2008 Senior Bowl Thursday Practice Notes

[theogt]

Senior Bowl - Thursday North Practice Scott Wright
President, NFL Draft Countdown
For the first time this week the weather became an issue today and it was cold, rainy and pretty much miserable. Practice must go on though and despite coming out in just helmets there was actually a decent amount of contact. While it's always better to see the guys go through a practice in full pads there was still plenty of information to glean from today's session and a few guys definitely stood out from the pack. Here's a breakdown of all the day's action:

• Michigan quarterback Chad Henne had another strong day and it's safe to say that he's been the most consistently impressive signal caller in Mobile this week. Henne's arm strength is excellent and he's also been very accurate. A couple of plays that stood out today: 1) Dropped a beautiful touch pass to Dorien Bryant right over the head of DeJuan Tribble. 2) Gunned a frozen rope to Jordy Nelson who then slipped into the endzone. In my mind Henne is now a solid second round pick.

• USC offensive tackle Sam Baker has nice feet and balance. Today in 1-on-1's he was real calm and in control and basically made it look easy.

• Michigan St. tight end Kellen Davis is undeniably a great athlete and an outstanding physical specimen but is he a football player? Davis struggles with his footwork and doesn't have great hands which makes him more of a late round developmental type in my mind but he will probably be taken in the middle rounds based on his physical tools and potential.

• There were a lot of mishandled snaps this week. Obviously that is to be expected with quarterbacks and centers who aren't used to working together but it sure seems like there were more this year than usual.

• Virginia Tech wide receiver Eddie Royal continues to have a very solid week and it seems like every time you turn around he is making a catch. He may never be a star but he could be a nice #2 or #3 target and return man at the next level.

• Purdue's Cliff Avril has had some trouble with Carl Nicks this week but today he was finally able to beat him for a would-be sack.

• Defensive backs Tracy Porter of Indiana and Tim Zbikowski of Notre Dame displayed terrific hands and ball skills in drills today.

• Kansas St. wideout Jordy Nelson adjusts to the ball well and once again showcased his great hands with a nice finger-tip catch in drills.

• It wasn't nearly as bad as earlier this week but Oklahoma St. wideout Adarius Bowman did have another drop today. New Mexico's Marcus Smith is catching the ball better lately.

• USC running back Chauncey Washington doesn't appear to have much quickness or wiggle and he dropped a pass in 7-on-7's today.

• Purdue's wide receiver Dorien Bryant is still doing much better than I expected. His speed, quickness and hands have all stood out.

• Cal's Lavelle Hawkins showed good hands and doesn't let the ball get into his body.

• USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis just continues to dominate. Ellis uses his hands well and then today in 11-on-11's he got great penetration on a goaline play.

• Eastern Michigan defensive lineman Jason Jones is still acclimating himself quite well and today he beat Drew Radovich with a nice little swim move. He also had a sack in 7-on-7's.

• Iowa's Bryan Mattison was neutralized by Arizona St. center Mike Pollak today, although it's unfair to judge Mattison because he is playing out of position at defensive tackle.

• Southern Cal linebacker Keith Rivers has outstanding sideline-to-sideline range.

• Northern Iowa offensive lineman Chad Rinhart struggled early in the week but has played much better the past couple of days. Even though he played left tackle in college his future is definitely inside at the next level.

• Colorado cornerback Terrence Wheatley made a couple of nice plays in 7-on-7's down on the goaline today. He's a poor-man's DeJuan tribble.

• Oklahoma St. running back Dantrell Savage finally flashed a little today, putting a nice move on Terrell Thomas on a sweep that got him into the endzone.

• Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco has a tendency to stare down his targets.

This was basically the last real practice for the North and despite the less than ideal weather it was a good workout. The guys who really stood out for me today were Chad Henne and Eddie Royal, although Sedrick Ellis always stands out as well. If the old adage about everything starting up front holds true the North should have an advantage over the South on Saturday because they are superior along both the offensive and defensive lines. Tomorrow is the walk-through and even though those are usually pretty uneventful I will nevertheless be covering it so be sure to check back for that.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I say trade our picks for DMac

 

[Biggems]

why no South notes?

 

[theogt]

Senior Bowl - Thursday South Practice
Scott Wright
President, NFL Draft Countdown

For most of the week we had decent weather but this morning was cold and this afternoon was even worse. Fortunately it did warm up a little for the second half of the session but nevertheless it was pretty miserable for a while. Like their North counterparts the South practiced in just helmets today but that doesn't mean there weren't observations and evaluations to be made. Even though they have some talented players in the trenches the South squad's calling card is skill position talent and just like the rest of the week that showed today.

• Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge throws some real ugly balls. I mean real ugly. At one point I swear I saw one of his throws almost go end over end like a punt. To call it a duck would have been an insult to ducks. Get the picture? Ainge has probably been the least impressive quarterback at this game and while coming into this week I felt he was a little underrated my opinion has now definitely changed.

• Appalachian St. wide receiver Jackson received some instruction from the coaching staff on his route running and he needs work in that department but he's also very quick off the line and his pure speed is evident.

• Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson probably looked as good as he has all week and he also showed some mobility. However, Woodson looks real mechanical and all of his throws come out going in a downward angle and something just doesn't look right there. I still think he'll be a first round pick when all is said and done but he's probably not quite the prospect I and many others thought he was.

• Pittsburgh offensive lineman Mike McGlynn may not be a great athlete or have all the physical tools you look for but his intangibles are top-notch. The guy has a motor that runs non-stop and his middle name should be hustle.

• Florida St. defensive tackle Andre Fluellen drew the ire of his coach at one point and was reamed out pretty good, although I couldn't quite hear exactly what his offense was. Despite battling a minor injury Fluellen did show off that great quickness again today though.

• For the most part Kentucky outside linebacker Wesley Woodyard hasn't really stood out much this week but he flashed two times in a row during today's practice, making a couple of tackles behind the line of scrimmage in 11-on-11's.

• Iowa St. defensive tackle Athyba Rubin is stout at the point and doesn't get pushed back but he doesn't offer much as a pass rusher either. He also had some trouble getting off blocks.

• Vandy offensive tackle Chris Williams continues to impress, showing nice feet and doing a solid job versus Wallace Gilberry. Williams should absolutely be in the late first round conversation, if he wasn't already.

• Wake Forest defensive end Jeremy Thompson showed some speed off the edge but he also got a little out of control at times.

• Texas A&M defensive tackle Red Bryant had some trouble with his focus, jumping off sides a few times in drills. Later he was a little slow off the ball, possibly because he was trying to make sure he wasn't early again.

• Georgia Tech linebacker Philip Wheeler is still having a great week. Today he sniffed out a screen pass and was singled out by the coaches for his effort. Wheeler has made some money in Mobile.

• Kentucky running back Rafael Little beat Gary Guyton on a swing pass for a big gain down the sideline.

• Georgia Tech running back Tashard Choice had a very good day, displaying excellent patience and breaking a couple of long runs in 11-on-11's. I like what I have seen from this guy.

• Kentucky tight end Jacob Tamme may not have the size / bulk that you'd prefer but he's extremely smart and a hard worker who can help a team in one capacity or another. Today Tamme fought for the ball and made a nice catch with a defender draped on his back.

• Alabama wide receiver D.J. Hall was sick and did not practice today.

• Auburn's Patrick Lee made a big play toward the end of the day, blocking a Brandon Coutu field goal attempt.

Once again the South quarterbacks continued to disappoint and in my opinion none of them have lived up to the hype. Woodson looked a little better today but he certainly hasn't played like an elite prospect this week and even Colt Brennan struggled a bit this afternoon. It will be interesting to see if these guys can get the ball to the South playmakers in the game on Saturday. Other than that it was a pretty good day and some guys who hadn't done much the rest of the week flashed and made some plays, which was nice to see. All of the real practices are finished now with only the walk-through and the game left but while most have gone home I am still in Mobile and will continue providing you with the best coverage of the 2008 Senior Bowl out there, all 100% FREE.

 

[theogt]

Senior Bowl Practice Risers and Fallers
Chad Reuter, NFLDraftScout.com
Thurs, January 24, 2008, Mobile, AL -- For all intents and purposes, the Senior Bowl practice schedule is over on Wednesday afternoon. Mobile's airport looks like a NFL convention on Thursday morning as teams skip the light contact work on Thursday and walk-through on Friday to get back home. They can check out practice and game tapes from their office, as well.

The top three prospects here this week, ILB Dan Connor (Penn State), DT Sedrick Ellis (USC), and LB Keith Rivers (USC), all performed up to expectations. But others stepped up their game…or tripped on their own feet…forcing teams to review their game tapes and adjust their boards where appropriate. Listed here are the "risers" and "fallers" from Senior Bowl practices.



Risers:

TE Brad Cottam, Tennessee: His comeback from injury is almost as complete as his game. If he would have been healthy this year, he would be a large, 6'7.5" blip on the draft radar earlier in the year. Looks like he has regained his speed and maintained his blocking strength. He could end up a top 75 selection.

RB Justin Forsett, California: He'll always be small in stature, but doesn't run that way as he's a nice balance of quickness and toughness. His huge hands (10.5") were a nice surprise; he showed he could use them as a receiving threat out of the backfield this week.

WR Lavelle Hawkins, California: Flashed quickness and hands early on, but came up big Wednesday with great catches and an infectious attitude. He's not "the other Cal receiver" anymore.

DE Kendall Langford, Hampton: Really legitimized himself as a late third or early fourth round selection at end with his improving technique rushing the passer and stopping the run. This is partially a two-week award, as he continued his play from last week's Houston's East-West Shrine Game.

CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy: Was on the radar as a third round pick coming into the year because of his return skills and potential as a corner. But his improvement on defense during the season and through this week's practices gave him a chance to secure a late-first or early-second round grade.

WR Jordy Nelson, Kansas State: Eventually teams are going to run out of excuses not to like this guy. He's not quick in and out of breaks but his big body and solid hands are hard to ignore. Nelson also beat corners deep this week, as he did occasionally at KSU, despite not having elite speed. That was an eye opener for scouts and team execs who had not seen him much this season. One of the key guys to watch at Indy next month.

WR Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech: After a somewhat disappointing season, Royal displayed excellent quickness and hands. Could move up into the second round with solid Combine and pro day workouts. His return skills may give him the final push.

C John Sullivan, Notre Dame: A less-than-stellar season for Sullivan and the rest of the Notre Dame squad left him on the outside looking in at the top 100 picks. However, he really played strong this week and showed some athleticism as well.

North Quarterbacks: Chad Henne (Michigan) fought to get to the number three QB position in the draft. A big game on Saturday, added to the bowl game against Florida and this week of practices, puts him in the running for an early second round selection. Delaware's Joe Flacco showed everyone he belonged, in terms of size, arm strength and accuracy. John David Booty (USC) won't get the hype that either Henne or Flacco will, but he made most every throw and most every decision look effortless. He could easily outshine Henne and Flacco in Saturday's contest because a major question for both is their poise under pressure.



Fallers:

WR Adarius Bowman, Oklahoma State: Dropped several passes during the week and has never really been a burner. Flashed his potential as a big-bodied target at times but did nothing to stake his claim as a top 50 pick.

LB Beau Bell, UNLV: Even before his injury, Bell looked very stiff and unable to change directions. It's tough for teams to use a top 100 selection on a straight-ahead linebacker with minimal lower body strength.

WR Dorien Bryant, Purdue: Lacked explosiveness during the week, failing to separate from corners or make any standout plays. Needs to have a good Senior Bowl game and Combine to break the top 150.

DE Chris Ellis, Virginia Tech: Did not show the speed to be the pass rusher teams want on the edge. Was also not impressive as a 3-4 linebacker, where he may have to play to stick in the league.

TE Martin Rucker, Missouri: An up-and-down week didn't help his stock. Teams wanted to see him block in-line and he could not get the job done. He was adequate receiving and blocking as an H-back, where he can take on smaller opponents.

TE Jacob Tamme: Kentucky: Another tight end/H-back trying to break into the top two rounds, Tamme did not stand out whatsoever as either a blocker or receiver.

CB Dejuan Tribble, Boston College: This smallish corner was supposed to have the quicks and ball skills to overcome his size. But he showed neither this week, regulating himself to the mid-rounds as a possible nickel back/returner.

C Cody Wallace, Texas A&M : Wallace really struggled against the stronger tackles he faced in drills and scrimmages, especially in comparison to the other strong pivot men here in Mobile. He was moved to guard, and then left tackle for a few snaps to see where he could fit in.

South Quarterbacks: All three QBs for the South team struggled this week. And even though the practice time with their receivers is limited, the North QBs appeared to have considerably fewer troubles. Erik Ainge (Tennessee) threw many ducks if the pass traveled more than 10 yards. Colt Brennan (Hawaii) looked like a rail, got the ball out late, and did not live up to his "ultra-accurate" reputation. Andre Woodson's long delivery makes teams wonder if NFL corners will be able to jump his routes too often.

 

[Biggems]

thanks

 

[Hostile]

I say trade our picks for DMac

Bite your tongue. Really hard.

 

[Hoofbite]

I thought Jordy Nelson was supposed to be a dude with good speed?

Maybe Im wrong but he lit Aqib Talib and left him in a pile of dust. Then again, Talib doesn't really have elite speed.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I say trade our picks for DMac

I say, you go work for the Commanders.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Flacco continues to improve; North return men are impressive

By Scouts Inc.
(Archive)






Updated: January 24, 2008, 9:44 PM ET

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MOBILE, Ala. -- Thursday is "get out of town" day at the Senior Bowl for most NFL general managers, coaches and scouts -- and for good reason. The practices are shorter, less physical and special teams driven. A steady rain, which began overnight Thursday and isn't forecast to stop until early Friday morning, only adds to the ghost-town feeling in Mobile. To the credit of the coaching staffs, though, they ran productive practices and the players had no choice but to respond.

[+] Enlarge


Dan Anderson for ESPN.com
Joe Flacco is keeping up with the big boys after a slow start in Mobile.


One advantage to a rainy day of practice is the chance to evaluate the quarterbacks' ability to throw in wet conditions. Of the six signal-callers on hand, Delaware's Joe Flacco and USC's John David Booty were the most efficient. In fact, Flacco has improved every day since his tough start on Monday. After struggling with the center exchange that afternoon, Flacco has shown no problems handling the quarterback-center exchange -- in his defense he did spend the majority of his time at Delaware working out of the shotgun. Flacco is deceptively mobile, throws well on the run and has the strongest arm of the signal-callers in Mobile this week. Don't be surprised if he is one of the stars in Saturday's game or if he comes off the draft board as early as the second round.

In injury news, USC TE Fred Davis (ankle), East Carolina RB Chris Johnson (shoulder), West Virginia FB Owen Schmitt (knee), Michigan S Jamar Adams (Achilles) and Michigan OLB Shawn Crable (back) are the latest additions to an unusually long list of players bitten by the injury bug. Schmitt is out for Saturday's game. There's no word yet on the availability of the others, but if there is any chance of re-injury the player will be strongly advised by his representation -- and wisely so -- to sit this one out.

Here's a scouting breakdown of the two practice sessions:


Around the North practice

• The North team has a group of return men who could excite the Mobile crowd this weekend. Both Virginia Tech WR Eddie Royal and Purdue WR Dorien Bryant are extremely fast with good make-you-miss ability. If either player gets a crease he could be gone, especially against a South coverage team that will obviously be short on coverage experience as a whole. Royal is also the top kickoff return man, but will probably be flanked by Bryant and California RB Justin Forsett. Forsett has the look of a good kickoff returner at the next level with his low running style, vision, elusiveness and ability to break arm tackles.

• Royal also turned some heads as a receiver during today's rain-soaked practice. He came up short on what would have been a tough catch in traffic during red zone seven-on-seven drills but responded with two excellent plays shortly thereafter. The first was in the same seven-on-seven drill, when Royal made a leaping catch and secured the wet ball before hitting the ground in the end zone. The second occurred in the opposite end zone during an 11-on-11 red zone team drill. Royal displayed good concentration and body control, catching a fade pass and keeping his feet inbounds for the score. Overall, Royal has shown enough versatility and big-play potential to solidify his status as a third-round prospect.

• USC RB Chauncey Washington is a good football player and continues to prove himself this week. Washington is a do-it-all type of player and his versatility certainly will not go unnoticed by the NFL decision-makers on hand. He also could be a decent kickoff returner and has the size and desire to help out on several phases of special teams. He has lined up some at fullback this week, and although that isn't his forte, it is one more positive to add to his resume. Washington is an excellent pass-catcher, as well. He was lined up wide near the goal line today and showed good route-running ability on quick slants and crossing routes.

He is also more than a dump-off option out of the backfield. Washington is capable of running most routes asked of him, and he catches the ball very cleanly and is quick to get upfield with his shoulders parallel to the goal line. This draft is loaded at running back, but there are not many options for teams in the market for a big back. The arrow is pointing up for Washington and he is likely ascending numerous boards around the league.

• Missouri TE Martin Rucker has excellent size and many other impressive qualities, but overall this week of practice has not helped him. Rucker lines up high in his stance and isn't very flexible in his lower body. He shows noticeable stiffness through his routes and as a blocker. He has decent speed once he gets going but is not very sudden and doesn't consistently gain separation out of his breaks. Today in the goal line drills, Rucker had a tough time getting away from linebackers like Keith Rivers of USC, Dan Connor of Penn State and Xavier Adibi of Virginia Tech, and things will surely not be any easier at the next level.

• Notre Dame S Tom Zbikowski has had a better week of practice than we expected and his versatility really stood out during Thursday's session. Zbikowski lacks ideal athleticism, which limits his range in coverage, but he has used good instincts to make up for his somewhat stiff hips in zone coverage this week. He also continues to hold up well in tight man-to-man versus bigger tight ends. Today, for example, he was able to get physical at the line of scrimmage with Michigan State TE Kellen Davis, and then kept stride for stride with the Spartan tight end on a sideline route.

Zbikowski is unlikely to return punts in the NFL like he did at Notre Dame. But he still has value on special teams; he has the ability to cover kicks and serve as the punter's personal protector. A team will likely take a chance on Zbikowski in the middle rounds knowing he's unlikely to emerge as a good every-down starter but can provide value in other areas.
• Indiana's Tim Bugg continues to do a fine job as the North team's long-snapper. His accuracy and consistency were especially impressive in today's sloppy conditions. He is one of only a few legitimate long-snapper prospects in the 2008 class, so there's a chance he will get drafted late.

• North Dakota State P Mike Dragosavich is a tall, right-footed punter with a powerful leg. When he strikes the ball properly he shows the ability to generate great hang-time and distance on his punts. However, he needs to be more consistent with his technique. Dragosavich made some booming punts in the rainy conditions this morning but he also had some misses, including one that shanked off the side of his foot and traveled no more than 15 yards.

• It's hard to get a clear read on lineman when the team is practicing in shells, but Arizona State C Mike Pollak still managed to stand out with solid footwork and good overall strength. Pollak showed a quick first step during one-on-one drills, snapping the ball and getting out of his stance almost simultaneously. He displayed nimble feet and did a nice job of shuffling his feet and mirroring pass rushers. Pollak bent and the knees and was able to stay low and create a solid anchor, and he also shows a strong, quick and compact punch that allows him to get his hands inside on rushers. He also kept his head on a swivel and showed great ability to recognize stunts, staying home and waiting for the outside rusher to enter his gap. Overall, Pollak did an effective job of showing scouts he possesses the tools and technique to make an impact at the next level. He should be one of the top three centers selected in April.

• USC DT Sedrick Ellis continues his onslaught against offensive lineman. Scouts knew coming in that Ellis possesses the strength and anchor to get plenty of push on blockers, but what impressed them on Thursday was his quickness off the ball. That combination of power and quickness helped Ellis dominate during the one-on-one period. He was able to beat Northern Iowa G Chad Rinehart by getting into Rinehart right off the snap, then staying low and driving him back into the pocket. Ellis has been consistent the entire week and has proven to scouts he can be a force in the middle at the next level.

• The rainy weather made for less-than-ideal conditions for the kickers, including Oregon State K Alexis Serna. Serna was able to connect twice on 43-yard field goals, though he appeared to put more muscle behind a 47-yard attempts due to the weather and ended up pushing the ball wide right. Serna was mediocre with his five kickoffs, averaging 62.2 yards, and did not appear to have adequate hang time with his kicks, either. That will hurt him come draft weekend.



Around the South practice

• Fullbacks Jacob Hester of LSU and Peyton Hillis of Arkansas are both going to make the teams that draft them very happy in the long run. Hester and Hillis are tough, versatile players who are reliable in all areas. They can carry the football and punish a defense, both are reliable receiving options and each has the ability to contribute immediately on just about every phase in special teams. In time, Hester and Hillis could also be among the better pass blockers in the league and both are acceptable run blockers, although this is neither player's forte. They are aggressive and want to win. Hester has quicker feet, but Hillis has a much better body and overall strength. There is a lot to like about both players, especially when the bullets start flying for real.

• Relatively unknown Tennessee TE Brad Cottam made himself some money this week. The first thing that stands out about Cottam is his tremendous size (6-foot-8, 257 pounds). He is already huge and looks like he could have the frame to add even more weight and bulk. He isn't very quick or explosive, but not many tight ends in this draft are. However, Cottam is a good hand catcher and has an upside as a chain-mover, a red zone weapon and an inline blocker that few of his counterparts in this draft class possess.

• Kentucky OLB Wesley Woodyard is fast and athletic, but what do you do with a lean 6-1, 215-pound linebacker in the NFL? As a weakside linebacker at the next level Woodyard will get buried in the running game if NFL tight ends, fullbacks and offensive linemen can get into position to lock onto him. As a strong safety, tight ends like Kellen Winslow and Antonio Gates will smoke him in coverage. He cannot handle the deep half in a Cover 2 situation, either. That doesn't leave much more for Woodyard. Teams like the Buccaneers and Colts that use undersized but athletic linebackers in their defensive schemes are likely to be the only ones to covet Woodyard during draft weekend. He has a chance to develop into a core special teams player at the next level and that is where he needs to concentrate his efforts.

• Newberry College OT Heath Benedict turned in a productive day with his intimidating size (6-5, 321) and brute strength. Benedict was most impressive during the one-on-one period as he was able to stone outside rushers multiple times. He displayed adequate feet, showing a quick first step with the ability to get out and cut off speed rushers. Benedict did overset one time but recovered nicely after looking like he was beaten inside. Mississippi State OLB Titus Brown set him up with an outside move, getting Benedict to lean and then coming back inside. That's when Benedict showed his strength. He got one arm on Brown and and drove him back to the middle of the line without losing balance. Finishing the week strong will help Benedict, as these all-star games are much more important for small-school prospects who are looking to show they can handle a higher level of competition.

• Texas A&M DT Red Bryant started the day strong but did not finish on a high note. Bryant was impressive during one-on-one drills, firing off the ball and penetrating into the backfield. He stayed low and created solid leverage on the bull rush, and also displayed a nice spin move. Bryant was caught playing too high at times during the team period, though. This allowed blockers to get underneath him and push him off the line. Bryant also struggled versus double-teams, failing to stay low and anchor well.

• Georgia Tech P Durant Brooks has shown off a strong leg throughout the week. He had a gross average of better than 50 yards during punting drills on Thursday and also showcased excellent directional skills when landing balls deep in opposing territory. Brooks missed on a couple of his attempts during the wet practice session but not nearly as badly or frequently as Dragosavich did earlier in the day. Brooks should be one of only three or four punters taken in this year's draft.

• Georgia K Brandon Coutu continued his solid week, hitting on all three of his attempts from 32 yards and making two of three from 38 yards during his individual work. This accuracy continued into the special teams period, when Coutu hit multiple 38-yarders with plenty of distance behind them.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

 

[WoodysGirl]

PFW Blog

Wednesday practice review
MOBILE, Ala. -- In the last day in pads, both squads looked pretty good, showing pretty high effort and intensity. It was the last chance before Saturday's game for players to make a real impression in drills and in team work. There also were a few scraps in practice and some pushing and shoving after the whistle, which the coaches didn't discourage to a certain point.

Here are some observations from each of the practices:

North team

USC TE Fred Davis continued his productive week with another solid showing. He just seems to get open. Maybe he's not the most athletic tight end down here, but he has consistently caught the ball well, including making a fingertip catch early in practice.

West Virginia FB Owen Schmitt drove fellow RB Chauncey Washington all the way into the OL drills nearby in a pass-blocking, one-on-one drill. Schmitt has shown he knows how to block here, and he has been involved in the passing game as well.

Colorado DB Terrence Whitley stumbled a little bit during backpedalling and has looked a little behind other DBs in terms of technique.

USC LB Keith Rivers, who has consistently stood out, beat Washington --his college teammate -- in pass-rush drills and has looked the part as a three-down linebacker.

Oklahoma State WR Adarius Bowman had a rough start to the week, struggling on Tuesday especially, and he dropped a pass early in practice. However, he recovered later on with some nice grabs and made a better showing as the day went on. It appears he needs some coaching, but his physical traits are there.

Michigan LB Shawn Crable knocked Schmitt's helmet off -- in a reversal of roles, as Schmitt is usually the helmet buster -- but his day went south thereafter. After losing Oklahoma State RB Dantrell Savage in man coverage in a passing drill, getting turned around a bit, Crable later suffered an injury. His status for the game is questionable.

Penn State LB Dan Connor has looked solid for most of the week, but he has had a little trouble covering some of the quicker backs in practice. It's hard to say if Connor's stock has changed much for the better down here.

Kansas State WR Jordy Nelson has used his hands well, getting off the jam, and he has run nice routes. He looks a little like a tall running back and has caught almost everything. Nelson burned Iowa DB Charles Godfrey on a seam route for a touchdown from John David Booty. He told me this afternoon that the biggest adjustment has been the distance of the routes the coaches are asking him to run.

Indiana CB Tracy Porter has been up and down this week, showing good quickness but also looking vulnerable to some double moves at times. In passing drills, he lost New Mexico WR Marcus Smith on an out-and-up move and clapped his hands in anger afterwards. Raiders DB coach Darren Perry spent a few minutes talking with Porter after that play on the sidelines.

Notre Dame DT Trevor Laws has shown up a number of times this week, and he did so Wednesday by scrapping a little bit with Ohio State OT Kirk Barton. Both men have looked solid this week, and they have tangled a number if times.

Michigan State TE Kellen Davis made a nice catch in traffic but fell to the ground and was scolded by the coaches for not finishing the play. Typical college adjustment: In the pros, the ball would have been live because he hadn't been touched by a defender. Davis certainly looks the part and has made some nice grabs, but the mental aspect of the game might be a problem.

Virginia Tech LB Xavier Adibi was one of the few men to stop California RB Justn Forsett before he got into the open field, reading the screen beautifully and coming up to make the play on the ball.

Missouri TE Martin Rucker made two nice blocks: one on Connor on a swing pass to Forsett and one on a crackback pancake of Purdue DE Cliff Avril.

Delaware QB Joe Flacco dropped the exchange in one play during red-zone work, but he managed to pick the ball up and dump it off safely to Washington for a heady play.


South team

South Florida LB Ben Moffitt displayed so-so feet and quickness in a pad-agility drill to open practice.

Louisville WR Harry Douglas dropped what would be a sure touchdown on a well-thrown pass from Tennessee's Eric Ainge and probably needs to do something in the game to make up for a mediocre showing.

Another speed guy, Houston's Donnie Avery, is hard to miss because of his quickness, but he might be a one-trick pony. His forte is the deep route, and he runs them well, but those skills might not translate to being much more than a specialist in the pros. At one point, 49ers WR coach Jerry Sullivan got on Avery for running the wrong route. And later, Avery inexplicably ran into the backfield as if he thought the play was a reverse, throwing off the timing and getting into QB Andre Woodson's way.

Auburn CB Patrick Lee has looked good, but like Michigan State's Davis above, he needs to stay focused and finish off drills. Lee made an interception on one play but failed to turn up field and try to score, angerng the coaches.

Texas Tech DT Red Bryant is opening eyes with his play and massive size (6-5, 329), coming a bit out of nowhere. Most of the interior guys on the South roster who likely will fit best in zone-blocking schemeshave had their trouble matching up with him. In one play, Bryant pushed Bowling Green OG Kory Lichtensteiger back into the backfield, knocking his helmet off in the process.

Hampton DT-DE Kendall Langford went right around UTEP OT Oneil Cousins on one play, hardly touched.

The new star yesterday was Appalachian State WR Dexter Jackson, who made his first practice on Wednesday. He was added to the roster midweek after a spate of WR injuries and wasted no time making an impression. His route-running needs work for sure, but he caught the ball well in stride with his hands. And he overcame an easy drop later by making the best grab of the day -- a diving snag just inside the sideline on a pass from Hawaii's Colt Brennan. That was an NFL-quality catch.

Maryland DT Dre Moore is a load. He overpowered Texas A&M C Cody Wallace on two straight plays in OL drills and has looked tough to block all week. Moore spent a long time after practice talking to a Browns scout.

Georgia Tech DL Darrell Robertson developed a bad habit of jumping offsides during DL drills. He did it twice in a row then flinched on the third play, slowing down his eventual rush.

Alabama DE Wallace Gilberry made a fine play from the strong side, splitting Tennessee TE Cottam and Newberry College ORT BradHeath Benedict and getting into the backfield to tackle Tulane's Matt Forte for a loss.

It's hard to be sure what to make of Mississippi State LB Titus Brown. Some team likely will fall in love with his rush ability, and a few times this week he has flashed it. He went right around Cousins to get into the backfield in one play, maintaining his balance throughout. But Brown has looked out of place at times, too, likely needing some work before he can be a full-time linebacker. You know who he reminds me of a little bit? Giants LB Reggie Torbor, who never quite has lived up to expectations and has had to make a similar position transition in the pros. Of course, the guy is going to be starting in the Super Bowl next week for what it's worth.

Tuesday recap: North and South practices
I finally have given up hope of wireless connection and moved over to the plug in the wall, so I apologize for getting this up so late.

(No, I haven't forgotten about the Q&As I promised, but my computer issues took up most of my time. I'll get those up tomorrow.)

Humor gone, but undaunted, here's a report on the Tuesday practices:

North practice

The Raiders coaches spent the first part of practice installing the playbook, and the mood was loose early during stretching. The coaches mixed in with the player, throwing footballs around and keeping things light. But once the stretching was over, the mood changed. The Raiders' staff got very vocal and animated, both encouraging guys and challenging them. LB coach Don Martindale was perhaps the loudest, shouting out, "Where are my linebackers?"

In OL drills, Nebraska OT Carl Nicks and Oregon State OG Roy Schuening both showed a nice first step. Schuening continued his strong showing during one-one-one drills, stonewalling NC State DT DeMario Pressley, who otherwise had a good day.

Eagles coaches were keeping a close watch on the tight ends -- USC's Fred Davis, Missouri's Martin Rucker and Michigan State's Kellen Davis -- who all showed well at one point. The Ravens also appeared to be interested in Rucker, spending several minutes talking with him after practice. Rucker's best play was a tough catch on a play where he was interefered with by Notre Dame S Tom Zbikowski and had to readjust to the ball, which was thrown a little behind him.

UCLA OLB Bruce Davis, who played defensive end in college, is having some trouble adjusting to playing in a two-point stance. He lost California RB Justin Forsett on a wheel route, showing his stiffness. Davis will take some coaching to make the adjustment to linebacker, it appears.

Colorado LB Jordon Dizon had a good practice, receiving praise from Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan more than once. Dizon showed good instincts in the run gam, always appeared around the ball and getting by blockers. He certainly could be a great fit as a "Will" linebacker in a scheme like the Bucs or Colts use.

The domination play of the day: USC OT Sam Baker crushing Purdue DE Cliff Avril, who looks undersized, into the ground. Avril tried to go wide, but Baker used his long arms and good balance to snuff out the rush. Later, though, Avril did get around Baker with his speed.

Boston College OT Gosder Cherilus has been up and down, but he flashed a real mean streak on Monday and was dominant at times on Tuesday, snuffing USC DE Lawrence Jackson once in one-on-one drills that favor the defender. That said, he hasn't been very consistent, and he might slip out of the first round, even with his Senior Bowl-best (almost) 35-inch arms.

Michigan QB Chad Henne, like the other quarterbacks, had some good throws and some bad ones, but he looked better than Delaware's Joe Flacco and USC's John David Booty. Henne has zip on his throws, but he appeared a little frazzled when the defensive pressure picked up. The throw Henne would have liked to have back was an overthrow of Cal's Lavelle Hawkins, who showed his speed.

The best player in Mobile might be USC DT Sedrick Ellis. He's built like a refridgerator and has dominated the one-on-one drills. He looks like a top-10 pick, though the layout of the top of first round might push him down into the 11-15 range.

South practice

Troy CB-KR Leodis McKelvin caught all of his kickoffs flawlessly after a rough first day. I wrote a feature on him that will be up at some point in the morning.

Georgia PK Brandon Coutu was good on placekicks, but his kickoff distance was not great.

Hawaii QB Colt Brennan connected with Texas WR Limas Sweed on a great deep in route. It was Brennan's best throw of the day and Sweed's best route and catch.

After a rough first day, Clemson S Quintin Demps made a pretty over-the-shoulder interception on the sideline during a DB drill with no receivers, staying in bounds and turning and running well. Still, Demps has had his troubles in coverage in two practices.

LSU CB Chevis Jackson is making the most of his opportunities so far, and he's not afraid to show up a college teammate to do so. Jackson defended LSU WR Early Doucet, covering him stride for stride on a fly pattern. But Doucet got his revenge a few plays later, making a circus catch over Jackson. Doucet suffered an unknown injury a few plays later and his status for the rest of the week mightbe in doubt.

Another pretty interception was turned in by Tennessee State CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who tracked down a wobbly Eric Ainge pas, high-pointed the ball and made an athletic move to stay in bounds and securing the ball. Rodgers-Cromartie has looked good.

Tulane RB Matt Forte hasrun hard and showed up well to date, battling with Georgia Tech's Tashard Choice as perhaps the two best backs in Mobile this week. Forte has caught the ball well and shown enough speed to make people take notice.

Alabama CB Simeon Castille's lack of speed is hurting him in coverage. He looks like he just can't work on a team that uses a high percentage of man coverage, based on his work here.

I'll have more later this week on Indiana CB Tracy Porter, who has looked agile and instinctive.

Another Bama kid, WR D.J. Hall, hasn't looked bad ... he just hasn't done much. He has been fairly invisible, in fact. Not good when your college coach -- Nick Saban, perpetually on a cell phone -- stops in to see how you are doing.

Pitt OG Mike McGlynn is the kind of kid the coaches love, sprinting to each drill and listening to the coaching. But his play has been nothing special so far.

Posted by Eric Edholm on January 23, 2008 12:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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January 22, 2008
Quick take on Tuesday's North team practice

Updated 2:44 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Jan. 22

MOBILE, Ala. -- Having some Internet connection issues here at the hotel, so I’ll strike while the iron is bathwater warm.

Couple of notes: UNLV LB Beau Bell dodged a big bullet after appearing to suffer a significant knee injury. He went down in a heap and yelled out during team drills. He's having an MRI done today but Bell's representatives hope it's only a sprain. He’ll be done for the week.

Indiana CB Tracy Porter had a nice pick today. None of the quarterbacks (Joe Flacco, John David Booty or Chad Henne) had an outstanding practice, but none were terrible. USC DT Sedrick Ellis has looked dominant. At one point, seven of the 22 players on the field were from USC.

I’ll chime in later with a full report, including Q&As with Porter, Boston College OT Gosder Cherilus and Notre Dame S Tom Zbikowski, plus some guys from the North team.

Posted by Eric Edholm on January 22, 2008 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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January 21, 2008
Monday recap of South team practice
MOBILE, Ala. – I won’t bore you with the details of a crawling El train, a nearly missed flight, miracles in the security line and the funny looks I got from members the Bears as I approached the gate with shoes, bag, laptop, belt and jacket still in my hands after running an entire terminal’s length.

My flight got in at 1:30, and after Nolan Nawrocki picked me up, we went straight to the South team practice, coached by Mike Nolan and the 49ers. We chose to attend that practice, which was going on at the same time as the North team’s practice, because we were able to get on the Fairthorpe Municipal Stadium field.

Practice started and opened with special teams work: punt protection, punters kicking to returners and gunners. The linemen went off and did one-one-one drills mostly during this time.

Here are some observations from practice, which lasted about an hour and 45 minutes:

Troy CB-RS Leodis McKelvin, who is one of the higher-rated prospects in Mobile, had a so-so first day. He started by dropping a couple of punts, misjudging the first and plain muffing the second. But he rallied during the special-teams portion and looked like a running back with the ball in his hands. He was maybe the most dangerous punt returner in the country last fall with an 18.2-yard average and three TDs on 23 returns.

LSU’s Early Doucet showed McKelvin how it was done, catching every punt flawlessly during the first portion of practice. He looked fluid and quick. Later, in passing drills, he caught the ball in stride and generally looked good. He made one sliding catch near the sideline, with McKelvin close in coverage but unable to make the play.

Georgia Tech P Durant Brooks hit some nice, high punts but also flubbed a couple. Most of his kicks, though, wobbled in the air and were not easily catchable.

Tennessee State CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie didn’t look out of place today at all. He showed a good rip move in gunner drills and then looked athletic and instinctive in a quarters defense drill. He’s one of the taller corners in Mobile (6-foot-2) and looked fairly fluid in backpedal. “I have been working out with that guy,” Doucet told PFW of Rodgers-Cromartie, “and that dude is an athlete!”

Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison was whipping some guys today. He looked like the best D-lineman in terms of power, quickness and technique in the one-on-one drills, though 49ers DL coach Jim Tomsula did stress several times that Harrison needed to do a better job of getting his hands inside the O-lineman’s pads. Harrison’s best play was blowing up a run play by running over Pitt OG Mike McGlynn.

Funniest moment of the day: Georgia Tech LB Phillip Wheeler, grabbing hold of Tulane RB Matt Forte’s shorts and pulling them down, revealing a full-moon backside to the roughly 200 fans on that side of the field. Even the scouts and coaches had to chortle at that one.

Second funniest moment of the day: Nolan, subtly trying to let Lions head coach Rod Marinelli know that his fly was down. It took Nolan three attempts before Marinelli actually heard what he said.

Speaking of Wheeler, he had a rough day other than the de-pantsing. For the record, Forte ran by Wheeler on the pants play. Later in a man-coverage drill with tight ends, Wheeler got all twisted around trying to cover a wheel route and grabbed the jersey of Auburn TE Cole Bennett – who was added at the last minute with Notre Dame TE John Carlson battling an illness – some 20 yards down the field. And in 9-on-7 drills, Wheeler got an earful from 49ers assistant head coach/LB coach Mike Singletary: “Too high, man! Get them pads down!”

Among those watching closely the defensive back drills: Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, Browns GM Phil Savage (plus three other Browns scouts) and Marinelli.

McKelvin looked better in DB drills, showing he can backpedal well and flip his hips quickly.

LSU CB Chevis Jackson showed some shaky hands, dropping a couple balls in those drills, but he appears to have good instincts, breaking up two passes in a zone drill later. One observation, though: When he did make a mistake, he instantly would turn around and look at either Vance Joseph or Johnny Lynn, the 49ers’ DB coaches, as if to check and see if they noticed his mistake. It appeared they did.

Maryland DT Dre Moore looked overweight with a bad body at the Monday weigh-in and he didn’t get off the ball very quickly in some of the 9-on-7 drills.

Kentucky LB Wesley Woodyard doesn’t have great size, and he didn’t help his stock by looking a little wooden in zone coverage.

South Florida LB Ben Moffitt looked OK at times, showing good instincts in passing drills and moving well, but he got burned on a long touchdown pass to Georgia Tech RB Tashard Choice and took a bad angle on a run by Kentucky RB Rafael Little. Choice, by the way, moved very well and weighed in at 210 pounds, without appearing to lack any speed. He just looks good. Great pad level, shifty. Good back, I think. Better person.

Texas A&M C Cody Wallace got overwhelmed twice in one-on-one drills, once by Moore and another time by Harrison. Then, during 9-on-7 drills, college teammate Red Bryant whipped Wallace with an inside rip move and helped make a play in the backfield.

Hawaii QB Colt Brennan threw the ball with velocity, but his throws came out looking weird and off target, with several different arm angles. New Niners offensive coordinator Mike Martz spent a lot of time talking with Brennan on the side. Could these two pair up? A match made in heaven.

Bowling Green OG Kory Lichtensteiger had the run-block of the day, pushing his man out of the way then clearing out a linebacker as well.

Kentucky QB Andre Woodson wasn’t accurate today. Several deep balls either sailed several yards too long or were off target left or right. Later, though, he connected with – oddly enough – Florida WR Andre Caldwell on a nicely run square-in.

UTEP S Quentin Demps took a bad angle on a couple of run plays and later overpursued on a reverse run in his direction.

Newberry College OT Heath Benedict will be under a microscope all week. He struggled in one-on-one blocking drills and was manhandled by Alabama DE Wallace Gilberry more than once. So far, Benedict has looked overmatched by the competition. Later, Gilberry continued his strong day by knifing past Arkansas OT Robert Felton.

Hampton’s Kendall Langford looks like a textbook “5-technique” in a 3-4 defense. The kid is baby-faced and well-spoken, though, which is a little surprising for a man who stands 6-foot-6 and 294 pounds. “I do not have a preference (playing tackle or end), but I think I will be inside a lot,” Langford told PFW. “I can play a few spots, I think.”

Alabama CB Simeon Castille appears to lack speed and he dropped a potential interception that hit him right in the hands on a badly thrown ball.

Florida State DT Andre Fluellen wasn’t the biggest interior lineman of the group, but he gained steam as the practice went on and had a few nice pressures.

Tennessee QB Eric Ainge had a poor day throwing the football. He repeatedly tried to fit the ball into tight spaces and was inaccurate both high and wide.

Ainge’s college teammate, 6-8 TE Brad Cottam, impressed with his athleticism, making more than one play right down the seam. He didn’t drop a pass that I saw.

Jets scouts were paying close attention to Forte it appeared.

Tiny Louisville WR Harry Douglas (169 pounds) is doing anything he can to impress the coaches and scouts. He’s even holding on extra points and field goals.

OK, that’s all for today. We’ll go at it again with reports from both teams’ practices tomorrow.

Posted by Eric Edholm on January 21, 2008 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

 

[Dallyjake]

would love to have Joe Flacco to back up Romo.