News from Senior Bowl

[BoJack247]

don't know if anyone posted this or linked the article, but here's an update from the Senior Bowl via si.com:

MOBILE, Ala. -- Amidst the cold and occasional rain, the 2007 Senior Bowl kicked off on Monday morning. One of the most important weeks of scouting leading up to April's draft, the majority of the NFL's head coaches and general managers are in Mobile to scout the nation's top senior talent.

Here's a breakdown of those who've impressed and those who have not the past two days.

Risers
• Dwayne Bowe/WR/LSU: The Tigers' big possession wide out has caught everything thrown his way during the first two practices. Bowe has shown soft, natural hands yet at the same time a mean streak when he must battle for the reception.

• David Irons/CB/Auburn: Over shadowed by his brother (Kenny) throughout college, Irons has stood tall here in Mobile. He has shown the ability to shutdown opponents and has battled hard every day. His efforts have been commended by the coaches and Irons has significantly improved his draft stock.

• Antonio Johnson/DT/Mississippi State: The big athletic tackle has far and away been the best lineman on the South team. Johnson has been quick off the ball and tough to stop. He has bull-rushed defenders off the line or finessed his way past them. NFL scouts always knew Johnson had great potential and he's starting to show it at the Senior Bowl.

• Adam Carriker/DL/Nebraska: If Johnson is the best defensive lineman on the South then Carriker is the best one on the field to date. Carriker has also been impossible to stop, displaying a great combination of power, speed and smarts.

• Tony Hunt/RB/Penn State: Hunt surprised everyone by checking in a little heavier than expected at 239 pounds. Yet that seems to have positively affected his game. Hunt has been a monster carrying the ball on the inside and equally productive as a blocker.

Sliders
• Joe Newton/TE/Oregon State: The big tight end has looked slow and sluggish. And while he's effectively caught the ball, most of his receptions have come no more than five yards off the line of scrimmage. To make matters worse Newton's blocking has been subpar.

• Fred Bennett/CB/South Carolina: A terrific athlete, Bennett is struggling with his football skills in Mobile. Slow to react, Bennett has gotten beat a number of times and seems to be doing too much thinking and not enough playmaking.

• Marcus McCauley/CB/Fresno State: McCauley has been beaten like a drum the past two days. Consistently giving up deep receptions, McCauley has also allowed numerous catches in underneath coverage.

• Ryan Harris/OL/Notre Dame: While fundamentally sound, Harris has not shown the bulk or strength to stay with Senior Bowl players, never mind NFL stars. Used at both tackle positions, he's been pushed off the ball all week.

• Tyler Palko/QB/Pittsburgh: A try-hard passer with solid short-range accuracy, Palko has not displayed the arm strength or physical stature to play at the next level.

Senior Bowl Notes: After pulling out of the game late in the process, Brady Quinn of Notre Dame stepped in front of a small gathering of the media here Sunday night. Quinn explained the injury was a bursar sac in his right knee and was recommended to sit this one out by renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews. While many are still skeptical about the whole situation Quinn hung around for two days and interviewed with NFL teams, facing the music. Another player drawing the ire of NFL scouts for pulling out of the contest is offensive tackle Joe Thomas of Wisconsin. Thomas explained he felt he had nothing to gain playing in the Senior Bowl. Scouts on hand remarked all Thomas had to do was look at the performance of D'Brickashaw Ferguson from a year ago. One so good it solidified Ferguson as a top-four pick.

[rdr17]

thanks for this write up.

[mojobeast4694]

I dont know why people would be skeptical about Quinn taking a pre-caution and sitting out of an exhibition game. He played the LSU game with a hobbled knee, he wouldnt miss a meaningful game.

Unfortunately, I dont think we'll have a shot at Bowe in the 2nd now.

[BossTycoon]

I dont think AL DAVIS will draft a qb...

[JKJRAIDER]

I agree with the risers but had to mention other I have been watching the practices on NFL Network

Brandon Mebane DT CAL....may vault as high as the #3 DT off the board

Levi Brown OT Penn St... already a top 3 OT prospect going to make a lot of money, may move ahead of Thomas at the combine to take #1 position!!

Tony Ugho OT Arkansas....top 10 prospect looks good moved into top 5

Ryan McBean DT OK State....the all bus team. good burst

Sleeper
James Marten OT Boston College...good feet should step in the 8 - 12 range good RAIDER prospect ***

Aundrae Allison WR if he has a big game on Sat could be move into the late 1st day solidly!!

On a related note Adam Carricker of Nebraska looks like a young Grant Wistrom he may have put himself solidly as the #3 DE off the board!!

[ncraider84]

Thanks guys!

[ChicoR8er]

Good info, can't wait until April!!

[gdamac]

Thanks for the info, I heard on ESPN that Stanton and Smith were impressing as well. I love that it is in Mobile. Quinn is there even though he is not playing and it is Russell's home town so you Kiffin is going to meet with both.

[blah_blah]

this is what Scouts Inc. had to say about Stanton in the past two days.

"Monday (1/22/07): Stanton has shed nearly 10 pounds from last spring, but he looks to be in very good shape at nearly 6-foot-3 and 226 pounds. As far as practice is concerned, Stanton stood out above Troy Smith and Tyler Palko as the clear-cut top quarterback prospect on the North roster. In all reality, he seemed to be one of the best overall players on the field. Stanton displayed quick feet, a strong arm, a quick release and better accuracy than anticipated. Despite the rainy conditions, he showed impressive control of the ball. If Stanton continues to stand out the rest of the week, he will solidify himself as the third quarterback in the 2007 class and could re-emerge as a first-round prospect. "

"Tuesday (1/23/07): Stanton fell to the ground after getting his feet tangled during the team drill and he threw behind Notre Dame WR Rhema McKnight during the 7-on-7 portion of practice. Other than that, he had one of the crispest practices of the six quarterbacks at this year's Senior Bowl. He continues to display a great over-the-top release and above-average zip on his passes. He also showed good touch when throwing downfield and, other than the one pass to McKnight, showed above-average accuracy when dumping the ball underneath. In other words, he looked like a professional quarterback out there."

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft...ory?id=2738662

[blah_blah]

Also on tuesday Raiders interviewed one player

Kareem Brown DT from Da U

do we need another underachiever?

[kstone007]

thanks for the info, great post!!!

[Trojan Raider]

Levi Brown OT Penn St

Watched some of the practices this week and this guy has been amazing. Good Power, footwork, mobility and everything else you could want in a Tackle. He's been throwing guys all over the place. I've been very impressed with this guy so far.

[skitznick69]

Originally Posted by Trojan Raider

Levi Brown OT Penn St

Watched some of the practices this week and this guy has been amazing. Good Power, footwork, mobility and everything else you could want in a Tackle. He's been throwing guys all over the place. I've been very impressed with this guy so far.

Where's he projected?

[Trojan Raider]

Originally Posted by skitznick69

Where's he projected?

Everything I've seen has him at the #2 OT behind Joe Thomas out of Wisconsin. But scouts are raving about Levi this week and think that he could be the top tackle taken come draft day.

I think Thomas upset some people when he turned the Senior Bowl option down, but he'll be fine at the combines probably.

Right now my guess would be that Levi Brown would be in the top 10 still, but I suppose the combine could affect that too.