2012 Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl 2012: Initial Post Game Recap
Senior Bowl week is officially over, but the draft process for these seniors has only just begun. No doubt we'll hear a lot more reaction from the Senior Bowl in the coming days and weeks, but lets have a quick look on a few the things I noticed throughout the game. (Note, it's important to not put too much stock into this one game. The practices during the week meant a lot more to most scouts.)
- Quarterback plays was inconsistent throughout the game, which isn't massively surprising given the talent on show and having just a week to practice timing with new receivers. Brandon Weeden was the only one able to get into any real rhythm early on, completing a couple of nice throws off play-action, before guard/tackle prospect Cordy Glenn stepped on Weeden's foot as he dropped back. Weeden stumbled, but attempted to make a throw, but was hit as he threw and was intercepted. Weeden sat the second and third quarter before being brought back in late in the fourth. His first play was a deep play-action pass. It clearly didn't come out cleanly as it wobbled a lot in the air. This meant the pass went off course and was easily intercepted.
- Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson didn't really do anything to improve his stock. He displayed a good ability to throw on the run (which we knew he could), but struggled in the pocket, missing a touchdown opportunity on a deep corner route in the red zone. To his credit, he made an excellent back-shoulder throw downfield while running to his left, and he had the only touchdown pass of the first half (again, throwing on the run).
2012 Senior Bowl: What we learned from Saturday's game
Scouts flocked to Mobile, Ala. this week for a chance to see some of the top draft prospects in the nation battle it out at the Senior Bowl practices. While scouts have seen most of what they need to see, the televised Senior Bowl provides fans with an opportunity to get a closer look at some of the top prospects in the country.
A player can only do so much to his draft stock at this point in the process, but there is still plenty to take away from today's game.
After the jump, check out a few things we learned from Saturday's Senior Bowl.
Josh Norman invited to 2012 Senior Bowl
Josh Norman has been invited to his second All-Star Game of the season. The Coastal Carolina cornerback will be a late addition to the Senior Bowl roster after an injury to Nebraska's Alfonzo Denard, according to WMBF News. Norman will play on the North team.
Last week at the East West Shrine Game, Norman elevated his stock to mid-round status with a tremendous week of practice. The lengthy defensive back is playing his best football and getting a chance to prove himself against top competition.
After the jump, check out a brief scouting report of Norman based on what I've seen.
2012 Senior Bowl: Brandon Weeden looks sharp, but does it matter?
Brandon Weeden was the star of practice for the South team at the Senior Bowl on Tuesday, according to Alfie Crow, SB Nation's on site reporter in Mobile, Ala.
At 6-feet-4-inches tall and 218 pounds, Weeden possesses ideal physical attributes a team looks for in a quarterback. He delivers the ball with accuracy to all spots on the field and has a tremendous release. The problem, of course, is that he is already 28 years old.
Senior Bowl: Kellen Moore's flaws being exposed
Senior Bowl practices would either be a boon for Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore, or expose him to NFL scouts. Monday's initial practice received almost no praise from those in attendance. Even NFL scouts. Here's what one told Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:
"He looks like a high school quarterback, skinny arms. Has a weird deliver. Left handed, the ball spins the wrong way,"scout on Kellen Moore
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) January 23, 2012
According to those there, Moore had a better second day of practices today placing the ball nicely on a few occasions. But his lack of arm strength continues to be a concern. From Tony Pauline of Sports Illustrated today:
QB Kellen Moore of Boise State continues to struggle. The speed on his throws is notably slower than any of the other signal callers at practice this morning.
Not good. What's more pressing about these criticisms is that none of them are centered around Moore's height, which most pointed to during the season as a major negative. A few more thoughts on Moore's struggles after the jump.
2012 Senior Bowl: Some thoughts on the weigh-in portion
Senior Bowl weigh-ins are complete and they featured a lot of what we expected. Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams is huge (6-foot-7, 323 pounds) and Alabama wide receiver Marquis Maze is not (5-foot-7, 184 pounds). In front of scouts and media members, football players performed the meat market portion of the week getting measured in their underpants. But just what can be ascertained from this (sort of creepy) part of Senior Bowl week? (See full weigh-in results here)
With offensive tackles, arm length is nearly as important as height and weight. Arms shorter than 33 inches typically raise a red flag. Coming out of the weigh-ins, it's clear Iowa State's Kelechi Osemele doesn't have to worry about his arm length. He had 35 1/2-inch arms, the longest at the Senior Bowl. He was followed in arm length by Georgia's Cordy Glenn (35 1/8) and UAB's Matt McCants (35).
2012 Senior Bowl: Despite missing players, rosters full of talent
This year's Senior Bowl rosters have several top players missing. Injuries knocked out quarterback Ryan Tannehill, wide receiver Kendall Wright and defensive tackle Devon Still. Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd pulled out. Stanford tight end Coby Fleener and West Virginia defensive end are simply nowhere to be found on the roster sheets.
What that means for other players is opportunity. Without Fleener, for instance, Missouri's Michael Egnew will get more attention from scouts. The lack of the top two wide receivers could help Texas A&M's Jeff Fuller and Wisconsin's Nick Toon resurrect their slipping draft stock.
Arguably no single team at the Senior Bowl has more top talent than North Carolina. The Tar Heels have three possible first-round picks playing in outside linebacker Zach Brown, defensive end Quinton Coples and wide receiver Dwight Jones. Each comes into the Senior Bowl with questions. Can Brown be physical enough in the run game? Did Coples really coast through his senior season in anticipation of being a high draft pick, or was his great 2010 season a fluke? Can Jones show consistent hands and speed during the week?
Alabama also has numerous players in this year's game, with none being better than outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw. With a number of 3-4 teams needing a pass rusher, Upshaw could be a popular player amongst NFL scouts this week. Teammate Mark Barron, a strong safety, pulled out of the game with an injury.
The talk of every Senior Bowl is the quarterback group. Without Tannehill, this year's Senior Bowl signal callers are lacking in a legitimate first-round prospect. Arizona quarterback Nick Foles is the most physically gifted of the quarterbacks in attendance and needs to show he can play in a traditional offense. At Arizona, he relied on the short passing game and slants, which are neutralized more in the NFL. Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden will also receive a lot attention, especially since he'll be coached by the quarterback-needy Washington Redskins head coaches. Then there are fan favorites Russell Wilson of Wisconsin and Kellen Moore of Boise State. This week will prove if they can make it in the NFL.
The single most intrigue in this year's game is North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins. In 2010, he had the look of a future top 20 pick in the draft. But after spending a year at a lower level, he'll need to prove himself again. If he looks good, he secure a spot as the third cornerback drafted this year.
Scouts will also find out this week just where South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram profiles to in the NFL. He's lined up at end, tackle and outside linebacker this season and looked good at each. But his NFL position to this point is uncertain.
2012 Senior Bowl: Five players who could breakout
Every year, players hope to elevate their NFL Draft stock with good week of practices at the Senior Bowl. Last year, a great week of practices turned Baylor offensive lineman Danny Watkins into a first-round pick. Expect some breakout prospects this week. Here are some mid-round players who could elevate their stock:
DeVier Posey, WR, Ohio State
Posey only played in three games as a senior, but has good talent and size. He can make big plays vertically but needs to show in Mobile that he can route a variety routes. While missing much of the season, Posey was passed over by several receivers in this year's class. He needs a big week to resurrect his stock, which could have a second-round ceiling.
Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma
There were times during the 2011 season where Fleming looked like a star. He has good size and shut down Iowa's Marvin McNutt in the Insight Bowl. Fleming could be a second-round pick when the week is over.
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