Welcome to Senior Bowl week draftniks. While I will not be in Mobile covering practices, that’s why we have NFL Network.
Previewing the 2010 Senior Bowl
The first practice starts on television Monday at 3:30 p.m., EST. I’ll blog about as much practice as I can. Because of work, I won’t be able to watch on Monday. However, there are a ton of other draft sites in Mobile. Follow along on my Twitter feed as I’ll be retweeting frequently. Don’t hesitate to start fanposts or, maybe more preferably, fanshots to talk Senior Bowl.
If you really want to follow some sites, here are some good ones that will be covering the Senior Bowl:
The importance of the Senior Bowl shouldn’t be underscored. In 2008, Matt Forte and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie greatly improved their stock by showing they could play against top competition. Several players will have to do the same this week, including running back Joique Bell of Wayne State and offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse of Massachusetts.
This year’s game is loaded with good, but not necessarily great, linebackers. Those include Jamar Chaney of Mississippi State, Daryl Washington of TCU, Sean Weatherspoon of Missouri and Eric Norwood of South Carolina. Each could be a second-round pick with a good week in Mobile.
And of course there are the quarterbacks. Tony Pike of Cincinnati and Dan LeFevour are two of the more interesting to observe. Both come from a shotgun spread and are mobile with good size. But there are questions about not only the arm strength of both, but the football acumen.
Update: The incredibly creepy part of the week, the weigh-in, is complete. Some highlights include the following:
- Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody came in at 370 pounds and apparently looking like Andre Smith.
- Fellow Tide member Javier Arenas is just shy of 5’9. That’s pretty small for a cornerback.
- Idaho guard Mike Iupati had a 35-inch arm length. How important is that? Example:
• Eugene Monroe 34″
• Jason Smith 33 3/4″
• Andre Smith 35 5/8″
• Michael Oher 33 1/2”
- Safety Taylor Mays of USC came it at what everyone expected at 6’3, 230 pounds
- Myron Rolle, in his return to football, looked trim and fit at 6’1, 217 pounds
- We’ll have the full weigh-in numbers at some point today.
Update 2: If you’re into that sort of thing, you can find photos from the weigh-in here. Warning: Mt. Cody is in there. You can find full weigh-in results here.
After the jump are the week’s most intriguing players:
Tim Tebow | QB | Florida
This may as well be called the Senior Tebowl. No player will be more-watched this week than the lightning rod quarterback. Off the field, in interviews, Tebow will be a star. It’s how he reacts on the field that will tell his story. For the past four seasons, Tebow was rarely scrutinized as a football player. His arm strength and throwing motion won’t be the only thing tested this week. His mettle will be as well.
Myron Rolle | S | Florida State
Remember Rolle? The former blue-chip recruit turned above-average safety turned Oxford scholar? Of all the players this week, even the small-school guys, he is the great unknown. After not playing football for a year, Rolle has been back in the U.S. training and getting himself back in playing shape. The question I had about Rolle when he played was whether he’d be better at outside linebacker. His coverage skills are nothing great, but he’s a good tackler and really got after the run.
O’Brien Schoefield | OLB | Wisconsin
One of the standouts of the East-West Shrine Game, Schoefield was a playmaker in his debut at linebacker. What Schoefield will have show more, and learn, is the technical skills a linebacker must possess. He has to do a better job of breaking down in space and changing direction. Schoefield has the size and apparent athleticism. It’s his football intelligence that will be put to the test this week.
Danario Alexander | WR | Missouri
No one expected Alexander to have the season he had – 113 receptions for 1,781 yards and 14 touchdowns. Alexander was an athletic freak when he came to Missouri. Following a serious knee injury, his speed and jumping ability were lessened. That’s why practice will be so important to Alexander. He’ll have to be like Bowling Green’s Freddie Barnes in the Shrine practices and catch every ball thrown his way.
LaGarrette Blount | RB | Oregon
By now, you know the story on Blount ¬¬¬¬– character issues abound after he punched a Boise State player and then he was ho-hum upon his late-season return. In a game featuring other power rushers like Mississippi State’s Anthony Dixon, LSU’s Charles Scott and Tennessee’s Montario Hardesty, Blount will have to do something to distinguish himself. The problem is, Blount has never been known as a great pass catcher or blocker.
Jimmy Graham | TE | Miami (Fla.)
Graham is a project. Scouts know it, and its likely Graham knows it too. A former basketball player, Graham showed at times in 2009 why he deserved to be invited to this game. At other times, he was a non-factor. Most important for Grahahm this week is his receiving ability. Everyone knows he’s going to need work on his blocking, but if he shows good hands, he could reserve a spot in the first 100 picks.
Taylor Mays | S | Southern California
Mays has become an enigma on defense. In the past, his lack of playmaking could be attributed to the USC scheme that asked him to play centerfield and be the last line of the defense. However, Mays’ senior season showed he needs to improve his tackling skill and how to take better angles. Mays is a physical specimen, but this week he’ll have to show he’s a true football player.
Dan Williams | DT | Tennessee
Williams, finally healthy in 2009, came on as perhaps the best nose tackle available in this year’s draft. Williams can really validate his play this week by overmatching fellow South team defensive tackle Terrence Cody. With the Dolphins, who need a nose tackle, coaching the South, this may be the most interesting non-Tebow storyline to follow this week.
Mike Iupati | G | Idaho
There is no question that Iupati is considered by most to be the best guard available in the draft. However, he gained that status playing against the below-average opponents of the Western Athletic Conference. Iupati is a strong, athletic guard, but he’ll have to prove it against the best competition he’s ever faced. Play well, and he could be a first-round pick.
Brandon Graham | DE | Michigan
Graham was a terror this season, finishing first in the nation in tackles for loss with 26. Clearly Graham’s specialty is getting after the quarterback, and scouts and coaches know as much. Don’t be surprised if Graham is asked to do an extra load of work this week stopping the run to see just how good he is in that area.
See More:
