Senior Bowl Day Two Practice Report

North Practice

With the number of players that have dropped out this week, it's clear that the overall talent level has regressed compared to other years. Here's my report from this morning's practice:

Quarterbacks - In what is beginning to look more like the "best of the worst," Wisconsin's Russell Wilson was the best quarterback again this afternoon, however he was more inconsistent with his accuracy than I would have preferred. Wilson's displays the type of composure and pocket presence you look for, however his lack of height and inconsistent accuracy down the field are two reasons why he likely won't go higher than the third round right now. Michigan State's Kirk Cousins and Boise State's Kellen Moore did not show anything differently from yesterday, as Cousins was still quite inconsistent and Moore's lack of a strong arm were both still evident today. Moore's lack of velocity is going to make it very difficult for him to put the ball in tight windows at the next level. Cousins is a frustrating player to scout. He'll make a beautiful 25-yard post corner throw on the money and follow it up by airmailing the ball over the receivers head. None of the quarterbacks on the North roster have done much this week to get me excited.

Running Backs - Both Boise State's Doug Martin and Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead showed their versatility at both running back and returning kicks. Pead specifically is proving to be one of the more elusive backs for defenders to tackle; he has the combination of size, strength, and overall athleticism that could give him a chance to compete for a starting job at the next level. Washington's Chris Polk had some trouble in pass rushing drills, flailing at air when attempting to take on blitzing linebackers in one-on-one drills, showing that he will need further refinement here at the next level.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends - Arizona State's Gerell Robinson has been a pleasant surprise to me this week. He's a very big receiver (6'3, 223), however he flashed the speed and explosion down the field to develop into a fine No. 2 or No. 3 target for a team at the next level; I love his ability to extend out and snatch the ball out of the air with his huge frame. Appalachian State's Brian Quick continued his disappointing performance as he dropped another couple of balls today and showed that he is going to have trouble separating at the next level. His lack of explosion and quick feet are two things that could hold him back in the NFL. Michigan State tight end Brian Linthicum was not in pads today and sitting out, although the reason is unclear.

Offensive Line - Ohio State's Mike Adams showed again today why he is working his way into the first round conversation. Although there are still parts of his overall game that need to be refined, his combination of size and athleticism along with the strength to neutralize defenders at the point of attack have been major reasons why he is on the rise. Adams spent time at left and right tackle, as well as a few plays inside at guard today. He wasn't quite as dominant as he was yesterday, however he had an all-around good day again this morning. Iowa State's Kelechi Osemele spent some time inside at guard today as well. With Osemele, he will find the most success at the next level in a run-oriented offense where he can take advantage of his great size and strength. His foot quickness is still not where you'd like to see it, however from an ability to drive the defender off the ball, he's among the best in attendance this week. Both Wisconsin's Kevin Zeitler and Ohio State's Mike Brewster had some ups's-and-down's today, however both continued to show the polished technique and fundamentals that suggests they could compete for playing time early in their careers. Neither of the two are great athletes and will struggle with quicker, more agile defensive linemen, however they both have the overall strength to compete with the best in the country.

Defensive Line - Michigan's Mike Martin has helped himself more than any player on the north roster the last two days. Impressive at the weigh-in before performing well on Monday, Martin was practically unstoppable today, showing the quickness of the ball as well as the strength and leverage in the lower body to get underneath any offensive lineman he faces. Martin also possesses the polished hand use at the point of attack to consistently penetrate the line of scrimmage. He may be working himself into the second day (rounds two and three) with his performance here. Another player who was nearly unblockable today was Connecticut's Kendall Reyes who showed excellent explosion and quickness off the ball. His anticipation and hand use to take on the center or guard and rip through the line was very impressive. Reyes was a player that I have been pleasantly surprised about this week. Virginia end Cam Johnson showed his explosive burst off the edge again today, flying past the opposition and showing a natural ability to rush the passer. I still think he needs to develop better second-and-third moves to counter the offensive lineman, however the raw physical tools that he's shown down here has been quite impressive. Cincinnati's Derek Wolfe spent some time outside at end today, showing the versatility that he brings in his overall game. Although he will need more time to adjust to the new position if that's where he ends up, I thought he did a good job of attempting to rush the passer from the new position.

Linebackers - There is little to get excited about with this year's senior linebacker class, however Utah State's Bobby Wagner has shown the raw athleticism that will make him an intriguing prospect at the next level. I felt that Arkansas State's Demario Davis, in his first day in Mobile, showed good range playing inside out; he's another athletic linebacker who has the chance to really help himself here this week coming from a small school.

Defensive Backs - Other than maybe Brian Quick, Nebraska's Alfonzo Dennard may be seeing his stock slide more than any other player this week. Dennard has not shown the recovery speed or quickness to consistently match up with receivers in press coverage. He has been consistently beaten by a weak lineup the past two days and is no longer in the conversation for the first round, in my opinion, barring a dramatic change in his play tomorrow. Boise State safety George Iloka was impressive today, especially on a great interception he made in the middle of the field. Iloka is an intriguing player, as he offers the long frame as well as the range and speed needed to develop into a fine safety at the next level. He certainly helped himself today. Penn State corner D'Anton Lynn has been beaten on a number of occasions that past two days and seems to lack the quickness and explosion that you look for at the position. I thought that both Jamell Fleming and Donnie Fletcher improved today. Fleming showed the type of physicality that I like to see and showed that he doesn't shy away from getting in a receiver's face at the line. Fletcher was more active down the field, driving on the ball and showing great anticipation. He was a major reason why Brian Quick was unable to separate all day.

South Practice

By the end of this afternoon's practice it was quite clear that the overall talent level on the South team far exceeded that of the North. Here's my first report on the South roster:

Quarterbacks - The South roster is led by Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden, a 28-year old senior in college who has the physical tools that you look for in a quarterback prospect. Weeden looked sharp and polished today, showing the arm strength to throw the ball all over the field. Playing in a pro-style offense for the first time after running the spread with the Cowboys, Weeden seemed comfortable in the new offense. The biggest knack for him is going to be the age problem, however he didn't do anything today to set himself back; rather, he looks to be the top quarterback in attendance this week. Arizona's Nick Foles clearly has the tools to work with, however he was rather inconsistent today with his accuracy. He has the arm to make every throw that an NFL quarterback needs to make, however his accuracy was shaky throughout the afternoon. He's another spread quarterback making the transition to the pro-style offense and will need time to develop. San Diego State's Ryan Lindley had a very poor afternoon, as it was apparent that his success in college came from the system he was running with the Aztecs and not from the physical traits he possesses. Lindley's accuracy was sub-par and his arm strength is average at best. I wasn't very high on him coming in and he did nothing today to change my opinion of him.

Running Backs - I watched Florida's Chris Rainey relatively closely today and was pretty impressed with how quickly he is able to separate in the open field. He showed a strong ability to bounce runs to the outside and is nearly impossible for a linebacker to cover in one-on-one drills out of the backfield. As a scat back who can catch the ball out of the backfield, Rainey has the tools to find a niche with a team; he also is a talented returner as well. Mississippi State's Vick Ballard is purely a one-dimensional player. Although that's not a bad thing, I wouldn't ask him to do anything other than pound the ball between the tackles, which is what he excels at doing. Lennon Creer of Louisiana Tech, fresh off his great performance at the East-West Shrine Game, came in and had a solid day catching the ball out of the backfield. I was impressed with his fluidity and think he could be a fine No. 2 or No. 3 back at the next level.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends - The one receiver who impressed me more than anyone was Houston's Patrick Edwards. Although he only weighed in at just 5'8, 168 lbs, his straight-line speed and short-area quickness make him a very difficult player to defend for any defensive back. He ran past defenders throughout the afternoon and showed a strong ability to track the ball down the field and make the catch. He'd be a player I'd have on my radar as a fine slot receiver prospect. Arizona's Juron Criner may not have the greatest speed, and he may struggle to separate at the next level, but that certainly didn't stop him from making acrobatic catches today. Two in particular, including a one-handed catch with Casey Hayward draped on him, showed fantastic body control and hand-eye coordination from him. Criner projects more as a possession receiver with his lack of explosion down the field, however with his big size and strong hands, he should find a home with a team in the middle of the draft. Another big receiver hoping to improve his stock is Texas A&M's Jeff Fuller. Fuller's immense size was more than apparent as he was considerably taller than the defensive backs on the South roster. However, as great as his size is down the field, Fuller is going to struggle to separate because of his lack of quickness and he also dropped two passes today, which did not help his case. Arkansas' Joe Adams had a solid afternoon, making several catches down the field after separating from the defender. He is another player who projects as a slot receiver in the NFL, however with his elusiveness and agility, he's going to be a player that teams will covet in the middle of the draft. Both tight ends, Louisana-Lafayette's Ladarius Green and Alabama's Brad Smelley, had strong days for two different reasons. Green is a Jermichael Finley clone (Green is 6'5, 237; Finley is 6'5, 247) who is more fluid than Finley, but not as strong as physical. In the right offense, Green could be a very productive player, and he should be a player that teams looking for a flex tight end prospect should have on their radar. Smelley is a very versatile player who lined up all over the field and showed his underrated athleticism as he separated rather easily from LSU's Brandon Taylor in one-on-one drills. Smelley is a player that I am very high on and thought that he lived up to my expectations today.

Offensive Line - Georgia tackle/guard Cordy Glenn proved to be, in my opinion, the top offensive lineman on the South roster today. Playing inside at guard, he showed the power and flat out strength to manhandle defenders on the interior of the line. At tackle, he needs more work on his lateral agility and foot quickness, however inside at guard, he has the potential to develop in an All-Pro at the next level. If he lands with a power run-oriented team, he could blossom and start for them early in his career. I'm excited about his future after watching him today. Florida State tackle Zebrie Sanders has all the athleticism in the world to develop into a great tackle in the NFL, however he must continue to get stronger at the next level, as he does not have the lower body strength to consistently anchor at the point of attack. He has no trouble mirroring the speed pass rusher off the edge, however when it comes to breaking down and stopping the defender in his tracks, he's too inconsistent at this time. I still could easily see him landing in the first round, as strength is something that can be developed. He performed up to my expectations today. Add UAB tackle Matt McCants to the camp of players that have the athleticism that you look for, but must get stronger in the NFL. McCants is a fine project for a team and has great potential if he can continue to get stronger in the lower half. Illinois tackle Jeff Allen was an impressive player today as he matched up just fine with Alabama's Courtney Upshaw and South Carolina's Melvin Ingram. Although he's not quite as quick on his feet as you'd like, Allen has the complete package of size, strength, and athleticism for the position. Whether it's at right tackle or inside at guard, I think he has a bright future in the NFL if he lands with the right team. Alabama center Will Vlachos started slow, being bullrushed straight into the backfield by Brandon Thompson, however he got stronger as the practice went on. Vlachos' does not have good size or strength, however with his great technique and football IQ, I think he can find a home with a team as a starting center if he lands in the type of offense that frequently uses combination blocks. Georgia center Ben Jones is another technically-sound center who has everything that you look for in a future starter at the next level; he played up to my expectations today.

Defensive Line - The two top pass rushers in attendance this week are Alabama's Courtney Upshaw and South Carolina's Melvin Ingram. Upshaw's versatility to make plays wherever he lines up is going to be very valuable for a team. He's not an elite athlete, however when he comes off the edge he has the complete package of athleticism, polished technique, and instincts to consistently get after the quarterback, as he showed today. Ingram showed one of the best bursts off the ball of any player in attendance this week. He's a very quick defender who could project to either the 4-3 or the 3-4 in the NFL. His great hand use at the point of attack was shown today when he repeatedly beat the opposing tackle in pass rush drills. North Carolina's Quinton Coples is one of the more interesting players I've scouted in the past few years. He has elite size with great athleticism, however he's not an explosive player. While he showed an easy ability today to penetrate the line of scrimmage as a pass rusher, I simply don't know if he has a true home at the next level, which worries me. He's not explosive enough to play end in the 4-3, lacks the ideal size to play tackle in the 4-3, and I'm not sure if he's strong enough to play base end in the 3-4. He's going to be drafted by a team, and I'm sure he'll be moved around frequently on the line, however he simply has too many question marks, especially with his lack of production, for me to seriously consider him as an elite prospect. Florida tackle Jaye Howard has a very intriguing combination of size and fluid athleticism. He strikes me as a great fit as a base end in the 3-4 defense and showed the necessary strength to play the position today when he bullrushed his way into the backfield on a number of occasions. Both Texas' Kheeston Randle and North Carolina's Tydreke Powell met my expectations as potential two-down tackles who have the size and strength to play the run, but won't offer much as pass rushers. Clemson's Brandon Thompson, in my opinion, is going to be one of the more underrated players in this year's draft class. He's a big body with the strength to occupy the middle as well as the quickness and polished hand use to make an impact as a pass rusher in the NFL. He's a player that I am high on this year.

Linebacker - Miami (FL)'s Sean Spence is the type of player that you simply wish was bigger than he is. He was flying around the field today and proved to be more than capable of covering a running back out of the backfield, as his great speed and range allowed for him to make a number of plays in coverage. Spence is a player that certainly will be limited schematically, however if he lands with the right team, he could be a fine player at the next level. North Carolina's Zach Brown showed the polished technique in both run support and coverage that I expected to see from the future Top 50 pick. It was interesting to see Arkansas' Jake Bequette playing linebacker instead of his natural defensive end position. Bequette is a smart player who has the instincts you look for, he simply just lacks the physical tools to make a difference at end, which is a major reason why he was asked to switch positions. He'll be a project for a team if he indeed stays at that position at the next level.

Defensive Backs - One of my favorite players in this year's draft is Vanderbilt cornerback Casey Hayward, which is why I was very happy to see him have a fantastic day this afternoon. Hayward consistently blanketed opposing receivers down the field, showed a terrific ability to explode in and out of his breaks, and did a great job of consistently making a play on the ball. There is no doubt about it that he is one of the top defensive backs in attendance this week and I look forward to seeing him continue to play well the rest of the week. North Alabama's Janoris Jenkins has the talent and raw athleticism of a first round pick. He's extremely quick and nimble in staying with receivers down the field and I'm impressed with how physical he is in jamming the receiver and not being afraid of making a bit of contact down the field. If he didn't have the character red flags, he'd be a legitimate first round pick, however at this point where he lands is up in the air. What was apparent today is that he has the skills to play, if not start early in his career at the next level. One player that I felt was very impressive was Louisiana-Lafayette's Dwight Bentley, whose instincts and ball skills to attack what he sees in front of him are both excellent. Bentley showed the fluid athleticism to turn and run down the field and solidified himself as a player that scouts will have their eye on the rest of the week. Furman's Ryan Steed is another player that I am high on. After today, it's clear that his technique will need to be refined at the next level, however I feel that he has the instincts and raw athleticism to make an impact in the NFL. South Carolina safety Antonio Allen is a player that impressed me with his physicality both in the run game as well as in coverage.

Continue to check back at Draft Headquarters for more news, notes, and updates on all things Senior Bowl.