Thread: Senior Bowl Thread; Current News on Draft Prospects.............

Senior Bowl Preview: The Top 10 Defensive Prospects

Looks like one of the better defensive groups in years. Wes Bunting

January 21, 2012 Print This

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With the NFP’s return from the East-West Shrine game Friday, we now turn our attention to the Senior Bowl and rank the top 10 prospects on the defensive side of the ball.
ICONStill took that next step as a senior.


1. DT Devon Still: Penn State (6-5, 310)
Is really starting to put it all together as a senior. If you can keep him motivated has the talent to mature into a very good starting caliber lineman at a number of positions in the NFL.


2. DE Quinton Coples: North Carolina (6-6, 285)
Can be as good as he wants to be in the NFL. The game comes very easy to him and he can be dominant if he learns to use his arms even better to slip blocks in the pass game, but with more time I expect that to improve. The sky is the limit as long as he's willing to work at his trade and keep his motor running.


3. DE Melvin Ingram: South Carolina (6-2, 276)
He is an impressive pass rusher who can get after the QB in a number of ways. Ingram is raw with his technique and can get better, but his suddenness, length and natural feel for the game makes me think he's one of the draft best senior pass rushers.


4. SS Mark Barron: Alabama (6-2, 218)
Has the makings of a heck of a special teams player who can attack downhill, play inside the box and drive on the football in front of him in the pass game. Isn't going to be a threat turning and tracking the football, but his improved instincts makes me think he can start in the league.


5. CB Alfonzo Dennard: Nebraska (5-10, 205)
He's strong/feisty, can press off the line and turn and run. Needs to clean up some technical flaws both in press and off the line, which hinders his balance. But can be a guy who could start both on the outside and in the slot at the next level.


6. DT Brandon Thompson: Clemson (6-2, 310)
A guy who should be able to come in and be a lineman who can win inside vs. the run game. Looks a bit limited as a pass rusher, but will be able to push the pocket and threaten gaps off the ball. A starting caliber 43 nose inside.


7. OLB Courtney Upshaw: Alabama (6-2, 265)
I like him as a 34 outside backer who can play on the strong side, take on linemen at the point and also rush the passer. He's at his best attacking downhill, using his strong hands to disengage and always is around the football. Looks like a year one starter to me at the next level with scheme versatility.


8. CB Jamell Fleming: Oklahoma (5-11, 191)
He's a balanced, coordinated kid who keeps his feet under him when changing directions and can turn and run. Doesn't give up much separation, knows how to make plays on the football and if he can improve as a tackler looks like a guy who warrants a starting job in the NFL down the line.
ICONJenkins has always had the talent.


9. CB Janoris Jenkins: North Alabama (5-10, 182)
If he can put it all together off the field, he's got the ability to develop into a very good cover man in the NFL and despite his size he's going to be a really tough guy to separate from in just about any scheme he plays in.


10. DT Alameda Ta'amu: Washington (6-3, 337)
This is the kind of guy who has the ability to anchor the middle of an NFL defense in either a 3-4 or 4-3 front. Needs to do a better job finding the football, but overall he looks like a starter who you eventually will be able to win with in the NFL.


Follow me on twitter: @WesBunting
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I think two guys to keep an eye out for are Coples and Ingram.

Coples has the size of Julius Peppers and if a coach like Marinelli can keep him motivated he might be a perfect first round pick for a guy who could probably play either DE spot and possibly make an immediate impact as a pass rusher.

Ingram doesn't have the size but may be more of a pure pass rusher ala guys like Osi Umenyiora. If there's anything to be taken from that NY vs SF game yesterday it's that defense still rules and a good pass rush can do a lot to neutralize even the best of QB's. Of course Jay Cutler already found that out.

Of either of these guys are on the board at #19 it may be real hard to pass him up. With a huge need at WR and the need for improvement at LT we should hope that those needs could be covered in free agency so that we can grab the best guy available and not be bound by the need to select by position as we were last year.

Senior Bowl practice notes Day 1

Who are the winners from day one? Wes Bunting

January 23, 2012 Print This
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North Team practice notes from day one…


Ohio State OT Mike Adams has a real presence about him. He’s a big kid with a long set of arms and when he shoots his hands inside on contact, he has the ability to control blocks and slide his feet through the play. However, the only time he gets himself into trouble is when he doesn’t extend his arms and looks to catch opposing lineman at the point. Nevertheless, the talent is there for this guy to be a top-20 pick.
ICONMike Adams looks the part of an NFL left tackle.


On the other hand, I came away unimpressed with Nebraska CB Alfonzo Dennard. He’s a compact kid who displays some natural click and close ability. However, he allows his cushion to be eaten up far too much in his drop and lacks much of a burst/second gear when asked to turn and run. He’s a guy who opposing receivers were able to routinely outpace today as he didn’t demonstrate the type of speed needed to run out of his transition vertically.

One of those receivers who were able to outpace Dennard was Cal’s Marvin Jones. Jones had a solid practice Monday showcasing the ability to drop his pad level out of his breaks, get behind corners down the field and adjust to the football. He’s got some snap to his game as a route runner and looks like one of those mid-round type wide outs who can fill out a receiving core and make a roster as a rookie.

Boise State safety George Iloka is a tall, long athlete with an athletic build and certainly looks the part in the deep half. He did a nice job Monday anticipating routes in cover one, showcasing a slight burst and covering some ground in the deep half. He still gets a bit leggy at times in his drop and when trying to re-direct. But, possesses some natural athleticism and was consistently putting himself in position to make plays.

In a pretty “blah” pass rushing class, Virginia DE Cam Johnson made the first move to gain some momentum Monday. He showcased a good get off burst, was able to reach the edge and displayed some suddenness when countering back inside. He had a pretty average senior season due to some injuries. However, he looked as healthy as I’ve seen him all year and is off to a good start this week.

Small school wide out Brian Quick (Appalachian State) looked a bit overwhelmed in his first day of practice vs. the jump in competition. He isn’t a naturally explosive kid, takes a bit to get up to speed and doesn’t have the second gear to simply outpace corners vertically. Plus, he was leggy out of his breaks, didn’t generate much separation on sharply breaking routes and had at least three dropped passes that I counted. Now, obviously he’s a better player than his day one performance, but I still don’t see the guy as a legit top-100 prospect.

Watching Washington DT Alameda Ta’amu, it’s really impressive the kind of raw power he possesses when asked to simply overwhelm opposing lineman through contact. He also has a sneaky quick set of hands when trying to shed and can keep himself clean. However, he has a tough time keeping his pad level down through contact and far too often is easy to block because of it.

Finally, Boise State DE/OLB Shea McClellin had some inconsistencies during 1on1 drills today. As was evidence on tape, he’s much more natural getting after the QB with his hand on the ground than standing up. He showcased the ability to turn the corner from a three-point stance on one occasion. But, on his next opportunity he got upright and lacked much suddenness on his counter when trying to create pressure as a stand up guy. He’s a talented kid with a “plus” motor, but it will be interesting to see how he develops rushing the passer from a two point stance as the week goes on.

Follow me on Twitter: @WesBunting

Senior Bowl: North Practice Report Day 2

Who were the standouts Tuesday? Wes Bunting

January 24, 2012 Print This
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North Team practice notes from day two…

There are some concerns with the game of Oklahoma CB Jamell Fleming, especially when asked to vertically turn and run. However, he plays with good balance in his drop, is clean to re-direct and fluidly can transition out of his back-pedal. In my view he’s been the most impressive defensive back on the North roster so far this week and looks like a potential top-60 pick.
ICONMcNutt has been solid this week.


Iowa State cornerback Leonard Johnson on the other hand has not really found his groove yet this week. He showcased the ability at times to be physical of the line and shoot the proper hand into contact in press coverage. However, he hasn’t looked comfortable at all in off-man this week, as he gets upright when asked to drive on the football and fidgety when trying to read and react to routes.

One of the receivers Johnson had trouble with off the line was Iowa’s Marvin McNutt. McNutt isn’t a real dynamic athlete and isn’t a guy who is ever going to be explosive on sharply breaking routes. However, he does a nice job in the three step game, he can adjust well to the football down the field and was able to quickly get off press man today. He has a sneaky quickness to his game off the line and uses his long arms to fend off contact. He’s limited, but looks like a potential “X” receiver in the NFL who could hold his own on the strong side.

There has certainly been some improvement to the game of Penn State DE Jack Crawford since the end of the season. He’s done a much better job keeping his pad level lower as a pass rusher, extending his arms and playing with better balance. The improved balance has allowed him to be more sudden on contact and more violent with his hands, hence disengaging far better than I thought he would as a pass rusher this week.

Running backs in my view are the toughest players to evaluate during a week of practice at any all-star game. However, even with that being said Washington RB Chris Polk hasn’t been real impressive up to this point. He doesn’t display much of a first step, there is no real explosive quality to his game and he struggled in pass protection. Overall, he doesn’t look like a top three running back prospect to me in the class.

On the other hand, Boise State RB Doug Martin showcased a good first step; natural forward lean and can quickly decipher information at the line of scrimmage and change directions. He’s a fluid kid with a thick build and his initial quickness really stood out for a back his size. Looks like a future starting caliber running back at the next level.

Cal OT Mitchell Schwartz did exhibit some natural balance initially in pass protection today. However, he routinely gets too upright which limits his power into contact as well as his balance laterally when trying to mirror. Looks more like a swing offensive tackle at the next level than eventual NFL starter.

Finally, Arkansas State LB Demario Davis did a nice job during 1v1 pass rushing drills Tuesday. He showcased some power when trying to work the bull rush, could dip his pad level around the edge and had some “know how” working his hands in order to shed. He’s one of the NFP’s favorites and is off to a solid start so far this week.

Follow me on twitter: @WesBunting

Five players to watch at Senior Bowl practice today

Nick Foles, ND's Harrison Smith, Bama's Upshaw and more. Matt Bowen

January 24, 2012 Print This

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Click here to check out the NFP's Draft Page


With both squads in full gear today, I expect the competition level to rise down here in Mobile at the Senior Bowl practices. And here is a list of five players I will be watching today in one-on-ones, 7-on-7, etc. Some talent to check out at both practice sessions.


Nick Foles, QB, Arizona: I had a chance to sit down and talk with Foles last night—and I was impressed with his maturity. Now I want to see him on the field vs. some of the top DBs in the country. Can he drive the ball on the skinny post vs. Cover 1, throw the intermediate dig route and work the top of the vertical game? Throughout this week in Mobile I would expect Foles’ stock to rise.
ICONNotre Dame's Harrison Smith has the size (6-2, 212) to play the strong safety position in the NFL.


Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame: NFL scouts see the Notre Dame product as a strong safety in the league and I can’t disagree with that. Watching him in practice on Monday, Smith looked confident in man-coverage vs. the TE in Cover 1, was patient with his footwork and took solid angles to the ball. And today we get to check him out in full gear playing in the run front. There is definite value here with Smith as a rookie on special teams, but I also see a player that can develop at the pro level with his size (6-2, 212).


Courtney Upshaw, DE, Alabama: Upshaw looked the part at weigh-ins on Monday and I am interested to see him during inside run drill and one-on-one pass rush. Multiple NFL scouts I talked to see Upshaw as a 3-4 OLB on Sundays, but don’t count out 4-3 teams that are looking for a rush end in their nickel sub packages. Speed off the ball will be the key for the Alabama product this week.


Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma: Believe what you see. That’s what I thought with Fleming on Monday in one-on-one drills vs. the WRs. He can play more aggressive, drive on the slant or the out and open his hips quicker on the 9 (fade) route. The talent is there, but the CB has to relax, trust his eyes and play through the route stem. Every CB I watched yesterday was hesitant playing off-man coverage. I expect that to change today.


Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina: The WR measured at 6-3 and weighed in at 226-pounds. Think of inside breaking routes and the 3-step game with that size at the WR position. Two things I am looking for today: can Jones create separation in one-on-ones and what kind of speed does he have coming out of his cuts? I do like the size here, but let’s see if it translates vs. the top talent in Mobie.


Stay with the NFP all week for our Senior Bowl coverage from Mobile.
Follow me on Twitter: @MattBowen41

Maybe a couple of guys above who the Bears may be keeping an eye on.

WR's McNutt and Jones may be guys the Bears would be looking at as 2nd round picks.

Harrison Smith may hold some interest as a SS prospect. I like Notre Dame DB's better than WR's.

Jamell Fleming has decent size and might be a CB prospect in round 2.

Bears RB coach Tim Spencer mentioned the need for more competition at RB this year and a guy like Doug Martin may have that tough inside running ability that Marion Barber has shown. He's probably not gonna slip past round two and I don't know if the Bears would spend that high a pick on a RB unless they saw him replacing Forte in another year if the can't re-sign him.

With his size could Upshaw play DE in a 4-3 defense or is he strictly a 3-4 rushbacker?

The guys who follow the colleges probably know far more than I know but these are some of the names who have been mentioned at positions where we have a need.

Originally Posted by soulman

Senior Bowl practice notes Day 1

Who are the winners from day one? Wes Bunting

January 23, 2012 Print This
2 Comments





North Team practice notes from day one…


Ohio State OT Mike Adams has a real presence about him. He’s a big kid with a long set of arms and when he shoots his hands inside on contact, he has the ability to control blocks and slide his feet through the play. However, the only time he gets himself into trouble is when he doesn’t extend his arms and looks to catch opposing lineman at the point. Nevertheless, the talent is there for this guy to be a top-20 pick.
ICONMike Adams looks the part of an NFL left tackle.


On the other hand, I came away unimpressed with Nebraska CB Alfonzo Dennard. He’s a compact kid who displays some natural click and close ability. However, he allows his cushion to be eaten up far too much in his drop and lacks much of a burst/second gear when asked to turn and run. He’s a guy who opposing receivers were able to routinely outpace today as he didn’t demonstrate the type of speed needed to run out of his transition vertically.

One of those receivers who were able to outpace Dennard was Cal’s Marvin Jones. Jones had a solid practice Monday showcasing the ability to drop his pad level out of his breaks, get behind corners down the field and adjust to the football. He’s got some snap to his game as a route runner and looks like one of those mid-round type wide outs who can fill out a receiving core and make a roster as a rookie.

Boise State safety George Iloka is a tall, long athlete with an athletic build and certainly looks the part in the deep half. He did a nice job Monday anticipating routes in cover one, showcasing a slight burst and covering some ground in the deep half. He still gets a bit leggy at times in his drop and when trying to re-direct. But, possesses some natural athleticism and was consistently putting himself in position to make plays.

In a pretty “blah” pass rushing class, Virginia DE Cam Johnson made the first move to gain some momentum Monday. He showcased a good get off burst, was able to reach the edge and displayed some suddenness when countering back inside. He had a pretty average senior season due to some injuries. However, he looked as healthy as I’ve seen him all year and is off to a good start this week.

Small school wide out Brian Quick (Appalachian State) looked a bit overwhelmed in his first day of practice vs. the jump in competition. He isn’t a naturally explosive kid, takes a bit to get up to speed and doesn’t have the second gear to simply outpace corners vertically. Plus, he was leggy out of his breaks, didn’t generate much separation on sharply breaking routes and had at least three dropped passes that I counted. Now, obviously he’s a better player than his day one performance, but I still don’t see the guy as a legit top-100 prospect.

Watching Washington DT Alameda Ta’amu, it’s really impressive the kind of raw power he possesses when asked to simply overwhelm opposing lineman through contact. He also has a sneaky quick set of hands when trying to shed and can keep himself clean. However, he has a tough time keeping his pad level down through contact and far too often is easy to block because of it.

Finally, Boise State DE/OLB Shea McClellin had some inconsistencies during 1on1 drills today. As was evidence on tape, he’s much more natural getting after the QB with his hand on the ground than standing up. He showcased the ability to turn the corner from a three-point stance on one occasion. But, on his next opportunity he got upright and lacked much suddenness on his counter when trying to create pressure as a stand up guy. He’s a talented kid with a “plus” motor, but it will be interesting to see how he develops rushing the passer from a two point stance as the week goes on.

Follow me on Twitter: @WesBunting

" Analysis " of these types ( the Senior Bowl, the East-West Shrine game et all ) always cracks me up. These clowns are analyzing these guys based upon what they see in one day or one week's worth of practice playing with unfamiliar coaches and systems. They see a guy overextend on a block or two and suddenly the player " shows a tendency to lunge or overextend or doesn't anchor well " and blah blah blah. How much game tape ( the TRUE measuring stick ) do these guys watch ? Give me football players who perform in games when it matters - not guys who "look the part" but suck when the lights come on .

Much of this stuff is superficial garbage.

I wouldn't mind getting Mike Adams in the first round if it looks like a good fit for us. The question is what is the BEST fit? Would it be DE? CB? LT? WR?