Five who need to finish strong at the Senior Bowl

by Mocking Dan on Jan 28, 2010 9:11 AM EST in 2010 NFL Draft Comment 8 comments

Three days in, the stars of Senior Bowl week are starting to become known. They are Idaho guard Mike Iupati, Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham, Oregon tight end Ed Dickson and Mississippi speed demon Dexter McCluster.

But some players are struggling immensely. Here's a look at guys who need to turn around their fortunes to, well, make a fortune:

Taylor Mays | S | Southern California
There is no more frustrating player at the Senior Bowl than Mays. He's big and fast, but doesn't show it. In one-on-one coverage drills, Mays has been exposed. His poor hip fluidity doesn't allow him to stay with receivers when they come out of their cuts. If Mays is allowed to show his athletic ability, he can well for himself. But as of now, his draft stock is plummeting.

Mardy Gilyard | WR | Cincinnati
Everyone knows that Gilyard's size and speed is only ordinary for a wide receiver. So he has to make a name catching everything. That's been the problem all week for Gilyard. He's admitted to reporters that he was trying to "live up to his name" this week, and that's hurt him. Gilyard's strengths are getting off the line and his leadership ability. But the Mardy Gilyard name is really only worth a third-round pick. Start catching more passes and it may mean more.

Selvish Capers | OT | West Virginia
Everything you need to know about Capers is summarized by former Browns and Ravens scout Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter. "Rough week. looked like a priority FA. Waste-bender, slow feet, no anchor," he tweeted.

Vladimir Ducasse | OL | Massachusetts
There have been moments where Ducasse looked great this week. However, when he's been lined up at tackle, he has struggled. His footwork is average and slow, two bad traits. Ducasse is purely a power blocker, but he's not showing it. Although practices are ratcheted down some, it wouldn't be such a bad thing to see Ducasse get fired up and pancake someone.

Jimmy Graham | TE | Miami (Fla.)
Everyone knows Graham is a project, considering he's only played football for six months. Still, he's at the Senior Bowl instead of some other tight ends who are arguably more deserving. Graham needs to close out his week showing why he was invited. That was for his athleticism and hands. No one expects Graham to learn how to block overnight, but like Gilyard, he needs to display his hands as well as his route running.

Note: We're not having a Senior Bowl live blog during the day today.

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Hallelujah, the Gilyard bubble is bursting

Like anyone with any sense knew it would.

I’ve read Tony Pike has looked pretty bad at times too. Rough week for Bearcats.

Surprised Capers looked so awful. He was always a project, but seemed like one worth pursuing.

Finally, Taylor Mays. Always, always rolled my eyes at people projecting him to the Raiders just because of his 40 time because safety is not a big problem at the present. But I’m not gonna lie: a horrid picture is beginning to congeal in my mind wherein Davis sees the answer to his problem at MLB in Mays and not Rolando McClain.

"'Tis a bird I love, with its brooding note, And the trembling throb in its mottled throat; There's a human look in its swelling breast, And the gentle curve of its lowly crest; And I often stop with the fear I feel-- He runs so close to the rapid wheel." Nathaniel Parker Willis, "The Belfrey Pigeon"

by Raybin on Jan 28, 2010 9:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Capers, Mays

Capers looked more than awful. Selvie pushed him aside with no resistance. Imagine what a large starting lineman in the NFL could do.

Mays is just too big to change directions quickly. He looked bad in one-on-one coverage, which is not necessarily what all safeties have to do. He needs to be in a system where he is not asked to play man cover. As a linebacker he could be interesting.

by ct17 on Jan 29, 2010 1:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Its funny because despite Taylor Mays terrible showing and proving that he just will not be effective in the NFL at safety, he’s still going to be taken in the first round most likely and teblow in the second or third round. That’s the NFL, being so blinded by celebrity and muscles that teams take necessary chances.

by Rocland on Jan 28, 2010 10:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I hope its the Eagles

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there

by FreeBradshaw on Jan 29, 2010 12:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m reading alot that scouts all think Mays is strictly a LB in the NFL. Which could be interesting because then it becomes how high is his value? Better than Bowman/Weatherspoon?

What will the Seattle Seahawks do with the 14th pick of round one? The word at the Senior Bowl is Pete Carroll loves his former USC star Taylor Mays yet the scouting staff really does not think Mays can handle the safety position at the next level, even in the Seahawks defense.

If Pete gets his way (most likely) Mays won’t fall out of round 1.

McShay, Todd McShay you hear me boy? It's me TJ and I'm coming for your damn job boy! Oh be scared, be very scared McShay.

by tj.hendricks on Jan 29, 2010 2:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This is definitely going to be one of the main storylines to follow in the next couple months. Mays’ pro day, and what he works out as, is going to be huge.

I’m going to re-do my rankings yet again. The OLBs will be Kindle, Bowman, Weatherspoon, Norwood, Hughes. I’d tend to say Mays would be after Weatherspoon. He’d be a project to consider him higher.

Mocking the Draft: Your NFL Draft source.

by Mocking Dan on Jan 29, 2010 9:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs