DYNASTY: Top 2013 College Prospects (2 Viewers)

[Faust]

2013 NFL Draft: Plenty of storylines at Senior Bowl

By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

January 21, 2013 8:17 am ET

As the preeminent senior all-star game, the annual Senior Bowl is always entertaining and informative. The 2013 edition could be even more so considering a highly competitive quarterback class and a host of unheralded prospects with the opportunity to stake their claim against the big boys in front of hundreds of NFL talent evaluators.

What to watch

The big storyline this week in Mobile will be the battle between the six quarterbacks. Having attended this all-star game since 2001, this is the most competitive quarterback group I've seen. Arkansas' Tyler Wilson is the best combination of size, arm talent, toughness and experience and is NFLDraftScout.com's No. 3 rated passer, overall. Oklahoma's Landry Jones and North Carolina State's Mike Glennon are strong-armed, pure pocket passers who fit the prototype of first-round passers of the past. They'll be trying to show better-than-anticipated athleticism and poise to prove they fit in equally well in today's frenzied NFL.

The "other" three could be the more interesting evaluations this week.

Florida State's EJ Manuel has an intriguing combination of mobility and arm talent. While he's struggled in Tallahassee, at times, with progressing through his reads before taking off, the 6-4, 240 pound runs like a deer -- an attribute that NFL teams might be appreciating more today than any other year in the past, considering the success of other fleet-footed quarterbacks in 2012.

Syracuse's Ryan Nassib and Miami of Ohio's Zac Dysert haven't generated the same buzz nation-wide as their new teammates but both have shown enough mobility, as well as the arm talent and toughness scouts expect from the position. Each has played well when facing upper-echelon talent over their respective careers.

Elite positions

While the quarterbacks will no doubt get the attention, this year's offensive tackle and safety classes actually boast the highest-rated prospects. Central Michigan's Eric Fisher and Oklahoma's Lane Johnson have been fixtures of Dane Brugler's and my mock drafts for the past several months. This position was fortified with the first juniors in Senior Bowl history with Alabama's DJ Fluker and Syracuse's Justin Pugh. Fluker has since announced he will not play.

The safety crops the past few years have been lacking, so talent evaluators are excited to see these players prove they are as talented as their hype. Southern Cal's T.J. McDonald and Alabama's Robert Lester have received a lot of attention over their illustrious careers, but Georgia's Bacarri Rambo and Fresno State's Phillip Thomas have proven to be more reliable open-field tacklers, intimidating hitters over the middle and certainly better ball-hawks. Each quietly is generating some first-round buzz with scouts.

Breakout stars

In reality every prospect attending the Senior Bowl has the opportunity to boost his draft stock this week with an impressive performance. A few of the players, however, could significantly alter their stock, perhaps moving from the middle rounds right into the top-32 conversation. Think I'm exaggerating? Ask former Boise State defensive end Shea McClellin, whose impressive week in Mobile helped push the Chicago Bears to select him in the first round last April.

The top "breakout" candidates for this year's game appear to be:

Robert Alford, CB, Southeastern Louisiana: Scouts been buzzing about Alford, a 6-0, 185-pound corner who moves better than his size would indicate. The Senior Bowl has historically unearthed a number of "diamonds in the rough" in the defensive backfield, so Alford has a strong precedent to follow.

Ziggy Ansah, DE, BYU: The Ghana native has flashed a terrific skill set in Provo, earning comparisons to former South Florida standout Jason Pierre-Paul. The level of competition, of course, will make a big jump in Mobile, especially considering this year's class of pass protectors.

Nick Kasa, TE, Colorado: The 2012 season was one to forget for Colorado fans, but this Buffalo was a relative bright spot. He caught "only" 20 passes for 340 yards and three touchdowns as a senior, hardly eye-popping stats, but the former defensive lineman has made consistent strides since making the position change, and he possesses great upside.

The schedule

Each team will practice at Ladd Peebles Stadium in Mobile throughout the week, with the game scheduled for Saturday.

Monday's practices are split because of the weigh-in, which unofficially kicks off the proceedings.

 

[Faust]

2013 Senior Bowl: Monday's measurements2013 Senior Bowl: Fluker, Glennon highlight weigh-in surprises

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[MAC_32]

My point is Da'Rick Rogers is the best skill position prospect in this draft. I get the character issues, but every team that passed on Janoris Jenkins last year be so quick to dismiss Rogers this year. He's the only skill position player that I know has the physical ability to play in the NFL.If Duron Carter's name was Duron Smith no one would care.

There's a reason these types fall on draft day, for every Janoris Jenkins there are 6 Dwight Jones'

There are also Randy Mosses. Jerry Jones has said his biggest regret was not taking Moss, which is why he didn't let Dez's character issues deter him. My point is I KNOW he has the skill set to succeed in the nfl. Keenan Allen, Justin Hunter, Markus Wheaton, et al I THINK could be successful in the nfl. I promise you Da'Rick Rogers wasn't the first person in Knoxville to butt heads with Derek Dooley's ego. Ask Bryce Brown. The character issues provide you with an opportunity to get value. I would rather hitch my wagon to a guy that has no questions about his physical ability. In my opinion Rogers is the best wr prospect since Julio, so anything after 1.01 is a value pick.

I think the comment I made last month was along the lines of I'd love to snatch him up in the second half of round 1 if he is there, but I would be scared #### less if my favorite team drafted him anytime before the end of day 2.

 

[Faust]

Mike Glennon, Ezekiel Ansah among hot Senior Bowl prospects

By Bucky Brooks

Analyst, NFL.com and NFL Network

The Senior Bowl (Sat., 4 p.m. ET, NFL Network) is the premier game on the college football all-star circuit. NFL scouts marvel over the collection of talent in Mobile, Ala., for the week, knowing that several unheralded participants will eventually become stars at the next level. In fact, the two starting quarterbacks in Super Bowl XLVII, the Baltimore Ravens' Joe Flacco and the San Francisco 49ers' Colin Kaepernick, rose to prominence in the NFL scouting community after turning in strong performances at the Senior Bowl.

Given the copycat nature of the NFL, every scout and coach will spend the week assessing the talent and potential of the players running around Ladd-Peebles Stadium to determine which unheralded prospect is ready to make an immediate impact on Sundays.

Here is a list of 10 "under the radar" players certain to draw a lot of interest from scouts this week:



1) Mike Glennon, QB, N.C. State: The lack of star power at the quarterback position has opened up the competition for the No. 1 spot on several draft boards across the NFL. Glennon is arguably the most talented drop-back passer available in the 2013 NFL Draft, but concerns about his mobility and overall athleticism have scouts worried about his effectiveness at the next level. In addition, Glennon has shown questionable judgment while under pressure in the pocket, leading to turnovers and negative plays at inopportune moments. Despite his immense talent and potential, scouts are uncertain about his ability to play "winning football." Glennon's play this week could provide a lot of answers about his capacity to develop into a franchise quarterback.

2) Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU: The former walk-on track star has been the buzz of the NFL scouting community with his exceptional athleticism, movement skills and motor. Scouts rave about his raw talent and rush skills despite a limited football background. In fact, the comparisons to Jason Pierre-Paul have been flying off the tongues of evaluators since Ansah started wreaking havoc on opponents in the fall. If he seizes this opportunity to showcase his talents against elite competition, Ansah can transition from urban legend to certain first-round pick.

3) Phillip Thomas, S, Fresno State: The emphasis on the passing game has NFL scouts searching for athletic deep-middle defenders with cover skills and big-hit ability. Thomas had a knack for making big plays as a senior at Fresno State (eight interceptions and three pick-sixes), but scouts still have reservations about his overall speed and athleticism.

4) Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse: As the first junior to participate in the Senior Bowl -- thanks to early graduation -- Pugh has already made history at the event. But scouts want to see if he possesses the athleticism, body control and technical skill to man the left tackle spot as a pro. Pugh has been a model of consistency as a collegian and could jump into serious first-round consideration with a good week against elite competition.

5) Aaron Mellette, WR, Elon: A small-school standout, Mellette hasn't faced top competition on a consistent basis; his play this week will tell scouts a lot about his ability to make an immediate impact as a pro. Mellette (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) certainly possesses the physical dimensions scouts covet, but his ability (or inability) to separate from defenders will ultimately determine his NFL fate.

6) Margus Hunt, DE, SMU: Coming off an impressive performance (two sacks, a safety and two forced fumbles) in the Mustangs' Hawaii Bowl win over Fresno State, Hunt is riding a wave of momentum in NFL scouting circles. Evaluators are intrigued by his combination of size, strength and speed as a base defensive end, but they still have questions about his ability to rush the passer off the edge. Given plenty of opportunities in one-on-one and team drills, Hunt can silence his doubters and continue his ascension up the charts.

7) Jordan Poyer, CB, Oregon State: Poyer garnered a lot of attention from NFL scouts as a premier ball hawk during a strong senior campaign (seven interceptions) that included a three-interception effort against Washington State. While most of the attention has centered on his superb ball skills and awareness, Poyer's ability to thrive as a slot defender is what has earned him high marks in war rooms across the NFL. If he can dispel concerns about his top-end speed and athleticism, Poyer could solidify his status as a Day 2 prospect.



8) Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma: The buzz certainly is growing about Johnson's talent and potential as a future left tackle following a strong senior season. The Oklahoma standout held his own in games against quality opponents -- including Texas A&M DE Damontre Moore, widely projected to be a top-10 pick -- and his positional flexibility makes him a likely starter at the next level. Although his limited experience at the position is a concern, NFL scouts will certainly pin their hopes on his tremendous potential, if he performs well in drills this week.



9) Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA: The seventh-leading rusher this season in the FBS (Division I-A) hasn't garnered national fanfare, despite rushing for 1,734 yards. Scouts, however, are intrigued by his shifty running style and explosive game. Although Franklin's penchant for putting the ball on the turf (21 fumbles during his first three seasons) sparks concerns about his ability to handle a heavy workload -- especially at his size (5-10, 195 pounds) -- he will have plenty of chances to show evaluators he's more than a change-of-pace back at the next level.

10) Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas: The Bobby Petrino scandal marred Wilson's senior season, but he still led the SEC in passing with 307.9 yards per game. Wilson also tallied 20-plus touchdown passes for the second straight season and displayed big-time arm talent as a pure drop-back passer. However, scouts are worried that Wilson more than doubled his interception total from his junior season (13 in 2012 after throwing just six in 2011), which suggests concern about his judgment from the pocket. With a week to deliver the kind of strong performance that shows evaluators his up-and-down season was the result of instability in the Arkansas program rather than playmaking deficiencies, Wilson has a chance to fly up the charts.

 

[Faust]

2013 Senior Bowl: The search for quarterback clarity

By Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer

January 21, 2013 7:36 pm ET

One of the developing storylines as the draft gets closer involves the quarterback class and how there isn't a far-and-away premier option in the draft. As such, we could be looking at the first NFL Draft since 2008 where a quarterback won't be taken first overall.

Monday afternoon's South team practice magnified that, but it also showed three quarterbacks with early round potential. Under the guidance of Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, Oklahoma's Landry Jones, Florida State's E.J. Manuel and Arkansas' Tyler Wilson rotated throughout drills in preparation for Saturday's Senior Bowl. Linehan remarked after practice that there wasn't a single fundamental issue with any of them during the practice. No botched snaps, no incorrect play calls.

"We put together an offense in two hours last night," Linehan said with a smirk. "This is a good setup because they're all coming from different systems, the terminology's brand new to all of them, so they're all on the same boat. But being able to see them adapt … these guys are obviously equipped to go to the next level."

An informal poll among NFL analysts in attendance had Wilson as the best quarterback, but it was close judging by their work Monday. Just as Wilson had a fantastic practice, he was picked off by Georgia Southern cornerback J.J. Wilcox late in 11-on-11 drills. Still, the smooth delivery and accuracy Wilson has shown in college is enough to make him stand out the most.

"I had heard a lot about him," Linehan said. "His college coordinator and I worked together, so we talked a little bit prior to [the Senior Bowl] and all the things he told me you can see here. He comes from a very good system that translates to the pro game because he basically ran a real pro-style offense. I think he'll make the transition rather quickly to whatever team he ends up with."

Where does that leave Jones and Manuel? Jones seemed more "NFL-ready" than Manuel as he also had a smooth delivery but didn't quite have the dead-on accuracy Wilson had. A team is sure to spend a Top 60 pick on him nonetheless based on his experience and fundamentals.

"He's got really good arm talent, he's an accurate passer, throws a very nice ball," Linehan said of Jones. "They called pretty much everything as a no-huddle offense from the sideline, but that's not unusual now in the pro game. As pro offenses evolve, that will help him because everybody's trying to do that up-tempo system. I told him, 'I want to see how you call our offense and our offensive plays,' and he worked extremely hard in the last 48 hours to do so. I see no issues there."

Manuel is the wild card, not just on the South roster but in this draft. He's not a polished talent by any means -- a noticeable hitch in his delivery is an example -- but it's obvious he has the build and athleticism to make NFL coaches drool. Manuel has proven his ability to work in a read-option offense, among others, and that paired with his physical traits could really help his draft resume.

"NFL teams are all going to like what they see from him because he's got the really good mix of a skill set plus he's got a great background and [played in a] really good system," Linehan said.

So how close are these quarterbacks in terms of skill set and how it relates to their draft stock? Time will tell.

"They're all in that 'very good' category," Linehan said. "We'll see, it's the first day. But they have the traits we're looking for both physically and mentally for the next level, all three of them."

More from Monday's practice:

[*]Several wideouts received praise during and after practice. Baylor's Terrance Williams, Arkansas' Cobi Hamilton and Georgia's Tavarres King did some good work. Williams especially gave good effort on a deep pass from Wilson and on an out pattern from Manuel. Texas A&M's Ryan Swope had some drops, including a notable one in 7-on-7 drills.

[*]Clemson's Andre Ellington and Florida's Mike Gillislee had their moments throughout practice as rushers and pass-catchers. Gillislee especially flashed burst throughout the session and has the size (5-11, 207) to help him find work early on Draft Day.

[*]It was a tale of two skills for tight ends Michael Williams (Alabama) and Vance McDonald (Rice). Williams was the dominant tight end in blocking drills but had several drops during passing drills, including one from Lions tight end coach Bobby Johnson during position drills. He also got scolded after making a catch for not tucking away the football. McDonald struggled as a blocker, drawing some coaching pointers from Johnson throughout the drill, but he did well as a receiver save for one drop.

[*]Seen watching from the sidelines: New Eagles coach Chip Kelly, new Bills coach Doug Marrone and Bills general manager Buddy Nix, several Saints coaches -- including Joe Vitt and Steve Spagnuolo along with their general manager, Mickey Loomis -- and Alabama coach Nick Saban. At one point, Kelly and Saban were watching practice together.

 

[Faust]

2013 Senior Bowl: Monday North practice

By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst

January 21, 2013 7:23 pm ET

Monday started well for the quarterbacks at the weigh-in portion of the day, but the afternoon practice was a different story for the signal callers on the North squad. Mike Glennon (NC State), Ryan Nassib (Syracuse) and Zac Dysert (Miami, Ohio) all struggled through practice on day one, battling issues with timing, ball placement and touch. With some hiccups expected on the first day, their inconsistencies weren't entirely unexpected, but with Geno Smith and Matt Barkley not participating, this year's Senior Bowl is where one of these three quarterbacks (and Tyler Wilson on the South squad) could shine and vault up draft boards.

Glennon (6-7, 220) definitely looks the part and towered over Nassib and Dysert on the practice field with his tall, lean frame. He displayed his powerful arm and made some impressive throws to all levels of the field, but his touch appeared off much of the afternoon with many of his passes sailing past the intended target or falling short. Glennon also struggled with his timing and needs to improve his comfort in his drops to stay poised, make his reads and deliver.

Nassib (6-2, 223) has a snap delivery with very good arm strength on his short-to-intermediate passes, and he earned some praise at one point Monday for his smart, quick decision-making in the pocket. However, his deep ball touch and overall ball placement were an issue all day as he struggled to control the velocity on his throws, which led to incompletions. Nassib is the type of quarterback who will try and throw the ball through his receiver at times and scouts want to see improved touch throughout the week.

Dysert (6-3, 224) didn't necessarily stand out in any one area, but he didn't disappoint either. He looked balanced in his drops, made quick reads and stepped into his throws, usually delivering catchable passes to his target. However, he did make several head-scratching throws as well, struggling to get into a rhythm. Dysert plays with the poise and confidence to steal the show. He just needs to play with the consistency to get it done.

When thrown into an all-star environment such as this with new coaches and teammates, it can be tough for quarterbacks to adjust to the surroundings, causing issues with timing. While Monday wasn't a strong performance for any of the three, it will be important to see which quarterback on the North team returns strong Tuesday, Wednesday and the rest of the week.

Other notes:

[*]It was a rough day for Ohio State linebacker John Simon, who looked like a fish out of water attempting to cover running backs and tight ends one-on-one in man coverage. He often found himself turned around, lacking the natural hip movement or footwork to quickly adjust and blanket his man. As a college defensive lineman, it's unfair to judge him based on the first practice, but it's obvious Simon will need a lot of coaching if he wants to stay at linebacker.

[*]After a great weigh-in Monday morning (6072, 305, 34” arms), Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher finished strong with an excellent Monday practice, doing terrific in pass-protection drills. He showed off his nimble feet and natural body coordination to square his frame and control the rusher in front of him. Fisher's lack of elite upper- and lower-body strength showed at times, but overall it was a great start to the week as he competes with Oklahoma's Lane Johnson to be the first senior offensive tackle drafted.

[*]A pair of pass rushers made noise all of Monday's practice on the North squad: Texas defensive end Alex Okafor and UCLA defensive end Datone Jones. Okafor was playing with a full tank and beat blockers with aggressive power and a fiery attitude ripping through the line of scrimmage. Jones was similar with his short-area burst, winning with strength and quickness at the point of attack. Considered second rounders entering the week, both Okafor and Jones made strong cases as to why they should be considered top-32 selections.

[*]During the North's practice, there are three different color jerseys: white (offense), blue (defense) and then also yellow (quarterbacks). And Michigan's Denard Robinson, who played quarterback in Ann Arbor but is listed at wide receiver on the Senior Bowl roster, also had a yellow jersey despite not taking any snaps from center. He participated in several wide receiver and special teams exercises but wasn't involved in many contact drills, which is probably due to the arm/hand injury he suffered last fall. Robinson looked natural with the ball in his hands, but he didn't display ideal ball skills, something that will take some time as he adjusts to a different position on offense.

[*]In a talented safety group, Florida International's Jonathan Cyprien stood out on Monday with his aggressive playing style and active demeanor. He practiced at full speed and left it all out on the field, not shying away from getting physical. Whether it was a contact drill or not, Cyprien is going to meet the ballcarrier with a pop, refusing to let up. With Kenny Vaccaro (Texas) and D.J. Swearinger (South Carolina) deciding to skip Mobile, Cyprien has a chance to emerge as one of the top safeties at this year's Senior Bowl.

 

[Faust]

2013 Senior Bowl: King stands out among 'strong' South receivers

By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

January 21, 2013 6:38 pm ET

For one day at least, Georgia wideout Tavarres King played up to his surname, repeatedly making big plays to stand out among a talented group of receivers for the South Team during Monday's initial Senior Bowl practice.

King, ranked by NFLDraftScout.com as a fifth-round prospect and given third-day grades from scouts from three different teams I spoke to following practice, demonstrated great lateral agility, acceleration and generally reliable hands. He did allow one pass to slip through his hands -- but that was conveniently snatched up by Louisiana Tech's Quinton Patton, who also enjoyed an impressive first day.

Talent evaluators weren't the only ones impressed. Detroit Lions wide receiver coach Tim Lappano, who led the receiver drills, pushed his new pupils but was impressed by their effort and talent afterwards.

"They [south's receivers] are a strong group," Lappano said. "We worked them hard, very hard. We wanted to run them through a fast tempo. They showed great effort and are an athletic bunch with size."

King, who measured 6-0, 192 pounds during the Senior Bowl weigh-in Monday morning, showed the stop-start-go elusiveness to consistently make defenders miss and enough straight-line speed to beat them over the top. His fluidity during drills early in practice was also impressive, as he showed the foot quickness and balance to chop his feet and turn quickly. He was also the best at getting off press coverage, something that many of the South receivers struggled to do.

King was among a handful of South receivers who consistently got open and made big plays for the team's three quarterbacks -- Arkansas' Tyler Wilson, Florida State's EJ Manuel and Oklahoma's Landry Jones -- when they could get them the ball.

As if often the case in all-star games, the quarterbacks and receivers struggled, at times, to find any kind of rhythm. Some of this was due to good pressure supplied by the South's defensive linemen. BYU's Ezekial Ansah and Clemson's Malliciah Goodman each forced the quarterbacks to step up into the pocket on multiple occasions, ruining any sense of timing in the passing game. Ansah also knocked down at least one pass and forced Manuel to significantly adjust his throwing motion on another.



Other Notes

[*]Wilson, NFLDraftScout.com's top-rated quarterback in this game, and third overall, behind West Virginia's Geno Smith and USC's Matt Barkley, was not surprisingly the most impressive of the three passers today. He passed his first test -- measuring in at a solid 6-2 (and an 1/8), 218 pounds -- during the weigh-ins and demonstrated the same efficient set-up and delivery, zip and accuracy which he'd shown over the past two seasons as the Razorbacks' starter. He showed better than expected accuracy on the move, as well, hitting open targets deep right and shallow left after play-action bootlegs. Wilson was equally accurate on short swing passes to running backs, slants and deep crossers to receivers and down the seam to the tight end. He did get careless and throw an interception late that Georgia Southern safety JJ Wilcox stepped in front of and likely would have returned for a touchdown had we been keeping score. I was impressed, however, by the fact that Wilson rose to the occasion after this poor throw. Pressured on the outside, Wilson stepped up and lofted a nice pass down the seam to Alabama tight end Michael Williams. Williams, heavily covered, was unable to come down with the pass, however. More on Williams later.

[*]While Arkansas' Wilson impressed in many ways, one area in which Oklahoma's Jones clearly struggled was during the short swing passes to running backs. While the spread offense has certainly helped Jones rack up monstrous numbers as the most productive passer in Sooners' history, his relative lack of experience taking snaps from under center showed in his inability to hit his backs in stride as they released from behind him. Many quarterbacks believe the short swing passes to backs are actually some of the hardest throws to make... Jones appeared to provide evidence of this issue as he also demonstrated the ability to throw strikes on longer passes through tighter windows.

[*]Neither Williams nor his SEC counterpart, Mychal Rivera were particularly impressive at tight end in their first Senior Bowl practices. While the nearly 6-6, 269-pound Williams has always shown less than ideal foot speed, the 6-3 (and a 1/4), 237 pound former Tennessee Volunteer tight end wasn't able to consistently shake free from coverage. He did, however, show very good body control and ball skills to make a leaping catch against tight coverage midway through the practice that might have been the grab of the day. Interestingly enough, it was Rice's Vance McDonald who actually showed the most intriguing blend of size and athleticism. The 6-4, 262 pounder dropped an easy pass over the middle midway through practice but otherwise caught the ball cleanly and showed impressive fluidity for his size. McDonald, NFLDraftScout.com's No. 12-ranked tight end, could be a diamond in the rough to watch if he can build upon a solid first day.

[*]Among the wide receivers, King and Patton stole the show but Baylor's Terrance Williams was every bit the playmaker expected. The big-play specialist led the country with 140.92 receiving yards per game and showed similar body control and athleticism as his counterparts. Even better, at 6-2, 201 pounds, he's bigger. The toughest of the wide receivers, however, was Texas A&M's Ryan Swope, who Lappano specifically mentioned as having been the best of the team's blockers on the first day of practice. He followed Lappono's advice of blocking where "wind up, not where they lined up," consistently doing the quiet dirty work that helped the South's running backs chew up big yardage.

[*]Unfortunately, for all of the positivity that came from the first Senior Bowl practice of 2013, the game appeared to end before it even began for Tennessee-Martin defensive tackle Montori Hughes. He was wearing his No. 54 jersey and followed the defensive linemen wherever they went but was wearing a walking boot on his left foot and, as a result, did not see any action.

 

[Donnybrook]

My point is Da'Rick Rogers is the best skill position prospect in this draft. I get the character issues, but every team that passed on Janoris Jenkins last year be so quick to dismiss Rogers this year. He's the only skill position player that I know has the physical ability to play in the NFL.If Duron Carter's name was Duron Smith no one would care.

There's a reason these types fall on draft day, for every Janoris Jenkins there are 6 Dwight Jones'

There are also Randy Mosses. Jerry Jones has said his biggest regret was not taking Moss, which is why he didn't let Dez's character issues deter him. My point is I KNOW he has the skill set to succeed in the nfl. Keenan Allen, Justin Hunter, Markus Wheaton, et al I THINK could be successful in the nfl. I promise you Da'Rick Rogers wasn't the first person in Knoxville to butt heads with Derek Dooley's ego. Ask Bryce Brown. The character issues provide you with an opportunity to get value. I would rather hitch my wagon to a guy that has no questions about his physical ability. In my opinion Rogers is the best wr prospect since Julio, so anything after 1.01 is a value pick.

I think the comment I made last month was along the lines of I'd love to snatch him up in the second half of round 1 if he is there, but I would be scared #### less if my favorite team drafted him anytime before the end of day 2.

Interesting. From what I have read, Da'Rick Rogers and Josh Gordon apparently have the same off the field issues that cause their respective suspensions: drugs. I guess you were probably scared ####less back in July?

 

[BeTheMatch]

My point is Da'Rick Rogers is the best skill position prospect in this draft. I get the character issues, but every team that passed on Janoris Jenkins last year be so quick to dismiss Rogers this year. He's the only skill position player that I know has the physical ability to play in the NFL.If Duron Carter's name was Duron Smith no one would care.

There's a reason these types fall on draft day, for every Janoris Jenkins there are 6 Dwight Jones'

There are also Randy Mosses. Jerry Jones has said his biggest regret was not taking Moss, which is why he didn't let Dez's character issues deter him. My point is I KNOW he has the skill set to succeed in the nfl. Keenan Allen, Justin Hunter, Markus Wheaton, et al I THINK could be successful in the nfl. I promise you Da'Rick Rogers wasn't the first person in Knoxville to butt heads with Derek Dooley's ego. Ask Bryce Brown. The character issues provide you with an opportunity to get value. I would rather hitch my wagon to a guy that has no questions about his physical ability. In my opinion Rogers is the best wr prospect since Julio, so anything after 1.01 is a value pick.

I think the comment I made last month was along the lines of I'd love to snatch him up in the second half of round 1 if he is there, but I would be scared #### less if my favorite team drafted him anytime before the end of day 2.

Interesting. From what I have read, Da'Rick Rogers and Josh Gordon apparently have the same off the field issues that cause their respective suspensions: drugs. I guess you were probably scared ####less back in July?

Rogers' off-field issues go FAR beyond drugs.

 

[MAC_32]

My point is Da'Rick Rogers is the best skill position prospect in this draft. I get the character issues, but every team that passed on Janoris Jenkins last year be so quick to dismiss Rogers this year. He's the only skill position player that I know has the physical ability to play in the NFL.If Duron Carter's name was Duron Smith no one would care.

There's a reason these types fall on draft day, for every Janoris Jenkins there are 6 Dwight Jones'

There are also Randy Mosses. Jerry Jones has said his biggest regret was not taking Moss, which is why he didn't let Dez's character issues deter him. My point is I KNOW he has the skill set to succeed in the nfl. Keenan Allen, Justin Hunter, Markus Wheaton, et al I THINK could be successful in the nfl. I promise you Da'Rick Rogers wasn't the first person in Knoxville to butt heads with Derek Dooley's ego. Ask Bryce Brown. The character issues provide you with an opportunity to get value. I would rather hitch my wagon to a guy that has no questions about his physical ability. In my opinion Rogers is the best wr prospect since Julio, so anything after 1.01 is a value pick.

I think the comment I made last month was along the lines of I'd love to snatch him up in the second half of round 1 if he is there, but I would be scared #### less if my favorite team drafted him anytime before the end of day 2.

Interesting. From what I have read, Da'Rick Rogers and Josh Gordon apparently have the same off the field issues that cause their respective suspensions: drugs. I guess you were probably scared ####less back in July?

There have been lots of locker room cancer notes around about rogers, there were not about gordon.

 

[Donnybrook]

I think the comment I made last month was along the lines of I'd love to snatch him up in the second half of round 1 if he is there, but I would be scared #### less if my favorite team drafted him anytime before the end of day 2.

Interesting. From what I have read, Da'Rick Rogers and Josh Gordon apparently have the same off the field issues that cause their respective suspensions: drugs. I guess you were probably scared ####less back in July?

There have been lots of locker room cancer notes around about rogers, there were not about gordon.

I won't pretend to know much about either player but it sounds to me like you are really splitting hairs here. I will leave it at that and let this thread get back on topic.

 

[MAC_32]

Since you don't know what led to Rogers' departure at Tennessee, if you really like him as a dynasty pick I recommend keeping your eyes open to any reports about him over the next few months. They won't be good ones.Gordon had glowing reviews about him from a character and work ethic stand point, he just had a problem getting caught with the gange.

 

[Concept Coop]

Since you don't know what led to Rogers' departure at Tennessee

Share, please.

 

[Concept Coop]

Dupe.

 

[MAC_32]

Since you don't know what led to Rogers' departure at Tennessee

Share, please.

Don't remember details, don't want to be spreading bad info. As I stumble upon them I'll post though, I'm sure they will start to crop up again sometime between the Sr. Bowl and the Combine.EDIT: recalling the blurbs coming from Bruce Feldman, some of the rotoworld guys I follow on twitter, and U Tennessee message boards - which I find a little more relevant than I usually would because of the first two sources of info

 

[thriftyrocker]

Found this info on his team suspension in Marchhttp://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2012/mar/29/embattled-rogers-in-battle-again/"That was the policy earlier this week as well when Dooley declined to address a two-week ban from offseason activities for Rogers for conduct detrimental to the team, which multiple sources confirmed was a physical threat to a strength coach. The sources requested anonymity because no official announcement was made by UT."

 

[Donnybrook]

Since you don't know what led to Rogers' departure at Tennessee, if you really like him as a dynasty pick I recommend keeping your eyes open to any reports about him over the next few months. They won't be good ones.Gordon had glowing reviews about him from a character and work ethic stand point, he just had a problem getting caught with the gange.

I stand corrected. Rogers does seem to have more character flaws than Gordon and should be treated as higher risk prospect.

 

[tdmills]

Since you don't know what led to Rogers' departure at Tennessee, if you really like him as a dynasty pick I recommend keeping your eyes open to any reports about him over the next few months. They won't be good ones.Gordon had glowing reviews about him from a character and work ethic stand point, he just had a problem getting caught with the gange.

I stand corrected. Rogers does seem to have more character flaws than Gordon and should be treated as higher risk prospect.

I think Rodgers has more character concerns, but he also produced more in college than Gordon.

 

[matttyl]

Since you don't know what led to Rogers' departure at Tennessee, if you really like him as a dynasty pick I recommend keeping your eyes open to any reports about him over the next few months. They won't be good ones.Gordon had glowing reviews about him from a character and work ethic stand point, he just had a problem getting caught with the gange.

I stand corrected. Rogers does seem to have more character flaws than Gordon and should be treated as higher risk prospect.

I think Rodgers has more character concerns, but he also produced more in college than Gordon.

Slight difference between the Big 12, and the teams Rodgers was playing this past season.

 

[tdmills]

Since you don't know what led to Rogers' departure at Tennessee, if you really like him as a dynasty pick I recommend keeping your eyes open to any reports about him over the next few months. They won't be good ones.Gordon had glowing reviews about him from a character and work ethic stand point, he just had a problem getting caught with the gange.

I stand corrected. Rogers does seem to have more character flaws than Gordon and should be treated as higher risk prospect.

I think Rodgers has more character concerns, but he also produced more in college than Gordon.

Slight difference between the Big 12, and the teams Rodgers was playing this past season.

Rodgers led the SEC in receiving yards as a sophomore

 

[cusefan115]

Marcus Lattimore - RB - GamecocksFormer South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore is already walking without a limp and hopes to be healthy enough to play by week one of the NFL season.Lattimore is "feeling good" and thinks his week one goal is "realistic." Dr. James Andrews called the running back's progress "nothing short of a miracle." Lattimore is another junior attending this week's events in Mobile to get an early start interviewing with NFL teams.Source: Andy Staples on Twitter

 

[identikit]

Marcus Lattimore - RB - GamecocksFormer South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore is already walking without a limp and hopes to be healthy enough to play by week one of the NFL season.Lattimore is "feeling good" and thinks his week one goal is "realistic." Dr. James Andrews called the running back's progress "nothing short of a miracle." Lattimore is another junior attending this week's events in Mobile to get an early start interviewing with NFL teams.Source: Andy Staples on Twitter

Pretty impressive.

 

[Concept Coop]

Marcus Lattimore - RB - GamecocksFormer South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore is already walking without a limp and hopes to be healthy enough to play by week one of the NFL season.Lattimore is "feeling good" and thinks his week one goal is "realistic." Dr. James Andrews called the running back's progress "nothing short of a miracle." Lattimore is another junior attending this week's events in Mobile to get an early start interviewing with NFL teams.Source: Andy Staples on Twitter

Pretty impressive.

I'm really happy to be hearing this. It was awful watching he and his family react to the injury. Really hoping he gets a shot to compete for a role.

 

[Faust]

Players who had a good first day of practice at the Senior Bowl

Russ Lande

After a quicker than usual weigh-in this morning, the players hit the practice field this afternoon. There is clearly a huge upgrade in talent from last week's East West Shrine Game. While Syracuse Ryan Nassib was the best QB at either practice today, he did not stand out enough to warrant inclusion on this list. Below is a breakdown of the players who stood out, both good and bad during today's practices.

Players Who Helped Themselves Today

1. Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma (6062, 302 and 4.95): Johnson immediately stood out during the “mirror” drill, as he looked comfortable sliding side to side while maintaining proper base and a flat back. He was one of the few linemen in the drill that consistently had his hands out in proper position to attack the defender. During the pit drill he was able to absorb bull rushes and use his hands and quick feet to redirect his man. In team drills he was able to thwart a speed rush by Ezekiel Ansah by using his hands to re-establish contact and ride him out of the play.

2. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU (6050, 275 and 4.70): Ansah was very impressive during one-on-one drill as he not only demonstrated the explosiveness needed to take the edge, but was also able to convert speed to power against Xavier Nixon when he overset the edge. He looked like a quick twitch athlete today as he consistently displayed outstanding first step quickness. In addition, he demonstrated sound recognition skills on a rep during team period, where he was unable to penetrate but got his hand up to bat down a pass.

3. Leon McFadden, CB, San Diego State (5096, 193 and 4.60): While McFadden’s long speed was rarely tested, he was very impressive today in off and zone coverages. He was quick to diagnose and attack routes and on multiple occasions was able to beat the receiver to the break point. While he was explosive coming forward, his movements were calculated and under control. During the one-on-one period he made a one-handed interception by jumping his man’s out cut from press man.

4. Vance McDonald, TE, Rice (6041, 262 and 4.70): McDonald was one of the superstars of the weigh-in and his day only got better as he had an outstanding practice. He showed the ability to catch the ball away from his frame and all practice was able to create separation with his impressive route running. He was able to beat the jam by leaning into defenders and exploding out of his break and when given a free release he made precise cuts and looked fluid and quick on double moves. If he proves himself as a blocker this week, don’t be surprised to see him shoot up boards into first round consideration.

5. Chris Harper, WR, Kansas State (6006, 228 and 4.45 E): Impressing during the weigh-in was not enough for Harper as he had an excellent practice today. Smooth and fluid running routes, Harper was quick getting his head and hands around as he came out of cuts to catch passes that got on top of him fast. He did not show the explosiveness to run away from defenders, but had deceptive speed once he got to full speed. Most impressive was Harper’s soft hands as he made tough catches seem routine. I could not hear him catch the ball as he reached out and plucked it so soft and cleanly.

6. Aaron Dobson, WR, Marshall (6025, 203 and 4.55): Although Dobson is a tall, thin-looking receiver “on the hoof” and was upright running routes, he had a good all-around day. Despite his upright route running style, he did a good job of using dip and fake to turn cornerback around to create some separation even though he lacked burst out of his breaks. He consistently reached out and caught the ball away from his body, and was able to make tough catches on off-target passes with surprising ease.

7. Marquise Goodwin, WR, Texas (5087, 179 and 4.35 E): Blessed with world-class explosiveness and speed we were excited by Goodwin’s performance today. He no doubt needs to work on the sharpness of his routes, but once he got into cut (Which often took too long as he throttled down to do so), he exploded out of break to create some space. Best of all was Goodwin’s ability to reach out and catch the ball cleanly. Overall, Goodwin’s good day has us very interested to see how well he does the rest of the week.

Players who need to do better the second day at the Senior Bowl

Players With Up-And-Down Performances Monday

1. Alex Okafor, DE, Texas (6045, 261 and 4.90): Okafor impressed in one-on-ones today with his first step quickness. He won his first rep with an inside countermove and his second with speed on the edge. However, when linemen were able to meet him at the edge they were able to tie him up at the POA and he was easily eliminated. He used his hands well to set up pass rush moves, but struggled to consistently shed blocks.

2. Kyle Long, OT/OG, Oregon (6061, 304 and 5.00): Although Long tended to get upright at the snap; he demonstrated the foot quickness needed to cut off the edge from speed rushers. When he played with good knee bend and leverage, he flashed the ability to anchor and hold the POA. For an offensive lineman, he showed the quicks and speed to easily get to the second level to block LB’s.

3. John Jenkins, DT, Georgia (6037, 359 and 5.30): Jenkins was a frustrating player to watch today as he at times showed flashes of greatness, but disappointed too often with his inconsistent play. He clearly has the natural strength needed to hold the POA against multiple blockers and can drive pass blocker with a powerful bull rush. Where he struggled was with his motor, as he did not consistently play with a high level of intensity and was repeatedly prodded by Lions’ coaches to finish plays.

Players Who Hurt Their Stock Today

1. Xavier Nixon, OT, Florida (6054, 311 and 5.40): Nixon struggled throughout practice, as he simply did not display the foot quickness needed to play on the edge. His feet audibly sounded heavy during individual drills (The only OL who feet sounded loud) and he often seemed out of breath. He demonstrated limited lateral movement skills and consistently struggled with speed off the edge. He was not able to stay square to his target and got out of control with his upper body movements.

2. Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M (6002, 204 and 4.59): Swope had a terrible day catching the ball as he consistently let the ball get into his body, resulting in five drops over the course of practice. He was able to create separation off free releases with his foot quickness, but did not demonstrate the strength needed to beat the jam. Because he is not an explosive athlete with great deep speed, if he continues to struggle catching the ball this week his stock will likely drop considerably.

3. Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas (6021, 218 and 4.90): Wilson was for the most part sound fundamentally today, but he sprayed the ball all over the field and did not demonstrate the consistent accuracy expected out of a first round prospect. He overthrew multiple receivers badly on downfield routes and threw a bad interception during team drills when he failed to read the safety dropping down into the box. Day one of the Senior Bowl is always difficult on QBs as they try to gain chemistry with brand new receivers, so scouts will be paying particular attention to how he progresses throughout the week.

4. Robert Lester, SAF, Alabama (6012, 212 and 4.70): Lester looked the part at the weigh-in this morning but was extremely disappointing during practice in the afternoon. He looked stiff and upright in his pedal and consistently lost a step in transition. He showed no discernible burst moving forward on passes in front of him, and consistently gave up easy receptions over the middle. Because of his athletic limitations, teams may consider trying to bulk Lester up and convert him to LB.



5. Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin (6061, 310 and 5.25): Although he is willing to punch his man off the snap, today he at times got overaggressive and lunged at his man, causing him to fall off blocks. He showed poor lateral movement throughout practice and struggled to set his feet and anchor at the POA. Too often he stopped his feet on contact and did not display the foot quickness needed to protect the edge.

6. Aaron Mellette, WR, Elon (6024, 216 and 4.55 E): While there is no doubt about Mellette’s size and athleticism, he did not look comfortable today. He lacked suddenness in routes and was more of a smooth route runner, but struggled to consistently get separation. Most disappointing were Mellette’s hands. For a receiver who was so dominant at a lower level of football, he consistently allowed the ball to get into his chest and fought the ball before getting it tucked away. Overall, Mellette looked a long way from being able to contribute to an NFL team today.

7. Zac Dysert, QB, Miami-Ohio (6027, 224 and 5.00 E): Of the quarterbacks on the North Squad, it was clear Dysert had the worst day of practice today. His footwork and release were not quick and he struggled to set-up and get rid of the ball fast. Additionally, he struggled with accuracy today and with his slow release, defenders were able to close fast to break-up and/or intercept his passes. Dysert needs to practice much better the next few days to avoid falling way down draft boards.

Email Russ at Russelllande@yahoo.com and Follow Russ on Twitter @RUSSLANDE

 

[EBF]

A couple UDFA sleepers worth monitoring:RB Derrick Washington, Tuskegee - Former Missouri star is a convicted felon, but has an NFL frame and a good track record of production.RB Angelo Pease, Kansas State - Basically did nothing in college, but to my eyes looks like an athlete worth a camp invite.

 

[Faust]

Mike Mayock: Senior Bowlers with something to prove

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League Editor

As I previously wrote, Senior Bowl week is my time to go to school on this class of prospects. That essentially amounts to listening to what NFL Network analysts say and jotting it down.

On Tuesday, Mike Mayock broke down four players with something to prove this week in Mobile, Alabama:

1. Denard Robinson, Michigan QB/WR

Robinson is making a position change to wide receiver. He's not 100 percent healthy but looked pretty good on a few deep routes Tuesday. It will be a bumpy transition, but Robinson has the athleticism to pull it off. He'll have to add value as a return man.

2. Ezekiel Ansah, BYU defensive end

Mayock calls Ansah a first round talent that just hasn't first round talent. Ansah didn't really play until this year, and needs to prove he can measure up to top competition.

3. Margus Hunt, SMU defensive end

The Estonia native is nicknamed the "Eastern Block" for his 17 blocked kicks in college. Hunt is a physical specimen that had some hype coming into the season but didn't really produce. Mayock says Hunt needs to show he can bend, hold the point of attack and get up the field.

4. Kyle Long, Oregon tackle

Howie's son and Chris' brother has only played one year at offensive tackle after playing on the defensive line at Saddleback Junior College. Long was a former pitching prospect that got a DUI, so he'll have to answer questions about that. Long missed Tuesday's practice with the flu.

 

[Faust]

Mike Mayock: Three or four QBs will go in first round By Gregg RosenthalAround The League EditorPublished: Jan. 21, 2013 at 06:05 p.m.Updated: Jan. 22, 2013 at 04:10 p.m.

The 2013 rookie quarterback class is wide open. Ask five NFL draft analysts for their favorite players in the class, and you might get five different answers. There even have been suggestions that no signal-caller will be drafted in the first round.NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock advises against that logic."It's early in this entire process," Mayock said during NFL Network's Senior Bowl coverage. "Everyone says there's no Andrew Luck, there's no Robert Griffin III. ... I guarantee you by the time we get to April, there will be three to four quarterbacks taken in the first round, and most of them are coming out of this game."Mayock's words are surprising, but they shouldn't be. Christian Ponder, Jake Locker, Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden all were taken higher than analysts expected in April, much less in late January. Colin Kaepernick and Andy Dalton also almost rose to first-round status and were hardly viewed as sure-fire top picks early in the process.The point here: Projections from draftniks at this stage of the process aren't worth much. The NFL's decision-makers don't know where these guys will land, so we definitely don't know from the outside. And Mayock pointed out that the emphasis on the quarterback position naturally will make some of this year's promising crop go early.Among those top Senior Bowl quarterbacks Mayock talked about were N.C. State's Mike Glennon, Arkansas' Tyler Wilson, Miami of Ohio's Zac Dysert and Syracuse's Ryan Nassib.It's hard to say who will be drafted first out of this group. But don't be surprised if most of them go in Round 1.

 

[Faust]

Eric Fisher displays top-10 talent; major red flag on Justin Pugh

By Daniel Jeremiah

Analyst, NFL.com and NFL Network

MOBILE, Ala. -- Senior Bowl week kicked off on Monday, and there were plenty of interesting developments. I've compiled some notes from the weigh-ins, practices and even hotel chatter. Practice notes were compiled after studying both the North and South sessions on tape Monday evening.

Buzz from the weigh-ins

» Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker stole the show at the weigh-ins. He measured in at 6-foot-4 7/8, 355 pounds, and his arm length was 36 3/8 inches. He wasn't carrying any bad weight for a man that big. Due to a training injury, he won't be practicing this week, but he made the most of his time in Mobile.

» SMU defensive end Margus Hunt was another player who elicited a lot of attention from NFL brass at the weigh-in. He measured in at 6-8 1/4 and weighed 277 pounds. He has the frame to easily add another 20-25 pounds. Hunt is a very raw football player, but his size is very enticing.

» Syracuse offensive tackle Justin Pugh is a very good player on tape, but his lack of length is a concern for pro teams. His arms were just 31 1/2 inches long, and that is a major red flag amongst NFL evaluators. He will likely slide inside to play guard at the next level, making his lack of length less of an issue.

» Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson is a talented signal-caller with some upside, but his hand size is less than ideal for the position. His hand measurement of 8 5/8 inches -- well below average -- was a popular topic of conversation among NFL scouts following the weigh-ins.

Practice standouts

» Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher was the best player on the field in either of Monday's practices. He was dominant in one-on-one pass-rush drills, displaying quick feet, a powerful punch and a strong base. Also, he was physical at the point of attack in the run game. He made it look easy during the entire practice, playing like a top-10 pick.

» While Fisher dominated the North practice, Oklahoma offensive tackle Lane Johnson did the same at the South session. Johnson is incredibly athletic, and his ability to redirect in pass protection is rare. He lined up at right tackle during this practice but was likely to slide over to the left side on Tuesday. A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that Johnson was going to be a fast riser up draft boards, and that ascension is well under way.

» Oklahoma product Landry Jones had the best day of all the quarterbacks. He has outstanding arm talent and moved around better in the pocket than he did on tape from the fall. There are a handful of teams that are desperate for a quarterback; Jones made a strong statement to them with his performance on Monday.

» It was a good day for West Coast cornerbacks. Washington's Desmond Trufant, San Diego State's Leon McFadden and Oregon State's Jordan Poyer all made several plays on the ball during Monday's practice. Boise State cornerback Jamar Taylor also had a solid performance.

» There were several interior defensive linemen who had dominant moments on Monday. Purdue's Kawann Short went 5-for-5 in one-on-one pass rush. North Carolina's Sylvester Williams used his quickness to make a lot of plays during the team periods. UCLA's Datone Jones has been training in mixed martial arts with Jay Glazer; his hand usage has improved noticeably from the fall.

» Rice tight end Vance McDonald was far and away the top player at his position. He is explosive in his release and is a very smooth route-runner. He did drop one ball but made several other impressive grabs. He looked like a second-round talent.

» Southeastern Louisiana cornerback Robert Alford is a little raw, but his talent jumps off the tape. He guessed wrong twice during one-on-ones, but his recovery burst was highly impressive. He also showed the awareness to locate and play the ball at the highest point.

» Oregon State wide receiver Markus Wheaton had an excellent practice. He avoided press coverage with his quickness and showed a second gear when the ball went up in the air. He can play outside or line up in the slot. His versatility and play-making skills have the attention of scouts and personnel men.

Sound bites from execs and scouts

» "I can't believe some of these teams are trying to talk themselves into (N.C. State QB) Mike Glennon. I don't see it." -- NFC personnel executive

» "I don't think it's a done deal that (Texas A&M's Luke) Joeckel will be the top offensive tackle taken. In my opinion, Fisher has more upside." -- AFC Scout

» In five years, (Georgia NT) John Jenkins will be a multi-year Pro Bowler or he'll be out of the league. I don't think there will be anything in between." -- NFC executive

 

[Faust]

Senior Bowl Day One: Eric Fisher shines; no Geno Smith By Gregg RosenthalAround The League Editor

I don't pay attention to the draft process until the Senior Bowl. There's too much going on in the NFL, and three months of buildup to the NFL Draft is plenty for me.That makes this week's practices in Mobile, Ala., my first chance to go to school on a lot of these prospects. Before I worked at NFL.com, I used to watch all the Senior Bowl practices on NFL Network, take some notes and hope I learned a few things by osmosis from Mike Mayock. There's no reason I should stop the habit now.Here are my big takeaways from Monday's coverage:1. Seven seniors skipped the event. Mayock has the biggest problem with three of them: West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, Wisconsin running back Montee Ball and Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro.Mayock said Smith is mistaken if he thinks he's already locked in as the top senior quarterback and destined for the top 10. 2. Standout early player at the Senior Bowl: Central Michigan tackle Eric Fisher. Mayock and NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah called him a sure-fire first-round pick that moves well. Jeremiah said he could be in the top 10, and Mayock wasn't ready to rule out Fisher as the top tackle in the draft. (Some folks think Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel could be the first overall pick. But it's very, very early.)3. I already wrote about Mayock's remarks how 3-4 quarterbacks could get taken in the first round. Most of them are probably at the Senior Bowl. Miami of Ohio's Zac Dysert hasn't received a lot of publicity, but Mayock sees him right in the mix with other known names like N.C. State's Mike Glennon. Dysert has good movement skills and can throw on the run well. Glennon has a huge arm, but has struggled with accuracy. This isn't a class that has a quarterback with a similar skill set to Robert Griffin III or Russell Wilson.4. Mayock compared Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib to Andy Dalton and Kirk Cousins because of Nassib's intelligence and love of the game. Nassib doesn't have a huge arm, but "can make all the throws." Why does that not get me excited?5. Best nickname: SMU defensive end Margus Hunt, from Estonia, is called "The Eastern Block." (The athletic 6-foot-8 player had 17 blocked kicks in college.)It's too early in the week to talk about "risers" from the week. The pads come on Tuesday. Practices air on NFL Network from 2-4 p.m. ET. We'll do these takeaways again Wednesday morning.

 

[Faust]

Ex-Michigan QB Denard Robinson making transition to receiverBy Matt Rybaltowski | CBSSports.comJanuary 22, 2013 3:31 pm ET

One of the more intriguing storylines at this week's Senior Bowl is how smoothly former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson can make the transition to the wide receiver and returner positions.A day after dropping three of eight punts on the first day of practice in Mobile, Ala., Robinson dropped another at Tuesday morning's practice. Robinson indicated that it could take several repetitions for him to become accustomed to the spin applied by UCLA punter Jeff Locke.“I have to get used to the rotation of his ball,” Robinson said. “When it comes off his foot, it kind of curves the other way.”At receiver, Robinson is working on becoming more precise with his route-running when executing double-moves. Raiders wide receivers' coach Ted Gilmore has been giving Robinson pointers on the route throughout the first two days of practice.“I just have to be relaxed with it,” Robinson said. “You have to pretend you're coming out of the break and every time you have to run it at full speed.”Robinson is also getting advice from former teammates Roy Roundtree and Jeremy Gallon -- Michigan's top-two receivers in 2012.“They just told me to go out there, use your speed and make sure you come out of your breaks at full speed,” Robinson said. “They [also] told me to come back to the ball.”The Lions, Bucs, Redskins, Seahawks, Rams and Giants are among the teams that could be interested in a wide receiver with a mid to late-round pick.

 

[Faust]

2013 Senior Bowl: Trufant stands out at North practice... again

By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

January 22, 2013 2:15 pm ET

Considering the fact that he started 48 games at the University of Washington, it might seem strange that a few days of practice could vault cornerback Desmond Trufant into the first round but after two impressive days at the Senior Bowl, that is precisely where some believe the athletic pass defender could be headed.

Trufant, currently NFLDraftScout.com's No. 5 rated cornerback, demonstrated great quickness, anticipation and competitiveness in Tuesday's practice, allowing just two receptions despite often drawing the toughest assignments the North team had to offer. He showed the ability to handle pure speed, running stride for stride with Oregon State speedster Markus Wheaton and size, as well, handling Marshall's 6-3, 205 pound Aaron Dobson, the two most impressive receivers for the North team during Tuesday's practice.

Trufant, the Huskies' only First Team All Pac-12 selection this season, could be mirroring the success his older brother, Marcus, had in Mobile, Alabama back in 2003. Like Desmond, Marcus entered the senior all-star game having earned second round grades from a number of clubs. A terrific week of practice, however, vaulted the Washington State prospect into the first round, where the Seattle Seahawks made him the No. 11 pick of the 2003 draft. Isaiah, another Trufant brother in the NFL, did not play in the Senior Bowl after starring at Eastern Washington.

Of course, NFL talent evaluators knew of the terrific Trufant bloodlines long before Tuesday's practice. That didn't stop them from buzzing about the Washington defensive back in the stands as the session went on.

"I've always believed that the Senior Bowl and other all-star games like it serve as more of a confirmation of a player's ability than a reason to push them up the board," new Kansas City Chiefs' general manager John Dorsey told me as practice was wrapping up. "He [Trufant] had a strong practice yesterday and another strong practice today," Dorsey said.

Demonstrating the physicality to disrupt receivers while in press as well as the quickness and fluidity to turn and run when playing off, Trufant was effective both inside and out. He was frequently challenged by the North quarterbacks but closed quickly on the ball, breaking up several passes.

Wheaton, whose instant acceleration made him arguably the toughest draw for any of the North's talented defensive backs, called out Trufant at one point early in skeleton drills. Another defender appeared to be next in line to cover Wheaton on the next play but demonstrative pleading by Trufant caused the Washington Redskins' coaches to allow the two Pac-12 adversaries to go at it for a memorable one on one battle.

Lining up inches from the Oregon State speedster, Trufant easily turned to run with Wheaton. A subtle pause from Wheaton caused the Washington cornerback to anticipate a shallow route and he slowed. Wheaton hit the gas and broke free for a moment. Trufant showed impressive closing speed as the ball arrived. Wheaton caught the ball but his momentum carried him out of bounds for a play ruled an incompletion from both Trufant and an applauding Washington defensive backs coach.

Asked about the jawing with the defensive back and Wheaton, specifically, Trufant showed off the spirit NFL coaches love.

"We were just competing. He [Wheaton] is one of the best out here. You're only going to prove you're the best by beating the best," Trufant said.

Other Notes:

[*]While Trufant won most of the battles, Wheaton and Dobson certainly enjoyed their moments against he and the rest of the North defensive backs. The 5-11, 183 pound Wheaton has excellent straight-line speed and the agility to make defenders miss in the open field. He showed the ability to set up defenders with subtle double-moves, beating talented Boise State cornerback Jamar Taylor for a long touchdown on one memorable play. Dobson lacks Wheaton's rare speed but is a savvy route-runner whose body control and reliable hands made him a standout throughout practice. He made arguably the catch of the day early on, leaping high and contorting his body to haul in a difficult deep pass over tight coverage and came up limping. Dobson was held out of much of the remaining one on one drills but showed his toughness in returning during the 11 on 11 scrimmage towards the end of practice. Dobson hasn't generated as much attention as many of the other receivers in Mobile but impressed me with his attention to detail. He sets up defensive backs well, selling his routes to push defensive backs deep even on running plays and showing off strength and determination as a downfield blocker. He also consistently worked his way back to the quarterback, drawing praise from the Washington staff.

[*]While Wheaton and Dobson certainly boosted their cause Tuesday, the same couldn't be said for Michigan's Denard Robinson, who struggled Tuesday in his attempt to prove he could make the transition from quarterback to receiver. As expected, Robinson showed less than ideal attention to detail as a route-runner. It was his struggles simply catching the ball, however, that was the real problem. Robinson caught only approximately half of the passes thrown his way. Many of those he did catch, he allowed to get into his pads. He also struggled fielding punts. Some question if he's fully healed from the nerve damage that caused him to switch positions at Michigan.

[*]The injury concerns aren't limited to just the North wideouts. Linebackers Arthur Brown and Trevardo Williams from Kansas State and Connecticut, respectively, were sidelined Tuesday.

 

[Faust]

2013 Senior Bowl: UCLA RB Jonathan Franklin separating from North packBy Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy WriterJanuary 22, 2013 2:58 pm ET

MOBILE, Ala. -- After two practices it appears UCLA's Johnathan Franklin has a leg-up on Oregon's Kenjon Barner and Fresno State's Robbie Rouse for the top rusher on the North team. That was helped in big part by a solid showing in pass protection drills Tuesday.Aside from Harvard fullback Kyle Justzczyk, who blew up defenders, Franklin showed consistent blocking abilities, which will go a long way in helping him get noticed by NFL clubs. He already has a good reputation as a rusher."He does a really nice job of using his hands and his feet to block," a team scout told CBSSports.com. "He's got good speed and is just big enough to handle pass protection. We've had our eyes on him for some time."Barner has been known for his speed, which was on display again at practice, but he remains iffy as a blocker. He didn't have to do much of that at Oregon. On Tuesday he would struggle with protection but get back up and try again. You can tell he's still learning.Rouse struggled in protection and has really proven to be a pure speed back. Comparisons to Darren Sproles are fair not only because of his size but because of his strengths as a home-run rusher and receiver.That leaves Franklin as the consensus top back on the North squad, followed by Barner and Rouse.But it doesn't mean any of them weren't in demand. Following practice Tuesday Rouse was sandwiched between Vikings and Saints personnel people. Franklin had a quick meeting with someone from the Chargers and Barner disclosed he had extensive talks with the Cardinals and Lions. This is in addition to all of the other meetings they're sure to have between now and the draft.

 

[Faust]

2013 Senior Bowl: South linebackers still in learning curve

By Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer

January 22, 2013 7:52 pm ET

MOBILE, Ala. -- Florida running back Mike Gillislee had a number of outstanding runs Tuesday thanks to his nimble feet and a big offensive line. That made for a challenging day for the South linebackers.

Just as the quarterbacks in the 2013 Senior Bowl seem to be a crowded group with no clear-cut top option, the linebackers on the South team appear to be the same. Even with Stanford's Chase Thomas and Texas A&M's Sean Porter as the headliners, there are only a few discernible differences between the five men who practiced Tuesday. (Southern Miss linebacker Jamie Collins watched practice while resting a hamstring injury.)

If you had to rank them, it would be really hard, and that's coming from the man coaching them this week, Lions linebackers coach Matt Burke.

"They've brought in a pretty good level of talent," Burke said. "It's not like you've got a couple of guys that are way ahead of the pack. We've had some injuries and have had to move some guys around, so we're actually just shuffling guys in and out. The groups are all different, so they're kind of interchangeable, which is nice. I'm just rolling three different guys out there every set of plays."

That much was true during 11-on-11 drills, where Alabama's Nico Johnson manned the middle with Thomas and Porter on the outside. As the drills went on, Thomas stayed on the outside (usually the strong side) while Missouri's Zaviar Gooden and Florida State's Vince Williams manned the middle.

It was Williams who wound up making the most plays Tuesday, sniffing out a run out of a nickel package that drew cheers from Burke, then showing good quickness on a pursuit (if not an aggressive overpursuit) of a South player on another play. Finally, Williams intercepted a tipped pass for what would have been a touchdown had this not been a drill. Burke mentioned that Williams had "a good couple of days" following practice.

The coach also stressed that the linebackers need to be more physical Wednesday.

"I'd like to see a little more physical play," Burke said. "Today was our first day with pads on, and everyone's kind of tentative and feeling that out. Hopefully we've got that under our belt and tomorrow we have another full-padded practice. I'd like to see a little bit more poppin' and getting guys after it."

Notes on each linebacker:

[*]Sean Porter appeared to be the most athletic linebacker of the bunch. Compared to his teammates, he did good work in run-stuffing, edge rush and especially pass-coverage drills. In 11-on-11 drills, he worked exclusively as a weak-side linebacker, which plays to his strengths. No one will confuse him with Von Miller, but he's got the most promise of this group.

[*]Vince Williams was second-best Tuesday among the linebackers, though he didn't show off his skills until the 11-on-11 drills as described above. He didn't stand out much in the other practice sessions, save for some flashes in edge-rush work and chasing down offensive players. He played on the inside Tuesday, just as he did at Florida State, and he'll likely find some work there as a third-day pick.

[*]Zaviar Gooden is known for his wheels, not necessarily his physicality. He didn't do much to stand out Tuesday as the second-team weakside linebacker behind Porter. Getting off the snap in edge-rush drills might have been his best work as he struggled to wrap up Gillislee a number of times in 11-on-11. He also seemed to struggle in pass coverage a few times. The good news is that he's got excellent athletic traits that might just need some harnessing.

[*]The first thing that stands out about Nico Johnson is that he passes the eyeball test at a big 249 pounds. The inside linebacker had a non-descript practice, not distinguishing himself as anything more than what he's been scouted as: A physical run-stopper.

[*]Speaking of looking the part, no linebacker was as physically imposing as Chase Thomas (6-foot-3 1/8, 241 pounds). The outside linebacker practiced and played with a lot of effort, throwing around fellow linebackers in a tackle-shed drill, and that helped make up for a lack of burst and speed that a lot of high-profile outside linebackers tend to have. On Tuesday, Thomas was beaten a number of times on a quasi-race from a two-point stance to a tackling dummy. Ultimately, he seemed a half-step behind receivers in practice and a bit slower than his teammates in drills.

 

[Faust]

2013 Senior Bowl: Offensive line paving the way

By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

January 22, 2013 7:38 pm ET

Billboards surrounding Ladd Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., are advertising Saturday's Senior Bowl as possessing even more talent than the BCS title game.

Considering that the Senior Bowl is the pre-eminent all-star game in college football, it should. However, the same formula the two-time defending champion Alabama Crimson Tide used in steamrolling Notre Dame -- dominant offensive line play -- was a clear storyline during the South team's Tuesday afternoon practice.

Offensive linemen rarely get the attention they deserve, and that is likely to be the case this week, as well. While the South's quarterbacks and "skill position" players were showered with interview requests following practice, most of the offensive linemen were quickly ushered off the field toward the buses. This, despite the fact that many of them have proven to be some of the more impressive prospects on the field. The physicality shown by Virginia tackle Oday Aboushi, among others, certainly captured the attention of NFL talent evaluators in the stands.

Asked to alternate between left and right tackle throughout the day, Aboushi protected his quarterback and consistently cleared lanes for the South's running backs. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Aboushi is surprisingly athletic, demonstrating enough lateral agility and flexibility to handle the South's top pass rushers. He surrendered just one "sack" throughout the entire practice, when Georgia defensive end Cornelius Washington beat him with a quick inside move after initially lining up quite wide. Washington, however, might be the closest thing the South defense has to a true speed rusher. Aboushi's best traits -- his physicality and aggression -- make him a better fit on the right side. Here, he consistently controlled BYU defensive end Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, NFLDraftScout.com's top-rated defensive player playing in the Senior Bowl. And this was against the pass. When run blocking, Aboushi's powerful hands and relentlessness consistently knocked defenders off the ball. He also showed better-than-expected quickness in releasing off of double teams and getting to the second level.

"One of the reasons why I play this game is because you get to beat up on people without getting into trouble," Aboushi told NFLDraftScout.com. "I love finishing plays, I love dominating opponents, I love making opponents give up and surrender to your will."

Considering that power football is the recipe that helped Alabama win the national championship and has pushed the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens into the Super Bowl, every team in the league is looking for physically combative blockers with this type of mind-set.

Other Notes:

[*]It is the nature of the position for offensive linemen to be a bit anonymous, but this is even more the case with small-school prospects. Chadron State's Garrett Gilkey, however, is quickly forcing scouts to pay attention. The 6-6, 314-pound Gilkey was twice recognized as an All-Rocky Mountain West Conference pick while at tackle, but his work this week has been inside at guard. Despite playing a new position, Gilkey was impressive, showing strength, toughness and flexibility handling the massive Jenkins and quicker defenders like Florida State's Everett Dawkins. He was beaten on a spin move by Jenkins early on but rebounded to enjoy an impressive practice overall. Considering the jump he's being asked to make from the Division II level, that's quite a statement.

[*]The South's most consistently disruptive defensive lineman was also the biggest: Georgia defensive tackle John Jenkins. The 6-4, 359-pound Jenkins is simply bigger, stronger and -- as shocking as it sounds -- quicker than virtually any other lineman on the field. His girth and long arms allow him to hold up well at the point of attack against double-teams, something he did with great effectiveness when playing inside or out as part of Georgia's three-man front. Jenkins is proving this week in Mobile, however, that he has the athleticism to also play well in a traditional four-man front, making him a potential top-20 prospect.

[*]While Jenkins has shown the ability to dominate lesser opponents, California center Brian Schwenke has proven surprisingly effective when taking on the massive defender. While perhaps not the most aesthetically-pleasing blocker, Schwenke shows good quickness, functional strength and understands leverage. He sinks his hips on contact, anchoring well despite being significantly lighter at 6-3, 307 pounds than many of his opponents.

[*]While focusing on the South's offensive and defensive linemen Tuesday afternoon, I couldn't help but peek at the wide receivers. Just as they did Monday, Georgia's Tavarres King and Lousiana Tech's Quinton Patton each enjoyed strong practices. The same, however, couldn't be said for Baylor's Terrance Williams, who repeatedly dropped passes. One longtime NFL scout commented that Williams, NFLDraftScout.com's No. 52-rated prospect overall, appeared to be much more comfortable tracking passes over his shoulder than passes facing him.

 

[Faust]

2013 Senior Bowl: Tuesday risers-fallers

By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst

January 22, 2013 6:44 pm ET

RISERS

OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan (North Team)

After two days of practice, it's clear that Eric Fisher has separated himself as the best prospect in Mobile this week. He hasn't been perfect, but he has won more battles than he's lost, displaying the coordination and feet to hold up in space. Although he will get too tall at times, Fisher has shown better base strength than expected to absorb contact and hold his ground to control blockers, flashing a nasty demeanor as well. He has cemented himself as a top-12 pick, and it isn't a stretch to consider him one of this year's top prospects.

TE Vance McDonald, Rice (South Team)

With Travis Kelce pulling out of the Senior Bowl due to injury, the distinction of top tight end in Mobile is wide open, but Vance McDonald is making a strong case for the spot. He looks the part with broad shoulders, long arms (34.5 inch) and big hands (10 inch) to extend and pluck the ball out of the air. McDonald also looked aggressive during blocking drills, staying balanced through contact and flashing a finishing attitude. He did have some drops on Tuesday when trying to run before securing the grab, but for the most part, McDonald has been impressive this week and is making a strong case to be a top-100 pick in April.

WR Quinton Patton, Louisiana Tech (South Team)

Although this year's senior wide receiver group doesn't have a lock first-round talent, Quinton Patton is making a strong case to be considered among the top-32 picks. Thus far at practice, he has looked more impressive than Baylor's Terrance Williams and others with his controlled athleticism to separate and change gears. Patton doesn't have elite size (6-foot, 202) or speed, but he plays fast and balanced with the hands to be a reliable go-to target. He likely won't get out of the top-60 selections.

OT Lane Johnson, Oklahoma (South Team)

There is no question that Eric Fisher has been spectacular thus far, but Lane Johnson has also been impressive and isn't far behind Fisher in the tackle rankings. Lining up at both left and right tackle, he has looked very natural in his kickslide off the snap with a very wide base to cover a lot of ground, not lumbering or struggling to adjust to edge rushers. Johnson has only two years of experience on the offensive line and it shows at times, but his combination of length (35-inch arms), hand strength and movement skills should guarantee him a spot in the top-20 picks, possibly in the top-15.

DE Datone Jones, UCLA (North Team)

After an impressive practice on Monday, Datone Jones kept the momentum going on Tuesday, standing out as one of the best defensive stars on the North squad. He is very strong from head to toe and does a nice job using his powerful arms and hands to rip past blockers. He wasn't overly productive as a pass rusher at UCLA, largely due to the fact that he was moved all over the Bruins' hybrid 3-4 scheme, but he did make 19 tackles for loss as a senior with his impressive blend of burst and power to dispose of blockers at the point of attack. Jones is a name that will start to appear in first-round mock drafts moving forward.

FALLERS

C Braxston Cave, Notre Dame (North Team)

This year's crop of centers leaves much to be desired, and the group in Mobile hasn't done much to change that opinion. Braxston Cave was the anchor of Notre Dame's offensive line this past season, but he has struggled to sustain blocks during practice this week, playing tight and lacking the athleticism to recover. He needs to be more aggressive with his hands and stay balanced in his stance to control defenders and not overextend himself.

CB Will Davis, Utah State (North Team)

After a strong senior season, Will Davis created some buzz as a possible early-round draft choice, but so far through two practices, he hasn't lived up to those expectations. He has struggled on an island in man coverage, playing undisciplined and often getting turned around by receivers. Davis has the athleticism and ability to potentially start at the next level, but he needs to do a better job staying balanced to anticipate routes and gain accurate position.

DRAFT NOTES:

-- Syracuse offensive tackle Justin Pugh is an intriguing prospect, but through two practices it has become more evident that his best position is probably inside at guard. He has the mobility and body control to protect the edge, but he has suspect core strength and struggles to properly use his hands to control rushers at the point of attack. Pugh also lacks the length (31.5-inch arms) and growth potential to convince NFL teams he can stay at left tackle.

-- While tight end Vance McDonald has impressed on the South squad, Colorado tight end Nick Kasa has stood out on the North team. A former defensive end, he didn't make the move to offense until late last season, entering the 2012 campaign with just one career catch on his resume. Kasa plays a bit tight and bulky, but he is an intriguing athlete and has really impressed as a blocker this week. He obviously needs some more seasoning, but the tools are there for Kasa to be an interesting developmental draft choice early on the third day.

-- The South team has been mixing and matching their offensive linemen through the first two practices with players like Lane Johnson and Oday Aboushi seeing reps on both the left and right sides. Florida tackle Xavier Nixon also has moved around the offensive line this week, seeing extensive time at left tackle, where he lined up mostly in Gainesville, but also taking reps inside at left guard on Tuesday. He flashed the hand strength to deliver a jolt off the snap and hold his ground, but his best attribute is his feet and athleticism, which makes him a better fit on the outside.

-- Oregon offensive lineman Kyle Long was absent from the South practice on Tuesday due to dehydration, according to his Twitter account. He needed an IV for over an hour and had a tough time keeping food or liquids down, However, he is expected to be back on the practice field on Wednesday.

 

[Faust]

@KevinW_ESPNKept a close eye on DBs and WRs today. La Tech WR Quinton Patton killed it out there. Quick, sudden and strong in traffic. Easy separation@SteveMuenchESPNDay 2 practices in books Up and down day for TE McDonald Dropped too many passes but also made some plays and willing to block. #SeniorBowl@KevinW_ESPNNassib ? and if that's him I don't see it.@McShay13Looking forward to Senior Bowl practices today. Watched South practices yesterday. Most impressed by Baylor WR T Williams, SDSU CB McFadden@KevinW_ESPN North QBs were underwhelming today. Did not see a franchise guy on the field.

 

[Faust]

Senior Bowl 5 things to watch on the practice field

 

[Faust]

Senior Bowl - Players Who Shined on Day Two

Senior Bowl - Players Who Struggled on Day Two

 

[Faust]

Geno Smith tops NFL quarterback prospects list By Marc SesslerAround the League Writer

It's pretty clear we've been spoiled.Last season's outrageous crop of rookie quarterbacks succeeded beyond anyone's imagination, but this year's class of prospects is low on star power. After four quarterbacks went in the first round in 2012, it's anyone's guess where we'll be in April.Here in late January, NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah sees just one sure-fire first-round signal-caller."I really only feel good -- confident -- in one guy," Jeremiah, the former NFL scout, said Tuesday from the Senior Bowl. "I think (West Virginia quarterback) Geno Smith's going to be a first-round pick no matter what happens going forward. But when you watch Geno Smith, it's almost like all these guys. I watch them on tape, I get excited, I like what I see. I go to the Pinstripe Bowl: He struggles, takes bad sacks, has a couple safeties, you question his awareness."Then I go down and watch him work at the IMG Academy and you see all the arm talent, you get back excited again, but it's just kind of a roller-coaster ride, and it's like that with all these quarterbacks. It's just hard to find a consistent performer."These young passers have plenty of time to change perceptions, and nobody rises likes quarterbacks in the draft. If recent history is any indication, Geno will have company when it's all is said and done.

 

[ConnSKINS26]

Redskins seen talking to Lane Johnson, Honey Badger, and Phillip Thomas.

 

[Xue]

2013 Senior Bowl: UCLA RB Jonathan Franklin separating from North packBy Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy WriterJanuary 22, 2013 2:58 pm ET

MOBILE, Ala. -- After two practices it appears UCLA's Johnathan Franklin has a leg-up on Oregon's Kenjon Barner and Fresno State's Robbie Rouse for the top rusher on the North team. That was helped in big part by a solid showing in pass protection drills Tuesday.Aside from Harvard fullback Kyle Justzczyk, who blew up defenders, Franklin showed consistent blocking abilities, which will go a long way in helping him get noticed by NFL clubs. He already has a good reputation as a rusher."He does a really nice job of using his hands and his feet to block," a team scout told CBSSports.com. "He's got good speed and is just big enough to handle pass protection. We've had our eyes on him for some time."Barner has been known for his speed, which was on display again at practice, but he remains iffy as a blocker. He didn't have to do much of that at Oregon. On Tuesday he would struggle with protection but get back up and try again. You can tell he's still learning.Rouse struggled in protection and has really proven to be a pure speed back. Comparisons to Darren Sproles are fair not only because of his size but because of his strengths as a home-run rusher and receiver.That leaves Franklin as the consensus top back on the North squad, followed by Barner and Rouse.But it doesn't mean any of them weren't in demand. Following practice Tuesday Rouse was sandwiched between Vikings and Saints personnel people. Franklin had a quick meeting with someone from the Chargers and Barner disclosed he had extensive talks with the Cardinals and Lions. This is in addition to all of the other meetings they're sure to have between now and the draft.

Get on the Johnathan Franklin train guys. He's arguably one of the quickest, fastest, and strongest RBs at Senior Bowl.

 

[Henry Ford]

If he gets the right situation, Franklin is going to be a monster. Guy's got all the tools he needs to become a superstar in my opinion.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Don't get the Franklin love. I think his absolute ceiling in terms of comps is Jerome Harrison or Kenny Irons. And they go downhill from there.

 

[ZWK]

Don't get the Franklin love. I think his absolute ceiling in terms of comps is Jerome Harrison or Kenny Irons. And they go downhill from there.

Franklin measured in at 5'10", 201 lbs at the senior bowl, which is a similar size to successful small shifty backs like McCoy, Rice, and Bradshaw. A few more pounds would be nice, but he's not at a point that would be disqualifying. (If he weighed a few less pounds that would be worrying - apparently one reason why Jerome Harrison couldn't hold down a starting job is that his NFL playing weight was around 195, even though he weighed in at 201 at the combine.)Watching video and looking for broken/missed tackles and yards after contact, I rated him as the second most elusive back (well behind Lacy and just ahead of Gio). He also looked quick and shifty, although not superfast. We'll see where he clocks in at the combine.He made a lot of big plays in college - Kerwynn Williams is the only RB in the draft class with more 20+ yard runs (he's also behind Lacy if you include 2011 and adjust for number of carries). He was also active & effective as a receiver, and scouts seem to like his blocking.Main negatives are his lack of size, his lack of elite top-end speed, and his fumbling issues. But none of those are fatal, as evidenced by guys like McCoy & Bradshaw.

 

[EBF]

I've not seen Rice/McCoy type of quickness from Franklin. Actually, Jerome Harrison was a lot better in that regard. Franklin is solid for a 201 pounder because most of his weight is in the thighs. He has decent straight line speed, but he never really popped for me when I watched UCLA play. I think Stepfan Taylor is the better back out of the Pac-12. Much sturdier build. Better feet and quickness. I have Lacy, Bernard, Taylor, and Ware as my top 4. After that Ellington, Bell, Franklin, and Michael are battling for spots.

 

[pacman_fl]

I won't bog the thread down in tons of tweets, but this one was so out of left field that I wanted to see the reaction. I don't follow the tweeter and put his/her opinion on par (or below) most here, but I find the (mis)information out there to be funny sometimes:NFL Philosophy@NFLosophyFormer NFL Operations Coordinator. I tweet a lot. This account will only last until I'm back in the league. nflosophy32@gmail.comNFL Philosophy ‏@NFLosophyI am convinced KC takes Tyler Wilson 1st overall. Their scouts love him. Only way they don't is if new GM Dorsey isn't a fan.

 

[EBF]

San Jose State played tough, but lacked individual talent. Their QB #10 was elusive in the pocket and accurate, but not much of an athlete. Their offensive tackle #76 Quessenberry looked to be their best pro prospect. I don't know if he is on the NFL radar at all, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Quessenberry apparently bossing at the Senior Bowl. #patselfonback

 

[MAC_32]

Don't get the Franklin love. I think his absolute ceiling in terms of comps is Jerome Harrison or Kenny Irons. And they go downhill from there.

Definitely not with you there. Very strong passing game skills, unlike both of those guys, and doesn't have any glaring issues imho with his run game. Him and Gillislee are probably the two backs in this class I am significantly higher on than most. Primarily due to the passing skills.

 

[Henry Ford]

Don't get the Franklin love. I think his absolute ceiling in terms of comps is Jerome Harrison or Kenny Irons. And they go downhill from there.

Definitely not with you there. Very strong passing game skills, unlike both of those guys, and doesn't have any glaring issues imho with his run game. Him and Gillislee are probably the two backs in this class I am significantly higher on than most. Primarily due to the passing skills.

Both pass-catching and pass-blocking. The second of those is what's going to get him on the field.

 

[ConnSKINS26]

Don't get the Franklin love. I think his absolute ceiling in terms of comps is Jerome Harrison or Kenny Irons. And they go downhill from there.

Definitely not with you there. Very strong passing game skills, unlike both of those guys, and doesn't have any glaring issues imho with his run game. Him and Gillislee are probably the two backs in this class I am significantly higher on than most. Primarily due to the passing skills.

Both pass-catching and pass-blocking. The second of those is what's going to get him on the field.

That's part of the reason why I love Randle.