gbnreport:2011 senior bowl practice reports South

[realtick]

At 26 you do not have the room for growth you do at 22 or even 24. The older you are the more limited you will be in basically all areas. At 22 you get in shape in 2 days, by 30 it's two weeks.

You're completely full of it.

 

[TheCoolFan]

Watkins will be fine. If you're a good offensive guard, you can play well into your 30s. This is the same team that brought in starters like Kosier, Davis, and Colombo when they were 27/28/29 so I don't think age will factor into the Cowboys decision to draft Watkins if they're interested. Shoot, look at Doug Free, our best lineman, who finally got his chance to start at 26.

For a skill position player, sure, being 26 would be a negative but not for an OLineman

 

[jterrell]

Huh? Free agent? How is the comparable? The beauty of draft picks is that you can get players far cheaper than in FA.

It's not like draftees are signed for life. If they were, I'd see the point a lot more. But a third rounder is only going to have, what, a four-year deal anyway? So he'll be a free agent at that point and all those remaining years don't matter, unless you re-sign him.

Now if this were a first rounder with a seven year contract and you thought a guy would be rapidly declining by 33, I'd see the point a lot more.

Finally, I'd argue that Witten is a lot "older" than his chronological age would indicate. In a lot of cases it's not the years, it's the mileage.

Not at draft time was Witten older....

When we drafted him he was still 20 years old!!!!
He had plenty of room for athletic growth and muscle development. It isn't a shock he got bigger and stronger.

Witten made All Pro as an 8th year player.

TNew was 24 and showed up at 25., He was rated the top overall athlete in the entire draft. Problem is he never got faster and he may have gained some strength but it wasn't a huge gain.

I played Middle School football with a guy who averaged 200 yards rushing per game. No kidding. Found out he was 3 years older than everyone else when in 9th grade he was forced to play Varsity and was a scrub. He never developed into any type of high school football player. Two other players off that team made the pros but he never even made a small college team.

 

[realtick]

TNew was 24 and showed up at 25., He was rated the top overall athlete in the entire draft. Problem is he never got faster and he may have gained some strength but it wasn't a huge gain.

Pure comedy...

I don't know about you guys, but I sure rue the fact T-New never "got faster" after we drafted him.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Not at draft time was Witten older....

When we drafted him he was still 20 years old!!!!
He had plenty of room for athletic growth and muscle development. It isn't a shock he got bigger and stronger.

Witten made All Pro as an 8th year player.

TNew was 24 and showed up at 25., He was rated the top overall athlete in the entire draft. Problem is he never got faster and he may have gained some strength but it wasn't a huge gain.

I played Middle School football with a guy who averaged 200 yards rushing per game. No kidding. Found out he was 3 years older than everyone else when in 9th grade he was forced to play Varsity and was a scrub. He never developed into any type of high school football player. Two other players off that team made the pros but he never even made a small college team.

I guess my point is that Witten is only, what, 28, but he plays like he's 33 or older. Years, not mileage.

And I don't know how to address Newman... Isn't it kind of arbitrary to pick those two guys? Charles Woodson is a few years older and still going strong, so maybe it's about his build more than anything. And what about Martellus Bennett?... He might have been better off if he had been 24 and not 20.

Eh, again I just don't see how this is that big a deal for a 3rd round or lower lineman. I'd think in the third, you'd be happy to get a good starter (or just solid contributor) for a few years no matter what... Then cross that re-signing bridge once you get to it.

 

[btcutter]

What Baylor doesn't have a weight room now? Did someone tell Jason Smith that before he went top 5? Do they tell the recruits?

You ever been in a major collegiate weight room?

Arguing this guy is like Herschel Walker showing up at Georgie never having touched a weight is just silly.

At 26 you do not have the room for growth you do at 22 or even 24. The older you are the more limited you will be in basically all areas. At 22 you get in shape in 2 days, by 30 it's two weeks.

I'd be fine with him in r3 or later myself. The argument is over if you ignore age and even those saying they do apparently are not if they rate him r3 or lower.

College weight program and student athlete are still not the same as full time weight training at the professional level year round. It just isn't. If you can't agree on that then there's no point discussing this.

Maybe at 26 you won't grow as much as when you are 22. So.....give me a player at age 26 then some guys who has "potential". NFL is full of guys with "potential" that becomes JAG. I want players.

Also, it's mileage not age that is the major issue. He hasn't had bad wear and tear and his position doesn't demand speed like WR/CB which often deteriorates faster as you age.

3rd or 4th rounders...easy choice.

 

[btcutter]

again I just don't see how this is that big a deal for a 3rd round or lower lineman. I'd think in the third, you'd be happy to get a good starter (or just solid contributor) for a few years no matter what... Then cross that re-signing bridge once you get to it.

That!!!!! Or you rather have Stephen Peterman

 

[TheCoolFan]

To get back on topic:

No such problems for Baylor DT Phil Taylor who was monster again at collapsing the offensive line with his size and almost shocking - at least for a near 340-pounder - quickness and athleticism. Coach Gailey said he is fascinated by Taylor and can't wait to see him in game action.

Baylor DT Phil Taylor continues to impress; he’s an immovable object at almost 340 pounds. They even triple teamed him in scrimmage on passing plays, but he was still throwing people around including undersized Florida State OG Rodney Hudson. Taylor shows surprising agility for his size and certainly isn‘t this year's Mount Cody; Taylor looks like he’ll be a full time player for some 4-3 scheme.

The beast!

Some other sleeper prospects I like for the DLine, although Ballard's stock is rising to maybe late 1st, early 2nd potential:

Iowa DT Christian Ballard looks like he can be special, although he may be better suited to play DE at the next level; he has the quickness plus he lacks bulk and strength inside where he gets swallowed up.

Another surprise was Southern Arkansas DT Cedric Thornton who was almost unblockable. He ate up Auburn OT Lee Ziemba who had moved inside to OG. Thornton looked quick and agile with great balance and speed in drill work.

 

[RCowboyFan]

I feel that way to.

He's basically Logan Mankins age.

No, Mankins is 29 or going to be 29 this year.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7208