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Updated: January 20, 2009, 3:25 PM ET
Mixed bag for wideouts on Day 1
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By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.
MOBILE, Ala. -- The first day of practice at the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl was notable for a few reasons, including the absence of a pair of big-name prospects.
Georgia Tech DE Michael Johnson was a late scratch, and there are mixed opinions about the reason he is not in Mobile. Some are saying he's letting a minor but lingering shoulder injury rest. Others theorize he simply isn't motivated to deal with what tends to be a mentally and physically grueling week for NFL draft prospects. Either way, Johnson's no-show is being frowned upon by NFL decision-makers. Johnson has the skills of a top-10 player, but he has frequently performed like a middle-round pick. Some have questioned his commitment to the game, so scouts should be planting red flags firmly next to his name.
Michigan State RB Javon Ringer was a late scratch as well. And while there is no official word as to why Ringer will not participate, he is missing out on an opportunity to prove himself as a receiver out of the backfield and on special teams.
North team buzz
• It's especially tough to evaluate linemen in a first-day practice in shorts and shoulder pads, but Boston College DT B.J. Raji is the clear front-runner to emerge as the top lineman from either side of the ball. Raji showed excellent lateral mobility and initial quickness during one-on-one pass rush drills today.
• California's Alex Mack and Oregon's Max Unger are Scouts Inc.'s top two center prospects and are playing next to each other this week. Mack lines up at left guard when Unger lines up under center and vice versa; both fared well at guard on Day 1. Showing that kind of versatility can only help their draft stock, but like Raji they will also give a more accurate read when they are in full pads.
• The skill positions were easier to get a feel for today, and Cal Poly WR Ramses Barden is off to a strong start. After wowing teams with his measurables in the morning, Barden ran smooth routes and caught the ball fairly well in practice. He did drop one pass, but the fact that the small-school prospect does not appear to be intimidated by a higher level of competition and the glare of the spotlight is an indication that he can make a successful jump to the NFL.
• Washington State WR Brandon Gibson and Ohio State WR Brian Robiskie did not make the same splash as Barden, but they represented themselves well. Gibson isn't the quickest receiver here but has above-average top-end speed and caught the ball well. He did a nice job of tracking the ball and using his hands to keep Cincinnati CB Mike Mickens from slowing him down on a fade route. As expected, Robiskie masked his lack of burst and elite top-end speed with crisp route-running. He's clearly the most polished route-runner on the North roster.
• On the flip side, while Penn State WR Derrick Williams showed above-average body control and made some noteworthy adjustments to the ball, he has a lot of work to do in terms of his route-running. Williams simply wastes too much motion and is too slow coming out of his breaks. Not good news for a player who was a hybrid running back/receiver in college and must show teams he's capable of developing into a productive true receiver. Even more concerning, Williams was a productive return man in college but flat-out dropped two punt return attempts and looked as if he had no experience in that role.
Area scouts are well aware of Williams' ability, but he did not leave a good impression on the coaches watching him for the first time. One of the principal reasons teams rank Williams as high as they do is his versatility, so it was a tough showing. The good news is he still has three days of practice to recover.
• North Carolina WR Brooks Foster didn't have his best showing, either. While he appears to be the fastest of the group, Foster dropped two passes in the first 15 minutes of practice and let the ball get into his pads far too often.
• Oregon RB Jeremiah Johnson impressed us by showing the quickness to turn the corner during team drills, and Virginia RB Cedric Peerman made an even bigger impression. Injuries slowed Peerman for much of 2007 and early in 2008, but he made crisp cuts on Day 1 in Mobile and showed better-than-expected burst through the hole. He's a player we will keep an eye on throughout this week as a possible under-the-radar value in the later rounds.
South team buzz
• Of the three USC linebackers on the South roster, it was OLB Clay Matthews who stood out. Matthews put his overall athleticism on display in the shoulder-pads-and-shorts session. The 246-pound linebacker displayed quick change-of-direction and the ability to run in open space that gives him sideline-to-sideline range. Matthews also displayed strength at the point of attack when he was able to shed Tennessee OT Anthony Parker and fill the hole during the inside run period.
• Right behind Matthews' performance today was that of former college teammate OLB Brian Cushing, who looked right at home lining up over the tight end. Cushing was strong at the point of attack and was able to hold down the edge against the run, but it was his ability in coverage that really caught the eyes of scouts. Cushing got a solid jam at the line of scrimmage and disrupted NC State TE Anthony Hill's release and then was able to run step-for-step with Hill on a crossing route before displaying a tremendous closing burst at the end of the play.
• Mississippi OLB Ashlee Palmer was not nearly as solid as Matthews and Cushing. Palmer was stiff in hips during individual drills, struggling in transition when changing directions and even stumbling and falling to the ground on one occasion. He also allowed Hill to gain too much separation in coverage during seven-on-seven passing drills and lacked the burst to close the gap while the ball was in the air.
• The tight ends had a chance to show off their receiving skills with the teams practicing in shells, and Southern Miss TE Shawn Nelson took full advantage. Nelson was by far the most athletic and fluid of the South tight ends, displaying the ability to stretch the field with his top-end speed and creating separation in and out of his breaks. He also was able to use his long arms and soft hands to pluck the ball out of the air without breaking stride. Nelson is off to a solid start this week after impressing scouts on the field and also checking in at a lean 238 pounds, which means he should be able to add bulk without losing his quickness.
Todd McShay is the director of college football scouting for Scouts Inc. He has been evaluating prospects for the NFL draft since 1998. Scouts Inc.'s Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl also contributed to this report.
Mixed bag for wideouts on Day 1
Email Print
Scouts Inc.
MOBILE, Ala. -- The first day of practice at the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl was notable for a few reasons, including the absence of a pair of big-name prospects.
Georgia Tech DE Michael Johnson was a late scratch, and there are mixed opinions about the reason he is not in Mobile. Some are saying he's letting a minor but lingering shoulder injury rest. Others theorize he simply isn't motivated to deal with what tends to be a mentally and physically grueling week for NFL draft prospects. Either way, Johnson's no-show is being frowned upon by NFL decision-makers. Johnson has the skills of a top-10 player, but he has frequently performed like a middle-round pick. Some have questioned his commitment to the game, so scouts should be planting red flags firmly next to his name.
Michigan State RB Javon Ringer was a late scratch as well. And while there is no official word as to why Ringer will not participate, he is missing out on an opportunity to prove himself as a receiver out of the backfield and on special teams.
North team buzz
• It's especially tough to evaluate linemen in a first-day practice in shorts and shoulder pads, but Boston College DT B.J. Raji is the clear front-runner to emerge as the top lineman from either side of the ball. Raji showed excellent lateral mobility and initial quickness during one-on-one pass rush drills today.
• California's Alex Mack and Oregon's Max Unger are Scouts Inc.'s top two center prospects and are playing next to each other this week. Mack lines up at left guard when Unger lines up under center and vice versa; both fared well at guard on Day 1. Showing that kind of versatility can only help their draft stock, but like Raji they will also give a more accurate read when they are in full pads.
• The skill positions were easier to get a feel for today, and Cal Poly WR Ramses Barden is off to a strong start. After wowing teams with his measurables in the morning, Barden ran smooth routes and caught the ball fairly well in practice. He did drop one pass, but the fact that the small-school prospect does not appear to be intimidated by a higher level of competition and the glare of the spotlight is an indication that he can make a successful jump to the NFL.
• Washington State WR Brandon Gibson and Ohio State WR Brian Robiskie did not make the same splash as Barden, but they represented themselves well. Gibson isn't the quickest receiver here but has above-average top-end speed and caught the ball well. He did a nice job of tracking the ball and using his hands to keep Cincinnati CB Mike Mickens from slowing him down on a fade route. As expected, Robiskie masked his lack of burst and elite top-end speed with crisp route-running. He's clearly the most polished route-runner on the North roster.
• On the flip side, while Penn State WR Derrick Williams showed above-average body control and made some noteworthy adjustments to the ball, he has a lot of work to do in terms of his route-running. Williams simply wastes too much motion and is too slow coming out of his breaks. Not good news for a player who was a hybrid running back/receiver in college and must show teams he's capable of developing into a productive true receiver. Even more concerning, Williams was a productive return man in college but flat-out dropped two punt return attempts and looked as if he had no experience in that role.
Area scouts are well aware of Williams' ability, but he did not leave a good impression on the coaches watching him for the first time. One of the principal reasons teams rank Williams as high as they do is his versatility, so it was a tough showing. The good news is he still has three days of practice to recover.
• North Carolina WR Brooks Foster didn't have his best showing, either. While he appears to be the fastest of the group, Foster dropped two passes in the first 15 minutes of practice and let the ball get into his pads far too often.
• Oregon RB Jeremiah Johnson impressed us by showing the quickness to turn the corner during team drills, and Virginia RB Cedric Peerman made an even bigger impression. Injuries slowed Peerman for much of 2007 and early in 2008, but he made crisp cuts on Day 1 in Mobile and showed better-than-expected burst through the hole. He's a player we will keep an eye on throughout this week as a possible under-the-radar value in the later rounds.
South team buzz
• Of the three USC linebackers on the South roster, it was OLB Clay Matthews who stood out. Matthews put his overall athleticism on display in the shoulder-pads-and-shorts session. The 246-pound linebacker displayed quick change-of-direction and the ability to run in open space that gives him sideline-to-sideline range. Matthews also displayed strength at the point of attack when he was able to shed Tennessee OT Anthony Parker and fill the hole during the inside run period.
• Right behind Matthews' performance today was that of former college teammate OLB Brian Cushing, who looked right at home lining up over the tight end. Cushing was strong at the point of attack and was able to hold down the edge against the run, but it was his ability in coverage that really caught the eyes of scouts. Cushing got a solid jam at the line of scrimmage and disrupted NC State TE Anthony Hill's release and then was able to run step-for-step with Hill on a crossing route before displaying a tremendous closing burst at the end of the play.
• Mississippi OLB Ashlee Palmer was not nearly as solid as Matthews and Cushing. Palmer was stiff in hips during individual drills, struggling in transition when changing directions and even stumbling and falling to the ground on one occasion. He also allowed Hill to gain too much separation in coverage during seven-on-seven passing drills and lacked the burst to close the gap while the ball was in the air.
• The tight ends had a chance to show off their receiving skills with the teams practicing in shells, and Southern Miss TE Shawn Nelson took full advantage. Nelson was by far the most athletic and fluid of the South tight ends, displaying the ability to stretch the field with his top-end speed and creating separation in and out of his breaks. He also was able to use his long arms and soft hands to pluck the ball out of the air without breaking stride. Nelson is off to a solid start this week after impressing scouts on the field and also checking in at a lean 238 pounds, which means he should be able to add bulk without losing his quickness.
Todd McShay is the director of college football scouting for Scouts Inc. He has been evaluating prospects for the NFL draft since 1998. Scouts Inc.'s Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl also contributed to this report.
