Friday NFL Draft watch notes

by Dan Kadar on Dec 31, 2010 11:18 AM EST in 2011 NFL Draft

Meineke Car Care Bowl - South Florida vs. Clemson - noon (ESPN)

This is likely your last chance to see Da'Quan Bowers play for Clemson. If the reports are true and Andrew Luck doesn't enter the draft, Bowers could be the No. 1 pick. Some might think he's a one-year sensation, but he's been consistently dominant all year.

Bowers isn't the only top defensive lineman for the Tigers. Keep an eye on senior tackle Jarvis Jenkins. He handles double teams nicely and has quick feet. Jenkins may not be as flashy as other defensive tackles in this class, but he's a good plugger.

Clemson quietly has one of the better crops of draft prospects. Strong safety DeAndre McDaniel, offensive tackle Chris Hairston and defensive back Marcus Gilchrist are all seniors who should hear their name called before the sixth round in April. McDaniel is the best of the bunch.

More from: SB Nation | Voodoo Five | Shakin' the Southland

Sun Bowl - Notre Dame vs. Miami - 2 p.m. (CBS)

Not many are talking about Miami defensive end/tackle Allen Bailey. He's played both positions the last two seasons and is much better inside. He might not have the biggest build for a tackle, but he can make an impact there. His play is perfectly suited for the 3-4.

Miami cornerback Brandon Harris has said he's 85 percent sure he'll return for his senior season. If he can handle talented Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd today, that percentage could greatly diminish. Floyd will be arguably the best player Harris matches up against this season. With Florida's Janoris Jenkins injured, Harris could steal the spotlight.

Speaking of Floyd, many think he'll enter the draft after this season. Behind subpar quarterback play, Floyd has still managed 73 receptions for 916 yards and 10 touchdowns. He showed against USC that he has great body control to catch quick slants.

More from: SB Nation | Rakes of Mallow | Seventh Floor Blog

Liberty Bowl - Georgia vs. Central Florida - 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Two of the draft's better 3-4 outside linebacker prospects are in this game with Georgia's Justin Houston and UCF's Bruce Miller. Houston is the far better of the two and is a fringe first-round pick. Houston has 10 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss this season.

Houston is one of three Georgia juniors expected to go pro along with wide receiver A.J. Green and cornerback Brandon Boykin. Head coach Mark Richt told reporters this week that he doesn't expect the players to announce their intentions immediately after the game.

More from: SB Nation | Dawg Sports | SB Nation Atlanta

Chick-fil-A Bowl - South Carolina vs. Florida State - 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Quarterback Christian Ponder is expected to start for Florida State after undergoing two surgeries on his throwing arm. It will be interesting to see if he's tentative in te pocket against an aggressive South Carolina defense. Ponder's passes haven't had as much zip this season because of the injuries. He's a player that desperately needs the offseason process to get here.

South Carolina has a powerful defensive line and that could test talented FSU guard Rodney Hudson. As well as he's played the past few seasons, this could be the most important game of his career. Many question if he's strong enough for the NFL. If he's strong enough for South Carolina, he's strong enough for the pros.

The Gamecocks are severely lacking in top NFL talent this season. Without Weslye Saunders or Chris Culliver, there's not much to see with SoCar.

More from: SB Nation | Tomahawk Nation | Garnet and Black Attack

For more on prospects in today's games, make sure to check out the great prospect tracker post from 3k.

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Comments

Allen Bailey is better as a DT? I HIGHLY disagree with that statement.

Merry Vickmas everyone! * Falls into pile of snow DeSean style *

by d-jackfan10 on Dec 31, 2010 12:33 PM EST reply actions

I see him as a 4-3 LDE

Need to get him somewhere where he can use his speed.

by ct17 on Dec 31, 2010 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

I see him as a 3-4 ILB, yes LB.

As a DE he isn’t even remotely polished, he is slow off the line, he doesn’t use his hands well, he doesn’t play with good leverage and he just isn’t good technically. As a DT he is really ineffective because he lacks girth and the leg drive to push the pocket and he lacks the quickness off the line shoot gaps so a majority of the time he just gets stood up when asked to play DT.

But like you mentioned he is incredibly athletic, I think he finds the ball well when defending the run especially when he has room to work with at DE and I think that he is good in pursuit. As a TED LB he wold be a real nice fit IMO.

Merry Vickmas everyone! * Falls into pile of snow DeSean style *

by d-jackfan10 on Dec 31, 2010 3:30 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah I have no idea what so ever why you would imagine him as a ILB

I don’t see it at all and IMO 3-4 DE is where he should be. I can kindasorta see the 4-3 LDE but just doesn’t fit for me, LB.. especially ILB? no.

Cassel out, Andrew Luck in!

by BAMFSpecialOps on Dec 31, 2010 6:16 PM EST up reply actions

Why not? He can find the ball, he is a sound tackler, he has great range, can take on blockers, is athletic and changes directions reasonably well. Notice I didn’t say WLB, SLB, MLB or 3-4 OLB, I said 3-4 TED LB. 3-4 TED linebackers aren’t sexy players, they do the ugly stuff, they take on full backs, offensive lineman, are key in freeing up the ILB opposite them. As a TED LB where he would be covered up in coverage via a 3-4 front I think he could be a nice fit. Two of the best TEDs in the NFL are Takeo Spikes and Bart Scott.

If you can’t tell I don’t like him at DT or DE, the guy just looks like a jacked up LB trying to play DL to me.

And he isn’t an interior player. I think his strength has people thinking he can play inside but he really can’t. He plays with poor leverage, he doesn’t use his hands well, he doesn’t have pass rushing moves, he is incredibly slow off the line and he lacks girth. At DE he can get away with these things because A. The OT drops back off the LOS which allows Bailey to pick up more speed B. he is a far more natural DE than he is a DT and C. he is actually big and strong for a DE. At DT where he faces up blockers rather than attacks them his slow get off and poor leverage kill him because now he can’t shoot gaps which means he is forced to try and push the pocket which he isn’t able to do because he lacks leg drive, he doesn’t play with good leverage, he is small and he just can’t push the pocket against good interior linemen. And now that he has effectively been stood up and negated Bailey doesn’t know how to use his hands or effectively use pass rushing moves which means he can’t even get off the blocks. As a DT or 3-4 DE he would be a complete bust IMO and as a LE he would be a 2 down run stuffer at this point.

I really would love to see what he could do if asked to play LB, as a TED LB in a 3-4 defense I think he could really find success, at least more success than he would find at DE or DT.

Merry Vickmas everyone! * Falls into pile of snow DeSean style *

by d-jackfan10 on Jan 1, 2011 6:18 AM EST up reply actions