Iamtdg

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One, it's Broaddus. You know who signs his check, right?

And two, the practices are on TV for all to see.

Also, I didn't say the North didn't practice hard, just that Bradley was far more involved and vocal.

Hey, pal, Jason dropped an F-bomb in his speech at the end of practice today. You don't call that passion?!
 

dbair1967

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Scouts came out of the 2013 Senior Bowl convinced EJ Manual was a franchise QB. Let's not act like they are flawless evaluators.

I don't remember that. I remember people criticizing the Bills for picking him where they did.

And he was a bust.

That said a lot of these guys, especially QB's are gambles. I think with QB's you have to check off the boxes and see if a guy has the physical talent, the mental make up, the work ethic and the production on the field and how you think he fits your offense, and then you take your chances.

I'm not sold on any one particular guy over another right now (of the top 3, despite my sig pic). I think any of the 3 could be a franchise QB for us. After this Senior Bowl, the combines and the pro days I might think one is somewhat better than the other two, but right now I firmly believe any of the 3 could be our guy for a decade.
 

dbair1967

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one should remember how many other QBs wowed people at SB practices and were never heard from again as regards actually producing in the NFL.

Yeah, maybe its better to look for the guys who sucked ass that week and focus on those instead. Much better upside I bet.
 

MrB

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I don't remember that. I remember people criticizing the Bills for picking him where they did.

And he was a bust.

That said a lot of these guys, especially QB's are gambles. I think with QB's you have to check off the boxes and see if a guy has the physical talent, the mental make up, the work ethic and the production on the field and how you think he fits your offense, and then you take your chances.

I'm not sold on any one particular guy over another right now (of the top 3, despite my sig pic). I think any of the 3 could be a franchise QB for us. After this Senior Bowl, the combines and the pro days I might think one is somewhat better than the other two, but right now I firmly believe any of the 3 could be our guy for a decade.

I agree. Plus any player in this draft could be a bust. There are plenty of non-QB's that have been drafted in the top 10 that were busts. Claiborne is a perfect example. Claiborne was widely regarded as the best defensive player in that draft and many people were saying he was the safest pick in the top 10. We all know how that turned out. So not only QB's are a risk.
 

dbair1967

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2016 Senior Bowl: Offensive line fires back during North practice


By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst

January 28, 2016 8:17 pm ET

There have been three main storylines at this year's Senior Bowl in my eyes:

1.) North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz has lived up to the hype. :towel
2.) Ohio State wide receiver Braxton Miller is a special athlete.
3.) The defensive line talent has feasted on the offensive lines (with a few exceptions).

And several of those “exceptions” could be seen during Thursday's practice on the North squad as several offensive line prospects impressed.

Matching the tape, Indiana left tackle Jason Spriggs (6-6, 301) was natural on his feet with above average body control in his kickslide to cut off speed and ride rushers outside. He used his wide base and quick set-up to quickly engage and get busy.

It was far from a perfect day for Spriggs as he struggled to protect his chest and land his punches, allowing edge defenders to bull rush him and put him on his heels. But the athleticism and body control for a man his size will be enticing for NFL teams looking for an offensive tackle to develop in the top-40 picks.

A college left tackle, Washington State's Joe Dahl (6-4, 299) kicked inside this week and has impressed at both left and right guard. He keeps his hips low off the snap and sits in his stance with his near 33-inch arms extended to engage.

Dahl is very active with his hands and showed accurate placement to tie-up rushers and control the point of attack. Coming from WSU's spread scheme, there were several question marks regarding Dahl's pro transition, but he answered several of them in Mobile.

A pair of Big Ten centers also impressed on Thursday: Iowa's Austin Blythe (6-2, 291) and Michigan State's Jack Allen (6-2, 297). Although they lack ideal measureables and play light at times, both were quick to reset their anchor in one-on-one drills, showing an understanding of leverage and low man wins.

Other notes from Thursday's North practice:

•Harvard's Cole Toner (6-5, 305) was another offensive tackle prospect who had several positive reps during North practice. Playing primarily at right tackle, he would set too high at times, allowing the rusher to dip and win the corner, but when he stayed square to his target, Toner was able to dig his cleats in and stop rushers. He is a developmental tackle who could fight for starting snaps by year two.

•Give Notre Dame defensive tackle Sheldon Day (6-1, 286) any type of space and he will find a way to get past the blocker with his quickness and active play style. He will struggle in congestion and when blockers halt his initial momentum, but in one-on-one drills during practice, Day was dominant because of his fluid lower body, fierce hands and change of directions skills.

•South Carolina State defensive tackle Javon Hargrave was the top prospect, in my opinion, at the East-West Shrine Game last week. And he received the call up to the Senior Bowl on Thursday due to an injury to one of the most dominant players in Mobile this week: Louisville defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (knee sprain).
 

dbair1967

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Ex-scouting director: Reggie Ragland a throwback, first-rounder

By Daniel Jeremiah and Lance Zierlein
Published: Jan. 28, 2016 at 05:20 p.m.
Updated: Jan. 28, 2016 at 05:50 p.m.



MOBILE, Ala. -- Here's some of what NFL executives and scouts are saying about the most intriguing 2016 NFL Draft prospects on hand for the Reese's Senior Bowl (broadcast exclusively on NFL Network at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday) this week.

The scoop: "He's a throwback linebacker, but he's going to get drafted in the first (round) because he has rush ability, too." -- former NFC scouting director on Alabama's Reggie Ragland

The skinny: The term "throwback" can sometimes be considered a backhanded compliment because it pertains not just to physicality and size but also athletic limitations.

Ragland is a big linebacker in any era of football, but he was allowed to rush off of the edge at times at Alabama and he's being given the same opportunity here at the Senior Bowl in one-on-one drills. Ragland has a terrific inside rush move and might carry additional value because he is able to put a hand in the ground and come after the QB.

* * *

The scoop: Noah Spence is getting plenty of attention from NFL evaluators who believe the former Ohio State and Eastern Kentucky defensive end is one of the more exciting prospects on the North squad.

The skinny: Spence was banned from the Big Ten due to failed drug tests and ended up checking himself into a drug treatment program. He's been very candid about his past use of the drug Ecstasy. By all accounts, Spence has turned his life around and his play on the field at Eastern Kentucky helped to put him back on NFL radars.

Spence has good, but not blazing edge speed and he's a little undersized at just 254 pounds. However, he has good hands and an ability to bend and turn the corner, which is his key to success as a pass rusher. Spence might be most heavily targeted by 3-4 teams as an open-side edge rusher.

* * *

The scoop: North Carolina State QB Jacoby Brissett might be picking up some steam with NFL general managers as they begin to make their way to the tape rooms now that the season is over.

The skinny: After studying tape of him, we like Brissett's potential at the NFL level and we were pleasantly surprised to hear the same thing from three NFL decision-makers we spoke with on Wednesday.

Brissett has good size. He's able to fend off would-be sackers and fight to keep plays alive through sheer strength and determination. Brissett has the NFL frame and arm that teams should like, and his ability to carry an offense despite a constant barrage of pressure should help him in the eyes of NFL general managers.

* * *
The scoop: "I haven't studied (Jeff) Driskel yet, but he's interesting. Good size and the ball comes out nice." -- AFC executive on the Louisiana Tech QB

The skinny: Driskel, who transferred to Louisiana Tech from Florida before the 2015 season, was one of the standouts from Wednesday's practice. Yes, he never lived up to the hype he received coming out of high school as the nation's most highly rated QB recruit, but he clearly has the tools to intrigue an NFL team. He'll draw interest as a potential developmental backup.

* * *


The scoop: "(Carl) Nassib has the look of a guy who can carry 285 (pounds) easily and he's super long, but look at his legs! He is never going to have enough strength to play 5-technique no matter how tall or long he is. I think he has to stay around his weight now so he doesn't lose any quickness." -- NFC executive on the Penn State DE

The skinny: Nassib knocked it out of the park in 2015 with a sack in every single game. Every. Single. Game. Despite missing his final two regular-season games and a bowl game due to injury, Nassib led the nation in sacks with 15.5 and showed he could play against the run, too.

Nassib weighed in at 273 pounds on his frame of more than 6-foot-6. He has long arms and big hands, but his lower body thickness doesn't match his weight and there are questions about whether Nassib can hold the point of attack against NFL tackles. His type of frame and length often indicates a potential move to 5-technique for 3-4 teams who covet size, but Nassib simply doesn't have that type of anchor needed for the move.
 

dbair1967

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Senior Bowl a missed opportunity for QB Connor Cook, other notes

By Chase Goodbread
College Football 24/7 writer
Published: Jan. 28, 2016 at 06:16 p.m.
Updated: Jan. 28, 2016 at 06:25 p.m.

MOBILE, Ala. -- Though the Reese's Senior Bowl drew a strong contingent of quarterbacks this year, it could have been a bit stronger had Michigan State's Connor Cook accepted his invitation.

But his absence was more his loss than the game's.

The Spartans' three-year starter will instead show NFL coaches and scouts what he can do at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis next month, but for a player whose leadership skills have been questioned, the Senior Bowl was a missed opportunity. Cook's decision to decline was not injury-related; Senior Bowl director Phil Savage told assembled NFL coaches and scouts Tuesday morning that Cook handled the decision the right way, giving plenty of notice and handling it with grace.

The Senior Bowl game will be played Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET and will air live exclusively on NFL Network.

"I think it was an ill-advised decision. This was a big opportunity that he kind of gave away here. When you look out here, to me, Carson Wentz is the class of the group, and he could have come out here and competed against him, try and size up and really help himself and show his competitiveness," NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. "Now, there have been a lot of quarterbacks to not show up here. Where you feel you're slotted has something to do with that decision, and I don't know that he was slotted high enough as of this week to avoid it."

Despite being a third-year starter, Cook was not named a Spartans team captain before the season. The player-voted decision raised some eyebrows in the NFL scouting community, and Cook's snub of Ohio State legend Archie Griffin after the Big Ten title game fed into a negative narrative about Cook's character. Former MSU linebacker Darien Harris vehemently defended Cook's character last week at the East-West Shrine Game, and on Wednesday, former Spartans teammate Aaron Burbridge did much the same.

"It would have been nice (if Cook had played), but that was his decision and I'm with him 100 percent," Burbridge said. "I definitely think it's overblown. A lot of people are just writing stories and don't even know him personally. I do know the man, so I'm like, 'Where are y'all getting this from?'"

Whatever notions NFL clubs have about Cook, he'll have to wait a few more weeks to clear them up face to face. NFL Media analysts Mike Mayock and Lance Zierlein viewed Cook's absence as a missed opportunity as well.

"If he wants to get ready for the draft his way, you have to respect that. But it would have been really good for him to come out and compete at this level. It was a well-rounded group of quarterbacks here this week," Zierlein said.

Here are some other things we learned at the Senior Bowl Thursday:

2. Spence welcomes scrutiny. Eastern Kentucky DE Noah Spence has been one of the most talked-about prospects in Mobile this week and was highly disruptive as a pass rusher during Thursday's practice. Spence said all 32 NFL teams met with him this week and asked him extensively about the failed drug tests that resulted in his ban from the Big Ten Conference and, ultimately, his dismissal from Ohio State.

"Every night I was up until about 11:30 interviewing. But it's fine. It was a blessing to be here and get to explain what they wanted to know," Spence said. "I already knew those questions were coming, and how I was going to handle it. I just had to tell the truth and try to explain it. They got that stuff over with in the beginning (of the interview), then they got right into football."

3. Come again? UCLA kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn goes by a shortened name. Who can blame him? His full name is John Christian Ka'iminoeauloameka'ikeokekumupa'a Fairbairn.

4. Beefed up. Stanford OL Joshua Garnett, one of the draft's top guard prospects, said he once ate seven prime ribs of 18-22 ounces each to win the Lawry's Beef Bowl eating contest his freshman year. "The next day, I felt about how you would think I felt," he said.

5. Late additions. Illinois WR Geronimo Allison was added to the North squad after an impressive performance last week in the East-West Shrine Game, as well as Northwestern State WR Ed Eagan, and took part in their first practices Thursday. They replace injured receivers Leonte Carroo of Rutgers (ankle) and UMass WR Tajae Sharpe (quad).

6. Miller OK. Ohio State WR Braxton Miller, who has had a spectacular week by all accounts, didn't participate in the last part of Thursday's practice due to cramping in his right leg. Asked if it could affect his status for the game, Miller said, "We're balling."

7. Rankins not OK. Louisville DL Sheldon Rankins, who looked outstanding this week in practice, has withdrawn from the game with a knee sprain, along with another South squad defensive lineman, Maryland's Quinton Jefferson. South Carolina State's Javon Hargrave, who had an eye-opening practice week at the East-West Shrine Game last week, has been added to the roster.

8. Haeg on Wentz: North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz's blindside pass protector joined him at the Senior Bowl in NDSU left tackle Joe Haeg. So what does Harg see in one of the 2016 draft's most intriguing prospects? A quarterback with true command.

"He's commanding in the huddle. He doesn't get after us in a negative tone, but he'll push us to be our best," Haeh said. "And he got us out of trouble a lot. He knows when to switch protections if it's called the wrong way, based on what the defense is showing. And he's very quick. So basically, he's an O-lineman's best friend."

Haeg is questionable to play Saturday with a shoulder sprain.
 

Doomsday

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I love it when Ivy League dorks curse to increase their street cred...
But have never been reported doing that or anything close to it, when the games count. Just clapping.

Watching Ginger in these Senior Bowl practices, he truly looks to me like he is enjoying it more. Almost like college coaching might be his calling.
 
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How about if on draft day, the Rams looking for franchise QB, trades up from 15 to 4. We cut them a friendly deal since they did us a solid in 2012, and we 'only' get their 2nd and maybe a 5th-7th. Fisher/Jerry are buds. Rams haven't had a franchise QB since Warner. Rams are a QB away from being a dominant team. We need depth and Jerry doesn't want to take a QB.

First three rounds:

15. Ezekial Elliott, RB, OSU
34. Hunter Henry, TE, Ark
43. Kendull Fuller, CB, VT
67. Jayron Kearse, S, Clemson

Rounds 4-7
Various project players and busts as usual.

You happy?
 

dbair1967

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Not a big fan of Kearse but the other guys are good players.

I don't think you have us getting enough for going from 4-15, especially if the Lambs are desperate to get into the spot for a QB.

Lastly, we need a franchise QB as much as they do.
 

MrB

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How about if on draft day, the Rams looking for franchise QB, trades up from 15 to 4. We cut them a friendly deal since they did us a solid in 2012, and we 'only' get their 2nd and maybe a 5th-7th. Fisher/Jerry are buds. Rams haven't had a franchise QB since Warner. Rams are a QB away from being a dominant team. We need depth and Jerry doesn't want to take a QB.

First three rounds:

15. Ezekial Elliott, RB, OSU
34. Hunter Henry, TE, Ark
43. Kendull Fuller, CB, VT
67. Jayron Kearse, S, Clemson

Rounds 4-7
Various project players and busts as usual.

You happy?

I'm a fan of Elliott but I'll pass on that draft. Id rather stay at #4 and go with these as my first 3 picks:

Carson Wentz - QB
Austin Johnson - DT
Kenneth Dixon - RB
 

ThoughtExperiment

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You don't actually think Jerry was being honest when he said that do you?

So you think, what, that was all smokescreen?

I don't doubt he believes it. Seems like Jerry was saying similar things earlier this year before Tony even got hurt.
 
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So cmd will like this... on the 10-Noon show on the Ticket today, Donovan and Mike Sirois had on a scout (forgot his name) who made the "prediction" that the Browns would take Wentz and we would take Goff.
 
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