Senior Bowl Live Blog

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.

Senior Bowl Preview- North Roster

Denario Alexander, WR, Missouri- Alexander reminds me a lot of Brian Robiskie last year. He’s one of the more underrated WR prospects in the senior class. He has good speed and acceleration as he gets to top speed quickly and can break hard without throttling down. Alexander has good hands, great size, runs solid routes, and has good body control when high pointing the ball during his jumps. This game would go a long way to prove that he’s worthy of a 3rd round grade. I want to see if he has the speed to run away from people though, as that is the only thing I question about his overall skills.

Tyson Alualu, DE, California- I would not be surprised at all to see Alualu make his way into the first round due to what I am calling the ‘Tyson Jackson effect’. I never thought Tyson Jackson was that great last year, I would go as far as saying I would have never drafted him until the end of the first, and he went third overall to the Chiefs. Alualu is better than Jackson, but that doesn’t mean he will go in the top 10. He has the size and strength to play the five technique and be outstanding at the position, but he also has the speed to play a 4-3 power end. He has good straight line speed, and can rush the passer around the edge as well. I really like what I have seen in Alualu’s overall game and I would be very surprised if he made it past a team like the Chargers, Steelers, or Patriots in the late first round. I’m most interested to see if he will play end or tackle in this game.

Larry Asante, FS/SS, Nebraska- Asante skipped the Shrine game for this game, so this is the same write up as before. Seeing as the Bears are so needy at the FS position, it makes me even more excited about Asante as I would LOVE to see him in the Navy and Orange next year. His speed shows up film, which is impressive. He is like a missile coming up to support the run, and he can really hit. He’s solid in deep coverage as well. He has the ideal size as well, so I’m expecting big things from him in this game.

Zane Beadles, OT, Utah- Beadles took a step back this year in my opinion. He has good feet, and could definitely play LT at the next level but I don’t think he has the height or long enough arms to do so. He also has a bad habit of getting his head too far into the block, so he ends up getting shucked, thrown to the ground, or he lunges and ends up on the ground himself. He will more than likely need to move inside to guard, but I don’t know if he has the strength to do well there. I think he will eventually be good, and he reminds me a lot of Green Bay OG Darryn Colledge, who was as close of a comparison as I can think of from having watched both in college. He’s still got second or third round potential due to his ability to play several positions and because of his nimble feet and aggressive nature of play.

LaGarrette Blount, RB, Oregon- The suspension for punching a Boise State player will weigh heavy on Blount. He came in to the season out of shape, and that shows his lack of discipline and desire to be a better player. When he was on the field, I didn’t see anything that looked like a difference maker at the next level. I would not draft him because of the discipline issues, and with the league’s recent stance on this, I would guess most teams will agree with me and not bother with the potential headache.

Chris Brown, RB, Oklahoma- Between the tackles runner who does more with effort than natural talent. He’s not exactly the biggest runner though, which worries me that he will wear down quickly at the next level trying to make it between the tackles. He doesn’t show enough burst or flash, nor the hands, to warrant anything more than a late draft pick. He is the quintessential role player though, and I think he will find a way to contribute and make a roster.

Sean Canfield, QB, Oregon State- There is something there, and I think he’s going to rise fast going in to the draft. This game will definitely be a platform for him to shine, much like Cutler did when surrounded by some better talent than a few years back. Good arm, good enough accuracy, just needs some work on making the right decisions and looking off the DBs better. I think he may be the best senior QB as I like him better than Tony Pike of Cincinnati (also in this game). Canfield has good size as well, and is a pocket passer with some athleticism. Probably best as a back up to begin with, with the potential to be a starter. He would make a good third or fourth round pick for a team with an older veteran who will need someone to groom.

Kurt Coleman SS, Ohio State- On film Coleman never really stood out. He was aggressive and solid coming up against the run, but you never really saw him make an impact either positively or negatively in the passing game. That’s something to watch for here, as there are some very good TEs in this game that he will have to cover. If he can hold his own, it will move him up in my book.

Dorin Dickerson, TE, Pittsburgh- He’s a pass catching threat, but not an inline TE. He cannot block at all. He has very good speed though, so someone will take a chance on him sooner than later because he can stretch the seam.

Phillip Dillard, OLB, Nebraska- Dillard’s instincts really stood out in the games I saw, and he has good speed. When he reads his keys, he explodes and makes the play for a loss. He’s undersized, but I really like what I saw in him and think he can fit in a variety of LB positions. He will be challenged in this game by some of the games best OL though, so if he can show he’s stout enough at the point, I think he will start to steadily move up people’s draft boards because of his athleticism.

A.J. Edds, OLB, Iowa- He’s solid but unspectacular. He won’t hurt you but he might not help you a great deal either. He’s a lot like Hunter Hillenmeyer in that vein.

Jacoby Ford, WR, Clemson- Without question Ford is a true deep threat, as he has home run hitting speed. He can return punts, and has very good run after the catch ability, with good field vision. Surprisingly enough for a ‘speed guy’, Ford is actually a really strong blocker. He shows a good hand punch and he’s willing to fight to sustain his blocks. The only thing that will keep him from going in the second round range is that he body catches a bit too much, and he’s not the biggest guy either. He has upside though, and you can’t teach speed, so a big game here may help boost his stock (especially for a team like the 49ers who desperately need a return man).

Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati- Gilyard is incredibly quick, but doesn’t seem to be very fast, if that makes sense. He gets open not by running away from people but form being able to make his cuts at top speed with very little movement up top. He’s going to make an outstanding slot receiver and a top notch returner right away. I think that he may not run the fastest 40, which could drop him, but it’s not something to be concerned with as he’s plenty fast enough on film. Playing him on the outside will be a chore though as he may get overpowered by bigger corners. If he can shake those guys here, he’s a lock for the second round.

Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan- I really like Graham. He isn’t the tallest end, so he reminds me of Dwight Freeney. Because he’s short in stature, he gets good leverage. He shows a very strong initial punch, and has a fantastic bull rush (his strongest pass rush move in my opinion). He also does a very good job of knocking the tackles off balance and then swimming or ripping past them. He can anchor the edge and is solid against the run, and he’s close to being what I would call an elite pass rusher. He could fit in a 3-4 as an OLB, but I think he’d also make a good cover-2 rush end with his ability to stack the line against the run. I expect him to excel in the pass rush drills in practice (also shown on NFL Network) and to have an impact in the game.

Garrett Graham, TE, Wisconsin- Graham’s not a big guy, but he blocks like one. Blue collar, hard worker, and will make a team better. Reminds me of Todd Heap, and he should go in the third to fourth round range. His size will be the only thing that holds him back, but I think he has the drive to overcome this and contribute at the next level

Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho- With good coaching and work on the finer points of his technique, he could be a perennial Pro Bowler. He’s got great feet, he pulls around the edge effortlessly, and he’s great at getting his hands on the second level defender. I don’t know if I would take him in the first because there are some things that do bother me. He does not do a good enough job of getting his hands inside consistently, he has a tendency to stay high on the pull, and he also consistently punches guys off instead of locking in the defender and driving them completely out of the play. These are all little things, and the former OL in me nit picking, and I wouldn’t argue if someone took him at the end of the first. There are some solid DL prospects here, and if he can show that aggressiveness and finish guys here, someone will pull the trigger on him in the first for his potential alone.

Shawn Lauvao, OT/OG, Arizona State- Lauvao intrigues me as a tackle prospect. He is a bit inconsistent with his footwork though, and I don’t think he has the foot speed to play on the left side in the pros. He could fit very well on the right side though as he is a tough run blocker who also does well getting to the second level and keeping his feet moving on blocks. He could potentially move in to guard as well, as I’m not sure his arms as long as you’d like for a tackle. I didn’t see as much tape on him as I would have liked to, so I’m very interested to see how he performs in this game.

Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan- I’ve called LeFevour a poor man’s Tim Tebow before, and I stick by that assessment. He’s been extraordinarily productive at the collegiate level, and he’s a great leader, but that does not make him an NFL QB. His arm is not strong enough, and he’s not accurate either. A good game here may make me reconsider my stance that he’s not an NFL QB prospect, but I still won’t budge from the fact that I don’t think he’s worth spending a pick on until the 4th-6th rounds.

Kyle McCarthy, SS, Notre Dame- He will be a special teams ace. McCarthy looks undersized for SS, he doesn’t look fast enough to play FS, but he is always around the ball. He’s smart, knows where to be, and he plays hard. I want guys like that on my team, regardless of whether their measurable numbers say they should play in the NFL.

Zoltan Mesko, P, Michigan- He’s a punter. He looks decent, but nothing that makes me think he’s worth anything more than a 6th or 7th round pick. By now you should start to see the trend that I don’t spend much time scouting kickers and punters.

Koa Misi, DE/OLB, Utah- I really like Misi, and I’m not sure why I haven’t noticed him before this season. He’s an ideal fit as a rush OLB in the 3-4, and essentially plays this position at the collegiate level. He’s 260+lbs, so he has the size, he has a very good grasp of pass rushing and uses a variety of moves, he does a good job of coming in on delayed blitzes when in the two point, and he is effective in coverage as well. Misi has good straight line speed and in one game almost ran down a very fast running back who had a ten yard head start. No one really is saying much about him, but I think he has the goods. I would not be surprised at all to see him excel here, and I hope he does so I can point my finger at the world and say ‘I told you so’.

Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State- I really like Odrick! He’s a pure 3-technique who lives on penetration into the backfield to disrupt plays. He can often show a tendency to miss plays by getting too far up-field, but it’s successful more often than not. What impressed me most was the fact that he does not turn his shoulders too quickly, so he handles the double team well for an undersized tackle. He has the power and speed to play the 5-technique as well, but I think he can be a game changer in a cover-2 style defense. He absolutely took over this game. In Peen State’s bowl game against LSU, Odrick absolute took over the game and was completely unblockable. In fact, there was more than just one game where I saw teams actively planning around him to try not to let him affect their offense. He’s good enough to still make an impact though. I will be shocked if he makes it out of the first round.

Eric Olsen, OC, Notre Dame- Olson is a fringe draft pick to me as he gets beat by speed and power. He doesn’t get good push in the run game, and he does not hold up on an island in the middle in the pass game as well. Granted, the Notre Dame OL hasn’t been great since the Brady Quinn era, so showing well here could at least lead to a late round selection.

Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati- Pike is very streaky, and I question if his arm is strong enough to make all of the throws in the NFL. He’s not good throwing on the run either. He has the size you want in a pocket passer, but I’m not sure he’s anything more than a career backup. He’s worth drafting though, and he has the prototypical size to work with at the next level.

O’Brien Schofield, OLB/DE, Wisconsin- I don’t need to say much more about him, but I’m glad he got the invite (and accepted it) to come to the Senior Bowl. I’m hoping he plays some DE in this game to show his pass rush ability after proving to scouts last week that he can play in space as an OLB.

Matt Tennant, OC, Boston College- Tennant is the best senior OC I have seen this year. He’s just incredibly sound with his technique and leverage. His hand punch is violent and it gets him the room he needs to reset and get DL off of his frame. He blocks the second level extremely well, and he’s so successful at this because of his wide base and ability to stay balanced. What really impressed me was his ability to recover if he slipped off the fit. I think he will rise steadily, and he’s a guy I want on my team. Interior linemen that aren’t can’t miss slip come draft day, so he’d be a gem for a team should he slip into the third round and onward.

Cam Thomas, DT, North Carolina- Thomas did not get the publicity of the other more highly regarded UNC defensive linemen this season, but I think he deserves some credit. He’s very tall with long arms, and is big as well. He may even fit well as a 3-4 nose, but I think his best value is as a run stuffing NT in a 4-3. He’s got a chance to shine in this game as critics can’t say his production would be because of the other top talent around him. The field is leveled in this game, so I will be watching closely to see how he holds up.

Syd’Quan Thompson, CB, California- If Thompson were two inches taller, people would say he’s a first round lock. He reminds me of Alphonso Smith from Wake Forest last year in that he has everything you want in a lock down corner except for ideal height. He’s aggressive in coming in against the run and will shoot like a bullet at a runners legs. He’s physical on the jam, and he has good ball skills. He’s smart in zone coverage and reads routes well, so he knows when to break. I think he’ll make a steal in the second round for a team who doesn’t care if he is only 5’9”. There are some big, physical receivers on the South squad, so he will get the chance to show he can hang at the next level.

Ed Wang, LT, Virginia Tech- Wang has some potential to play LT at the next level, but he’s best suited to starting off at RT. He’s a very good run blocker, definitely above average for the position, but he’s just an adequate pass blocker. He’s valuable though because of his versatility to serve as a team’s swing tackle. In this game, watch to see how he handles the speed rush around the corner from guys like George Selvie and Antonio Coleman

Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri- Weatherspoon runs too hot and cold for my liking, but there is no denying the fact that he has the talent to start in the NFL. He has elite closing speed and the ability to get around the corner as a pass rusher. He’s undersized though so he struggles when the play is run right at him. Weatherspoon has the speed to be dangerous as a WLB in a 4-3, and if you give him space and keep him clean, he can make plays at the next level.

Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State- Good hips, good speed, and can shut guys down. He showed the ability to play on the man in press and equally well in off man or zone coverage. He’s a strong tackler for the position as well. This could give him a chance to shine, and if he does well, he could push himself up into the second round range.

Sam Young, RT, Notre Dame- Young’s extremely experienced, is solid in the run game, but he will struggle a lot with speed on the corner at the next level. Seems as though he will make a decent starting RT at the next level, but it’s tough to spend anything higher than a 3rd rounder on a player who you have to say this about. Like Ed Wang, he can help his stock in this game by showing a better/quicker kick step and stopping these undersized South speed rushers from getting the edge.

Senior Bowl Coverage

Much like I did for the Shrine Game, I will have new posts up over the next few days to go over some players to watch in this weekend’s Senior Bowl (3pm Saturday on NFL Network).

Seeing as this is the last official organized game of the college football season, and since it has an unprecedented number of top notch Seniors attending and participating, I will be LIVE BLOGGING the event on Saturday.

So make sure to have your wireless connections ready, and your laptops up and running for game time, so you can join in on the chat and help me see who will make an impression in a positive or negative way.

Shrine Game Wrap-Up

I won’t go into too much detail other than to point out some people who really impressed me in this game. What was frustrating was that I did not have the numbers of each player from the official Shrine Game’s website, plus ESPN2 decided to join the game about 7 minutes in, which really angered me.

I think it’s also important to note that this game illustrated why it’s tough to scout all-star games as getting the right continuity in only a week’s time with all new teammates is really hard to ask. Having said this, some people did stick out in a good way.

Kam Chancellor, FS, Virginia Tech- Chancellor probably had the best day of any prospect in this game. Not only did Chancellor close well on deep throws in over the top safety help, he broke up another couple plays with some extremely violent hits as well; but the most impressive part was his willingness and ability to get downfield and make plays in kick coverage units. He really played like he wanted to prove something, and that kind of fire reminds me of the player I saw two years ago. He still may end up being better suited to the SS spot, but he helped out his stock enough to say is in that third round range now. In fact, after seeing this game, I’m even of the mind that he could make a Brian Urlacher type move to MLB in a Cover-2 system because of his size and ability to get back in the deep middle. I’m sure he will stay at safety though, and with a good 40 time, you may see someone make a move in the late second after seeing this game.

Keaton Kristick, OLB, Oregon State- He played outstanding in this game, and it’s clear that his instincts and field awareness have him one step ahead of everyone else. He is a player that I do not care what his physical numbers are as he plays bigger than what they are. He’s one of my absolute favorite players in this draft, and he’s going to make some team very happy when they draft him.

O’Brien Schofield, OLB/DE, Wisconsin- Once could argue he had a better game than Chancellor as he showed he can learn quickly and can handle the duties of an OLB at the next level. Because this game does not allow blitzing, you really got to see how Schofield handled pass coverage and reading/reacting to plays from the stand up position. After this game, and when you watch his pass rush ability on tape, I’m starting to think it wouldn’t be a reach to see him land at the end of the first round to a 3-4 team looking for a pass rusher. The Jets come to mind as a perfect fit for a player like Schofield, and I think that would be a perfect fit for him.

Jamar Wall, CB, Texas Tech- I really liked what I saw in Wall in this game as he played very aggressively. He looks the part of an ideal Cover-2 corner who can play some bump and run coverage. He fills hard against the run and can tackle well. It didn’t matter who he covered, he made plays. With the depth at the position being poor, I think this game could have moved his stock up considerably.

Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, DE/DT, Washington- He’s undersized for a DT, and might not fit at 4-3 end, but he looks the part of a 3-4 DE. He has good short area quickness, and he never stops moving forward. He’s a nice sleeper player who will slip through the cracks and could make for a solid value pick.

Todd Reesing, QB, Kansas- I’m completely convinced now that he will never be an NFL QB. He should not be drafted.

Mike Kafka, QB, Northwestern- He had an up and down game, but did drive the team down and win the game. That kind of mental toughness and calm under pressure will probably get him drafted late but it is really evident that his arm is not good enough for the next level. He would have to go to the right system to even be considered a back up (West-Coast style offense would be ideal).

Lindsey Witten, DE, UConn- I did not see many UConn games this year, so it was good to see Witten shine in this game. He’s a bit undersized, but I think he can fit at DE at the next level in the right system. He’s a good edge rusher, and he plays hard against the run. For a leaner guy, he still holds the edge well with good technique and strength. I think he could move to OLB at the next level, but it may take away from his skills. He can play in a rotation right away as a pass rusher in the 4-3. A team like the Colts would be smart to look at spending a third round pick or so on him as he’s fit perfectly into their system as a backup to both Freeney and Mathis.

Mike Tepper, LT, California- This game proved to me that Tepper does not have the foot speed to play LT at the next level. He got abused around the edge several times in this game.

Hunter Lawrence, K, Texas- I very rarely mention kickers or punters, but Lawrence will have a shot. With so many teams having kicking problems this year, Lawrence has shown he has the leg (he drilled a 47 yarder in this game with plenty of room to go) and can hit clutch kicks as well (look no further than the Big-12 Championship game where he hit the game winner as time ran out). He’s a late rounder, but a team like Washington could be calling his name in the 5-7th round range.

Riar Geer, TE, Colorado- I didn’t see much other than knowing he will be drafted based on his blocking alone. He is a good drive blocker, and if the DE lines up inside of him he is capable of driving him into the pile and setting the edge.

Barry Church, SS, Toledo- I had not seen any footage on Toledo yet, so seeing Church in this game was a pleasant surprise. He showed good coverage skills for the position, and he fills hard against the run. He is a solid looking SS prospect that seems to be able to play both the pass and run equally well.

Van Eskridge, FS, East Carolina- He has good instincts in coverage, and showed good burst, concentration, and hands in grabbing an interception in this game. Another solid FS prospect, which may actually make this deeper than the DL position.

Alric Arnett, WR, West Virginia- Arnett had a very good game. He has good hands, he catches the ball away from his frame, he has good size, and he is a good leaper as well. He did a good job of staying under control in his breaks as well which allowed him to gain some separation and make plays.

John Skelton, QB, Fordham- Another prospect that I have not seen this year. He will get drafted because he was the only QB in this game that has prototypical size and arm strength to make it at the next level. He will need a lot of work though, so he’s strictly a late round developmental prospect. He is worth taking a shot on and grooming, especially for a team with a QB getting up in age.

Matt Nichols, QB, Eastern Washington- Unlike Skelton, he does not have the physical attributes of a typical pocket passer. He does have good accuracy though, and he seems to have a good feel for playing the position. He should get drafted late, but I still don’t see him as anything more than a potential back up.

Earl Mitchell, DT, Arizona- I wrote only one thing down for Mitchell about this game: Relentless. It’s the perfect description for him. I’m hoping he lasts until the 4th round, as I would love to see the Bears to grab him and work him in as the backup and future heir apparent to Tommie Harris at the three-technique.

Dennis Pitta, TE, BYU- He just always finds a way to get open, and I have never seen him drop a ball. He’s going to make some team very happy, but again, he will need to be used properly and not counted on whatsoever to be a blocker.

James Ruffin, DE, Northern Iowa- I thought he had a great game that went almost completely unnoticed by the announcers. Not once did they mention him, but he made several impact plays even if it didn’t show up on the stat sheet. He had a good amount of hurries, and forced the QB to make passes they shouldn’t have. He also displayed a very good array of pass rush moves and beat the OT with speed and power. He set the edge well, and has the power to hold up on the edge. He’s a solid true 4-3 DE prospect that could keep on moving up with solid combine workouts. I thought he played better than any DE outside of LSU’s Rahim Alem.

Rahim Alem, DE, LSU- He was in the backfield the entire game and he flat out ran past the OT on more than one occasion without him ever getting a hand on him. What I liked was he showed the ability to get small, dip his shoulder, and corner tightly around the tackle to disrupt the pocket. Once again though, he relied almost exclusively on the speed rush, so he needs some real work on refining his technique. He had a big impact in this game though.

Stevenson Sylvester, OLB, Utah- Once again he just made plays. He really stands out on film as the plays he’s involved in are memorable moments in the game, whether they are game changing or just exciting. I could see him going to a team like the Ravens and developing into a real star.

Freddie Barnes, WR, Bowling Green- The only thing to say about Barnes is that he just understands how to play the position. The team that takes a chance on him in the third round will not be disappointed.

West Roster

Dexter Davis, DE/LB, Arizona State- I don’t see what others do in Davis. He has decent speed around the edge but he has no secondary pass rush move and he’s a liability in the run game as he’s not strong enough at the point. He will have to move to rush OLB at the next level, and I think someone will fall in love with his measureable at the combine and may overdraft him. He’s a mid-round prospect to me, but if he lights it up in this game, it could help to sway me slightly.

Dimitri Nance, RB, Arizona State- I think Nance doesn’t get enough credit as a legit running back. He’s a compact guy with good balance and good burst. He doesn’t seem to be someone how can run away from you, but he picks large chunks of yardage each carry because he keeps his legs churning after contact. He’s going to make some team very happy. He’s a good value pick, and seems to have very little bust potential to me since he probably won’t be drafted until some point in the fourth round or onward. These are the kind of games where guys like Nance can move up. Look no further than Matt Forte at the Senior Bowl two years ago. He was a solid prospect, who had a great game, and ended up going to the Bears in the second round.

Max Hall, QB, BYU- He’s just too short to play in the NFL. He has very good accuracy though, so he very well may end up getting drafted by someone as an emergency QB or third team guy. His arm is good enough but not ideal, his touch is good, and his decision making is decent. If he were 4 inches taller, he’d be in the mix as a potential NFL starter. He should have the easiest time transitioning in this game because he has his favorite receiver to throw to from BYU in TE Dennis Pitta.

Dennis Pitta, TE, BYU- I really like Pitta, but he absolutely has to go to the right team. He is strictly an H-back, as he needs to be split out wide, or motioned into the backfield. He is a poor blocker and can be taken out of a game if you put a bigger LB on him at the line and jam him. He is an elite weapon in the pass game though, is a fantastic route runner, and has phenomenal hands. On the right team, he can be a difference maker in the pass game. On the wrong offense, he will be a liability. Watch closely to see how he does in run blocking scenarios, and to see if he struggles to get off the line when an OLB is jamming him at the line.

Jan Jorgensen, DE, BYU- Jorgensen is very up and down. He has some decent speed to the outside, but can also hold his ground in the run. He’s not great at any one thing, but he’s not bad either. He may end up being a late rounder who will fit well as a 3-4 DE. He reminds me of the Steeler 3-4 defensive ends. Effort guy who is drafted late and works his way into the rotation.

Seyi Ajirotutu, WR, Fresno State- He’s a late round possession type receiver. He’s got good size though and he is a willing and capable blocker, which is hard to find in modern day college receivers. He can make a push to move up in the draft if he can show that he has the speed to gain separation from the corners in this game and get open deep.

Keaton Kristick, OLB, Oregon State- I absolutely love Kristick! His technique is absolutely phenomenal, which is what really sold me on him as a prospect. He’s a bit undersized, but he makes up for it with outstanding instincts and great form. I think he’s versatile enough to play several LB positions, and I want this guy on my team. He’s a football player, and I don’t care what his combine numbers are, his film says he’s the real deal. I expect him to do very well here.
Emmanuel Sanders, WR, SMU- Sanders is actually a pretty decent looking prospect. He’s a bit undersized, but he has very good cutting ability and can make big plays in space. He’s a solid punt returner as well that can break big runs, but may also make you want to tear your hair out as he changes direction a lot (hello Devin Hester II). He shined in a pass friendly offense this season, so it will be important to see if he can translate that production to a different style of offense.

Chris Marinelli, RT, Stanford- Marinelli is a solid RT prospect. He has the feet to protect the edge, and he also has the intensity needed to attack the defenders in the run game. He seems to have the frame to get bigger and stronger as well (because he’s a bit light right now), and I think he could potentially sneak into the late third or early fourth round.

Ekom Udofia, DT, Stanford- Udofia is another solid prospect that hasn’t gotten much publicity to date. He’s a big guy who is very hard to move in the run game but also shows good initial quickness off the ball and can penetrate into the backfield. Once he gets past that first blocker, he’s hard to move around as well. He’s going to make a good value pick, and I could see his stock rising as I think he may be able to play in a rotation as a 3-4 NT. I’m hoping he’ll get matched up against Sergio Render as I think this will tell a lot about what you have in each of these guys (one being a very solid run defender and the other being an impressive run blocker).

Michael Shumard, OG, Texas A&M- I thought Shumard was undraftable as a tackle prospect (he was the starting LT for the Aggies), but maybe the move to guard for this game will help him out. I’m still not hopeful about his chances, but the change in position may be all that he needs to sneak into the late rounds.

Reggie Carter, MLB, UCLA- I’m not sure about Carter. He gets caught in the trash a little too often, but he flashes at times. He does extend well and use his hands to fend off blocks, but he does not disengage quickly enough to find the ball. Pay attention to how he handles the blocks from guards or tackles that come up to the second level, because if he can’t handle it here, he won’t in the pro’s either.

Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA- I have two concerns with Verner. One is his straight line speed, as I’m not sure how fast he really is on the field. The second issue is he plays almost exclusively off the line, so I think he may struggle when put in a system that requires press man coverage. He has very good instincts in zone coverage though, and he can read the QB and the receiver’s routes to make a play on the ball. He can cover on an island though, and that is why I think someone will look his way in the second to third round range. He’ll be asked to get out of his comfort zone in this game, so it will be good to see how he responds when being asked to play up on the line. If he plays well, I could see him moving up steadily due to the somewhat subpar depth at the position in the draft this year.

Devin Ross, CB, Arizona- In the two games I saw from the Wildcats, I didn’t see anything out of Ross. That’s actually not as bad as it sounds. With the TV angle we all get at home, scouting the boundary players, like corners and wideouts, is very difficult since the camera tends to focus more on the pocket until the ball is out. By not seeing Ross much, that means the QB wasn’t throwing the ball his way because he was covering his man. So it will be intriguing to watch him in this game as he seems like he might be a guy who will slide a little come draft day, which is good news for a team that needs CB help later in the draft (yep, I meant the Bears, sadly)

Earl Mitchell, DT, Arizona- Mitchell seems a bit undersized and has a tendency to get washed in the run game a bit too easily, but he is a solid interior pass rusher. He might develop as a 3-4 DE, but holding up well against the run may prove he can fit as a three-technique tackle in a Cover-2 style scheme.

Mike Tepper, LT, California- There is something there with Tepper. He has the length to play LT, and his feet are good enough as well. He just needs to work on playing with a bit better knee bend, and he also could use some more lower body strength to hold the POA. Otherwise he has all of what you look for in the basics of a starting LT. I’m not completely sold on Tepper though as I have to admit I did not see enough games to make me certain he can play LT at the next level. So I will be watching him closer than some others in this game

Jaron Baston, DT, Missouri- I didn’t see enough production from Baston on film to think that he’s anything more than a late rounder to undrafted. So even with a big game, I wouldn’t be overly confident in him.

Brian Jackson, CB, Oklahoma- This guy will make a great nickel corner for a team that likes to blitz. Jackson does a great job disguising the blitz off the corner and he knows how to get to the ball when he hits the QB to force a fumble. He shows fluid hips in his drops when playing in deep zone coverage, so he can cover as well. I think his stock will steadily rise come draft day, but I am a bit concerned about his injury history as he missed time this season. He’s definitely another player to watch closely though.

Stevenson Sylvester, OLB, Utah- I’m probably one of the biggest fans of Sylvester out there, so my opinions maybe slightly slanted due to what I have seen to date. If it weren’t for the times where Sylvester flat out makes bad reads and overruns plays, I think he’d be a lock for the first round. He’s just an impact player who shows up at his best when the bright lights are on. He’s solid in coverage, he explodes into tackles and hits, and he can rush the passer as well. He’s versatile enough to play at any LB position and do well. If he can go to a team with a good position coach and a veteran who will work with him on some of the finer points of reading his keys and such, he could grow into a Pro Bowl player. This is what I would consider the ‘bright lights’, so I’m hoping Sylvester will show up and prove me right, since I’ve now raved about him!
Robert Johnson, FS, Utah- Johnson is a hammer, and he will blow receivers up if they come across the middle. I didn’t see him in coverage much though because the games I saw on him he was playing more in the box and the opposing teams didn’t throw deep up the middle. He looks like a solid prospect though at a position that is steadily becoming one of the deepest in the draft.
Larry Asante, FS/SS, Nebraska- Seeing as the Bears are so needy at the FS position, it makes me even more excited about Asante as I would LOVE to see him in the Navy and Orange next year. His speed shows up film, which is impressive. He is like a missile coming up to support the run, and he can really hit. He’s solid in deep coverage as well. He has the ideal size as well, so I’m expecting big things from him in this game.

TJ Ward, S, Oregon- Ward is outstanding in run support, but he lacks the necessary instincts in coverage. I saw him get lost several times in zone coverage, and that’s a concern. He is great against the run though, so he has value as either an in the box safety or potentially as a LB. If he can show better instincts in coverage on Saturday, I will be pleasantly surprised.

East Roster

Mike McLaughlin, MLB, Boston College- The biggest problem with McLaughlin is his size. McLaughlin is very short, and this will hurt him at the next level as he will have to run around blockers since his arms are going to be shorter than the blockers. He has good instincts, plays hard, and tackles well, but he’s also limited in pass coverage because of his less than ideal athletic ability. It will be interesting to see how he takes on blockers in this game, and if he’s able to disengage from them and make the tackle. I think ideally he will have to move to a 3-4 ILB position to help cover up some of his short comings, but he has the ability and should be drafted late at worst.

Freddie Barnes, WR, Bowling Green- Barnes is the real deal. He has the best hands I have seen in college since Fitzgerald. He just plucks the ball out of the air effortlessly and away from his frame. He’s a very savvy receiver as well, and really understands coverages and how to find soft spots. He does a good job with head fakes as well. He does not have ideal size, and he’s not a blazer, but I think he’s just a solid overall receiver. It will important to watch how Barnes handles transitioning to a different offensive scheme with a different QB. I think this former QB will do just fine, and may end up being one of the stars of this game. A big game could push him into the late second or early third, and I think he’s worth a gamble at that point.

Chris Chancellor, CB, Clemson- Chancellor is good against the run, but I’m not sure how smooth his hips are in transition from his back peddle. He will be playing against some very good receivers in this game, so it will be interesting to see how he handles the challenge in coverage (as he proved on film to me that he can handle the run game well for the position).

Kavell Connor, OLB, Clemson- He’s another short OLB. The good part is he’s always around the ball, but he seems to not have the best athleticism. He struggles breaking down in space against faster backs, but he still finds a way to get in on the play. I’m actually really interested to see what his 40 time is as he seems a bit slow on the field. Other than that, he’s got great instincts, good technique, uses his hands to shock blockers well, and is just a decent all around player. If he can continue this success here, and run well at the combine, I think his stock will continue to rise into the mid rounds.

Rodger Saffold, OT, Indiana- Saffold has some potential, but he also makes some of the same fundamental mistakes in his technique that are inexcusable at this level. He spends a lot of time on the ground, which means he’s overly aggressive and he’s not keeping a wide base or his hips under him. Being aggressive is good, but not when it gets him into this kind of trouble. If he can show some improvement in this part of his game, it could mean he is listening to coaching and is able to learn quickly.

Willie Young, DE, North Carolina State- Young has a long and linear build, but lacks the necessary bulk on his frame to hold the edge as a down defensive end. The positive though is he was dropped back in coverage a good amount of time with zone blitzes, and he didn’t look bad. He gets swallowed up in the run game because of his lack of size and strength, but he can rush the passer well. When he’s on his game, he looks great locking out blockers with his long arms and disengaging in tome to make plays. He is slated to play down DE here, so seeing if he can hold the point of attack will be critical.

Rahim Alem, DE, LSU- He’s a pass rusher, and a liability against the run. His best fit will be moving to OLB in the NFL, but I don’t know if he will be able to turn his hips and cover. Pay attention in this game at his ability to hold the edge when the offense runs right at him. If he can do this against what will be solid competition in this game, it may go a longer way to proving to scouts that he’s more than just a situational pass rusher or project at the rush OLB position.

Doug Worthington, DT/DE, Ohio State- A nice sleeper pick. He can play the 3-4 DE position as he is longer/taller than your normal DT. The need for this position should improve his draft status, and I think he’s definitely playing out of position as an interior tackle. 3-4 DE is where he needs to play and he might be a better pro because of this. He has good power and decent pass rushing. He even chases the play well. He’s going to be a good value, and I don’t think this game will do much to show that as he will be playing DT once again.

Jim Cordle, RT, Ohio State- I didn’t think Cordle was a good prospect as a tackle, and this may be why they are listing him as a center on the roster. So this game will be very interesting to watch and see if he had the versatility to play another position, which may secure him a spot in the late rounds.

Andrew Quarless, TE, Penn State- He’s just like the recent breed of TEs: tall, good quickness, and only interested in catching passes. I think he’ll be a better pro than a college player because they don’t seem to run much more than short routes with him. He runs good routes, has good hands, and is a good pass catching weapon. He is a liability as a blocker though, but he does have a bigger frame to work with. That’s something to watch carefully in this game and see if he can process and produce with good NFL coaching, even if just for a week.

Kevin Haslam, RT, Rutgers- Has the ideal size, long arms, and decent feet, but he needs to get a good deal bigger and stronger. I would hesitate to draft him as he needs a lot of work and time to develop, but he has the frame to put weight on and potentially end up playing a swing tackle spot. If he can handle himself well in the pass game against bevy of top notch speed rushers, I think that will help his stock a good deal, especially for a team drafting in the late parts of each round that has the luxury to let him sit and get bigger/stronger.

Justin Woodall, FS, Alabama- I like Woodall. He plays the run aggressively, and is a solid last line of defense as a tackler. I’m interested to see his timed speed, and how he opens his hips while running with a receiver, as he played primarily over the top in a deep centerfield zone for the Tide. If he does have trouble with deep coverage, I think he’s versatile enough and strong enough in the run game to move to SS.

Kyle Calloway, RT, Iowa- He has flashes of brilliance coupled with head scratching plays. He will struggle with the speed rusher, as he bails far too quickly with his shoulders, which allows DE’s to cut back to the inside with power moves and beat him easily to the inside. That’s the bad though, and there is a lot to like about him. He does a great job of flipping his hips around on run blocks to wall off the defender and create a crease for the back. He is also very good at blocking the second level as he gets there quickly, breaks down well in space, and gets his hands in position. With good coaching on his slide step, he could develop into a very good starting RT at the next level. Once again, with the speed rushers at this game, a solid game could boost his stock to the late second or third round range, or a bad game could push him down to the 5th or 6th round range

Javarris James, RB, Miami- James looked solid as a Sophomore, then disappeared last season as a Junior. He’s a bit of a long strider so he does not get up to top speed until after he’s through the hole and up field. James does however get tough yardage still in the short area as he has better power than you would think with his long strides. I don’t think he’s a bell cow back because of his lack of initial burst, but he’s a deceptively elusive runner. Can continue to build value with a big game here and a solid 40 time. And yes, he’s related to Edgerrin’s (cousin).

AJ Trump, OC, Miami- He does a good job of walling off the DL by getting his hips into position to create a seam. He’s not overpowering at the POA though, but he doesn’t need to be. He uses good leverage and hand placement to make blocks and seal tackles off. He’s probably no better than a 5th rounder or so, but he will get a chance here to be surrounded by a better group of guards than he was at Miami.

Greg Hardy, Ole Miss, DE- Hardy is perhaps the biggest enigma in this entire draft. Go no further than last year’s Florida game, where he almost single handedly beat the Gators with one of the more dominating performances I saw by a DL last season. He has ‘buyer beware’ written all over him due to past injury concerns, off the field incidents, and several problems with discipline. I think the injuries have hurt him most. He was very slow off the ball at times this year, and this is something to watch in this game. I’m concerned the injuries have taken a step away from his elite outside speed…but…he has a lot of technique and field awareness to make up for it. He’s very aware of the field and does a good job of bailing on screens and covering the back. He has shown he can drop into the zone if needed. He’s got first round ability in a third round package. A big game here could push him back into the whispers of being a late first rounder, and no worse than a second rounder. If he has trouble accepting coaching during the practice week, or gets shut down by the less than stellar crop of LTs in this game, then his stock will steadily spiral out of control. More and more teams are hesitating to take guys with as many question marks as Hardy has.

Nate Byham, TE, Pittsburgh- He’s the best blocking TE I saw this year. He’s not flashy and will probably go in that mid to late round area, but he will have a long career because of his ability and willingness to do what most of the new breed of TEs won’t do. He’s a great value pick, and he can potentially showcase his receiving skills in this game as well.

Darian Stewart, SS, South Carolina- Stewart started off at corner, and I thought he looked poor and would make a better safety, and lo and behold he ended up moving to SS in the middle of the year. He’s a natural fit for SS as he’s a good hitter, a strong tackler, has good enough speed, and his stiff hips won’t hurt him as much at this position. His experience at both positions will help, but he’s not a coverage guy as much as he is a versatile weapon in the box.

Chris Scott, LT, Tennessee- Scott has some potential, but is more of a RT due to his feet. He shows good balance in his pass sets, and he can move the pile in the run game as well. I think this game will show a lot as he will more than likely be asked to stay at LT, and if he can hold his own on an island, it should improve his stock. If he doesn’t hold up, he still has value as a RT.

O’Brien Schofield, DE/OLB, Wisconsin- Schofield played a down DE position at Wisconsin but he absolutely has to play rush OLB in the 3-4 in the NFL. He needs a lot of technique work and gym time to better hold the point against the run, but he’s a very good pass rusher. He did drop occasionally in some zone blitzes, and did respectably. I could see him going in the late second because of his pass rush skills, and no later than the third round, but he’s a work in progress due to the change in position.

Kam Chancellor, FS, Virginia Tech- Those of you who have followed my coverage since the word document days will know I loved Chancellor’s potential since I saw him as a Freshman. Having said this, he’s gone from one of my favorite players to a guy who I don’t think will be drafted until the late rounds. He looks a lot bigger this year, and it seems to have affected his speed. He still has upside though, and I cannot forget what I have seen from him in the past. It just may be that he will need to move closer to the line as a SS or even as a WLB in a cover two because he has the size and frame to continue to get bigger. His timed speed will be a big deal, and holding up in this game to me will tell me if he has a chance at FS or if he will definitely be a project at SS or OLB.

Sergio Render, OG, Virginia Tech- Render is hands down the best run blocking guard I have seen this year. The problem is his pass blocking is about as bad as his run blocking is good. It makes for a tough grade on him because he’s so up and down. He will need some serious work on this part of his game, so he may be a potential starter, and he has great potential because of his ability to dominate in the run game. It will be interesting to see how he holds up in pass pro in this game without Ed Wang next to him (who played tackle next to Render for the past 2-3 years). It’s a difficult task for guards and centers in this game to get accustomed to the players on either side of them, so when they stand out in these games, it’s usually a very good sign of future potential at the next level.

Who to look for at this weekend’s East-West Shrine Game

I promise there is good player specific coverage to come; I’m just finishing up all of my games right now so I have as much information for you all as possible (and it’s a VERY large amount, the most to date). Since I haven’t given you many updates, what I want to do here is give you a taste for what’s to come by outlining some of the prospects to pay special attention to in this weekend’s East-West Shrine game (which will air on ESPN2 from what I know).

The next two posts are broken down into the East and West rosters and who you should be watching come Saturday. With the Senior Bowl approaching shortly after this, I expect to do the same for that game.

I hope you enjoy, and be on the lookout over the next two weeks for more updates. If you have a gmail account, I believe you can subscribe to the blog as well on the right hand side, which will send you notifications of updates.