Senior Bowl Preview- South Roster

Nate Allen, FS, South Florida- Allen has gotten lost in the depth of the other big name safeties in this draft (like Eric Berry, Earl Thomas, and Taylor Mays). He shows very good ball skills, and is a true centerfielder type of FS. He can start immediately in the right system, and I think that with a good game he should lock down a spot in the second round. If he makes it to the third, he’d be a steal in my book.

Javier Arenas, CB, Alabama- Arenas lacks the ideal size you want in a boundary corner, which makes me think his best fit is going to be as a nickel corner or in a Cover-2 where he can play up on the line and have safety help over the top. What Arenas has going for him are his ball skills and his return ability. He’s an elite punt returner, and he has a knack for getting his hands on the ball on defense and can make things happen once he does. Like Thompson, Arenas can really improve his stock playing against some bigger receivers in this game, but also against some of the quicker slot guys as well.

Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia- Atkins is strictly a three-technique. He gets great penetration into the backfield and is very disruptive. One of the biggest issues I have with him is that his field awareness is not up to where it should be. An example is when he gets penetration, he can run right past the play without even noticing. He’s also had some disciplinary issues, and has not been a full time starter at all, so there are some bumps on him. He has the skills of a second round pick though, but the overall package has to be taken into consideration. The biggest test for Atkins in this game will be his off the field interactions with coaches and scouts, which none of us will ever get to see.

Ciron Black, OT, LSU- I’ve never been a fan of Black, although many other draft experts considered him a top notch tackle prospect. If you watch any bit of tape on Black it’s obvious he does not have the feet to play LT, and I will argue he doesn’t have the foot speed to play RT at the next level either. He is solid in the run game though, so he has some value at guard. He’s a four year starter, so there is something to say about experience and technique that he has developed over that time, but it cannot compensate for a lack of athleticism to play tackle in the NFL. I expect him to be exposed big time in this game because of the solid crop of North DE’s.

Jerrett Brown, QB, West Virginia- He’s a very good athlete, a great runner for the position, but he’s not a QB. He should be able to switch positions though at the next level and can make it as a receiver or running back.

Jeff Byers, OG, USC- Byers has received a lot more hype over his time at USC than is deserved. He did grow on me the more I saw of him, but he simply lacking in some areas that a player of his experience level should not be. He gets driven back in the run game because he’s undersized, and he can get beat by the speed rush at times as well. What he does do well is pull, and he can find the man on the second level and make a block. I think he’s draftable, but he’s a late rounder. I’m interested to see if he continues to grow on me with this game, but it will take some serious convincing to make me think he’s anything more than say a 6th round pick.

Selvish Capers, RT, West Virginia- Capers has some good upside, but he needs some refinement. He can move the pile in the run, but he tends to stop his feet on contact. He’s a solid athlete, but he needs to work on being a better tackle. He has the potential to be a starting RT at the next level with some work.

Terrance Cody, DT, Alabama- I think all of the criticism you will hear about Cody is warranted. He is a two down player, they rotated him in and out a lot at Alabama so it’s difficult to know if he can even be a full time NT, and his weight will always be an issue for the off-season. Most will say he’s one dimensional, but he’s VERY good at that one dimension. Cody is impossible to move with one blocker, and his long arms allow him to jolt interior linemen back a yard or two. He’s an ideal 3-4 NT though, and those guys are hard to find, so I really think he will make it into the end of the first round. Again, had you told me that Tyson Jackson would go in the top five picks last year I would have laughed at you, so anything can happen. But with the 3-4 being so popular now, and the NT spot probably the hardest to fill, I think Cody belongs in the bottom part of the first round.

Antonio Coleman, DE/OLB, Auburn- He’s an edge rusher, and he’s fairly one dimensional too. Coleman’s all about dipping and ripping around the edge and trying to get to the QB with speed. He struggles to set the edges against the run because he’s undersized. He might be able to fit into a Cover-2 that favors speed over size, but I think his best fit will have to be moving to the rush OLB position, but I question if he has the athleticism to be able to drop and cover. To me he’s a fringe 3rd rounder because of his ability to rush the passer. If he plays some OLB in this game and shows well, I could see his stock improving. If he plays end and just runs around the corner like usual, it does nothing for his stock.

Riley Cooper, WR, Florida- He can return kicks, and is a tough kid, but I see him struggling to make a team if he’s drafted. I don’t think he has the speed or strength to separate or get away from coverage, but he’s a tough slot receiver who will go over the middle.

Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma State- Cox is the opposite to some of the other previously mentioned corners. He’s tall, big, physical, and he can run. He’s a bit stiff in the hips, but it’s not enough of a concern to me. Cox impressed me the most in the first game of the season by locking up the very talented Georgia sophomore WR A.J. Green and limiting his impact in the game. He can return kicks as well, and looks good doing it. I think with a solid game here he can lock up a spot in the second round. Stiff hips or not, he has the ability to at worst be a number two corner on some team and will be an asset for covering the bigger and more physical receivers we see today in the NFL.

Jimmy Graham, TE, Miami- Graham came to the U as a scholarship basketball player, so he has very limited experience at the position. He shows the things you want in a developmental prospect though, and it’s hard not to make the immediate parallel to All Pro TE and former college basketball player Antonio Gates. Very tall, big frame, decent speed, great body control, good leaper. I want him on my team as he has the frame to even potentially work toward being an OT if he can’t cut at TE. Plus he’s the type of guy who will block kicks at the next level. I fully expect him to gain moment as we get closer to draft day, but it will be most interesting to see how he takes to the professional level coaching, and if he can adapt quick enough to prove he’s worth a shot as a developmental player.

Shay Hodge, WR, Ole Miss- Hodge has the chance to make a big impact in this game much like his former teammate and current Steeler Mike Wallace did in this game last season. Hodge has good size, and while not as fast as Wallace, he’s a solid receiving prospect. He needs some refinement on his route running, but the potential is there.

Lamarr Houston, DT, Texas- Houston is definitely vastly underrated right now. He can dominate with power, he reads plays well, and he has fantastic quickness off the snap to disrupt plays in the backfield. I actually think he might be ideal as a 3-4 DE with his combination of speed and strength. In fact I think he is on a very similar path that former Missouri DT Ziggy Hood was last year where a strong bowl game, a very strong Senior Bowl week, and a solid combine showing moved him up into the bottom of the first round at the exact same position.

John Jerry, RT/OG, Ole Miss- I still like Jerry a lot as a RT, but he is a bit slow off the snap. That scares me as he does not have the speed to catch up to edge rusher at the next level, so guard may end up being his position when it’s all said and done. Jerry is great in the run game, as once he locks on, he moves the pile. I like the fact that he’s versatile enough to play both positions, and a strong game here could push his stock up into the early third round range. In fact, I’d be tickled pink should he slip down to the Bears in the third round. He could start immediately at guard or tackle for the Bears.

Mike Johnson, OG, Alabama- Johnson was being touted by some as the best guard in this draft, but I don’t think that’s true at all. He’s very good in the run game. He gets good movement, he transitions well from the first to the second level, and he can block the moving target as well. The biggest problem is he struggles with quicker DTs, especially with the second pass rush move. Several times this year he would stall the initial move by the defensive lineman, only to get beat by a secondary rip move. It’s those consistency issues that push him down in my opinion, but a solid week of practice here and a good game could help move him up a bit.

Stafon Johnson, RB, USC- The fact that Johnson is actually playing in this game after the horrific weight lifting accident he was in earlier in the year earns him player of the game award before the game even starts. No one will EVER question his toughness after this. As for Johnson as a back, he churns his legs well and gets tough yards. He’s not explosive in the hole, but is more of a big back that picks up speed as he runs. If he can get through the hole, he can break tackles and has good long speed once he gets up to the top level. I’m just excited to see him get on the field, and anything he does is a plus in my book.

Trevard Lindley, CB, Kentucky- For some reason most other experts like Lindley, but I really don’t like him. I said he was really soft against the run last year, and he proved once again he’s just not interested in fighting up to make a solo tackle. He will simply hold a guy up until someone else comes in and makes the tackle for him. And I’m not sold on his coverage skills either, so it’s not like he has one thing to fall back on. Watch him closely in this game and see if you see the same things.

Taylor Mays, FS, USC- The more I’ve watched of Mays the less I’ve liked. He’s an athlete, not a football player, at this point in his career. He is incredibly fast, hits like a truck, is huge for a DB, and it all stops there. He does not wrap up in tackles, he seems to think too much and ends up not making plays he easily could with his athleticism, and his instincts just seem to be lacking. He does not have the technique of a senior, and I would be very weary of having him as my last line of defense. To be honest, he may be better fit as a SS or a LB in the pros as he won’t have to worry about the instincts part of the game. He will no doubt get massively over drafted due to his combine numbers, but I won’t budge from the thought that he at best a late first rounder. With some good coaching, he can correct these things, but until then he should be covered up a bit by moving him closer to the line. He’s physical enough that he’d excel there.

Dexter McCluster, WR, Ole Miss- His size will cause his stock to slip, but with a creative OC, he will be a major weapon. McCluster has great speed and an uncanny ability to make small moves and make tacklers miss. For a small guy, he breaks a lot of tackles. He’s a bit of a ‘tweener right now though, so it will be interesting to see how they use him in this game (as either a receiver or running back).

Roddrick Muckelroy, OLB, Texas- I’m not as sold on Muckelroy as others. He’s a bit small, and definitely relies on speed. He will make a solid WLB, and is much better pass defender than a run defender. He’s going to have to go to the right system though in order to make an impact.

Eric Norwood, OLB, South Carolina- Norwood just makes impact plays. He has an excellent burst, he’s explosive, he has an uncanny feel for the pass rush game and how to vary his moves, and when he gets to the QB he really delivers a hit. He is not very good in pass coverage, so he will need some coaching in this area. He’s the type of player I do not want to pass on, especially if I have a 3-4 defense. They won’t allow blitzing in this game, so it will be good to see how he holds up in pass coverage and how he reads and reacts on run plays.

Jeff Owens, DT, Georgia- He’s a one-dimensional run stuffer, but he does hold up well against the double team. He’s not big enough to be a NT in a 3-4, but he can hold up as a nose in the 4-3. How will he hold up against the run with a massive guard like Iupati blocking him? We’ll find out Saturday.

Colin Peek, TE, Alabama- Not a bad two-way prospect, as he blocks better than his size would indicate. He’s not a seam stretcher, but he’s a good short to intermediate threat. He’s a nice throw back to the old TEs. He’s going to make a very good value pick for some team, and he’ll probably slip into the 3-5th round range

Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State- The biggest thing going for Robinson is that he is extremely fast. He was able to run down Noel Devine, one of the fastest backs in college football, when Devin had a good 15-20 yard lead. That play was VERY impressive. Robinson also impressed me with his effectiveness and willingness to come up and support the run. I had a hard time getting a good read on Robinson in the games I watched as teams actively threw away from him. So I will be paying very close attention to him in this game to see how he holds up in coverage.

Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma State- Robinson is a decent athlete, but his arm and accuracy is not quite up to the NFL standard. He might make it as a number three, but he’s a late rounder at best.

Myron Rolle, SS, Florida State via Oxford- Since he didn’t play last year, I will past in what I said about him last year. He has the smarts, but how rusty will he be with a year layoff? He showed some flashes here and there, but he didn’t seem to have the field awareness that matched his intelligence. And because of this, he seemed to be a step slow on the field. Now, maybe it’s because he is actually a step slow for the position, but I think it’s the former rather than the latter.

George Selvie, DE, South Florida- I think Selvie is suffering from paralysis by analysis. He’s been considered a possible first round prospect for the past two years, so everyone is watching closely and paying attention to all of the warts. I was never convinced he was a firs rounder, but he can rush the passer, so he has value. He’s undersized, so watch him closely to see how he holds the point of attack against the run.

Darryl Sharpton, MLB, Miami- The only thing in my mind that I question about him is his straight line speed. I think that may keep him from being a good coverage MLB. Other than that, he has the skills of an immediate starter. Great instincts, good lower body power to hold the point, he sheds blockers with his hands, and he diagnoses the play and makes the tackle. He’s just a very good all around MLB, and he can fit in a 3-4 or a 4-3. I think he’ll have a very good game here, and he’s one of my personal favorite players.

Ben Tate, RB, Auburn- Tate’s got very good size and good balance, but he does not have good burst. I think this may hurt him at the next level as the speed is that much faster which might cause him to be stopped for a loss more times than not. Can he run away from players in this game? If not, it will prove my point that the next level will be very difficult for him to make a difference.

Tim Tebow, QB, Florida- My thoughts will never change on Tebow, he’s just not an NFL QB. He is probably the most successful college football player of all time, but that doesn’t mean he will translate to the next level. He just gets lost when the rush comes down on him. Someone is going to take a chance on him far too soon, but I admire his leadership abilities. That’s as far as I will go though.

Leigh Tiffin, K, Alabama- Yep, mentioning another kicker. Tiffin has some value though and he will get drafted. He doesn’t have a huge leg, but he’s accurate, and that is what is important.

Dekoda Watson, OLB, Florida State- Watson is very impressive. Extremely fast, and is an impact pass rusher. He’s a bit undersized, but he’s a guy I want on my team. He’d make an impressive WLB, and with some added strength, he could be a force on a 3-4 team because of his ability to flatten around the corner and close to the QB. He’s had some problems with academics in the past though, so this could hurt his draft stock.

Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee- This is when I really wish I had the time to post these up as I watch games. After the first two weeks, I had this to say about Williams: “He’s under the radar right now, but I don’t think that will stay that way. With his size, he can play either the 3-4 or the 4-3 nose.” Funny enough, Kiper and others were touting him as a first rounder by the end of the year. Williams has a huge lower body, he gets good push with his initial punch, he occupies the double team and keeps his shoulders square, and he can bull rush interior lineman to disrupt the pocket. He was a bit up and down the more I saw after the first two weeks, and I’m not sure he can hold up as a 3-4 NT. He can definitely play the 4-3 though as he showed some flashes of pass rush ability. Someone will draft him to play the nose though in a 3-4.

C.J. Wilson, DE, East Carolina- Wilson is a power end. He’s a traditional 4-3 end as he can stuff the run, and he has decent pass rush ability as well. He’s different than most of the other ends in this game in that he’s not someone who will move to a 3-4.