First impressions Early winners and losers as the Senior Bowl kicks off Posted: Tuesday January 23, 2007 7:22PM; Updated: Tuesday January 23, 2007 7:31PM Dwayne Bowe' sure hands and tenacity are making an impression on the NFL's head coaches and general managers in Mobile. By Tony Pauline, Special to SI.com MOBILE, Ala. -- Amidst the cold and occasional rain, the 2007 Senior Bowl kicked off on Monday morning. One of the most important weeks of scouting leading up to April's draft, the majority of the NFL's head coaches and general managers are in Mobile to scout the nation's top senior talent. Here's a breakdown of those who've impressed and those who have not the past two days. Risers ? Dwayne Bowe/WR/LSU: The Tigers' big possession wide out has caught everything thrown his way during the first two practices. Bowe has shown soft, natural hands yet at the same time a mean streak when he must battle for the reception. ? David Irons/CB/Auburn: Over shadowed by his brother (Kenny) throughout college, Irons has stood tall here in Mobile. He has shown the ability to shutdown opponents and has battled hard every day. His efforts have been commended by the coaches and Irons has significantly improved his draft stock. ? Antonio Johnson/DT/Mississippi State: The big athletic tackle has far and away been the best lineman on the South team. Johnson has been quick off the ball and tough to stop. He has bull-rushed defenders off the line or finessed his way past them. NFL scouts always knew Johnson had great potential and he's starting to show it at the Senior Bowl. ? Adam Carriker/DL/Nebraska: If Johnson is the best defensive lineman on the South then Carriker is the best one on the field to date. Carriker has also been impossible to stop, displaying a great combination of power, speed and smarts. ? Tony Hunt/RB/Penn State: Hunt surprised everyone by checking in a little heavier than expected at 239 pounds. Yet that seems to have positively affected his game. Hunt has been a monster carrying the ball on the inside and equally productive as a blocker. Sliders ? Joe Newton/TE/Oregon State: The big tight end has looked slow and sluggish. And while he's effectively caught the ball, most of his receptions have come no more than five yards off the line of scrimmage. To make matters worse Newton's blocking has been subpar. ? Fred Bennett/CB/South Carolina: A terrific athlete, Bennett is struggling with his football skills in Mobile. Slow to react, Bennett has gotten beat a number of times and seems to be doing too much thinking and not enough playmaking. ? Marcus McCauley/CB/Fresno State: McCauley has been beaten like a drum the past two days. Consistently giving up deep receptions, McCauley has also allowed numerous catches in underneath coverage. ? Ryan Harris/OL/Notre Dame: While fundamentally sound, Harris has not shown the bulk or strength to stay with Senior Bowl players, never mind NFL stars. Used at both tackle positions, he's been pushed off the ball all week. ? Tyler Palko/QB/Pittsburgh: A try-hard passer with solid short-range accuracy, Palko has not displayed the arm strength or physical stature to play at the next level. Senior Bowl Notes: After pulling out of the game late in the process, Brady Quinn of Notre Dame stepped in front of a small gathering of the media here Sunday night. Quinn explained the injury was a bursar sac in his right knee and was recommended to sit this one out by renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews. While many are still skeptical about the whole situation Quinn hung around for two days and interviewed with NFL teams, facing the music. Another player drawing the ire of NFL scouts for pulling out of the contest is offensive tackle Joe Thomas of Wisconsin. Thomas explained he felt he had nothing to gain playing in the Senior Bowl. Scouts on hand remarked all Thomas had to do was look at the performance of D'Brickashaw Ferguson from a year ago. One so good it solidified Ferguson as a top-four pick.
Soldifies my thoughts that Carricker will be a Top 15 pick. He was first round talent on the field, but I had a feeling that this guy would vault up the 1st round with a good Senior Bowl, Pro Day Workout and Combine. The slimmest of chances he will be there for us.....unless of course we trade up? I hope we don't, IMO this draft is too deep with Quality NFL players with only a few standouts. (Quinn, Russell, Calvin Johnson,. etc..)
also note: I posted the espn insider tuesday buzz in thunderbirdjet's thread in the draft forum. Check it out for, well, essentially, the same info.
Tony Hunt is sounding like he could be perfect for us. I just read the espn insider blog on the senior bowl and they said he's the best back there. At first I didn't want him with our first rounder but my opinion is changing.
Aside from Larry Johnson, Penn State has a horrible track record with putting backs into the nfl. Blair Thomas, anyone? Need I say more? Kijana Carter? Ouch. DJ Dozier and Curtis Enis? Wow-whee. History says pass on this one.
I would take him with our second second-rounder. IMO, he's not good enough for a first round pick, but he's better than his numbers show. He had to work behind a below average o-line and grinded out all of his yards. He's a workhorse and a beast. I definitely think he can be part of the solution for us.
Daymeion Hughes impresses coaches at Senior Bowl Cal cornerback Daymeion Hughes has impressed coaches during the first two days of Senior Bowl practice according to buccaneers.com. Hughes 'shocked' everyone yesterday by measuring in at only 5'10" after being listed at 6'2". However, his height hasn't stopped him from making plays. “All these guys out here are playing hard, but he’s (Hughes) kind of standing out a little bit,” said Bucs’ Defensive Backs Coach Raheem Morris. “He made a couple big plays yesterday and looked good again today. He’s a quick-feet guy. He’s a little bit of an undersized guy and all that stuff people keep talking about, but some of that stuff doesn’t even matter. I like the kid and I like the way he plays.”
It's unfair to put Kijana Carter in that group. He blew his knee out in his first preseason game he ever played in. If that hadn't happened I think he would have been an amazing RB
Bowe and Carriker hot, Palko and McCauley not SI.com lists it's risers and sliders after two days of the Senior Bowl. Risers of note include Adam Carriker and Dwayne Bowe. Carriker impressed right out of the gate during the weigh-ins, measuring up at 6'6" 290 with an impressive build and huge reach. During practice he's been the top player on the field and impossible to stop. He has a great combination of power and speed. Bowe also awed during weigh-ins. Looking more like a linebacker then a receiver at 6'2" 220. He's shown great speed and soft hands during practice. Sliders of note include Marcus McCauley and Tyler Palko. McCauley is following up a poor senior season with a poor Senior Bowl. He's getting beat deep and underneath. Despite his remarkable phiysical tools, he needs to pick up his play or his stock will really suffer. Palko just doesn't look like an NFL QB. He's undersized. His arm is weak and inaccurate. Staley, Kalil, and Blaylock improve draft stock NFL.com analyst Pat Kirwan details some offensive linemen making an impact during Senior Bowl week. He was especially impressed with Joe Staley, Justin Blalock, and Ryan Kalil. Kirwan on Staley - As I walked towards him he reminded me of a young Jon Runyan -- a big athlete with a nasty streak ... he will be a 10-year starter in this league. Staley's techniques are good and his competitive nature is better. Blalock-Blaylock isn't a bad tackle prospect but he's a terrific guard talent. He's tough with a road-grader style when he's inside... Kalil- He's not bulky at 290 pounds but his techniques and effort to finish are outstanding.
thanks for the updates Murrell! I bumped the rating on the thread. ONE person decided to make it a one star, obviously a person who is not interested in information that might make him more knowledgable of who we draft. Just another troll I guess...
Um, I think we should be very careful and really be sure he is the real deal! Only Larry Johnson has been successful in the NFL out of joe pa's system. I would hate to see another Blair Thomas!
Again, have you seen this kid play? He's a work horse, quick learner, can spot the holes and excellent blocker. People basing their opinion on PAST failures of RB's from Penn State are being completely biased IMO.
its not unfair, its just the facts of how a college breeds a player. Some college programs can turn their players into great college players, but that doesnt mean they are going to translate into great professionals...something in their methods or coaching to be great at the next level are lacking...i would stay away from PSU rb's as well PF4Jets....dont let your love with PSU interfere with what is bound to be a reality, after all... they are still a great college
Came in weighing only 224, looks like he wants to be known as a half back only. Interesting choice by him. Check out this video to see him at practice for the bowl.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxDjkB9BliI ---edit--- A couple of more http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVjt4I3LL1k&NR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZViUURCSd4
I can post more updates in this thread when I get home. it's good to have this information before the game. Gives you something to look out for. I must admit I am terribly disspointed in Marcus McCauley.
Awesome video, Baamf. Thanks a lot. I'd love to see what a combination of Brian Leonard and Leon Washington could do on the same field.
