Day One Senior Bowl Risers

[RS12]

Dan Feeney/OL/Indiana: It started in morning weigh-ins when you could tell Feeney was all business. During the North’s practice, he dominated everyone he faced. Feeney showed great power, intensity and did not give up an inch to opponents. He blocked with great technique, intensity and looked every part of a top-42 pick today.

O.J. Howard/TE/Alabama: Howard was the best of a good group of South tight ends Tuesday, showing off the skills that make him a potential top-10 pick in this year’s draft. The Crimson Tide tight end started the day with a one-handed grab on an errant pass and continued his momentum throughout the day, avoiding drops and consistently catching the ball away from his frame. He did a nice job tracking and adjusting to underthrown deep balls, used his speed to get open up the seam for an easy touchdown catch and added another one-handed grab for good measure.

Carroll Phillips/DE-OLB/Illinois: Phillips spent most of his college career at defensive end but today he was asked to stand up and play outside linebacker. He didn’t miss a beat. Phillips showed his patented speed and quickness up the field rushing the passer as well as a good change of direction and lateral pursuit skills. He also did a solid job dropping off the line of scrimmage in coverage drills and covered a lot of area. Though his ball skills need work, Phillips did not embarrass himself.

Gerald Everett/TE/South Alabama: Howard was the offensive standout from a skill-player perspective, but Everett made a name for himself as well. The 6-2, 227-pound tight end displayed strong hands away from his body and was consistent throughout practice. The highlight of his day was a diving catch during 11-on-11 action, as he laid out to make the grab and contorted his body in the air to protect the ball from hitting the turf.

Forrest Lamp/OL/Western Kentucky: Lamp looked terrific at both left tackle and guard all day long. Except for a few instances, he won every snap he lined up for. Lamp did a great job using body positioning and strength to seal defenders from the action. He’s strong and tough but also football smart.

Eddie Vanderdoes/DL/UCLA: The Senior Bowl is about expectations, and Vanderdoes exceeded them in every way Tuesday. He beat blockers off the snap with his great first step, bull-rushed them off the line with surprising power and also showed terrific hand technique to keep opponents away from him. More than anything else, Vanderdoes outplayed and outhustled everyone he lined up against.

Tre’Davious White/CB/LSU: White was the most impressive player in the South secondary on Day 1 at the Senior Bowl. The 5-11, 191-pound corner displayed solid reaction time and good closing speed, making up ground quickly to break up passes or hit receivers immediately after the catch. He also showed off the hands to create interceptions like he did with the Tigers, as he picked off at least two passes in three of his four seasons in Baton Rouge.

http://draftanalyst.com/day-one-senior-bowl-risers

 

[The Realist]

For some reason I am stuck at guard. What helps our team the most...drafting the 4th-5th CB, the 5th-7th best pass rusher or the best OG? I love Feeny. Looks like an 8-10 year plug and play guard.

 

[RS12]

I heard good things from multiple scouts on Texas A&M safety Justin Evans before practice. While it’s sometimes difficult to read defensive play in practice due to the no-contact rules and limited reps, Evans impressed with quick passing reads, middle of the field to sideline range on deep balls, and an understanding of fill angles against the run.

One of the most striking figures at the weigh-in was Villanova edge Tanoh Kpassagnon, who measured nearly 6-7 and 280 pounds with almost 35 inch arms and an 84.5 inch wingspan. On film, Kpassagnon showed some edge-setting ability and the beginnings of a technically sound pass rush. Today, he was often slow off the ball, handled at the point of attack, and played with a troublesome pad level. He also seemed to hurt his thumb on a one-on-one rep. There’s a ton of athleticism here, however, and a good chance he’ll bounce back in the next two practices.

Texas A&M edge Daeshon Hall was the most impressive player in one-on-one reps today. Scouting reports have him as an edge rusher, but he showed back-to-back inside moves and a spin move to win in the pit. He will help himself tremendously with two more productive days.

Linebacker Alex Anzalone was often limited by injury at Florida but drew an invite to Mobile on the strength of intriguing all-around play when healthy. I liked his range, flashes of downhill play and power, and footwork in small spaces in one-on-one coverage drills today.

LSU linebacker Duke Riley impressed some observers between the tackles. But he had trouble keeping up with running backs moving laterally in coverage.

I thought Houston edge player Tyus Bowser moved better than I expected in individual drills and he looked comfortable at times moving laterally in coverage. But he could not keep up with Alabama move tight end O.J. Howard on a seam route and may not have the foot speed necessary to succeed in that role at the next level.

Auburn defensive tackle Montravius Adams was the quickest interior lineman off the ball. one-on-one reps are favorable to defensive linemen, however, and it will be important for Adams to show those skills in team drills throughout the week.

Other thoughts: Alabama edge Ryan Anderson was solid and will get good practice reviews from many. My eyes happened to be elsewhere on most of his reps. Multiple scouts, including Emory Hunt, have had very positive things to say about Chattanooga’s Keionta Davis. I’ll be watching him more tomorrow. I also heard good things about Tulane defensive tackle Tanzel Smart.

https://mattwaldmanrsp.com/2017/01/25/senior-bowl-day-1-first-impressions-defense/

 

[RS12]

I chose to focus primarily on two linebacker prospects of interest today—Temple hybrid Haason Reddick and Simon Fraser inside linebacker Jordan Herdman.

Reddick was as fluid in change of direction drills as any linebacker I’ve seen here in Mobile over the past five years. There were no extra or gathered steps and his pad level was solid over multiple reps. He dropped to coverage landmarks well and looked comfortable one-on-one against underneath routes. There were multiple instances where he looked slow to react in seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 run situations but once he saw the play he was downhill and decisive. It’s not clear what Reddick is yet—he’s had experience as a cornerback and edge player—but his athleticism and potential versatility gives him great upside if he can react more quickly in time.

Herdman looks like a missile in YouTube highlights. But footwork and balance can be an issue at times and I’m not convinced his speed translates here yet. But his better reps were impressive. When there were no false steps, he avoided blocks and met runners at the point of attack well. If some of today’s missteps were opening day jitters against heightened competition, Herdman could pop as the week progresses.

Other thoughts: Connecticut safety Obi Melifonwu is huge at 6-4, 219 and a long strider but was surprisingly fluid when changing directions in his back pedal and looks to be a willing run defender. His size will draw attention from writers this week. I didn’t see any consistent flash plays in the one-on-one pass protection reps, but Iowa defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson was in the backfield often in team drills and I was told Illinois edge D.J. Smoot was active in one-on-one reps.

https://mattwaldmanrsp.com/2017/01/25/senior-bowl-day-1-first-impressions-defense/

 

[RandyOh]

I'm happy to see Hall is really helping his draft stock. Same for Anderson and Phillips. The more options team have the better chance an edge rusher we are high on will drop to us.

 

[Sydla]

Vanderdoes is a very talented, athletic kid. What round is he projected at?

 

[RS12]

Vanderdoes is a very talented, athletic kid. What round is he projected at?

Weird, he ended up on the ground a fair amount in the drills. OTOH he was a 5 star recruit out of HS on everyones list.

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

Vanderdoes is a very talented, athletic kid. What round is he projected at?

Might be thinking of wrong guy, but the Draft Show said he's pretty raw, but a late round 2 or round 3 type of player

 

[Sydla]

Might be thinking of wrong guy, but the Draft Show said he's pretty raw, but a late round 2 or round 3 type of player

I was hoping he'd be a 4th or later type guy. I'd take a flier on him then.

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

I was hoping he'd be a 4th or later type guy. I'd take a flier on him then.

Since we pick so late, they said we almost have to pick someone a round early. So of they really like this guy, they'd have to take him in 2nd round, whereas last year they could have waiting till 3rd. So not sure if we should get anything but the sure thing, as in not a project

 

[The Realist]

Vanderdoes is a very talented, athletic kid. What round is he projected at?

I asked Dane Brugler to name the Marinelli type 1 T's in this draft and the only name he mentioned was this kid. Not that he's the only one but only one he talked about. He's a busy guy.

 

[Thomas82]

NFL Network had us taking Stanford DE Solomon Thomas at #28. They also had OJ Howard going to the Giants at 24.

 

[Sydla]

I know people like Thomas but he really does nothing for me.

 

[tm1119]

I know people like Thomas but he really does nothing for me.

Because he's not flashy or "twitchy"? The guy flat out beats up o lineman and is rarely not in on a running play. Plays with a ton of power and I'm not sure there's a better d lineman in this draft at disengaging. His quickness and agility arent by any means bad either tho. I've seen him make guys look silly with a spin move and his swim move is also lethal. So If you're looking for a guy to speed rush around the edge and get 15 sacks Solomon won't be your guy I guess but you'd be missing out on 1 hell of a player

 

[Sydla]

Because he's not flashy or "twitchy"? The guy flat out beats up o lineman and is rarely not in on a running play. Plays with a ton of power and I'm not sure there's a better d lineman in this draft at disengaging. His quickness and agility arent by any means bad either tho. I've seen him make guys look silly with a spin move and his swim move is also lethal. So If you're looking for a guy to speed rush around the edge and get 15 sacks Solomon won't be your guy I guess but you'd be missing out on 1 hell of a player

That's pretty much what we should be looking for. Now if Thomas is the highest guy on our board, sure take him. But I just don't think he's going to have the impact that we are looking for in terms of upgrading our biggest weakness - being able to get after the passer.

 

[tm1119]

That's pretty much what we should be looking for. Now if Thomas is the highest guy on our board, sure take him. But I just don't think he's going to have the impact that we are looking for in terms of upgrading our biggest weakness - being able to get after the passer.

Us and the rest of the league are also looking for that guy....picking at 28 it's highly unlikely that that guy be on the board and I don't see free agency as a viable option either. We need the best d lineman possible really. There is more than 1 way to get after the passer too...not everybody has to be a 260 lb speed rusher.

 

[TNCowboy]

NFL Network had us taking Stanford DE Solomon Thomas at #28. They also had OJ Howard going to the Giants at 24.

I'd be shocked if Howard lasted to 14, much less 24th.

Thomas is a good prospect. I wouldn't mind him at all.

 

[Sydla]

Us and the rest of the league are also looking for that guy....picking at 28 it's highly unlikely that that guy be on the board and I don't see free agency as a viable option either. We need the best d lineman possible really. There is more than 1 way to get after the passer too...not everybody has to be a 260 lb speed rusher.

Seems like this has been our argument for a few offseasons. We'll find other ways to get a top level, consistent pass rush.

Better DTs! That's the ticket.

Better depth, we'll throw waves of players at them! That's the ticket.

And yet here we sit another offseason wondering where the hell we are going to get a pass rush that will actually show up in big games.

 

[tm1119]

Seems like this has been our argument for a few offseasons. We'll find other ways to get a top level, consistent pass rush.

Better DTs! That's the ticket.

Better depth, we'll throw waves of players at them! That's the ticket.

And yet here we sit another offseason wondering where the hell we are going to get a pass rush that will actually show up in big games.

You say it like great pass rushing RDE's grow on trees and are easy to find. If you have a sensible plan to get one, please let everybody know. 2 out of the last 4 2nd round picks (+ a 3rd) have been invested to solve the issue. Obviously that hasn't worked out, but what are you going to do? It's not like there's been 0 effort to get a pass rush. Especially when there isn't a whole lot else to complain about with the teams drafting besides to 2 misses.

 

[Sydla]

You say it like great pass rushing RDE's grow on trees and are easy to find. If you have a sensible plan to get one, please let everybody know. 2 out of the last 4 2nd round picks (+ a 3rd) have been invested to solve the issue. Obviously that hasn't worked out, but what are you going to do? It's not like there's been 0 effort to get a pass rush. Especially when there isn't a whole lot else to complain about with the teams drafting besides to 2 misses.

I am not saying that at all.

Just saying I don't think Thomas solves what ails us. Which is why he's not a draft pick at DE that would excite me. Can't be any clearer than that.