Senior Bowl Thoughts

My first post on the 2011 NFL Draft! Yipee! My attention was diverted from the Super Bowl today because of the Senior Bowl. I know many people don't watch the Senior Bowl because most players are picked in the middle rounds but I love watching and scouting each player and base their play on what their potential is in the NFL. Anyway, here are my Senior Bowl thoughts on the game played today: the first stepping of many stepping stones to the April Draft.

• Christian Ponder (QB) of Florida State was the game MVP in my mind. I didn't think much of him before this game based off of my previous experience watching him but he looked like the best quarterback of the day. He had excellent timing on a comeback route to Leonard Hankerson for his first touchdown pass of the day. On his 2nd touchdown pass in the 4th quarter, Ponder looked off the free safety and then threw a beautiful seam throw to Jeremy Kerley. Ponder also showed off some running ability and overall really improved his stock today.
• Sam Acho (DE) of Texas played a good game. He owned Colordo tackle Nate Solder with a quick shove and seemed like he was always in the backfield when he was on the field.
• Titus Young (WR) of Boise State had a great week of practices at the Senior Bowl, but he committed two big 3rd down drops today on passes thrown by Jake Locker. Both would have been tough catches but nevertheless, the ball hit his hands both times. However, he proved today that he is without question the best at getting out of his routes. It is insane how quick he is.
• Leonard Hankerson (WR) from Miami had a prett big day. He ran a nice comeback route on his touchdown from Ponder and also made some good adjustments to the ball on a few underthrown passes his way. However, Hankerson also did have soem questionable drops too, most notably at the end of the half after beating Richard Sherman on a double move.
• Christian Ballard (DT) from Iowa is one of the quickest defensive tackles I have seen from a player at his stage. He could sneak his way into the bottom of the first round.
• Anthony Allen (RB) from Georgia Tech isn't quick by any means and missed a few reads from his linemen. He really didn't end up playing all that much if at all in the 2nd half.
• Derek Sherrod (T) from Mississippi State uses his hands very well and can really stay in front of his man. Solid showing from him today.
• Ricki Stanzi (QB) from Iowa didn't look really comfortable in the pocket, but he does have very good pocket awareness and made some plays throwing on the run. However, he also did throw the ball into what looked like triple coverage and off of his back foot on a ball that should have easily been picked off. He also showed he wasn't afraid to throw the ball into tight spots. He forced one into Lance Kendricks rolling out to his right, and then on the next play he threw a strike on a quick slant between two defenders to Vincent Brown. It appears he has a stronger arm than I imagined and he also looked smart out there directing the offense and letting them know where they had to be.
• Richard Sherman (CB) from Stanford wasn't on my radar at all before this game, but he looked good on his ball skills and also has great size at 6'2. Before the end of the half with 6 seconds left, he got beat on a double move by Hankerson, which just baffled me.
• Greg McElroy (QB) from Alabama showed some good mobility, but not as great of decision making. I noticed when under pressure he tends to throw flat footed.
• Jeremy Beal (DE) from Oklahoma looked good in pursuit and recognizing a play action slip. He also had a great play crashing hard down hill on 3rd and goal from the 1 to stop Devin from reaching the endzone. And lastly, he had a great timed jump on a sack of Andy Dalton...looks like he could be a good 3-4 outside backer.
• Noel Devine (RB) from West Virginia didn't do much between the tackles and was dancing in the hole too often. However, he looked decent in space and could be a good 3rd down back for some team.
• Kendric Burney (CB) from North Carolina, despite being beaten for a touchdown, looked very good coming up and making plays. He also showed good coverage skills on a ball that he batted away from Ronald Johnson. Burney also was fantastic on special teams and could be a great value pick by a team that is looking to improve in that area.
• DeMarcus Love (T) from Arkansas just looked terrible. One play after being beaten off the edge by Kerrigan, Fua just plowed him over on a run play.
• Andy Dalton (QB) from TCU just doesn't have the arm strength to make every throw, but he is indeed very accurate. Looks like a game manager to me at the next level, and the NFL doesn't really like those. Still could be a very solid backup.
• Derrick Locke (RB) from Kentucky simply puts one foot in the ground and heads south. He is a very fast downhill runner and should be a solid third down back. He looks to me a lot like McCluster last year but probably not as fast.
• Von Miller (LB) of Texas A&M is so explosive. He needs to add some weight to his 235 pound frame but wow does he have a burst. It just seemed like he was always around the ball when he was in the game.
• Colin Kaepernick (QB) from Nevada looked ok in my opinion. He had a nice throw to Sanzenbacher on a 15 yard in. However, he looks to scramble too much instead of trusting his protection, which I kind of expected. He really does have a strong arm and is a really intriguing prospect. I could see a team taking a flyer on him as early as the 3rd round.
• Colin McCarthy (LB) from Miami looked very good in his pursuit downhill against the run. He really wsa flying to the football from sideline to sideline.
• Da'Rell Scott (RB) from Maryland is a prospect that I really like. He has good size for an every-down back in the NFL and has pretty good vision.
• Jake Locker (QB) from Washington looked a lot more comfortable in the 2nd half. He had a nice throw to Young coming out of his break and made a nice check-down to Scott for a big gain. However, the next play he scrambled and fumbled that ball which coincides to everything I have been saying about him- his inconsistency, which is why I have him graded as a 2nd rounder, even though he will probably be reached for in the first. Locker also tended to lock onto his receivers on fade routes and just throwing up jump-balls. On his last drive, he rolled out to his left, settled his hips, and threw across his body for a strike to Austin Pettis. However, on the very next play, he threw an ugly jump ball pass to Young.
• Ian Williams (DT) from Notre Dame was reported to have struggled this week in practice, but he looked good pushing back Georgia G Clint Boling for a sack on McElroy. Williams looks like he could be a good value pick in the later rounds.
• Bilal Powell (RB) from Louisville isn't too nimble or fast, but he has a nice burst and hits the hole hard. He had a very nice run in the fourth quarter where he used a spin to get out of trouble at the line of scrimmage and picked up an extra 5 yards for a first down to keep the chanes moving.
• Sinoa Fua (DT) from Stanford had a pretty strong day and showed that he could be a pretty good run stuffer at the next level.
• Jarvis Jenkins (DT) from Georiga had a sick jump off the line of scrimmage and made a play 3 yards in the backfield. For a man his size, he had some serious movement there, which was impressive.
• Phil Taylor (DT) from Baylor is really powerful. He built off his strong practice week and looked unblockable in this game at times. He is definitely climbing into 2nd round territory as a 3-4 NT.
• Niles Paul (WR) from Nebraska showed that being versataile on special teams help you land a roster spot in the NFL. Paul beat the antigunner in the 4th quarter and made a huge hit on the punt returner...yes folks, hes a wide receiver.
• Charles Clay (FB) from Tulsa reminds me a lot of Oakland's Marcel Reeese. A fullback, H-Back type of player who is a very good receiver.