Scouts Inc.'s Senior Bowl week coverage....

[sbk92]

Look at Ricky Stanzi, Leonard Hankerson

By Todd McShay, Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl

Every day of practice, we'll pick two players from this year's Senior Bowl and look at how they're doing so far and what it has meant to their draft status.


Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi

Just like we've seen on film, Stanzi does a good job of sensing pressure off the edge, keeping his head up and eyes downfield to find the open receiver. He's accurate in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field and he puts good touch on his passes. But the windy conditions Wednesday really exposed his lack of elite arm strength. On one of his passes, a corner route, the ball fluttered in the air. Another pass just died and others tend to hang in the air. He can't cut through the air and zip it, so the ball floats, giving defensive backs time to react.

He moves well in the pocket, has good mechanics and is fundamentally sound, but we don't expect him to go before the fourth round.


Miami WR Leonard Hankerson

From the very start of the week at the weigh in, Hankerson has been turning heads. He measured in at 6-1½ and 205 pounds and looked ripped. The thing that stuck out was his hand size (10͖ inches) and he showed he knows how to use his hands the rest of the week on the field. He's so natural catching the ball and he's catching it away from his frame. It comes easy to him, and his huge hands are just swallowing the football. There was some concern he might get exposed as someone who couldn't separate from coverage, but that hasn't been the case. He gets inside leverage right off the line. He does a great job of setting defenders up and has improved his route running from what we saw on film. He's not a burner, but he's fast enough and also does a good job working in zone coverage and finding the open spots.

Hankerson was a player who was a fringe, mid-round prospect coming in and we weren't sure if he would shine or get exposed, but he's clearly improving as a player and there's every reason to believe he'll come off the board on Day 2.

 

[Rock Slamdance]

If Von Miller is still on the board at #9, I'd suspect that the front office would at least think long and hard about it.

I remember watching him play against Texas, and being wowed by him. Never seemed to be out of a play. Great motor, great athlete. His numbers in college are pretty darn impressive as well. Seems to be the definition of "natural pass rusher".

 

[Cr122]

If Von Miller is still on the board at #9, I'd suspect that the front office would at least think long and hard about it.

I remember watching him play against Texas, and being wowed by him. Never seemed to be out of a play. Great motor, great athlete. His numbers in college are pretty darn impressive as well. Seems to be the definition of "natural pass rusher".

I don't know what it is about Miller, but I'm not a big fan.

I'd take Ayers before him, but that's just me. I'm probably wrong, but f it.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Cameron Jordan is a better prospect than both of them.

 

[sbk92]

Scouting notebook

Scouts Inc.
ESPN.com


MOBILE, Ala. -- Light day of practice with players in just shorts and helmets, so we're cleaning out the scouting notebook.


O-line shines

It was a very good week for the offensive line group, and a lot of players really helped their stock. Colorado OT Nate Solder was the best lineman here this week. He showed a good combination of size, feet and lateral agility, but the thing that stuck out was his toughness. He was playing with a chip on his shoulder and mixing it up. Wisconsin's Gabe Carimi also had a solid week. He is limited in terms of athletic ability but showed great inline power as a run-blocker and solidified himself as a first-round prospect at right tackle.

Solder and Carimi were the headliners, but a few others had good showings as well. We don't feel Boston College's Anthony Castonzo is an elite prospect, but he has enough foot quickness and strength and showed enough ability in the pass and running games that he will come off the board in the late first round. He has limitations in terms of lateral quickness and playing with the right pad level, but because of the value of offensive tackles, he likely will go on Day 1. A couple of other players who helped their stock this week were Georgia's Clint Boling, Baylor's Danny Watkins, TCU's Jake Kirkpatrick and Slippery Rock's Brandon Fusco.

End game

It's an interesting tight end group. Wisconsin's Lance Kendricks was one of the bigger names, but at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, he wasn't physically impressive, and the concerns about his ball skills were reinforced this week. He flashes athletic ability and will make an acrobatic catch but drop the next ball on a routine play. On the other hand, Nebraska's Mike McNeill wasn't as hyped and looked small at just 6-3, 232 pounds, but he was far more consistent catching the ball. They also lined him up at fullback, and he did a good job attacking second-level blockers. Outside of Tennessee's Luke Stocker and Marshall's Lee Smith, all the tight ends here were more H-back type of players.

What happened to the DBs?

One position group that really failed to make a mark this week was the defensive backs. Where were they? In recent years, we've seen standout performances from players like Chris Cook, Devin McCourtey and Alphonso Smith, but this year has seen a very average group. There are no safeties like Taylor Mays, who wowed you with his size, speed and freakish natural athleticism. And looking at the cornerbacks, we don't know whether we saw anyone who will go in the first two rounds. No one rose to the top of the class and took advantage of the opportunity.

Eyes on a Hawkeye

Iowa's Christian Ballard looked more comfortable at defensive end than defensive tackle. Even though he weighed in at 288 pounds, we think he seems more like a left defensive end in a base four-man front. He certainly didn't light the world on fire, but he flashed and moved well for his size. He needs to learn to use his hands better and can get stronger at the point of attack.

Don't forget about Pettis

While there was buzz about San Diego State's Vincent Brown, Miami's Leonard Hankerson and Boise State's Titus Young, a guy who flew under the radar and had a solid week was Boise State WR Austin Pettis. He's not the most explosive athlete and there's not a lot of suddenness in his routes, he is a savvy route runner, finds the soft spots, sets up defenders well, and does a good job getting off press coverage and getting a clean release. He's very polished. At 6-2, 205 pounds, he's also a good red zone target. He has a large strike zone, uses his body to shield defenders, plays the ball well and catches everything. He might never be more than a third receiver, but he can make plays. He'll bring value in the fifth-round range.

Here come the Irish

Notre Dame DT Ian Williams is a fairly one-dimensional player, but he held his own against double-teams this week and showed signs of being an effective nose tackle in a base four-man front. He'll never be a great pass-rusher, but he is 6-1 and plays with a natural leverage that makes him stronger than his 311 pounds suggest. He's not wide enough to be a 3-4 anchor, but he can occupy two blockers in a four-man front and free up the three-technique and help free up the middle linebacker.

Running wild

Louisville RB Bilal Powell has excellent vision. He also is a good blend of patience and decisiveness. He sets up his blocks and has a natural feel for cutback lanes. He does a good job of putting his foot in the ground, making one cut and getting vertical when he sees the hole. He lacks the power you'd expect from a 215-pound back, but he shows good balance. Powell is a pretty good route runner, and shows natural hands catching the ball and getting upfield. He's also good in blitz pickup in pass protection, which adds value. He has helped himself this week, and we could see him moving into the fourth-round range.

Wanting more

We were disappointed in the burst NC State LB Nate Irving showed when they brought him up with the D-linemen in pass-rushing drills. We wanted to see more of him as a pass-rusher, something he did at NC State, but he didn't show great burst and wasn't violent or quick enough working back inside when he tried to redirect. Also, he was stiff in space, and had a hard time moving around and changing directions. He's not a player teams should feel comfortable asking to match up with quicker running backs because he'll get exposed in coverage.

A pair on the rise

Two linebackers who helped themselves this week are LSU ILB Kelvin Sheppard and and Washington OLB Mason Foster. Foster showed why he was second in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 163 tackles displaying natural instincts. He finds the ball quickly, reacts quickly and gets into position to make the tackle. He's not the best athlete, but he is a reliable tackler and has enough power, strength and explosiveness in his hips when taking on blockers. He has good coverage awareness and is a big contributor on special teams. At the start of the season, he was a late-round prospect, but after a good campaign and a good week here, he's in the mid-fourth-round range now.

Sheppard, at 250 pounds, is noticeably stronger now. He is quick to diagnose plays, gets downhill in a hurry and is instinctive. He doesn't have as much range as Foster, but his range is adequate. Still have concerns about his ability to take on and shed blockers, but his added weight and strength will help there. He's helped himself climb into the third-round range with a good week here.

 

[sbk92]

Look at Phil Taylor, Vincent Brown

By Todd McShay, Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl


Every day of practice, we'll pick two players from this year's Senior Bowl, and look at how they're doing so far and what it's meant to their draft status.


Baylor DT Phil Taylor

At 6-foot-3½, the thing you notice is how well he carries his 337 pounds. Compared to last year's class, he looks more like Tennessee's Dan Williams than Alabama's Terrence Cody. He has used that weight well, showing a wide base and anchoring against double-teams all week as a run-stopper. He has quick feet for his size and very active hands. He has a deadly club move. Taylor is an adequate run-stopper, gives you some presence as a pass-rusher, and flashes enough lateral agility to get down the line and make tackles outside the tackle box.

Taylor is the top two-gap player in this class. There are character concerns (he transferred from Penn State after being dismissed from the team, and he'll have to answer questions about that), but due to how hard it is to find guys with his strength, size and mobility who can play in the middle of the three-man line, he's likely a late first-, early second-round pick. If he's not a first-round pick, it won't be because of talent.


San Diego State WR Vincent Brown

Brown was highly productive in a San Diego State system that was receiver friendly. He averaged 19.6 yards per catch, and the question coming into this week was whether that production would translate here going against defensive backs from bigger programs. The answer is yes; he has showed he is capable of separating and making plays at this level. At 5-11 and 185 pounds, he certainly is not physically imposing and doesn't have elite speed, so he won't be a big vertical threat at the next level. But he has shown he can get off the line of scrimmage against press coverage, and has adequate quickness in and out of his breaks. It seems like every time they went into 11-on-11, team drills or 2-minute drills, he was the guy who was separating, getting open and making a play. The other big thing is he was plucking everything on the run this week and making it look easy.

Quarterbacks grow to trust certain receivers because they know that receiver will find a way to get open or make a play. Brown has shown this week that he can be one of those guys. There's a big middle class in this year's wide receiver group, and he has helped himself move up after this week and is in the process of working himself into Day 2 of the draft.

 

[sbk92]

Matchups to watch

Scouts Inc.
ESPN.com


MOBILE, Ala. -- Now that the practices are over, here are some matchups to watch for at Saturday's Senior Bowl.

North OT Nate Solder (Colorado) vs. South OLB Von Miller (Texas A&M)
This won't be an every-down matchup with Miller playing OLB, but the South coaches will let him showcase what he does best and let him get after the QB. Solder has been the best offensive tackle here this week. We've been impressed with his power base as a run blocker and the way he's moved his feet as a pass blocker, but he hasn't faced an edge rusher as explosive as Miller yet. One of our concerns coming into the week with Solder is that he's shown an inconsistent kick step and he won't be able to get away with sloppy footwork against Miller. Solder, 6-foot-8¼ and 314 pounds, has nearly six inches and 77 pounds on Miller, who is 6-2⅜ and 237 pounds. The trick for Miller is to use his quickness with both his hands and his feet to prevent Solder from getting into his body. They are the two best players here and, as a talent evaluator, it doesn't get any better than a couple times we'll see them go head-to-head.

North WR Titus Young (Boise State) vs. South CB Shareece Wright (USC)
This has the North's quickest offensive skill player going up against the South's quickest defensive skill player. The big question here is can Wright show consistent technique and diagnostic skills to keep up with Young, who has proven to be a very difficult WR to match up against. Young runs crisp routes in the short-to-intermediate passing game. He seems to have the advantage in technical and mechanical areas. Wright has the quickest feet and most fluid hips of the South DBs and has the natural ability to hold his own in this matchup. But Young is a savvy and confident route runner and is capable of getting Wright turned around. Young can also Wright to open his hips before he should and taking advantage of him with double moves. Wright also has to be wary of making a mistake and letting Young catch the ball with a little separation or a crease because while Young isn't a burner, he gets up the field in a hurry.

North RB Demarco Murray (Oklahoma) vs. South MLB Kelvin Sheppard (LSU)
The biggest concern we have about Murray is that he runs high and doesn't have a thick base. He very quick to the hole, but doesn't have a second gear to get through and bounce it outside. Where Sheppard should excel is between the tackles. He put on weight and is better at taking on and shedding blockers. Sheppard should have no problems meeting Murray in the hole, stopping his momentum and getting him to the ground. He's been a very reliable tackler all week. Where Murray could have the advantage is in the passing game. Murray is the most complete pass-catching running back in this game. He's savvy with his routes and does a great job with fakes, sticking his routes, making tight cuts and he should create some separation against Sheppard, who has limitations in space.

South OT Derek Sherrod (Mississippi State) vs. North DE Cameron Jordan (Cal)
There were a lot of different views on Sherrod coming into this week, but it's now fairly evident he's in the second to third tier of tackles. He's big (6-5⅜ and 312 pounds), but he wasn't overpowering or pancaking guys like Solder or Wisconsin's Gabe Carimi. He does have good strength, but the biggest reason he's not among the upper tier of tackles is he has trouble shuffling his feet or resetting. He's just not a great athlete or natural knee bender. We notice he struggles any time he is forced to shuffle laterally and/or reset his feet. Once he gets set, he likes to stay where he is but if he has to shuffle and reset, he is really limited. If he was going against Miller, Miller would make him look silly with his speed and athleticism. But what makes this matchup intriguing is Jordan is not an elite speed rusher so it gives Sherrod a a chance to get set. He has to prove that he's capable of holding up against Jordan's quickness, especially Jordan's quick hands. Jordan proved to us this week that he is a viable threat as a left defensive end in a 4-3 front to provide pass-rush pressure even though he doesn't have top-end speed to consistently turn the corner. The way he does it is with a quick first step, exceptionally violent and effective hand usage and a motor that never quits. So we'll be watching to see if Sherrod is able to get set and reset against Jordan, who will always be moving.

South WR Leonard Hankerson (Miami) vs. North CB Kendric Burney (North Carolina)
Hankerson surprised us this week. He was consistently catching the ball and noticeably more polished with his routes. While he doesn't have great top-end speed, he is good at getting in and out of his breaks and setting up defenders. That could come into play on Saturday. Burney is a decent athlete with good movement skills, but he had problems giving up leverage at times and being out of position. Burney needs to be patient, avoid getting over aggressive, and stay in solid position. It will be a very interesting battle when the ball is in the air because Hankerson, who caught everything this week and snatched it away from his frame, was good at catching the ball in traffic. At 6-2, 205 pounds, is much bigger than the 5-9, 181-pound Burney. Burney shows great ball skills, tracks it well and goes up to get it, but we'll see if he can counter Hankerson's size. Will Hankerson box him out or shield him using his big frame? Or will Burney be able to get in position, then stay in between the ball and Hankerson?

 

[sbk92]

Todd McShay's player to watch

North WR Vincent Brown (San Diego State)

Brown has just done it all week long. Brown is not super quick, not physically imposing and doesn't have elite straightline speed. But yet Brown was getting open more consistently than anyone with the possible exception of Titus Young. He's also been the most reliable receiver catching the ball outside of Leonard Hankerson. I want to see if when we're in game scenario if his strong play continues. You can make the argument he's improved his draft stock more than any other player here this week and hauling a handful of passes and making a big impact on Saturday would be a perfect ending for week.

--

Steve Muench's player to watch

North QB Jake Locker (Washington)

Locker had a good week in practice and it's important he finish with a strong performance in the game. The two concerns with him are accuracy and decision making. He'll be facing vanilla looks from the defense. There won't be any complex coverages to read, so he needs to take advantage of that, go through his progressions, find the open man and make an accurate pass. He has the better offensive line of the two teams and the better pass rushers are on his team, meaning he should have time to throw. He's in position to succeed and if he doesn't, then it's a cause for concern.

--

Kevin Weidl's player to watch

South QB Christian Ponder (Florida State)

With injuries, the year did not go as planned for Ponder. All week here he's been a little hesitant to push the ball downfield. He was always checking down. Now he claims he's 100 percent healthy so I'll be watching his drops, his ability to get rid of the ball and if his arm is fully healed and able to squeeze the ball in tight windows in the intermediate and deep part of the field. He hasn't helped or hurt himself this week but a strong performance can turn around a stock that has been sliding since the middle of the season.

 

[dbair1967]

I don't know what it is about Miller, but I'm not a big fan.

I'd take Ayers before him, but that's just me. I'm probably wrong, but f it.

Love Miller's playmaking, but I just think he's going to be too small. He doesnt appear to have the frame to add any weight either.

I like Ayers too.

Ultimately I think Georgia's Justin Houston might pan out as the best 3-4 OLB from this draft somewhere down the road.

 

[sbk92]

Senior Bowl blog

By Todd McShay, Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl


Todd McShay, Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl are blogging during the Senior Bowl. Keep checking in to see who is playing well and who's struggling during Saturday's game.


McCarthy making plays
Miami LB Colin McCarthy made a nice stop on the quick screen out to Vincent Brown. McCarthy is limited athletically and doesn't have elite range, but he has outstanding instincts and a nose for the ball. He will bring great value early on Day 3.

A Bulldog is barking
Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod is using his big frame and long arms (longest at the game 35½ inches) to handle Ryan Kerrigan off the edge so far. He did a nice job of riding him past the pocket one time, while anchoring against his power move another time. Sherrod has some limitations with lateral agility, bur he does show the frame strength and balance to become an effective RT at the next level.

North's tough series
Couple thoughts on the North's last series:

Colorado OT Nate Solder overset and allowed Texas DE Sam Acho to beat him inside, which was very uncharacteristic for a guy who has such good feet. He did not show great balance there. Washington QB Jake Locker missed high again. He is not showing the accuracy to stick the ball in tight windows that we had anticipated seeing. Clemson's DeAndre McDaniel delivered a big hit on Boise State WR Titus Young and showed the physical presence he can bring down the middle of the field. He is tight but displays above-average instincts and excellent ball skills.

Quick hits
Kentucky RB Derrick Locke is showing good vision and the quickness to find and hit the hole. He did a nice job of seeing and utilizing his blocks on a fourth-down run.

Baylor OL Danny Watkins did a great job of sealing Notre Dame's Ian Williams on the inside to open up a hole on that fourth down run. Aside from the holding call earlier this drive, he had a great week and really helped himself. He's now a solid second round pick.

Miami's Leonard Hankerson continues to stand out. He ran a great route and did a nice job of dropping his weight and gathering at the top of the stem before quickly finding the ball and securing the ball for a TD.

Speaking of that TD, that is exactly what FSU QB Christian Ponder is capable of when he gets to the top of his drop and gets the ball out with timing and rhythm. He's very accurate when throwing in rhythm and he placed the ball perfectly on that TD throw.

What we expected
Texas A&M OLB Von Miller is off to a great start. He's showing elite change of direction and range when he made a tackle on a reverse. He then showed great instincts and recognized a screen pass on third down. It's not surprising because he is the most talented and highly-rated prospect on a board at this game.

Good and bad
Michigan State LB Greg Jones missed tackle on Tulsa RB Charles Clay showed his limitations and the concerns we have about him in the open field. He needs to do a better job of breaking down and taking a better angles. He has not had a great week.

On the other hand, Alabama OT James Carpenter is off to a great start setting the edge in pass protection. He's light on his feet and showing good lateral agility. Carpenter had a very good week and trying to put a bow on it with a strong game today.

Locker's first drive struggles
Washington QB Jake Locker needs to show more accuracy. He missed TE Lance Kendricks (Wisconsin) and while Clemson DT Jarvis Jenkins was closing in on Locker and being disruptive, there are the types of throws scouts want to see him make, to see if he has the ability to throw accurately under duress.

Burney's big play
North Carolina CB Kendric Burney is undersized and had a tough season, but he had a week of practice. He possesses excellent ball skills and had several interceptions throughout the week. During the South's first drive, he did a great job of anticipating route on the goal line and stepping in front of Miami's Leonard Hankerson, who has size on him, on the three-step drop to break up the pass and prevent a TD.

Good start
Louisville RB Bilal Powell did a great job during that first drive of making one cut and getting vertical. We love his downhill style and he has excellent vision. We saw it on film and he's showing it in person.

One pass, two different things
Florida State's Christian Ponder's first throw downfield into the wind shows exactly why we have concerns about his arm. The ball hung in the wind and was vastly underthrown. That's why Ponder fits better in a West Coast offense. But speaking of that pass, Miami's Leonard Hankerson did a great job adjusting to that underthrown ball and showed good body control and focus. After a great week during practices, he is off to a good start and it will be interesting to see if he can build off that great catch to start the game.

Carimi out Wisconsin OT Gabe Carimi will sit out this game due to an ankle injury he suffered during practice. He had a good, but not great week. He has limited athleticism and tools, but he's steady and won't get embarrassed. He has excellent inline power and is NFL ready right now.

Center of attention
Getting ready for kickoff and a lot of people will be watching Washington QB Jake Locker. He looked better throwing the ball this week, but he will be facing live action where he can be hit so how does he respond? We will also be watching his accuracy and anticipation throwing from the pocket.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Love Miller's playmaking, but I just think he's going to be too small. He doesnt appear to have the frame to add any weight either.

I like Ayers too.

Ultimately I think Georgia's Justin Houston might pan out as the best 3-4 OLB from this draft somewhere down the road.

I'm watching Miller and I have to admit that I like what I see. The way he is able to diagnose a play and fly to the ball, he'd make a much better ILB in the 3-4 than as an OLB. Him and Sean Lee as a tandem.....OH YEAH!

 

[Bonecrusher#31]

Locker looks horrible. He made one of the worse do I go early or not decisions ever.

 

[Bonecrusher#31]

I'm watching Miller and I have to admit that I like what I see. The way he is able to diagnose a play and fly to the ball, he'd make a much better ILB in the 3-4 than as an OLB. Him and Sean Lee as a tandem.....OH YEAH!

He looks good

 

[sbk92]

Seminoles shine
It was a good night for Florida State players. QB Christian Ponder has had the strongest showing of the six quarterbacks during tonight's game. He is finally healthy and he gained confidence with each passing day in Mobile, Ala. He is a great athlete with adequate size and arm strength. He was able to show tonight that he's comfortable working in the pocket and can see the entire field from inside the pocket. His timing and accuracy have been very good during tonight's game, as well.

OC/OG Rodney Hudson is one of the most underrated players in this draft. He doesn't fit every scheme because he's undersized but teams that don't mind smaller blockers will like Hudson enough to consider him in the second or early-third round range. I've been a big fan of his since studying his 2009 tape last summer. He has quick feet, plays with great leverage and uses excellent technique to execute his assignments.

Coming up big
Clemson DT Jarvis Jenkins and Baylor NT Phil Taylor are making the lives of the North offensive linemen miserable. Both players are better run stuffers than pass rushers but they've been using quick first steps and brute strength on bull rushes to collapse the pocket on several occasions.

Hurricane warning
Miami's Leonard Hankerson has five catches for 100 yards and we still have five minutes of football remaining. He is clearly the best wide receiver on the field tonight (and he was all week during practices). His route running is much improved from earlier in his career and his massive hands engulf the football. He has shown the ability to make all the catches (in traffic, over his head, pluck on the run, adjusting to ball away from frame, etc.).

Jordan rules
Cal DE Cameron Jordan has had some bright spots during this game (like when he bull rushed OT James Carpenter back into QB Christian Ponder and forced Ponder to bail out of the pocket), but he hasn't dominated the action like he did throughout the week of practices. He has really quick and strong hands -- and he has all but mastered the swim technique -- but he needs to expand his array of pass rush moves. Offensive linemen on the South team have caught on a bit to his "hand over" move and NFL offensive linemen will eat him up if he doesn't mix things up more. Jordan is one of the better prospects in this game and he certainly helped his stock this week, but he's still a bit of a work in progress. It will be interesting to see if he winds up as a LDE in a 4-3 or a five-technique in an odd front.

Making a name for himself
San Diego State WR Vincent Brown continues to help his draft stock with a strong showing in the Senior Bowl game. He lacks imposing size and has just average speed, but he knows how to separate and has great hands. Brown and Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi had a miscommunications on the third-down incompletion (it seems like Brown was supposed to break outside instead of inside) but those things are common in all-star games. Stanzi connected with Brown twice earlier on the drive. From a big picture standpoint, Brown has shown NFL scouts and coaches that he's capable of contributing as a sub-package wide out in the NFL.

Settling in nicely
Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi is settling into a grove in the second half. He has made three great throws on a fourth-quarter drive. The first throw to WR Vincent Brown had great timing and accuracy. His second throw was drilled into a tight window to TE Lance Kendricks. And his third throw had excellent timing and was a very catchable ball on a seam route by Brown. He completed six of his first nine throws. Where's the burst?
USC WR Ronald Johnson has not shown much big-play ability this week. He rarely flashed during practices and as seen on his third quarter kickoff return, Johnson lacks initial burst and a second-gear in space.

Hold on to the ball
Washington QB Jake Locker has to do a better job with ball security. Mississippi State DE Pernell McPhee to strip the ball but Locker needs to have that football secured. He lost a couple of fumbles during the week of practices and I've seen him get stripped at least three times (that I can remember off the top of my head) on tape during his career at Washington.

Breaking down Kaepernick
Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick is talented, but he needs a lot of work. He has the frame, great athleticism and a strong arm. He's also a great competitor and a winner, which you have to love at the QB position. But the inconsistent play in today's game is a good indicator of how much work he still needs. He comes from a Pistol offense at Nevada and doesn't have a lot of experience as a dropback passer. He is late diagnosing coverage and takes too long going through his progressions. He also has a long delivery, especially on throws outside the numbers and vertically. He's worth a mid-round pick for a team with time to develop him. It's a long-term project but the upside is clearly there with Kaepernick. It will be a project similar to Dennis Dixon (Steelers). Kaepernick doesn't have the durability concerns like Dixon had though, which is one reason why he should come off the board higher than Dixon did in 2008 (fifth round).

Going non-stop
Miami LB Colin McCarthy is limited physically but he's an overachiever who uses great instincts to make plays. His tackle of Nebraska RB Roy Helu is a great example in the third quarter. He diagnosed the play quickly and took an excellent angle in pursuit. He loves playing this game and it shows in his motor. McCarthy will be a Day 3 pick but he's the type of player who hangs around the league for six-to-eight years. He will need to contribute on special teams early in his career and that shouldn't be a problem. McCarthy has the right mentality and tackling skills to cover kicks.

A sack? Not so fast, my friend
Oklahoma's Jeremy Beal is not that fast. I just watched his sack again on DVR and he got away with one there. Alabama OT James Carpenter had no shot. How do the refs not see that one? He gets credited with a sack in the stat sheet but NFL scouts will mark that up as an offsides penalty when they review this tape.

Burney making plays
North Carolina CB Kendric Burney has played well today. He lacks size (as seen when Leonard Hankerson boxed him out on his first catch of the second half) and top-end speed, which will keep him out of the first couple rounds of the draft. But he has shown good instincts in game situations -- throughout practices and in the game -- and he also has outstanding ball skills. He may turn out to be a solid nickel corner in the NFL.

Miller shows why he's best player here
Texas A&M's Von Miller showed discipline and open-field tackling skills with two tackles on that first drive of the second half. It's hard not to be impressed by how smoothly he is transitioning to OLB. He has been all over the field today versus the run and occasionally as an edge rusher. He is showing scouts that he not only has the physical tools but also the mental capacity to play different roles in multiple schemes. It is obvious that Miller is the best player on the field and he should be the first player drafted from this year's Senior Bowl.

First half standouts
Miami's Leonard Hankerson: Built on a great week showing solid hands and improved routes.

Arizona's Brooks Reed: Showed a non-stop motor and a quick first step. He was consistently causing problems as a pass rusher. Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan: An instinctive and tough player. He shows a quick first step and a wide variety of pass rushing moves. Florida State's Christian Ponder: He was efficient in his drops and got the ball out on time early in the game. Mississippi State's Derek Sherrod: Did a nice job in pass pro as well as moving defenders off the ball in the run game.

Sudden impact
Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan used a great spin move to make a sack. He may not be an explosive or gifted athlete, but he sets up blockers well and brings it play in and play out. He's had a good week and is making an impact so far in this game.

No love for Love
Arkansas OT Demarcus Love is limited athletically and struggles with speed rushers. He is not playing with great balance and really struggled on that last series. He might have to transition to guard at the next level and appears to be a mid-round selection at this point.

Reed keeping good week going
Arizona DE Brooks Reed had a tremendous week and showed a quick first step off the edge and the ability to bend the edge. He's relentless and shows good suddenness. He's played standing up and with his hand in the dirt and Reed displayed enough athleticism to transition to a rush end in a 3-4 if need be as well. He did a great job of freezing Boston College OT Anthony Castonzo before gaining the edge to secure a sack in the game.

Hooked on Brown
Texas DB Curtis Brown has excellent feet and instincts. He displayed both those qualities on the pass breakup on the quick slant to Vincent Brown. He has some limitations in terms of top-end speed and hips in the open field, but he could make a solid cover-2 CB.

Boling coming up big
Georgia OG Clint Boling had a good week and showed nice awareness on the screen play to West Virginia RB Noel Devine. He found the defender and peeled back for the block. Boling has shown good inline power and nice awareness all week, especially in the open field where he has done a great job of adjusting on the move to cover up targets. He's made himself some money this week.

What McElroy brings to the table
Alabama QB Greg McElroy has limitations with in overall skill set, but he is a coach's dream. He's NFL ready in terms of drops, mechanics and going through progressions. He just understands the game. However, lack of arm strength and overall tools will cause him to drop.

 

[sbk92]

Five players whose draft stock is on the rise

Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.


1. WR Leonard Hankerson, Miami
Hankerson capped off a strong week of practice by hauling in five catches for 101 yards and one score during Saturday's game. His route running skills are vastly improved and his big, strong hands consistently stood out. He has shown the ability to make all the catches (in traffic, over his head, pluck on the run, adjusting to ball away from frame, etc.). There's a drop-off after A.J. Green and Julio Jones in this year's wide receiver class and Hankerson is making a strong push for second-round consideration.

2. DT Phil Taylor, Baylor
Taylor is the highest-rated two-gap nose tackle prospect for a 3-4 defense in this year's class. At 6-3½ and 337 pounds, he mammoth in the middle. He'll never be a huge pass rushing presence, but he proved in practice and even showed in the game that he has the initial first step quickness and power as a bull rusher to collapse the pocket and create some havoc.

3. CB Kendric Burney, North Carolina
Burney's draft stock has a lower ceiling because he's undersized and has, at best, average top end speed. But throughout the week he showed that he has the instincts to diagnose player quicker than most of the defensive backs in this game. He's tough for his size and also had the best ball skills of any of the DBs we saw this week. As a mid-round pick, Burney could wind up being a really good value for a team as a nickel corner and special teams contributor.

4. WR Vincent Brown, San Diego State
Brown lacks imposing size and displays just average top-end speed, but he knows how to separate and has great ball skills. He showed NFL scouts and coaches this week that he's capable of contributing as a sub-package wideout at the next level. Look for Brown to come off the board at some point on Day 2.

5. QB Christian Ponder, Florida State
Ponder got better every day and this is first time we've seen him fully healthy since early October. While all the focus was on Washington's Jake Locker, Ponder quietly went about his business and wound up really turning a lot of heads by the end of the week, including being named Senior Bowl MVP after completing 7 of 13 passes for 132 yards and two TDs in the South's win. The team that drafts him knows he's a bit of durability risk and doesn't have great arm strength to drive the ball down the field, but he has adequate size, is a very good athlete and, as we saw in the game, he's capable of going through his progressions and making good decisions as pocket passer.

Others on the rise:
• OG Clint Boling, Georgia
• OG/OT James Carpenter, Alabama
• QB Andy Dalton, TCU
• LB Mason Foster, Washington
• RB Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
• DE Brooks Reed, Arizona
• LB Kelvin Sheppard, LSU
• TE Lee Smith, Marshall
• TE Luke Stocker, Tennessee
• OG Dan Watkins, Baylor
• DT Ian Williams, Notre Dame
• WR Titus Young, Boise State


Scouts Inc.'s Top 32

After spending the last two weeks watching many of the nation's top seniors at the Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl as well as watching film on other players, there are some changes in the top 32 overall prospects.


Scouts Inc.'s Top 32 Prospects

(Player Position School Height Weight Grade)

1. Da'Quan Bowers* DE Clemson 6-4 280 97
2. Nick Fairley DT Auburn 6-4½ 299 97
3. Patrick Peterson* CB LSU 6-1 211 97
4. A.J. Green* WR Georgia 6-4 208 97
5. Blaine Gabbert* QB Missouri 6-5 240 96
6. Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska 6-0 203 96
7. Von Miller OLB Texas A&M 6-2⅝ 237 96
8. Marcell Dareus* DT Alabama 6-2⅝ 303 96
9. Robert Quinn* DE North Carolina 6-4⅝ 254 96
10. Corey Liuget* DT Illinois 6-3 300 95
11. Nate Solder OT Colorado 6-8¼ 314 95
12. Jimmy Smith CB Colorado 6-2 203 95
13. Tyron Smith* OT USC 6-5 291 94
14. Julio Jones* WR Alabama 6-4 211 95
15. Adrian Clayborn DE Iowa 6-3 285 94
16. Akeem Ayers* OLB UCLA 6-3¾ 249 94
17. Gabe Carimi OT Wisconsin 6-7⅛ 315 94
18. Ryan Kerrigan DE Purdue 6-3⅞ 255 93
19. Mike Pouncey C Florida 6-5 309 93
20. Mark Ingram* RB Alabama 5-10 215 93
21. Aldon Smith* DE Missouri 6-5 260 92
22. Cameron Jordan DE California 6-4⅛ 287 91
23. Jake Locker QB Washington 6-2¼ 228 91
24. Muhammad Wilkerson* DE Temple 6-5 305 91
25. Anthony Castonzo OT Boston College 6-7⅛ 305 91
26. Justin Houston* OLB Georgia 6-3 254 91
27. J.J. Watt* DE Wisconsin 6-5½ 279 90
28. Cam Newton* QB Auburn 6-5½ 248 90
29. Cameron Heyward DE Ohio State 6-5 278 89
30. Rahim Moore* S UCLA 6-1 196 89
31. Ryan Williams* RB Virginia Tech 5-10 210 89
32. Phil Taylor DT Baylor 6-3½ 337 88

* denotes draft-eligible underclassmen

 

[Cythim]

Ponder has been praised all week while Locker has been ridiculed yet Locker is still a first round pick while Ponder does not make the board.


Interesting.

 

[sbk92]

Top 5 players at 2011 Senior Bowl

1. OLB Von Miller, Texas A&M
(No. 7 overall)
It didn't take long for Miller to establish himself as the top prospect at this year's Senior Bowl. He is a sideline-to-sideline run defender and a menace on passing downs. Miller has great natural athleticism and quickness in coverage, and his diagnostic skills will only improve in that area with more reps. Plus, he was clearly the most dynamic pass rusher in Mobile, Ala., this week.

2. OT Nate Solder, Colorado
(No. 11 overall)
Solder still can improve his technique and overall consistency but he proved to be the most dominant offensive lineman in Mobile this week. He has outstanding natural mobility for a 6-foot-8 left tackle prospect.

3. OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
(No. 17 overall)
Carimi was not crazy about playing anywhere but left tackle during practices this week, but he needs to warm on the idea of playing right tackle because that's where he projects in the NFL. He wound up sitting out of the game due to a mild ankle injury, but Carimi is a big, physical offensive tackle with excellent awareness and technique.

4. DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
(No. 18 overall)
Kerrigan lacks ideal athleticism and would struggle to play OLB in most 3-4 schemes. But he shows the instincts, strength-for-size and relentlessness to quickly develop into a quality starter at defensive end in a four-man front. Projects as a mid-to-late first round prospect and is NFL ready today.

5. DE Cameron Jordan, California
(No. 22 overall)
Jordan displayed versatility as a college five-technique who is capable of playing left end in a 4-3 scheme. Needs to add more pass-rush moves and will never have the burst of an elite edge rusher, but he has good size, great hands and a non-stop motor.


Five who failed to improve their stock

1. RB Noel Devine, WVU
We've seen undersized RBs like Dexter McCluster and Darren Sproles come in and really shine at the Senior Bowl. It makes sense because so much of practice time is spent on 1-on-1 drills and backs catching the ball out of backfield so versatile, quicker guys like this tend to stand out. Devine didn't have terrible week and flashed his quickness and explosiveness, but overall he failed to make a huge impression. At 5-7, 160 pounds, he struggles between the tackles and will never be every down back because he goes down too easily. He really struggled to stay healthy, which is major concern for him at the next level, and he also tends to get a little lost in the passing game. The game kind of underscored that as though he did score a touchdown, he averaged just 1.1 yards a carry and had just one catch for 12 yards.

2. WR Ronald Johnson, USC
Johnson doesn't have a first- or second-round grade, so it's not like he came in here and hurt his draft stock this week. But where Miami's Leonard Hankerson, San Diego State's Vincent Brown, Boise State's Titus Young and TCU's Jeremy Kerley were able to showcase a lot of their positive qualities, Johnson turned in an underwhelming performance this week. No area of his game stands out and whether it's running routes, running after the catch or even the five returns he had in the Senior Bowl, he just lacks big play ability. In a wide receiver group that continues to get deeper by the day, Johnson is likely to be a Day 3 pick.

3. DE Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma
The one sack he had in Saturday's game, he jumped offsides and the refs somehow missed it. We loved his effort, his toughness and the way he approached every practice and the game. He's strong enough and instinctive enough to contribute in the NFL, but for a player who has been talked about as a potential second-round pick, he didn't fare as well when going up against some of the top offensive tackles compared to what players like Von Miller and Ryan Kerrigan did throughout the week. Beal is not athletic enough to make the move back to OLB, which means he's going to have to find a way to make it happen as an undersized DE in a four-man front. We'd be surprised if he came off the board before Round 3.

4. ILB Greg Jones, Michigan State
Teammates loves him, coaches can't say enough good things about him and his effort and passion for the game are obvious after watching him throughout week of practices. What is also obvious is that he just does not match up athletically. He really got exposed in 1-on-1 coverage drills and also struggled at times to get off blocks. We weren't overly high on him coming into this week and we won't be shocked if he's still on the board after the first two days of the draft.

5. TE Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin
Kendricks was obviously a very productive player at Wisconsin. He runs good routes and he's capable of making some very difficult catches as we saw throughout practices this week. But his lack of top end speed and size were really evident. It's tough to spend a top 100 pick on a H-back who is likely to max out as a No. 2 in the NFL and doesn't provide explosive speed to stretch the seem. It's not a good tight end class so it will be interesting to see where H-back types like Kendricks and Arkansas' D.J. Williams come off the board.


Others failing to improve draft stock:
• OT Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State
• S Joseph Lefeged, Rutgers
• WR Courtny Smith, South Alabama

 

[dbair1967]

I'm thinking we need to do something to SBK's account that allows him to only have access to the Draft forum area. Its the only place he contributes anything positive to. lol

Thanks for posting all the good info dude

 

[dbair1967]

Five players whose draft stock is on the rise

Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.


1. WR Leonard Hankerson, Miami
Hankerson capped off a strong week of practice by hauling in five catches for 101 yards and one score during Saturday's game. His route running skills are vastly improved and his big, strong hands consistently stood out. He has shown the ability to make all the catches (in traffic, over his head, pluck on the run, adjusting to ball away from frame, etc.). There's a drop-off after A.J. Green and Julio Jones in this year's wide receiver class and Hankerson is making a strong push for second-round consideration.

2. DT Phil Taylor, Baylor
Taylor is the highest-rated two-gap nose tackle prospect for a 3-4 defense in this year's class. At 6-3½ and 337 pounds, he mammoth in the middle. He'll never be a huge pass rushing presence, but he proved in practice and even showed in the game that he has the initial first step quickness and power as a bull rusher to collapse the pocket and create some havoc.
3. CB Kendric Burney, North Carolina
Burney's draft stock has a lower ceiling because he's undersized and has, at best, average top end speed. But throughout the week he showed that he has the instincts to diagnose player quicker than most of the defensive backs in this game. He's tough for his size and also had the best ball skills of any of the DBs we saw this week. As a mid-round pick, Burney could wind up being a really good value for a team as a nickel corner and special teams contributor.

4. WR Vincent Brown, San Diego State
Brown lacks imposing size and displays just average top-end speed, but he knows how to separate and has great ball skills. He showed NFL scouts and coaches this week that he's capable of contributing as a sub-package wideout at the next level. Look for Brown to come off the board at some point on Day 2.

5. QB Christian Ponder, Florida State
Ponder got better every day and this is first time we've seen him fully healthy since early October. While all the focus was on Washington's Jake Locker, Ponder quietly went about his business and wound up really turning a lot of heads by the end of the week, including being named Senior Bowl MVP after completing 7 of 13 passes for 132 yards and two TDs in the South's win. The team that drafts him knows he's a bit of durability risk and doesn't have great arm strength to drive the ball down the field, but he has adequate size, is a very good athlete and, as we saw in the game, he's capable of going through his progressions and making good decisions as pocket passer.

Others on the rise:
• OG Clint Boling, Georgia
• OG/OT James Carpenter, Alabama• QB Andy Dalton, TCU
• LB Mason Foster, Washington
• RB Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
• DE Brooks Reed, Arizona
• LB Kelvin Sheppard, LSU• TE Lee Smith, Marshall
• TE Luke Stocker, Tennessee
• OG Dan Watkins, Baylor
• DT Ian Williams, Notre Dame
• WR Titus Young, Boise State


Scouts Inc.'s Top 32

After spending the last two weeks watching many of the nation's top seniors at the Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl as well as watching film on other players, there are some changes in the top 32 overall prospects.


Scouts Inc.'s Top 32 Prospects

(Player Position School Height Weight Grade)

1. Da'Quan Bowers* DE Clemson 6-4 280 97
2. Nick Fairley DT Auburn 6-4½ 299 97
3. Patrick Peterson* CB LSU 6-1 211 97
4. A.J. Green* WR Georgia 6-4 208 97
5. Blaine Gabbert* QB Missouri 6-5 240 96
6. Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska 6-0 203 96
]7. Von Miller OLB Texas A&M 6-2⅝ 237 96
8. Marcell Dareus* DT Alabama 6-2⅝ 303 96
9. Robert Quinn* DE North Carolina 6-4⅝ 254 96
10. Corey Liuget* DT Illinois 6-3 300 95
11. Nate Solder OT Colorado 6-8¼ 314 95
12. Jimmy Smith CB Colorado 6-2 203 95
13. Tyron Smith* OT USC 6-5 291 94
14. Julio Jones* WR Alabama 6-4 211 95
15. Adrian Clayborn DE Iowa 6-3 285 94
16. Akeem Ayers* OLB UCLA 6-3¾ 249 94
17. Gabe Carimi OT Wisconsin 6-7⅛ 315 94
18. Ryan Kerrigan DE Purdue 6-3⅞ 255 93
19. Mike Pouncey C Florida 6-5 309 93
20. Mark Ingram* RB Alabama 5-10 215 93
21. Aldon Smith* DE Missouri 6-5 260 92
22. Cameron Jordan DE California 6-4⅛ 287 91
23. Jake Locker QB Washington 6-2¼ 228 91
24. Muhammad Wilkerson* DE Temple 6-5 305 91
25. Anthony Castonzo OT Boston College 6-7⅛ 305 91
26. Justin Houston* OLB Georgia 6-3 254 91
27. J.J. Watt* DE Wisconsin 6-5½ 279 90
28. Cam Newton* QB Auburn 6-5½ 248 90
29. Cameron Heyward DE Ohio State 6-5 278 89
30. Rahim Moore* S UCLA 6-1 196 89
31. Ryan Williams* RB Virginia Tech 5-10 210 89
32. Phil Taylor DT Baylor 6-3½ 337 88
* denotes draft-eligible underclassmen

Players in bold me likee for our 'Boys.

There's some others I like alot, just not for us.

 

[sbk92]

I'm thinking we need to do something to SBK's account that allows him to only have access to the Draft forum area. Its the only place he contributes anything positive to. lol

Thanks for posting all the good info dude