Ramses Barden is one of those guys that has stuck out like a sore thumb for a long time now, but also a guy you couldn't REALLY tell anything about until you see him in some All Star practices. So far, the reports on him have not been bad, but they've not been especially good, either. I think the positives in the reports probably stem more from his body than anything else, but if everyone's being honest with themselves, they're not seeing an explosive quick-twitch athlete out there. Rather, they're seeing a better version of Patrick Turner.
Now, that could all CHANGE when we get a look at him in the Senior Bowl game itself. Remember, this time two years ago, Marques Colston was not at all a guy that stood out to everyone at the Shrine practices for being especially quick or an especially smooth route runner, etc. Where he did stand out, was the game itself. Turn those lights on, and people just couldn't handle him. That's still the case to this day. His own coaches in New Orleans have said that in his first training camp, honestly he didn't look that special. But when they turned on the lights and had him suit up on Sundays, people just couldn't handle his size, strength and speed.
Colston was very much a physical freak. He ran something like a 4.50 at a very gigantic size. That's excellent. Maybe it's not Calvin Johnson, but who is? Barden has some running to do if someone wants to say he's "maybe a little faster" than Marques Colston.
Brandon Marshall, btw, was the guy that stood out every day of his All Star practices, and then stood out double during the game itself. But, then, he was in the Hula Bowl, not the Shrine Game, and definitely not the Senior Bowl.
