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January 30, 2016 at 4:29 pm #38383
InvaderRamModeratordak prescott seems to be alright.
7-10 60 yds and a td.
January 30, 2016 at 5:56 pm #38388znModeratorfrom off the net
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CraigMatson
First off The DL’s in the game that will be considered in round 1 will be numerous. Mayock and Daniel Jerimiah are in agreement there could be as many 10 in this game alone. They have mentioned the DE-LB from E.Kentucky is Noah Spence took the week and made money but barely made plays in game ,besides pressures ,
The Alabama DT Jerron Reed has shown consistant play with his power and movement skills , The Louisana Tech DT Vernon Butler also has looked like he has excellent push the pocket skills and movement to rate in top two rounds.
DB’s looked good , WR’s pretty blah , I’m thinking Kenyon Drake the backup RB from Alabama who supposedly runs 4.38 could convert to WR.
Treadwell would be in this being he’s a Jr , rumor is now he may run 4.6 or slower 40 now but this class of WR’s looks pretty poor with the Jr entry’s so his value remains high
RB’s have been ok ,,
Carson Wentz production on stat line belies the actual play by him due to a few drops .
He also showed he can run a bit , looks like a 4.7 -4.75 guyArkansas QB Allen and Keesler looked pretty good along with Prescott..
Mayock just said C class is pretty deep this year as well as the DT class.
Prescott was the MVP
Its was a fairly defensive day folks.
January 30, 2016 at 6:08 pm #38393InvaderRamModeratoryeah carson seemed to be let down by his receivers. i think miller actually let him down a couple times.
prescott mishandled the ball once and threw what should have been an interception right before he threw a first half td.
braxton did have some good returns on special teams.
i think oakman had 2 first half sacks.
January 30, 2016 at 8:50 pm #38397znModeratorBraxton Miller and 5 others who boosted their draft stock at this year’s Senior Bowl
Dan Kadar
The former Ohio State star has a bright future at wide receiver, and he’s one of the five best players in today’s Senior Bowl. Here’s who helped themselves the most this week, and why to expect more of Carson Wentz.
Before practices began at this year’s Senior Bowl, Braxton Miller was a bit of an enigma. For Ohio State this season, Miller switched from quarterback to a type of hybrid offensive weapon.
He ran the ball 42 times for 260 yards and a touchdown. He caught the ball 26 times for 341 yards and three touchdowns. He showed intrigue, but those are not exactly dazzling numbers. Miller’s usage was indicative of Ohio State’s up-and-down season on offense, so it was hard to figure out what to make of him as a prospect for the 2016 NFL Draft.
Following three practice sessions in Mobile, Ala. that is no longer the case. Miller was unquestionably the week’s biggest star. The Dallas Cowboys coaching staff running the North roster worked Miller outside and in the slot, and he was really good at both.
“I feel like every team needs playmakers and they’ve mentioned that I can do it all, whether it’s being a punt returner, in the backfield as a decoy and playing on the outside,” Miller said earlier this week. “It’s a great feeling being able to do all that stuff and still learn so much at the same time.”
Miller proved to be a quick learner during the week. Coaches tasked Miller with keeping his eyes up on routes and be tighter in his movements. Later in the week, he showed off what he learned. More than once, in fact:
“We’re coaching these guys hard and it’s good to see how well he’s responded to that coaching,” Dallas Cowboys head coach said. “Clearly a great athlete and a productive football player, and someone that has a lot of upside.”
With Miller starting to actualize that upside, Miller’s draft stock is clearly on the rise. It will go even higher if he runs a 4.28 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, like he predicted this week. Miller also said he closely follows the play of Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots and Randall Cobb of the Green Bay Packers. Miller’s game and his path to the the NFL mirrors Cobb, a quarterback and receiver at the University of Kentucky. Cobb was eventually picked with the last pick of the second round in 2011. Miller might not last that long.
“He’s a top-40 pick, and that showed this week,” an AFC scout said this week. “If he was ever under the radar, he isn’t anymore.”
The Senior Bowl week belonged to Miller, but he was far from the only standout. Here’s who helped themselves the most leading up to today’s game, which is at 1:30 p.m. on the NFL Network.
Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville: Rankins won’t play in the Senior Bowl game after tweaking his knee early in the week. But when he practiced he was impressive. Rankins’ game is speed and technique, and that made him nearly unblockable all week. Rankins had a good season at Louisville with 58 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and six sacks. His best role moving forward will be playing three-technique on a 4-3 team.
Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky: What happened off the field this week was just as important as what he did on it. Spence needed to be forthcoming to teams about the drug issues that got him dismissed at Ohio State, and he was during a multitude of meetings with personnel members. If you couple that with what Spence showed this week, it’s easy to see him becoming a top-15 pick in April. All week, Spence was terrorizing offensive linemen with his speed and ability to bend around the edge. Star pass rushers like Spence don’t last long in the draft.
Nick Vannett, TE, Ohio State: At Ohio State, Vannett was underutilized in head coach Urban Meyer’s spread offense. Vannett said after practice on Thursday that he wanted to show he’s much more of a pass catcher and playmaker. After a good week of practice, Vannett’s mission was accomplished. Vannett has good size at 6’5 3/4 and 256 pounds, and used it to body defenders all week to create room to make catches. Vannett’s teammate Jeff Heuerman was a third-round pick at tight end last year. Vannett could go even higher.
Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech: It was a good, consistent week for Butler. At 325 pounds, he moved around much better than expected and is a naturally strong player against the run. Butler is working this offseason on his pass rush ability, and some of that flashed during one-on-one drills. In a loaded defensive tackle class, Butler justified his second-round status at the Senior Bowl.
wentz_yay
(Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports)What about Carson Wentz?
North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz was the headline player of this year’s Senior Bowl. Physically, Wentz has all the tools you want in a franchise quarterback. The week for Wentz began with an impressive weigh-in where he came in at just under 6’5 1/4 and 233 pounds. Senior Bowl Executive Director Phil Savage said Wentz could be a top-10 pick this year.
“Physically I’ve got a lot to offer with being able to make all of the throws and then some athleticism that people probably wouldn’t expect from a big 6’5 kid like me,” Wentz said. “Then, obviously the system we ran at North Dakota State was very pro-style, multiple, so I’m looking forward to that transitioning and helping me going forward.”
The system helps Wentz. The size and athleticism helps Wentz. He’s worth discussing as a high first-round pick because of those things. But Wentz didn’t exactly dazzle with his accuracy during the week. He missed several easy passes on Tuesday and looked best throwing short over the middle and on slants the rest of the week. Did Wentz have some good red zone completions? He did, particularly on one red zone pass placed on the back shoulder of Michigan State wide receiver Aaron Burbridge.
The week for Wentz was good. It was not great. From a player who some in the NFL expect to be the first quarterback taken in the draft, it’s not unreasonable to expect much more.
January 30, 2016 at 8:53 pm #38398znModeratorNFLDraftScout.com
Noah Spence and the DL talent shines at the Senior Bowl: 10 things to knowBy Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst
For scouts and evaluators, the Senior Bowl is more about the practices during the week, but the actual game does have value as players perform in live action. And just like all week in practice, the story of the 2016 Senior Bowl game was the dominant defensive lines as the South defeated the North, 27-10, at Ladd Peebles Stadium on Saturday.
Eastern Kentucky defensive end Noah Spence entered the week as the top prospect in Mobile, and he’ll leave with that same distinction. Standing up off the edge, he showed a variety of rush moves due to his natural athleticism, beating the North offensive tackles with speed around the corner and quickness inside.
Spence used his natural acceleration and contact balance against Indiana left tackle Jason Spriggs, shaving the corner with momentum and finishing at the quarterback. Right tackles Kyle Murphy (Stanford) and Cole Toner (Harvard) were no match for Spence’s agility and burst off the snap as the EKU rush end used space to easily cut inside and infiltrate the pocket.
Spence is inconsistent against the run and needs hand refinement, but rushing the passer is his bread and butter, and what makes him one of the top defensive prospects in the 2016 draft class. Obviously his off-field situation will be the determining factor to where he is ultimately drafted, but Spence solidified himself as a top-10 talent.
While Spence was the clear-cut best edge rusher during Senior Bowl practices and the game, the top interior defensive lineman is a race too close to call. The defensive tackle position is the deepest on the Senior Bowl roster and the draft overall, and several stood out during the game.
Louisiana Tech defensive tackle Vernon Butler made his presence known during practice but saved his best for the game. He showed off his fluid lower body and powerful upper half in unison, peppering blockers with his 34 1/8-inch arms. Butler has a draft arrow pointing north.
Notre Dame defensive tackle Sheldon Day is a tad undersized and can struggle in congestion, but give him any type of space and blockers don’t have an answer for his athleticism and active hands. And that’s why Jason Garrett and his staff often kicked him outside to defensive end where he could work one-on-one vs. tackles. Day has the first step explosion, low pad level and body control to create havoc.
Similar to his game film, Alabama defensive tackle Jarran Reed wasn’t flashy during the game, but he was stout and bullied blockers most of the game. He used his powerful hands to stack-and-shed at the point of attack and keep the middle of the field clogged up. Whichever team drafts Reed won’t sell a lot of jerseys with his name on the back, but all 32 clubs wish they had a player like him in the rotation.
2. Black and blue Cardinal: The most impressive defensive tackle in Mobile this week was Louisville’s Sheldon Rankins, but he was unable to play on Saturday due to injury. Originally called a “knee sprain” by the training staff, Rankins told sideline reporter Alex Flanagan that he aggravated a previous injury to his upper calf.
3. Belle of the Ball: North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz is clearly the top quarterback prospect in Mobile, and although he didn’t dominate the box score, he showed the traits that will land him in the top half of Round 1. Wentz finished 6-for-10 for 50 yards in his one quarter of action, but several of his throws were dropped, including one by Cincinnati wide receiver Chris Moore. On that throw, Wentz surveyed the field and fired a rope with perfect placement to the opposite sideline, which should have been a first down and extended the drive. He escaped the pocket prematurely on a few snaps and looked to run too quickly, but Wentz handled himself well.
4. Dak attack in Mobile: Wentz was the top quarterback prospect on display, but it was Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott who took home the game’s Most Outstanding Player Award. He finished 7-for-10 passing and orchestrated a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive, ending in a five-yard touchdown pass to Southeast Missouri wide receiver Paul McRoberts. Prescott grew into a much more consistent passer during his senior season and has a chance to develop into a consistent backup in the NFL.
5. Measuring tape or game tape? Only one quarterback on the South squad threw for 100-plus yards on Saturday and that was Arkansas’ Brandon Allen, who completed seven of his 10 passes. He is underwhelming from a physical standpoint but showed off his vision and quick decision-making to scan and deliver down the field. For Allen, it was a great way to end his week after a not-so-great start, measuring in with 8 1/2-inch hands on Tuesday. That number alone will eliminate him from several draft boards as many have a 9-inch (or larger) threshold for quarterbacks.
6. Quiet day for Braxton: After an impressive week of practice, Ohio State wide receiver Braxton Miller was quiet in the game with only two catches for eight yards. He was targeted often, but dropped a screen pass and had his signals crossed on several other plays. Miller did draw a defensive pass interference penalty in the end zone and showed well as a return man, including a 31-yard kickoff return. He is clearly still very raw as a route-runner, but his special athleticism and upside will likely land him somewhere in the top 40 picks.
7. Rising draft stock: A prospect who made money this week, Boise State safety Darian Thompson stretched his positive week to game action on Saturday, standing out on defense and special teams. He was very inconsistent on tape this season and showed some of that on Saturday, misjudging angles and leaving production on the field. But there was more good than bad with his plant-and-drive quickness, trusting his eyes and reacting decisively to make plays.
8. If you can cover, you can play in the NFL: LSU is a football factory for the NFL, and a pair of former Tigers impressed on defense, specifically in coverage. A cornerback, safety and nickelback in college, Jalen Mills lined up exclusively as a corner during practice and stayed outside for the game, impressing with his quickness and ability to disrupt up the catch point. He anticipates well and runs the route before the wide receiver at times, breaking up a throw in the end zone during the game. Linebacker Deion Jones lacks an ideal frame for the position in the NFL, but his instincts and athleticism on special teams and in coverage will get him on an NFL field. He impressed in both areas on Saturday.
9. A player who won’t give NFL coaches white hair: Kansas State offensive guard Cody Whitehair drew barely any praise during the telecast, but it was business as usual for the former college left tackle, winning almost every snap he took on Saturday. Whitehair was quick to set up off the snap, with the balance to stay square to defenders and control the point of attack. Not many guards wind up in the first round, but Whitehair is NFL-ready right now, and his performance this week only cemented my belief that he’s one of the top 25 players in this draft.
10. And the game’s top receiver was…: Although it’s a very underwhelming tight end class this year, Ohio State’s Nick Vannett impressed during practice and had a game-best 58 yards receiving on three catches. While not quite as athletically gifted as former Buckeye Jeff Heuerman, who was a third-round pick of the Denver Broncos last year, Vannett was the top tight end in Mobile with his toughness as a blocker and ability to finish as a receiver. Baylor’s Jay Lee was the most productive wideout on Saturday, finishing with four catches for 49 yards, capping off a very strong week for the former Bear.
February 1, 2016 at 1:07 pm #38480znModeratorI moved the post-game qb discussions from this thread to the new “qbs in the draft” thread:
February 1, 2016 at 8:04 pm #38484znModeratorfrom off the net
alyoshamucci
I love Senior Bowl week. And honestly I think I love Jason Garrett the best out of all the coaches I’ve seen do it, his focus on competition is really helpful and there were some new drills this year as a result …
I focus on the practices mostly, but will add a little bit here and there on the game …
First, the best prospects
Wentz — Truly a top 5 talent at QB. There was literally no change in his psychological demeanor going form FCS to Senior Bowl week, and there is usually a stiff 2 day adjustment. And while didn’t see Cutler play, Wentz made the best throw at practice all week, and honestly the best throw Ive seen at the Senior Bowl … all the announcers got hushed when he did it. I don’t know if he goes 1 overall or 2 … but I can’t see him getting out of the top 5.
Spence — His issues, if they are truly in the past, have not stopped him from being the best physical specimen at the event. He was simply unblockable … Spriggs (who was being raved about) had a draw against him once … His burst reminds me of Quinn. It’s like everyone around him is in slow motion. I can’t see him getting past the Ravens at 6 and he may be the first defensive player taken.
Carl Nassib — I know people keep talking about this kid like he’s a high effort over achiever … that’s crazy. He’s got burst and bend around the corner at 6-6 270. In the second round he’s a freakish steal and I have him around the 12-15 area. Also, he has the mentality … he worked so hard in the offseason and focused and it paid off with production and athleticism. If he gets to 43 I’d be hard pressed to take anyone over him. He didn’t play in the game I’m guessing due to illness, but he went around and through just about everyone on the O line. Outside AND inside.
Cyrus Jones — this kid has been and remains top 15 for me … maybe the difference between 5-9 and 5-10 is more than an inch, but I have not seen him have any issues guarding bigger WRs on the outside. His hips, recovery, feet, and aggressiveness remind me of Jenkins. the talk of him being drafted in the 3rd round is really wild to me, I don’t get it. Another kid who was night and day different from junior to senior year.
Braxton Miller — Wow. I don’t see him getting out of the first round now. His explosiveness, burst, and ability to learn? Just wow.
Other notables …
Jalen Mills LSU … the most instinctive player on the field this week. There are a TON of CBs that are going to get pushed down and around … if he lasts to round 3 and we haven’t jumped on a CB yet?
Lots of smaller school kids getting up to speed pretty quickly …
Burbridge, Allison, McRoberts, Moore, Vad Lee, etc. The list of WRs who could be around in the 6th is staggering. The lists from the other all star games? Mckay, Severin, Mike Thomas, Dom Williams …
I’m really looking at KJ Dillon to hopefully not be drafted and be a huge UDFA signing at S.
DT
Okay, so this is an interesting class … there are freaks at the top, and there is quality depth down the line … we’re looking for a rotational guy and we may be able to get him late in the draft …Ionnidis from Temple really had a lot of good one on one reps. He’s not going to “wow” people anywhere, but his ability to keep driving through the block is noticeable. Of course Rankins and Reed took best in breed … with Reed being a real beast. Someone’s going to get a heck of a player in the 2nd or 3rd round.
OC
I was not really looking at guards or OTs … Battle will be the backup in case GRob busts IMO .. and that’s that. The OCs were the deepest crop Ive seen since watching … and that’s without Bama’s Kelly who skipped for goodness knows why.
Nick Martin Got the most love from Mayock … he wasn’t sexy, and looked like he was losing, but the truth was he was just wining ugly like Havenstein does …
Jack Allen I thought he played better at OG, but had no problem anchoring against every player he faced.
Glasgow Had the toughest week … but he was a shrine sign in late … so he was probably just exhausted.
Boehm Had the most power and the longest reach, heaviest hands of the bunch, but didn’t have the balance the others did.Truth is I like all of these kids to take Barnes spot … and who knows how late we could get them.
An extra note here … I really like Huettel from Bowling Green … and he took a bunch of snaps at Center in the other game …
MLB
The LBs always show up in game, very few drills catch their skills. Forrest and Brothers were really fast to the ball. Ragland of course is best in class at the position though he was playing outside … Fackrell didn’t impress as much as I expected … and now his outside spot could be challenged by the Junior from Boise Correa if he has a good combine.
Jihad Ward and Kaufusi had great weeks … if we want a DE in the 3rd or 4th, odds are one will be there.
Mock
1-15) Mike Thomas
43) Hackenburg
45) Carl Nassib
3) Nick Vannet
4) Jack Allen
6) Mike Thomas SMissI want to have two Mike Thomas’ just to freak people out.
PS
If Wentz goes #2 overall to Cleveland? I can totally see that happening … and that would excite me, because I think Goff is perfect for our offense. High end game manager with an extra couple good throws a game in him.
February 1, 2016 at 8:06 pm #38485znModeratorLooking back at Senior Bowl week and who Rams could target
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The Senior Bowl is over and the NFL world now turns its attention to the Super Bowl this week as the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos prepare to square off in the 50th edition of the big game.
That game, of course, doesn’t involve the Los Angeles Rams, but with Senior Bowl week in the rear view, the first stage of the offseason is essentially complete as the biggest college all star games are done.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best performers in Mobile, Alabama, and how their draft stock could be affected relative to the Rams:
QB Carson Wentz, North Dakota State — There was no player in Mobile last week with more to gain than Wentz. The NFL world was curious to see how his immense physical abilities would translate against better competition with NFL coaching. By all accounts, it was a rousing success for Wentz, who has pushed himself up the list in the eyes of most outside observers. I mentioned in our Senior Bowl preview that Wentz could potentially play his way beyond the Rams’ reach at No. 15 and there are strong indications he has earned his way into the top 10 and maybe higher. If the Rams decide to pursue Wentz, there’s a real possibility they’d have to move up to do it.
LB Reggie Ragland, Alabama — Ragland was already considered one of the draft’s best prospects and one of the safest players at the Senior Bowl. He did nothing to damage that stock and earned some points from scouts for his willingness to compete all week despite his already lofty draft stock. Ragland figures to go somewhere in the middle of the first round and could even be gone before pick No. 15 with teams like the New Orleans Saints keeping close tabs on him throughout the week.
DE Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky — Consider Spence the defensive answer to Wentz. Coming from a small school — though Spence actually started out at Ohio State — the NFL world wanted to see how he’d do against top competition and he did not disappoint. There are still some off-field concerns, but he was the most dynamic edge rusher in Mobile and that’s an area the Rams could look at, potentially even early on depending on what becomes of free agents William Hayes and Eugene Sims and Chris Long, who is entering the final year of his deal with a large cap charge still on the books. Spence is also a bit undersized, but the Rams under Jeff Fisher have rarely hesitated to spend serious draft capital on defensive linemen.
LB Deion Jones, LSU — Jones and Boise State’s Darian Thompson had to intrigue teams that are finding new and versatile ways to use players who might be undersized as linebackers in a traditional sense but are athletic enough to play more of a hybrid role. Arizona’s Deone Bucannon and the Rams’ Mark Barron both proved this season that such players can produce if put in the right place. The Rams probably wouldn’t be in a rush to draft another player of that ilk but if Barron doesn’t re-sign, the Rams would at least know how to deploy such a talent. Jones impressed with his quick feet and transition speed.
WR Braxton Miller, Ohio State — In a solid if unspectacular crop of receivers in Mobile, it was Miller who provided the sizzle. He still has a lot to refine when it comes to route running and the nuances of his position but there’s no denying his athleticism and versatility. He probably didn’t do enough to make him a Day 1 pick but he could very well be a Day 2 selection. Plus, he still has the combine to wow scouts and bolster his stock. The Rams could use help at receiver and though Miller is best suited to the slot, Los Angeles could have needs for more than just one wideout with Brian Quick and Wes Welker headed for free agency and Stedman Bailey recovering from gunshot wounds.
OG Cody Whitehair, Kansas State — It’s unlikely the Rams will look to use a high enough choice to grab a guard such as Whitehair but there seems to be a consensus that he’s a player capable of stepping in and contributing right away. The Rams could potentially look for another lineman if they part ways with Rodger Saffold but they do have young linemen such as Jamon Brown, Andrew Donnal and Cody Wichmann they believe can contribute as starters. Either way, it was a good week for Whitehair and fellow lineman Joe Dahl, of Washington State.
February 3, 2016 at 11:06 am #38541znModeratorReal Football Talk with Pat Kirwan and Jim Miller
Senior Bowl Wrap Up
The Senior Bowl gave us our first live look at the seniors in the 2016 NFL Draft class, and one thing was clear. The offensive and defensive lines will be areas of strength this year.
Defensive linemen who stood out included Penn State’s Carl Nassib, Sheldon Day of Notre Dame, DJ Reader of Clemson, and the Eastern Kentucky standout and Ohio State transfer Noah Spence. Top counterparts on the o-line were led by Indiana OT Jason Spriggs, and the swing G-T from LSU Vadal Alexander.
Jay Lee of Baylor was a receiver who turned heads, and Carson Wentz of North Dakota State and Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott separated themselves from the QB pack a bit with their performance in Mobile.
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