All-Star Games Recaps

Hula Bowl:


San Diego State's O'Connell shines in first practice
HONOLULU -- Here is the buzz from the first day of practice at the Hula Bowl:
Around the East Team
? While as a group, the East quarterbacks didn't have a strong practice, Tulsa's Paul Smith still managed to stand out. His footwork was smooth when dropping back and he showed a quick, compact release. Smith also put good zip on the ball when throwing quick-outs to the sideline and showed the ability to make accurate throws on the move. That said, his size deficiency is noticeable as he struggles to find throwing lanes at times.
? QB Ricky Santos needs to have a strong week to show NFL scouts he's capable of producing against a higher level of competition than he faced at Division I-AA New Hampshire. So far he's off to a slow start. Santos has shown a three-quarter release and frequently threw from his hip, causing him to miss the strike zone on several intermediate throws. Santos' release became an even greater concern when he lined up behind the offensive line because the low release point forced him to move around in an effort to avoid getting his passes tipped at the line.
? Marshall QB Bernard Morris displayed solid footwork, a fluid release and good touch when throwing short-to-intermediate passes. However, his sense of timing hasn't been ideal. Morris often failed to anticipate receivers' breaks and his inability to lead his receivers forced them to open their hips and make tough catches. Additionally, the ball hung up in the air too long when Morris threw deep outs and deep crosses. In fairness, the quarterbacks and receivers are still getting familiar with one another and this can have a substantial impact on a quarterback's rhythm. Keeping that in mind, it will be interesting to see if his ability to hit his receivers in stride improves as the week progresses.
? Akron WR Jabari Arthur wasn't in pads but he participated in one-on-one as well as seven-on-seven drills. He was impossible to ignore, especially since he hauled in multiple catches during the seven-on-seven period. Arthur generally ran fluid routes and showed very good initial quickness for his size. Though he dropped one pass that sailed high and outside, he did a nice job of catching the ball away from his frame rather than trying to trap it with his pads.
? Brown WR Paul Raymond did not have a good day. Unlike Arthur, Raymond let the ball get to his body multiple times and dropped a few passes he should have caught. Raymond didn't run crisp deep-out routes either, allowing the corners to get an early break on the ball and hanging his quarterbacks out to dry.
? While it's admittedly the first practice of the week, Pittsburgh TE Darrell Strong started to separate himself from Maryland TE Joey Haynos. Strong was one of the more impressive athletes on the field and demonstrated the ability to open up his gait when running vertical routes. More importantly, he caught every pass thrown within reach and looked smooth turning upfield after the catch. It's also important to point out that Strong did a nice job of getting into position and sealing the edge when run blocking.
Haynos, on the other hand, is a long and wiry tight end who takes too long to reach his top speed. It doesn't help that Haynos would fight the ball instead of snatching it out of the air and had trouble driving defenders off the ball in the run game either. Actually, more times than not he got blown back into the backfield.
? Louisville OT Breno Giacomini and Kansas State DE Rob Jackson turned in some impressive battles during one-on-one pass rush drills. Giacomini displayed excellent foot speed when getting into his set and changing directions. He also did an excellent job of locking his long arms out and using them to ride Jackson past the pocket. Still, he certainly didn't dominate Jackson. Jackson countered by setting Giacomini up with an outside before spinning back inside. He sold his initial move so well that Giacomini overreacted and couldn't regain his balance in time to get back into position.
? Cincinnati's Angelo Craig lined up at both defensive end and outside linebacker during his collegiate career. However, he isn't big enough to develop into an every-down end and struggled to anchor against the run when he lined up at defensive end during this practice. Consequently, teams should be more interested in how well he plays linebacker and when he switched to that position in the practice, Craig had a strong day. He displayed great athleticism, aggressiveness and speed when lined up there.
? Arkansas State S Tyrell Johnson showed a smooth backpedal, the ability to break on the ball and quality recovery speed during one-on-ones. Johnson also filled hard in run support and was relentless in pursuit.


Around The West Team
? San Diego State QB Kevin O'Connell shined during the first practice. He showed good quickness and footwork for a player that's slightly taller than 6-foot-4 and weighs 226 pounds. The compact, over-the-top release he showed while standing tall in the pocket was also impressive. In terms of arm strength, O'Connell put great velocity on two deep posts and showed nice touch as well.
? Washington State QB Alex Brink, on the other hand, struggled and it raises questions about his ability to make all the throws. Brink often didn't put enough zip on deep-outs or go routes and underthrew a few wide open receivers streaking down the field. Brink's passes also hung in the air too long and gave the corners more time to break on the ball.
? The trio of Minnesota players on the roster made their presence felt and WR Ernie Wheelwright looked unstoppable at times. At nearly 6-4 and 217 pounds, Wheelwright's size clearly caused matchup problems for the secondary. Even more impressive, Wheelwright showed deceiving top-end speed and slipped behind defenders on multiple occasions. Considering he also caught the ball well and showed good sideline awareness, it's hard to imagine him getting off to a stronger start.
RB Amir Pinnix broke several impressive runs, showing the ability to run between the tackles while also displaying enough quickness to turn the corner. The Minnesota back used a strong blend of patience, balance and toughness to effectively run inside and showed the ability to reach his top speed quickly when attacking the perimeter.
The third Minnesota player to perform well during the first practice of the week is S Dominque Barber, who showed good top-end speed and changed directions well. He also displayed great instincts and aggressiveness as he broke up three passes during seven-on-seven drills.
? Arizona DE Louis Holmes possesses a unique combination of size and speed so it's not all that surprising that he turned in a dominating performance. Holmes' first step is so explosive that he frequently left tackles reeling trying to get into position. There's also a lot to like about the strength he showed at the point of attack. Holmes demonstrated the ability to collapse the pocket as a bull rusher and set the edge as a run defender.
? USC C Matt Spanos displayed a quick first step and often beat defenders to the point of attack. Once in position, Spanos showed good brute strength and the ability to get lower than the defender, allowing him to open holes up the middle. He also did a nice job of maintaining a wide base and holding his ground against bull rushers in pass protection. That said, Spanos occasionally lost his balance when forced to change directions quickly.
? Arizona St. OT Brandon Rodd played too high and lost his balance far too much during the first practice of the week. Rodd's failure to bend at the knees rather than the waist allowed defenders to drive him into the backfield during one-on-one pass protection drills. He was also susceptible to speed off the edge and had problems preventing edge rushers from turning the corner. The good news for Rodd is he fared better as a run blocker and, in particular, did a nice job of combo blocking up to the second level.

 

Maryland RB Lattimore shows impressive speed
HONOLULU -- Here is the buzz from Day 2 of Hula Bowl practices:
Around the East Team
? New Hampshire QB Ricky Santos struggled with his accuracy and decision-making. Santo tried to hit a receiver running a hook route but the pass sailed on him, amplifying concerns about the size of his hands and ability to grip the ball properly. He also made some questionable reads during the seven-on-seven period, as he threw a couple of balls into traffic, including one that Colorado ILB intercepted
? Maryland RB Keon Lattimore had a good showing on. Lattimore did a nice job of setting his blocks up, showed the quickness necessary to turn the corner and turned on the jets when he got into the open field.
? Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald is here to watch his brother, Marshall WR Marcus Fitzgerald, and apparently strong hands run in the family as Marcus did a nice job of looking the ball into his hands. He also ran fluid routes and showed adequate burst coming out of his cuts. However, it?s obvious that Marcus doesn?t have his brother's size or top-end speed.
? Small-school prospect Duquesne WR Bruce Hocker opened some eyes with a few big plays, including a touchdown reception during the seven-on-seven period. Hocker is also using his wide frame to shield defenders from the ball and flashed the ability to make tough catches when he went down low to snatch a ball near the sidelines. However, Hocker is raw so he needs to continue to work on his route running and ability to read defenses.
? Connecticut ROG Donald Thompson is displaying great strength and the ability to root defenders out of holes. During the team period Thomas got under Tennessee DT J.T. Mapu and drove him off the ball, eventually putting him on his back. Thomas has also done a good job of anchoring against bull rushers in pass protection. However, there are questions about his balance. At times Thomas will lunge making it difficult for him to get into sound position and sustain his blocks.
? Virginia Tech DT Carlton Powell made his presence felt during the one-on-one period using his initial burst, quick hands and above-average power to beat multiple offensive linemen. Powell displayed a variety of rush moves from swimming to dipping and ripping to bull rushing. In fact, he flashed great lower body strength when he drove Arizona St. OG/OT Brandon Rodd back.
? Toledo P Brett Kern showed great leg strength, getting impressive hang time and getting the ball to turn over on all four of his punts. Here are the numbers: 46 yards, 4.69 seconds; 48 yards, 4.65 seconds; 50 yards, 4.12 seconds; 54 yards, 4.29 seconds.


Around The West Team
? San Diego St. QB Kevin O'Connell continued to separate himself from the pack. Though he was more accurate when rolling to his right than to his left, this is generally the case for right-handed quarterbacks and he displayed great athleticism when throwing on the run. O'Connell also continues to impress with his deep throws, placing a deep post and a go route into the hands of Hawaii WR Jason Rivers. He also put plenty of zip on a throw he made on a 20-yard comeback route across the field.
? Stanford QB T.C. Ostrander has quietly handled his business the past two days. Ostrander has a live arm and the ability to make every throw. One pass that stood out was a deep out he threw to his left. The receiver had a defender draped over him but the accuracy and speed of the ball allowed Ostrander to squeeze the ball in. However, there are questions about Ostrander?s mobility and he hasn't appeared comfortable rolling out or throwing on the run.
? Washington State QB Alex Brink didn't fare much better than he did on Day 1 as he continues to have problems getting enough zip on his downfield passes. Making matters worse, Brink appears to be trying to make up for his lack of arm strength by putting more air on the ball. This has only given defenders more time to close on the football.
? Oregon St. RB Yvenson Bernard practiced well, displaying good vision and making it tough for defenders to get a clean hit on him by shifting his shoulders. Bernard also made an excellent jump cut that allowed him to get to the outside and break a long run on one play. In addition, he showed some versatility as he caught the ball well and flashed the ability to make defenders miss after the catch
? Cal WR Robert Jordan made himself difficult to overlook on Day 2 practice. Jordan doesn?t have tremendous size but he has been one of the more polished route-runners here. He?s making crisp cuts, exploding out of his cuts and showing great body control when tracking the ball downfield. His determination also turned some heads, as he fought Arizona CB Wilrey Fontenot for one ball and came down with the reception.
? Hawaii WR Jason Rivers is making his share of big plays, including the play of the week so far when reached over Kansas St. CB Justin McKinney to make a spectacular touchdown reception. Considering Rivers caught two more touchdowns it is tough be too critical, but he did have his share of let downs. He stumbled out of a break while running a deep out route and dropped a couple of passes he definitely should have caught.
? Nevada TE Adam Bishop and Arizona TE Brent Miller have been solid for during the last two practices. Bishop excelled at run blocking, staying low, knocking defenders off the ball and sealing the edge. Miller excelled as a receiver, showing soft hands and a knack for getting open underneath.
? UCLA ROG Shannon Tevaga has been one of the toughest players here to evaluate because he's been so inconsistent. His strength is clearly his drive blocking, as he takes accurate angles to his assignments and plays with a mean streak. Tevaga also showed the ability to get the job done at the second level when he sealed off USC MLB Thomas Williams on a play that went for a long gain during the team period. The problem is, Tevaga has struggled in pass protection and often lunges instead of sitting back and waiting for the rusher to come to him. He has also been susceptible to the swim moves, as he got beaten by it a few times during one-on-ones.
? Oregon St. DE Jeff Van Orsow has had a disappointing week thus far. Van Orsow hasn't shown the quickness necessary to turn the corner at the NFL level or a wide variety of pass rush moves. Making matters worse, he lacks the lower body strength rush to consistently collapse the pocket. As a result, it came as no surprise when Louisville OT Breno Giacomini regularly turned Van Orsow away during one-on-one drills.
? Colorado ILB Jordon Dizon's shoulder pads didn't arrive on time on Tuesday, limiting what he could do during that day's practice, but the pads are here now and Dizon is putting them to good use. Dizon appears quicker than he actually is because of his uncanny ability to read and react to plays. He also showed great awareness in pass coverage, getting his hands on a few balls and intercepting a pass over the middle during seven-on-seven drills. After watching him during Day 2 it is apparent that Dizon is one of best overall football players participating in this game. Unfortunately for him, his lack of natural ability is going to hurt him come draft day so it's imperative that he has a strong week.
? USC's Thomas Williams is another inside linebacker who is showing great intelligence. Williams isn't changing direction as well as Dizon but he plays with just as much passion and smarts. He has shown good instincts, consistently put himself in solid position to make plays and finished strong. Williams intercepted a pass that had been tipped and blew up a screen in the backfield. The way Williams carries himself on the field has also been notable. He appears to be a natural leader who always seems to be around the football at the end of the play and plays just as hard during special teams periods as any other part of practice. This is important because Williams can improve his stock by showing NFL front offices that he can be a valuable special teams contributor.
? Undersized Arizona CB Wilrey Fontenot has been impressive. Fontenot is a quick-twitch corner who has outstanding speed and breaks on the ball well. He's also shown sound instincts, rarely getting caught out of position and mid-pointing well on high-low routes, which forces the quarterback to take the underneath route and puts Fontenot in position to make the tackle. However, Fontenot's size is an issue and Minnesota WR Ernie Wheelwright, who stands just under 6-foot-4, elevated over him to catch a deep ball.
? Oregon St. CB Gerard Lawson had a day that most players would like to forget. Lawson was victimized for three touchdowns, twice allowing receivers to get behind him, and his inability to recover raises questions about his top-end speed. He also had trouble locating the ball even when he did get into good position, as Virginia Tech WR Josh Morgan caught a ball that came down just over Lawson's shoulder.
? UNLV PK Sergio Aguayo missed all three of his field goal attempts during the special teams period. He missed twice from 27 yards and then from 35, going wide left, wide right and then wide left.

 

Louisville OL Giacomini shines in Hawaii
The East cruised to a 38-7 win in the the 62nd Hula bowl on Saturday, but as is the case with most all-star games the final score meant little. The Hula Bowl and the week of practice leading up to it give the NFL prospects who participate valuable opportunities to showcase their abilities on the field and in game situations rather than in the weight room or on the track. So who took advantages of these opportunities and who wilted under the spotlight? Below is a list of the five players that helped themselves the most followed by a list of five players that turned in disappointing performances during the week.
But before we get to that list it must be said that the Hula Bowl doesn't attract the same caliber of player that the Senior Bowl attracts. In addition, underclassmen are not allowed to participate and some top-tier prospects opt out of all-star games because they have too much to lose. In other words, these players project as second-day draft picks or possible rookie free agent signings. Players who performed well aren't going to rocket up into the first or second round, and the players that struggled could slide out of the draft.

Five players who helped themselves
1. Louisville LOT Breno Giacomini
Giacomini opened some eyes with his sound footwork, as he did a nice job of shuffling his feet and staying in front of defenders in pass protection. He also flashed a powerful punch and used his long arms to ride edge rushers past the pocket. Perhaps more impressively, Giacomini played with good leverage. At 6-foot-7 it's tough for Giacomini to stay low to the ground, but he regularly got under defenders' pads this week. Finally, he turned in a dominant performance protecting the edge and helped lead the East to victory.
2. Cincinnati DE Angelo Craig
Craig ended an impressive week with a bang, recording two sacks in the first half of the game and forcing a fumble. The burst and athletic ability he showed rushing the passer off the edge caused all sorts of problems for the tackles he worked against. More importantly, he showed he's capable enough when he lines up at outside linebacker. Craig got adequate depth in drops, changed directions well and showed goods awareness.
3. USC MLB Thomas Williams
Don't overlook Williams just because he didn't start for the Trojans. After all, he sat behind three players that are potential first-round draft picks and would have started for most other teams. Although he may not have the power or speed of his collegiate teammates, Williams has shown excellent instincts and played with a non-stop motor in Hawaii. He read his keys quickly, rarely took false steps and took sound pursuit angles. Scouts also took notice of the effort he showed on special teams, as he always seemed to be around the ball and showed the willingness to throw blocks in the return game.
4. California WR Robert Jordan
One of the biggest knocks on Jordan coming into this week was his consistency catching the ball, as he dropped some passes he should have caught during the season. To his credit Jordan did all he could to make this less of a concern by showing good focus and consistently snatching the ball out of the air. Jordan also showed he could adjust to balls thrown behind him and had good body control when tracking the ball downfield. Jordan was also one of the most polished route runners at the Hula Bowl, changing directions fluidly and showing good burst coming out of his cuts.
5. Pittsburgh TE Darrell Strong
Strong certainly could have had a better week as he dropped two passes he should have caught during the game and didn't control the point of attack as a drive blocker. However, he still showed NFL front offices that he's capable of developing into an effective receiving tight end given some time. Aside from those two drops Strong caught almost everything thrown in his direction during the week, showing above-average body control and leaping ability in the process. Strong also showed enough speed to work the seam and the athletic ability to make the first defender miss after the catch.


Five players who hurt themselves
1. Washington State QB Alex Brink
It's impossible to overlook Brink's lack of prototypical arm strength when watching him throw downfield and outside the hash marks. His inability to put velocity on these throws affected the trajectory of the ball, causing it to hang up in the air and giving the defense more time to make a play. The two interceptions he threw during the game were not surprising to those who watched Brink practice during the week, and this is an even bigger problem at the NFL level where the players are faster and more experienced and the holes in coverage close much more quickly.
2. Arizona St. G Brandon Rodd
While Rodd can line up at tackle or guard, it became clear that he isn't a great fit at either position over the course of the week. Rodd consistently had problems preventing edge rushers from turning the corner and struggled to change directions in pass protection when lined up at tackle. He lined up at tackle during Saturday's game and got beaten for a sack, and raised even more questions about his ability to hold up on the inside at guard. Rodd's inability to stay low and anchor regularly allowed defenders to get under his frame and push him back into the pocket during one-on-one drills.
3. Nebraska MLB Corey McKeon
Greater name recognition comes with higher expectations and many felt that McKeon would shine this week. Instead, he failed to live up to those expectations. McKeon took too long to shed blocks and struggled to hold his ground at the point of attack. There are also questions about his cover skills, as he looked stiff in space and didn't show much burst coming out of his cuts.
4. New Hampshire QB Ricky Santos
Santos excelled at Division I-AA New Hampshire and scouts were eager to see how he would fare against a substantially higher level of competition, but he failed to take advantage of the opportunity. His sidearm release made him more vulnerable to getting passes tipped and affected his accuracy on intermediate-to-deep throws. And the ball looked awkward coming out of Santos' hands, wobbling in the air at times and furthering concerns about the size of his hands. Even more disappointing, Santos didn't show great patience or smarts. He frequently threw into traffic, resulting in multiple interceptions during practice and one in the red zone during the game.
5. Maryland TE Joey Haynos
Haynos struggled as both as a blocker and a receiver. He struggled to get under defenders' pads as a drive blocker and clearly lacked the lower-body strength to drive defenders off the ball when he was able to get into sound position. As a result, defenders frequently pushed him back into the backfield. As a receiver Haynos struggled to snatch the ball out of the air, didn't show great body control when adjusting to passes thrown outside his frame and didn't show much burst or elusiveness after the catch.

 

East-West Shrine Bowl Game

 

East-West Shrine Game

East wide receivers and West cornerbacks stand out on Day 1
HOUSTON -- Monday was the first full day of football-related activities for the players participating in the 83rd Annual East-West Shrine Game. It began with the player weigh-ins, which were open only to NFL personnel, followed by practice sessions for both teams at the outdoor facility adjacent to Reliant Stadium. Both teams practiced for the first time in only helmets, jerseys and shorts and each session lasted approximately an hour-and-a-half.

Around the East Team
? It was announced Monday that Illinois ILB J Leman is a scratch due to an ankle injury he suffered in the Rose Bowl against USC. Leman is a mid-to-late round prospect with less-than-ideal athleticism. While he could have mildly improved his draft stock with a strong showing this week Leman is wise to take the extra recovery time. He needs to be at full strength at the combine and/or individual workouts, where he needs to exceed scouts' expectations in order to solidify a spot in the first four rounds.

? Penn State QB Anthony Morelli showed a live arm and put plenty of zip on his throws. It's not his arm strength scouts are concerned about, though. Morelli missed the mark on multiple throws and also made questionable decisions, threw into traffic and threw an interception to Virginia Tech S D.J. Parker. Morelli will have to perform a lot better as the week progresses if he's going to prove to NFL front offices that he has the mental toughness to play quarterback at the NFL level.

? After participating in the Hula Bowl on Saturday and flying in from Hawaii one would think that Marshall QB Bernard Morris might start the week off with a sluggish practice, but that was not the case. Morris badly underthrew a few receivers running out routes early on, but as practice progressed so did his play. His over-the-top release and ability to get the ball out of his hand quickly were impressive. Morris also did a great job of anticipating receivers' breaks and releasing the ball just before the receiver broke open. His best throw of the day came during team period when he hit Coastal Carolina WR Jerome Simpson with a strike that split the secondary down the seam.

? A pair of small school receivers made names for themselves, as Simpson and Appalachian State's Dexter Jackson seemed to be everywhere. Jackson led the charge with exceptional speed and quickness out of his breaks that created good separation. He also showed the ability to snatch the ball out of the air and make defenders miss after the catch. Simpson, meanwhile, displayed above-average body control, strong hands and made a few tough catches. One of his more impressive grabs came on a play that on which he ran a seam route and plucked the ball out of the air without breaking stride.

? Georgia RB Thomas Brown had a sound practice, exploiting seams and showing the ability to turn the corner. He made some crisp cuts and was fast enough to break long runs by bouncing runs outside. In addition, Brown showed good vision and burst though the hole that allowed him to hit the second level in an instant. That said, he did drop some passes that he should have caught.

? Louisville TE Gary Barnidge opened a few eyes with an impressive day catching the ball. Barnidge showed soft hands snatching the ball out of the air and the ability to catch passes thrown below his waist. Just as importantly, he did a nice job of releasing off the line and running fluid routes. Although it was only one practice, Barnidge took a step towards separating himself from the rest of the East team's tight ends.

? The play of Auburn CB Jonathan Wilhite stood out. During the seven-on-seven and team periods he showed sound instincts, broke on the ball well and had a few pass breakups. Wilhite changed directions exceptionally well and showed good quickness coming out of his breaks. He has also shown he can he open his hips and turn and run with receivers.

? South Florida CB Trae Williams started the week off with a disappointing day. Williams gave receivers too much of a cushion during one-on-ones and didn't look explosive coming out of his breaks. Since Williams' lack of prototypical size puts a lower ceiling on his potential and draft value, it's important that he improve throughout the week.

? Virginia Tech S D.J. Parker showed the ability to deliver the big hit and play the ball in the first practice of the week. Parker read his keys, quickly got into sound position and showed a good sense of timing when hitting receivers over the middle. He also tracked down a deep ball thrown by Morelli and did a nice job of elevating to make the interception

 

Around The West Team
? It's always interesting to watch quarterbacks who are both working together and competing against each other in an all-star setting. Nebraska's Sam Keller and San Diego's Josh Johnson are clearly at a higher level than San Diego State's Kevin O'Connell, who is a big pocket-passing type with marginal mobility and only decent accuracy. Keller played for two big-time BCS programs (Arizona State and Nebraska) during his collegiate career while Johnson played his college ball at the non-scholarship FCS level, so it would stand to reason that Keller would out-perform Johnson this week. If Monday is any indication, however, Johnson is prepared to prove he belongs.

Keller and Johnson have very different styles. Keller is a gunslinger-type with good timing, adequate arm strength and a quick-yet-funky release who can throw accurately while on the run, but he's not much of a running threat. Johnson, on the other hand, is an exceptionally gifted athlete for a quarterback. While his progression reads and footwork leave much to be desired, Johnson has a more technically-sound release and often looks like the more polished of the two. Bottom line: it doesn't take long to realize that Johnson offers far more upside to a NFL team looking for a long-term developmental project at the position. It will be interesting to see if Johnson can distance himself from Keller even more as the week progresses.

? Only so much can be taken from one practice, especially a light one without shoulder pads, but it was easy to get excited about the play of the West cornerbacks. The entire group played well but the two biggest standouts were Arizona State's Justin Tyron and San Joe State's Dwight Lowery. Tyron is undersized and didn't transfer from the JUCO ranks until 2006, which is why he has flown under the radar nationally. He has outstanding quickness, speed and fluidity in man-to-man coverage and his recognition skills continue to improve. Tyron also has some value in the return game, which could propel him into the first three rounds in what is a weak 2008 cornerback class. Lowery doesn't possess the same turn-and-run speed but he has outstanding instincts in coverage and could thrive in a Cover 2 scheme in the NFL. He showed the sensational ball skills that helped him lead the nation in interceptions in 2006.

Finally, Nebraska's Zack Bowman turned some heads with a strong overall showing. Nothing he does this week can erase his laundry list of injuries and marginal performance as a senior, but Bowman showed some flashes of the shutdown abilities that had so many NFL scouts pegging him as a first rounder earlier in his career. If he builds on Monday's performance he can at least create some positive buzz heading down the stretch, which is what he needs to get back into the first four rounds of the upcoming draft.

? The West wide receivers clearly have their work cut out for them against a strong cornerback group in practice. Some are better equipped to handle the competition than others, however, and Hawaii WR Jason Rivers looks to be up to the challenge. Rivers lacks ideal burst to separate from man-coverage but he still has enough redeeming qualities to warrant late-round consideration in the upcoming draft. He runs smooth routes and shows excellent focus in traffic. Most importantly, Rivers showed the strongest, most reliable hands of the group.

Kansas WR Marcus Henry, who broke out with 1,000-plus receiving yards as a senior, looks the part with good height and a thick build. He's a fluid athlete for his size, showing good instincts when it comes to shielding defenders from the ball and plucking it while on the run. However, Henry's lack of suddenness is extremely worrisome when projecting his game to the next level. He takes too long getting in and out of his breaks, a weakness masked in college by Kansas' spread offensive system. If Henry struggles to separate from man-coverage during one-on-one drills in full pads this week it will prove to be costly come April.

? Oklahoma TE Joe Jon Finley showed that he can be just more than a big body in the passing game. Finley ran crisp routes and did a nice job of separating from man coverage. Though he doesn't have elite explosiveness, he sinks his hips and sticks his cuts. Even more impressively, Finley got the behind the defense and showed adequate speed down the seam on more than occasion. If there is one negative about his practice it's that he came up just short on three tough catches that bounced off his fingertips. It's also worth noting that scouts are interested to see how Finley reacts as practices becomes more physical over the next couple days.

? Most scouts project Houston RB Anthony Alridge as a change-of-pace or third-down back in the NFL and he did a nice job of showing he's capable of filling that role. Alridge ran crisp routes, separated from coverage and caught the ball well. He also showed a quick burst when running the football and adequate top-end speed in the open field.

? UTEP RB Marcus Thomas showed flashes of potential but more often than not he struggled running the football. Thomas has some shiftiness and can make defenders miss but the problem is that Thomas frequently dances in the hole instead of making one cut and getting downhill. Making matters worse, Thomas carries the ball away from his body when cutting and makes himself vulnerable to fumbles.

? Arizona ILB Spencer Larsen made his presence felt and always seemed to be around the football. Larsen makes up for his lack of athletic ability with sound instincts displaying the ability to quickly read-and-react and put himself in position to make a play. He also gets good depth, takes proper angles to the ball and shows good awareness when dropping into coverage.

 

East team skill players continue to shine
HOUSTON -- The tempo picked up on Tuesday as both squads practiced for approximately two hours in full pads. While many players are standing out for reasons both good and bad, the story of the week thus far has been the play of Coastal Carolina WR Jerome Simpson. The small-school prospect entered the week with a fair amount of hype after dominating his level of competition the past four seasons. He turned some heads during the weigh-in session on Monday, when the 6-foot-1?, 193-pounder measured the longest arms (35 5/8 inches) and second-biggest hands (10 3/8?). He has carried that momentum over to the practice field, where he is showcasing undoubtedly the most reliable hands of any receiver here this week.

The one concern we have with Simpson is that he struggles to consistently separate from press-man coverage. If he becomes more savvy in that regard Simpson could easily emerge as a solid starter in the NFL. Regardless, don't be surprised to hear his named called as early as the second round. Simpson will be worth the risk.

In other news, Delaware QB Joe Flacco was a last-minute addition to the Senior Bowl lineup so he elected to sit this week out. Tulsa's Paul Smith was glad to fill his roster spot and joined several other players on the red-eye journey from Honolulu to Houston after participating in last week's Hula Bowl. Others scratches from the original rosters include LSU QB Matthew Flynn and Kansas DT James McClinton from the West, and Illinois ILB J Leman and Akron DL Nate Robinson from the East. McClinton is the only one to suffer an injury during this week's practices.

Around the East Team
? All the East receivers have been overshadowed by Simpson but Appalachian State's Dexter Jackson has made the most of this week's exposure in front of dozens of NFL scouts. Jackson looks like the fastest receiver on the East roster, which can be seen in his burst as a route-runner, his speed after the catch and when returning punts. If Jackson verifies his speed and quickness with a strong showing at the combine it could land him a spot in the fourth of fifth round of the upcoming draft.

? The East team clearly has the better overall talent at running back with South Carolina's Cory Boyd, Georgia's Thomas Brown and Mississippi State's BenJarvus Green-Ellis headlining the group. Boyd is standing out the most, though, running hard with a solid combination of vision, power and change of direction. He also is showcasing the smooth hands that hauled in 106 receptions during his three-year career with the Gamecocks. Boyd is unlikely to hear his name called before the fourth round due to some past off-the-field baggage and a lack of ideal top-end speed, but the team that takes a chance on the versatile back could be rewarded with an excellent backup.

? With outstanding size and nimble feet, it's not surprising that Virginia Tech OT Duane Brown has been the most impressive offensive lineman thus far. He did a nice job during one-on-one drills of getting set, getting his hands on explosive Pittsburgh DE Joe Clermond and riding Clermond past the pocket. But give some credit to Clermond. Brown has shown a tendency to overset at times and can lose his balance when forced to change directions quickly, and Clermond took advantage by coming back with an inside move that allowed him to get past Brown. Brown plays too high as a run blocker and doesn't always drive defenders off the ball but appears comfortable in space and regularly gets into position on the second level.

? Defensive ends that have the athletic ability, initial burst and closing speed to make an immediate impact rushing the passer are coveted, which is why Pittsburgh's Clermond is on the rise. Clermond is exploding off the ball and simply ran around tackles a few times on Day 2. He isn't a one-trick pony either, as he beat tackles three times using inside moves during the one-on-one period. In the process, Clermond showed an effective spin move and the ability to redirect inside after starting outside.

? Brown wasn't the only lineman who practiced well on Tuesday as Georgia C Fernando Velasco turned in a solid performance as well. Velasco displayed the ability to stay low and seal off defenders like when working against West Virginia DT Keilen Dykes during the nine-on-seven period of practice. Getting into position at the second level didn't seem to be much of a problem either, as Velasco showed a quick first step and enough range to pull around the corner. Finally, Velasco did a nice job of sinking his hips and anchoring in pass protection.

? Yet another offensive lineman that turned in a solid day's work is Akron OT John Greco, who used his wide frame and brute strength to regularly turn away pass rushers, especially during one-on-ones. He also showed impressive footwork when shuffling his feet to staying in front of defenders. As a run blocker Greco showed adequate initial quickness, took sound angles to defenders and sealed the edge.

? Of course, not all of the East offensive linemen shined today and Michigan G Adam Kraus had a day most would like to forget. Kraus lacks ideal lower body strength so playing with leverage is critical to his success, and he struggled to stay low. Wisconsin DT Nick Hayden was able to get under Kraus' pads and knock him back during one-on-ones.

? Speaking of Hayden, he has been active so far. Hayden stays low and possesses enough strength to hold his own working against double teams. He also showed fluid footwork during bag work and has a quick first step that helps him disrupt running plays in the backfield. And as if that weren't impressive enough, Hayden showed good awareness during the team period by reading a screen perfectly and blowing it up, then batting down a pass on the very next play.

Around The West Team
? Oklahoma's Allen Patrick is the highest-rated running back on the West squad. He shows good vision to find the open crease and very few backs in the country hit the hole harder. Patrick displays very good straight-line burst and always seems to be falling forward at the end of runs. However, the more we study Patrick from a big-picture perspective the more concerns we have regarding his NFL potential. For starters, he is a powerful runner but has only decent size, which begs the question of how long his body can hold up under a regular workload at the next level. Secondly, he shows limited elusiveness which limits his potential both as a runner and receiver. Finally, while Patrick has yet to drop a pass in practice he clearly fights the ball and struggles to snatch it seamlessly on the run. Patrick should make for a fine change-of-pace back who excels on special teams in the NFL, but at the end of the day that r?sum? won't be enticing enough for a team to risk a pick any higher than the fourth round.

? Utah St. G Shawn Murphy is swallowing up defenders, showing adequate footwork and displaying good overall power. He is staying low to the ground, allowing himself to control the point of attack and root defenders out of the hole. Murphy has also been in impressive in pass protection, uncoiling a quick and strong punch that has kept defenders at bay. That said, he did get caught lunging during one-on-ones and that opened the door for Arizona DT Lionel Dotson to get by him.

? Colorado OT Tyler Polumbus is one of the more intriguing prospects here. Polumbus is raw but has shown exceptional feet for a player with his considerable size along with capable strength. During the team period Polumbus blocked down to double team Texas DT Frank Okam and knocked Okam flat on his back. Polumbus also looked good during one-on-ones, showing a quick kick step that made it difficult for edge rushers to turn the corner.

? Oregon OT Geoff Schwartz has excellent size and possesses good overall strength so he rarely loses a battle when he's able to get into sound position. The problem is that at 6-foot-7 it's very hard for him to stay low and get under defenders' pads. Although Schwartz masks this flaw with his strength he can still get into trouble at times, and he got pushed back far too much during one-on-ones. On top of that, Schwartz hasn't displayed sound footwork, as he will stop moving his feet once he gets into position and loses his balance a times.

? Texas DT Derek Lokey looked virtually unstoppable during one-on-ones, using his quick hands to prevent blockers from locking onto his frame and upper-body strength to knock them off-balance. Lokey put his strength on display during the team period, as he was able to get low and stalemate a double team. Considering he doesn't have great size or athletic ability it's important that Lokey continue to have a strong week.

? Joining Lokey in wreaking havoc in the middle was Arizona DT Lionel Dotson, who showed an explosive first step and frequently shot into the backfield. Dotson also showed some versatility as a pass rusher using his quickness, upper-body strength and athletic ability to get to the quarterback. However, there is some concern about his ability to hold his ground when teams run at him because he plays too high and lacks prototypical lower-body strength.

 

Thought these were good reads from ESPN.com on the later round prospects. I'll post the recap for the E-W Shrine game and the Senior Bowl ntoes when they come out.

 

Been busy but here are some more.

Shrine Bowl Day 3:

Linemen making noise as Shrine week continues

HOUSTON -- An overnight rainstorm forced East-West Shrine officials to move practice to the Houston Texans' indoor facility on Day 3, and in a more confined setting it becomes apparent how many more NFL decision-makers are in attendance this year compared to recent seasons. The big names include Cleveland GM Phil Savage, Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome, Jacksonville GM Shaq Harris, Pittsburgh director of football operations Kevin Colbert and Buffalo assistant GM Tom Modrak. This is a testament to the Shrine's player selection committee and its commitment to upgrading the overall talent level in the nation's original college football all-star game.

The biggest area of improvement in our opinion has been the depth of talent on the defensive side of the ball, particularly along the front seven. Not one defensive lineman or linebacker came off the board in the top 10 of the 2005 draft. In fact, OLBs DeMarcus Ware and Shawne Merriman went 11th and 12th behind wide receivers like Troy Williamson and Mike Williams. Ware and Merriman have since developed into difference-makers while neither Williamson or Williams has come close to playing up to expectations. As a result, it should come as little surprise that three defensive linemen went in the top 10 last year and that ILB Patrick Willis, who was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, came off the board at No. 11.

Considering the success that Willis and his defensive brethren enjoyed this year it stands to reason that NFL front offices will again target front-seven defenders they think can make an impact. As a result, these players are in better position to improve their draft value as April approaches. We paid close attention to both teams' defensive fronts on Day 3 and the fast track in Houston's practice bubble provided a good opportunity for defensive linemen and linebackers to showcase their pass rushing and coverage skills in what will be the final practice in full pads.

Around the East Team

? Syracuse ILB Jameel McClain displayed a nose for the ball and turned some heads. Although slightly stiff in the hips, McClain reads his keys and locates the ball quickly. On top of that he's helped take away cutback lanes by taking an inside-out track in pursuit. McClain has also shown solid awareness in coverage, getting his hands on multiple throws and sniffing out a screen.

? Best known for his physical style of play and his heart, Boston College LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar looked surprisingly agile. He showed above-average range and even flashed the ability to change directions quickly. Even though he got caught over-pursing Appalachian St. WR Dexter Jackson on a reverse run in the opposite direction, Dunbar was able to recover in time to cut off the speedy Jackson. Dunbar also continues to be stout at the point of attack and use his hands to shed blocks quickly.

? Georgia Tech OLB Gary Guyton looked impressive during bag drills, showing smooth and quick feet. Guyton also made a splash when he came down with an outstanding interception during the seven-on-seven period. Guyton undercut a deep crossing route and elevated to make the catch, and in the process he showed the ability to open his hips and track the ball downfield. There are still a few things Guyton has to work on, however, and chief among them is playing with leverage. He plays far too high and allows defenders to get under his pads far too often. With his tremendous size and athletic ability Guyton has the necessary tools to develop into an impact player at the next level if his technique improves.

? Georgia RB Thomas Brown and South Carolina RB Cory Boyd are taking full advantage of their opportunities to impress the scouts in attendance. Brown leaked down the sideline during 7-on-7 drills and did a nice job of tracking the deep ball, holding on to the pass despite taking a big hit. Boyd had the play of the day, however, when he ran the same route but made a much tougher catch on a pass that was underthrown. He showed good body control by stopping almost instantly and still going up high to snatch the ball out of the air. Both backs also continued to run the ball well. Brown found a few seams and showed quick bursts through holes, and just as importantly he's been a violent runner who has picked up yards after contact and fought for yards when he could have slid out of bounds. Boyd, on the other hand, has shown great patience and made the most of his blocks.

? Hampton DE Kendall Langford got some bad advice to shed nearly 20 pounds for the pre-draft process. Teams employing a 3-4 defensive scheme have the highest opinion of Langford because he fits well as a space-eating end at his normal playing weight of 290 pounds. He clearly thought he could increase his value by improving his speed and agility with a leaner frame, but that was a big mistake. Instead of showcasing newfound speed, Langford has played the role of rag-doll for opposing offensive linemen who have tossed him around the practice field during drills this week.

? Wisconsin DT Nick Hayden is a bit underrated. He's not a great athlete but does show a quick first step and good short-area power. Hayden plays with a relentless motor and does fine job of finding the ballcarrier as he's disengaging from blocks. A team looking for depth at the 3-technique position should consider Hayden in the middle rounds.

? Virginia Tech OT Duane Brown has very quick feet and the frame to add more bulk. Now he must improve his overall strength and avoid getting overextended so frequently. A team patient enough to develop Brown for a year or two could wind up with an absolute steal in the third-round range.

? Michigan OG/C Adam Kraus has had his limited range and sub-par power during the last two full-pad practices. It's been surprising to watch a proven three-year starter from one of the Big Ten's most proficient offenses look so overwhelmed. There is a good chance Kraus will go undrafted.

? Iowa DE Kenny Iwebema flashes some playmaking ability but his inconsistency is frustrating. It would be shocking if a team risked anything higher than a fifth-round pick on a player with only decent athletic ability who doesn't give consistent effort on every down.

? Iwebema?s teammate Bryan Mattison, on the other hand, goes full throttle from snap to whistle on every play. Don't be surprised if Mattison, a classic overachiever with a fraction of Iwebema's natural tools, comes off the board before his teammate.

Around The West Team

? It?s hard to find two defensive tackles from the same system with more contrasting profiles than the Texas tandem of Derek Lokey and Frank Okam. There might not be a player here this week who is giving a better effort or playing with more sound technique than Lokey, who has been the most consistently disruptive defensive lineman on the field. Lokey displays excellent initial quickness and uses his violent hands to keep blockers off his smaller body. He is also a savvy player who knows how to keep his opponent guessing. For example, on Day 3 Lokey mixed in a bull rush after twice defeating the one-on-one blocks of Fresno State C Ryan Wendel with finesse-type moves. The change-up clearly caught Wendell off-guard, as Lokey drove the 285-pound center back nearly seven yards. NFL teams are well aware that Lokey is not putting on an act; he practices like this all the time. The 6-foot-2, 290-pound Longhorn lacks the elite size and athletic ability of a first- or second-round pick, but Lokey?s relentless approach could be worth a mid-round selection for a one-gap defense in search of depth at tackle.

Okam, on the other hand, is a classic teaser. Blessed with natural first-round ability, Okam has never played to his potential on a consistent basis. The 6-5, 320-pounder will fire off the ball with very good first-step quickness but rarely does he finish a play. Okam also loses his power by standing straight up and he's easily frustrated by double teams. He will give a good effort when there's a glorifying big-play to be made, but otherwise he goes through the motions until the whistle is blown. Okam might be the most physically gifted player at this year's Shrine game but he likely won't be among the top 10 Shrine participants to come off the draft board.

? Washington State FB Jed Collins has been a tough lead blocker who has done a nice job of sustaining his blocks and has been a reliable receiver who has flashed the ability to produce after the catch. In addition, he has lined up at both the tight end and fullback, which should help boost his stock despite his lack of elite natural ability.

? Southern Cal ILB Thomas Williams turned in a strong performance at the Hula Bowl and carried that momentum into Shrine week. He's shown excellent instincts, gotten good depth and taken sound angles to the ball when dropping into zone coverage, and as a result he has broken up several passes. It's also worth noting that Williams continues to go full-throttle during special teams drills, throwing blocks and consistently getting into position to make tackles on the cover teams.

? BYU OLB Bryan Kehl has shown above-average range and awareness when dropping into coverage. As a result, he's regularly been in position to tackle receivers immediately after the catch. Kehl has also shown decent initial quickness and got to the quarterback a few times during one-on-one drills. However, it's clear that concerns about his strength and athletic ability have some merit. He has struggled to hold his ground as a run defender at times and he can take too long to change directions when asked to match up in man coverage.

Todd McShay, Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl all contributed to this report. Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

 

The pads come off as Shrine week continues

HOUSTON -- Both teams practiced without pads on Day 4 and the lack of hitting obviously makes it more difficult to evaluate players. However, there were still aspects of practice important to the evaluation process. NFL front offices want to know how players are going to perform and handle their business in these kinds of situations because of what it says about the prospect's character. Meanwhile, the players are well aware of the impact this week could have on their draft values so those ones that haven't played particularly well thus far had another chance to redeem themselves.

Around the East Team

• Penn State QB Anthony Morelli continued to struggle with his decision making today and tried to fit throws into tight windows far, too often resulting in interceptions. Accuracy has also played a role in his inability to protect the football, as one pass he threw behind Coastal Carolina WR Jerome Simpson during seven-on-seven drills ended up in the hands of the defense. Making matters worse, there have been concerns about Morelli's consistency. While he's looked like a first-day draft pick who can put excellent zip on his downfield passes and lead his receivers when throwing underneath on certain plays, he can look completely lost on the next play.

• The ability of Virginia Tech WR Justin Harper to shield defenders from the ball with his wide frame and make tough catches has been impressive this week. It's important that he continues to do so during the game because he doesn't show great burst coming out of his cuts and his inability to separate from man coverage means he will have to make plays in traffic to be productive in the NFL. It's also critical that Harper learns how to use his upper-body strength to beat press coverage, because defenses are more aggressive near the goal line and that means they are more apt to jam receivers on the outside. As a result, Harper will have to improve his ability to release off the line if he's to reach his considerable potential as a red zone target.

• It hasn't been a great week for South Florida CB Trae Williams, but he bounced back with a solid performance. After giving receivers too much of a cushion and making it far too easy for them to separate from the coverage during the first three practices, he was more aggressive and showed good quickness coming out of his breaks. Williams also did a sound job of mid-pointing the high-low route. This means he stayed deep enough to make a play on any balls thrown to the receiver running the deeper route and shallow enough to quickly wrap up the receiver when he catches the ball underneath.

Around The West Team

• Morelli wasn't the only quarterback that struggled with his accuracy. Nebraska QB Sam Keller was off the mark today as well and his shot-put delivery has been a big part of the problem. Keller struggled during the seven-on-seven period, underthrowing a deep pass down the sideline that was intercepted. He was also wide of the mark on a pass he threw to Iowa State WR Todd Blythe, who was running an out route at the time.

• Blythe has played well the past two days. He doesn't have blazing speed or the explosiveness to consistently separate from man coverage, but the 6-foot-5 Blythe makes up for his lack of speed with his size and body control. Blythe does a good job of using his body to shield smaller defenders while making the catch and elevating over defensive backs on jump balls. An example of this came when San Diego St. QB Kevin O'Connell found Blythe on a deep post. Blythe tracked the ball well and used his height advantage over Arizona St. CB Justin Tryon to come down with the jump ball.

• Oklahoma TE Joe Jon Finley has been a polished route runner who uses shoulder fakes and sound footwork to mask his lack of elite quickness. Additionally, he turned some heads with some impressive grabs, including a one-handed catch he made without breaking stride and a touchdown catch down the seam.

• California TE Craig Stevens has also been impressive, but not as impressive as Finley. Though he's been an effective drive blocker who stays low to the ground and plays with a mean streak, Stevens has been too one-dimensional. He hasn't shown the speed necessary to stretch the seam at the NFL level and he takes too long to change directions when running routes. On top of that, Stevens has dropped some passes that he should have caught.

Todd McShay, Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl all contributed to this report. Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

 

San Diego QB Johnson, Georgia RB Brown shine during Shrine week
McShay

The overall talent level at the 83rd East-West Shrine Game was in the same ballpark as the improved groups the Shrine game has had in recent years, but there was a noticeable lack of star-power once LSU QB Matt Flynn, Virginia Tech ILB Vince Hall and UCLA DE Bruce Davis opted out for a variety of reasons. While NFL teams couldn't care less about name recognition, that kind of player is important for the game itself in terms of hyping the brand name for future years, selling tickets and attracting a television audience. It also didn't help when the Senior Bowl stole the draft's premier small-school prospect, Delaware QB Joe Flacco, to fill a void in that game.

Regardless, dozens of prospects took advantage of the opportunity to improve their draft stock in front of hundreds of NFL talent evaluators. Some players stood out during the week of practices but for one reason or another were unable to shine in Saturday night's game, including Appalachian State WR/RS Dexter Jackson, Coastal Carolina WR Jerome Simpson, and Oklahoma teammates TE Joe Jon Finley and RB Allen Patrick. On the flip side, players such as Tulsa QB Paul Smith, Arizona MLB Spencer Larsen and Hampton DE Kendall Langford struggled during practice sessions but were able to make up for it with strong showings in the game.

For the most part, though, practice performances translated to game production. Here's a look at the five prospects who cashed in the most, followed by five who failed to profit:

Cashed In
1. Josh Johnson, QB, San Diego
Johnson's draft stock should soar following his trip to Houston last week. The FCS, non-scholarship passer capped a strong week of practice with an MVP effort in Saturday night's game, in which he showed his exceptional athleticism for a quarterback by rushing for 91 yards on three carries. More importantly, he proved to scouts that he's not just a running quarterback by remaining patient in the pocket and going through his progressions before opting to run as a last resort. Johnson still needs polishing and must continue to add bulk to his 200-pound frame, but after watching him stand out as one of the top five players during Shrine week it wouldn't surprise me a bit if Johnson comes off the board as high as Round 3.

2. Jamie Silva, S, Boston College
Silva was the most instinctive defender at this year?s Shrine game. At one point during the game, he made four consecutive plays on defense and then followed up a short time later with a fumble recovery on kick coverage. With his 4.5 speed Silva covers more ground in zone coverage than most safeties and he's relentless in run support. He is also a fine open-field tackler both in defense and when covering kicks. Silva won't test very well at the combine, which inevitably will cause him to slip on draft weekend, but the team that takes a chance on Silva in the middle rounds will eventually be rewarded.

3. Thomas Brown, RB/RS, Georgia
Brown was one of the most explosive athletes in Houston, displaying an impressive burst as a downhill runner and proving he is not afraid to mix it up as an inside runner. He also showcased his versatility as a receiver and return specialist throughout practices and in the game. Size limitations, durability issues and a deep class of running backs will keep him out of the first few rounds, but Brown could prove to be a steal in the fourth-to-fifth round range.

4. Kevin Robinson, WR/RS, Utah State
Robinson took advantage of the national stage by scoring two touchdowns in the game, including the first score of the game on a 72-yard punt return late in the first quarter. He also racked up 124 yards on six catches, including a five-yard touchdown pass from Johnson. Robinson showed natural pass-catching ability throughout the week in practice and he clearly possesses the vision and shiftiness to contend for a job returning punts at the next level. His lack of ideal breakaway speed will keep him out of the first four rounds but he will get a chance as a late-round pick to prove he belongs in the NFL.

5. Alvin Bowen, OLB, Iowa State
Bowen helped solidify his place in the middle rounds with a strong all-around showing in Houston. He's an active, instinctive run defender with good athleticism and a non-stop motor, though he is an undersized prospect. Bowen's interception in the game was a prime example of the underrated range and ball skills he brings to the table in coverage.

Failed To Profit
1. Anthony Morelli, QB, Penn State
A nightmare week of practice carried over into the game for Morelli, who threw two interceptions to end a poor showing. Morelli?s rifle arm is tough to ignore but so too are his poor decision-making skills, erratic accuracy and marginal mobility. Morelli did nothing to improve his plummeting stock and could end up going undrafted.

2. Tommy Blake, DE, TCU
Blake's off-the-field battle with an undisclosed illness has been well-documented and has resulted in a shocking decline in his physical skills. He weighed in nearly 30 pounds heavier than his 2006 playing weight (262), hardly resembles the disruptive player who had 16.5 tackles for loss in 2006 and had scouts buzzing about his first-round potential. Blake looked sluggish throughout the week and struggled to turn the corner as a pass rusher during one-on-one drills. Making matters worse, he suffered a first-half ankle injury during the game and did not return to the field following halftime. At this point, it seems highly unlikely that a team would invest anything higher than a fifth round pick in Blake, and it's hard not to feel sorry for a young man who is clearly dealing with issues far bigger than football.

3. Marcus Henry, WR, Kansas
Henry's inability to separate from tight man-to-man coverage throughout the week validated the feeling that his production as a senior was inflated by playing in the Jayhawks' spread offense. He only made matters worse by dropping two passes during the game, including one that slipped through his outstretched hands in the end zone. In what now is a deep crop of receivers following the addition of 13 underclassmen, Henry has his work cut out for him as he attempts to get back into the middle rounds.

4. Adam Kraus, G, Michigan
Kraus struggled both in practice and during the game, where he looked overwhelmed physically and had trouble with Texas DT Frank Okam and other linemen. Kraus is a scrappy and intelligent guard/center prospect but he simply lacks the initial quickness, bulk and strength to contend with a 325-pounder like Okam. That's not a good thing for his NFL prospects considering Okam grades out on most team?s boards as no better than a third-round prospect. At this point Kraus will be fortunate to hear his name called during the two-day draft process.

5. Derrick Doggett, S, Oregon State
After struggling visibly versus bigger and faster tight ends during one-on-one coverage drills in practice, Doggett was a virtual non-factor in the game. Despite a productive career at Oregon State (32 starts, 235 total tackles), Doggett displays almost no value as a pro prospect.

Todd McShay is the director of college football scouting for Scouts Inc. He has been evaluating prospects for the NFL draft since 1998.

 

Senior Bowl

Scouts notice who's here ... and who bailed late on the Senior Bowl

MOBILE, Ala. -- The early storyline of the 2008 Senior Bowl is the surprising rash of last-minute defections by many of the top players. Quarterbacks Matt Ryan (own decision) and Brian Brohm (lingering ankle injury) are the most high-profile prospects to back out. Auburn DE/OLB Quentin Groves, South Florida CB Mike Jenkins, Notre Dame TE John Carlson, Miami (Fla.) LB Tavares Gooden and LSU S Craig Steltz were some of the top talents at other positions noticeably absent from Monday's morning weigh-in and afternoon practice, although Gooden took part in the weigh-in but did not practice.

Sure, NFL teams would be gathered here regardless and most use this week for administrative purposes, including draft meetings and interviewing potential hires. Plus, there is still far more talent on hand than can be seen at any other game of its kind. But that's not the point. As far as college football all-star games are concerned, the Senior Bowl has set the bar extraordinarily high. For the first time in a long time, it has failed to meet the standard.

The most noticeable position affected is quarterback. Michigan's Chad Henne was sensational Monday and stands to benefit greatly because of his overall passing efficiency. Kentucky's Andre Woodson showcased his rifle of an arm but understandably struggled with his timing during the first day of practice.
Otherwise, there wasn't much positive to say about the performances turned in by Colt Brennan (Hawaii), John David Booty (USC), Joe Flacco (Delaware) and Erik Ainge (Tennessee). Brennan had toughest first day. His erratic passing performance in practice was preceded by him tipping the scale at a measly 185 pounds during the morning's weigh-in.

It has undoubtedly been a scramble to fill out the North and South rosters. The replacements we know of so far include Flacco and Ainge, LB Gary Guyton (Georgia Tech) and DE Kendall Langford (Hampton).

The North and South teams practiced simultaneously at separate locations Monday.
Moving forward, both teams will practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium -- the North in the morning, followed by the South in the afternoon. Here's a breakdown of Monday's highs and lows:

Around the South practice
? Texas WR Limas Sweed is back at full throttle following a wrist injury that cut his senior season short. He showed no lingering affects of the injury when catching the ball and looked able to separate versus man-to-man coverage with ease. What impresses us most is Sweed's body control as a bigger receiver (6-foot-4, 215 pounds). He does an excellent job of using his frame to shield the defender from the ball in the air. From the early looks of it, Sweed could emerge as one of the big winners from this year's Senior Bowl process.

? Sweed and LSU's Early Doucet stand out as the top two receivers on the South roster. We still have questions regarding Doucet's top-end speed and toughness, both of which will be put to the test in full-pad practices the next two days.
Doucet was dominant in one-on-one and seven-on-seven sessions, though. He displayed the quickness and fluid hips to consistently separate from man-coverage and looked extremely smooth when catching the ball away from his frame and/or on the run.

? Florida WR Andre Caldwell also stood out for his agility and speed during pass-catching drills. Durability issues and a deep rotation of receivers prevented Caldwell from putting up monster numbers in Florida's spread system.
While he has room to improve when it comes to dropping his weight in-and-out of breaks, Caldwell displays explosive quickness and strong hands when snatching the ball on the move. Caldwell could be a real steal in the third-round range of a deep receiver draft.

? On the flipside, Louisville's Harry Douglas and Houston's Donnie Avery need to rebound from tough debuts Monday. Douglas seemed to be fighting the ball, which is unlike him. He dropped at least three passes we saw during the session.
Avery caught the ball well when given the opportunity but his inability to separate from man-coverage was alarming. Avery's blazing speed is apparent, but he hasn't learned to channel it as a route runner. He gears down too much going into his cuts, which gives defensive backs time to recover and drive on the ball in the air. It will be interesting to see if Avery, one of the class'
fastest-rising prospects heading into this week, winds up getting exposed versus better cover corners this week.

? Speaking of which, Troy CB Leodis McKelvin's draft stock has experienced a meteoric rise the past few months. While his quick feet and explosive burst were easily distinguished during drills, McKelvin's ball skills left much to be desired. In addition to dropping two potential interceptions, he muffed a punt during special teams drills. It will be interesting to see if McKelvin can shake off the rust and finish the week strong.

? LSU OLB Ali Highsmith turned in a solid day's work and appears to be one of the most complete linebackers here. He started strong, showing quick feet running through bags during individual drills and never looked back. During nine-on-seven drills, Highsmith located the ball quickly and took sound pursuit angles. Highsmith was just as impressive dropping into coverage. He showed great awareness and got good depth when asked to drop into zone coverage while showing he's also quick enough to match up with most backs. However, one of Highsmith's biggest weakness is he doesn't control blockers as well as scouts would like and it showed up one play in particular today: Arkansas FB Peyton Hillis sealed Highsmith inside paving the way for the back to turn the corner and break a long run.

? Georgia Tech ILB Philip Wheeler had his ups and downs Monday. Wheeler is a tough and relentless run stopper who can shed blockers quickly, so it came as little surprise that he was in on multiple tackles during nine-on-seven drills.
The problem is he looked lost and struggled in coverage. He got caught out of position at times and looked stiff trying to match up with backs in man coverage.

? Tennessee TE Brad Cottam started the week off on the right foot. He ran precise routes that allowed him to separate from man coverage and showed the ability to locate soft spots when he reads zone coverage. Just as importantly, Cottam caught the ball with his hands away from his frame and made several catches during the seven-on-seven periods.

? Tulane RB Matt Forte's blend of versatility and size opened some eyes at practice. The 222-pound back reads his blocks well and is tough to bring down, making him an effective between-the-tackles runner, but he's showing he's fast enough to turn the corner as well. In addition, Forte looks like he can make an impact in the passing game. The crispness of his cuts and the separation he created working against the linebackers during one-on-one drills was impressive. Forte also showed the ability to turn on the jets and track the ball downfield when he beat South Florida ILB Ben Moffitt deep for a reception.

? Hillis is another South back that made some noise. By staying low and taking sound angles to his blocks, Hillis did a nice job of getting into position.
Even more noteworthy, he kept his feet moving and sustained his blocks once he locked onto the defender. Hillis isn't a one-dimensional blocker either. He appeared comfortable slipping out into the flat, caught the ball well and showed he can break the occasional tackle after the catch.

Around the North practice
? Maybe the best attraction of the North practice was West Virginia FB Owen Schmitt. You wouldn't think that a semi-contact practice would show off the talents of a big, physical, mauling, blocking fullback, and early on it didn't as Schmitt showed that he is not a natural hand catcher and struggles to flip his hips in space and quickly get upfield. But the bruiser quickly became the North's quarterbacks' favorite target as a dump-off option. He made a nice catch during the seven-on-seven drills and several during the team period, including taking hits that twice took his helmet off to expose his Mohawk haircut. Since the quarterbacks did not yet have a feel for the deep passing game or great timing yet with their deeper options, Schmitt was the benefactor.

? Iowa CB Charles Godfrey showed excellent quickness and was sudden coming out of his breaks. He plants and drives well and has the long speed and size to keep up with most NFL wide receivers. He competes hard and brought a lot of energy to this first practice. He did have one mishap though when he fell down awkwardly in the open field after failing to get a hand on Justin Forsett, who demonstrated excellent make-you-miss ability and overall quickness for the entire practice.

? Michigan State TE Kellen Davis has some serious potential. He has a great build and is a very fluid with his movements. He has the chance to develop into a feared target. However, Davis still has a long way to go. He doesn't find and snatch the ball consistently and his ball skills and ability to adjust to the football is questionable at this point. If he dedicates himself to working on the nuances of playing tight end, Davis could make a real impact at the next level. But it will not come overnight.

? In a shocking contrast, P Mike Dragosavich is nearly a foot taller than his special teams counterpart, K Alexis Serna. Obviously these two spent a lot of time together during the bulk of practice and they look like the stars of a "Twins" sequel. When they got their time to shine, Serna came through on his several field goal attempts, while Dragosavich's performance left much to be desired. Dragosavich has very long kicking levers and is too deliberate in getting his punts away. He also didn't demonstrate very good control with his punts.

 

USC players once again dominating the practice scene

MOBILE, Ala. -- More information is circulating regarding the absence of several top prospects from the 2008 Senior Bowl. Officials knew in advance that projected first-rounders such as Michigan OT Jake Long, Virginia DE Chris Long and South Florida CB Mike Jenkins would not be in attendance. We also hear from several reliable sources that Louisville QB Brian Brohm gave officials fair warning that he would not be making the trip to Mobile, but they asked him to delay his announcement, fearing that other top prospects -- namely quarterbacks Andre' Woodson (Kentucky) and Chad Henne (Michigan) -- also would bail. As such, it should be noted that Brohm handled the situation maturely and did not leave game officials hanging in the balance.

Brohm does have a minor ankle injury, which is his public reasoning for not participating in this week's events. While scouts do believe the injury to be legitimate, several we've spoken to feel there were other factors involved in his decision -- BC's Matt Ryan bailing out and a rain-filled forecast, to name two. Regardless of what scouts believe, it's unfortunate that Brohm isn't here this week. The overall quarterback play is weak, and he could have distinguished himself as the clear-cut top prospect of the group -- slightly ahead of Woodson and Henne, and significantly ahead of others.

Notre Dame TE John Carlson and Auburn DE/OLB Quentin Groves both have legitimate excuses for being absent. Carlson contracted a bacterial infection while training with Brohm and others in Southern California. He lost approximately 15 pounds and is focusing on regaining his strength for the combine and on individual workouts between now and April's draft. Groves battled two lingering toe injuries during his senior season and since has developed turf toe. Instead of risking further injury, he is electing to sit out the Senior Bowl in hopes of being fully recovered for next month's combine.

Around the North practice
? USC's Keith Rivers clearly is the most complete linebacker prospect on the North roster. In addition to showing great instincts and quickness, Rivers plays with a mean streak. He takes on blockers and fights hard to get through traffic. He looks to be in excellent physical shape, and his range versus both the run and the pass is impressive.

? Jordon Dizon (Colorado) doesn't look the part of an NFL linebacker, but somehow, he winds up around the ball on nearly every play. His feet are outstanding, and he covers a lot of real estate in zone. He has an uncanny knack for avoiding blockers without taking himself out of the play. His lack of size and power will prevent him from playing in the middle at the next level, but he has a chance to make an impact on the weak side in a smaller-type scheme such as those run by the Colts and Broncos.

? Justin Forsett (California) and Chauncey Washington (USC) had the best showings of the North running backs. Forsett runs hard and has shown an extra gear when he breaks through the line of scrimmage. Washington did an excellent job of catching the ball out of the backfield during seven-on-seven and team sessions. He also showed a second gear when he broke into the open field. He has some durability issues and off-the-field baggage, but he still stands to gain from this experience if he builds on the momentum from Tuesday.

? None of the other running backs were overly impressive. Chris Johnson (East
Carolina) failed to stand out, despite his exceptional speed. Dantrell Savage (Oklahoma State) didn't show the burst, elusiveness or power to create anything on his own.

? The tight ends on the North roster are an interesting group to study. Michigan State's Kellen Davis is the guy you want leading the team off the bus, but he is the least productive of the three between the lines. He's a bit stiff as a route runner, and his effort, leverage and technique as a blocker are far too inconsistent. Martin Rucker (Missouri) is right down the middle. He looks the part in pads and is a reliable short-to-intermediate receiver, but his game seems to come up short in terms of explosiveness. Fred Davis (USC) is the least impressive physically, but he clearly is the best pass-catcher and all-around athlete of the group. We still want to see more of him as an inline blocker this week, but there is no question he has first-round receiving skills.

? It has become apparent in just two practices that Purdue WR Dorien Bryant is the most polished receiver here. With good quickness off the line, Bryant shows the ability to break down a corner's cushion right out of the gate. Bryant also attacks defenders with proper position that creates leverage, giving him the ability to get solid separation out of his breaks. One of Bryant's highlights Tuesday came during the one-on-one period. Showing sound technique getting off the line against press man, he was able to swim and get to the outside.
Displaying great body control, he instantly stopped on a fade thrown behind him and attacked the ball, coming down with the reception. Adding to his r?sum?, Bryant also looked very effective as a return man during the special teams period.

? Bryant wasn't the only North receiver to impress scouts Tuesday. California's Lavelle Hawkins continues to turn heads with his consistency. He runs smooth, crisp routes, knows how to separate from man coverage and does an excellent job of plucking the ball on the run. He shined during the one-on-one periods, beating defenders all three times he lined up. He used quick feet to beat the jam at the line and also displayed the top-end speed to beat Boston College CB DeJuan Tribble down the sideline for a deep reception. One of his more impressive plays came during the team period. After slipping out of his break, Hawkins was able to recover and do a nice job of going down low to make the reception on a curl route.

? Oklahoma State WR Adarius Bowman is off to a slow start. Taking too long to get out of his breaks, Bowman has failed to create solid separation, but he makes up for it by using his bigger frame to shield defenders from the ball.
Unfortunately, Bowman also has given scouts some concern with the consistency of his hands. He has not looked natural catching the ball, often times appearing to fight it. This has resulted in multiple drops throughout the first two days of practice. He will need to turn things around in a hurry and finish the week strong to make up for the slow start.

? Finding a shutdown corner who has the ability to lock up man-to-man is never easy, but using his tremendous speed and fluid hips, Indiana CB Tracy Porter has made a solid case for himself this week. Porter is a quick-twitch corner and has done an outstanding job of blanketing receivers throughout both practices. Showing great instincts, he has the unique ability to make a quick break on the ball. This was evident during the seven-on-seven period when Porter was able to come up with an interception and head the other way for six points. He read the quick drop of Delaware QB Joe Flacco, and showing great anticipation, beat the receiver to the spot on a slant route.

? Colorado CB Terrence Wheatley also has been impressive throughout the week. He displays very smooth feet, showing good ability to mirror and stay with receivers. With good ability to turn and run combined with adequate top-end speed, he rarely trails receivers and often runs step-for-step with them down the sideline. He also has shown sound ability to break out his backpedal; he broke up a curl route during seven-on-seven drills.

? BC's Tribble, on the other hand, has failed to prove he can lock up in man coverage. Multiple times, he trailed receivers while struggling to flip his hips and change direction instantly. There also is concern about his overall strength. Attempting to jam at the line, Tribble was overpowered by Kansas State WR Jordy Nelson, who knocked Tribble off balance and sent him stumbling to the ground.

? Sedrick Ellis is a great player. Although he doesn't look the part because he is just 257 pounds and short by NFL standards, Ellis is nearly un-blockable by just one offensive lineman, even against this level of talent. He might be the best football player in Mobile at any position. He gets off the ball with outstanding explosiveness and often beats heavier-footed interior offensive linemen with just his quickness, but he is also an exceptional technique and hands player and his feet never stop moving. Ellis almost always has better pad level than his opponent and has a quick and powerful rip move that he uses to perfection. He is a stunner who can jolt his opponent with his hands and move them backwards with his power. Centers Mike Pollack and John Sullivan were overwhelmed by Ellis in one-on-ones today and probably will be all week long.
In 2008, NFL interior linemen might be overwhelmed by Ellis as well.

? At several points of practice, the North's entire left side was made up of USC players. It was not uncommon to see Drew Radovich at left guard, Sam Baker at left tackle and TE Fred Davis flanking Baker. Considering it's so early in the week, the familiarity that these college teammates have with one another was apparent and a tremendous advantage, particularly with combination blocks in the run game. Watching Radovich and Baker in one-on-ones wasn't particularly impressive nor necessarily a poor showing, but Radovich can struggle with quickness and upfield penetrators while Baker needs to get stronger in both his upper and lower body. Both players certainly have starting potential however.

 

? We touched on Ellis, but overall, the North's group of defensive tackles could give the South's interior offensive line fits. Notre Dame's Trevor Laws doesn't make you take notice with his physical traits, but he is the type of defensive tackle who just doesn't go away or take a play off. His peskiness and tenacity leads to this Golden Domer making plenty of plays when the game is said and done. At the next level, he would be best used in a rotation, but he could excel in that role.

? Nebraska's Carl Nicks is an underrated prospect at this point, but don't expect his vast abilities to go unnoticed with all these offensive line coaches in attendance. Yes, Nicks is still unpolished and hasn't played a lot of football at a high level, but he has some traits that should make scouts very excited. He can be overly aggressive and certainly needs to be coached up -- but that is what offensive line coaches are for. Nicks is massive and very powerful in both his upper and lower body. He is light enough on his feet to secure the right edge in the NFL and has the power to move the pile and consistently open holes for a power running team. Nicks might begin his career at guard, but has the looks of a fine starting right tackle in time.

Around the South practice
? Tulane RB Matt Forte is making some money in Mobile this week. The 6-foot-1, 221-pound back is proving to scouts on hand that the nation's second-leading rusher in 2007 is not simply a function of lower-level FBS competition. In fact, he is standing out as the most complete back thus far on the South roster
-- and that includes Georgia Tech standout Tashard Choice. Forte is a strong, compact runner who displays good burst through the line of scrimmage. He has soft hands and is very comfortable catching the football. He also shows good instincts and the strength to anchor as a pass-blocker. Outside of Arkansas'
Darren McFadden and Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall, Forte could be the highest-rated running back weighing in at 215-plus pounds in a deep 2008 class.

? It's easy to see why some teams are high on LSU OLB Ali Highsmith. He is a fast-flowing, athletic defender with good closing burst and initial striking power. But Highsmith isn't for everybody. He runs around too many blocks because he lacks the base and strength to win in the phone booth. As a result, he will occasionally get out of position and compromise his unit's gap integrity. Bottom line: Highsmith only has first-round value on a smaller defense that emphasizes athleticism over strength (see: Colts, Buccaneers, Lions, etc.).

? For the second straight day, Florida WR Andre Caldwell produced at a high level. Caldwell continues to impress scouts by displaying excellent ball skills with the ability to open his hips and pull in balls thrown behind him.
Caldwell's overall strength was quite noticeable as he was able to withstand any jam defenders threw at him. Caldwell did a nice job of being stout and showed good ability to knock defenders hands down while creating a clean release off the line. The thing that impressed the scouts the most was his ability to attack the football. Caldwell showed no hesitation when coming across the middle going after and using his strong hands to haul in a catch in traffic.

? WR D.J. Hall's lack of suddenness is more obvious in a setting like this than it is watching most of his college games on film. Hall was a tremendously reliable and productive receiver at Alabama. He is an instinctive route runner with good size and excellent hands, which is why he should make some impact in the NFL. However, his inability to separate versus faster, more physical cover corners in press-man will likely prevent Hall from growing into a full-time starting role.

? LSU CB Chevis Jackson does not possess good top-end speed and likely will need to play in a Cover 2 heavy scheme in the NFL. However, it has not taken long to realize he's the most naturally instinctive cover corner on the South roster.
He has an uncanny knack for reading quarterbacks' eyes, as well as anticipating receivers' breaks.

? On the flipside, Alabama CB Simeon Castille struggled out on an island. Giving up too much cushion combined with a lethargic break on the ball, Castille often gave up too much separation to wideouts. Castille's top-end speed is also in question as he allowed receivers to run by him on several occasions. In Castille's defense, he did display solid ball skills when in position to make a play on the ball. Castille also showed good overall athleticism and may have a niche as a nickel package defender at the next level.

? Red Bryant has to be catching the eyes of coaches and scouts. He is difficult to miss. Bryant is a giant person (6-5, 329) who has long arms and the bulk to be a true, two-gap lineman. He can really jolt offensive linemen with his heavy powerful hands and once he has a hold of his blocker, he simply drives him backwards with his power. He is very difficult to move and occupies space in the middle quite well. Bryant is also difficult to throw over and should bat down a lot of passes in the NFL. While he isn't overly dynamic and doesn't have an especially wide array of pass rush moves, players with Bryant's skill set are difficult to find. He should have many suitors from teams that need big, space-eating defensive tackles or clubs that employ a 3-4 scheme.

? Pitt's Mike McGlynn runs from drill to drill like his hair is on fire. It is hard to miss a 309-pound offensive lineman running at full speed down the field to get to a drill. While hustle and "want to" are great traits, he needs to settle down a little bit. McGlynn is an intriguing prospect because he could potentially fill in at every line spot in the NFL with the exception of left tackle. At this point, he is a master of none, but does have some upside, particularly as a guard. McGlynn is also able to deep snap, which adds to his versatility. If he gets the opportunity to snap for punts -- it is a safe bet that McGlynn will hustle down the field.

? Maryland's Dre Moore was the most impressive big man for the South squad today. He has a reputation of turning it off and on and this forum is fantastic for him in that regard, but there was no denying that he was on today. As exciting as he is now, NFL decision makers need to temper their enthusiasm and go back and watch his game tape before pulling the trigger on Moore. But, he has excellent size and a fine physique for the position, runs very well and can make plays down the sideline. He is very powerful with fine explosiveness when he stays low out of his stance. Bowling Green C Kory Lichtensteiger was tortured by Moore today, but he wasn't alone. Moore can be a difference maker
-- if he wants to be.

? It is somewhat odd how the South coaching staff is using their offensive tackles. Barry Richardson got the most snaps at left tackle today, but Oniel Cousins also got his share of reps there as well. Richardson is huge (6-6, 345) and can engulf his opponent, but lacks the quickness out of his stance and lateral agility to compete at left tackle at the highest level. Cousins (6-4,
303) is a far better athlete, but lacks ideal left tackle height and weight.
The best candidate for the left side on this roster is Chris Williams, who is probably the top offensive line prospect on this squad. Williams is more of a finesse player than mauler, which doesn't suit the right tackle spot he was playing today. Williams had a very good practice, however, and stays square to his target with excellent lateral agility. He has the light feet and natural knee bend to adjust and recover when beaten. Williams should be on the left side.

 

I have to believe Sedrick Ellis's weight is a typo but you have to love the Red Bryant note.

 

California duo steals the show on Day 3 in Mobile

MOBILE, Ala. -- Wednesdays practices, which were in full pads for the second day in a row, were predictably chippy. The minor shoving matches during the North session in the morning served as an undercard to the South's afternoon heavyweight fight. Tempers boiled over into a couple of individual scuffles, one featuring Newberry College OT Heath Benedict versus Hampton DE Kendall Langford and the other between Vanderbilt OT Christopher Williams and Texas A&M DT Red Bryant.

While fighting is certainly not encouraged, it was good to see a mean streak from Williams, whose biggest knock is that he doesn't show enough nastiness to consistently finish blocks. Regardless, it's probably a good thing that players will be in shells during the Thursday practices, which will feature far less contact.

The big news of the day is that Limas Sweed of Texas and Early Doucet of LSU -- the top two receivers in Mobile -- are both on the shelf with injuries. Sweed reinjured his wrist/hand on Tuesday when attempting to catch a frozen rope thrown by Kentucky QB Andre Woodson; Doucet tweaked his hamstring during the same practice and is done for the week.

In other injury updates, UNLV LB Beau Bell is done for the week because of a lower leg injury he suffered on Tuesday. Miami OLB Tavares Gooden reported to Mobile and went through the weigh-in process on Monday before being sent home due to a hip flexor. Finally, it is unknown if North Carolina DT Kentwan Balmer will return after suffering a hamstring injury.

Some of the replacements thus far include Appalachian State WR Dexter Jackson, Iowa DE Bryan Mattison, Iowa State DT Athyba Rubin and Georgia Tech OLB Gary Guyton.

Here's a scouting breakdown of the two practice sessions:

Around the North practice
? Wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins of California has been good all week, but his sensational performance on Wednesday earned him some serious money. He caught a deep bomb in the team period and repeatedly made big plays the entire practice. Hawkins is catching the ball with his hands and running precise routes. He gets off the jam better than expected and has shown excellent overall quickness. Hawkins is establishing himself as one of the top 10 receivers in the 2008 class, which likely will land him a spot in the second round of the draft.

? Hawkins' college teammate RB Justin Forsett is another player who has surpassed expectations. He continually shows up as both a runner and receiver. Forsett is quick with excellent make-you-miss skills and lateral agility. Although Forsett is doing a fine job this week in Mobile, decision-makers should be wary; a predominantly noncontact environment such as this is a perfect forum for him to display his open-field abilities.

? CB Terrell Thomas of USC made an excellent breakup in one-on-one drills against Purdue's Dorien Bryant, but it is becoming apparent that Thomas does not have the recovery speed to be left on an island. He is a zone cornerback who should be best in a Cover 2 scheme with safety support over the top. He is also slow to flip his hips.

? Colorado OLB Jordon Dizon is an impressive player. He is a better pure football player than long-term prospect, but he reads plays extremely well and rarely takes false steps. He seems to always be around the football. Dizon should be an instant contributor on special teams as a rookie and could potentially bring more to the table than just special teams value if he gets in a defense that can cover him up and allow him to use his recognition skills.

? USC TE Fred Davis creates mismatches. He is not going to be a typical inline tight end, but if used properly and moved around in the formation -- including using him in the traditional inline position -- Davis should be able to use his explosiveness, physicality and quickness to give linebackers and safeties a very difficult time. He got deep and stretched the field, while also establishing himself as a formidable red zone target. Davis has excellent ball skills and can go up and snatch the ball at its highest point. He might catch a lot of touchdowns at the next level.

? Kansas State WR Jordy Nelson is another pass-catcher who has put together a very solid body of work in practice. He has tremendous size and good strength, and although Nelson isn't real sudden, he can stretch the field and builds up speed as he goes. Nelson will also be a very sound contributor near the goal line. He remains a work in progress, but it is certain that his stock in on the rise.

Around the South practice
? Houston WR Donnie Avery is quite possibly the fastest player in the 2008 class, and although there's no doubting his home run potential at the next level, Avery remains too one-dimensional. His ability to run go routes is really the only way he can threaten a defense. He is somewhat reminiscent of former LSU burner Devery Henderson, who has not transitioned to the NFL very well. Avery is dangerous but he isn't a refined route-runner and is too much of a straight-line athlete. He has been used on reverses here and his NFL club will do the same, but he fumbled on one reverse call today and such plays will become predictable with Avery if he cannot expand what he brings to the table. It will be important for NFL decision-makers not to get too excited by the 40 time he posts in Indianapolis.

? Appalachian State WR Dexter Jackson is getting a shot here in Mobile because of injuries and is making it count. His first practice was on Day 3 and Jackson showed that he has speed and, unlike Avery, is fluid with loose hips and excellent explosion and quickness. He is very dangerous with the ball in his hands, but will not break tackles with his lean frame. He brings the ability to return kicks as well. Jackson was clearly looking to impress today; he was diving for passes and running his routes with conviction. He caught a deep streak route for a touchdown in one-on-ones and made an impressive diving catch in seven-on-sevens. The scouts surely took notice and a big showing in the game could go a long way.

? LSU CB Chevis Jackson continues to impress. He is consistently in the hip pocket of the South wide receivers, and he has a thicker body with good strength to battle through the routes or to come up and play the run. Jackson is aggressive and will hit. Even Avery, possibly the fastest prospect in the 2008 class, was not able to escape Jackson today. These Senior Bowl practices have been great for Jackson's stock.

? With his tough, blue-collar playing style South Florida ILB Ben Moffitt has had a reputation as an overachiever throughout his career, and he is sticking to the script this week. Although tight in the hips and lacking overall speed, Moffitt has been able to get in on many plays with an aggressive, downhill style when he attacks the ball carrier. He has also been very stout at the point of attack and does a solid job of "thudding up" blockers, often stoning them in the hole. And when he's able to get to the ball, Moffitt has shown solid tackling ability. It should be noted, though, that his coverage ability is lacking.

? Kentucky OLB Wesley Woodyard is much more effective when he is able to run. With a slender, long-limbed build it is hard not to notice Woodyard flying around the field. He has been chasing down ball carriers from the backside, and he has shown the ability to mirror running backs out of the backfield then turn and run in man coverage. His slender frame is a problem when taking on blockers, though. Woodyard lacks the ability to anchor and is often pushed back at the point of attack due to lack of overall strength and explosion.

? Mississippi St. OLB Titus Brown is a physical specimen in pads and was the cause of a lot of chatter between scouts early in the week. That chatter has fizzled, though; Brown has failed to live up to the hype surrounding his size. Brown is more of a hybrid rush end and has struggled to be stout on the outside. He will give up the edge easily and struggles to disengage from blockers. Brown often looks lost in space and does not show the ability to drop into coverage. He has shown some explosiveness in one-on-one drills, though, and will likely be a pass-rush specialist at the next level.

? Georgia Tech RB Tashard Choice has quietly put together a solid week of practice. Many scouts aren't high on Choice because of his lack of burst and top-end speed. Although he's not blazing fast, he does show good vision and will get through the hole quicker than one might think. Choice showed this ability when he was able to hit a seam and get to the outside during the team period. He displayed good patience and set up his blocks before sticking his foot in the ground and getting to the second level. If Choice can finish the week strong and combine it with a solid performance during the game, his stock could rise.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.