards selected, somewhere in the middle of round two.

Rashad Jennings/RB/Liberty: The small school product took full advantage of the opportunity to showcase his talents. He displayed speed and power carrying the ball, strength and tenacity as a blocker and sure hands catching passes. Jennings' performance makes him the top senior running back in April's draft.

Mike Thomas/WR/Arizona: Thomas stood out every day this week and significantly improved his draft stock. He played bigger than his measured size of 5-8, 187-pounds, and faster than his perceived 40 time of 4.55 seconds. Thomas battled larger opponents to come away with the difficult grab but also regularly made the ordinary reception. He's elevated himself into the second round of the draft and could move into the middle part of the frame with good workouts at next month's combine.

Nic Harris/OLB/Oklahoma: Harris was seamless in his transition to outside linebacker after spending most of the past four years at safety. He was athletic and forceful all week, defeating blocks to make plays up the field or denying the corners to ball carriers. Harris has room for improvement at the position but the arrow is definitely pointing up.

Noteworthy Performers: John Phillips/TE/Virginia, Tyronne Green/OG/Auburn, Jason Watkins/OT/Florida, David Veikune/DE/Hawaii, Peria Jerry/DT/Mississippi, Coye Francies/CB/San Jose State, Chip Vaughn/S/Wake Forest, Rashad Johnson/S/Alabama.

Sliders

William Moore/S/Missouri: Moore came to Mobile stamped as the draft's top safety and carried a first round grade. After a bad week he leaves hoping to be selected before the second round ends. Moore struggled in pass coverage and was constantly getting beat by receivers. Scouts in attendance feel Moore's poor ball skills limit the types of systems he will be effective in at the next level. As a result, his draft stock has taken a hit.

Pat White/QB/West Virginia: Scouts who thought White could play in the NFL must now rethink that opinion. White's a talented athlete who shows minimal consistency and accuracy throwing the ball from the pocket. He is now likely to spend time working out with the receivers at the combine in February.

Victor Harris/CB/Virginia Tech: Harris struggled from the word go, giving up receptions short and deep every day. He rarely made plays on the ball and was constantly late arriving to the action. The week in Mobile cost Harris at least a round of draft stock, pushing him into the fourth frame.

Herman Johnson/OG/LSU: Johnson got a rise from scouts on Monday morning after measuring 6-feet, 7.5 inches and 382 pounds. It turned out to be one of the few times all week he would impress onlookers. Johnson rumbled around the field from the first day of practice and was constantly exploited by smaller and quicker defenders. He struggled at his college position of guard and at right tackle.

Andy Levitre/OL/Oregon State: Levitre could not capitalize on a terrific senior season. He was beaten by speed opponents and driven off the line by powerful defenders. A possible top 75 choice coming into the Senior Bowl, Levitre has fallen into the late part of round four.
Notes

After a very slow start to the week, Rey Maualuga finished in a furious manner and looked every bit the part of being an impact defensive player by Wednesday. He was flying around the field, running over blockers and blowing up plays. What was the difference? Maualuga was one of just two players in the Senior Bowl who had not yet signed with an agent, the other being Cal center Alex Mack. Maualuga came into the week ill prepared physically and mentally and was unaware of how the entire Senior Bowl process worked. Word got out Tuesday night that the USC linebacker had finally signed with a representative. Once things settled down for him off the field, his play started to heat up between the sidelines.

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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/01/22/senior.bowl.day4/index.htmlSenior Bowl practice report, Day 4: NFL buzz isn't limited to the field

By Tony Pauline, Special to SI.com, TFYDraft.com

Although NFL general mangers, coaches, scouts and even a few owners converged on Mobile, Ala., this week to get a look at the nation's top senior players, there was also plenty of action in the walkways of the Alabama Convention Center. Here's some of what was discussed that little to do with the players on the field.

• Matthew Stafford of Georgia and Mark Sanchez of USC elevated the available talent at quarterback in April's draft the minute they decided to enter the process. The question is how high will they be selected? Some prognosticators think both will be top 10 selections, but officials in Mobile felt otherwise. According to scouts, Stafford lacks top pocket passer size and makes several questionable decisions throwing the ball. Sanchez has limited experience behind center and only spent one full season as a starter. Sources from USC who came to Mobile said they fear Sanchez may turn out to be nothing more than a "one year wonder."

• Free agency in the NFL officially begins on Feb. 27 but don't be fooled, the process has already begun. The Senior Bowl is the first of two large postseason gatherings where player agents and general managers are together in a social setting (the combine is the other). As a result, the talk between agents and general managers and coaches eventually turns to the free agents who'll potentially be available.

Some of the names being thrown around include Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Khalif Barnes and Houston Texans cornerback Dunta Robinson. One of the hottest names is Atlanta Falcons punter Michael Koenen. With a dearth of good punters in the league, Koenen will be a hot property if he hits the open market. Sources in Mobile expect him to ink a contract that will pay him at least $2.5 million per season, almost twice what Mike Scifres of the San Diego Chargers makes.

• Eric Mangini had a reputation for poor communication skills when he coached the New York Jets. Evidently, he hasn't changed. Several holdovers from Romeo Crennel's staff in Cleveland said they have not heard a word from Mangini since he was hired on Jan. 7 and are wondering what their future holds.

• It's surprising to a number of league insiders at the Senior Bowl that Scott Pioli has not yet made a coaching decision for the Kansas City Chiefs. The belief is the longer Pioli waits to make a decision, the better the odds he'll retain Herm Edwards or, at the very least, name a member of the staff as the team's head coach for the '09 season.

• Besides offering future NFL players the opportunity to showcase their talents on the field, the Senior Bowl is also one big job fair for unemployed coaches. A large number who received pink slips were in town looking for work.

• Sources from Tampa Bay said from the start that Jon Gruden wouldn't take over at Notre Dame this year. The consensus of those who cover the team is that Gruden is more tailored towards the pro game and would struggle as a college coach.

• The odyssey of Connor Barwin's trip to the Senior Bowl is interesting,, to say the least. Barwin played tight end his first three years with the Cincinnati Bearcats before switching to defensive end last season. As a senior he turned into one of the top pass rushers in the Big East Conference and improved his draft stock from undrafted free agent to potential top 100 choice. So why was Barwin invited to the Senior Bowl as a tight end? It was the only way to get him on a roster as the North squad was in need of bodies to play the position. Throughout the week of practice Barwin took reps at both tight end and defensive end.

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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/01/21/senior.bowl.day3/index.htmlSenior Bowl practice report, Day 3

By Tony Pauline, Special to SI.com, TFYDraft.com

Wednesday was the final day of practice in pads and the most important practice of the week for NFL scouts. The intensity was turned up several notches as players had a lot riding on the line.

Risers

Nic Harris/LB/Oklahoma: Harris has been flawless in Mobile since making the transition from his college position of safety to his projected NFL spot at outside linebacker. He's showed a lot of explosion, speed and has forced the action up the field while also making plays sideline-to-sideline.

Juaquin Iglesias/WR/Oklahoma: Iglesias turned in an outstanding practice on Wednesday. The former Sooner was sure-handed making difficult receptions down the field as well as in the underneath coverage. He's very physical going against opponents to grab the pass and presents the skills to be a starter at the next level.

Larry English/DE-OLB/Northern Illinois: The undersized defensive end beat opponents all day by playing with speed and athleticism. English is a fluid lineman who easily moves about the field and exploited big, immobile blockers to makes plays behind the line of scrimmage.

Brandon Gibson/WR/Washington State: Gibson has been consistent since the first day of Senior Bowl practice and Wednesday may have been his best performance of the week. He's a natural pass catcher who gets the most from his abilities even though he's not the fastest nor quickest. Gibson showed the ability to consistently get open and has very reliable hands.

Brandon Pettigrew/TE/Oklahoma State: Pettigrew's opportunities to catch the ball have been limited this week but his blocking has been outstanding, exceeding the expectations of NFL scouts. He's dominated linebackers all week and has also controlled defensive linemen which has help pave the way for running backs.

Michael Oher/OT/Mississippi: The South squad's big-name player showed up in a big way today. Oher was driving defenders off the line in run blocking drills and looked comfortable in pass protection. He chose the most important practice to have his best day of the week to date.

Andre Brown/RB/North Carolina State: Brown had a very solid afternoon. He ran well inside the tackles, hitting the holes with authority. Brown also showed good speed getting to the edge and picking up yardage outside the hash marks.

Cody Brown/DE-OLB/Connecticut: Brown showed great speed, pass rushing skill and even flashed power on Day 3. He's beaten defenders off the edge, on the inside and at one point drew a large rise from NFL scouts after putting Illinois tackle Xavier Fulton flat on his back.

Sliders

Victor "Macho" Harris/CB/Virginia Tech: Harris has been anything but macho in Mobile and was consistently beaten in practice Wednesday. He plays very soft in coverage and gave up receptions down the field on a number of occasions.

Andy Levitre/OL/Oregon State: The Beavers starting tackle comes off a terrific senior season but has been anything but in Mobile. He's struggled at a number of offensive line spots and was beaten or run over by defensive linemen in drills.

Moise Fokou/OLB/Maryland: Fokou has shown terrific athleticism this week, but his instincts leave a lot to be desired. He was caught flat-footed more than once on the afternoon, and his hesitation cost him opportunities to make plays.

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Those morons at NFLN! Their stupid producer showing a two window picture so we can watch the back of Marvin Lewis's head while he's watching the play on the field that we can't see in the damned small window.

The most significant game observation, the north defense is playing like they're the Cincinnati Bengals. How Lewis still has a head coaching job is beyond me.

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http://nflblogs.profootballweekly.com/NFLdraft/2009/01/monday_observations_from_the_s.htmlMonday observations from the Senior Bowl ...

A hearty hello from windy and chilly Mobile, Alabama, site of the Under Armour Senior Bowl. I arrived at 2 p.m. CT and have been playing catch-up ever since, but I did get a chance to watch some of the North practice. I spent most of my time watching one-on-one battles between defensive and offensive linemen. I came away impressed with Boston College DT B.J. Raji, who's quick and strong. However, Oregon C Max Unger pancaked him in one memorable battle; can't wait to see these two first-round prospects battle more in the days to come.

On a tip from Missouri alumnus, fan and general college football maven Eric Edholm, I closely watched Missouri DT Ziggy Hood. And I liked what I saw. He plays with tremendous energy.

One North offensive lineman I liked: Oklahoma OT Phil Loadholt, whom Connecticut DE Cody Brown and Oklahoma State TE Brandon Pettigrew said was their toughest matchup of the day on Monday. The 6-7, 340 Loadholt looked very good in the drills I watched.

The North team will practice at 9:30 a.m. CT on Tuesday, with the South taking the field at Ladd-Peebles Stadium at 1:45 p.m. CT. I'll be filing a couple of reports per day over the next several days.

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http://nflblogs.profootballweekly.com/NFLdraft/2009/01/north_practice_report_tuesday.htmlNorth practice report: Tuesday

Here's what I saw and heard at the North practice on Tuesday morning:

→ It's never easy to be a QB at an all-star game. There's a new offense to digest, new receivers to get in sync with. Throw in some cold and windy conditions like we had this morning (and will likely have this afternoon) and it makes for some uneven play in the passing game. Central Arkansas QB Nathan Brown was well high and off the mark on several throws and had accuracy issues for much of the practice. However, he did make some nice throws, particularly on a couple of in routes. Sam Houston QB Rhett Bomar had a better practice than Brown and would likely be less prone to be affected by tricky weather conditions because he has a relatively strong arm. I did not get to see much of Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell, but I'll certainly take a closer look the next two days.

→ Purdue DL Alex Magee had a good second day of practice. Magee used his hands well and put a nice spin move on Cincinnati OT Trevor Canfield in one-on-one drills.

→ If Penn State WR Derrick Williams can prove he can catch the ball cleanly on punts at the next level, he could be a fine returner. He struggled to catch one "punt" (a ball shot out of a JUGS machine with the trajectory of a punt, actually) and dropped another, but I'd have to think whoever drafts him is going to have to consider giving him a chance on punts and kickoffs. The Bengals' coaching staff had Ohio State WR Brian Robiskie also catching punts, but you don't see many returners in the mold of the 6-2, 207-pound Robiskie.

→ Virginia TE John Phillips can find a niche for a team that employs plenty of two-TE sets if he blocks like he did on Tuesday. He did a nice job matched up one-on-one against Northern Illinois DE Larry English. Phillips caught a career-high 48 passes as a senior, so that's a solid part of his game, too.

→ English is one of the most intriguing players to watch this week. The Bengals have him working as a 4-3 end, which is the position he played at NIU, but he projects to rush linebacker in a 3-4. English told PFW he would be comfortable in both schemes, and I noticed officials from both 3-4 and 4-3 teams chatting with him after practice. English is quick off the ball and can overmatch a slow-footed tackle with his speed.

I'll be back later this afternoon with some notes from the South practice, which thankfully will be during daylight hours and not tonight, as there is a Hard Freeze Warning in effect. Good thing I packed a fleece...http://nflblogs.profootballweekly.com/NFLdraft/2009/01/south_practice_report_tuesday.htmlSouth practice report: Tuesday

Notes, quotes and other observations from Tuesday’s South practice:

→ Alabama QB John Parker Wilson was the best of the South passers, especially early in practice. I heard some murmurs from practice observers about Wilson’s arm strength being better than expected, but what I liked best was his accuracy in the first half of practice. Wilson was putting the ball on the money and giving receivers a chance to make plays. He really seemed to be in rhythm. Also, he didn't seem to be affected by the wind, which picked up at points throughout practice. He wasn’t quite as sharp at points as the practice went on, most notably when he underthrew his receiver down the right sideline and was picked by Wake Forest CB Alphonso Smith. But overall, I liked what I saw from Wilson.

→ You didn’t have to be a coach or a scout to know that Clemson QB Cullen Harper didn’t have one of his best practices. Harper sailed a couple of throws, and his passes occasionally fluttered in the wind. West Virginia QB Pat White had some accuracy issues early, too, but he seemed to pick up his play as the practice went on. White had at least one pass dropped, too.

→ South Carolina WR Kenny McKinley caught the eye with some nice moves in one-on-one drills against defensive backs and had the catch of the day, making an impressive snag of a ball tipped by Jackson State DB Domonique Johnson. Johnson had good coverage on the play but just couldn’t snag the interception.

→ Mississippi OT Michael Oher and Hawaii DE David Veikune really got after it in one-on-one drills. Neither side would give any quarter. Oher really seemed to be playing with considerable intensity in the drills I saw early on.

→ N.C. State RB Andre Brown runs hard. In one of the more memorable plays of the practice, he ran over San Jose State DB Coye Francies. Francies, it should be noted tackled pretty well otherwise, especially in the one-on-one drills vs. the receivers.

→ Georgia WR Mohamed Massaquoi, who’s off to a good start to Senior Bowl week, noted that was “a little tight” on Monday, but that nerves were less of a factor today, and he expects even better, crisper practices throughout the rest of the week as the team starts to loosen up. As Massaquoi pointed out, rust is also an issue for players, considering that most hadn’t practiced or played since the conclusion of their collegiate seasons.http://nflblogs.profootballweekly.com/NFLdraft/2009/01/senior_bowl_buzz_tuesday.htmlSenior Bowl buzz: Tuesday

Here's a few other things we heard on Tuesday:

→ Ole Miss OT Michael Oher has really turned heads in the first two days in Mobile and has been dominant at times in one-on-one drills, which is not easy for a tackle to do.

→ Georgia WR Mohamed Massaquoi looks the part, but there's some concern about how he's catching the ball.

→ The South's shaky QB play is making life rather difficult on the receivers who are trying to make a good impression for the assembled NFL types in attendance.

→ Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio said Tuesday that West Virginia QB Pat White could work out at another position at some point this week, but the decision would be White's. There's plenty of speculation that White's future in the pros is at a position other than quarterback.

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http://nflblogs.profootballweekly.com/NFLdraft/2009/01/north_practice_report_wednesda.htmlNorth practice report: Wednesday

Notes, quotes and observations from Wednesday's North practice:

→ Boston College DT B.J. Raji was dominant at points in the full-squad scrimmage. No player stood out more than Raji, who's likely to be a first-round pick. I'll have more on him tomorrow.

→ Cincinnati's Connor Barwin worked at defensive end today after working at tight end earlier in the week. Barwin played tight end earlier in his career, but defensive end is probably where his pro future lies.

→ Sam Houston State QB Rhett Bomar fumbled two snaps from center and nearly dropped a shotgun snap. All three North QBs (Bomar, Nathan Brown and Graham Harrell) are having to get used to taking snaps under center after playing in shotgun attacks, but Bomar had the most problems with that today.

→ The Bengals were working with Missouri S William Moore on staying lower in his backpedal.

→ Oklahoma WR Juaquin Iglesias' hands have drawn raves. He's shown an ability to adjust to haul in balls thrown behind him. Iglesias and Bomar, once teammates at Oklahoma, have good chemistry, and they connected on a long pass play on Wednesday. Bomar said yesterday that he was still familiar with some of Iglesias' tendencies, and that's apparent from watching them play together.

→ Oklahoma State TE Brandon Pettigrew can be a devasating blocker, and he pancaked Cal LB Zack Follett in a one-one-one drill.

→ Michigan CB Morgan Trent joined the North team today after accepting an invite to play in the Senior Bowl on Monday. Trent played in the East-West Shrine game last week.Oklahoma WR Manuel Johnson, who also played in the East-West game, is another late addition to the North side.http://nflblogs.profootballweekly.com/NFLdraft/2009/01/south_practice_report_wednesda.htmlSouth practice report: Wednesday

Notes, quotes and observations from Wednesday's South practice:

→ Two University of Tennessee players suffered injuries. OL Anthony Parker went down in pain during a drill early in practice and was helped off the field. He appeared to be favoring his left leg. He was not putting any weight on the injury when left the field and had to be assisted by Jaguars staff. RB Arian Foster hurt his right hamstring late in practice after recovering his own fumble. Foster told PFW he did not believe the injury was serious, but he would leave the decision as to whether he would continue on this week up to the training staff.

→ USC LB Rey Maualuga was too strong and fast for Foster and N.C. State RB Andre Brown in one-on-one blocking drills. Maualuga had nine career sacks at USC, six as a junior, and based on what I've seen, I'd have to think a team that drafts him would have to consider occasionally sending him on the blitz.

→ Ole Miss LB Ashlee Palmer looks comfortable in coverage and made a great break on the ball to break up a John Parker Wilson pass intended for Florida State WR Greg Carr, a late addition to the South roster. The 6-6 Carr caught the ball well throughout practice. To me, he looks like he could bulk up and be a tight end.

→ Clemson QB Cullen Harper looked better today than yesterday and seemed more accurate.

→ Both of the big South runs I saw on Wednesday came with N.C. State RB Andre Brown running off the right side. On one of those runs, Brown's teammate, TE Anthony Moore, made a great block on USC LB Brian Cushing.

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http://nflblogs.profootballweekly.com/NFLdraft/2009/01/north_practice_report_thursday.htmlNorth practice report: Thursday

Notes, quotes and observations from Thursday's North practice:

→ Cal Poly WR Ramses Barden sat out Thursday's practice but says he will play on Saturday. "I hit my head on the ground yesterday a little bit after making a catch, and they wanted to keep me out for precautionary reasons," Barden said. He said the injury was not a concussion.

→ Cincinnati's Connor Barwin was back working with the tight ends today after working with the defensive ends yesterday.

→ Northern Illinois DE Larry English did some work with the linebackers in coverage drills and seemed to handle himself well. English projects as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 front.

→ Ohio State WR Brian Robiskie caught the eye today, especially in red-zone drills. The 6-2, 207-pound Robiskie knows how to use his frame to shield defenders and could be a nice weapon inside the 20.

→ Michigan CB Morgan Trent showed good anticipation skills in red-zone drills. He's off to a pretty good start after joining the North on Wednesday.

→ Central Arkansas QB Nathan Brown seemed to struggle with his confidence toward the end of the practice. On one play, he was picked by Cal LB Zack Follett, who had dropped into coverage and read Brown's eyes. On the next play, Brown looked unsure of himself and threw a one-hopper in the short right middle of the field.

→ The North spent a good portion of the practice working on red-zone and various situational drills. Tomorrow is the walkthrough, so the heavy lifting for practice week is just about over.http://nflblogs.profootballweekly.com/NFLdraft/2009/01/south_practice_report_thursday.htmlSouth practice report: Thursday

Notes and observations from Thursday's South practice:

→ USC WR Patrick Turner's size (6-5, 221) is an attribute in the red zone, and he beat Jackson State DB Domonique Johnson on a fade route in the left corner of the endzone. Johnson appeared to lose sight of the ball, which certainly didn't help matters.

→ West Virginia's Patrick McAfee is listed as a placekicker on the roster, but he's also an accomplished punter, and he punted several times in Thursday's practice. His first punt, which came from deep in his own territory, had very good hang time, but he couldn't match that effort thereafter, and he even dropped one snap.

→ I thought West Virginia CB Ellis Lankster had a solid practice and did well in the one-on-one drills I saw.

→ Most of the coaches and evaluators have left town. The NFL types in their team-colored jackets ringing the fences at Ladd-Peebles have been replaced by fans and a stray reporter here and there.

I'll be back Friday with any news I can glean from the walkthroughs.

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http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Senior+Bowl/2008/smith012109.htmWake Forest CB Smith compensates for lack of height with intelligence, quickness

By Mike Wilkening
Jan. 21, 2009

MOBILE, Ala. — The most highly regarded cornerback here at the Under Armour Senior Bowl is also the shortest.

Wake Forest’s Alphonso Smith may also be one of the most realistic players in Mobile, too. Smith, measured at 5-foot-8 and weighing in at 193 pounds, suspects he might not be for every team. And he’s OK with that.

“I’ll tell all the teams, if they want eye candy, I’m not their guy,” Smith said. “But if they want a productive corner who’s going to compete every play and a guy who’s going to make plays and a guy who understands defense no matter what defense you put him in, I’m their guy. But if they’re looking for some eye candy or something, I’m not, obviously.

“I can tell you this: Throughout my career, throughout my life, I’ve been productive, and I’ve never been bigger than this.”

Smith intercepted an ACC-record 21 passes in four seasons at Wake Forest. And he says he’s already intercepted a pair of passes at cornerback in practice this week as the South team prepares to play the North on Saturday.

Clearly, Smith has already done something right in the eyes of coaches and evaluators; he’s the 31st overall pick in PFW draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki’s latest mock draft, which reflects the feedback of NFL decision-makers. He is the only projected first-rounder at cornerback in Mobile.

Smith played cornerback and quarterback growing up in Pahokee, Fla. He was practical when it came to choosing his primary sport. “It was kind of even between football and basketball, but I realized I wasn’t going to get any taller, so football took over,” he joked.

He was runner-up for Player of the Year honors in Florida in 2003 after starring at Pahokee High School. He redshirted in ’04, his first season at Wake Forest, but was a key part of the defense thereafter, and his career took off his final two seasons, when he combined for 15 interceptions.

Those who have played with and against Smith bring up his height only to highlight this point: Looks are deceiving.

“He’s a good, physical cornerback,” said South Carolina WR Kenny McKinley. “You can’t let his size fool you.

Added McKinley, “He’ll jam you right out of bounds.”

“He plays with a lot of confidence,” Georgia WR Mohamed Massaquoi said of Smith. “He packs a big punch behind him.”

Wake Forest S Chip Vaughn, who’s also playing on the South team, cites his college teammate's instincts and knowledge of the game as major strengths. Smith, Vaughn said, may look like he’s a risk-taker in coverage, but that’s not the case.

“It’s all calculated gambles,” Vaughn said.

One of Smith’s strengths is his ability to recognize routes. In a one-on-one drill vs. McKinley on Tuesday, he jumped an out route, and the pass fell incomplete. After practice, Smith noted that most receivers, if they’re going to stutter-step, do so 8-12 yards into their route. When McKinley made his move at eight yards, Smith said he was knew what was coming.

That ability to anticipate, coupled with his quickness, allows him to compensate against bigger receivers, especially when he’s in off-coverage.

“There’s no big guy over 6-2 or 6-3 who’s going to get out of his break faster than I get out of mine,” he said.

Of course, in jump-ball situations, that same receiver will have the edge on Smith simply because of the height factor. One evaluator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that a team in a division with plenty of tall receivers may have to think twice about drafting Smith.

The small cornerbacks who make it in the NFL make it because they play big. That involves being a sound tackler. Smith struggled somewhat in this area in one-on-one drills on Tuesday.

For him, good tackling comes down to keeping his feet moving. “If you stop your feet, nine times out of 10, you’ll miss the tackle,” he said.

But the positives have far outweighed the negatives this week for Smith, who smiles easily and has an engaging personality but knows he has come here with something to prove.

"I have fun, but at the same time, I'm serious about it," he said.

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http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Senior+Bowl/2008/rock012209.htmOle Miss OT Oher has classic boom-or-bust potential

By Nolan Nawrocki
Jan. 22, 2009

OT Michael Oher
Mississippi senior
Ht: 6-5; Wt: 309; 40-time: 5.2 (est.)
Arms: 33¼ inches; Hands: 10¼ inches

Upside: Naturally athletic, with long arms. Good balance and light on his feet. Sets quickly in protection with good anchor strength. Powerful and can knock defenders off the ball. Can pull, trap and maneuver in space.

Downside: Average lateral quickness to slide, shuffle and mirror. Inconsistent hand placement and punch. Technique will need refinement — too often opens his shoulders, overextends and loses his balance. Bends too much at the waist and needs to do a better job sustaining. Looks disinterested at times and can be late to recognize the blitz. Has been too coddled throughout college, and his desire and passion for the game are iffy. Questionable football intelligence — will need extra reps.

The way we see it: Has the physical talent to line up at left tackle and handle edge speed but, with three different position coaches in four years, has yet to put it all together, and serious questions remain about whether he ever will. Has overcome a tremendous amount of adversity in his short lifetime but possesses classic boom-or-bust potential and will likely require several years to adapt to the pros. Some scouts think he will need to play inside, where he has help on both sides, as he did when he entered Mississippi.

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http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Senior+Bowl/2008/raji012209.htmBoston College DT Raji has stood out in Mobile

By Mike Wilkening
Jan. 22, 2009

MOBILE, Ala. — Boston College DT B.J. Raji probably didn’t need to come to the Under Armour Senior Bowl to be a first-round pick in the 2009 NFL draft. But he’s here, and he hopes his presence, in addition to anything he does on the field, tells teams something about him.

“This is the top tier of competition in the nation,” said Raji, who will suit up for the North team in Saturday’s Senior Bowl. “So I wanted to come to Mobile and show that I don’t shy away from the competition, I’m a competitor, I have a good motor and I’m relentless to the ball.”

Boston College DT B.J. Raji

The 6-1, 334-pound Raji aptly describes how he’s played for much of this week of practice. At times, Raji has simply overwhelmed the North’s interior linemen with his blend of quickness and power.

Raji stood out at Wednesday’s North practice. On one play, he blew past California C Alex Mack and caused a fumble. On the next play, he was stymied initially but was able to work free and collapse the pocket, causing Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell to hurriedly check down to a target in the short middle. Later, he beat Oregon State OG Andy Levitre, blowing up yet another running play.

“He’s a load, man,” said Oregon C Max Unger, a potential first-round pick who’s held his own vs. Raji this week. “It’s very rare you see that combination of size and speed.”

Raji has a chance to be the first defensive tackle taken in April. He was tabbed as the 15th overall pick in PFW draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki’s most recent mock draft, which reflects feedback from NFL teams.

Had everything gone according to plan for Raji, he would already be an NFL rookie. He earned second-team All-ACC honors as a junior in 2006, but he was ruled academically ineligible before his senior season in ’07 and had to redshirt.

“I just learned patience and humility,” Raji said.

Raji couldn’t play in games, but he could practice with the team, and he took the job seriously.

“You’ve got to look at it from the standpoint of trying to make your teammates better, because I love those guys,” he said.

He returned from his season on the sidelines about 10 pounds lighter and better than ever. As a senior, Raji notched 42 tackles, 16 for loss, and eight sacks. He teamed with DT Ron Brace, who’s also playing for the North, to lead an Eagles defense that allowed only 2.8 yards per carry.

Of the teams that tried to run on the Eagles, Raji noted, “At times, it got pretty frustrating, but that’s the price you pay when you’ve got two big guys in the middle.”

Those who have watched Raji throughout Senior Bowl week are convinced he’s also capable of playing nose tackle in a 3-4 front, something Raji said he would be willing to do. One evaluator, speaking on condition of anonymity, called Raji a “prototypical” nose tackle.

No matter where he plays, he looms as a potential matchup problem. His strength is unquestioned, and he’s shown an ability to keep his pads low. This makes him all the more difficult to stop, particularly if he gets off the ball quickly.

When that happens, you have Wednesday’s North practice, where Raji spent plenty of quality time on the other side of the line of scrimmage.

“He’s got a good first step, and that’s where he takes advantage of people, just being disruptive and getting into the backfield,” observed Bengals DL coach Jay Hayes, who’s worked with Raji all week.

Raji watched the 2008 Senior Bowl with great interest; after all, that was supposed to be his draft class. So, he noticed how USC DT Sedrick Ellis, one of the stars of last year’s game and the No. 7 pick in the ’08 draft, helped himself in Mobile.

“He’s obviously a great player; he showed it,” Raji said. “Teams respected him because he came out here to compete.”

So has Raji.

“My whole plan was to get better each day, and I think I’ve done that,” he said.

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http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Senior+Bowl/2008/rock012309.htmTennessee's Ayers could become solid starter once he matures

By Nolan Nawrocki
Jan. 23, 2009

DL Robert Ayers
Tennessee senior
Ht: 6-3 1/8; Wt: 273; 40-time: 4.85 (est.)
Arms: 32½ inches; Hands: 9 7/8 inches

Upside: Good strength to bull-rush and leverage the edge. Crashes hard down the line. Has risen to the occasion against better competition — troubled Alabama’s Andre Smith with his quickness and handled Mississippi’s Michael Oher in one-on-one drills at the Senior Bowl. Versatile and has lined up inside and outside, standing out as a three-technique against Alabama. Naturally athletic and plays on his feet with good balance and base, core strength. Can stack the corner against the run. Good short-area quickness. Plays with a lot of energy and emotion.

Downside: Only a one-year starter. Inconsistent effort. Does not have explosive, upfield speed and can be slow off the ball. Disappears at times. Can be stymied when he is aligned head-up. Very immature early in his career — was suspended after being charged with misdemeanor assault for his involvement in a fight — and light did not come on until he was playing for a big paycheck.

The way we see it: A base defensive end whom scouts have compared to Tampa Bay DT Jovan Haye, Ayers’ best pro position could be inside. Will need to add some bulk, but he has outstanding balance, natural strength and short-area burst to be very effective inside. Much like Haye, who lacked the maturity to make an impact in his first stop in Carolina, Ayers could take some time to mature, and the team that drafts him better be sure of his motivation and character before investing too heavily. However, if he stays focused and out of trouble, he could be a very solid starter. Could be used as a left defensive end and kick inside in nickel situations for a 4-3 front and even be worked out as a 3-4 rush linebacker.

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http://sdg.scout.com/a.z?s=102&p=2&c=833328UA Senior Bowl Risers, Fallers, Up-and-Comers

By Chris Steuber
Scout.com NFL Draft Analyst
Posted Jan 25, 2009

The Under Armour Senior Bowl week has ended with the South team defeating the North team, 35 - 18. Scout.com's Chris Steuber shares his risers, fallers, and up-and-comers after watching the practices in Mobile and analyzing the game performances.

Risers

Pat White, QB, West Virginia

It’s hard to ignore the talent Pat White has as a quarterback, because when he has the ball in his hands, something good is about to happen. The Senior Bowl was White’s opportunity to show NFL scouts that he has the talent to be a signal caller at the next level. But the consensus I got in Mobile was that he’s never going to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. With many NFL teams installing a variation of the Wildcat formation, a player of White’s ability becomes more valuable. White showed tremendous athleticism in practice and displayed the ability to escape the pocket and make throws on the run. Of the three South quarterbacks, White was the most accurate and fluid during practice. White took what he showed in practice and thrived in the game, as he led the South on two scoring drives: one that started on the South’s own 32-yard line and ultimately ended with LSU FB Quinn Johnson scoring a touchdown from one-yard out, and the other coming on a beautifully thrown 39-yard touchdown strike down the left sideline to Ole Miss WR Mike Wallace. White completed 4-of-9 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown, and had three carries for 39 yards. He was named the game’s MVP. White impressed a lot of scouts in Mobile, and although he probably won’t be a QB at the next level, don’t be surprised if he’s a late second round pick this April.

Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee

There were a lot of great defenders in Mobile this week, and I have to credit former NFL scout Tom Marino for identifying Tennessee DE Robert Ayers a couple of months ago as a hidden gem who had frontline talent. I saw Ayers play this season a lot, and he was good, but consistency was his biggest problem. This week in Mobile, he was quietly the best defensive end and had one of the best first steps of any defensive linemen. He still has to develop a larger repertoire of moves, instead of using his signature inside rip move, but that will come with time. Ayers was the most dominant defensive player on Saturday night. He used his quickness and strength against the likes of Oklahoma OT Phil Loadholt and Illinois OT Xavier Fulton and beat them off the edge with ease. Ayers finished the game with three tackles and 1.5 sacks, which earned him the Defensive Player of the game trophy. His play this week opened the eyes of many, and this once mid-round prospect has elevated his status to a late second, early third round pick.

Andre Brown, RB, NC State

One running back that really impressed me this week was NC State’s Andre Brown. He had a great burst through the line, displayed patience and vision as he reached the second level, and had surprising quickness in the open field. Not only is he a powerful runner, but he’s also been the most impressive RB in blocking drills. He’s not afraid of contact and will use his 6-foot, 224-pound frame to knock out an oncoming defender. Brown carried over his performance in practice into the game, where he was a factor in the running and passing game. He had 10 carries for 26 yards and a touchdown, and caught two passes for 39 yards. Brown’s performance at the Senior Bowl will be one scouts remember as they head into the Scouting Combine, and if he does well in Indianapolis, he could emerge as a third round prospect.

Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State TE Brandon Pettigrew is the best blocking tight end in the country, and his positioning and strength was marveled at at the Senior Bowl. At 6-foot-5, 257 pounds, Pettigrew has superior strength, great lateral movement and uses his hands extremely well. As a receiver, he’s not quick off the line and it takes him some time to build up momentum, but once he starts moving, he excels downfield. He displayed great field awareness during practice and found the opening over the middle and flashed strong hands. Pettigrew wasn’t a target in the game, but he distinguished himself as the best TE in the draft and is a sure first round selection.

Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss

In a draft that has four premier offensive tackles (three being seniors), Oher was the only senior OT to participate in the Senior Bowl, and he made the most of his participation. He was the most athletic and dominant tackle in Mobile. He’s quick off the snap, shows good lateral movement and uses his hands effectively. He has moments of inconsistency, but his ability to lock down the blind side and protect a quarterback will go a long way when NFL teams evaluate him. One of those inconsistent moments happened during the game when he was called for a holding penalty on a 4th and 1 situation. Clemson’s James Davis got the first down, but Oher got a hold of North DE Cody Brown (Connecticut), which forced the South to punt. Oher is my top ranked offensive tackle in the draft, and my opinion hasn’t changed after this week. He’s a legitimate top-five pick.

Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma

Oklahoma WR Juaquin Iglesias ran smooth, crisp routes and flashed strong hands this week in Mobile. He was impressive in the intermediate game and displayed the ability to get vertical. The 6-foot-1, 204-pound Iglesias is a physical receiver who doesn’t shy away from contact and does an outstanding job of blocking downfield. On Saturday, Iglesias did a nice job blocking downfield on running situations and was the leading receiver in the game with six receptions for 90 yards. Iglesias isn’t a burner, and that hurts him in some ways, but his route running and quickness will score points with teams looking for a possession receiver who has the ability to break free. Look for Iglesias to be a third round pick this April.

Jeremiah Johnson, RB, Oregon

Oregon running back Jeremiah Johnson has been on a mission this week in Mobile and has run with purpose. The versatile situational star has shown great quickness on the edge and deceptive strength between the tackles. He’s also shown the ability to be a dangerous weapon out of the backfield, a skill he didn’t have the opportunity to display at Oregon. Johnson had a strong game on Saturday night rushing for 22 yards on three carries and catching two passes for 26 yards and a touchdown. The 5-foot-9, 198-pound Johnson is a small back, but this week in Mobile he assured scouts that even though he doesn’t possess top-end speed, his versatility will be valuable at the next level. Johnson is a solid third – fourth round prospect.

Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews, LBs, USC

It was obvious when you watched the South team practice that Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga and Clay Matthews were the most fluid linebackers in Mobile. All three players stood out at practice and received plenty of praise from the Jacksonville Jaguars coaching staff. Cushing is a physical linebacker who uses his strength and technique to his advantage. During positional drills, Cushing used a variety of moves to get through the opposition and showed good footwork to make plays in the backfield. The athleticism and strength Maualuga possesses also came across in practice. He has great awareness and instincts and positions himself well to make plays. Matthews is a hard worker who has great instincts and desire for the game. He’s a special teams ace in the making and a solid WILL linebacker who can get after the quarterback. Unfortunately, the three-standout linebackers didn’t have an impact on the game and seemed to over pursue on potential stops. Maualuga also over pursued, but he had the best game of the three, recording three tackles, and he forced Cedric Peerman to fumble in the second quarter. Although their best showings came in practice and not in the game, Maualuga and Cushing are sure first round picks, while Matthews is a solid second round selection.

B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

The defensive standout for the North team at practice this week was Boston College DT B.J. Raji. The consistency he maintained this week was incredible, as he had his way with two of the top centers in the country: Oregon’s Max Unger and Cal’s Alex Mack. Raji’s quickness off the snap and ability to penetrate inside created problems during practice for the North’s offense. But on Saturday night, when Raji faced the South’s offensive line, it was a different story. The South’s offensive line neutralized Raji and didn’t allow him to be much of a factor. Even though Raji didn’t have a break through performance during the game, the dominance he displayed all week did wonders for his draft positioning, and he is now a lock to be a top-15 selection.

Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest

Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith has been the best defensive back at the Senior Bowl this week. The 5-foot-9, 193-pound playmaking corner plays much bigger than his measurements suggest. He has lock down potential and tremendous ball skills, which he showcased during practice. But when the lights were on and he had an opportunity to make a big time play, Smith came up small. On a 3rd and 4 play on the North 14-yard line, North QB Graham Harrell dropped back and fired right looking for Ramses Barden (Cal Poly). Smith jumped the route, extended for the ball and got both hands on it, but he dropped it. If he caught the ball, it would have been a touchdown. Even though Smith didn’t have a standout game, he still improved his draft stock and could be a late first round pick. But it seems more likely that he will be selected in the early second round.

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Fallers

Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech

This wasn’t the best week for Graham Harrell. The highly touted field general from Texas Tech struggled taking snaps under center, showed poor mechanics, didn’t display a strong arm and was uncharacteristically inaccurate. He took snaps in practice from three different centers: Alex Mack (California), Max Unger (Oregon) and Ryan Shuman (Virginia Tech), and said that he was getting more comfortable each day. But on Saturday, Harrell’s struggles continued, and he looked worse than he did during practice. It’s obvious that taking snaps under center for the first time has taken a toll on Harrell and his ability to perform at a high level. However, his lack of arm strength is alarming. Harrell had no lift on the ball, which was caused by his feet not being properly set. When he’s set and confident, Harrell is lethal. But when he’s uncomfortable, he short arms his throws and the ball dives. For Harrell to become a starting quarterback at the next level, he has to straighten out his footwork and mechanics now that he has to take five and seven step drops. He will have to improve by the Scouting Combine to keep his third – fourth round status. If he continues his Senior Bowl form, Harrell may drop to the sixth or seventh round.

William Moore, FS, Missouri

I still believe William Moore is one of the best defensive backs available in the draft, but after a disappointing senior season and an underwhelming Senior Bowl week showing, Moore, who was once considered a first round pick, has seen his stock fall to the second round. The instincts and playmaking ability he displayed as a junior – when he recorded 117 tackles and eight interceptions – are completely gone, and in Mobile he looked like an overaggressive, in the box safety type who lacks discipline. On Saturday, it was more of the same for Moore, where he over pursed on a couple of plays and left the game early with an ankle injury. This has been a forgettable year for Moore, and it’s turning into a disastrous off-season.

William Beatty, OT, Connecticut

If you’re looking for an athletic offensive tackle with quick feet and a nice frame, Connecticut’s William Beatty is the one you want. But when you stop salivating over his athleticism, you will realize that he doesn’t possess a mean streak, and he’s not strong enough to stop a speed rusher’s bull rush or a strong, technically sound DE. During practice, Beatty was constantly overmatched by the likes of Hawaii DE David Veikune, Tennessee DE Robert Ayers and Richmond DE Lawrence Sidbury. At 6-foot-6, 291 pounds, Beatty has the potential to be a very good tackle, but his lack of strength and technique to keep defenders at bay is worrisome.

Up-and-Comers

Louis Delmas, FS, Western Michigan

Western Michigan FS Louis Delmas displayed great positioning and awareness during practice, and proved that he’s one of the most physical defensive backs on the North roster. Delmas led WMU in tackles (111) and interceptions (4) this past season and showcased his skills all week in Mobile. On Saturday, Delmas played well at the line of scrimmage and in coverage and made four tackles. He received a lot of attention this week and will continue to rise up draft boards as we head into the Scouting Combine.

Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss

The Senior Bowl is a place for the top seniors in the country, but it’s also a place to discover talent that you may not be familiar with, and one of those names is Southern Miss tight end Shawn Nelson. At 6-foot-5, 238 pounds, Nelson is an athletic, pass-catching tight end who creates mismatches with his unique blend of skills. He gets a fluid release off the line, runs good routes and uses his frame to mirror defenders while snaring a pass. He’s focused and disciplined, and showed those qualities this week in Mobile. Known more for his ability as a receiver and not his blocking technique, Nelson improved his blocking throughout the week. One of the most athletic tight ends in the country, Nelson should come off the board in the fourth round.

Rashad Jennings, RB, Liberty

A former Pittsburgh transfer, Rashad Jennings impressed scouts this week with his quick feet, toughness between the tackles and his ability as a receiver. The 6-foot-1, 234-pound bulldozer is also a solid blocker and displayed the awareness to slip through and set up for a screen pass. Jennings’ strong effort during the week carried over into Saturday night’s game where he had nine carries for 41 yards. The biggest question surrounding Jennings is his straight-line speed. He’s not a shifty back and is a little stiff in the hips, but if he’s able to run a high 4.4 or a low 4.5 in the 40-yard dash, he will be a late second, early third round pick.

David Veikune, DE, Hawaii

Hawaii DE David Veikune played with a high motor and showed great athleticism off the edge at the Senior Bowl. The 6-foot-2, 255 pound Veikune used his quickness and deceptive strength to gain the upper hand against the likes of Ole Miss OT Michael Oher and Tulane OT Troy Kropog. Veikune doesn’t do anything fancy and isn’t a technician by any means, but he has a quick first step and uses his speed and balance to get into the backfield. On Saturday night, Veikune was held in check and came away with just two tackles, but he recovered a key fumble. He’s an interesting prospect and someone you will want to keep an eye on at the Scouting Combine. He’s a workout warrior and could ultimately land in the third round.[/quote]

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http://nflmocks.com/2009/01/25/10-2009-senior-bowl-performances-that-impressed-us/Top 10 2009 Senior Bowl Performances

By Adam | January 25th, 2009

1. QB Pat White - This kid is special. He’s like a mini-Michael Vick with Barry Sanders’ humility. Great kid, even better player. That being said, I’m still not sure he’s an every-down quarterback. What I’m sure he is is Kordell “Slash” Stewart on steroids. I can see him playing receiver in the slot, playing QB in short-yardage situations, being the wildcat for 10 snaps a game. I can envision him becoming the most dangerous and effective utility player ever. I think he could go as high as the second or third round, but that is contingent on his willingness to play receiver and wildcat. Then again, I admire his determination to play the quarterback position. His teammates chose him as captain and he was the game’s MVP. He couldn’t have had a better week.

2. DE Robert Ayers, Tennessee - Set to become the biggest Ayers since Bill. When I say Draft, you say Ayers — Draft-Ayers! Draft-Ayers! (gotta love that SNL skit) Coming in, critics were concerned about him not being a full-time starter as a Vol for very long. Then he straight whooped Michael Oher last Monday in practice and was basically unblockable in last night’s game, recording 1.5 sacks — the half sack resulting in a defensive TD. He’s a second-round lock who could move up with a strong combine showing. Ayers was the Defensive Player of the Game.

3. WR - Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma - His play last night after the week of practice he had has convinced me that he is this year’s Eddie Royal. I’m going to call him Steak n Shake. Why? He’s got the hands of a good graveyard shift server — he holds onto the ball regardless of the situation; B.) He’s definitely got the shake part down; C.) He’s always open. Love this kid.

4. LB Rey Maualuga, USC - Rey outplayed teammate Brian Cushing after a week where it looked like Cushing might pass him on draft boards. He rebounded immediately from a missed tackle early on to cause a fumble on the same series. Later in the game he absolutely annihilated an attempted halfback screen, beating standout center Max Unger to make the play. He looked like a pro amongst amateurs out there at times. The NFL needs a Rey for the next generation. He’s ready.

5. TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State - The best blocking tight end who’s also a good receiver that I’ve ever seen at this level. He’s a 10 as a blocker, an 8 as a receiver. His blocking was just awesome last night, and he’s the best TE receiver in this class as well. Pencil him in as a first-rounder. Actually, you’re safe to use pen.

6. C Eric Woods, Louisville - I watched him a lot, and like what I saw from the mauler. He dominated B.J. Raji — arguably the best DT in the draft — on one short TD run by getting under Raji’s pads and blowing him off the ball. Impressive.

7. RB Andre Brown, NC State - You know those third-round RBs that end up starting during their rookie season. I could see Brown doing that. What can Brown do for your team? A lot.

8. G/T Herman Johnson, LSU - He was a 15-pound baby. Now, I’m not so sure that he couldn’t eat a 15-pound baby. Big man, I just dig the way you move all that man. If you keep your weight in check I could see you being a Leonard Davis-type player.

9. CB Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest - Should have had a pick six on a route he jumped, but couldn’t come down with it, . He’s a potential shutdown corner for sure. He’ll probably be picked early second, making him this year’s Brandon Flowers. He’ll play like a first-rounder.

10. OT Xavier Fulton, Illinois - Got called for a questionable holding call, but I thought he moved better than any OT in the game. He can really get downfield and make some things happen. I think this kid is a serious sleeper becuase of his athleticism. Could be a better pro than college player.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/01/25/senior.bowl.gamer/Posted: Sunday January 25, 2009 1:19AM; Updated: Sunday January 25, 2009 12:53PM

Linemen rule roost at Senior Bowl

By Tony Pauline, TFYDraft.com

MOBILE, Ala. -- The final chapter of the 60th annual Senior Bowl was completed on Saturday night after the team from the South defeated the North 35-18. Like the preceding week of practices, the game provided several performances of note and a few to forget.

• Pat White was listed as one of our biggest sliders of Senior Bowl week on Friday because of his poor showing in practice. The West Virginia quarterback is having the last laugh. White was named MVP after directing two scoring drives and passing for 95 yards with one score, as he led the South to victory. NFL teams now have a decision to make: Do they forget what they saw in practice and just brand White as a gamer who lights it up once the ball is kicked off? Or are they unimpressed because the rules of the Senior Bowl game (no blitzing, no press coverage) lend a helping hand to quarterbacks? This story will continue at the NFL Combine.

• The best pass rusher during Senior Bowl practices was Northern Illinois' Larry English. In the game, English showed the versatility that will endear him to NFL decision makers. Besides lining up at defensive end, English also played outside linebacker. He showed the ability to be a disruptive force playing in space and the speed and athletic ability necessary to effectively stop the run.

• If English was the best pass rusher at the Senior Bowl, Robert Ayers was not far behind. The Tennessee product turned in two sacks last, including a fourth-quarter sack which resulted in a South touchdown. Ayers blew past highly rated offensive tackle Philip Loadholt, showing great edge speed, then blasted quarterback Rhett Bomar, who fumbled the ball in the end zone which and into the hands of South defenders for six points.

• Quinn Johnson (LSU) has been one of the best lead blockers in the nation for the past three years, a talent he showcased on Saturday night. Johnson was responsible for a number of blocks during South touchdown drives, which sprung ball carriers free for large gains. Johnson also displayed skill handling the ball, something he was rarely asked to do at LSU. He had a pair of important receptions during the South's first touchdown drive, then carried the ball into the end zone for the second score. Adding another dimension to his game will only enhance Johnson's value as he only carried the ball 16 times in college and caught just four passes.

• Tyronne Green, who had a solid week of practice, continued his momentum through the game. Green handled BJ Raji (Boston College) in one-on-one blocking during the game and was the only lineman to successfully contain the defensive tackle at any point last week. Green looked terrific in protecting the South's three quarterbacks all evening. He's an athletic lineman with the skill needed to play in a zone-blocking scheme.

• Iowa defensive lineman Mitch King did not pass the eyeball test when he measured in at just 6-feet, 1½ inches and 275 pounds on Monday; but don't let that fool you. King proved on Saturday he's a real good football player. He made plays behind the line of scrimmage, in the box and on special teams. King is reminiscent of several former Hawkeye defensive linemen, such as Jonathan Babineaux and Aaron Kampman; prospects who were considered too small and too slow to play in the NFL ... yet late-round picks who went on to have long and prosperous careers at the next level.

• Signal-caller Graham Harrell benefited from the wide open offense at Texas Tech, allowing him to take snaps from the shotgun almost exclusively. During the game, he struggled lining up underneath center. On the game's first drive, Harrell tripped over his offensive guard dropping into the pocket. On the same series, Harrell threw a bounce pass when he was unable to properly set up. He struggled with his footwork most of the night and was constantly off balance throwing the ball. Harrell also displayed very poor arm strength. The difference was startling when Bomar, a traditional pocket-passer from Sam Houston State, took over the offense.

• Cincinnati cornerback DeAngelo Smith continued to give up a large number of receptions in the game last night, just as he did earlier in the week. Smith played soft coverage and ended up surrendering a 39-yard touchdown reception to Mississippi receiver Mike Wallace, who ran past him down the sidelines. There's concern Smith will struggle at cornerback and may ultimately move into safety because of his poor coverage skills.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=510881Raji, Cushing among biggest winners in Senior Bowl week

Posted: January 25, 2009

This story first appeared in Sunday's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.

MOBILE, Ala. -- Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts analyze the prospects who helped themselves the most at Senior Bowl practices:

B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College. He arrived as the top defensive tackle, but scouts wanted to figure out where he should be drafted. He was dominant all week, driving opponents back with strength and beating them with quickness and agility. For a player who many thought was strictly a two-gap tackle, Raji proved he can be productive in any scheme. Projection: Rose from a probable first-round pick to a definite top-15 selection.

Brian Cushing, LB, USC. No one doubted Cushing had top-level athleticism, but scouts wanted to find out why he wasn't dominant at USC. They found out he has the physical tools to be effective at almost anything. He displayed sideline-to-sideline range against the run, good pass-rush ability and excellent coverage skills. Projection: Moved from a possible first-round pick to a definite first-rounder.

Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest. Smith did an excellent job of proving he has the high-level explosiveness, athleticism and ball skills to make up for his 5-9 height. He intercepted a pass on three consecutive practice days. Projection: Moved from a first- or second-round prospect to a definite first-rounder.

Alex Mack, C, California. He came to Mobile hoping to lay claim to the No. 1 center spot in the draft. Mission accomplished. He proved he is by far the best center on the board and offers the combination of good athleticism, size, strength and competitiveness that NFL teams love. Projection: Moved from a possible first-round pick to a definite first-rounder.

Coye Francies, CB, San Jose State. Before he arrived in Mobile, Francies was regarded as a good prospect but not an elite one. However, after showing top-level athleticism all week to complement his good height, long arms, instincts and willingness to play physical in coverage, he moved way up draft boards. Projection: Jumped from a third-round prospect to a first-rounder.

Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi. Jerry had an excellent week in Mobile. He displayed the quickness, explosiveness, hand use and power to jolt and control blockers and clearly established himself as one of the top defensive tackles in the draft. Projection: Moved from a third-round prospect to a likely first-rounder.

William Beatty, OT, Connecticut. Beatty had an excellent week. He showed he was the most athletic of the O-linemen and clearly has the quickness, agility, all-around athleticism and strength to play left tackle in the NFL. His play in Mobile should put him among the top tackles. Projection: Jumped from the third round to a likely first-rounder.

Fili Moala, DT, USC. Viewed beforehand as an undersized tackle who lacked the elite athleticism to be a big-time NFL player, Moala came through with a very good week. Not only did he help himself by weighing more than 300 pounds, but he showed the strength to jolt and control O-linemen. Projection: Moved from a second-/third-round pick to a first-/second-rounder.

Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan. Delmas came to Mobile battling to be the top safety and left as either No. 1 or 2. He showed very good all-around athleticism and proved he will be able to cover slot receivers when opposing offenses go to three-receiver sets. He showed good range in coverage and the burst to close on ballcarriers fast in run support. Projection: Moved from a third-rounder to a first- or second-rounder.

Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Mississippi. Nelson is a thin tight end who was viewed as a developmental prospect before the Senior Bowl. However, he consistently showed quick feet and the explosive burst to get separation down the seam. He also caught the ball very well. Projection: Jumped from a fifth- or sixth-round pick to a likely third-rounder who could move the second round with a strong Combine.

Cedric Peerman, RB, Virginia. Pearman had a strong week in Mobile to further prove he belongs among the better backs in the draft. He showed very quick feet and the ability to make sharp cuts and get through holes in a flash. Projection: Moved from a fourth-round prospect to a likely third-rounder.

John Phillips, TE, Virginia. Phillips showed he is a better athlete than many thought and will be able to contribute as a receiver more than many expected. He ran sharp routes, was quicker than expected and caught the ball extremely well. In addition, he showed the technique to be a consistently productive blocker. Projection: Jumped from sixth-/seventh-round prospect to a likely third- or fourth-rounder.

Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State. Robiskie did not move up much in draft status, but he showed why he will have a long career in the NFL. Teams had been concerned about his lack of burst, but he offset that by running great routes and showing outstanding fundamentals and hands. Projection: Rose from a fourth- or fifth-round pick to a third-/fourth-round prospect.

Jason Watkins, OT, Florida. After a disappointing senior season in which his draft stock fell greatly, Watkins stepped up in Mobile. He showed quickness, agility and all-around athleticism --elements that had come into question because of his inconsistent play in 2008. Projection: Moved from a fifth- or sixth-rounder to a third-/fourth-round pick.

[Hawg73]

Good stuff, Box.

Thanks for posting them and I have been reading the synopses.

Interesting how B.J. Raji is a sudden wonderboy. I thought he played well at BC, but nothing deserving the kind of raves he got in Mobile.

Maybe he is just one of those guys who wasn't terrificly interested in playing college football and his motor is running now that he is getting a sniff of a big contract.

Anyone remember what his specific disciplinary problems were at BC? I can't recall, but believe Jags suspended him at least once for being a problem child.

We probably don't have a major interest in Raji, but I do like Peria Jerry quite a bit. His listed size isn't great, but he plays big and the Pats will probably take a real close look at the available DLs and Jerry could be around at 23.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=510881Raji, Cushing among biggest winners in Senior Bowl week

Posted: January 25, 2009

MOBILE, Ala. -- Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts analyze the prospects who helped themselves the most at Senior Bowl practices:

B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College. He arrived as the top defensive tackle, but scouts wanted to figure out where he should be drafted. He was dominant all week, driving opponents back with strength and beating them with quickness and agility. For a player who many thought was strictly a two-gap tackle, Raji proved he can be productive in any scheme. Projection: Rose from a probable first-round pick to a definite top-15 selection.

Brian Cushing, LB, USC. No one doubted Cushing had top-level athleticism, but scouts wanted to find out why he wasn't dominant at USC. They found out he has the physical tools to be effective at almost anything. He displayed sideline-to-sideline range against the run, good pass-rush ability and excellent coverage skills. Projection: Moved from a possible first-round pick to a definite first-rounder.

Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest. Smith did an excellent job of proving he has the high-level explosiveness, athleticism and ball skills to make up for his 5-9 height. He intercepted a pass on three consecutive practice days. Projection: Moved from a first- or second-round prospect to a definite first-rounder.

Alex Mack, C, California. He came to Mobile hoping to lay claim to the No. 1 center spot in the draft. Mission accomplished. He proved he is by far the best center on the board and offers the combination of good athleticism, size, strength and competitiveness that NFL teams love. Projection: Moved from a possible first-round pick to a definite first-rounder.

Coye Francies, CB, San Jose State. Before he arrived in Mobile, Francies was regarded as a good prospect but not an elite one. However, after showing top-level athleticism all week to complement his good height, long arms, instincts and willingness to play physical in coverage, he moved way up draft boards. Projection: Jumped from a third-round prospect to a first-rounder.

Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi. Jerry had an excellent week in Mobile. He displayed the quickness, explosiveness, hand use and power to jolt and control blockers and clearly established himself as one of the top defensive tackles in the draft. Projection: Moved from a third-round prospect to a likely first-rounder.

William Beatty, OT, Connecticut. Beatty had an excellent week. He showed he was the most athletic of the O-linemen and clearly has the quickness, agility, all-around athleticism and strength to play left tackle in the NFL. His play in Mobile should put him among the top tackles. Projection: Jumped from the third round to a likely first-rounder.

Fili Moala, DT, USC. Viewed beforehand as an undersized tackle who lacked the elite athleticism to be a big-time NFL player, Moala came through with a very good week. Not only did he help himself by weighing more than 300 pounds, but he showed the strength to jolt and control O-linemen. Projection: Moved from a second-/third-round pick to a first-/second-rounder.

Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan. Delmas came to Mobile battling to be the top safety and left as either No. 1 or 2. He showed very good all-around athleticism and proved he will be able to cover slot receivers when opposing offenses go to three-receiver sets. He showed good range in coverage and the burst to close on ballcarriers fast in run support. Projection: Moved from a third-rounder to a first- or second-rounder.

Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Mississippi. Nelson is a thin tight end who was viewed as a developmental prospect before the Senior Bowl. However, he consistently showed quick feet and the explosive burst to get separation down the seam. He also caught the ball very well. Projection: Jumped from a fifth- or sixth-round pick to a likely third-rounder who could move the second round with a strong Combine.

Cedric Peerman, RB, Virginia. Pearman had a strong week in Mobile to further prove he belongs among the better backs in the draft. He showed very quick feet and the ability to make sharp cuts and get through holes in a flash. Projection: Moved from a fourth-round prospect to a likely third-rounder.

John Phillips, TE, Virginia. Phillips showed he is a better athlete than many thought and will be able to contribute as a receiver more than many expected. He ran sharp routes, was quicker than expected and caught the ball extremely well. In addition, he showed the technique to be a consistently productive blocker. Projection: Jumped from sixth-/seventh-round prospect to a likely third- or fourth-rounder.

Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State. Robiskie did not move up much in draft status, but he showed why he will have a long career in the NFL. Teams had been concerned about his lack of burst, but he offset that by running great routes and showing outstanding fundamentals and hands. Projection: Rose from a fourth- or fifth-round pick to a third-/fourth-round prospect.

Jason Watkins, OT, Florida. After a disappointing senior season in which his draft stock fell greatly, Watkins stepped up in Mobile. He showed quickness, agility and all-around athleticism --elements that had come into question because of his inconsistent play in 2008. Projection: Moved from a fifth- or sixth-rounder to a third-/fourth-round pick.

[Box_O_Rocks]

Good stuff, Box.

Thanks for posting them and I have been reading the synopses.

Interesting how B.J. Raji is a sudden wonderboy. I thought he played well at BC, but nothing deserving the kind of raves he got in Mobile.

Maybe he is just one of those guys who wasn't terrificly interested in playing college football and his motor is running now that he is getting a sniff of a big contract.

Anyone remember what his specific disciplinary problems were at BC? I can't recall, but believe Jags suspended him at least once for being a problem child.

We probably don't have a major interest in Raji, but I do like Peria Jerry quite a bit. His listed size isn't great, but he plays big and the Pats will probably take a real close look at the available DLs and Jerry could be around at 23.I'm not confident that Jerry would translate well to a two gap, 3-4 defense, he is an excellent 3-technique though.

Raji did very well in one-on-ones and in intra-team scrimmages at practice, during the game he was neutralized by Eric Wood (Louisville) and Tyronne Green (Auburn). I have been leaning toward Ron Brace in the 3rd round as a back-up for Vince - he showed me something during the game when he split a tackle with the FS 20 yds upfield on a power sweep - that kind of hustle at his size should get him a closer look. He got panned in one of these articles for sucking down oxygen after each series, and everyone thought he looked too fat at the weigh-in, but Coach Woicik and Coach Nash can help with that.

[mooseontheloose]

10. OT Xavier Fulton, Illinois - Got called for a questionable holding call, but I thought he moved better than any OT in the game. He can really get downfield and make some things happen. I think this kid is a serious sleeper becuase of his athleticism. Could be a better pro than college player.

Not bad for a guy who was converted from DT to OT just two seasons ago.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7461Barwin's theory
By GEOFF HOBSON
January 20, 2009

Posted: 5:30 a.m.

MOBILE, Ala. - The first full day of the Senior Bowl began with Marvin Lewis reminding his team in an early morning meeting that they are embarking on a week-long job interview.

It ended at just about midnight with agents virtually tucking in their players and NFL scouts and coaches scattered about the sardine-packed first two floors of the Renaissance Hotel comparing notes, resumes and job gossip.

In between Monday there were some snippets:

The Bengals coaching staff got its first look at its North team on the field Monday afternoon and at first blush it looks to be much better than the 2004 edition that got swamped by the South.

"I like the offensive line, where the centers this year are fantastic," said Mike Mayock, the NFL Network analyst, before he was beamed nationwide during practice. "The kid that is my favorite on the whole North is Brandon Pettigrew, the tight end from Oklahoma State. I think he's rare. I think he's special. He's one of those rare tight ends this year in college football that is a great in-line blocker and can catch the ball down the field."

The Hayes brothers, tight ends coach Jon and defensive line coach Jay, were getting ready to trade off the University of Cincinnati's intriguing Connor Barwin, a former tight end that moved to defensive end this season and led the Big East in sacks.

"I think I get him until Thursday and then he goes over to Jay," said Jon. "He has a chance to be a niche guy in the league, but I don't know if he's big enough (6-3, 253) to put his hand on the ground (and rush the passer.)

"I was surprised how much he retained when we were doing it on the board, but he's just got to get used to it when everyone starts moving around."

Doug Williams, still a personnel assistant with Tampa Bay, was thinking about Barack Obama's inauguration as much as the club's Friday Night Massacre that claimed head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen.

"The only thing I had to do with it is I voted for him," said Williams, vastly underplaying his role in the story as the Super Bowl's first winning African-American quarterback 21 years ago. "It's a great day for America. I'd like to watch it, but I'm afraid I'll be at the (North) practice."

Such is a day at the Senior Bowl, an all-star game where talents and teams and times always seem to be juggled on the run.

Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander and assistant Bob Surace did a bit of juggling with two of the game's marquee names in centers Max Unger of Oregon and Alex Mack of California. Both got an introduction to NFL guard Monday. Not to mention each other as the draft's consensus two top centers.

"He's real good. I was stretching next to him and he was doing splits," Unger said. "He was touching his butt all the way to the ground from a standing position. The guy's an animal."

"He's good. He's real smooth on his pass sets," Mack said. "If a guy is good enough to be here, I'm going to watch and see if there's anything I can learn."

Alexander and Surace want to know how much the prospects can learn in a week, so they've made an effort not to make things too vanilla. That shouldn't be too hard for Mack or Unger. Mack won the Draddy Trophy as college football's top scholar-athlete and Unger had a 3.02 grade point average en route to his art degree.

"I wanted it to be a little higher," Unger said. "I didn't really have a concentration. A lot of general stuff. It was a lot of print-making and metal classes. Good stuff. It was fun, good classes."

Who sounds like who went to Berkeley? Mack sounded like he went to school on the Xs and Os.

"They weren't going to change your technique if it's been something you've been doing for the last five years," Mack said. "But they wanted to expose you to different schemes, different plays. By the end of practice it was starting to become more natural."

But it looks like they're going to have their hands full all week with Boston College defensive tackles B.J. Raji and Ron Brace. Raji and Brace wasted no time standing out Monday even after Mayock had observed before he went on air, "They have a chance to be good football players."

Barwin is a good football player. The problem is where? After a junior season he made a mark on special teams and caught 31 balls and two touchdowns, he made the stunningly successful move to pass rusher as a senior. After moving back to tight end Monday, it was not lost on him what his old college teammate had done the day before in the Eagles' loss in the NFC championship game.

Former Cincinnati tight end Brent Celek set a team playoff record with 10 catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns while bringing Philadelphia back from a 24-6 deficit to 24-19 before the Eagles briefly took a lead.

"Unfortunately I didn't see it, but I saw the highlights and I'm so happy for him because I know how tough it's been for him sitting behind L.J. Smith," Barwin said. "We still talk on the phone and we text. I'm going to wait for a few more days to call him because I know he must be hearing from everybody."

Barwin is saying and doing all the right things. Asked what position he prefers, he said, "Wherever which team picks me to play," and "whatever gets me on the field the longest."

Jay Hayes, the Bengals D-line coach, is fully aware of Barwin's work with the Cincinnati basketball team, and he's interested to see what he gets later in the week. It does conjure up memories from 10 years ago when Hayes was the Steelers special teams coach and had a special teams maven that also played some SAM linebacker named Mike Vrabel before Vrabel became the gold standard for versatility as a top flight linebacker and TD-catching tight end in New England.

"Vrabes could really run," said Jay Hayes, who really can't two weeks removed from hernia surgery. "We'll see what this guy can do. I know he's athletic."

It was a tough practice for everyone. About 10 minutes into it, one of the players hustling to their position slammed into Jay Hayes and his scar. But Barwin didn't look the worse for wear even though he admitted he was rusty getting back into a position he hadn't played in awhile.

"I'm not as good as Celek blocking, but he proved yesterday he's a receiving tight end," Barwin said as he talked about his own game. "I think my strengths are my route running, my toughness. Blocking down linemen is a weakness."

But Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski liked Barwin's personality and the brightness he brought to the meeting room and thinks he could make a mental transition. Jon Hayes knows Barwin needs more reps on offense just to get back into it.

"But he looked pretty good and he understood things," Jon Hayes said. "Is he big enough to put his hand on the ground and rush the passer? I think Vrabel was a littler bigger when Jay had him. But the more you can do. He might be able to play some special teams and play some SAM backer and with goal-line and short-yardage, there are guys who aren't tight ends who have caught more touchdowns in this league than tight ends. And they'll see what he can do rushing."

Barwin's stock has a chance to go through the roof at next month's NFL Scouting Combine. While training in the UC weight room, Barwin is also working with Clif Marshall at Ignition Sports, a Cincinnati suburban gym where Marshall preps prospects for combine testing. He believes he's dealing with an athletic freak.

"Out of the 15 guys I've got, he's the biggest and he's got the lowest body fat. He's got just 10," Marshall said when he called in to check in on Barwin's day. "And in front of all these receivers and DBs, he did a vertical leap of about 34 inches."

Plus, Marshall is convinced that Barwin's frame is big enough to put on another 20 pounds or so and be a Justin Smith-like 275 pounds.

Other Monday snippets:

Mayock caught himself musing about the North quarterback corps of Texas Tech's Graham Harrell, Sam Houston State's Rhett Bomar, and Central Arkansas's Nathan Brown. "Will a senior quarterback please step up," he mused, and while he likes the athleticism of Missouri safety William Moore he also wondered "on tape he played like a top 20 pick as a junior but a fourth-rounder as a senior."

But one guy who did get some raves Monday was Penn State receiver-returner Derrick Williams with one scout observing, "He's showing people he's faster then they think. He'll make some money this week."

Lewis didn't say that, but it was implicit in his message he pounded all day and will continue to do during the week.

"He said we've got a great opportunity to show what we can do," Barwin said, "because everybody (in the NFL) is here. It was good to hear that coming from him."

All they had to do was look in the stands and see Doug Williams, a guy who had one opportunity and ran it into history. In this historic week, he didn't want to take much credit.

"There were a lot of great firsts along the way to get to this day," he said. "Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Jackie Robinson."

Told he was part of that line, Williams said, "It's a great line to be a part of," but he still didn't think he'd make it back from Lewis' practice in time to see Obama sworn in.

"I'll have to see the highlights," he said at the start of a week everyone is on the run.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7469Vrabel variable
By GEOFF HOBSON
January 22, 2009

Posted: 7:25 p.m.

MOBILE, Ala. - Hard to imagine anyone's stock rising higher this week than the University of Cincinnati's Connor Barwin at the Senior Bowl. Only Barack Obama and Slumdog Millionaire had a better week.

A day after he opened eyes in pass-rush drills as a defensive end, Barwin on Thursday rushed past the North linebackers with ease to catch a number of balls as a tight end in another set of one-on-one drills.

"I got a chance to show what I can do as far as one-on-one with linebackers trying to cover me," Barwin said. "I don't think any linebacker can cover me and I was able to show that today. Imagine if I was playing that all year. I'd be out there killing guys."

Then late Thursday afternoon Lewis killed any notion that he was going to limit Barwin in Saturday's game by borrowing the nickname of former Bengals safety Ethan Kilmer. He'll take snaps in a game at tight end for the first time since '07, as well as play defensive end on some passing downs.

"Three-way," Lewis said. "Offense. Defense. Special teams."

The injury-plagued Kilmer only did it in practice (wide receiver, safety, special teams) and only in his rookie year of 2006. But someone else compared his intensity to another ex-Bengal:

"He's got a Justin Smith motor and he's a better athlete."

Barwin says a bunch of teams are telling him this week that they are finding him intriguing as a third tight end/nickel rusher, one spot on a 45-player game day sheet and a rookie salary for two positions.

What is really intriguing in Cincinnati is those are two spots that really fit the Bengals needs: A young, tough tight end to groom to replace Reggie Kelly, the highly-regarded veteran that turns 32 next month, and some fresh legs on a pass rush that finished next-to-last in sacks per pass in the NFL this season.

If Barwin sound confident, he is. It's one of the reasons the scouts love his makeup.

"I think I'm a lot better defensive end than I showed. But that's how I've got to do it," he said. "They just throw me in there and I've got to respond. The competitors don't think you come here and play the best you can. I always think I can play a little better."

The Bearcats moved the 6-4, 253-pound Barwin to defensive end after he caught 31 balls as a junior and he ended up leading the Big East in sacks as a senior.

Throw in his stints with the UC basketball team and now you know why tight ends coach Jon Hayes and defensive line coach Jay Hayes have joked this week that they want to have a brotherly wrestling match to see who wins him for each practice and Saturday.

With all the Mike Vrabel comparisons now streaming in, one guy says they aren't all that far-fetched. Jay Hayes should know. He arrived as the Steelers special teams coach when Vrabel was in his second year out of Ohio State, long before Vrabel turned into the Patriots' two-way threat as a linebacker/sacker and goal-line TD maker.

(Vrabel has eight career touchdown receptions. Kelly has three in six Bengals seasons.)

"There are a lot of similarities," Hayes said. "Michael is a bigger man, but Vrabel didn't play basketball at a Big East school. Although he would probably tell you that he he could. When Mike was at the Steelers for a few years, he got up to 265-270 pounds and I remember when I was in the Big 10 (Wisconsin), he was a good 245-250 then. I think Connor can get there, but not right away.

"Mike was a core special-teams guy, a great player that way. He could go all day. Tireless. (Barwin) seems to be (that way.) I bet you he probably is always in shape. That's what it looks like to me. He likes to play."

The take on Barwin is all over the board about his role and where he'll get drafted. Some think he's a better defender and that's what he really likes. But on Thursday he dropped just one ball in the drill against the linebackers ("The sun was in my eyes," he said) and he absolutely smoked South Florida linebacker Tyrone McKenzie on deep ball down the seam.

Does he or a team have to decide?

When Barwin dropped by the defensive line room to watch film Wednesday, Hayes happened to look up on the tape and there was Barwin making a catch and he told the room, "The more you can do. That's where his versatility showed itself."

"He has some pass-rush ability. He's got good burst, he's elusive. He uses his hands well," Hayes said. "He's got the ability to see the ball-get the ball really well. I would not be surprised to see him play defense in the NFL."

But Hayes could also see Barwin doing a Vrabel on the goal line.

"No question he's a guy you can put as a wing or tight end in a goal-line situation because you know he can possibly block some people," he said. "I don't know what type of blocker he is, but I know you can run a lot of play-action with him and then slipping a blocker and catching a dump pass or whatever."

Barwin hasn't studied Vrabel but he's watched him in games and knows that he's an outside linebacker that the Pats move to end to rush the passer. And he knows the comparison comes in with the red-zone stuff on offense.

"That's the intriguing part about me that teams tell me they see," he said.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7462Center of attention
By GEOFF HOBSON
January 20, 2009

Posted: 7:05 a.m.

(The first installment of a Senior Bowl week diary with Cincinnati's Eric Wood, a center for the South out of Louisville.)

MOBILE, Ala. - First he was meeting with the Bears, the team that has Pro Bowler Olin Kreutz, a guy with whom he's already been compared in style.

Then another personnel type grabbed him to set up an appointment for Tuesday night, but not before getting a mini head start and every phone number he's had since third grade.

Then he was gone back down the escalator looking for the Panthers' cave in the hotel's byzantine series of conference rooms for another interview.

Maybe you couldn't slow him down for an interview because of all the interviews, but earlier in the day you could interview the NFL Network's Mike Mayock about Louisville center Eric Wood, a West Side guy from Cincinnati playing for the South against a North team with a familiar rival.

"Love him," Mayock is saying about Wood. "He can not only be a starting NFL center, but I think he can play four spots on the line. He's a finisher. He plays hard. What I like about him is once he gets into you, it's all over."

This day, Monday, isn't all over for Wood until 11 p.m. even though he was eating breakfast at 7:15 and went through his first practice in two months. He's on the phone now, but it sounds like he's still flipping through his loose-leaf notebook where he has been busily scribbling in appointments with NFL teams and reminders. Look quickly and you might see Wood hunched in a chair or over a table before closing the book and racing to the next stop.

Wood is a big bushy blond with an even bigger smile and an even bigger work ethic. He may be a big-time prospect complete with big-time agent (Carson Palmer's David Dunn), but this is still the guy that helped lead Elder to back-to-back state titles.

He's not going to big time you. He's going to repeat what South head coach Jack Del Rio said Monday morning when he gathered his team and his Jacksonville staff.

"He said as long as you go out on the field and compete every day in every drill, you've got a shot in the NFL," he says. "It's something I've always done no matter where I've been."

Dunn and his Orange County, California-based Athletes First agency has supplied the notebook complete with pictures and bios of NFL personnel men, head coaches and assistants. He doesn't need it Monday when he meets North head coach Marvin Lewis, the coach of his hometown Bengals.

"I've got a 'In Marvin We Trust' T-shirt," Wood says. "I told him it was nice to meet him and he told me he'll meet with me later in the week."

If it doesnt sound too big for Wood, it isn't.

First of all, what's bigger than a state playoff game in Elder's Pit?

And second of all, Wood knows the score when it comes to the scouts.

He's been around the NFL. He's already been at a Marvin Lewis training camp at Georgetown College in Kentucky a few times (the father of Wood's college coach coached Lewis in college) and he's snapped the ball to guys like ex-Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm, a current NFL player who hooked up Wood with Dunn.

(Wood is prepping for next month's NFL scouting combine at a gym near Dunn's office in California and he happened to catch Bengals backup quarterback Jordan Palmer in the office last week and they chatted.)

He's also been working out against another top prospect in Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji, a guy he'll play against Saturday.

"You know the teams want to know about your character," Wood says. "You also know they've done their research. They've watched you play. They've talked to your coaches."

So Wood is pretty much an easy read for the scouts. An open book with all the intangibles. Make that an open loose-leaf notebook.

What Wood wants to show them is his versatility on the field. The former Elder tackle took one rep at left guard Monday and it was in pass protection against Georgia's Corvey Irvin.

"I won it," he says. "That's the toughest block, really, because it's really exaggerated. It's not really what happens, so I felt good about that.

"It was my first practice in eight weeks. The technique comes back, but the rustiness was there. There's no better way to get back in it with live bullets against the best there is."

Tuesday wakeup call?

6:45 a.m. even though practice isn't until the afternoon.

The Bears, after all, may be looking.

"I know they've already got Kreutz," he says. "I know he's getting older, but it would be a thrill to learn from a guy like that."

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7463Tape delay
By GEOFF HOBSON
January 20, 2009

Posted: 7:40 p.m.

MOBILE, Ala. - One of the most familiar figures in Bengals history surfaced Tuesday morning at the Senior Bowl when Jim McNally stalked the North offensive line during workouts at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

McNally, the original guru when he developed Hall of Fame left tackle Anthony Munoz and coached the Bengals offensive line in two Super Bowls, has come off University of Cincinnati guard Trevor Canfield's VCR and into his life. McNally actually started working with him before both knew it.

By the time Canfield emerged at Cincinnati's Western Hills High School, McNally had moved on to the Giants and then the Bills before a high school mentor introduced Canfield to McNally's coaching video he put together when he was in New York.

Life imitated art this past summer when McNally cliniced with Canfield and he came back to Cincinnati to work with him late last week before Canfield left for the Senior Bowl.

McNally retired at the end of his 28th NFL season last year from his hometown Bills, but he stays active on the clinic tour and in the college scene. He's now training clients of Sportstars, a New York City agency where McNally knows one of the representatives, Dave Butz, son of the All-Pro defensive lineman by the same name.

If he's as tough as McNally says, the 6-4, 300-pound Canfield will go in the third round because that's where the Rams took Nebraska center Richie Incognito in 2005 with the 81st pick.

It has nothing to do with enraging fans and head coaches, all of which Incognito did this season. McNally is simply talking about the toughness factor and although Incognito's rep took a hit when interim coach Jim Haslett exploded when he missed this season's finale with "an illness," he has plenty of tape showing he's extremely tough to play against.

"Canfield is the toughest kid I've seen on tape since Richie Incognito. That's who he reminds me of. A real tough kid who finishes well," McNally said as he watched Canfield mix it up with a pretty impressive group of defensive tackles from Boston College (B.J. Raji and Ron Brace) and Missouri (Ziggy Hood).

After practice, McNally chatted with Canfield about staying patient when getting into his pass sets.

"He so aggressive on the run, he just has to slow it down on the pass," McNally said. "He needs to work on his pass pro, but he's a real good run blocker. I think he can be a real good player."

He must because he says Canfield's mindset and desire to finish blocks reminds him of Bruce Reimers. That's a holy name in Bengals O-line lore since he became one of the ultimate tough guys as an integral part of a running game that finished ranked in the NFL at No. 2, 4, 1, 1 and 5 from 1986-90.

"Yeah, he has to work on some things," McNally said. "But he's got two things you can't teach: toughness and wanting to finish."

Cincinnati's historic Senior Bowl Five saw their ranks cut by one when cornerback Mike Mickens had to bow out after Monday's practice because of the knee injury that wiped out the last portion of his season. He sucked it up so he could play in the Orange Bowl, but he had a tough time getting through Monday's practice.

By the way, Incognito is scheduled to be a restricted free agent so he could be on the Bengals radar if the Rams choose not to tender him. But even though he's been inconsistent and outspoken, he is an absolute load for foes and may get a new lease with a new head coach.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7467Media window
By GEOFF HOBSON
January 22, 2009

Posted: 8:40 a.m.

(The second installment of a Senior Bowl week diary with Cincinnati's Eric Wood, a center for the South out of Louisville.)

MOBILE, Ala. - With most NFL coaches and scouts ducking back home Wednesday night and Thursday morning to largely leave the Gulf Coast to the players and coaches working Saturday night's Senior Bowl, Wood is pleased he won't hear the question he is most tired of answering:

"What game do you feel like you played the best this year?"

"You can go to the tape," Wood says, "and you can watch the Kentucky game where I went against SEC tackles. You can watch the West Virginia and Syracuse games against Big East defenses. You can watch any of my games on film and you're not going to be ashamed to draft me."

Since the interviews slowed, Wood is looking forward to eight hours of sleep Wednesday night with the game preparations ratcheting up, a process he's enjoying with the Jacksonville coaching staff. The practices have been tiring by themselves since he's already taken snaps at center as well as both guard spots.

"These guys are extremely intellectual and professional and they're fun to be around," Wood says of the coaches. "That's the big thing about the whole week down here. You're with people that have great passion for the game."

There is still a set of interviews left. On Thursday night the coaching staffs trade players so they can talk to the prospects, but Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis already has a pretty good grasp of Wood after sharing a news conference with him and North defensive tackle B.J. Raji of Boston College earlier in the week.

It is a setting that is comfortable for Wood. In Cincinnati and most NFL teams, the head coach and quarterback do the weekly news conferences. In Louisville, it was Wood and his head coach, a huge example of why his intangibles are huge in this draft.

"I enjoy the media. Yeah, I look at it that it's as important as doing anything else (like) practicing (and) playing," Wood says. "I've always had a good relationship with those guys. They've probably made me sound a little better than I played at times because of that."

Wood is only kidding on that last one. He has confidence in his abilities and while that's never wavered, the daily pounding sessions with highly-regarded USC middle linebacker Rey Maualuga have helped reinforce he can make the next leap.

Of course, it hasn't exactly been total warfare. Nothing like Ohio State-USC.

"We haven't said much to each other and we've only had a few straight shots on each other," Wood says. "He's an intense player. He's strong and big. But we've all got the same goals here. We all want to raise our stock and we want to remain healthy. The coaches have done a great job here always reminding us never to play out of control. I'm not looking to help myself at the expense of another player."

In the same spirit, Wood has stayed in touch with Raji this week even though he's on the other side Saturday. They share the same agent (David Dunn) and workout facility, but he won't try to pick Raji's brain that badly.

It's not only going to be a huge test for Wood against Raji's band of tackles that have impressed the North practices, among them BC teammate Rob Brace and Missouri's Ziggy Hood, but the defense is going to be going against three of the best centers in the country. Wood has been sharing snaps with Alabama's Antoine Caldwell and Arkansas' Jonathan Luigs, as well as rotating with them at guard.

"I don't know," he says when asked if he'll start. "I've played both center and guard with the ones."

He's been surprised that he's played as much right guard as anything. He only got two reps Wednesday at left guard, but he's enjoying the chance to show off his versatility.

But there are changes.

"You get to use your hands earlier at guard and you have a little more area to reach your guy," Wood says. "But I could see why it might be a little easier to play once you get used to it."

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7470First steps
By GEOFF HOBSON
January 23, 2009

Posted: 8:50 a.m.

MOBILE, Ala - The first step in the draft process is like any first step: Hesitant. Awkward. Unsure.

Which is why you have to be so careful about first impressions early in the week at the Under Armour Senior Bowl. USC middle linebacker Rey Maulaluga arrived as a top 10 pick but had a rough enough time that some Web sites were putting an arrow down and some scouts were talking about how fellow Trojans linebacker Brian Cushing was actually better.

But by Thursday there were reports of Maulaluga displaying his ample strength in getting blockers off him, all of which had Jaguars linebackers coach Mark Duffner shaking his head in support of what he sees as an emerging NFL building block.

"First of all, you have to look at the body of work of these players," Duffner said after he worked with his marquee names in Thursday's South practice. "One practice or one drill or anything like that can't make you or break you. He's had a very productive career. They come in, they're working in a different scheme, and they're working around different players. You can't look at one practice, one play, one drill."

Take a look at two different reports on Mississippi left tackle Michael Oher from the same day, Tuesday:

The Sacramento Bee's Matt Barrows: "Two different scouts told me that Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher might be the most talented player in Mobile this week. Oher didn't disappoint today, mostly manhandling his opponents on what was otherwise a rough outing for the South offensive line."

SI.com on Hawaii defensive end David Veikune: "Several of his battles against top-rated left tackle Michael Oher ended up in his favor. In one instance he had the potential first-round pick twisted like a pretzel as Oher failed to protect the quarterback from Veikune's speed."

StripeHype.com, devoted to all things Bengals, quoted a scout from the same practice that Oher rebounded from a slow start to dominate.

So what's it all mean?

With apologies to '80s movie fans, "Not so fast, Francis." The draft is three months from now; long enough to define a presidential administration, never mind reorder the first round.

Some of the concerns about Maulaluga?

Maybe a bit stiff. Not real instinctive. Tentative. But most of this stuff can easily be explained by new coaches and new schemes. Duffner thinks the trio of 'SC linebackers he's coaching this week (Clay Matthews is here with Maulaluga and Cushing) are going to be solid NFL players for a long time.

"They all have their strengths, their DNA in terms of the type of players they are," Duffner said. "All have a chance to be very productive. Rey is tough. He's going to come downhill. He really wants to impact the game with his attitude and effort.

"Cushing is a guy with a lot of range, a lot flexibility. Pass rush. Real strong player. And Clay is the same way. Big strong player. Fierce competitor. Tough player. Talented bunch. The 'SC coaches did a heck of a job with them. I think you put them in any scheme, they're going to help you."

Same old Duff.

When the Jaguars got the coaching assignment for the Senior Bowl, he postponed hip replacement surgery until next Tuesday. He may be limping around, but his trademark enthusiasm is in a full-out sprint just like it was during his six seasons in Cincinnati as a linebackers coach and then defensive coordinator in 2001 and 2002 before he went to a raft of playoffs with the Packers and Jags.

(A not-so-trivia question: Who led the Bengals defense to its highest NFL ranking since No. 7 in 1989 and Mike Zimmer's bounce-back No. 12 in 2008? Duffner at No. 9 in '01.)

"I love Duff; I love his enthusiasm," said Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio, who has been known not to love some of his assistants when it comes to keeping them around. "I like his loyalty and he's a good football coach."

Del Rio is also an old-time USC linebacker, the tough, brainy type that doesn't want to compare when asked which of the three is closest to his style.

"Can't do that; I can't compare," Del Rio said. "The players are so different now when they come out."

Duffner has a good history with 'SC linebackers. He coveted Keith Rivers last season but the Jags picked so late in the first round they had no shot at him and when they traded up ahead of the Bengals to get defensive end Derrick Harvey, the Bengals made Rivers just the fifth linebacker to go in the top 10 this decade at No. 9.

"Love him, love him," Duffner said of Rivers. "Out of all the players I've talked to down through the years, he's the guy that called me back the most. Consistently. He's just a top flight, responsible guy. Tough guy that comes from a winning program. If we couldn't get a guy like that, I'm glad he went to the Bengals."

The loyalty Del Rio spoke of is why Duffner looks upon his days in Cincinnati so fondly.

"I very much love the tradition of the Bengals; a tradition of a family-owned pro football team," Duffner said. "I think the Brown family is really positive in terms of how they conduct their team and how they work and I enjoyed that environment. I learned a lot."

Duffner has never expressed regrets about the morning of Sept. 24, 2000, when Bengals president Mike Brown seriously considered calling on him in the wake of head coach Bruce Coslet's resignation until Duffner told him that the job should go to defensive coordinator/head coach Dick LeBeau.

"It was the right thing," Duffner said. "I was flattered Mike Brown had some interest in me for a position like that, but the right thing was for Coach to have that. I have no regrets on that. Could I have done the thing? Sure. But that was the right thing."

And Duffner thinks the Bengals did the right thing taking Rivers for an even bigger reason.

"With (Carson) Palmer on offense and Rivers on defense, they've got two great kids," Duffner said. "You're talking about cornerstone guys for a long time that they can build around."

After all the first-impression scouting reports, Duffner thinks the USC Three are headed in the same way.

"They can have that kind of impact on a team," he said. "Guys you can build cornerstones on."

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7471Still a game
By GEOFF HOBSON
January 24, 2009

Posted: 8:15 a.m.

The third installment of a Senior Bowl week diary with Cincinnati's Eric Wood, a center for the South out of Louisville.

MOBILE, Ala. - It might be an all-star game and it might be a Friday night where little kids stop the guy with the No. 60 South jersey in the hotel lobby and ask for one of his Senior Bowl cards and it might be a Friday where his parents have come down from Cincinnati to visit their son who has been saddled in either California or Louisville for the past five months.

But it is, above everything else for Eric Wood, the night before a game. So before he goes to bed Friday night, he spends 45 minutes to an hour watching tape of his North rivals.

This is why teams love the guy when it comes to character, work ethic, attitude and all those other first-grade report-card categories that have become as important as the 40-yard dash and film when it comes to prospect evaluations in the Roger Goodell era of discipline and conduct. Sure, Wood spends some time with his family in the hotel, but he's not taking them down to Dauphin Street for a long, lazy dinner. At about 7:30, when the kid stops him for the card, he's running through the lobby trying to make sure he ends the day with film study so he can be in bed by 10:30.

"This is a real deep year for centers and a lot of us are here," Wood says. "By tomorrow night we all would have gone against the same guys, and teams are going to be making evaluations off of that and probably putting us in some kind of order."

If you want to know about those very impressive North defensive tackles, you only have to go to Wood:

B.J. Raji, 6-1, 335, Boston College: "We've got the same agent and I work out with him in California. He's having a great week. When we were watching SportsCenter on ESPN tonight, a feature on him came up and I couldn't be happier for him.

"You have to make sure you keep your balance with him. He's so explosive and uses his strength so well. What he's really good at is rushing the passer. That's why he's getting a lot of attention. A lot of tackles can plug the hole, but the pass rushers are the moneymakers. A guy like that, the only thing you're trying to do is block him. Just block him."

Ron Brace, 6-2, 330, Boston College: "He's almost as powerful as B.J. and almost as effective. He's not quite as active, but he's a powerful guy that likes to two-gap you and plug it up."

Ziggy Hood, 6-3, 295, Missouri: "He's quick. He's got decent pass-rush moves. You can't ever extend yourself against him or he'll embarrass you."

Mitch King, 6-1, 280, Iowa: "He plays real well with his hands and he's pretty powerful."

Plus, there is Pittsburgh linebacker Scott McKillop, another guy Wood knows well because they are also represented by agent David Dunn and are roommates when they train in California. "He's always by the ball or making the tackle," Wood said.

Wood watches mainly the 11-on-11 tape, so he also gets a long look at the center competition in the persons of California's Alex Mack and Oregon's Max Unger. Like the other South centers, Alabama's Antoine Caldwell and Arkansas's Johnathan Luigs, they are all getting snaps at guard and Wood goes to bed wondering if he's going to start at right guard.

That seems to be the position he has played as much, if not more, than center this week, and he feels a lot better there than he did Monday.

"I can't wait," he says, "to get it going. To finally get on the field and show teams what I can do at all the spots."

On Thursday night Wood doesn't have to show for the player exchange at the Mobile Convention Center. The Bengals coaching staff swaps their North players for the Jaguars' South players so they can interview them, a redundant exercise with Wood.

Not only is he from Cincinnati's west side, but he has struck up a friendly relationship with Bengals director of football operations Jim Lippincott. Whenever Lippincott, who covers the Midwest, would stop in to visit at Louisville the past few falls Wood would make sure he'd pop in to talk when Lippincott was watching tape or on other rounds.

Plus, the father of Louisville head coach Steve Kragthorpe was the head coach on Marvin Lewis' last Idaho State team and then hired Lewis as a graduate assistant.

But Wood didn't meet the Bengals head coach until earlier this week, so Thursday's 20-minute chat with Lewis before he went into the interview with offensive line coach Paul Alexander and assistant Bob Surace was an informal name-and-tell session of players and coaches they both knew.

It is Lewis that sets up the interviews in the middle of a sprawling hallway and he sounds a lot like a head camp counselor: "OK, quarterbacks over here, O-line over here."

"If you ever told me five or six years ago when Coach Lewis first came to Cincinnati and turned everything around that I'd be talking to him like that, I wouldn't have believed it," Wood says. "He's just what I thought. He's just talking to you. I didn't feel like he was trying to get my guard down or anything. We could have a conversation and there was no ulterior motive."

When Wood walks into the room, Alexander says, "This will be a short meeting. What don't we know about you?" But that didn't stop them, Wood says, "from talking about everything from blocking in the AFC North to LaRosa's pizza.

"They started with the usual stuff. Had I ever been arrested? Have I used drugs? Then it got interesting. They asked me if I thought I could come in and block the big nose tackles and I think he was intrigued by my answer. I definitely feel like I can. We're watching a lot of Jacksonville tape and it's the same thing. There are some guys that get double-teamed, but you just have to get the guy blocked and that's all there is to it."

They also ask him if playing in Cincinnati would be a distraction because of family and friends and after that easy answer, they also talk about playing guard with a guy that some think could eventually play four spots.

Then on Friday morning he's getting off the elevator to go to breakfast and there is Alexander on his way to the North walkthrough. They stop and talk for another 20 minutes or so.

After the South walks through late morning, about 35 players from the teams volunteer to get on a bus and go visit a children's hospital. Wood also says this is a part of the next step because he plans to get involved wherever he ends up playing.

They stop in about 20 to 25 rooms and "you get a nice feeling when a kid is sick and he looks up and they smile," Wood says. "A lot of their fathers were there and they really seemed to enjoy it. You can tell they look forward to it."

Wood really needs those light practices on Thursday and Friday. He doubts he's ever been as tired as he was that bone weary Monday night after doing a crush of five or so straight interviews with teams.

Now, it is just like a game. Whether it is Elder-Anderson in the state playoffs or a Big East game, it is a game even if it is technically his first one as a pro.

Shut the eyes early even though it is a 6 p.m. local start.

About 10:30 p.m.

"I'm keeping the same routine," he says.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7472Game-changers?
By GEOFF HOBSON
January 24, 2009

Posted: 1:45 p.m.

MOBILE, Ala - The North under the leadership of the Bengals coaches looks like it has a legit shot to win Saturday night's Under Armour Senior Bowl because it has some difference-makers on defense and special teams in a game lacking marquee skill players.

Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji and University of Cincinnati defensive end Connor Barwin, along with teammate Kevin Huber handling the punting give the North a trio of guys that can turn games around. Raji and Barwin can bring heat on the passer and Huber has a booming leg that can get offenses out of trouble. The fact he gives returners a rare look as a lefty also makes Huber prized.

"Athletically he's doing fine," said Bengals special teams coach Darrin Simmons, who doesn't want to rate Huber until he grades the other punters in the class. "You see why he's been successful. I think he's strong enough and talented enough to kick in the league. It's going to come down to what it usually does with young guys. How does he respond mentally to situations? I'd like to see him have a good, consistent game."

This game on NFL Network at 7 p.m. Cincinnati time isn't a preview of ESPN's Draft Day extravaganza. At least five of the top 10 picks are going to be juniors and are ineligible for this game and last year a third of the 32 first-rounders played here. And when teams start going for offensive skill players they aren't going to be looking at these rosters early.

Still, the Bengals could very well be seeing their top pick at No. 6. Raji just might have played his way into the top 10 in these practices while over on the South, Mississippi left tackle Michael Oher and USC middle linebacker Rey Maulaluga have to be among the field that would merit consideration.

But if a cornerback or safety in this game is good enough to go in the first three or four rounds or so, it's doubtful the Bengals would be in the hunt with so many needs on offense. And the top receivers look to be juniors.

So that would appear to cross off the list a couple of guys that have impressed everyone on the North this week in Connecticut cornerback Darius Butler and Western Michigan safety Louis Delmas. Notre Dame safety David Bruton, more of a free safety type compared to current Bengals safety Chinedum Ndukwe also via Notre Dame has picked up fans but he could be out of the Bengals range.

Same thing at tight end, where Oklahoma State's Brandon Pettigrew is going to be long gone by the time the Bengals start looking for one. Barwin could be an option after the first couple of rounds, but he's had such a coming out party down here as both a tight end and rush end that the word now is that teams with 3-4 defenses have discovered him and the sky's the limit on how early he might go.

More like it? Maybe a guy like Cincinnati cornerback DeAngelo Smith, a 5-11, 192-pounder projected to go later but who might be able to return and cover punts while working his way into a more regular role as a corner.

And he knows how important special teams are. Smith and Huber hooked up several times this past season to pin foes deep. Smith, a gunner on punt cover, would simply make eye contact with Huber and with Smith busting downfield Huber would try to hang it up so Smith could catch it.

"It's fun playing special teams when you have a punter like that," Smith said. "We've got a special teams chart we use at Cincinnati, so whenever we got inside the 50, we (Huber and Smith) would look at each other say, 'Let's go.' We'd put teams inside the 1 at times and that makes it tough for an offense to go 99 yards."

Huber, a perennial first-team All-American coming off a season he led the nation in net punting, had just 18 of his 60 punts returned with only three touchbacks. He didn't know until this week that the last time the Bengals coached the North in 2004, the only player they took home was punter Kyle Larson as a free agent. If the Bengals want Huber, they'll have to draft him and the speculation probably starts in the fourth round.

Huber is Cincinnati all the way. He grew up kicking a soccer ball on the fields of Anderson Township and punted and kicked at McNicholas High School before going to UC solely as a punter.

"I haven't had much experience out of state. I wouldn't mind sticking around," Huber said. "My family gets to see me play and they're Bengals fans, so that would be cool."

Huber has never met Larson, coming off the worst of his five NFL seasons. But he's been watching Bengals punters all the way back to Riverfront Stadium.

"I would go early just to watch both punters warm up," Huber said. "Just trying to see different guys and see different ways to do it."

Ever since he was playing goalie and sweeper until he moved to football in sixth grade, Huber has always had the strong leg.

"Sometimes that's not the best thing to have," Huber said. "You have to control it. When you need height, you've got to get height. When you need distance you've got to get distance."

Huber says Simmons has been working with him on how far he's been dropping the ball on his foot and his directional kicking.

"But this is not the week to change anything," Simmons said and Huber said, "It's the same thing my coach at UC has been talking about so I've got some things to go back and work on."

BC's Raji is leading a talented defensive front that is going to put pressure on the South's talented array of interior linemen, led by three of the top center prospects in the nation. The Bengals have some promising young centers on their roster in Andrew Crummey, Dan Santucci and Kyle Cook, but if they decide to replace Eric Ghiaciuc and try to do it through the draft, they should have a great feel for the prospects.

Cincinnati's own Eric Wood, out of Elder High School and Louisville, leads the contingent of Alabama's Antoine Caldwell and Arkansas's Jonathan Luigs, the nation's top center in 2007. The North has the consensus top two candidates in California's Alex Mack and Oregon's Matt Unger.

The centers have had their hands full this week in practice with the 6-1, 334-pound Raji, a low-slung battering ram that keeps coming.

"This guy is very strong. He plays hard and he's just a hard guy to block," said Bengals defensive line coach Jay Hayes. "We've got some pretty good guys. They fly around and they've got some pass-rush ability."

Ron Brace, Raji's teammate and linemate on The Heights, teamed with him to form BC's ACC-leading rush defense. The 6-3, 329-pound Brace isn't a feared pass rusher but he's hard to move and did have 23.5 career tackles for loss at BC and had nearly half of them this past year.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7473South pulls away
By GEOFF HOBSON
January 24, 2009

Updated: 10:45 p.m.

The North's defense and special teams didn't waste any time exerting their influence in the first three minutes of Saturday night's Under Armour Senior Bowl with the help of two University of Cincinnati players but the South built a 21-10 halftime lead at Ladd-Peebles Stadium and then extended it to 28-10 when local fav Pat White of nearby Daphne, Ala., fired a 38-yard touchdown pass to Mississippi wide receiver Mike Wallace in the middle of the third quarter.

The South supplied the coup de grace with 8:47 left in the game when Sam Houston State quarterback Rhett Bomar let a screen pass slip out of his hands in the end zone for a fumble recovered for a touchdown by Mississippi defensive lineman Jerry Peria to make the final 35-18.

Penn State wide receiver Derrick Williams had a nice night returning kicks with a 44-yarder and 57-yarder and the 57-yarder answered the fumble touchdown recovery.

But it wasn't enough to prevent Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis from falling to 0-2 in Senior Bowls. Despite the good field position, the South held on fourth-and-nine in the red zone with about six minutes left when Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell's pass across the middle of the end zone to Cal Poly wide receiver Ramses Barden was tipped away by San Jose State defensive back Coye Francies.

With UC nickel back DeAngelo Smith covering USC wide receiver Patrick Turner, South quarterback John Parker Wilson of Alabama overthrew them on third-and-six on the game's first series.

Then when the North went three-and-out, UC punter Kevin Huber boomed a 61-yarder that barely rolled into the end zone for a touchback.

When the North opened the second half with two three-and-outs, Huber had a chance to blast them out of trouble with one of his signature boomers. Standing in his end zone on the second punt, Huber got off a 44-yarder that put West Virginia's White in pretty good shape as he closed in on a local MVP award. Wallace appeared to run past DeAngelo Smith in coverage on the 38-yarder.

"That was the only one I'd like to have back," said Huber who finished with a no-return average of 49 yards.

The South got on the board first on its second series when it did what it wasn't supposed to do and ran on the North well enough to keep it for 7:28 to produce Wilson's four-yard touchdown run up the middle on a quarterback draw for a 7-0 lead the South took into the second series.

It was a good series for the South offensive line. Left tackle Michael Oher had no problem fending off pressure as Wilson converted a third-and-two scramble following heavy pressure and completed two third-down passes. On the last one, Florida State wide receiver Greg Carr wrestled a slant over the middle from Smith at the 5.

Before that play Connecticut cornerback Darius Butler should have had an end-zone interception after he did a job good muscling Turner one-on-one on the outside and not letting him inside. But he couldn't get off Turner in time to pick off a Wilson floater to the inside.

Louisville's Eric Wood, making his first appearance at right guard after becoming a top prospect at center, also had a good series. When he pulled to the left, Liberty running back Rashad Jennings followed him for an 18-yard gain a snap after Jennings picked up nine wide right.

Huber drilled his second punt of the night inside the 20 when it was fumbled out-of-bounds at the South 13 by Arizona wide receiver Mike Thomas.

That play, coupled with South punter Thomas Morstead's 38-yard punt led to Utah kicker Louie Sakoda's 38-yard field goal with 14:02 that cut the lead to 7-3.

But White set up a touchdown that put the South up, 14-3, with 9:42 left in the first half on a 68-yard drive it flashed its speed advantage. A snap after White flipped a 33-yard screen pass to North Carolina State running back Andre Brown aided by missed tackles at the linebacker level, he deked out the defense with a fake handoff left that turned into a 13-yard run off a rollout right.

With both offensive lines rotating consistently and Wood on the bench for the South, LSU running back Quinn Johnson followed Arkansas center Jonathan Luigs and Caldwell, after he moved to left guard for a one-yard touchdown run.

Cincinnati's Connor Barton, announced with the offense, played right end for the North on that series and made the tackle on the snap before the touchdown. He also got around LSU tackle Herman Johnson to knock down a Wilson pass on one of his handful of defensive snaps.

The guys who were supposed to step up for the South did, particularly the USC linebackers. Brian Cushing rocked Oregon State lineman Andy Levitre a few yards back on a running play and then middle linebacker Rey Maualuga forced a fumble at the South 41 when he stripped Virginia running back Cedric Peerman with about five minutes left in the half.

That set up the South's third touchdown drive led by a third different quarterback, but Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper also used a missed tackle to his advantage, Butler, the Deion-mentored corner, whiffed the tackle on a short pass and it ended up in Thomas' 32-yard gain.

With Wood, at center, getting a fine drive block on his California workout partner, Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji, Andre Brown scored from one yard out to make it 21-3 with 1:51 left in the half.

Then the North's third quarterback, Central Arkansas' Nathan Brown, generated its first touchdown on a 62-second drive that ended with his play-action four-yard touchdown pass to Oregon running back Jeremiah Johnson. The North got a 44-yard kick return from Williams, and Johnson ripped off a 16-yard run working behind an interior line of two centers with Cal's Alex Mack at left guard and Oregon center Max Unger lined up with Cincinnati right guard Trevor Canfield.

The 5-8, 198-pound Johnson also scooted for a 22-yard catch out of the backfield to start the drive.

The South didn't have huge numbers on the ground (88 yards on 23 carries) in the half, but it was more than expected after the kind of week Raji and friends had in practice.

But Raji did nothing to hurt his rising top 10 stock on a night he noticed the South coaches running away from him.

After White made it 28-10, it didn't get much better for the North. In the last two minutes of the third quarter, Purdue running back Kory Sheets broke a 20-yard run for a touchdown but it was called back on a holding call accessed to Illinois left tackle Xavier Fulton on a play Barwin made a good block at tight end.

Barwin played tight end for much of that series and was on the field with 14:19 left in the game when Navy running back Eric Kettani scored from one yard out and he made a good inside block that sprung Jeremiah Johnson on a successful two-point conversion on a sweep left that cut the lead to 28-18.

PREGAME NOTES: As expected, both coaches got as many of their top-rated centers as they could into the starting lineups.

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis opened with California's Alex Mack snapping to Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell and Oregon's Max Unger at left guard for the North. The Jags' Jack Del Rio started Alabama teammates John Parker Wilson under Antoine Caldwell and Louisville's Eric Wood at right guard for the South.

Lewis planned to play Harrell and Mack together, followed by Virginia Tech center Ryan Shuman snapping to Central Arkansas quarterback Nathan Brown, and then Sam Houston State quarterback Rhett Bomar getting the ball from Unger. The three combos were to play at least two straight series.

With Connecticut's Darius Butler and and Virginia Tech's Macho Harris starting at cornerback, University of Cincinnati's DeAngelo Smith played nickel corner for the North as well as returned punts.

Lining up next to top ten emerging Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji was Missouri tackle Ziggy Hood. The South opened with its star-studded corps of linebackers that put USC's Rey Maualuga in the middle and teammate Brian Cushing and Mississippi's Ashlee Palmer on the outside.

Cincinnati's Connor Barwin, scheduled to play at tight end and wide receiver, was announced with the offense.

SLANTS AND SCREENS

NFL Network can't get enough of Lewis. After miking him at Monday's practice, the network planned to clip an ear piece to the back of his collar before the game.

Then with the aid of Bengals assistant public relations director P.J. Combs, during the game they would get word to Lewis to put the thing in his ear so they could ask him a question.

What's next? Huddle reporters?

NFL Network analyst Charles Davis thinks the only guys that really need to have a big game Saturday are the players that struggled during the week. He was thinking of two guys for the North in Cal-Poly wide receiver Ramses Barden and Missouri safety William Moore.

"If you have a bad week and then a bad game, and now they're wondering," Davis said.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7474Two-way go
By GEOF HOBSON
January 25, 2009

Posted: 8:30 a.m.

MOBILE, Ala - You would have liked to have made as much money as the University of Cincinnati's Connor Barwin did this week at the Under Armour Senior Bowl.

Barwin capped his version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? with a busy two-way night for the North during Saturday night's 35-18 loss to the South at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

Barwin played about 20 snaps at tight end and while he didn't get a ball thrown his way, he was pleased with how he blocked. Then when he moved to the other side of the ball at rush end and played a handful of snaps, he knocked down a pass by Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson.

"I heard from a couple of scouts this week that I was really smart to come here and show my versatility," Barwin said after sharing his last collegiate appearance with three other UC teammates. "I made some mistakes at tight end (during the week), but I think they saw my athleticism. It's funny, I had a bad block on my first play on offense, but then I thought I was pretty solid."

Barwin rotated at tight end with Oklahoma State's Brandon Pettigrew and Virginia's John Phillips and none of them got a ball thrown their way. But Barwin was in on the North's longest drive of the night that consumed nearly six minutes and took up the last 5:29 of the third quarter and an early chunk of the fourth.

He got a good block on what appeared to be Purdue running back Kory Sheets' 23-yard touchdown run down the left sideline, but it got called back on Illinois left tackle Xavier Fulton's holding call.

But the North ended up scoring on the drive and Barwin got a good block on the two-point conversion that Oregon's Jeremiah Johnson took in on a sweep on the left side. Barwin took his man to the inside.

"I was supposed to stop the edge of the defense," Barwin said. "I was able to go against the South defensive ends and show them I'm not just a space tight end."

But the man who caught 31 balls for Cincinnati as a junior before stepping across the line to lead the Big East in sacks as a senior knows he can catch. He also lined up split quite a bit and he says he wishes he would have been thrown to at least once. He fiercely believes linebackers can't cover him and on Saturday night he was wide open when one of them fell down trying to cover him deep, a play he completed in practice.

"That's OK," he said. "But I think they know what I can do at tight end."

But they also want to know what he can do at rush end. He wasn't surprised that he only played about five snaps.

"I knew I wasn't going to come in and take the spot of five or six guys," Barwin said. "But I got a couple of snaps in the red zone and when the guy got tired."

Barwin got a couple of rushes on third down and he got around LSU tackle Herman Johnson, a 382-pound man mountain, to bat down a Wilson pass. In the one red-zone appearance he did make a tackle on Liberty running back Rashad Jennings, stopping him on the goal line after a three-yard run.

Barwin's UC teammates had mixed nights. All-American Kevin Huber had a solid game with four no-return punts for a 49-yard average and while cornerback DeAngelo Smith showed up on punt returns and opened the game as the nickel cornerback (he had a 16-yarder), he also got beat on West Virginia quarterback Pat White's 39-yard bomb to Mississippi wide receiver Mike Wallace in the third quarter.

"The only one I really wanted back was the last one," said Huber of the 44-yarder in the second quarter out of his own end zone. "It didn't come off my foot right. I kind of jammed it inside. But other than that, I felt pretty good. I was real happy with the first two and their hang time and none of them got returned, which is always good."

It also had to help that Huber had no problems working on a wet field after it rained during pregame. He ripped off a 61-yarder on his first one and it nearly stayed on the 1 before going into the end zone. Then he lifted a 50-yarder that Arizona wide receiver Mike Thomas fumbled out of bounds at his own 13.

UC guard Trevor Canfield also got plenty of work next to three different centers.Mr. Hobson forgets to mention Barwin also played on STs for a three-way night.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7475Adjustments
By GEOFF HOBSON
January 25, 2009

Posted: 9:40 a.m.

MOBILE, Ala. - It remains to be seen if Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji has played himself into the NFL Draft's top 10. But he has already made an NFL coaching staff adjust.

After the South's 35-18 victory over his North in the Under Armour Senior Bowl, Raji thought he did OK on a night Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio's staff went after him.

"Usually in a game they don't try to down block or pull around until you make a couple of plays," Raji said. "They did it right out of the gate. I got some respect from the Jacksonville staff. They had a good scheme today."

He said the Bengals coaches countered by telling him to loosen up and "play more on the guard since the guard was coming around, and try to reach him. They widened up my alignment a little bit and I made a couple of plays."

Maybe they'll be working with him a lot more. At 6-1, 334 pounds, he had a huge week here during practice and he may now have to be considered in the mix at the Bengals No. 6 spot in the first round along with two other guys that were on the field Saturday night and have already been projected in the top 10 by the gurus: Mississippi left tackle Michael Oher and USC middle linebacker Rey Maualuga.

And some that weren't here.

But Raji was here and there were some comparisons to Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton. He's low to the ground and tough to move, but he can also knife inside on pass rush. While Bengals fans daydream about how that would help ends Robert Geathers and Antwan Odom, Raji lived the dream.

"I think I had a pretty good week; that's what they say," said Raji when asked if he's now a top 10 guy. "I don't know. The draft is a crazy day."

But he was able to show the scouts the things he's been showing in the Newton highlands on the BC campus, where he helped the Eagles defense lead the ACC in run defense this past season.

"I think I proved I'm a big guy with a motor," Raji said. "(The scouts) ask 'How long can you last?' I think I proved this week that I can play for a long time."

So did the North centers. But California's Alex Mack said it was tough getting into a flow in a rotation that put him at center on one series, at left guard the next, and then on the sidelines before going back to center on the fourth series to start it all over.

"Typical all-star game, but it was good. You've got to be fair with all these guys," Mack said. "It was strange. We're all so used to playing every snap that it got a little frustrating to go back to the sidelines. I felt like I had a good game. The hard stuff was practice. I was surprised how easy the game was."

It's the first time Mack, the top center on most draft boards coming into the week, played left guard in a game. The man rated right behind him, Oregon's Max Unger, also played next to him at some guard and drew praise from Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander for wiping out a defender on a screen.

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis gathered his players around him in the locker room after the game and referenced next month's NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

"Now the next thing is Indy," Lewis said.

Mack, who won the academic Heisman Trophy, has figured out what is going to go on after a game three other top center prospects lined up for the South three months before the draft.

"I don't care who you talk to about that position or any other position," Mack said. "It's going to mix up every day. We're all good players."

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7476Never ending pursuit
By GEOFF HOBSON
January 26, 2009

Posted: 12:05 p.m.

The fourth and final installment of a Senior Bowl week diary with Cincinnati's Eric Wood, a center for the South out of Louisville.

There is a decent chance that less than 48 hours after walking out of Saturday night's Senior Bowl that he is going to be halfway across the country working in the gym again.

That's the way it is nowadays. Eric Wood grew up on the West Side of Cincinnati, played his college ball at Louisville, and yet the road to the NFL brings him to Orange County, Calif.

"I'll be there up through the combine and then we'll see what happens," says Wood from an airport, barely any time to savor a Senior Bowl outing that featured his debut at guard.

The NFL scouting combine is next on a prospect's agenda for late February in Indianapolis and like many of the top ones Wood is not working out in his hometown but in the city and gym of his agent. When he goes to a postgame dinner across the street from his Mobile, Ala., hotel Saturday night, he is accompanied not only by his parents and girlfriend, but also reps from agent David Dunn's Athletes First.

It is the modern pro athlete's family snapshot. As one of the nation's top centers, they are about the only certainties he has heading into the NFL Draft. Although, he's fairly confident he showed well in the South's 35-18 victory.

Boston College defensive tackle BJ. Raji, whose stock soared last week, found out when the 304-pound Wood used his signature strength after snapping the ball to muscle the 335-pound Raji out of the way on a one-yard touchdown run. Strength at the point of attack is his strength.

"Top center in the country. What do you expect?" asks Raji, who also has Dunn and works out with Wood.

But what has Wood pleased is that he took the majority of Saturday's snaps at right guard. That's not exactly a footnote. Until last Monday, the former Elder High School tackle and tight end had never taken a snap at guard in any game at any time.

"Really, it's the best I've felt in a game in a long time," he says. "I think a lot of it had to do with just being so anxious to go against the best there is. The (Jacksonville coaches) prepared me well and after the first day or so of practice, I felt pretty comfortable at either spot."

It is hard to take the tape of an all-star game seriously. Just look at the last five MVPs from the Senior Bowl going back to Charlie Frye in 2005. Sinorice Moss, Tony Hunt, Matt Forte and this year's Pat White. Forte became a factor immediately, but despite White's heroics no one thinks he's walking into a No. 1 job in the NFL.

But the game in the trenches is as close as real as it gets and Wood feels like he's headed in the right direction. The South runs the ball for a 4.1-yard average against a North defensive line that had received rave practice week reviews.

But he has to admit after playing in two Ohio schoolboy championship games and a bowl game, this one had a funny feel.

"I'm not used to rotating or sitting on the bench, so it was kind of weird going back in and then changing positions, too," he says. "We didn't adjust very much. We kind of stayed with what we did in practice."

But the best part of the week turns out to be just like anything else on any level of football.

"The best memory has to be late in the game," he says. "We're winning and running the ball and just having fun with all the other guys on the line. That was fun."

Wood rotates with Antoine Caldwell of Alabama and Jonathan Luigs of Arkansas. Along with the North's Alex Mack and Max Unger, they are his main competition on Draft Day. But that doesn't stop him from loading their phone numbers into his cell phone.

"I had a good time meeting those guys. We spent a lot of time together during the week," Wood says. "That other stuff doesn't bother me."

Not much does. He's got a goal and it's why he was in bed every night trying to get eight hours of sleep before the morning meetings instead of seeing what was happening on Dauphin Street. It's why he watched film the night before the game. It's why he made every interview with an NFL team that asked even though he already knew the questions and the answers.

"It's like when the Bengals asked me if I thought playing at home would be a distraction," Wood says. "Would people be trying to get me to go out all time and would I go? I didn't come this far to let that get that in the way of what I want to accomplish."

Which is why he is even thinking about going into the gym Monday after his last college game.

"I saved the jersey," he says of the South's No. 60. "I think it will be a nice memento somewhere down the road."They forget to mention VA Tech's C Shuman who looked pretty good too.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/01/senior-bowl-wrap-up/Draft 2009
By Wes Bunting
Posted January 25, 2009
Senior Bowl Wrap Up

With the 2009 Senior Bowl now in the books, NFL executives and scouts are making their way back to the film room to prepare for the NFL Combine in February. Here is the National Football Post’s final day of Senior Bowl coverage.

Games Notes…

With the attention going to North defensive linemen B.J. Raji and Evander Hood last week, it was Iowa DT Mitch King who had the most disruptive game. King lacks the measurables, but he displays a quick first step and good awareness and knows how to shed blocks. He consistently got into the backfield and is an ideal one-gap lineman.

Tennessee DE Robert Ayers finished up a strong week with a brilliant showing in the game. Ayers was responsible for two sacks and demonstrated a much better first step than scouts gave him credit for during the season. He showcases good leverage on his pass rush and is much more polished than his one year of seasoning would lead you to believe. Ayers may have solidified a spot in the top 60.

Georgia DT Corvey Irvin and Ole Miss DT Peria Jerry also had solid games on the South’s defensive line. Irvin displayed impressive quickness and length, which allows him to shed blocks and use his lateral explosion to get up field. Jerry plays with much more power but has an explosive first step and knows how to attack off the shoulder. The two of them were key reasons the North’s offense was stuck in neutral most of the evening.

Fullbacks typically don’t stand out in all-star game formats, but Quinn Johnson of LSU showed why he is possibly the top FB in the class. Johnson not only displayed good athleticism and power as a blocker, he also showed the versatility to catch the ball out of the backfield and run with power between the tackles. He’s a do- it-all type of athlete who will become a starting fullback in the NFL.

At the running back position, it was the lesser-hyped prospects who really made a difference in the game. Andre Brown of N.C. State, Cedric Peerman of Virginia and Jeremiah Johnson of Oregon all put on good performances, which should go a long way to enhancing their draft stock. Brown and Peerman displayed good power and quickness between the tackles, while Johnson caught the ball well and showcased impressive wiggle in the open field. With the lack of talent at the senior running back position, all three are making cases for being the top senior RB off the board.

USC wideout Patrick Turner has never really lived up to the hype of being a five-star prospect, but he did a nice job all week in Mobile, Ala., and capped it off with an impressive showing in the game. Turner isn’t going to run by anyone at the next level, but he uses his body well to shield defenders and has the short-area quickness to gain separation in tight quarters. He’s an ideal west coast type of receiver and should hear his name called out during the middle rounds.

Oklahoma standout received Juaquin Iglesias was polished, as expected. Iglesias did a great job gaining separation in and out of his routes and plucks the ball away from his body as well as any receiver in the country. He displayed good awareness knowing where the first down marker was, and on a long third-down situation, he ran a sharp out route to pick up the yardage. Iglesias was solid all week and currently ranks as the top senior wideout.

Louisville center Eric Wood struggled in space all week, but in the game he really impressed. He did a great job pulling from the backside and sealing linebackers at the second level and even got good movement on DT B.J. Raji near the goal line. This was the type of performance Wood needed, and his ability to play center and guard will only enhance his value.

Wood’s teammate, Ole Miss tackle Michael Oher, also had a strong game. He was called for one holding penalty, but besides that, he showcased smooth feet in pass protection and good power and strength in the run game. When Oher gets his hands on you, he does a great job sitting into his stance and anchoring in. After an up and down week, this was the kind of performance scouts were looking for.

The play of QB Pat White is going to force scouts to take a closer look at him as a quarterback. He isn’t your prototypical pocket passer, but he creates plays on the move and has the arm strength to make all the throws. The kid wants to play QB at the next level, and I think the team that drafts him will need to force White to prove he isn’t an NFL-caliber signal caller before they move him to WR. He’s the type of athlete that can add a throwing dimension to the “wildcat” formations of the NFL.

The other quarterbacks had their moments, but Texas Tech product Graham Harrell really struggled. He lacks arm strength and seems to be a bit scheme limited at the next level. However, don’t count him out by any stretch. If he finds the right kind of offense (west coast scheme), I believe he can not only play, but will play well at the next level.

Small schools quarterbacks Nathan Brown and Rhett Bomar ran hot and cold, but there’s definite potential there. Bomar has a big arm and is a good athlete, but concerns about his accuracy linger. He has never completed more the 59 percent of his passes in a college year and needs to improve his timing in the short-area passing game. Brown, on the other hand, simply needs time to adjust to the next level. He was the only QB all week to consistently stick the deep out and displays the timing and anticipation skills to make scouts wonder just how high his ceiling is. He’s only 6-1 and has a lower than ideal release, and his passes wobble a bit down the field, but he flashes NFL-caliber talent. Brown intrigues me and would definitely be worth a mid-round pick to see how far he can develop.

Stock is Rising…

B.J. Raji: DT, Boston College
Pat White: QB, West Virginia
Juaquin Iglesias: WR, Oklahoma
Louis Delmas: FS, Western Michigan
Alex Mack: C, California
William Beatty: OT, Connecticut
Connor Barwin: DE/TE, Cincinnati
Coye Francies: CB, San Jose State
Shawn Nelson: TE, Southern Miss
Robert Ayers: DE, Tennessee

Stock is Falling…

Victor Harris: CB, Virginia Tech
Xavier Fulton: OT, Illinois
Phil Loadholt: OT, Oklahoma
Michael Hamlin: FS, Clemson
Troy Kropog: OT, Tulane

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/11293914These 10 take advantage to jump up on draft charts

Jan. 23, 2009
By Chad Reuter
NFLDraftScout.com

MOBILE, Ala. -- Scouts usually arrive at all-star games knowing a player's deficiencies from studying film. Some players display unexpected skills working in a different system or when surrounded by talent superior to their college teammates, making the chances of a player moving up a draft board greater than they are of moving down based on these postseason practices.

Consider that last year these players left Mobile having helped their standing with scouts: quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Chad Henne, wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Eddie Royal, cornerback Leodis McKelvin and defensive end Kendall Langford. The first 10 prospects listed below all excelled this week and could enjoy similar success on draft day 2009 and beyond.

Prospects not impressing scouts the past few days should note that 2008 Senior Bowl disappointments wide receiver Adarius Bowman, wide receiver Dorien Bryant, defensive end Chris Ellis (a third-round pick) and quarterback Andre Woodson failed to make any kind of mark as rookies.

Senior Bowl practice stars

DT B.J. Raji, Boston College: The most impressive player on the North team, hands down. He pushed his way into the top half of the first round, quite literally, with his dominant bull rush against some very talented interior blockers.

C/OGs Alex Mack, Cal and Max Unger, Oregon: The battles between Raji and Mack/Unger were the highlight of the week. Raji would bully his way by them on the first one-on-one rep. On the second, Raji would be halted in his tracks by the Pac-10 pivots with a strong anchor and nasty attitude. Both displayed some versatility when shifting to left guard -- Indianapolis had success with 2008 draft picks OG/C Mike Pollak and Jamey Richard, which made teams think more about these position shifts.

OT Michael Oher, Mississippi: Scouts and the media might take shots at Oher's background and perceived intelligence, but coaches will tell you the "eye in the sky doesn't lie." Anyone watching practice saw an amazing athlete at one of the more important positions on the field. Oher also took well to coaching, learning how to deal with former Tennessee DE Robert Ayers' inside moves on Monday and controlling him on Tuesday and Wednesday.

DT Peria Jerry, Mississippi: In the very large shadow of Raji and his teammate, Jerry quietly proved he can be a force at the three-technique and just might wind up a first-round pick.

CB Coye Francies, San Jose State: Used his wiry strength (6-feet, 179 pounds) to hit receivers whenever possible in the light-contact scrimmages. In addition to his toughness, Francies has fluid hips and good ball skills.

TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State: His blocking skills, on the line and at the second level, were as advertised. Pettigrew displayed soft hands and an ability to use his body to shield and separate from linebackers in coverage.

DE David Veikune, Hawaii: Even going up against a stud like Oher, Veikune never quit. His motor was always obvious on film, but scouts still liked what they saw whether he was lined up on the left or right side of the line.

WR Patrick Turner, Southern California: After coming to life as a senior with 10 receiving touchdowns, his stock continues to rise. He looked good starting from the weigh-in (6-5, 220, 33-inch arms) and didn't stop when he hit the practice field. He looked very quick for his size and his hands were solid.

CB Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest: Three interceptions in three practices. He was running the receiver's route for him and putting on a show with his ball skills. He's not very big and did struggle in press cover drills. But he'll learn that technique and is likely to go to a zone coverage team.

Honorable mention:

QBs Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston State, and Nathan Brown, Central Arkansas: They weren't great, but they weren't overwhelmed.

RB Andre Brown, North Carolina State: Ran strong into the hole and over defensive backs.

FBs Tony Fiammetta, Syracuse, and Quinn Johnson, LSU: Both guys made pads pop all week and caught passes better than expected, especially in Johnson's case.

WR Brandon Gibson, Washington State: Ran crisp routes and showed good hands.

RB Rashad Jennings, Liberty: His quick feet at 6-1, 234 pounds, are even more impressive in person.

DT Mitch King, Iowa: Only 275 pounds, but scouts love his violent hands and high motor.

LBs Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews and Rey Maualuga, Southern California: Maualuga and Cushing did not have to come, but made the most of their trip.

TE Shawn Nelson, Southern Miss: A fluid runner, he showed soft hands (when not looking into the sun) and a willingness to block despite a wiry 238-pound frame.

Senior Bowl practice disappointments

QBs Cullen Harper, Clemson, Graham Harrell, Texas Tech and Pat White, West Virginia: Harrell needed to shine this week to separate himself as the top senior quarterback. White was out to prove he can be a quarterback at the next level instead of moving to receiver. Harper just wanted to get himself back on the NFL radar as a draftable prospect. None of them accomplished their goals. Harrell's arm strength and Harper's wobbly, inaccurate passes did not wow scouts. White's ball looked nice but he wasn't accurate enough to give coaches confidence he will excel at the position.

SS William Moore, Missouri: Coming in as the top-rated safety, Moore's stiffness in space, inconsistent hands and slow reactions are forcing teams to reevaluate him for a potential move to linebacker.

DE Will Davis, Illinois: Davis was considered a top prospect as a junior but could not carry the expectations into 2008. He spent most of this week struggling to beat his man off the edge and getting engulfed when trying to bull rush. Teammate Derek Walker might have had a bigger impact.

OT Troy Kropog, Tulane: Given the chance to prove himself against top players, Kropog wasn't up to the challenge. He has the size and potential to be a starting tackle in the NFL, but it might take a bit longer than scouts had hoped.

OL Herman Johnson, LSU: Teams are well aware of what he has done at guard, so they gave him a chance to prove himself this week at right tackle. "Big Herm" (he officially weighed 382 pounds) really struggled with his lateral quickness and footwork on the edge. He'll likely stay inside, which isn't necessarily a bad thing except for the financial ceiling being greater for perimeter blockers.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/11289252Maualuga continues to turn heads in loaded senior LB class

Jan. 22, 2009
By Rob Rang
NFLDraftScout.com

MOBILE, Ala. -- With a dearth of talent at the skill positions at the Senior Bowl this week, scouts continue to focus instead on this year's rare talent along the lines, at linebacker and with an underrated secondary. And I wasn't disappointed after breaking down the linebackers and defensive backs during Wednesday's practices.

Among the back seven defenders, the clear star Wednesday was Southern California inside linebacker Rey Maualuga. Scouts know he has a tendency to freelance, and one of his areas of concern -- wrapping up rather than just hitting a ballcarrier -- wasn't tested with the Jacksonville coaches wanting players to stay on their feet. But his burst to and through holes as a run stuffer and surprising agility in space stood out. Where he might have emerged as this game's highest-rated prospect, however, was his ability as a pass rusher.

Maualuga was rarely asked to blitz for the Trojans and finished last season with no sacks, so this was an area scouts wanted to see Maualuga work on. Showing speed, agility to redirect and the hand technique of veteran pass rushers, Maualuga was a one man wrecking crew during drills Wednesday morning.

After looking fluid in drills earlier in the week, Trojans teammate Brian Cushing's physicality in scrimmages stood out Wednesday as well. Conversations with scouts in the stands verified that Cushing, an outside linebacker, could be moving into the top 15 with his play in Mobile.

Yet another Trojan, Clay Mathews, and Ohio State's Marcus Freeman were often overlooked due to their more established teammates, but both have enjoyed strong weeks. Mathews is more fluid in space than expected after spending his senior season primarily rushing the passer. Freeman, finally over the ankle injury that slowed him throughout 2008, has been fluid and aggressive as well.

Coming from Virginia, one of the few collegiate teams that runs the 3-4 defense, Clint Sintim has struggled a bit in acclimating to the traditional 4-3 scheme the Cincinnati coaching staff employs. He's a bit stiff in space, struggling at times changing directions laterally in coverage or when breaking down to make the tackle. But the burst upfield, hand technique as a pass-rusher and explosive closing speed are all there for him to rank as one of the top 3-4 rush linebackers in the draft.

Another linebacker capable of rushing from the outside -- California's Zach Follett -- was rarely used in that capacity Wednesday. The Bengals staff moved Follett to inside linebacker throughout the practice, an area where his greatest asset -- his burst upfield -- is a bit hidden. Follett struggled getting off blocks, but showed better instincts than expected, blowing up a screen during the scrimmage and attacking holes in the running game. He belongs on the outside, but the versatility to slide inside in a pinch will help his draft stock.

Former Oklahoma safety Nic Harris has struggled with the acclimation to linebacker. He is naturally fluid in space for the position, but struggles disengaging from blocks and has a tendency to get lost amid the trash inside.

While this year's group of senior linebackers ranks among the stronger crops in recent memory, the best position from top to bottom this week just might be at safety.

The race to be the first safety selected in 2009 could come down to workouts, and depending on which scout you talk to, the headliner at the is either Western Michigan's Louis Delmas or Oregon's Patrick Chung -- both of whom were on display in Wednesday morning's North practice.

Delmas has good instincts for the position, is a natural playmaker and flies around the field with reckless abandon. Scouts have some concerns about his ability to flip his hips in coverage, however. Chung's speed, size and instincts make him the most versatile safety in the draft, which has him flying up draft boards.

With the Senior Bowl coaches mandating that only hitting, not tackling, is allowed in practice, neither has been able to show off what they do best -- tackle in space. Despite this restriction, their athleticism shows up, as opposed to that of two other highly-touted safeties.

Missouri's William Moore wasn't the impact player as a senior that he was in 2007, and needed a strong week in Mobile to rescue his falling stock. Unfortunately, quite the opposite has occurred as Moore's limitations continue to be exposed. He was high and stiff in his backpedal Wednesday, inconsistent in his angles to the ball and hasn't caught the ball well all week, which scouts had previously viewed as a strength. Thought of as one of the draft's top defensive prospects entering the year, Moore is in danger of falling out of the draft's first day -- and potentially further -- with his performance so far this week.

Rashad Johnson turned in an All-American season and was as instrumental in Alabama's success as any Tide player. However, his stellar instincts for the position and penchant for the big play belie his marginal speed and explosiveness. I'll never doubt a player with his track record of making plays, but he's smaller and slower than the other safeties here and is viewed by scouts as a bit of a product of Nick Saban's system.

The poor quarterback play has made grading cornerbacks tougher than most years. What has been obvious throughout the week, however, is Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith's willingness to gamble -- often resulting in big plays in his favor. Smith has excellent foot quickness and balance. In fact, he frequently has run better routes than the receivers he was covering this week. He intercepted his third pass in as many practices Wednesday.

Like Smith, San Jose State's Coye Francies, an Oregon State transfer, and his former teammate with the Beavers, Keenan Lewis, have the change of direction and speed to run with receivers. Both are physical in man coverage and could translate their skills well into a bump-and-run system.

Virginia Tech's Macho Harris has similar agility, but may lack their straight-line speed. He has played well here this week, but scouts are reserving judgment, as his ultimate grade will be determined by his 40-yard time. Cincinnati's DeAngelo Smith and Jackson State's Domonique Johnson have struggled a bit. Both are high cut and a bit choppy in their backpedal. They may run well in workouts, but receivers were too often able to generate separation from them on Wednesday. The North squad took a hit in the secondary with the news that Cincinnati cornerback Mike Mickens, a potential first-round pick, elected to pull out due to a sore knee. Mickens missed the final two regular-season games for the Bearcats after surgery to repair cartilage in the knee and clearly was not himself the first two days of practice. He was replaced Wednesday by former Michigan standout Morgan Trent. Trent has the athleticism to boost his stock this week, but has to answer questions about his toughness.

Skill note

With the possible exception of Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew, fans can expect to see the first round come and go without a single senior skill position player drafted. The talent is weakest at the game's most important position -- quarterback. Even teams desperate for one are acknowledging that the top two senior passers -- Texas Tech's Graham Harrell and Sam Houston State's Rhett Bomar -- will almost certainly be drafted on Sunday, and quite possibly mid-Sunday.

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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/11289254Stock watch: Senior Bowl risers and fallers

NFLDraftScout.com

MOBILE, Ala. -- Many scouts and personnel people were headed out of town following Wednesday's practice, the final major day of on-field work before Saturday's Senior Bowl.

Five players who helped their stock the most Wednesday:

Andre Brown, RB, North Carolina State: Brown might run a 4.6-second 40-yard dash at the combine next month, causing some people to maybe write him off. But his ability to hit the hole hard (and blitzers in pass protection) has opened some eyes. He ran over a defensive back at the second level Tuesday -- no one challenged him Wednesday.

Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi: B.J. Raji is getting plenty of hype for his ability to collapse the pocket or penetrate on zone running plays, and rightly so. His play Wednesday will earn him praise from many media outlets. But Jerry's strength and quickness inside has not gone unnoticed by scouts, making it likely he'll be a mid-to-late first-round pick.

Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi: If anyone still doubted Oher's potential as a dominant NFL left tackle, Wednesday's practice quieted that nonsense. His athleticism is unmistakable and he plays with enough aggression to sustain his block through the whistle. He's the best player on the field.

Patrick Turner, WR, Southern California: Considered an underachiever through most of his career, the light bulb seemed to come on for Turner in 2008. His 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame is enticing for scouts, but he looks quicker now and has good enough hands to warrant a mid-round selection, which no one expected entering last fall.

David Veikune, DE, Hawaii: No matter who he is up against, even Oher, Veikune doesn't back down. His motor always runs. He's strong at the point of attack and works very hard to reach the quarterback on every play. It's hard not to be impressed with his effort.

Five players who hurt their stock Wednesday:

James Davis, RB, Clemson: Davis' stock plummeted in 2008, partially because he was misused in Clemson's East-West offense early in the year. His running ability hasn't been bad in Mobile, and he just might turn out to be a nice one-cut-and-go runner in the NFL. However, Davis' pass protection skills are awful. He has some bulk (5-11, 207), but his inability to even get a hand on linebackers coming in blitz drills did not inspire any confidence in coaches to leave him on the field for play-action.

Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech: All three quarterbacks on the South roster could be listed here, but Harrell's stock has dropped the most this week because of higher expectations. His arm strength is nothing more than average, which means he must really anticipate throws. That gives defensive backs more time to react, especially if his receiver can't get out of his break.

Herman Johnson, OL, LSU: To be fair, Johnson has played at right tackle all week instead of his usual inside position. Scouts wanted to see him operate outside -- the results have not been pleasant. His lateral movement and foot speed are severely limited, allowing players to get the edge too easily. His inability to handle the tackle spot might cost him some money come draft day.

Troy Kropog, OT, Tulane: Kropog came into the week as a potential sleeper, but he's struggled against a talented South defensive line. While occasionally able to anchor or direct his man around the pocket in drills and scrimmages, Kropog is usually a step slow and susceptible to bull rushes.

Andy Levitre, OL, Oregon State: Playing right tackle in one-on-one's this week has been an up-and-down ordeal for Levitre. If he can't land his initial punch, which is among the best in the country, defenders beat him around the edge with regularity. He'll be best off playing inside at the next level.

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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/11289253RBs, WRs flashing skills, hoping to catch on at Senior Bowl

Jan. 22, 2009
By Chad Reuter
NFLDraftScout.com

MOBILE, Ala. -- Underclassmen like Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno and Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree have filled in the first-round void of senior prospects at the skill positions, but several players at the Senior Bowl could be the next Matt Forte or Eddie Royal, 2008 second-round picks for Chicago and Denver who enjoyed instant success at the next level.

One probable first-round pick meeting expectations in Mobile is North tight end Brandon Pettigrew (Oklahoma State). His combination of in-line blocking and receiving skills is rare for a college tight end. Pettigrew does not have elite speed to threaten the seam like Kellen Winslow, but can shield and separate from coverage using his size and length.

There might not be a first-round pick among the wide receivers in Mobile, but they all flash the ability to excel at the next level. The North's Juaquin Iglesias (Oklahoma) is probably the best all-around receiving prospect because of his 6-feet-1, 204-pound frame, quick feet and ability to extend outside his body to make the catch. Iglesias is not particularly flashy, but would fit in a West Coast-style offense where the routes allow him to make yards after the catch.

Big Ten receivers Brian Robiskie (Ohio State) and Derrick Williams (Penn State) are also in the running for second-round status. Robiskie is the smoothest and most polished receiver here. His lanky 6-3, 207-pound frame belies the quickness he shows coming out of his routes. His father, Atlanta Falcons wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie, has taught him well. Unfortunately, it takes Brian a few strides to get to top speed, which might inhibit his ability to separate from NFL corners.

Williams was an all-purpose threat at Penn State and has displayed some of that ability for scouts this week. He has the hands to make the spectacular catch, adjusting to poorly thrown balls down the sideline for big gains. On reverses, he can cut upfield once around the end and get more yardage than most receivers could.

Williams should also excel as a kickoff returner because he runs into his lane at full speed. However, he had a lot of trouble catching punts on Monday and isn't particularly crisp in some of his routes.

While the North team has the better receivers, the South squad has a few very intriguing running backs. Liberty's Rashad Jennings is light on his feet for a 6-1, 235-pound back, and is an able receiver and willing blocker. Although he played at a small school the past couple of seasons, his production at Pitt as a true freshman (411 yards) is proof he can compete here.

Andre Brown (North Carolina State) is another big back (6-0, 224) who runs a bit tall but is decisive finding the hole and running through it. He lacks breakaway speed, but pro running backs aren't expected to run 40 yards every play. Getting those four- and five-yard runs keeps the chains moving.

Three other tight ends are getting serious looks from scouts this week, although they will receive middle- or late-round grades. Shawn Nelson (Southern Miss) looked fluid and flashed great hands on Tuesday, but struggled catching balls in the red zone Wednesday as the low afternoon sun might have been a factor.

Alabama hybrid fullback/H-back/tight end Travis McCall is a very good blocker in space, even at 276 pounds, and a more than capable receiver. Anthony Hill (North Carolina State) has a nice combination of size (6-5, 264) and athleticism.

Other mid-round receivers who have stood out at times this week include Kenny McKinley (South Carolina), Mike Thomas (Arizona) and Patrick Turner (Southern California). McKinley sticks his foot in the ground better than any receiver here, which makes up for a lack of suddenness in the routes.

Thomas made a fantastic one-handed catch out of the slot Wednesday, where the tough 5-8 receiver's home will be at the next level. The tall and smooth Turner exceeded expectations in 2008 and continued the trend this week by looking quicker and more fluid than scouts anticipated.

Tennessee running back Arian Foster, North Carolina wide receiver Brooks Foster and Georgia wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi are out with knee or ankle injuries. All three flashed in practices, but were inconsistent, and not playing for the rest of the week prevents them from impressing scouts further.

And that's what this week is all about.

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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/11285991Small-school prospects: Mobile prime launching pad

Jan. 21, 2009
By Chad Reuter
NFLDraftScout.com

MOBILE, Ala. -- Football fans can easily identify stars from Penn State or Southern California. Their uniform, helmet and jersey number provide a biographical catalog of sorts.

But what of the little guy, whose name rings hollow and helmet isn't easily identified, with everything to gain -- or lose -- at this week's Senior Bowl?

Lesser-known prospects are here every year, displaying their wares before potential employers gathered in Mobile. This January, however, is special because two of them line up behind center. Actually, quarterbacks Rhett Bomar (Sam Houston State) and Nathan Brown (Central Arkansas) haven't taken a lot of snaps from under center during their careers. That's just one of the adjustments they've had to make in these practice sessions.

Bomar's arm strength has been impressive, although it's no surprise given what he shows on film. His mobility is excellent, especially outside the pocket where he looks not unlike his two favorite players, John Elway and Brett Favre. Bomar has the tools to be the top senior quarterback drafted. Teams will need to hear his side of the well-documented departure from Oklahoma, a result of Bomar receiving payments from a car dealership for work he did not perform.

The first thing scouts notice about Brown is his below-average height. When he starts throwing the ball, however, his zip and accuracy are surprising. Even his 45- to 50-yard throws are tight spirals. And his ability to make plays from outside the pocket reminds some scouts of Tony Romo. Coaches will coach him up a little on his mechanics, though, as he likes to push the ball at times, throw off his back foot and even drop to a three-quarters delivery.

Another successful Football Championship Subdivision player, Cal Poly wide receiver Ramses Barden, looks like he belongs on the field among more heralded players at his position. Physically, he dwarfs most receivers and cornerbacks at 6-foot-6, 228 pounds, and his production in football's second division (122 catches for 2,724 yards -- a 21.9-yard average and 36 touchdowns) the past two seasons was phenomenal. But on the field, Barden's long legs make him look slightly awkward and he has a hard time separating from better cornerbacks down the sideline. However, his hands have been solid and his feet are not slow; he can come out of his route relatively quickly.

Like Bomar, Liberty running back Rashad Jennings started at a major program -- Pittsburgh. Unlike Bomar, Jennings made the decision himself to move schools, going to the Lynchburg, Va., university to be closer to his ailing father. This week he has looked as good, and possibly better, than all of the other backs on the field. His combination of size (6-1, 234) and quickness really stand out, and he looks natural catching the ball in the flat.

Jackson State cornerback Domonique Johnson transferred from Missouri (where he was a sophomore starter before a knee injury) after coaches there questioned his dedication. There's no questioning his size and speed, however. And although his 6-1 1/2, 197-pound frame and quick feet remind some of 2008 first-round pick Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Johnson's hips are not as fluid and his ball skills and physicality are not as advanced. Still, he's a fine mid-round prospect who deserves to be in Mobile.

Two weeks in a row defensive end Lawrence Sidbury, from the FCS champion Richmond Spiders, has worked out in front of scouts. Last week he participated in the East-West Shrine Game and this week he's facing even better competition. He hasn't been a disappointment. He can use his ridiculously long arms (35 inches) to stay off blocks and get the outside shoulder of an offensive tackle to pressure the quarterback. He also showed during the Shrine Game that he can chase from behind very well. However, his lack of speed off the snap does not allow him to dominate at this level.

There are also players from "mid-major" FBS programs with a chance to make noise this week. San Jose State's Coye Francies has good hands and is the most physical cornerback in this game, although he will draw flags for being too forceful at times. Western Michigan safety Louis Delmas is starting to get some national attention, and has shown nice range and the willingness to make his presence known to receivers crossing his path.

Two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year Larry English has played defensive end so far in practice -- as he did at Northern Illinois -- but his hand play and athleticism could land him a linebacker spot in a 3-4 defense at the next level. Troy defensive back Sherrod Martin intrigues scouts with his versatility, as does Troy Kropog -- a tough swing tackle from Tulane.

Much is made about the speed of the game increasing as you climb the football ladder from high school to college to the pros. That applies to the college ranks, too.

"The speed has increased a little bit, but it's not as drastic as I thought," said Brown. "Coming in you know that everyone from the defensive line to the defensive backs has speed, but that's just part of the game."

And he knows that his play here can "pave the path" for other FCS quarterbacks "just like Joe Flacco did for us."

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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/11306872Texas All-Star notes: Patton could follow Cassel route

Jan. 27, 2009
By Chad Reuter
NFLDraftScout.com

EL PASO, Texas -- Success breeds imitators in the NFL, from players to coaches to schemes. Thanks to the emergence of Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel filling in for injured Tom Brady in 2008, scouts are scouring high profile colleges looking for quarterbacks with upside who were stuck behind productive starters.

Few people got to know Chase Patton's face or game at Mizzou. (Getty Images)

Enter Missouri's Chase Patton, who has an opportunity to improve his stock dramatically at The Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Challenge this week.

After being considered a top-five quarterback nationally by recruiting services coming out of high school, Patton spent his career as "the other Chase" in his hometown of Columbia. He threw just 31 passes while watching All-Big 12 quarterback Chase Daniel start the past three seasons.

While it's far too early to project his career following that of Cassel's, Patton certainly has the tools to garner late-round consideration. Cassel, who served as a backup to Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at Southern California, was a seventh-round pick in 2005.

During Monday's practice, Patton's size stood out as he measured in at 6-feet-4 5/12 and 222 pounds. So, too, did his fair arm strength and tight spiral. It's tough to be accurate with receivers you've never played with at these all-star games, but Patton seemed comfortable making all the typical NFL throws.

Game on the rise

Texas vs. the Nation is the last and least-known of the three major all-star games. Its three-year history pales in comparison to the tradition-laden East-West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl. However, the demise of the Hula Bowl has raised the level of football played in El Paso this week. Several players in this game could have fit in at Houston's East-West practices. Between the Texas and Nation rosters, as many as 25-30 players could be drafted, and the majority will sign as free agents. Nineteen players from last year's game were selected, including one of Houston's two third-round picks [cornerback Antuan Molden] and Cardinals fifth-round rookie running back Tim Hightower, who emerged as an excellent short-yardage back. In 2007, 12 players were drafted including Denver Broncos starting defensive tackle Marcus Thomas.

Practice notes

• The star of Monday's practice was Abilene Christian's Bernard Scott. The 5-11, 199-pound running back displayed impressive vision and quickness inside, even for the first practice of the week. Every time he ran the ball there was a buzz. More of the same is expected throughout the week, given his running for more than 4,300 yards in just the past two seasons.

• Two other backs who stood out were Pittsburgh's Conredge Collins and Wyoming's Devin Moore. Collins, son of former NFL back Tony Collins, looked like a pro fullback as he pounded defenders in the hole, adjusted to a high throw to bring it down in the flat and displayed a little wiggle as a ballcarrier. Moore's speed is evident when seeing him in person. Even though he measured at 5-9, 191 on Monday morning, he appears strong enough to carry the ball in addition to receiving and returning kicks.

• Scott's teammate, Johnny Knox, was one of three non-FBS receivers who impressed despite very windy conditions. Stephen F. Austin receiver Dominique Edison is unquestionably the best receiver here. The 6-2, 199-pounder has sub-4.4 speed and displayed great hands throughout practice. Next in line was Gardner Webb's Dobson Collins, who snatched every pass thrown his way.

• This year's senior quarterback class is among the worst in recent memory, which makes Patton's story even more interesting. Another intriguing prospect is Division III's Jason Boltus from Hartwick. He could be the first D-III passer drafted since 1991 because of his 6-3, 224-pound frame and more than adequate arm strength and athleticism. As this week progresses, scouts will watch whether he gets comfortable enough with receivers to display accuracy and timing.

• Purdue's Curtis Painter started the year highly-regarded, and his arm is still strong enough to cut through the El Paso wind. But his lengthy release makes it too easy for defensive backs to get a jump on him. Rutgers' Mike Teel looked solid Monday, continuing his late-season surge after a disappointing start to 2008.

• Ohio cornerback Mark Parson was one of the top defenders on the field. His speed, smooth backpedal and solid hands stood out. Furman's William Middleton is a 5-9, 190-pound corner, just like Parson, but his speed and toughness made scouts take notice despite the presence of several FCS corners trying to better their stock this week. It's not often you see a 293-pound linebacker. That's right, 293 pounds. Central Oklahoma's Michael Reed (through Yuba Community College and the University of Oklahoma), however, still manages to attack the ball in the flat and even gets into the deep third. Stamina is a bit of an issue, as you'd expect. Alcorn State linebacker Lee Robinson is all of 6-2, 249, and appears destined to be a 3-4 inside linebacker to use his strength and athleticism. Nebraska linebacker Cody Glenn stood out in coverage, as did Kansas' James Holt (although his slight 218-pound frame may be an issue for scouts).

• It's normal for scouts to flock to "the pit" to watch one-on-one matchups between offensive and defensive linemen. The top lineman on either side of the ball was Tennessee State left tackle Cornelius Lewis, a Florida State transfer who will probably move inside at the next level. He used his arm length and athleticism to hold up his man at the point of attack or direct him around the pocket in drills and scrimmages.

• Eastern Michigan left tackle T.J. Lang moved inside for Monday's practice and proved he belonged, refusing to back down from anyone. Nebraska's Lydon Murtha played a strong right tackle, anchoring and moving his feet like a good Cornhusker should. Pitt center C.J. Davis and Penn State teammates left tackle Gerald Cadogan and left guard Rich Ohrnberger played as though they were from the major programs. Cadogan's athleticism on the edge and Davis and Ohrnberger's mauling style inside were as expected.

• The defensive line may be the weakest group here. Tennessee defensive tackle Demonte Bolden weighed in at only 281 pounds, and struggled to move Lang and other linemen. He ended up on the ground way too often in drills and team play. Ohio State's Nader Abdallah dominated his man in one-on-one drills because of his superior hand usage and swim move. Once in tight quarters during team play, his moves were not as effective. Tulsa tackle Moton Hopkins III flashed raw power as a 6-2, 273-pound power end.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/11307270Texas-Nation: Who to watch for during practice

Jan. 27, 2009
By Chad Reuter
NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst

EL PASO, Texas -- The fact that players from lower levels, or even non-BCS conferences like the Sun Belt, take on Big 12 and SEC talent makes the week of practice at the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Game all that much more interesting.

The week of practice can be enough for a player to lift his stock from late-draft consideration to mid-round pick and others from priority free agents into the late rounds.

It's hard for any player to really hurt himself this week. None of the prospects are so highly rated that they'd experience a considerable slide. The game is a true win-win situation for prospects and teams, many of whom sent top scouts to El Paso to find the best fit for their system.

During Tuesday's practice, these 13 players boosted their stock:

Texas squad

1. Monday's top receiver, Dominique Edison (Stephen F. Austin) sat out Tuesday with a minor injury, and is expected he'll be back today. Northwestern State's Dudley Guice took Edison's place as the premier wideout on the field. Guice snatched several balls outside the frame of his body and high-pointed a few in red zone drills. In another drill, he faked the fade and used his hands to get inside position for a quick slant near the goal line. The 6-foot-2, 213-pound Guice is not a track star but his feet were quick in and out of routes.

2. Tuesday's defensive star for the Texas squad was Chris Owens from San Jose State. He had at least two interceptions on the day, stepping in front of his man as if he'd heard the route called in the huddle. He has been the "other" corner opposite Dwight Lowery and Coye Francies the past two seasons, partially because of size (5-9, 182) but Owens' game should make his phone ring sometime on Sunday during draft weekend.

3. Lee Robinson, a linebacker from Alcorn State, continues to impress with his athleticism. Even at 249 pounds, he has the ability to track running backs in the flat and get to receivers in short zones. He's a guy who looks like Tarzan -- and plays like him, too. Of this week's participants, Robinson should be one of the first players drafted.

4. WR Jordan Norwood brought his polished routes, nice quickness and soft hands with him from Happy Valley. He's taking full advantage of the same all-star contest opportunity afforded his Penn State teammates in the East-West Shrine Game (Deon Butler) and Senior Bowl (Derrick Williams).

5. Furman CB William Middleton is holding his own. Likely too small for some teams at 5-9, 193, his ability to stick with receivers downfield and play the ball will be coveted by teams primarily using zone schemes.

6. RB Devin Moore (Wyoming) is very tough to catch in the open field. On swing passes, he continually shows superior quickness against linebackers or safeties in space. A bit small for an every-down back (5-9, 191), a team might try him as a slot receiver/kick returner in training camp.

Nation squad

1. ILB Florida Atlantic Frantz Joseph was intense and ready to go today while his Nation teammates were chilling out before practice. He popped pads all day in the box and although he's not really fluid, he gets into position to make plays in coverage.

2. T.J. Lang played left tackle for Eastern Michigan for the past two-plus seasons, but his play at left guard this week proves he'll be a solid NFL player at that spot. Strong at the point of attack, Lang can also get out in front of screens and dominate defensive backs at the second or third level. 3. At 5-10, 189, Louisiana-Lafayette's Jason Chery is not the most physically imposing receiver in El Paso, but he has caught everything thrown his direction. Whether on a slant, quick-out or nine route, Chery has the quickness to get position on his man and the hands to secure each pass.

4. Boston College TE Ryan Purvis missed having QB Matt Ryan around this season, but has looked smooth and sure-handed this week. His straight-line speed is questionable, however, so he'll be best finding the hole in zones and moving the chains.

5. Purvis' teammate, Kevin Akins, spent 2008 bouncing between cornerback and linebacker on BC's depth chart. Once again he showed great versatility Tuesday, playing strong at the point of attack and looking fluid in coverage as a linebacker and coming up into the box to support the run as a free safety.

6. Montana safety Colt Anderson is reminiscent of undersized but heady Jim Leonhard of the Baltimore Ravens. The 5-10, 191-pound Anderson is plenty physical despite his slight frame. He also displayed nice reflexes intercepting a ball after it went through a receiver's hands.

7. DE Pierre Walters (Eastern Illinois) has the size at 6-4, 269, to hold up on early downs but flashed good speed off the edge and an ability to spin or loop inside to get to the quarterback stepping up into the pocket.

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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/11315279Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Game: 15 Players to watch

Jan. 29, 2009
By Chad Reuter
NFLDraftScout.com

EL PASO, TEXAS -- By the time Saturday rolls around, the two sides in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Game are very familiar with one another. This is the one postseason prospect showcase that pairs the teams during on-field practices before the game is played.

For those unfamiliar with the rosters entering Saturday's game, keep an eye on the 15 players below, ranked in the order in which they could come off the draft board in April.

Asterisks denote players invited to the National Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February. A few more players might receive late invites, as room opened up when the number of declaring underclassmen was lower than expected.

• *CB Chris Owens (San Jose State, 5-10, 182): Scouts were buzzing about Owens as possibly the highest-rated prospect on the field. Some teams won't invest a high pick in a smallish corner, but a team will value the playmaking ability, fluid hips and short memory he demonstrated in El Paso.

• OLB Lee Robinson (Alcorn State, 6-2, 249): He could challenge Owens as the top pick from this game because he's a physical specimen, and he can really play. Scouts value a guy like Robinson who can hold up a pulling guard in space but run with backs in coverage down the sideline.

• *OT Cornelius Lewis (Tennessee State, 6-4, 324): In today's one-on-ones, Lewis was unbeatable. The Florida State transfer moved his feet and extended his arms to prevent ends from getting anywhere near the quarterback. Although he could be moved inside, Lewis appears most comfortable at the left tackle spot.

• ILB Frantz Joseph (Florida Atlantic, 6-2, 243): Whether in pads or just shells, Joseph made his presence felt in the box. He showed the strength necessary to get off of blocks and the awareness in zone to prevent running backs and tight ends from making yardage after the catch.

• OG T.J. Lang (Eastern Michigan, 6-4, 312): He lined up at tackle, guard and center during the week and won almost every battle. Lang locks up his man, consistently anchoring to prevent the bull rush.

• *OT Joel Bell (Furman, 6-7, 312): It's hard to ignore Bell's physically imposing frame. Defensive linemen found it difficult to get around his wide body and long arms, and his straight-line speed is obvious as he gets downfield to block. He'll be among the fastest tackles at the Combine.

• *OT Garrett Reynolds (North Carolina, 6-8, 310): Although he could use more strength throughout his frame, Reynolds still manages to keep defensive ends at bay by moving his feet, playing with a wide base and continually working his hands into his man's jersey.

• DT Nader Abdallah (Ohio State, 6-4, 295): Clearly the best defensive lineman in El Paso this week, he was unblockable at times. He lacks the athleticism of the elite prospects at his position, but Ohio State has coached him up to play strong at the point of attack and use his hands to discard leaning guards and centers.

• FB Conredge Collins (Pittsburgh, 6-0, 227): Versatility is a major asset for today's NFL fullback. Collins displayed his ability to take his target out of the play, snare passes in the flat and even carry the mail. Those skills could make him a long-time starter.

• *WR Jordan Norwood (Penn State, 5-10, 174): An underappreciated receiver, Norwood looked like a BCS-caliber talent, using his suddenness in and out of routes and soft hands to improve his stock going into the Combine.

• *TE Ryan Purvis (Boston College, 6-4, 255): A move-the-chains tight end with reliable hands and a willingness to block on the line. He looked more like the guy he was as a junior -- when his quarterback was Matt Ryan -- in practices this week.

• *RB Bernard Scott (Abilene Christian, 5-11, 199): Scouts would like to see another 10-15 pounds on his frame, but his quick feet and vision allow him to weave in and out of traffic like a Porsche on the 405.

• *QB Curtis Painter (Purdue, 6-3, 222): Considering his high profile over the past three seasons, Painter should be the top quarterback coming out of this game. His arm strength is clearly the best of the group, and his accuracy -- while not great -- was also the most consistent. This year's quarterback class probably will be weak enough to keep Painter off the free-agent market.

• DE Pierre Walters (Eastern Illinois, 6-4, 269): Flashed pass rush off the edge and his size, occasionally violent hands and strength at the point gives NFL defensive coaches a good foundation for a developmental project.

• WR Dudley Guice (Northwestern State, 6-2, 213): Not the fastest guy on the field, but his fluid running, vertical in the red zone and good hands made scouts take a second, third and even fourth look. Dominique Edison (Stephen F. Austin) would have likely made this list if he had not suffered a shoulder injury after his dominant Monday practice.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=512125Notes from Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge

Posted: January 29, 2009

EL PASO, TEXAS -- Draft expert Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts provide news, notes and analysis from Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge practices:

The Texas Squad

Tarrion Adams, RB, Tulsa. Although he moves well laterally, he has not shown the acceleration or explosiveness to get through holes or past would-be tacklers.

Adrian Grady, DT, Louisville. He has been able to penetrate as a pass rusher by dropping his shoulder and then pulling his arm up and getting inside the guards. Grady also has been effective against the run, showing good strength at the point of attack, shedding blockers and getting in on tackles.

Dudley Guice, WR, Northwestern State. The offensive drills have been dominated by Guice's wide range of catches on fade, deep post, slant and then "go" routes. He displays good concentration, outfighting a double-team once to catch a tipped pass.

Stephen Hodge, S, TCU. He made a nice leaping interception on one play, an ill-advised pass meant for the running back whom he had blanketed. Hodge shows good instincts in the box, jumping into the backfield to take on blockers and force running backs to turn inside for no gains.

David Johnson, QB, Tulsa. He hasn't been able to get in sync with receivers turning either up or out while he throws short or in. He also threw a bad interception in the flat while trying to connect with his running back who was well covered (by Hodge).

Brandon Ledbetter, TE, Western Michigan. He looks natural running routes, displaying soft hands to catch passes in the flat and down the middle seam.

Jordan Norwood, WR, Penn State. He is doing well in the drills, constantly gaining separation from defensive backs and making nice catches along the sideline while getting both feet in-bounds.

Chase Patton, QB, Missouri. He is struggling with his accuracy and continues to throw into double coverage in 11-on-11 drills.

Bernard Scott, RB, Abilene Christian. He shows good vision and instincts slipping through the line of scrimmage and then driving forward as the hole closes gaining more positive yardage. In one practice, he also caught a nice pass along the sideline in the deep flat past the linebacker for a big gain.

Frank Summers, FB, UNLV. He shows power on draw plays, running hard inside and breaking tackles at the line of scrimmage, always keeping his legs moving. On one play, he ran over a linebacker and a defensive back.

The Nation Squad

Stanley Bryant, RT, East Carolina. He is getting out of his stance more quickly now and using hand punch immediately against defensive lineman, an improvement from earlier in the week when he tended to keep his elbows tucked in and his hands on his chest. He also is show quick footwork in pass protection, keeping defensive ends from gaining the edge.

Gerald Cadogan, LT, Penn State. He is performing well in pass protection drills and team drills by using his hands well, getting them up quickly and extending them to keep the pass rusher outside the pocket. On run plays, he shows a good burst off the snap and attacks the linemen pushing them backwards and winning the line of scrimmage.

Tony Carter, CB, Florida State. He shows good ball skills and closing speed. In one practice, he closed quickly to break up a deep pass that was underthrown and then followed that a few plays later by jumping a short-out route for an interception. He shows good instincts and smooth hips to turn and run with receivers.

Jason Chery, WR, Louisiana-Lafayette. He had a great catch toward the end of one practice, going up high in stride on a deep slant, splitting the defensive backs, landing in stride and taking it in for a touchdown.

Davon Drew, TE, East Carolina. He has been inconsistent. He will make some nice catches and show natural skills and then follow it up with a couple of drops.

Will Johnson, DT, Michigan. He tries hard but is a bit overmatched by big offensive linemen. He is not strong enough to get penetration and not quick enough to get around blockers. He must get bigger and stronger to compete on this level.

Jamarko Simmons, WR, Western Michigan. He has had a good couple days of practice, catching a number of balls, showing a nice ability to adjust to passes. He also shows a willingness to block downfield on running plays and screen passes. He shows deceptive speed for a 240-pound wide receiver and always seems to have a step on the cornerback or find the open spots in zones.

Derek Walker, DE, Illinois. He shows a good burst off the snap, shedding blocks and getting to the ballcarrier. He never stops hustling and competes on every snap.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.newerascouting.com/top_stories/1837-2009-senior-bowl-re-cap/Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
2009 Senior Bowl Re-Cap
by Matt Miller

While the actual game means very little, Senior Bowl week is one of the most important weeks leading up to the NFL Draft.

The Winners:

DT B.J. Raji, Boston College- This one goes without saying. Raji surprised many people this week with his tenacity and quickness. Before the week in Mobile, Raji was a late-first round prospect. As of now, don’t be surprised if he goes in the top 15. A big week at the Combine in Indianapolis could propel Raji in to the top ten.

LB’s Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing, USC- No two players stood out more in practice than Matthews and Cushing. Both have the look of pass rushing threats in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. General managers and scouts alike are very excited about these two. Don’t be surprised to see Cushing picked in the top 10, with Matthews now considered a first-round prospect.

WR Derrick Williams, Penn State- Williams came to the Senior Bowl as an athlete who needed to prove himself as a wide receiver. And he did. Williams showed all week that his routes are crisp, and that he’s strong enough to beat press coverage. The questions we all had about Williams were answered. And don’t forget that he’s a dangerous return man, either.

The Losers:

LB Rey Maualuga, USC- Sure, Maualuga had a good week in practice and looked like a top 15 pick. Why is he then listed as a loser? Maualuga showed that he’s a first and second-down linebacker this week, but he also shows that he may have trouble on third downs. Is Maulauga quick enough to drop back in to coverage? He looked tight in the hips all week.

QB Graham Harrell, Texas Tech- Harrell was bad all week. His accuracy was spotty and his arm strength looked terrible. He had trouble picking up the South offense as quickly as the other passers, too.

QB Pat White, West Virginia- White came to Mobile as a quarterback, which was largely a mistake. White’s best chance at an NFL career will be at wide receiver, or taking snaps in a Wildcat formation. It’s obvious though that White is not a quarterback.

OG Herman Johnson, LSU- Johnson weighed in at 382lbs. While that’s impressive, it’s just too big. Johnson needs to show some discipline and commitment to his career. Once a second round prospect, Johnson is slipping.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://draftguys.com/index.php/articles/1/2009_texas_vs_the_nation_weigh-in_notes/2009 Texas Vs The Nation Weigh-In Notes

by Sigmund Bloom and Cecil Lammey on 01/26/09

Once again we were lucky enough to get to eavesdrop and get a peek at the players at the weigh-in at the 3rd annual Texas Vs The Nation all-star game in El Paso. Here are some of the players that stood out to us:

NATION

Joe Burnett (CB/RT-Central Florida) - Burnett was ripped, carrying 188 pounds well on his 5’9 5/8” frame. His 31” arms will help make up for any height disadvantage.

Jason Chery (WR/RT- La. Lafayette) - Chery is a well developed receiver with a chiseled physique. His muscle is distributed well throughout his frame, not too bulky or slight in any area.

Dobson Collins (WR- Gardner-Webb) - Collins had an ideal long-limbed, high cut, narrow hipped frame, and excellent arm length at 32 1/4.

CJ Davis (C-Pittsburgh) - Davis had a classic fireplug build, and he’s not at all sloppy despite topping 300 pounds. He’s thick everywhere, especially from the waist down, with an exceptionally wide base.

Dahna Deleston (LB/S-Connecticut) - Deleston had an extremely well-defined physique, like most of the Uconn players we’ve seen over the last three weeks. Clearly the Huskies emphasize the weight room in their culture. Strangely, his frame looked maxxed out at 212 even though he’s 6’0 1/8”.

Davon Drew (TE-East Carolina) - Drew was in good shape and has excellent size at 6’4” 257, and he looked like he could add 20 pounds of muscles and lose little speed or quickness.

Will Johnson (DT-Michigan) - Johnson looked good at 280 packed on his 6’3 7/8” frame. His upper body is very thick, especially his back, making him hard to bend back against the run.

Terrance Knighton (DT-Temple) - Knighton is carrying 324 pounds on his 6’3 1/8” frame, and he’s not sloppy at all for a guy that heavy. He’s got a big bubble, big arms, and a powerful, wide lower body.

Jamall Lee (RB-Bishop’s) and Ataefiok Etukeran (OLB/DE-Georgetown) are two of the players we were least familiar with coming into this week. Lee played in Canada, and Etukeran played in the Patriot League at a school better known for it’s basketball team, but both struck a great profile at the weigh-in. Etukeran was well-defined with huge 34 1/4 arms, and Lee was solid 225 on a 6’ 0 7/8” frame, with big thighs and 33 3/8 arms.

Khalif Mitchell (DT-East Carolina) - Mitchell was close to maxxed out at 316 on his 6’5 1/4” frame, but the weight is distributed well.

Nick Moore (WR-Toledo) - Moore looked like a spitting image of his brother Lance (New Orleans Saints), except for being five inches taller (but about the same weight) at 6’1 7/8” 194. His frame is long and lean without being too skinny, and his 32 1/4 inch arms will help him snag passes at the next level.

Curtis Painter (QB-Purdue) - Painter surprised us with the best physique of any QB we’ve seen in the last three weeks. His frame was solid throughout and well-defined.

Garrett Reynolds (OT-North Carolina) - It isn’t often you can say a 6’7 7/8” 310 pound player actually has room to grow, but it looks like Reynolds could easily carry 20-30 more pounds on his frame.

Jamarko Simmons (WR-Western Michigan) - Simmons was a dead ringer for Anquan Boldin at 6’2” 241. The muscle is well-distributed and Simmons looks powerful in every way.

Brannan Southerland (FB-Georgia) - Southerland had the dimensions you want in a fullback at 5’11 7/8” 247, and his wide shoulders, big arms, and big bubble should serve him well throwing lead blocks in the NFL.

TEXAS

Tarrion Adams (RB-Tulsa) - Adams is carrying 209 pounds on his 5’11 3/4” frame, and while his lower body looks NFL ready, his upper body could be better developed.

Roger Allen III (OG-Missouri Western) - Allen is another rare 322 pounder with little fat, and he’s thick everywhere on his 6’3” frame - upper and lower body.

Colin Brown (OT-Missouri) - Brown was the heaviest player at 341 pounds on his 6’7” frame, but he’s not fat at all - his natural size is exceptional.

Ian Campbell (DE/OLB-Kansas State) - Campbell tipped the scales at 265 on his 6’4 1/8” frame, but his upper body, especially his pecs, were underdeveloped, and he definitely has room to grow.

Dominique Edison (WR-Stephen F Austin) - 6’2” 199 might not sound like much, but Edison was cut, with good definition everywhere.

Sean Glennon (QB-Virginia Tech) - Glennon is the biggest QB here at 6’4 5/8”. He had well-defined arms and he looked to be in good shape at 223. His 10 1/8 hands are among the biggest at the game.

Michael Jones (WR-Arizona State) - Jones has nice height at 6’3 1/2”, but even at 204 pounds he looks lanky, more skinny than well-toned, although he had good abs.

Johnny Knox (WR-Abilene Christian) - 5’11 5/8” and 186 doesn’t sound imposed, but Knox was cut, especially in the upper body, and a big bubble.

William Middleton (DB-Furman) - Middleton had one of the most impressive upper bodies on either squad, with horseshoe triceps. You can see how he packs 193 pounds on to his 5’ 9 1/2” frame.

Devin Moore (RB-Wyoming) - Moore had a well-defined upper body and looked good at 5’9” 191, but his frame seems to be maxxed out.

Lydon Murtha (OT-Nebraska) - We could not see any fat on Murtha’s 6’7” 207 frame, and his build screams “country strong”.

Chris Ogbonnaya (RB-Texas) - Ogbonnaya was thick at 6’0” 220, but not bulky, and he had the strong lower body you like to see in a running back. Ogbannaya also has big 9 3/4” hands, not surprising for a back who was an excellent passcatcher in college.

Chase Patton (QB-Missouri) - Patton lived up to billing with a 6’4 1/2” 222 frame, and he looked like he was in very good shape for a QB.

Zach Potter (DL-Nebraska) - Potter had no-neck traps, but he does have room to grow with only 277 pounds on his 6’6 7/8” frame.

Frank Summers (RB/FB-UNLV) - Summers truly earns his nickname “The Tank” with a barrel chest, huge traps, and great thickness throughout his upper and lower body.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://draftguys.com/index.php/articles/1/2009_texas_vs_the_nation_day_one_texas_practice_re port/2009 Texas Vs The Nation Day One Texas Practice Report

by Sigmund Bloom and Cecil Lammey on 01/26/09

The wind was whipping through the Franklin Mountains and making it very hard for QBs to make good throws, which made it hard for us to evaluate them (and the WRs and DBs). Still it was a great day for the pit and unlike the Senior Bowl and Shrine Game, the players practiced in full pads on Monday. The practices had only a little bit of position work, instead focusing on one on one battles, 7 on 7s, and 11 on 11s. All of the QBs had trouble handling the ball on snaps from center, we recorded at least 9 bungled center-QB exchanges in the practice

QB

Sean Glennon (QB-Virginia Tech) - Glennon had nice velocity in the wind and a good release point, but his wind up takes way too long.

Chase Holbrook (QB-New Mexico State) - Holbrook had heavy feet and lumbered in his dropback and set up to throw, he also had trouble driving through the pass and putting good zip on the ball.

Chase Patton (QB-Missouri) - Patton had a nice smooth throwing motion and stood tall in the pocket, but he also looked like a QB who hadn’t played much and was scared to make mistakes. He seemed to have to check what the play was after going to center a few times, and also had multiple balls batted down at the line of scrimmage. He threw one terrible pass off his back foot on the run after he would have been sacked, and it would have been an interception if the DB hadn’t dropped it.

David Johnson (QB-Tulsa) - Johnson was very light on his feet through his drops and transfers his weight from his front foot to his back foot well, and he displayed good mechanics, except on deep balls, when he drops his shoulder. Johnson seemed least daunted by the wind, putting the most zip on the ball and completing the most passes in the wind.

RB

Chris Ogbonnaya (RB-Texas) - Ogbonnaya flourishes as a one cut and go RB who gets his pads parallel to the line of scrimmage, but he looks ordinary on sweeps. Ogbonnaya also missed a few cutback lanes, causing us to question his vision. He did record the best RB block of the day on Moton Hopkins, and he also showed WR like precision and quickness in his routes out of the backfield, and WR hands to make the catch.

Devin Moore (RB-Wyoming) - Moore’s first step explosion was apparent, and he looked like a legit sub-4.4 RB when he was up to speed. Even though he’s only 5’9” 191, Moore is willing to run inside - although not always with success. Moore has great feet and suddenness in his cuts, allowing him to get open easily and use his good hands as a receiver out of the backfield. Moore also threw a good block in pass protection, something that will surely be a question in his profile because of his size.

Bernard Scott (RB-Abilene Christian) - The key to Scott’s game is his feet. He does the stop/start “matador” well, even running inside, and he also showed us great hands and a terrific initial burst and second gear. He doesn’t have the thick lower body you want in an NFL RB, but he looks like an excellent playmaking 9-12 touch a game RB who could surprise if he’s given more work.

Tarrion Adams (RB-Tulsa) - Adams wants to push the pile, but doesn’t have the lower body strength or pad level to move the mass. Adams has good feet through the hole to get through the trash and showed decent balance after contact. He’s definitely a change of pace back at best, but he looks like he’ll be able to hang with a talented group of Texas RBs.

Frank Summers (RB/FB-UNLV) - Summers never stops churning his legs when he hits the pile. He’s a good lead blocker and he can also catch the ball out of the backfield well for a fullback.

WR/TE

David Richmond (WR-San Jose State) - Richmond is probably the best athlete of the Texas WRs, and he breaks very suddenly in his routes, all arms and legs flailing in one direction before he busts the route back the other direction, usually creating great separation. He went up for the high ball very well and surprised us with his raw tools.

Johnny Knox (WR-Abilene Christian) - Knox had one of the plays of the day with a one handed catch in stride, and he turned Marcus McClinton inside out with one of his routes. Knox’s hands and adjustments to the wind-blown balls were uncanny, almost like the ball was controlling him - like he was at some hypnotic level of concentration. He had the best hands of the Texas WRs by far.

Michael Jones (WR-Arizona State) - Jones had terrible hands early, dropping an inordinate amount of passes that were blown off course by the wind, but he seemed to settle down as the practice wore on. Jones was making a point to practice handfighting the tackler after the catch, even when he was uncovered.

Dominique Edison (WR-Stephen F Austin) - Edison made a low catch just off the ground, and he also skied to catch a few balls overhead. He did have a few body catches, but he was still consistently making the reception. He looked like a good athlete at 6’2” 199.

Michael Reed (WR-BYU) - Reed had a solid day, making mostly good hands catches, but letting a few get through to his pads. He did have an excellent leaping catch that was one of the highlights of the practice.

OL

Lydon Murtha (OT-Nebraska) - Murtha stood out with his quickness into his stance and very strong punch, sometimes staggering his opponent in the pit. He’s light on his feet for a 6’7” 310 tackle and he used that quality to recover when initially beaten.

Cornelius Lewis (OT/OG-Tennessee State) - Lewis had a few outstanding plays where he sealed the edge on a run, or completely stalemated his opponent in the pit. Then he would be beaten way too easily by garden variety moves. One of pair of battles with Cyril Obiozor in the pit, Lewis was beaten by a swim move that left him standing still, and then landed a punch that jolted Obiozor off his rush on the next rep. Lewis had some of the best and worst plays in the pit.

Blake Schlueter (C-TCU) - Schlueter showed great strength absorbing the initial push and kept his feet well, giving little ground in the pit. He was the most technically sound of the Texas offensive linemen, and he showed the ability to recover when beaten.

DEF

Nader Abdallah (DT-Ohio State) - Abdallah put on a show in the pit, clubbing his opponent to the ground on one decisive win, freeing himself with a spin move on another, and pushing back his opponent with a irresistable bullrush on yet another. He also defeated blockers to make plays against the run in 11 on 11s. Abdallah turned heads as much as any Texas player today.

Zach Potter (DT-Nebraska) - Potter and his TE-like frame got overpowered more than once in the pit, but once the action turned to 11 on 11s, he showed a knack for tipping and batting down passes and generally disrupting passing lanes. He got his hands on two of Chase Patton passes, and Patton goes 6’4 1/2” with a high release point.

Cyril Obiozor (DE-Texas A&M) - Obiozor was one of the pleasant surprises today, winning pit battles with a great burst upfield, great strength and violence in his handfighting, and a great motor. He turned the corner like a pass rush specialist, and often blew up running plays to his side in 11 on 11s.

Rulon Davis (DE-California) - Davis showed uneven effort at first in the pit. On one matchup he made a terrific move to win the initial battle, but then did not drive through the QB strong enough to finish the play. Once his fuse was lit, he flashed a terrific swim move and handfought with the best of them for the rest of the day.

Rashad Bobino (LB-Texas) - Bobino is short at 5’9 1/2”, but he was shedding blocks and shooting gaps vs. the run in 11 on 11s all day.

Lee Robinson (LB-Alcorn State) - Robinson had the defensive play of the practice with a twisting interception snagged out of the air at full extension on a Chase Patton fastball. Robinson showed excellent coordination staying on his feet and turning instantly into a returner after the spectacular pick. He’s clearly a tremendous athlete.

Londen Fryar (CB-Western Michigan) - Fryar played hard-nosed corner all day, and he showed excellent recovery speed when initially turned inside out by David Richmond, one of the fastest WRs on the Texas squad. He didn’t fall for much and looked like a veteran out there.

Lydell Sargeant (CB-Penn State) - Sargeant was very aggressive, physically challenging the wide receivers and making a good bid to break up most every pass thrown in his direction. Sargeant is anything but tentative when the ball is in the air.

Chris Owens (CB-San Jose State) - Owens had the easiest time of it mirroring the Texas wideouts and looked like the most polished corner on the Texas side.

Stephen Hodge (S/LB-TCU) - Hodge clearly loves to hit. He blew up Frank the Tank Summers, lowering the boom on a hit that resonated throughout the Sun Bowl, and he seemed to be lining up would be victims on most plays.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://draftguys.com/index.php/articles/1/2009_texas_vs_the_nation_day_one_nation_practice_r eport/2009 Texas Vs The Nation Day One Nation Practice Report

by Sigmund Bloom and Cecil Lammey on 01/27/09

The wind died down for the Nation practice and the lights came on as we entered the evening hours. We got much better conditions to evaluate QBs, WRs, and DBs, and we think we might have found the one Senior QB who is rising to the occasion in his all-star game.

QB

Curtis Painter(Purdue) - Painter looked like the most pro-ready QB we’ve seen in the last three weeks. He was lightning quick to set his feet and release on his throws and made quick decisions. His delivery was efficient and compact, and on one throw, he was perfectly accurate throwing the out as the WR (Jaison Williams) was making his break. Painter also put good zip on the ball, still completing a pass downfield on a ball that was tipped at the line of scrimmage. It’s only Monday and Painter looks to be mid-season form.

Mike Teel(Rutgers) - Teel has the velocity to fit the ball into tight spots, but he still needs to put more touch on his short passes. Teel had one pass intercepted by Brit Miller, who leapt to make a one handed snag on a ball targeted for a downfield receiver.

Drew Willy(Buffalo) - Willy was not timid, often testing the defense downfield, especially deep. He does see the field well, but one of his deep balls was easily picked off by DeAngelo Willingham.
Willy had enough velocity on a wheel route to Conredge Collins to avoid an interception the defense thought they had for sure.

Jason Boltus(Hartwick) - Boltus holds on to the ball too long, and sometimes displayed happy feet, but he threw with the best velocity of any QB here, and he didn’t seem to be exerting himself to do it. Boltus didn’t sacrifice much accuracy to gain speed, either. Boltus is very quick in drops, and there’s no doubt he has a cannon arm. He’s probably in the top three to five QBs we’ve seen this month on raw tools alone.

RB

Brannan Southerland(Georgia) - Southerland ran like a prototype fullback with low pads and leg drive. He also got around the corner to be the lead blocker in the convoy on a few wide running plays.

Yonus Davis(San Jose State) - Davis has good hands, and he’s very shifty, as you’d expect a 5’6” RB to be. He’s built more like Cory Ross or a slightly less souped up Maurice Jones Drew than Darren Sproles, and his game is comparable to Ross’s.

Branden Ore(West Liberty State) - Ore looked to be in great shape, and he was light on his feet with great juice in his cuts. Ore made would-be tacklers miss more than once and he also showed soft hands as a receiver. Ore instinctively gets skinny between the tackles and he knows how to dip his shoulder away from outstretched arms. He has good vision for the cutback lanes and seems to be rehabilitating his draft stock after getting dismissed from Virginia Tech this past Spring.

Anthony Kimble(Stanford) - Kimble is an upright runner with good lateral agility and change of direction skills. He’s a willing inside runner, but his quasi-WR build means he’s not always effective.

Conredge Collins(Pittsburgh) - Tony Collins son looked more like a tailback than a fullback with the ball in his hands, showing terrific cutting ability and vision. He fits more as a west coast style receiver and running fullback than a lead blocker.

WR/TE

Dobson Collins(Gardner-Webb) - Collins high pointed the ball well and ran very tight routes. His body control, sideline awareness, and hands were also excellent. Like many of the small school wideouts here this week, Collins only helped his draft stock today.

John Matthews(San Diego) - Matthews is a technician, changing speeds in his routes very effectively and showing terrific hands, including a ball he snagged with one hand behind him, although he did bobble it to create the opportunity to show his sticky mitts. He’s very quick in and out of his breaks, and despite his size, he’s fearless over the middle.

Nick Moore(Toledo) - Moore showed no reluctance to go up for the high ball and leave himself open for hits and hard landings. He had great hands at full extension. Moore had terrific run after catch instincts, automatically turning upfield after the catch and looking for the big gain. He was also surprisingly sudden in and out of his breaks for a long limbed wideout.

Jamarko Simmons(Western Michigan) - Simmons moved very well for a 6’2” 240 wideout, but he is a long strider. He didn’t struggle to separate, but he did have inconsistent hands all day, dropping more than one easy pass.

Jaison Williams(Oregon) - Williams continues to be a tease, moving unbelievably well for a 6’4 3/8” 239 passcatcher, but often failing to catch easy passes. The hands problem that plagued him at Oregon doesn’t seem to be going away.

Jason Chery(Louisiana-Lafayette) - Chery was snagging passes whether they were high, low, behind him, or on point. His body control, speed, and suddenness in his breaks are all very good.

Ryan Purvis(TE- Boston College) - Purvis has the softest hands of anyone at this game, with fingertip catches that made it look like he had suction cups on his hands.

Davon Drew(TE- East Carolina) - Drew showed consistent hands and flashed a good stiff arm running after the catch. He also road graded his man five yards out of the play to create one of the biggest holes of the day in 11 on 11s.

OL

Rich Ohrnberger(OL-Penn State) - Ohrnberger handled himself very well in the pit, easily dismissing Demonte Bolden and showing good fight, strength, and a strong base throughout.

Garrett Reynolds(OT-North Carolina) - Reynolds got into his stance quickly and moved very well for such a big man, but he sometimes got pushed back way too easily on the bullrush and doesn’t seem to anchor well against strong ends.

DEF

Khalif Mitchell(DT-East Carolina) - Mitchell played with boundless energy, although he doesn’t seem to have the technique to harness it yet. He was beaten soundly on the initial rush in the pit more than once, only to get off the ground and push through to the QB with little resistance. Mitchell played with tremendous strength, and quickness that made it easy to forget that he runs about 6’5” 315. He clearly has upside to match any defensive lineman in this game.

Terrance Knighton(DT-Temple) - Knighton pushed around opponents like a 320+ pounder should. He got great penetration against the run and also did a good job getting his hands up to bat passes. On one battle in the pit, he threw Nick Hennessey to the ground like he was a ragdoll.

Julius Williams(DE-Connecticut) - Williams got in the backfield consistently against the run in 11 on 11s, and he dismissed his opponent easily with strength more than once in the pit. He’s off to a great start and surely caught the scouts eyes today.

Frantz Joseph(LB-Florida Atlantic) - Joseph had a terrific day, playing downhill and blowing up run plays as advertised, but he also got deep into his zone drops well and even collected an interception on a tipped ball. One observer compared him to Ray Lewis against the run, and we can’t disagree based on how he looked on Monday.

Antonio Appleby(LB-Virginia) - Like Joseph, Appleby played well enough to make you wonder why he wasn’t at the Shrine Game or Senior Bowl. Appleby flowed to the ballcarrier very well against wide runs and shed blockers to make the tackle like a stout middle linebacker.

Joe Burnett(CB-Central Florida) - As expected, Burnett mirrored wide receivers as well as any corner at this game, and he also showed good aggressiveness and instincts in run support.

Colt Anderson(S- Montana) - Anderson played in a much more imposing fashion than you’d expect from a 190 pound defensive back. He laid a few big hits on offensive players and seemed to have impeccable timing for delivering the blow to a receiver coming over the middle. Some say there’s no place for him in the NFL because he’s too small to play so physically, but don’t be surprised if he beats the odds.

Dahna Deleston(SS/LB-Connecticut) lined up with the defensive backs, and Kevin Akins(SS/LB-Boston College) lined up with the linebackers.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://draftguys.com/index.php/articles/1/2009_senior_bowl_confirmations_and_surprises/2009 Senior Bowl Confirmations and Surprises

by Sigmund Bloom on 01/27/09

Even though it rained once again during the Senior Bowl, we still got a good look at the players we watched all week. Here are the players that confirmed that what we saw in practices was not an illusion, and the players who surprised us during the game for reasons both good and bad:

Confirmations

Rhett Bomar (QB-Sam Houston State) - Just like in practice, Bomar flashed some great raw tools, and some things he needs to improve before he can be a viable NFL starting QB. Bomar’s arm strength and quick, compact release were NFL ready, but his erratic accuracy reared its ugly head on short and long throws, and he gave defenders easy plays when he stared down his target. He also coughed up a fumble in his own end zone that resulted in a TD for the South.

Andre Brown (RB-NC State) - Brown’s surprising burst showed on his 33 yard catch and run, and he showed the ability to become a power back with a good nose for the end zone on his TD run.

Rashad Jennings (RB-Liberty) - Jennings showed us the same things that stood out all week in practice - running with a good initial burst for a 234 pound back, and good feet through the hole. He fought off William Moore’s tackle on one play, showing a more physical side to his game and definitely left open the possibility of moving into the top 100 picks in April.

Mike Wallace (WR-Ole Miss) - Wallace put a punctuation mark on a week that showed he belonged with this level of competition after a late call-up to the Senior Bowl. He flashed outstanding deep speed on his long TD catch that he slowed down to haul in. He flew past DeAngelo Smith, who is not exactly sluggish, although he wasn’t the fastest corner at the game either. Wallace also used that great speed to track down Kory Sheets on his long kick return.

Juaquin Iglesias (WR-Oklahoma) - Iglesias capped off a good week with the best performance of any wideout in the game. He got open with his excellent quickness and burst in and out of his breaks, and always secured the catch with good hands. Iglesias was elusive after the catch and continued the momentum he had built with better and better practices each day in Mobile.

Phil Loadholt (OT-Oklahoma) - Loadholt unfortunately did not surprise us by turning around a week that saw him beaten way too easily around the edge against speed rushers. He couldn’t move with Robert Ayers among others, and left his QB running for his life more than once.

Peria Jerry (DT-Ole Miss) - Any time there was a pileup in the backfield during South practices, you could be sure Peria Jerry was at the center of it during practices, and he was disruptive again during the game, defeating his blocker easily to record one sack and finding a loose ball in the end zone for the game’s only defensive TD. Jerry will be coveted by any teams looking for a one gap defensive tackle in the first round.

Tyrone McKenzie (LB-South Florida) - McKenzie’s excellent instincts and ability to diagnose the play and shoot the gap vs. the run were responsible for multiple plays, something that happened consistently during practices. McKenzie also drove well on the ball in flight when he was in coverage and sacrificed his body to fill the hole when necessary.

Scott McKillop (LB-Pittsburgh) - McKillop wasn’t quite as dynamic or playing downhill as well as McKenzie, but he was patient vs. the run, flowing to the play and saving the defense a ton of yards with his sure tackling.

Ellis Lankster (CB-West Virginia) - Lankster might have surprised some viewers with his excellent play vs. the run and pass, but we saw signs of it all week in Mobile. He flew in like a heat seeking missile on run plays, and showed terrific fight on his interception - taking the ball away from Brian Robiskie despite giving up a significant height advantage to him.

Surprises

Pat White (QB-West Virginia) - White flourished when the bullets were flying. His deep ball TD to Mike Wallace was a little underthrown, but still good enough, and he used his excellent athleticism to make a few plays on the run. His deficiencies were not as apparent as they were in drills that isolated specific QB skills, although he didn’t put much touch on one screen pass. White looked comfortable in the pocket and looked the best of the QBs when throwing on the run, which was not a surprise. White will have to provide value as a special teams player to make a team, but his performance increased the chances that his career as a QB stays alive at least a little longer.

Graham Harrell (QB-Texas Tech) - Maybe Harrell’s lack of arm strength was not surprising, but we were shocked at how glaring it was during the game. He was well short on many throws and looked like Colt Brennan did last year, except Brennan had the excuse of losing 20+ pounds because of a bout with the flu. Harrell found ways to mask his arm strength issues in practice, but the game exposed this major problem with his game.

Cedric Peerman (RB-Virginia) - Peerman’s hard charging style looked a lot better during the game than it did in the week of practices. He bounced off of contact and broke tackles - something he couldn’t do in the low-impact practices. He ducked under one would-be tackler and ran downhill with good body lean. His small (7 7/8”) hands might prove to be a problem at the next level, although we also give Rey Maualuga a lot of credit for a good strip on Peerman’s fumble.

Robert Ayers (DE-Tennessee) - Ayers motor and excellent push did not surprise us, but his speed around the edge did. He did not look like one of the better speed rushers in Mobile until the lights were on. Ayers devastated Nathan Brown and shared the sack that resulted in a TD with Corvey Irvin. Ayers was named outstanding defensive player of the game for his efforts.

Mitch King (DT-Iowa) - King’s great motor and quickness off the snap popped at times in practice, but the problems of being a relatively light defensive tackle showed a lot more during one on ones in the pit than they did in the game. King spent a lot of the game in the South backfield and defeated Eric Wood with surprising power that we did not see during the practices.

Alphonso Smith (CB-Wake Forest) - We weren’t surprised one bit when Smith jumped a route to get a shot at a pick six, but we doubt you’ll see him drop many opportunities that easy in the NFL. He’s a gambler, but he’ll hit the jackpot when he’s right.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://draftguys.com/index.php/articles/1/2009_texas_vs_the_nation_day_two_nation_practice_r eport/Nation Practice Report

by Sigmund Bloom and Cecil Lammey on 01/27/09

Today the Nation practice was the one that felt off and out of synch. The wind was strong at times, but it was also gusting for the morning Texas practice. The defense seemed to have the upper hand in 11 on 11’s, especially against the run.

QB

Curtis Painter(Purdue) - Painter’s quick decisions, quick setup, and efficient release stood out again today. He sees the field with clarity and puts decent zip on his short and intermediate passes. We haven’t seen him throw deep too often, but that’s partially because he’s very good at throwing quickly to an open receiver when a corner is giving him too much cushion. Painter had some stretches where he was off, but when he was on, he was spot on - especially on play action fakes, when he sometimes displayed a great sense of exactly where the receiver would be in his route.

Mike Teel(Rutgers) - Teel was one of the more patient QBs here, going through his reads deliberately. His arm strength is average at best, but he does put good touch on the short stuff. He seems to be a very limited upside QB.

Drew Willy(Buffalo) - We love Willy because unlike most QBs in all-star practices, he loves to test the defense deep. He reads the safeties, and if they’re not giving deep help, he throws a high arcing deep ball to give the wide receiver a chance to make the play (and the DB, which is just as illuminating for us). Willy’s gunslinger mentality is obvious, and we think it’s more encouraging when a QB is not afraid to make mistakes than when he is too cautious. Willy also put good zip on his short and intermediate throws. Between his aggressiveness and solid mechanics, he’ll make a good project QB.

Jason Boltus(Hartwick) - After two days of watching Boltus, it’s clear - he throws with the most velocity of any QB we’ve seen in the last three weeks. Unfortunately, he even throws frozen ropes on checkdowns and other short passes. He is relatively accurate with his passes and he knows he can throw into small windows because of his ball speed. Boltus has not demonstrated the ability to throw good touch passes or drop the ball into spots.

RB

All of the Nation RBs had a rough time showing us anything in 11 on 11 because the defensive line was controlling the line of scrimmage.

Brannan Southerland(Georgia) - Southerland had a good day as a receiver, adjusting well to poorly thrown balls. He caught most everything thrown his way, but he wasn’t always a hands catcher.

Yonus Davis(San Jose State) - Davis is very reminiscent of Cory Ross, a Nebraska RB we watched at the 2006 Shrine Game who is currently a free agent, but had a nice season finale with the Ravens in 2007. He’s built very low to the ground - Maurice Jones-Drew low - but he does use that compact build to make sudden cuts, losing little speed in and out of his breaks. Davis is also a nice little receiver, adjusting well to balls thrown outside of his frame. He’s got great feet through trash and should be able to at least have a career similar to Ross.

Branden Ore(West Liberty State) - Ore had a terrific one handed catch, and he’s clearly a natural hands catcher, but he had to be corrected by Nation head coach Howard Schnellenberger because he had too much stutter in his routes. Schnellenberger even used Canadian RB Jamall Lee, who is learning the ropes of American football this week, as an example for Ore to copy.

Anthony Kimble(Stanford) - Kimble is reminding us of James Johnson, a running back from Kansas State who played in this game last year and got on the field for the Bengals this year. Like Johnson, Kimble has a wide receiver build (high cut, narrow hips) and he’s an excellent receiver out of the backfield. Kimble showed terrific concentration hauling in a few balls he bobbled at first. He also showed good vision and moves in traffic, but he does run upright, so he’s easy to bring down. Kimble has gotten blown up a few times as a pass blocker, so that part of his 3rd down back game is missed.

Conredge Collins(Pittsburgh) - It’s too bad for Collins that the west coast offense is out of vogue, because he’d be a perfect WCO fullback. Collins is very quick in his routes and an outstanding receiver out of the backfield. He’s also a good blocker, but not a lead blocking slobberknocker. His versatility will be valuable at the next level, but he might have to bulk up from his current weight of 225 to find a role in the NFL.

WR/TE

Dobson Collins(Gardner-Webb) - We like Collins because he does all of the little things very well. He sinks his hips well in routes and clearly has worked on route precision and efficiency. He has a good burst off the line, quickly eating up the cushion, and good speed in and out of his breaks. Collins also has a second gear to separate deep, and he’s not afraid to go over the middle. His hands are soft and consistent and he can catch balls thrown outside of his frame. He’s not an exceptional athlete, but he’s good enough to make it if he stays devoted to mastering his craft.

John Matthews(San Diego) - Matthews is very quick, with good hands, and a great feel for finding the soft spot in the zone. He completely broke down Jahi Word-Daniels on one great route, and his loose hips flip open instantly to go into run after catch mode. Matthews keeps DBs on their heels with his good burst off the line, and he looks like an advanced receiver.

Nick Moore(Toledo) - Moore had a rough day today. He was outmuscled out of a few close balls, and he seemed to hear footsteps on a catch over the middle that got broken up. Moore looked especially slow in his release. He did flash a few good high point catches that highlight the best part of his game.

Jamarko Simmons(Western Michigan) - Simmons started slow with a few drops of easy passes, but he got going in 11 on 11s, with one great deep catch down the sideline in tight quarters where he used his size and strength to defeat the smaller defensive back. He’s not sudden, but his moves in his routes are effective enough to create separation once he’s up to speed. It does take longer than some of the smaller wideouts for Simmons to get up to speed, but he still eats up the cushion fast enough to put pressure on the corner. Simmons also squares back to the QB on short and intermediate routes, providing a big target.

Jaison Williams(Oregon) - Williams flashed great moves and speed for a huge wide receiver, but his hands, routes, and ability to turn quickly and locate the ball in flight were inconsistent and he looks like he’ll continue to be a disappointing tease as he enters the next phase of his career.

Jason Chery(Louisiana-Lafayette) - Chery was fighting the ball at first and but eventually got on track and made similar plays to the dynamic catches he posted on Monday. Chery’s speed is good and he can get open deep and finish the deal with good catches once the ball arrives.

Ryan Purvis(TE- Boston College) - Purvis continues to be the best hands catcher here and he adjusts to the ball in flight very well - rotating his body like John Carlson when the ball is thrown behind him. He also showed good handfighting in his routes and release and the ability to push off subtly to get open in close quarters.

Davon Drew(TE- East Carolina) - Drew hit the deck a lot today, sprawling to make attempts at errant passes or trying to make tough grabs in traffic. His athleticism is still apparent, getting off the line quickly and into his routes, and he did come down with a few of those contested balls.

OL

Rich Ohrnberger(OL-Penn State) - Ohrnberger gave max effort on every snap, just like he did yesterday, and he showed especially good ankle flex to absorb the pass rush. He’s not a high upside prospect, but guys like Ohrnberger hang around the league for a long time.

Garrett Reynolds(OT-North Carolina) - Reynolds still lacks the staggering punch and quick feet you want in a left tackle prospect, but he still moved pretty well for a huge man and absorbed the rush well when he faced up to the pass rush. He did struggle against straight speed rushers.

CJ Davis(C/G-Pitt) - Davis was strong at the point of attack and moved very well getting downfield to make blocks on screen passes and running plays, but he didn’t always locate someone to block.

TJ Lang(G/T-Eastern Michigan) - Lang had a few outstanding plays when he just dismissed his opponent, and one especially great play, disposing Pierre Walters into the backfield as the running back was going by, then moving quickly to help Conredge Collins seal the edge so the back could get to the corner.

DEF

Khalif Mitchell(DT-East Carolina) - Mitchell had a less exciting day today, unless you count the time he also got into a fight with an offensive lineman. His strength and energy is eye-catching, but he was getting beaten consistently because of a lack of technique and leverage.

Terrance Knighton(DT-Temple) - Knighton again pushed back his opponent in the pit like he was on ice skates, but we did see him leave the field with a trainer part way through the practice.

Demonte Bolden(DT-Tennessee) - Bolden had a much better day today, penetrating vs the run and pass, and displaying a great motor throughout.

Derek Walker(DE-Illinois) - Walker was often the guy beating Garrett Reynolds with the speed rush, and he also flashed unstoppable handfighting technique to get free on a few reps.

Will Johnson(DT-Michigan) - Johnson is a try hard guy who gives max effort on every play even though he doesn’t hold up well at the point of attack. He does have an uncanny knack for getting his hands up to disrupt passing lanes as the QB is about to release the ball and seems to project well as a 3-4 DE at the next level.

Frantz Joseph(ILB-Florida Atlantic) - Joseph is flat out fun to watch. He plays with a natural violence that would fit in with players like Ray Lewis and Jack Lambert, and he’ll blow up running backs and offensive lineman with the same zest and effectiveness. He looked good against the pass today, using body position to cover faster RBs, and breaking well on the ball in flight and timing his breakups to avoid penalties.

Kevin Malast(LB-Rutgers) - Malast has shown terrific instincts flowing to the play, and fights hard, even defeating an offensive linemen double team on a screen pass. He has a nose for the ball and just seems like a guy who will catch on with good special teams play and hunger.

Antonio Appleby(ILB-Virginia) - Appleby, like Joseph, seems to relish the chance to hit offensive players. He flows well to the ballcarrier on running plays, and flies to the ball when he has a lane. Appleby has great size, but he doesn’t defeat blockers as well as Joseph.

Joe Burnett(CB-Central Florida) - Burnett continues to look like a veteran among youngsters, jumping Nick Moore’s comeback way too easily (it would have been an interception if it wasn’t a poorly thrown ball), and generally knowing what the wide receiver is going to do at the moment he does it. Burnett drives on the ball in flight well and always competes hard to break up passes without making plays that would draw obvious penalties. We haven’t got a chance to see him return kicks and punts yet this week, but it will be a big part of Burnett’s value to his eventual NFL team. Burnett is definitely one of the five or ten best players at this game.

Colt Anderson(S- Montana) - Anderson does two things well - he positions himself well to make plays while keeping receivers in front of him, and he comes up to support the run very instinctively. Anderson collected two interceptions today, one on a deflection and one on an overthrow. He was in the mix on many running plays, and his natural inclinations usually took him straight to the ball and almost never out of the play. He only goes about 190, but he throws his body around to make tackles on much larger players. Anderson will be an underdog to make it in the NFL because he might not be fast enough to be a centerfielder or big enough to be a strong safety, but his instincts are top notch.

Tony Carter(CB-Florida State) - Carter was the defensive star of the Nation practice with multiple interceptions, including one where he read the QBs eyes all the way, and a non-chalant break-up of a deep ball when Jamarko Simmons got a step on him late in the practice during 11 on 11s. He’s a gambler, but he knows when to pick his moments.

Mark Parson(CB-Ohio) - Parson had an interception on a tipped ball and generally blanketed his assignment all day. He would be standing out if it wasn’t for the excellent play of Carter and Burnett.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://draftguys.com/index.php/articles/1/2009_texas_vs_the_nation_day_two_texas_practice_re port/2009 Texas Vs The Nation Day Two Texas Practice Report

by Sigmund Bloom and Cecil Lammey on 01/28/09

The wind gusted at times, but otherwise the weather at the Sun Bowl was ideal for the Tuesday morning Texas practice, and we got a chance to evaluate the QBs, WRs, and CBs in much better conditions than the Monday Texas practice.

QB

Sean Glennon (QB-Virginia Tech) - It’s too bad that its difficult to get past the huge hitch in Glennon’s delivery, because his accuracy and touch on deep passes is very natural, and otherwise his mechanics are smooth and true. He also looked comfortable throwing on the run. He’s got ideal size, so something might be there if an NFL QB coach can tighten up his delivery.

Chase Holbrook (QB-New Mexico State) - Holbrook is probably the eighth best of the eight QBs here. Just like yesterday, it seems like everything he does is slow compared the other Texas QBs. He did make a few nice touch passes today, dropping the ball into spots on both inside and outside throws, but just as many of his throws sailed over the intended receiver.

Chase Patton (QB-Missouri) - Patton is struggling. He looks like a QB that hasn’t had much game action in the last four years. Patton has been tentative, sometimes appearing to be guessing more than reading the play. He’s also had to step from the line to double check something about the play multiple times after the offense is set. His mechanics are inconsistent. Still, when the mechanics are on, he throws a nice ball with a high release point. There’s no way that this is Patton’s A game, so we’ll give him a pass and hope that things improve by the time Saturday’s game rolls around. While we were hoping for Patton to come in and turn heads, rocketing up draft boards, he’s probably an end of draft practice squad stash at best.

David Johnson (QB-Tulsa) - At times Johnson eerily reminds us of another Tulsa QB who put up astronomical numbers, Paul Smith. Johnson has a quick release, although with a small hitch, and he puts great zip on his short and intermediate passes. Johnson surveys the field well, but he was very cautious in 7 on 7s and 11 on 11s, sometimes holding the ball too long - but it didn’t prevent him from throwing an interception. His arm strength to make the deep pass is inconsistent and he’s looking like a low upside project.

RB

Chris Ogbonnaya (RB-Texas) - A lot of Ogbonnaya’s runs were bottled up in the backfield, due to no fault of his own, but he impressed as a receiver once again. For the second straight day he ran his routes with WR precision and caught the ball with WR hands. Ogbonnaya looks like a real nice special teamer/end of the roster RB who is going to be able to be on the field for all situations because of his versatility and no nonsense running style.

Devin Moore (RB-Wyoming) - Moore’s hyped speed has not disappointed, when we were watching film of him in practice it looked like he was on fast forward compared to the rest of the players. He is definitely not afraid to mix it up between the tackles and he runs with a good low pad level in traffic - clearly not shying away from contact. Moore also showed us good fight for the ball in the air as a receiver, in addition to natural deep ball tracking and improving sideline awareness.

Bernard Scott (RB-Abilene Christian) - Scott’s feet and quickness left us breathless on a few plays again today, and his lateral agility and crisp cuts allowed him to bounce one run outside when the hole was filled, but still crisply cut upfield and turn a likely three yard loss into a three yard gain. Like Moore, Scott tracks deep balls like a WR, and has the speed to threaten a defense deep. He runs low, and if his lower body was stronger, we’d say he’s got a chance to be a surprise NFL starting RB. We still think he looks like a terrific change of pace back with a bright NFL future.

Tarrion Adams (RB-Tulsa) - Adams has been more like Ogbonnaya than Moore and Scott. A good all around back with some skills and value to an NFL team, but not a gamebreaker. Like the rest of the Texas RBs, he catches the ball with WR hands, and tracks the ball well - Adams hauled in a deep over the shoulder pass like a seasoned WR Tuesday. He’s also sudden and crisp through the breaks in his routes and cuts in his runs.

Frank Summers (RB/FB-UNLV) - It’s easy to like Frank the Tank’s game. Today, he had two outstanding runs, winning multiple collisions and getting low to go under a would-be tackler. He’s got terrific leg drive and he holds the ball high, tight, and very securely. Summers also has good hands for a compact lead blocking FB, and he seems like the kind of player who will be a fan favorite on his eventual team.

WR/TE

Jordan Norwood (WR-Penn State) - Norwood missed Monday’s practice because he was participating in a skill competition soon to be aired on ESPN, but he showed up Tuesday in mid-season form. His game was indistinguishable from teammate Deon Butler’s at the Shrine Game practices on the whole. Norwood flashed terrific natural quicks and speed, efficient, tight breaks in his routes, and exceptional body control. Norwood sinks his hips low on comebacks, and also uses head and shoulder fakes to create extra separation in his routes. He also gets his head around to locate the ball in flight very quickly and makes most everything look easy. Like Butler, he plays at a high speed, but still completely under control. Most of the defensive backs that tried to cover him were left befuddled, and he capped off the goal line drill with a one-handed, both-feet-in catch in the end zone that no defensive back on earth could have defensed. Norwood is in a class of his own among the WRs in El Paso.

David Richmond (WR-San Jose State) - Richmond’s natural quicks and speed stand out, and he continued to get open with startling head and shoulder fakes that left DBs stumbling. His over the shoulder ball tracking is excellent.

Johnny Knox (WR-Abilene Christian) - Knox is getting respect from the Texas DBs in the form a big cushion, and he’s using it to get wide open on short routes. His quicks, hands, sideliness awareness, and conversion to run after catch mode all look excellent out there, and like John Matthews from the Nation side, Knox has a possible future as an NFL slot receiver.

Michael Jones (WR-Arizona State) - Jones is frustrating because he’ll make a sick play, like using his short are quicks to get huge separation on a short end zone route, but then he’ll do things like give away his route and not fight when an excellent CB like Chris Owens jumps the route for an INT. For the second straight day, Jones performance was marred by multiple drops and bobbles. He joins Jaison Williams in the tease category, and we can’t endorse Jones unless he plays with consistency on Wednesday.

Dominique Edison (WR-Stephen F Austin) - Edison banged up his shoulder and did not practice on Tuesday, but there’s hope that he’ll return on Wednesday, because the game did call in a replacement.

Michael Reed (WR-BYU) - Reed was mostly down on Tuesday. He wasted way too many steps throttling down in a stop and go, and that very problem was exploited for an INT. He also rounded his routes and did not sell the double move. Reed had one real nice deep catch in 11 on 11s, but otherwise struggled to make a good impression.

Dudley Guice (WR-Northwestern St-La.) - Guice is winning us over. He fought the ball a little early in practice, but otherwise smoothly snagged everything thrown his way. He turned Chauncey Calhoun all the way around with his crisp double move and created separation with route running, quicks, and speed. Guice extends to catch the ball outside of his frame like a natural, and his body control to get both feet in on a fade astounded us when we watched the play on tape, just as it did in real time at the stadium. Guice high points the ball instinctively, and he also handfights aggressively to beat the jam. Guice wasn’t on many watch lists going into this week, but we think he’s got to be shooting up draft boards now.

Brandon Ledbetter (TE-Western Michigan) - Ledbetter showed excellent ability to haul in over the shoulder catches on flag routes, and once he caught the ball, he secured it away from the pursuing defender.

OL

Dallas Reynolds (C-BYU) - Reynolds opened some holes on running plays in 11 on 11s. He did something few lineman have done this week, dominating Nader Abdallah on a run play, opening a hole that a truck could drive through, and absorbing a quick spin move from Abdallah in another chapter of one of the better rivalries in the Texas practice.

Colin Brown (OT-Missouri) - Brown is huge, but he’s surprisingly light on his feet. He’s not crushing it, but he’s definitely an intriguing developmental prospect.

Jose Valdez (OT-Arkansas) - Valdez was getting soundly defeated on Monday, but he recovered well on Tuesday and won most of his battles with Cyril Obiozor in the pit with superior strength and footwork. His play drew a lot of praise from the coaches.

Roger Allen III (OT-Missouri Western State) - Allen got beat a lot in the pit and 11 on 11s, but he also flashed rare brute strength when he got under opponents and good footwork for a 320+ pounder - sometimes. Allen is a project, but one that could work well for a power running team in time.

DEF

Nader Abdallah (DT-Ohio State) - Abdallah continues to operate at an advanced level compared to his counterparts on both sides of the ball. His swim move and hand placement are winning battles consistently both in the pit and in 11 on 11s. He often penetrated to blow up running plays in the backfield.

Cyril Obiozor (DE-Texas A&M) - Obiozor wasn’t getting to the QB as much as he did on Monday in the pit, but he did sky to bat down a pass, and showed terrific recognition of the QBs intent to through to change strategies in the process. He doesn’t have any unstoppable physical tools, but Obiozor’s motor and heady play should find him a spot in the NFL.

Adrian Grady (DT-Louisville) - Grady played like a bowling ball of butcher knives at times, decisively beating his opponent in the pit and in 11 on 11s, and displaying great intensity throughout. He plays very low to the ground always lands good jolting punch on his opponent.

Moton Hopkins III (DE-Tulsa) - Hopkins had a strong day because of his high motor play, and he split a double team to bust up a play in the backfield during 11 on 11s.

Rulon Davis (DE-California) - Davis impressed us with his superior handfighting and ridiculous ups to attempt to block a pass in 11 on 11s. Davis hasn’t been dominant, but he’s flashed tools and has the natural size to be a very good 3-4 DE in time.

Lee Robinson (LB-Alcorn State) - Robinson is by far the best athlete of the LBs on either squad, and he uses that edge to make plays. He stayed with speed demon Devin Moore step for step on a deep route, and also stuck to Bernard Scott down the field in backs on backers. He also displayed terrific quickness and drive to penetrate and shoot gaps against the run, and explodes into his tackles. Robinson is definitely one of the best prospects in this game.

Ladarius Webb (DB-Nicholls State) - Webb impressed us with an easy interception on a deep pass that displayed his natural hands, and his ability to read a WRs route (Michael Reed and his wasted steps on a stop and go), He also recovered well when beaten initially.

Lydell Sargeant (CB-Penn State) - Sargeant played with the aggressiveness we love to see in corners, jumping routes in 11 on 11s, and destroying Michael Jones on an end zone route when he gave away his intentions.

Chris Owens (CB-San Jose State) - Owens was the most outstanding player in the Texas practice. He recorded one interception despite opening his hips to the outside too early when the WR broke in. He even jumped a Jordan Norwood route for another interception, and shut down Norwood by getting inside of him on a fade. Even when Owens was beaten initially at the goal line, he recovered quickly enough to strip the WR as he was bringing the ball after the catch. He’s ultra smooth out of his breaks and backpedal, and Owens was generally toying with the competition all day.

Stephen Hodge (S/LB-TCU) - Hodge’s game is full of big hits and big plays, and he recorded an interception in 11 on 11s that got his teammates pumped up.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://draftguys.com/index.php/articles/1/2009_texas_vs_the_nation_day_three_practice_report/2009 Texas Vs The Nation Day Three Practice Report

by Sigmund Bloom on 01/29/09

The team practices on Wednesday were low-impact, no pads affairs. The Nation team mainly worked on plays, and the Texas team had a similar mix of one on ones and team drills as the Monday and Tuesday practices. You might think this was a letdown, but the reason the teams didn’t go full speed in their practices was a one hour combined practice with an extended pit and scrimmage between the two squads. This part of the week was cancelled due to weather last year, but it was the most exciting part of the week leading up to the game in 2007. The players are under a lot of pressure, being at this intense crossroads of their life. Everything they’ve ever worked for is on the line, and getting to play something like real football for the first time in weeks, or even months in some cases, is clearly a huge release of energy. This hour of practice had more emotion than the entire week at the Senior Bowl or the Shrine Game.

7 on 7

The seven on sevens (or “skelly”) between Texas and Nation was mostly filled with checkdowns and errant passes. There were a few great moments:

- Davon Drew (TE-East Carolina) made an athletic, leaping catch, only to have Reshard Langford(S-Vanderbilt) separate him from the ball. Drew later did a good job sitting down in a soft spot to make a play.

- Dudley Guice (WR-Northwestern St-La.) kept his week of making plays going with a catch of a low ball over the middle.

- John Matthews (WR-San Diego) got behind the defense and caught a long bomb from Mike Teel(QB-Rutgers) for a TD.

- Mark Parson (CB-Ohio) jumped a deep out from Chase Patton (QB-Missouri) and returned it for a TD, even though Patton looked to the other side of the field before turning to deal to the opposite sideline.

- Lardarius Webb (DB-Nicholls St) made an aggressive pass breakup, continuing his momentum from an excellent week of practice.


The Pit

The Pit was scintillating - One sideline, Texas offensive lineman battled with Nation defensive lineman, and their counterparts clashed on the other. The reps were staggered to give us non-stop action from the big uglies. Every player got at least five reps, and against opponents, so we got to see how they matched up against players with different strengths. Here’s a summary of most player’s highlights of the drill:

OL

Alex Fletcher (C-Stanford) had an outstanding day, pancaking Zach Potter, handling Nader Abdallah, Driving Potter outside when they met again, and defeating Rulon Davis because he didn’t let Davis get his arms free to fight.
Rich Ohrnberger (G-Penn State) stood up junkyard dog Adrian Grady to win once, and in another battle, he was not daunted by Grady’s spin, and in yet another tilt between the two combatants, he absorbed Grady’s punch.
Gerald Cadogan (OT-Penn State) ran Cyril Obiozor way past the QB when he tried to speed rush him.
Jose Valdez (OT-Arkansas had a dominant day. He absorbed Julius Williams bull rush and threw him down, and he used good feet and strength, to hold up Derek Walker. We didn’t see Valdez get beat all day
Stanley Bryant (OT-East Carolina stymied Henry Melton, absorbed Ian Campbell’s signature grab and push to thwart him.
Robert Brewster (OT-Ball State) won most every battle with good feet. He absorbed Derek Walker one on rep, gave ground to Walker, but guided him past the QB on another, and pushed Walker past QB in a third matchup.
TJ Lang (G/T- Eastern Michigan) has emerged as one of the best offensive linemen here. He batted Nader Abdallah around, not giving him any ground, he absorbed a Rulon Davis punch before defeating him, he lifted Cyril Obiozor off his feet, and in one of the two or three most impressive wins of the day, he beat Adrian Grady to the punch off the snap and kept him at the line of scrimmage.
Cornelius Lewis (OT-Tennessee State) passed with flying colors as we didn’t see him get beat or even statemated once. He absorbed Pierre Walters bullrush easily, dominated Ataefiok Etukeran, and later he mirrored Walters speed rush with ease.
Garrett Reynolds (OT-North Carolina) hung tough on most battles with good feet, using them to anchor and hold his ground, and also to recover when initially beaten.
Dallas Reynolds (C-BYU) held up massive Terrance Knighton, and he was one of the few to beat Khalif Mitchell when he stood him up at the snap.
Colin Brown (OT-Missouri) displayed nimble feet for a man mountain, and pancaked Julius Williams.
Blake Schlueter (C-TCU) was the most technically sound offensive lineman in the pit. He absorbed a heavy club from Terrance Knighton and regained his feet on his most impressive rep.
CJ Davis (C/G-Pitt) didn’t let Nader Abdallah move him with a push pull, and mirrored Abdallah’s spin.
Lydon Murtha (OT-Nebraska) was light on his feet, but he also pancaked Pierre Walters, and he recovered well after getting pushed back initially by Julius Williams.
Jeremy Davis (G-NW Missouri St) was often beaten at first, but he showed nice recovery more than once. He also absorbed Terrance Knighton’s bullrush, and deftly mirrored Demonte Bolden after a nice spin move.
Roger Allen III(G-Missouri Western) beat Knighton with brute strength and pancaked Khalif Mitchell
Andrew Hartline (G/T-Central Michigan) had a great day, generally owning Nader Abdallah, literally absorbing Abdallah’s best shot on one rep, and getting a good push off the snap on another.

DL

Zach Potter (DL-Nebraska) got outmuscled a few times, but after his coach implored him to “use your hands”, he kept his Nick Hennessey (OL-Colgate) from getting into him and won easily.
Terrance Knighton (DT-Temple) used his swim to win twice, once almost untouched, and flashed a strong club and punch on Maurice Miller (OL-Ole Miss)
Khalif Mitchell (DT-East Carolina) was a force today. He handfought successfully to get free from Dallas Reynolds, beat Roger Allen easily once, and beat Maurice Miller easy once. He used his strength, to get an incredible push on Schlueter to defeat him.
Demonte Bolden (DT-Tennessee) won most of his battles, jolting back Michael Brown (OL-Alabama A&M), and running one of the best motors in the pit.
Cyril Obiozor (DE-Texas A&M) landed a crushing strike on Joel Bell (OT-Furman), got under Cadogan to beat him once, and looked exceptionally quick one on rep as a DT.
Rulon Davis (DL-California) flashed an awesome outside swim that forced Michael Brown to tear his shirt trying to hang on. Davis’s handfighting was the best of any defensive lineman. He used it to keep Ohrnberger from getting into him one on decisive win.
Ian Campbell (DE-Kansas State) held his opponent’s hands and pushed him back into the QB on one win, just as he had earlier in the week.
Louis Ellis (DT-Shaw) landed a great punch on Hennessey, and his devastating punch on Bryant made the coach say “It’s about time” He was beaten initially by Michael Brown, but used a spin to win, and he also beat Ohrnberger with a great initial push.
Henry Melton (DE-Texas) abused Bell with a club and spin to win about as quickly as anyone won in the pit today, and beat Garrett Reynolds with brute strength.
Adrian Grady (DT-Louisville) has won us over. He crushed Hennessey - who skidded a few yards after Grady struck him, and like Bolden, Grady won with his energy and motor on most reps.
Moton Hopkins III (DE-Tulsa) won with his motor after absorbing Garrett Reynolds best punch of the day.
Ataefiok Etukeran (DE-Georgetown) won with a push pull.
Nader Abdallah (DT-Ohio State) eluded his opponent with a perfect swim (but fell on the way to the QB), and he executed a good bull rush when Michael Brown popped up too quickly and got too high.
Will Johnson (DT-Michigan) slapped Schlueter to stagger him and win in the pit.


The Scrimmage

Two QBs from each team got to guide the offense for five plays, or until they turn ball over or scored. There was a crew of five officials governing the plays, and the energy from the sidelines was palpable, especially the Texas sideline.

David Johnson(Tulsa)
- Demonte Bolden sack, after Roger Allen III missed his assignment
- A 4-5 yard pass to Jordan Norwood (WR-Penn State), Colt Anderson (S-Montana) came up to hit him very quickly
- Bernard Scott had a short run, Anderson comes up to make the tackle again
- Johnson left too early from a good pocket established by Valdez and Brewster and ran for a short gain. Turnover on Downs

Mike Teel(Rutgers)
- Abdallah blew up a running play with a swim over Hartline, 2 yard loss by Anthony Kimble (RB-Stanford)
- Teel sailed two passes over Dobson Collins (WR-Gardner Webb) head - Collins was open on both
- A first down on a pass to Collins on a 15 yard square in, He got behind Michael Reed (LB-Central Oklahoma) in his drop and got seven yards running after the catch
- James Holt(LB-Kansas) stripped the ball from Kimble on a draw after about 9 yards, Brannan Southerland (FB-Georgia) threw a crushing lead block

Sean Glennon(Virginia Tech)
- Tarrion Adams (RB-Tulsa) showed good leg drive after contact at two yards on a five yard gain, Antonio Appleby(LB-Virginia) fought through a block to make the play
- Glennon airmailed a pass because Etukeran pushed Colin Brown back into Glennon as he was throwing
- Glennon hit Mike Jones (WR-Arizona St) on a deep out. Jones made the tough catch with great extension of his long frame, Parson had tight coverage. Gain of 13 yards
- Glennon sidestepped pressure from Will Johnson and moved up in the pocket to hit Johnny Knox (WR-Abilene Christian) for a 47 yard TD. Knox torched his man with at least five yards of separation when he reeled in the catch. The Texas sideline flooded onto the field and celebrated like they had won the Super Bowl.

Curtis Painter(Purdue)
- Conredge Collins (FB/RB-Pitt) had a nice run on first down up the gut for nine yards. He made a subtle but effective cut to find the hole
- Rashad Bobino (LB-Texas) stopped Yonus Davis (RB-San Jose State) for no gain
- A miscommunication between Jason Chery and Painter (Chery went out, Painter threw an in) caused an incompletion
- Zach Potter tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage
- Jaison Williams had a nice downfield 15 yard catch from Painter on a deep out

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nflsmackdown.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1125&Itemid=1Versatile Barwin Helps To Keep Going

It's not that Connor Barwin didn't care about previous Senior Bowls. It's just that Barwin is used to having bigger things to worry about in January.

Much bigger. Like 7-foot-2 Roy Hibbert, then of Georgetown and now of the Indiana Pacers. And 7-foot-3 Hasheem Thabeet of UConn, coming soon to an NBA lottery team near you.

Barwin -- far from a giant at 6-foot-4 -- became a University of Cincinnati basketball player out of necessity in the winter of 2006. The Bearcats were short on bodies, and Barwin was a former high school basketball player who was asked to come in and be a linebacker-type player on the block.

It was an interesting bit of foreshadowing. Before and during his two seasons as the basketball team's walk-on bruiser, Barwin was a tight end and special teamer in his first three years for the Cincinnati football team. Last spring he was asked to move to defensive end, and he responded by leading the Big East in sacks, helping UC to its first ever BCS bowl game and earning a coveted invite to the Senior Bowl -- the most prestigious of the postseason all-star games -- this week in Mobile, Ala.

There, he'll work with the eyes of the NFL watching. And though he's back working at tight end this week,some NFL team might ultimately ask him to make anotherposition switch, to 3-4 outside linebacker. At 6-foot-4, 255, Barwin just might have the right size and enough athleticism to make the move.

"Better late than never," Barwin said last week, a nod both to his move to defense and Senior Bowl invite. "This whole thing has been a dream way to end my senior year, playing with a bunch of great guys and getting to be a part of a team that accomplished most of its goals.

"I did play a little linebacker in high school, but that would in no way prepare me to do it in the NFL. I'm fast enough to do it, so we'll see. I just want to play."

NFL teams are always looking for players who are tough, versatile and team-oriented, and Barwin certainly earns high marks in all three categories. He caught 31 passes for 399 yards and 2 touchdowns as a junior before switching to defense and recording 11 sacks, 53 tackles and 8 pass breakups in his senior season.

He also blocked three punts last fall, and -- just to show he could still do it -- caught a short touchdown pass while playing in a goal line offensive package against South Florida, a team that's not sad to see Barwin ready to move on. In his junior year against South Florida Barwin blocked a punt and recovered a special teams fumble.

"I hope my resume says that I'm the type of player NFL teams would want," Barwin said. "I can't wait to keep getting better. I'm proud to say I was an impact player on a team that won the Big East championship and I want to be able to say I'll be an impact player in the NFL."

This week, Barwin will receive NFL coaching while going head-to-head with some of the best offensive linemen in the country. He's not expecting to dominate, but he does hope to gain some valuable experience while he refines his game.

"I thought I learned a little pass-rush technique this year," Barwin said. "But then I spent three days earlier this month working with (longtime college and NFL coach) Rex Norris, and I came away thinking I have zero technique.

"Basically, I just run hard and try to get around the guy. The effort is there, but I have a lot to learn."

It's that type of effort -- and flexibility -- that's pushed Barwin to this point. During his high school days at Detroit Jesuit, he played lacrosse and hoped to be a scholarship basketball player before realizing there's no real demand for 6-foot-4 power forwards in big-time college basketball. So he chose to head down I-75 South and play football.

He was a backup and special teams player "who just went 100 miles an hour and hit whoever was in a different jersey" his first two football season at UC until he picked up a roughing the punter call in a nationally-televised game against Syracuse and proceeded to get a nationally-televised sideline lecture from then-head coach Mark Dantonio.

He didn't slow down, but he started playing smarter. Now, he's done enough to find himself on the brink of hearing his name called in April's NFL Draft and getting paid to play football -- regardless of the round in which he's picked or the position he's asked to play.

"I do look at everything that's written or projected; I think everybody does," he said. "But I don't believe any of it, and I think that's important. I know it's there, but I don't listen to it. There's no projection or publicity that's going to help me. It has to be me. I have to put my best foot forward these next couple months."

This week provides Barwin a good place to start.

[Box_O_Rocks]

Players to watch: First impressions from the game.

Legend: # Pos. Name School - pregame note - first impression
Slo-mo = I need to re-watch the game for a better look.

Texas
93 DT Nader Abdallah Ohio State - possible 3-4 DE - √
71 OG/OT Robert Brewster Ball State - LT on a pretty good MAC team - Slo-mo.
94 DE Rulon Davis California - possible 3-4 DE - Older than I thought, 3 year Marine, needs 20 more lbs but might be a UDFA DE.
8 WR Dominique Edison Stephen F. Austin - UDFA WR - I looked him up once, but can't remember why now.
92 DT Louis Ellis Shaw Univ. - possible NT - √
81 SPT/WR Dudley Guice Northwestern State - UDFA WR - decent possession WR.
32 S Stephen Hodge TCU - Rodney Jr. - 5 tackles in first half.
17 WR/RT Johnny Knox Abilene Christian - UDFA WR - he had big numbers, but Slo-mo.
66 OT/OG Cornelius Lewis Tennessee St - trans from FSU - Slo-mo.
9 CB William Middleton Furman - good practice reports - got kudos for run support.
20 RB/RT Devin Moore Wyoming - 4.4 speed - didn't impress.
76 OT Lydon Murtha Nebraska - UDFA LT type - helped his stock, could be a good late round/UDFA swing tackle.
24 WR Jordan Norwood Penn State - remember the Rose Bowl? - did not impress.
29 CB Chris Owens San Jose State - the "other" SJS corner, they make good ones - drew a PI, but had good coverage.
98 DT Zach Potter Nebraska - possible 3-4 DE - √
47 LB Michael Reed Cent.Oklahoma - 293 lb ILB from the school that gave us Keith "Truck" Traylor, who also started in the NFL as a LB - he had one nice play in coverage, Slo-mo.
56 LB Lee Robinson Alcorn State - athletic 249 lb MLB - good coverage, speedy, a bit raw, Gary Guyton redux.
80 TE Kory Sperry Colorado State - not a bad TE - good blocker, at least one nice reception.

Nation
7 S/LB Kevin Akins Boston College - I don't know him from Adam, but here's a tweener for SS folks - Slo-mo.
19 S Colt Anderson Montana - stud FS - one forced fumble, I'll need to take a closer look at his coverage.
58 LB Antonio Appleby Virginia - I want one more look at him for ILB - I just don't see him in NE.
52 LB/DE Jovan Belcher Maine - for you Mainiacs - Slo-mo.
9 CB Joe Burnett Central Florida - stud CB - Slo-mo.
85 RT/WR Jason Chery UL-Lafayette - UDFA WR - draft him as a PR.
17 WR/RT Dobson Collins Gardner-Webb - UDFA WR - draft him to develop behind Moss.
3 S/LB Dahna Deleston Connecticut - another S/LB tweener with some CB work too - Slo-mo.
83 TE Davon Drew East Carolina - A more athletic Bear Pascoe - and probably the least impressive TE in the game.
74 OT Andrew Hartline Central Michigan - solid MAC LT - Slo-mo.
56 LB Frantz Joseph FAU - #2 tackler in Div 1, possible ILB - 4-3 teams will value him more.
92 DT Terrance Knighton Temple - possible NT - he had one excellent TFL play.
50 OG/OT T.J. Lang Eastern Michigan - solid OL - Slo-mo.
80 WR John Matthews San Diego - UDFA WR - Slo-mo.
77 DT Khalif Mitchell East Carolina - possible 3-4 DE/NT - √
86 TE Ryan Purvis Boston College - glue fingered receiver who can block - √√√√√√!!!!! Draft him.

Players not mentioned above:

6 CB Londen Fryar Western Michigan - son of Irving, which got him talked about during the game, Slo-mo.
12 QB Chase Holbrook New Mexico State - good camp fodder prospect.
42 LB James Holt Kansas - SS sized speedy LB, I don't know how he is in coverage, but worth a closer look for SS.
19 CB Jamar Love Arkansas - possible FS.
37 DE Henry Melton Texas - possible 3-4 DE if he can add another 15-20 lbs.
49 DE Cyril Obiozor Texas A&M - possible 3-4 DE if he can add another 15-20 lbs.
88 WR David Richmond San Jose State - laid out for one outstanding reception.
13 S Jamarca Sanford Mississippi - possible UDFA SS candidate.
23 RB Bernard Scott Abilene Christian - best RB in the game.
34 FB/RB Frank Summers UNLV - good receiver, I don't know how a 5'9" 243 lb FB will work out in the NFL, but he was fun to watch.
21 DB/RT Lardarius Webb Nicholls State - two passes defended, this kid really helped himself in this game.
10 QB Jason Boltus Hartwick - awkward throwing motion, but good camp fodder prospect.
76 OT Gerald Cadogan Penn State - move him inside to Guard.
30 FB/RB Conredge Collins Pittsburgh - his coaches reportedly thought he was the most well-rounded RB during the week.
55 OC/OG C.J. Davis Pittsburgh - had a very nice lead block pulling from Center, he can move.
6 SPT/RB Yonus Davis San Jose St. - impressive for being 5'6"
97 DT William Johnson Michigan - possible 3-4 DE if he can add another 15-20 lbs.
33 S Reshard Langford Vanderbilt - I forget what he did, but I had to look him up during the game for a nice play.
25 CB Jason McCourty Rutgers - looked good in run support.
35 P Chris Miller Ball State - did a very nice job of pinning the ball inside the 20.
91 DE Derek Walker Illinois - possible 3-4 DE if he can add another 15-20 lbs.
54 DE Pierre Walters Eastern Illinois - possible 3-4 DE if he can add another 15-20 lbs.
24 CB DeAngelo Willingham Tennessee - FS prospect.
16 QB Drew Willy Buffalo - good camp fodder option.
32 CB Jahi Word-Daniels Georgia Tech - FS prospect.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=512533Texas LB Bobino shows quickness, instincts at All-Star Challenge

Posted: January 30, 2009

EL PASO, Texas -- Draft expert Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts provide news, notes and analysis from Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge practices:

The Texas Squad

Rashad Bobino, ILB, Texas. He showed his quickness and instincts by getting across the line of scrimmage and bursting through gaps. On one play, he took down the running back for no gain. Bobino (5-9, 230) will have to overcome a lack of height and bulk in the NFL, but speedy linebackers are extremely valuable and Bobino could become a productive player with improved technique in coverage and tackling.

Justin Brantly, P, Texas A&M. Brantly had the wind at his back and put up a couple of boomers -- with excellent hang time and distance. Although he did not shank any, he did not get great hits on a number of punts.

Chase Holbrook, QB, New Mexico State. Holbrook struggled with accuracy on deeper throws and also fumbled a snap.

Jamar Hunt, LS, UTEP. He is doing a respectable job, delivering tight, strong, spiral snaps.

David Johnson, QB, Tulsa. In the 7-on-7 drills, he seemed to check down too quickly and regularly rather than trying to get the ball downfield.

Johnny Knox, WR, Abilene Christian. Knox showed good burst out of his cuts, ran good routes and made two nice leaping catches.

Jose Martinez, K, UTEP. Martinez showed a strong leg, kicking 40-yarders into the wind with room to spare. However, he was inconsistent with his accuracy, pulling a couple to the left.

Chase Patton, QB, Missouri. He threw late on a 15-yard out that was easily picked off by Ohio CB Mark Parson. Patton had happy feet on one play in the 7-on-7 drills.

The Nation Squad

Demonte Bolden, DT, Tennessee. He beat Missouri Western G Roger Allen on an inside-out speed move. Bolden also displayed his strength by bull-rushing through Northwestern State G Tim Henderson.

Tony Carter, CB, Florida State. Carter continued to show ball skills and instincts by jumping routes, breaking up passes and bursting upfield to help in run support.

Jason Chery, WR, Louisiana- Lafayette. He had a few nice grabs, including a 15-yard touchdown catch on a corner route in which he got late separation off a nice inside fake.

Dobson Collins, WR, Gardner-Webb. Early in the day, Collins dropped an easy touchdown pass at the goal line in the two-minute 11-on-11 drill. But he was impressive in the combined practice, catching two long touchdown passes. On both, he showed he had the speed to get good separation, beating each of the corners by at least one full step. He adjusted to one pass, which was underthrown.

Anthony Kimble, RB, Stanford. He runs a bit upright, which may have been a contributing factor to his fumble on an outside run.

Nick Moore, WR, Toledo. Moore had multiple drops and was unable to get any separation.

Curtis Painter, QB, Purdue. He threw a few balls behind receivers and then telegraphed one into double coverage. He also missed some open receivers and generally wasn't accurate. He did finish the day with a nice scramble out of pressure to hit the tight end over the middle for a score.

Jamarko Simmons, WR, Western Michigan. Simmons did not square off one route, allowing the corner to get inside him and break up what should have been a completion.

Corey Small, CB, Florida Atlantic. He made his presence felt, showing good instincts and closing quickly to break up two passes.

Mike Teel, QB, Rutgers. He struggled early with his accuracy and target selection before hitting Louisiana-Lafayette's Chery on a 15-yard corner route for a touchdown. Later, Teel sailed the ball on a number of passes, missing open receivers on 15-yard patterns. He did make a nice throw down the middle seam for a long score.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.examiner.com/x-599-Cal-Bears-Examiner~y2009m1d31-Rulon-Davis-helps-increase-stock-at-Texas-vs-the-Nation-AllStar-ChallengeRulon Davis helps increase stock at Texas vs the Nation All-Star Challenge

January 31, 9:42 PM
by Rob Calonge, Cal Bears Examiner

Cal's Rulon Davis played today at the Texas vs the Nation All-Star Challenge at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. The game is a showcase for talent that is rated third-round or higher in the NFL Draft, but each and every player has the purpose of raising their draft stock.

Davis did exactly that on Saturday.

Davis, playing for the Texas squad, was on the losing end of a 27-24 loss to the Nation squad. Even though he was on the losing side of the game, he had one sack, forced the pocket often, and showed a mean streak that NFL scouts love to see. The former Cal Bear would've had another easy sack, but instead he forced a holding penalty instead.

Mainly a defensive end, Davis played both end positions and the left defensive tackle spot. To start the game, he played the right defensive end spot and while he didn't look bad, he wasn't able to put any pressure on the quarterback. On his next series, he played on the left side of the line and began to cause trouble for the Nation offense. His third stint in the game, he played at the defensive tackle spot, pushed the pocket well and had a couple of assisted tackles.After that, he rotated between the left and the right side of the line, where he continued to pressure the quarterbacks and forced the Nation squad to run plays away from him.

In the second half, he seemed to get offended by the Nation offensive line. First he continued some pushing and shoving with North Carolina's Garrett Reynolds. The next play, on an extra point attempt, he bull-rushed Reynolds when most of both lines didn't even play full speed. The next time he had an opportunity to play, he got into it a little with Central Michigan's Andrew Hartline. There wasn't anything dirty in some of the extra-curricular activity, but it was evident that Davis was being the aggressor.

Davis has a long way to go if he wants to be selected high up in the third round or better, but if nothing else, he began some momentum in that direction. When the combine comes, it will be his athletic ability on display. Every year, players stand out during the combine. Those players are sometimes called workout warriors for their high athletic ability and lack of production on the field. After Saturday's game, Davis will have little worry of carrying that moniker.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.examiner.com/x-599-Cal-Bears-Examiner~y2009m1d30-Cal-Football-AllStar-game-competition-not-as-tough-as-Rulon-DavisCal Football: All-Star game competition not as tough as Rulon Davis

January 30, 10:23 PM
by Rob Calonge, Cal Bears Examiner

Rulon Davis understands what it takes in order to handle tough situations. He has had to endure moments in his life that most people luckily will never experience. Moments such as being shot at, getting hit by a car, or being run over by an 18-wheel truck come to mind. Through all of the difficult moments that he's endured, he's emerged from them stronger for the experience.

He'll have plenty of moments that will be trying during Saturday's Texas vs the Nation All-Star Challenge, but none of them will compare to what he's been through already. That's what makes his path to the draft that much more interesting. There aren't too many college all-star players that have already been to war and have graduated with a DOUBLE major in Sociology and African-American studies.

Davis, who will be playing on the Texas squad due to his attendance at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas prior to coming to Cal, served in Iraq from March to September of 2004. He was deployed near Faluja as an avionics technician working on helicopters. Being a Marine means that you also have to do Marine things, such as patrols. So he wasn't just sitting in some shop repairing engines, a tough job on its own.

After the Marines, he attended Mt. San Antonio College near Los Angeles. During the summer before his sophomore year, he was riding his motorcycle and was hit from behind by a car. The hit threw him from the motorcycle and underneath a truck on Interstate 10. He tried to move from beneath the tires, but he wasn't fast enough to avoid the tires running over his legs. Miraculously, he didn't break a bone or tear a ligament.

Three months later, he was completely healthy; A 'medical marvel' to his doctor. Even so, he still missed his sophomore season at Mt. SAC. Due to his 16.5 sacks the previous season, he had no shortage in suitors despite missing a year. It may have been a Godsend that he missed that sophomore year because he was able to come to Cal with three years of playing eligibility.

Davis is blogging over at Yardbarker.com. In his latest post he writes the following excerpt:

In college, I would say little things or phrases to motivate my teammates. My girlfriend calls them ru-isms, but I believe it's more then that. I like to think of these ru-isms as a swagger or an attitude that I use to counter my opponents physicality or will to win...In life, people need something to live for or a code to live by. Mine are words that I use as a tool to gain an edge.

He'll need to gain an edge on Saturday. The All-Star Challenge has many players like Davis who are slated as second-day NFL Draft prospects. Most likely, with his 34.5" vertical leap and his proclaimed 4.8 40-yard dash speed, he should easily make strides when it comes time to showcase those skills at the NFL Scouting Combine. In order to prevent some scouts from calling him a, "workout warrior," he'll have to show that he can play on the field.

Davis' message to those scouts and pundits: Look at the tape. In an interview given to The Football Expert earlier this month, he had this to say to anyone judging top college talent for this year's draft:

Just sit down and really watch the film. See me disrupting the line, executing my assignment, being a playmaker - having a nose for the ball, high motor, intensity and overall abilities. I try to bring leadership to the field. I just want an opportunity.

The heat will be on Davis Saturday, but it's nothing worse than the heat in Faluja, Iraq. When talking to El Paso Times this week, he described his experiences in Iraq:

It was scary. It was hot, a place you didn't want to be. Miserable. But Marines adapt and overcome. We did our jobs and, thank God, I came home alive.

When asked what the worst part of being a Marine was he frankly stated:

Getting shot at. That's something you don't want to happen.

The figurative bullets are flying now for every player hoping for an NFL job next year. For Rulon Davis, that's nothing compared to what he's already had to overcome.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://maxnfldraft.blogspot.com/2009/01/texas-vs-nation-full-game-report.htmlSaturday, January 31, 2009
Texas vs. Nation Full Game Report
I watched the game twice, and here's what I came up with:

1. Bernard Scott, RB/ACU: Great vision and quickness, keeps legs driving and is surprisingly powerful. Needs to add weight and has a slight frame, but there is definitely a spot for a guy with his talent at the next level.
2. Terrance Knighton, DT/Temple: He appeared to be unblockable at times, splitting double teams like they were nothing. If he got pushed back at all, I never saw it. There were a couple plays it seemed like he took off, so conditioning may be an issue.
3. Zach Potter, DL/Nebraska: Rotated seemlessly between DT and DE. Does a good job of getting his hands up to block throwing lanes, is definitely athletic enough and looks huge on the field. Looks like a 3-4 DE to me.
4. Frantz Joseph, MLB/FAU: He was all over the field, excellent vs. the run and is a violent hitter. Solid but nothing special in coverage, may be a 2-down LB in the NFL, intercepted a tipped pass but didn't show much speed on the return.
5. Johnny Knox, WR/ACU: He displayed amazing concentration on his touchdown catch, a tipped pass, looks very quick running routes and in the open field, but for some reason didn't look very comfortable as a returner. He'll need to put on some weight and looked thin, but he definitely has the tools to be a productive slot receiver.
6. Lydon Murtha, OT/Nebraska: He never got beat, looked like he should've been at the Senior Bowl. Has battled injuries over the past 2 seasons but has a ton of talent. No matter who he was going up against today, he was just physically a better player than them. Moves well at the 2nd level.
7. Adrian Grady, DT/Louisville: Penetrated the pocket consistently, was in on the play a lot for a DT.
8. Antonio Appleby, ILB/Virginia: Big LB, big hitter, looked a little stiff in coverage but overall he was impressive.
9. David Johnson, QB/Tulsa: His decision making wasn't too great, threw into double coverage some but showed very good accuracy and looked comfortable in the pocket.
10. Lardarius Webb, CB/Nicholls St: Looks like an NFL athlete, excellent closing speed and flashed potential as a returner.
11. Jamar Love, CB/Arkansas: Made the hit of the night as a gunner, even though he got the flag. Fast, fast, fast, recovers very well.
12. Derek Walker, DE/Illinois: I was wondering why Will Davis got the Senior Bowl invite and it wasn't the other way around, and he confirmed that for me today. Struggled some when ran at, but beat his man inside and out.
13. Colt Anderson, S/Montana: Heady and instinctive player with excellent quickness. Makes up for his limited size/speed with his knowledge for the game and hustle.
14. Kory Sperry, TE/Colorado St: Didn't really make many plays but looked fluid in his routes and controlled his man for the most part as a blocker.
15. Roger Allen III, OG/Missouri Western: Held his ground against bull rushes, got a good push in the running game.
16. Jason Chery, WR/PR/La-Lafayette: Had a couple of excellent returns, didn't do much as a receiver though. Very fast & dangerous in the open field.
17. Stephen Hodge, SS/TCU: Looks way too big to be a safety, but he makes plays. Got beat some by Davon Drew but was all over the field.
18. Rulon Davis, DL/California: Prototypical DE size, he fought to keep the hands off him and even played some DT.
19. Blake Schlueter, C/TCU: He looked quick and played to the whistle. One of the few bright spots in an overall disappointing OL performance.
21. Khalif Mitchell, DT/ECU: Physically, he's got all the tools. Doesn't consistently dominate but made some big time plays.
22. Rashad Bobino, ILB/Texas: Excellent instincts, reads and reacts very quickly but is small.
23. Lydell Sargeant, CB/Penn St: Didn't hear his name called, but sometimes that's a good thing at CB, blanketed his man.
24. Davon Drew, TE/ECU: Athletic, a WR in a TE body, can hold his own as a blocker but he specializes in the passing game, runs smoothe routes and is a hands catcher.
25. Ryan Purvis, TE/Boston College: Soft hands, won't jump out at you but is a solid player.
26. James Holt, OLB/Kansas: Good range, but didn't look very aggressive.
27. Lee Robinson, OLB/Alcorn St: Physical freak of nature, made some plays but will be a project.
28. Dudley Guice, WR/Northwestern St: Isn't a hands catcher but is physical and gets open.
29. Henry Melton, DE/Texas: One of my favorite players, a former RB who didn't flash a whole lot but was rarely driven back and got consistent pressure.
30. Jason Boltus, QB/Hartwick: Some might argue with me but I think he showed some potential tonight after he calmed down. Has a cannon but a little bit of a funky release.
31. Frank Summers, FB/UNLV: Sure handed RB/FB, he's HUGE and gets yards after contact.
32. Londen Fryar, CB/WMU: Irving's son showed good athleticism and wasn't beaten all day.
33. Nader Abdallah, DT/Ohio St: Didn't play like I thought he would after hearing about the practices, but was stout vs. the run and didn't get pushed back.
34. Dobson Collins, WR/Gardner-Webb: Targeted a lot, a fluid athlete with good size.
35. Pierre Walters, DE/Eastern Illinois: Played with leverage.
36. Kevin Malast, LB/Rutgers: Will be a good special teamer.
37. Jordan Norwood, WR/Penn St: Didn't play as good as I expected, but he's quick
38. Reshard Langford, SS/Vanderbilt: Good help vs. the run, but he got ran over by Frank the Tank.
39. Ian Campbell, DE/LB/Kansas St: Doesn't look like enough of an athlete to play LB, but he hustled and made some plays.
40. Gerald Cadogan, OT/Penn St: Consistently held off his man, nothing special but is a good player.
41. Jahi Word-Daniels, CB/Georgia Tech: Made some good hits and looked quick.
42. Devin Moore, RB/Wyoming: Doesn't look like he runs a sub-4.4 to me but I think he could be a good 3rd down back at the next level.
43. C.J. Davis, OL/Pittsburgh: Got to the 2nd level well and held up at the point of attack.
44. Chris Owens, CB/San Jose St: He's not the most talented player at this game like some have said, but he should be a solid nickelback for someone.
45. Yonus Davis, RB/San Jose St: Definitely not in the same class as Sproles or MJD, but has some moves and solid vision.
46. Brannan Southerland, FB/Georgia: Ran with power and blocked well.

46. DeAngelo Willingham, CB/Tennessee
47. Etukeren Ataefiok, DE/LB/Georgetown
48. Colin Brown, OT/Missouri
49. Tarrion Adams, RB/Tulsa
50. Cornelius Lewis, OL/Tennessee St
51. Louis Ellis, DT/Shaw
52. Tony Carter, CB/FSU
53. Nick Moore, WR/Toledo
54. David Richmond, WR/San Jose St
55. Sean Glennon, QB/Virginia Tech
56. Moton Hopkins III, DE/Tulsa
57. Jamarca Sanford, SS/Ole Miss
58. Anthony Kimble, RB/Stanford
59. Garrett Reynolds, OT/North Carolina
60. Demonte Bolden, DT/Tennessee
61. Dahna Deleston, SS/LB/Connecticut
62. Chase Holbrook, QB/NMSU
63. Conredge Collins, FB/Pittsburgh
64. Julius Williams, DE/Connecticut
65. Drew Willy, QB/Buffalo
66. Danny Gorrer, CB/Texas A&M
67. William Middleton, CB/Furman
68. John Matthews, WR/San Diego
69. Richard Ohrnberger, OG/Penn St
70. Joel Bell, OT/Furman
71. Jovan Belcher, DE/LB/Maine
72. Brit Miller, ILB/Illinois
73. Andy Schantz, LB/Portland St
74. Chris Ogbonnaya, RB/Texas
75. Will Johnson, DT/Michigan
76. Mike Teel, QB/Rutgers

Here are some guys who hurt themselves (not in order):
Michael Reed, WR/BYU: Isn't a quick twitch athlete, failed to hang on to several passes
Kevin Akins, OLB/SS/Boston College: Missed 3 tackles that I saw, took poor angles
Stanley Bryant, OT/ECU: Beaten like a drum all day
Maurice Miller, OG/Ole Miss: Looked sluggish, late out of his stance too often
Tim Henderson, OG/Northwestern St: Bull-rushed way too easily, slow footed
Branden Ledbetter, TE/WMU: Fumbled, doesn't look fluid running
Jose Valdez, OT/Arkansas: Got dominated by Pierre Walters, inconsistent
Jaison Williams, WR/Oregon: Big and fast but had 2 drops, it was not his day
Chase Patton, QB/Missouri: You could really tell he hasn't started a game since H.S, looked very uncomfortable and didn't show me anything
Cyril Obiozor, DE/Texas A&M: Wasn't noticeable and got pushed back in the run game.
Curtis Painter, QB/Purdue: Didn't display the accuracy or arm strength to warrant a draft pick
Robert Brewster, OT/Ball St: He's known for having good feet but was beaten badly to the outside several times

I didn't really notice any of these players, good or bad. I saw some of them but they didn't stand out. Some of them may have not played due to injury:
Marcus Mailei, FB/Weber St
Michael Jones, WR/Arizona St
Dominique Edison, WR/SFA
Jeremy Davis, OL/NW Missouri St
Cornelius Lewis, OL/Tennessee St
Michael Reed, LB/Central Oklahoma
Cody Glenn, OLB/Nebraska
Tyrrell Herbert, S/Toledo
Marcus McClinton, S/Kentucky
Chauncey Calhoun, S/WR/Valley City St
Branden Ore, RB/West Liberty St
Jamall Lee, RB/Bishop's (Canada)
Jamarko Simmons, WR/WMU
Chris Vaughn, WR/Louisville
Alex Fletcher, C/Stanford
T.J. Lang, OL/EMU
Nick Hennessey, OG/Colgate
Andrew Hartline, OT/CMU
Michael Brown, OL/Mississippi St
Kirston Pittman, DE/LSU
Maurice Crum, ILB/Notre Dame
Jason McCourty, CB/Rutgers
Joe Burnett, CB/UCF
Mark Parson, CB/Ohio
Anthony Scirrotto, SS/Penn St
Corey Small, CB/FAU
Posted by JP at 9:27 PM

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.steelerfury.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=150153&sid=fa31ee33d4c02bf3c8e6c512c8a8b4fd

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/sports-unlv/2009/jan/31/summers-scores-makes-impact-texas-vs-nation-game/Summers scores, makes impact in Texas vs. The Nation game

By Ryan Greene · January 31, 2009 · 9:14 PM

Former UNLV running back Frank Summers used a week's worth of practices for the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star game to earn a starting spot in the game.

And from there, he certainly didn't disappoint.

Summers, UNLV's leading rusher each of the past two seasons following his transfer from Laney College, finished with 4 catches for 55 yards and a touchdown as the starting fullback for the Texas squad. The Nation, however, won the game, 27-24, in El Paso, Texas.

Summers' score came on a 19-yard pass from former New Mexico State quarterback Chase Holbrook in the second quarter.

He also finished with 3 yards on 1 carry and played on special teams, covering kickoffs.

"I think it was a successful day, I just wish we could have won the game," Summers said. "I was able to show that I am a playmaker and it was great to get into the end zone because I love scoring touchdowns. It was fun being with some of the best seniors in the country and I think I made the best of my opportunities down here. I used this week to show my versatility and I hope to carry the momentum all the way through the NFL Draft."

Summers has been in Florida since the conclusion of the fall semester, training in preparation for April's NFL Draft. He'll return to Las Vegas for UNLV's pro day in early March.

He totaled 740 yards and 8 touchdowns on 183 carries for the 5-7 Rebels in 2008, and also proved to be valuable as a receiver, finishing with 150 yards and 2 scores on 13 catches.

[Box_O_Rocks]

Inlcudes video clip...

http://www.elpasotimes.com/sports/ci_11601880Florida Atlantic defender preserves win for Nation
By Bret Bloomquist / El Paso Times
Posted: 01/31/2009 11:16:38 PM MST

EL PASO -- The 2008-09 college football season was dominated by the likely suspects -- Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, USC, even new power Utah.

The final college game of the season was dominated by an unlikely suspect -- Florida Atlantic.

The Owls' Frantz Joseph returned an interception 26 yards and a fumble 32 yards to set up scores for The Nation team coached by Florida Atlantic's Howard Schnellenberger, leading it to a 27-24 victory over Texas in the third Texas vs. The Nation all-star game Saturday.

A record 37,054 fans attended the third annual game and saw The Nation take a 2-1 series lead.

"This was a privilege," Joseph said after being named the game's defensive MVP. Schnellenberger "taught me so much about the game, about being physical.

"We put in a lot of hard work this week. We had a hard week of practice."

Joseph's fumble return set up a field goal that staked his team to a 6-0 lead, but The Nation was on its way to blowing a 20-7 lead when Joseph swung the game.

With his team clinging to a 20-17 advantage, he intercepted a deflected pass with 10:31 left, scooted down the sideline to the Texas 31-yard

Running Back Yonus Davis of San Jose State ran into the en zone to score a touchdown for the Nation team on Saturday at the Sun Bowl. (Vanessa Monsisvais / El Paso Times)
line, and two plays later, Curtis Painter of Purdue threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to San Jose State's Yonus Davis to push the lead to 27-17.

Winning "is always important," said Painter, who was 6-of-15 passing for 55 yards to earn overall MVP honors. "That's what we all play for. It's a passion for everybody, even in an all-star game that's supposed to be more laid back.

"Our defense played a heck of a game. They got us a couple of turnovers and set us up in great field position."

The Texas team did have a chance at the end, as Tulsa's David Johnson threw his second touchdown pass, a 22-yarder to Northwestern (La.) State's David Guice, with 1:08 left, but the Nation recovered UTEP's Jose Martinez's onside kick to clinch the win.

"Obviously,

it was great to see Frantz do everything I've seen him do every day for the last four years," said Schnellenberger, who was upset that his other player, Corey Small, was injured early in the first quarter. "He's the first player I've had (at Florida Atlantic) to get this kind of national recognition."

Schnellenberger is pushing Texas vs. The Nation CEO Kenny Hansmire for a Florida vs. The Nation game next season, which is something on the table. Any new all-star game would be secondary to the Texas vs. The Nation game and would be the first game on the all-star schedule, Hansmire said.

Joseph's heroics were part of a great game by The Nation defense and special teams, which set up a pair of 3-yard field goal drives and touchdown drives of 23 and 31 yards.

"The defense and kicking games won it for us," Schnellenberger said.

The Nation got three touchdown passes from three different quarterbacks to three different receivers for its scores, along with a pair of field goals from UAB's Swayze Waters.

The Texas team took a brief 7-6 lead off a touchdown pass from New Mexico State's Chase Holbrook to UNLV's Frank Summers and added two touchdown passes from the starter Johnson in the second half.

Texas had a 22-13 advantage in first downs and a 404-195 advantage in total yards, but the short fields the Nation had made all that irrelevant.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_11601558Holbrook eyes future, looks good in one series
By Felx Chavez/Sun-News reporter
Posted: 02/01/2009 12:00:00 AM MST

EL PASO —Former New Mexico State quarterback Chase Holbrook is hopeful for a selection in April's annual National Football League Draft.

For the time being, he is readying himself for the rigors of the NFL Combine later this month in Indianapolis.

"I've been in Atlanta working out and getting ready for the combine and that will be a huge deal for me in many respects," said Holbrook, who played in Saturday's Texas vs. The National All-Star game at the Sun Bowl. "At the combine, I'll get tested both physically and mentally. I've been working a lot on my five-step drops in Atlanta, something I've never had to really think about before. I've been working to stay in good shape."

The 6-foot-5 Holbrook was one of four quarterbacks on the Texas roster on Saturday afternoon and his playing time was limited.

But he did lead the Texas team to its first score of the day in the first half in the 27-24 loss.

He completed all three passes on the seven-play, 77-yard scoring drive, which was capped by a 19-yard scoring toss to Nevada-Las Vegas back Frank Summers. It was a 3rd down and 1 play and Holbrook sold the play action fake and found Summer wide open at about the 15 and Summers took it in the rest of the way.

Holbrook also completed passes of 13 and 14 on the drive.

"That was a good drive, everyone did a good job and there were some good routes called," he said.

Holbrook, who is known for his accuracy and being able to find secondary receivers, had one more drive in the second quarter and his one pass was incomplete, but through no fault of his own. Holbrook found a wide open San Jose State's David Richmond on a short crossing pattern, but Richmond dropped the ball on a 3rd and 9 play.

Holbrook did not play in the second half, even though it appeared to be his chance late in the game. The Texas coaching staff was giving each quarterback two series', but Tulsa's David Johnson was put in on the team's final drive instead of Holbrook.

Saturday's game was the cap on a week long stay in El Paso for Holbrook, who threw for 11,846 yards and 85 touchdowns in his three years as NMSU's quarterback.

"It was a good week," Holbrook said. "I learned a lot and this was a tune-up of sorts for the NFL combine. I just want be consistent and be able to have a good combine. I've heard everything from fourth round to late in the draft as a possibility. I'm ready for whatever happens and I'll go from there, I just want the chance to go to the next level."

After his junior season, Holbrook explored going into the NFL draft and after he was projected to go in the sixth round, he decided on returning to NMSU.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/02/texas-vs-the-nation-wrap-up/By Wes Bunting
Posted February 2, 2009
Texas vs. The Nation Wrap Up

The Texas vs. the Nation Bowl is the final all-star game of the post season. It highlights some of the more intriguing mid/late-round prospects along with some small-school players who have been trying to gain the attention of scouts all season. Here are the National Football Post’s overall weekly winners.

The Winners

Abilene Christian running back Bernard Scott had the biggest impact of any prospect at the game and is going to see a real spike in his draft stock in the coming weeks. Scott was brilliant in practice, showing good burst, pad level and agility. In the game Saturday, he was a difference maker, breaking off two big runs and displaying good vision and cut-back ability inside. Scott is likely to move up into the late-round mix.

Running back Devin Moore of Wyoming, who arrived with more hype than most players at this year’s game, did little to disappoint. Moore might be the top third-down back prospect in the nation. He gets up to speed quickly, catches cleanly out of the backfield and is a home run threat every time he gets his hands on the ball. If he runs as well as expected at the Combine, expect Moore to move into the mid-round range.

FAU linebacker Frantz Joseph was consistently one of the most productive performers during the week. He reads and reacts quickly to plays at the line of scrimmage and has the power to shoot gaps inside. He was consistently around the ball in the game and finished with a 32- yard fumble return in the first half and then a 26-yard interception return in the second half. A guy who always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

Nebraska defensive lineman Zack Potter isn’t the most explosive end off the edge, but his 6-7 frame and long wingspan allow him to consistently shed blocks on the outside. He displayed good power and leverage on contact during the game, and his ability to consistently chase down the quarterback from the backside really gave the Nation offense fits. Potter projects at a number of positions at the next level; his versatility and motor will serve him well.

Potter’s teammate, offensive tackle Lydon Murtha, also had a very good week and looks to be making his way into the late portions of the draft. Murtha plays with good technique and toughness on the outside. He does a good job getting his hands inside and rag dolls defenders on contact. He possesses smooth footwork in pass protection and has the work rate and blue-collar mentality to make it.

After a poor 2008 season, Boston College tight end Ryan Purvis proved he is still a pass-catching threat, even without former B.C. quarterback Matt Ryan throwing him the ball. Purvis did a great job working the middle of the field and finding soft spots in zone coverage. He displays good short-area quickness and knows how to gain initial separation underneath. He is never going to be a star at the next level, but he showcases the ability to make a roster and fill a role as a No. 2 tight end.

Eastern Michigan left tackle T.J. Lang made the move inside to guard this week and showcased impressive power and base strength. Lang is a natural bender and does well getting his hands inside defenders and playing with natural leverage. Lang now projects as a possible top-10 guard prospect and should see his name come off the board during the mid/late rounds.

Little known Temple defensive tackle Terrance Knighton let the scouting world know there’s nothing little about is frame (6-3, 324) or game. Knighton has an impressive first step for a guy his size and can consistently control blockers at the point of attack and shed blocks. He moves fluidly up and down the line and is a guy who could really move up draft boards with the lack of nose tackles in this year’s class.

Notes

Ohio State defensive tackle Nader Abdallah had the most consistent week of any defensive linemen. He was downright unblockable at times during practice and shows the power and leverage to hold the point of attack vs. the run game.

San Jose State cornerback Christopher Owens had a week similar to teammate Coye Francies at the Senior Bowl. Owens was very fluid and smooth in and out of his breaks and showed an ability to click and close quickly on balls in space. Owens might be the top-rated prospect in this year’s game and has done nothing but help himself.

This wasn’t exactly the type of week Ole Miss guard Maurice Miller had in mind. First, he weighed in at 307 pounds on Monday, which is decent for a guard. But considering his program weight listed him at 343, there’s some cause for concern. Miller also lacked balance and body control in space all week and struggled with his lateral mobility in pass protection.

New Mexico State quarterback Chase Holbrook has seen his stock fall dramatically throughout the 2008 season. However, he did a nice job this week in practice and had one of the best showings in the game. Holbrook threw a tight, accurate ball from the pocket and did a nice job going through his reads and getting passes out on time. There are still concerns about Holbrook coming from Hal Mumme’s offense, but he certainly did something to helps quiet those concerns.

One of the more interesting prospects was UNLV fullback Frank “The Tank” Summers, who weighed in at 5-9, 242 pounds. Summers is a very coordinated athlete for his size and did a great job all week displaying soft hands out of the backfield. He showcases great power and drive after the catch and should be able to find a niche at the next level.

You hate to count out a guy like Kansas State defensive end Ian Campbell. The guy lacks burst off the edge, power in his upper body and the suddenness to shed blocks. However, all he does is bring it on every single play and wear down tackles on the outside. He is never going to get by on pure athletic ability but is a guy who will be nearly impossible to cut from training camp.

The versatility of Stanford guard/center Alex Fletcher has to be intriguing to scouts. He is tough, athletic and durable and makes all the calls at the line of scrimmage. Some team will fall in love with his intangibles and take him a lot higher than many media types think.

Finally, as you might have noticed, I really enjoy scouting the tight end position. One of the more intriguing prospects last week was East Carolina product Davon Drew, who caught a smooth touchdown pass and displays clean footwork and the ability to consistently burst out of his breaks. I doubt he’ll be able to play as a true tight end, but he has a lot of upside as an H-back type of player.

Also at tight end, Western Michigan talent Branden Ledbetter is without a doubt one of the most explosive tight ends in this year’s catch. He had a bad fumble early, but his burst after the catch is second to none. He actually ran better than some of the wide receivers. Ledbetter will never be able to hold the point of attack as a traditional tight end, but his burst and deep speed will cause mismatch problems down the field, much like former Western Michigan product Tony Scheffler.

[Dwight Schrute]

Box, thoughts on Frantz Joseph.

Was reading your clips and this guy just seems to be jumping off the page.

What round is he projected? Fit for NE? I read a brief reply on him from you that said he'd be better suited for 4-3 D, but in another I read he dropped well into deep coverage.

The best thing I like from what I read is : A guy who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Instincts. You just can't really teach that up.

I REALLY want them to get back to being that punishing D, and this guy sure seems to have a strong desire to inflict some damage from what I've read. Paired next to Mayo could be something.

[Box_O_Rocks]

Box, thoughts on Frantz Joseph.

Was reading your clips and this guy just seems to be jumping off the page.

What round is he projected? Fit for NE? I read a brief reply on him from you that said he'd be better suited for 4-3 D, but in another I read he dropped well into deep coverage.

The best thing I like from what I read is : A guy who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Instincts. You just can't really teach that up.

I REALLY want them to get back to being that punishing D, and this guy sure seems to have a strong desire to inflict some damage from what I've read. Paired next to Mayo could be something.I like the kid, hard worker, good character from all I've read...that said, he's a heavy-legged, two-down thumper whom I think would be best in the middle for some team like Carolina. If Frantz is still there in the late 5th and NE hasn't yet brought in someone else for ILB then he's an option.