Senior Bowl 2014 Thread

[dbair1967]

Broaddus: What We’re Looking For Here At Senior Bowl
Posted 5 hours ago

Bryan Broaddus
Football Analyst/Scout
Follow BryanBroaddus on Twitter All Bryan Broaddus Articles


MOBILE, Ala. - With our DallasCowboys.com staff in Mobile for the Reese’s Senior Bowl, here are some things that the Scout’s Eye will be looking out for.

Pro Coaches

What I have always loved about the Senior Bowl from a scouting point of view, is how both squads are being coached this week by current NFL coaches. Part of having poor records during the season, Mike Smith from the Atlanta Falcons and Gus Bradley from the Jacksonville Jaguars staffs will lead the North and South squads this week. What is outstanding about this is that you get to observe these players out of their college element and functioning during the practices run by these coaches.

I was reminded this week from Monte Kiffin how when he was on Jon Gruden’s staff in Tampa and were coaching the game in 2005, when coaches on Bill Parcells staff in Dallas asked if Kiffin a 4-3 coach, could give DeMarcus Ware some reps during the practice at outside linebacker to see if Ware who was a 4-3 end at Troy could stand up and play on the outside. Kiffin had no problem with the request and the Cowboys were able to get a good look at Ware which helped them in their draft evaluation of him.

Outstanding Competition

Of all the college all-star games that are played after the season, the Senior Bowl does the best job of putting these rosters together. Phil Savage the director of that game is a former NFL general manager having worked in Baltimore and Cleveland. Savage and his staff have an outstanding eye for talent and when you go through these rosters, you will see a nice mix of players.

What Savage has done is not only assemble talent from the major conferences around the country, but also he has players from schools like Lindenwood, Saginaw Valley, Eastern Illinois and North Dakota State. It was always interesting to see how the players from these schools work with these coaches and players from the major programs. Keep an eye on players like cornerback Pierre Desir, wide receiver Jeff Janis, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and offensive tackle Billy Turner. Garoppolo seems to be the player that most draft fans have interest in.

There are always two or three players that might not be on your radar now but by the time this week is over, you will have a pretty clear understanding if these kids can play or not. Scouts will be tracking these players this week to see how they are responding to this experience.

Defensive Line On Review

This will be a good week, for the scout’s around the league to get a good look at this current group of college defensive linemen. I remember very well this time last year, when defensive end Ziggy Ansah of BYU impressed all those that watched him practice and play in this game. Matter of fact, it was the Lions that were coaching in the game, that ended up drafting him in the 1st round.

Looking at this current group, this is an important week for guys like Will Sutton, Ra’Shede Hageman, Aaron Donald, Marcus Smith, Kareem Martin, Trent Murphy and DaQuan Jones. What I have learned from these Cowboys defensive coaches is that with the defensive line, it’s all about the quick twitch more so than the overall size. Kiffin told me that it was rare this season to have a guy like Jason Hatcher with his height to play as a one

technique in this scheme.

The player that has that Hatcher like size would be Hageman but on tape, I don’t believe that he has that quick twitch that Kiffin would be looking for, but we will see if that might have changed as he goes through this week. Aaron Donald will be measured Monday morning as will Will Sutton, who both would be perfect three techniques. What is interesting about Donald and Sutton is that they both are right at 6 foot tall and that is not a problem for Kiffin, as long as they both have that quick twitch that we have talked about.

Two guys that I will be keeping my eye on in this group, is Marcus Smith and Kareem Martin. When I studied Smith this past week, he is a player that Will McClay and his group will be looking to project him to end from an outside linebacker. I believe that Smith can put his hand down in this scheme and rush the passer plus handle in the edge in the running game. He should get some reps this week rushing the passer in various drills and I am sure that this trait will show.

Martin is a straight defensive end, that has the length and the range to be effective in this Kiffin scheme. He can chase the ball, he gets up the field and he can defeat blockers one-on-one. Trent Murphy is a guy that has a very similar skill set and I would expect people to be talking about his play as the week goes along.

There will be players in this game that other teams will not want for their schemes but this Cowboys scouting staff and coaches will covet and how they view these players will be critical.

 

[dbair1967]

Bryan Broaddus ‏@BryanBroaddus 1h
Donald DT has been a dominate player in this 9on7 drill. They are having trouble keeping him out of the backfield.

Bryan Broaddus ‏@BryanBroaddus 2h
Will McClay is down on the field watching these North DL going thru the drills in the EZ. Donald, Hageman, Martin and Murphy

 

[dbair1967]

2014 Senior Bowl: 10 observations from Monday's South practice By Rob Rang |
The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com January 20, 2014 2:50 pm PT More Draft:

The first practice of the 2014 Senior Bowl featured noteworthy performances by the recognizable stars from powerhouses FBS programs you might expect, but a handful of small school prospects also proved capable of handling the big stage.

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley and his staff led the South team through a spirited, scripted practice at Fairhope Stadium which featured plenty of one on one matchups, allowing the hundreds of scouts and fans in the stands to evaluate the athleticism of the prospects. Players sported helmets, shoulder pads and plenty of physicality but were not wearing thigh pads and tackling -- as is virtually always the case in all-star game practices -- was forbidden.

Rather than focus on any one positional group on the first day, I kept my eyes open and head on a swivel. Here are 10 observations from Monday's South practice.

1. Of the South's quarterbacks, Fresno State's Derek Carr unquestionably possesses the best arm. The ball explodes out of his hand and caught a few of his new teammates by surprise with how quickly it got to them. Carr showed good anticipation, often delivering passes before his receivers turned back to look for the ball.

2. Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo continued the positive momentum he'd gained from the East-West Shrine Game with an impressive initial practice. While he does not possess Carr's howitzer, Garoppolo has a very quick set-up and release and frequently threw led his receivers away from defenders, showing better ball-placement than Carr on several of his throws.

3. On the defensive side of the ball, Oklahoma cornerback Aaron Colvin demonsrated good speed and fluidity in coverage, as well as excellent leaping ability and timing to knock away passes.

4. Tennessee right tackle Ju'Wuan James hasn't received a lot of fanfare but he is a smooth athlete at 6-foot-6, 315 pounds. He was beaten on occasion but plays with terrific knee bend and got to the second level during scrimmages.

5. As impressive James was, arguably the most impressive offensive lineman of the day was North Dakota State's Billy Turner, who possesses a very similar build at 6-foot-5, 316 pounds. Unlike James, Turner struggles a bit with leverage, bending at the waist rather than the knees but he has strong hands and is a good athlete who projects as a quality NFL starter with a little refinement. His upside could push Turner into the top 100 picks, if he isn't there already.

6. Given his 6-foot-2, 243-pound frame, perhaps it isn't surprising that Auburn's Dee Fordwas the most explosive of the South's pass-rushers but he certainly showed the burst to catch the attention of every scout in the stands. Ford is stronger than his size indicates and carried over the strong senior campaign that helped his Tigers qualify for the national championship game into Monday's practice.

7. While Ford played well, his former Auburn teammates, Chris Davis, struggled a bit fielding punts early in the practice. Davis has a tendency to allow the ball to hit his chest plate, which results in some double-clutching. Oklahoma's Jalen Saunders also struggled in this area. The former Sooners' star also dropped a couple of passes.

8. San Jose State quarterback David Fales is more of a gamer than a practice-guy but his lack of ideal arm-strength, unfortunately, stood out in comparison to Carr and, to a lesser-extent, Garoppolo. Fales telegraphed some throws (including a short pass over the middle that was intercepted by LSU linebacker Lamin Barrow) and his passes to the perimeter had too much air under them.

9. Arizona State defensive tackle Will Sutton didn't have the most impressive weigh-in but he showed off his athleticism with a terrific spin move to beat Arkansas center Travis Swanson (who was playing guard) during one-on-one drills late in practice.

10. Of the linebackers, I was most impressed with BYU's Kyle Van Noy, who frequently is lauded for his ability at the line of scrimmage but showed off his fluidity and instincts in coverage by closing quickly to bat away multliple passes.

Fellow Senior Analyst Dane Brugler posted his notes from the North's practice, which began two hours later at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, where Saturday's game will take place.

 

[dbair1967]

NFLDraftScout.com
2014 Senior Bowl: 10 observations from Monday's North practice By Dane Brugler

NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst January 20, 2014 4:36 pm PT

Senior Bowl MOBILE, Ala. – The North squad suited up at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Monday afternoon and practiced as the wind picked up and sun started to set, disappearing behind the stadium's elevated press box. The Falcons coaching staff, led by head coach Mike Smith, led a well-organized practice with hundreds of scouts, coaches and evaluators looking on from the stands. Atlanta's general manager Thomas Dimitroff had a front row seat, viewing the practice on the field next to his coaching staff. The important takeaway from Monday is to isolate where certain prospects struggled in order to see if they show improvement on Tuesday, Wednesday and the rest of the week. A prospect's ability to respond to NFL coaching is a substantial part of Senior Bowl week, especially in an unfamiliar setting. Like Rob Rang's report on the South team , I deciphered my practice notes into 10 coherent observations from the North team's practice on Monday.

1. DT Aaron Donald was an unstoppable force on Monday. Like his play all season, the Pitt defensive tackle was extremely quick in drills and was relentless from snap to whistle. His burst and anticipation off the snap and active energy to fight through and around blocks make him tough for any blocker to handle. Donald repeatedly victimized Baylor OG Cyril Richardson at practice, winning with leverage, hustle and fluidity that Richardson has likely never seen before on the football field. Donald's skill-set is ideal for one-on-one drills so he should shine, but the NFL team that drafts him will get a really good football player.

2. I feel for the wide receivers on the North team due to the inconsistency from all three quarterbacks on the roster. Miami QB Stephen Morris , Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas and Clemson QB Tajh Boyd were all inconsistent on day one, which was almost expected after the up-and-down senior seasons of all three. Boyd in particular struggled with accuracy and his ball placement is a strong concern. Thomas threw a few pretty passes that hit receivers between the numbers, but other fastballs hit the ground or sailed over his intended target. The good news for this group? The only place to go from here is up.

3. Speaking of the wide receivers, I really like the group on the North team. The South squad might have the only senior wideout who ends up being drafted in the top-50 picks (Jordan Matthews), but the mid-round talent at receiver on the North is above average. Wisconsin WR Jared Abbrederis , Wyoming WR Robert Herron and Oregon WR Josh Huff all looked good on Monday before, after and during the catch. All three have a legitimate chance to be drafted in the top-100 and Monday reminded everyone why.

4. Ohio State OT Jack Mewhort lined up at right tackle and did an excellent job sinking his butt, digging his cleats in the ground and stonewalling rushers. He lined up across from North Carolina DE Kareem Martin (and his long 34 3/8” arms) several times and Mewhort did an excellent job combating hand moves and riding him past the pocket. The former Buckeye is built well for the right tackle position at 6-6 and 306 pounds and has shown consistent improvement from his underclassmen days.

5. Miami OT Seantrel Henderson continues to be a mystery. He flashed on Monday with his strong, heavy hands to punch and control rushers. But his snap anticipation and balance were up-and-down throughout drills. It's been said time and time again, but if a NFL coaching staff can get Henderson to play focused and ambitious, they'll land themselves a very good player. He is a player to watch this week to see how he responds to the instructions of the Falcons' coaching staff.

6. Linenwood CB Pierre Desir and Nebraska CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste are both tall, long defensive backs who have the athleticism to turn and run with receivers downfield. They both did a nice job in press-man to get physical at the line of scrimmage and then ride the receiver through the route, although both got away with a little too much holding. Neither are elite when controlling their start/stop momentum, but neither are allergic to contact either. And with several teams who utilize press-man techniques on defense looking for the next Richard Sherman, both Desir and Jean-Baptiste are players to watch this week.

7. As I mentioned in my Senior Bowl preview , Northern Illinois S Jimmie Ward is the top safety prospect in Mobile this week in my opinion and he played like it on Monday. He overcame a few poor angles early and put together a good practice, showing off his foot quickness and aggressive instincts. A Mobile-native, Ward could make a case to be the top defensive back overall this week.

8. Louisiana Tech DT Justin Ellis picked up right where he left off last week at the Shrine Game, using his quickness and snap anticipation to surge past blockers before they were in a stance. He is a quick thinker and reacts well to what the blocker wants to do, either attacking with pure momentum or using a spin or sidestep move to get past him. Ellis, who weighed nine pounds lighter from the Shrine Game weigh-ins, has helped himself as much as anyone the past two weeks and shouldn't last long on the draft's third day.

9. Clemson OT Brandon Thomas played left tackle in college, but he projects better at guard where he can operate in a smaller space and that showed in practice on Monday. He measured in at 34 3/8” arms and will use that length to engage and bury defenders – just ask fellow ACC prospect DE James Gayle out of Virginia Tech who Thomas dominated a few times. But the former Clemson blocker also struggled in space during drills, bringing up questions on whether or not he should stay on the edges.

10. Yes, he plays on the South squad and this is a North practice review, but I feel compelled to mention North Dakota State OL Billy Turner . He lined up at guard and tackle during practice and showed off his quick feet, upper body strength and mean punch to handle rushers. If Turner can learn to consistently sink his hips and not bend so much at the waist, I truly believe there are several Pro Bowls in his future.

 

[dbair1967]

NFLDraftScout.com
2014 Senior Bowl: 10 observations from Monday's North practice By Dane Brugler

NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst January 20, 2014 4:36 pm PT

Senior Bowl MOBILE, Ala. – The North squad suited up at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Monday afternoon and practiced as the wind picked up and sun started to set, disappearing behind the stadium's elevated press box. The Falcons coaching staff, led by head coach Mike Smith, led a well-organized practice with hundreds of scouts, coaches and evaluators looking on from the stands. Atlanta's general manager Thomas Dimitroff had a front row seat, viewing the practice on the field next to his coaching staff. The important takeaway from Monday is to isolate where certain prospects struggled in order to see if they show improvement on Tuesday, Wednesday and the rest of the week. A prospect's ability to respond to NFL coaching is a substantial part of Senior Bowl week, especially in an unfamiliar setting. Like Rob Rang's report on the South team , I deciphered my practice notes into 10 coherent observations from the North team's practice on Monday.

1. DT Aaron Donald was an unstoppable force on Monday. Like his play all season, the Pitt defensive tackle was extremely quick in drills and was relentless from snap to whistle. His burst and anticipation off the snap and active energy to fight through and around blocks make him tough for any blocker to handle. Donald repeatedly victimized Baylor OG Cyril Richardson at practice, winning with leverage, hustle and fluidity that Richardson has likely never seen before on the football field. Donald's skill-set is ideal for one-on-one drills so he should shine, but the NFL team that drafts him will get a really good football player.

2. I feel for the wide receivers on the North team due to the inconsistency from all three quarterbacks on the roster. Miami QB Stephen Morris , Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas and Clemson QB Tajh Boyd were all inconsistent on day one, which was almost expected after the up-and-down senior seasons of all three. Boyd in particular struggled with accuracy and his ball placement is a strong concern. Thomas threw a few pretty passes that hit receivers between the numbers, but other fastballs hit the ground or sailed over his intended target. The good news for this group? The only place to go from here is up.

3. Speaking of the wide receivers, I really like the group on the North team. The South squad might have the only senior wideout who ends up being drafted in the top-50 picks (Jordan Matthews), but the mid-round talent at receiver on the North is above average. Wisconsin WR Jared Abbrederis , Wyoming WR Robert Herron and Oregon WR Josh Huff all looked good on Monday before, after and during the catch. All three have a legitimate chance to be drafted in the top-100 and Monday reminded everyone why.

4. Ohio State OT Jack Mewhort lined up at right tackle and did an excellent job sinking his butt, digging his cleats in the ground and stonewalling rushers. He lined up across from North Carolina DE Kareem Martin (and his long 34 3/8” arms) several times and Mewhort did an excellent job combating hand moves and riding him past the pocket. The former Buckeye is built well for the right tackle position at 6-6 and 306 pounds and has shown consistent improvement from his underclassmen days.

5. Miami OT Seantrel Henderson continues to be a mystery. He flashed on Monday with his strong, heavy hands to punch and control rushers. But his snap anticipation and balance were up-and-down throughout drills. It's been said time and time again, but if a NFL coaching staff can get Henderson to play focused and ambitious, they'll land themselves a very good player. He is a player to watch this week to see how he responds to the instructions of the Falcons' coaching staff.

6. Linenwood CB Pierre Desir and Nebraska CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste are both tall, long defensive backs who have the athleticism to turn and run with receivers downfield. They both did a nice job in press-man to get physical at the line of scrimmage and then ride the receiver through the route, although both got away with a little too much holding. Neither are elite when controlling their start/stop momentum, but neither are allergic to contact either. And with several teams who utilize press-man techniques on defense looking for the next Richard Sherman, both Desir and Jean-Baptiste are players to watch this week.

7. As I mentioned in my Senior Bowl preview , Northern Illinois S Jimmie Ward is the top safety prospect in Mobile this week in my opinion and he played like it on Monday. He overcame a few poor angles early and put together a good practice, showing off his foot quickness and aggressive instincts. A Mobile-native, Ward could make a case to be the top defensive back overall this week.

8. Louisiana Tech DT Justin Ellis picked up right where he left off last week at the Shrine Game, using his quickness and snap anticipation to surge past blockers before they were in a stance. He is a quick thinker and reacts well to what the blocker wants to do, either attacking with pure momentum or using a spin or sidestep move to get past him. Ellis, who weighed nine pounds lighter from the Shrine Game weigh-ins, has helped himself as much as anyone the past two weeks and shouldn't last long on the draft's third day.

9. Clemson OT Brandon Thomas played left tackle in college, but he projects better at guard where he can operate in a smaller space and that showed in practice on Monday. He measured in at 34 3/8” arms and will use that length to engage and bury defenders – just ask fellow ACC prospect DE James Gayle out of Virginia Tech who Thomas dominated a few times. But the former Clemson blocker also struggled in space during drills, bringing up questions on whether or not he should stay on the edges.

10. Yes, he plays on the South squad and this is a North practice review, but I feel compelled to mention North Dakota State OL Billy Turner . He lined up at guard and tackle during practice and showed off his quick feet, upper body strength and mean punch to handle rushers. If Turner can learn to consistently sink his hips and not bend so much at the waist, I truly believe there are several Pro Bowls in his future.

 

[dbair1967]

Bryan Broaddus‏ @ BryanBroaddus 7m
“ @ FootsDaKing: @ BryanBroaddus How has Donald looked?” Best DL on North squad. Super active been hard to block.

 

[Cowboysrule122]

Senior Bowl notes: WR bonds with Bryant


MOBILE, Ala. -- Texas wide receiver and Dallas native Mike Davis has been pretty impressive during practices here at the Senior Bowl.

Davis credits Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant for the reason. The two work out at Bryant's adviser's house, David Wells, during the offseason whether it's running routes, learning how to catch the ball better and just staying in shape.

The Cowboys, along with the Detroit Lions, are just some of the teams that have spoken to Davis, who finished his career at Texas fourth all time in catches (200), fourth in yards (2,753) and fifth in touchdowns (18).

"He's like my big brother," Davis said after Tuesday's practice. "Dez Bryant and I talked a lot. Knowing him four or five years, he was taken me under his wing, him and David Wells. I used to go over and talk to Dez and run routes with him a lot."

Following Tuesday's practice, Davis worked out with the quarterbacks to not only work on route running, something he wants to perfect, but on helping the quarterbacks improve.

"I'm not a cocky dude, but I can run routes with the best of them and I can go deep and when it's time," Davis said.

Windy conditions for quarterbacks: The second day of Senior Bowl practices was conducted in some stiff winds. It was a challenge for quarterbacks such as Fresno State's Derek Carr, Eastern Illinois' Jimmy Garoppolo and Miami's Stephen Morris to show their arm strength. Clemson's Tajh Boyd had a few passes sail on him in the wind. "It's similar to Eastern Illinois," Garoppolo said. "Non-stop winds in the middle of nowhere. I just came out here and did what I normally do."

Garrett talks about Wes Phillips: With Wes Phillips leaving the Cowboys to join the Washington Redskins' staff as tight ends coach, it left a void in the coaching staff. Not only does Jason Garrett lose a position coach, but someone he respects. "I'm really happy for Wes," Garrett said. "It's a great opportunity for him. He's done a great job for us and he's a good friend and he's been a really good coach for a long time and [I'm] excited for this opportunity. But we do want to get that position filled relatively quickly."

Notes: Georgia Tech's Jemea Thomas is someone to look at in the coming months. He can play both safety spots and has good ball skills. ... Notre Dame tackle Zack Martin and defensive end Michael Sam have been pretty impressive. The Senior Bowl coaches have lined Sam up at defensive end and outside linebacker. ... Virginia defensive end Brent Urban, with his 80 3/4 wingspan, is doing some good things in the pass rush along with Dee Ford, a defensive end from Auburn. ... Seen watching the practices together: Cowboys coach Jason Garrett with his agent, David Dunn, and former Cowboys assistant coaches Rob Ryan and Joe DeCamillis.

 

[Cowboysrule122]

2014 Senior Bowl: UVA's Moses parts the red D at South practice

Rob Rang
The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com


MOBILE, Ala. -- Given the rapid ascension enjoyed by Eric Fisher and Lane Johnson at the Senior Bowl a year ago, one can't blame scouts for spending a lot of their time evaluating offensive linemen this week.

Notre Dame's Zack Martin entered the week as NFLDraftScout.com's top-rated offensive lineman participating in the Senior Bowl but with a terrific performance Tuesday afternoon by Virginia's Morgan Moses could result in a significant jump up the board.

Alternately lining up at left and right tackle for the South team, the 6-foot-6, 325 pound behemoth showcased the length, quickness and balance to handle speed rushers like Auburn's Dee Ford (6-foot-2, 243 pounds) and Arkansas' Chris Smith (6-foot-1, 266 pounds), as well as powerful defenders like his former teammate, 6-foot-6, 298-pound defensive end Brent Urban.

Individual pass-rush drills favor the defensive players but other than one exception in which Ford beat Moses with a quick jab-step inside and explosive burst to his right, Moses handled left tackle duties well. When moved back to the right side, Moses also performed admirably, burying Urban with an emphatic pancake block that drew gasps from scouts in the stands.

Best of all, Moses' strong play continued into the scrimmages run by the Jacksonville Jaguars' coaching staff. One particular three-play sequence against the defenders in the South team's red jerseys showcased Morgan's pro-readiness:

On "first down" Moses handled a speed rush from Ford to give his quarterback enough time to complete a quick swing pass to the right.

The next play was a run to the right for solid gain. Moses did not supply a block at the point of attack on the play, instead releasing to run approximately 20 yards downfield to force adjustments from a linebacker and safety. The quickness off the ball, fluidity and straight-line speed Moses used to part the defense was every bit as impressive as the pancake block he'd delivered on Urban during the earlier one-on-one drill.

Appropriately enough, it was Urban who lined up opposite Moses on the next play. Attacking Moses with a strong bull rush that had beaten several other South team blockers throughout the day, Urban instead was stopped in his tracks due to a strong anchor and good core flexibility from the left tackle.

While Moses was the South's best blocker Tuesday, several other offensive and defensive linemen left impressions.

Cal's Deandre Coleman enjoyed a solid day on the interior, repeatedly pushing through Oklahoma's Gabe Ikard and Arkansas' Travis Swanson. Powerful and surprisingly athletic, the 6-foot-5, 315 pounder is position and scheme versatile, though scouts are left to question where this passionate play was throughout a disappointing senior season in the Pac-12. Ikard's quickness and tenacity will intrigue zone-blocking teams but he's struggled with the massive defenders in Mobile. Swanson has also been a bit inconsistent, though most of the struggles he's had over the first two days have come when he's lined up at guard, rather than center. Swanson starred for the Razorbacks at center, showing impressive agility and power in the pivot but at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, he projects better to guard or even tackle in the opinion of some scouts.

Like Coleman, Tennessee defensive tackle Daniel McCullers bullied opponents with his power, slipping past Swanson with a good rip move early during the one-on-one drills. McCullers, 6-foot-7 and 348 pounds, struggles with leverage, playing much higher than the rest of the South defensive linemen. This allows technicians like Florida State's Bryan Stork (6-foot-4, 306 pounds) to turn and seal the massive Volunteer from the play despite a significant weight disadvantage.

Urban has generated some buzz in recent weeks and it is clear that his length and strength project very well as a traditional five-technique defensive end. He is very strong and uses the power in his upper body to stun and disengage from would-be blockers. He also lost track of the ball, at times, allowing runners to slip past him when he appeared to be in position to stop them.

A year ago Nick Saban made a surprise visit to the sidelines of the Senior Bowl. This year, it was players rather than coaches who were seen visiting at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, as South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney and North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron were on hand for Tuesday's South practice. While two of the more athletic prospects in the entire country, as underclassmen, neither was eligible to participate in the Senior Bowl and instead likely attended strictly to watch practice and meet NFL decision-makers in town for the all-star game.

 

[Cowboysrule122]

I'm still a fan of McCullers, dude is a beast.

 

[bbgun]

http://bustedcoverage.com/2014/01/22/spotted-jerry-jones-scouting-talent-at-senior-bowl-bar/

our fearless leader

 

[cmd34(work)]

IT IS OBVIOUSLY PHOTOSHOPPED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dbair1967]

Jerry has a limitless supply of Viagara

 

[cmd34(work)]

Calvin Watkins is reporting that Cowboy scouts have spoken with:

Aaron Donald DT Pittsburgh
Dee Ford LB/DE Auburn
Jemea Thomas S Georgia Tech

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

I'm still a fan of McCullers, dude is a beast.

1-technique. Crack pipe dream of pairing him up next to Donald.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Calvin Watkins is reporting that Cowboy scouts have spoken with:

Aaron Donald DT Pittsburgh
Dee Ford LB/DE Auburn
Jemea Thomas S Georgia Tech

He'll get an invite.

 

[junk]

Just for cmd.....

@MattBowen41
Montana LB Jordan Tripp (6-2, 237) moves like a SS in individual drills when looking at the speed/burst coming out of his break.

@OptimumScouting
#SeniorBowl South practice winners: DE Chris Smith, OLB Kyle Van Noy, DE Dee Ford, CB Aaron Colvin, RB A. Andrews, and OLB Jordan Tripp.

@NEPD_Loyko
Expect #montana lb Jordan Tripp to generate buzz and rise. NFL scouts were impressed in the stands

@Caricsportsmgt
Jordan Tripp just dominated 9 on 7. #SeniorBowl #montana

@nfldraftscout
Montana LB Jordan Tripp is super athletic. Dominating drills.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Would make a nice 6th or 7th round pick for special teams.

 

[cmd34]

A lot of people had nice things to say about Caleb McSurdy and claimed Vontaze Burfict couldn't play at the NFL level.


Those people were wrong.

 

[Cowboysrule122]

Senior Bowl: Cowboys value all-star game


January, 23, 2014
By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com


MOBILE, Ala. -- The Dallas Cowboys value the offseason college all-star games, particularly the Senior Bowl.

Last year, the Cowboys drafted three players: Terrance Williams (third round), J.J. Wilcox (third round) and B.W. Webb (fourth round) who participated in the game.

In 2007, the Cowboys drafted Anthony Spencer in the first round and he played in the Senior Bowl and two years prior to that, DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears, former first-round picks, also played in the game.

"It's a really important game, an important week," coach Jason Garrett said. "It's our first exposure as coaches to these college players, I spent a lot of time with Tom Ciskowski and the other guys in our personnel department who have seen these guys for a year or two years and have a real comfort level with them and they educate us."

This is also the first time Cowboys' coaches and scouts get to interview some players and see them practice with NFL coaches running the sessions. This season, Jacksonville and Atlanta were the coaches who worked the players.

"Then we have an impression and we watch practice and say 'Hey who is that guy? Who is that guy? That guy looks good.' You ask questions and you challenge each other, the first exposure is an important exposure. You see them playing football, different than the combine. The combine is a great opportunity to visit with them see them move around, what they’re motor skills are how they test all those kinds of things. But this is a chance to see them in football practice."

Crazy Questions: NFL teams ask prospective draft picks all sorts of questions. The Cleveland Browns staff asked several Senior Bowl players a weird one: Name every use you can think of for a brick? The Browns asked the players to answer it in one minute. "I went for about 20-30 seconds on that one," Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said. "You think of some crazy things when you’re thinking about that that’s for sure."

Added Baylor guard Cyril Richardson: "Somebody warned me about it. I even said throw it."

 

[dbair1967]

2014 Senior Bowl: Auburn's Dee Ford headlines list of Risers-Fallers


By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

January 25, 2014 7:22 pm ET

A year ago a relative unknown offensive tackle from Central Michigan began his climb towards the No. 1 overall selection in the 2013 NFL draft with a dominant performance at the Senior Bowl.

With underclassmen expected to dominate this year's first round, no one from the 2014 Senior Bowl is going to match Eric Fisher's perch atop the draft. However, revealing performances during the all-important week of practice and the game, itself, is certain to impact NFL draft boards.

Here are the 10 players who helped their NFL stock the most at the Senior Bowl, followed by five players who were unable to answer scouts' concerns during the Mobile, Ala. all-star game.

Helped Themselves:

Dee Ford, DE, Auburn: Ford impressed with a chiseled build at 6-foot-2, 243 pounds during the weigh-in and was virtually unstoppable off the edge during the practices, showing burst, bend and closing speed. He was the most dynamic player on the field during the game, recording two sacks and timing a leap to knock down a pass to earn MVP honors. Ford's dominant week boosted his stock at least a full round and could result in a top 32 selection.

Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh: It was Donald, not Ford, who earned most of the buzz early in the week, whipping interior offensive linemen with his quickness, tenacity and underrated strength. Like Ford, Donald's size (6-foot-1, 288 pounds) limits his fits in the NFL but his ability to pressure quarterbacks could earn him a first-round selection.

Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois: Scouts knew heading into the Senior Bowl that Ward possessed the fluidity and instincts to cover but competition in the MAC is much different than in Mobile. Athletic enough to handle deep coverage, as well as slide down to cover slot receivers, Ward was the Senior Bowl's most impressive pass defender this year.

Crockett Gillmore, TE, Colorado State - Gilmore came in late to the Senior Bowl as an injury replacement, but the former defensive end impressed scouts immediately with his size and overall athleticism. He really caught fire during Thursday's practice, extending to haul in an impressive touchdown and continued his stellar play in the game itself.

Weston Richburg, OC, Colorado State: Arkansas' Travis Swanson entered the week as the nation's top center prospect, but an impressive showing by another CSU Ram has his stock rising quickly. Richburg showed the anchor to handle powerful bull-rushers, as well as impressive agility in getting to the second level.

Brandon Thomas, OL, Clemson: The unquestioned top offensive lineman in Mobile this week was Notre Dame's Zach Martin, who starred at left tackle for the Irish but projects better at guard due to his short arms. Thomas didn't earn nearly the media attention but also performed well at tackle despite a frame (6-foot-3 and a 1/2, 314 pounds) that suggests he too will be making the move inside in the NFL. Late in the game, Thomas was playing outside at tackle with Martin asked to move inside to guard.

Caraun Reid, DT, Princeton: The well-built Ivy Leaguer proved with a competitive week of practice that he was every bit the talent as the more well-known prospects he was facing each snap. He capped off the week with sacks on back-to-back plays during the game, showing the lateral burst and closing speed to project nicely as a three-technique defensive tackle.

Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia: At 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, Moses possesses the frame you'd expect of a dominating run blocker and he showed the ability to clear wide rushing lanes throughout the week. Moses boosted his stock this week, however, by providing reliable pass protection, demonstrating the arm length (34 3/4"), balance and surprising athleticism teams are looking for in a top-64 selection.

Ryan Grant, WR, Tulane: At a rock-solid 6-foot-0, 197 pounds, Grant showed surprising burst, as well as the agility as a route-runner and reliable hands to out-play several more highly-touted pass catchers. A long touchdown during Wednesday's practice drew plenty of praise from scouts.

Christian Kirksey, OLB, Iowa: The Big Ten remains one of college football's most consistent producers of pro-ready linebackers and Kirksey turned heads this week with his athleticism and instincts. A particularly impressive tackle early in the Senior Bowl game showed off his closing speed.

Missed Opportunity:

Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson: Despite media reports to the contrary, Boyd's inaccuracy throughout the week of practice and game itself has his stock slipping. He possesses plenty of arm strength but was erratic, spraying the ball over the field. An ugly interception early in the Senior Bowl set the tone for a disappointing performance from the North Team's offense, as a whole.

Cyril Richardson, OG, Baylor: At 6-foot-4, 344 pounds, Richardson is a massive interior presence, but he struggled with quicker defensive tackles throughout the week of practice (especially Donald) and wasn't nearly as powerful as a drive blocker as one might expect given his size.

Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt: Matthews' production in the SEC speaks for itself, but he dropped a handful of passes throughout the week of practice. Even more alarming, he showed little in terms of burst or straight-line speed, struggling to gain separation from opposing cornerbacks.

Will Sutton, DT, Arizona State: Sutton's quickness and power helped him record a tackle-for-loss early in the game, but in weighing in at a soft 315 pounds at under 6-foot-1 did him no favors with scouts. There is no question that the reigning Defensive Player of the Year possesses talent, but questions about his commitment towards reaching his full potential could push him deep into the draft's second day.

Stephen Morris, QB, Miami: Morris earned the nickname "Tin Cup" from some scouts at the Senior Bowl due to his ability to make the amazing throw but struggles with the routine passes commonplace in every NFL offense. Morris boasts a strong arm and throws the deep ball with touch, but like the other two quarterbacks on the North squad (Boyd and Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas), he struggled with accuracy throughout the week.