↑ BRANDON WEEDEN - QB - OKLAHOMA STATE: Of all the South quarterbacks today, Weeden looked the best. He was crisp on his throws and displayed some of the best accuracy all day. Even Weeden’s arm strength was impressive with a number of throws audibly being heard hitting receivers. He definitely has a great command of the huddle and doesn’t appear to have any difficulty making the tough throws, like the deep outs, the slants, the flag routes or even taking the edge off on touch passes. A great start for Weeden thus far and if he keeps this up, people are going to start downplaying his age instead of blowing it out of proportion.
↑ JOE ADAMS - WR - ARKANSAS: Adams was definitely the star of South practice today, showing off his lightning quickness and ball skills all day. He absolutely torched Vanderbilt’s Casey Hayward on a flag route that was unfortunately overthrown by San Diego State’s Ryan Lindley. Adams seemed to haul in everything thrown his way and made a beautiful tip-toe grab on the sidelines that drew a few oohs and ahhs from the crowd. The Razorback definitely brings bigtime deep speed to the table but he has the ball skills and intelligence to win his matchups and consistently get open against the South corners.
↓ RYAN LINDLEY - QB - SAN DIEGO STATE: Maybe it’s because Weeden looked so polished and that’s what made Lindley appear to be extremely rough around the edges but his ball placement was terribly inconsistent today. Lindley has adequate arm strength and a nice delivery but his release is a bit elongated and his accuracy is still an issue on all ranges off attempts. He had a number of overthrows on deep routes and his mid range game is lacking, as he twice hit Jeff Fuller on the shoe laces and also couldn’t seem to throw his receivers open on the large number of slant routes that were run today.
DRAFT NOTES: Bulldogs OG Cordy Glenn actually saw a lot of reps at left tackle and the big man from Georgia looked very comfortable there. Although his future is more likley at the guard position, he’d be able to play on the outside in a pinch and could feasibly play on the right side with his length and power.
Arkansas DE Jake Bequette is listed here in Mobile as an “LB” and that’s exactly where Bequette saw a lot of action in today’s practice but it was not to his benefit, as his 271 pound frame took quite the effort to manipulate in space. There are certainly teams looking at him as an outside linebacker but he will be best served playing with his hand in the dirt as a base end.
TRENCH POSITIONS:
Georgia offensive lineman Cordy Glenn answered questions today about his positional future; there is no doubt that he can play tackle in the league, and in fact was the first team left tackle for the South in team drills. As expected he was a load in the run game and mauled players in 9-on-7 drills. For a man of his size, he has remarkable foot quickness and does an adequate job in pass protection. He certainly wasn't perfect against edge rushers, of which the South squad has several notable talents, but he does the job. With 35 inch plus arms, he's a chore to get around. Equivalent pro player comparisons might be to Marcus McNeill or Shawn Andrews (thanks to Chris Steuber for that last comparison, it is especially astute). Like Andrews, his value might peak at the middle of the first round.
North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples was among the class of the South defense. Coples is a pass rush terror and had several clean wins in the Pit drills. He displayed up-field explosion and a decent variety of moves. On the down side, he was having some trouble getting off of run blocks against Cordy Glenn, but even in that respect he improved as practice progressed. These two players had great battles. There are still questions about this player's consistency, but if we use only today as a guide, Coples might be the highest selected player in town this week.
Alabama defensive end Courtney Upshaw is another outstanding South defender who will likely be selected extremely high in April's draft. He's excellent setting the edge against the run, and also can burst in the backfield to disrupt the pocket. He might not display impressive timed speed but he has excellent short-area quickness. He's great in pursuit and shutting down plays to his side of the field. There is much to like about Upshaw, but one notable aspect is his hand-play. He's got a violent punch that displaces the blocker, and that skill is hard to find among college seniors. Most project this player as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but he's likely scheme-diverse and could help any team.
South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram shares many of the same qualities as his South teammate Upshaw. He's stout against the run and aggressive rushing the passer. Like Upshaw, he's excellent in pursuit from the back side. Ingram lacks a refined punch, and neither player are likely to impress over 40-yards. But in the box area he's a versatile player that gets out of the blocks quickly and often disrupts the play. Ingram is a player which I look forward to watching in the upcoming full-contact practices, as he has a tendency for making big plays.
SKILL POSITIONS:
Arkansas wide out Joe Adams was impressive for his speed and ability to create separation. He's a solid route runner with above average hands and has potential to be a true deep threat. Although he weighed in light, at 174 pounds, he is built for speed and is helping his stock with his play on the field. This player was thought to be a sleeper mid-round target, and while that might still be true, the secret is quickly getting out.
Arizona quarterback Nick Foles is a smooth thrower that often takes what the defense gives. He will check down rather than force a bad throw, and while that isn't always exciting, the scouts appreciate that in a signal caller. Foles has great height and a live arm, but he also throws a catchable football. Past the top two, there is still a spot open for that annual third quarterback in the mid to late first round. Foles didn't seal that up with today's practice but he's put his name in the conversation.
Texas A&M wide out Jeff Fuller showed sure hands and had an impressive day. The highlight was a sweet diving catch along the deep sideline, bodying out the defender along the way. Fuller had a tough year but has always had the talent to make an impact. Fuller could be on his way to having a very profitable week.
Player team observations: Dolphins speaking with Kendall Reyes and Audie Cole
http://www.rookiedraft.com/?p=5305
http://www.draftdaddy.com/blog/nfldraft.htm
http://draftcountdown.com/features/SeniorBowl/reports/Observations/Monday.php
↑ JOE ADAMS - WR - ARKANSAS: Adams was definitely the star of South practice today, showing off his lightning quickness and ball skills all day. He absolutely torched Vanderbilt’s Casey Hayward on a flag route that was unfortunately overthrown by San Diego State’s Ryan Lindley. Adams seemed to haul in everything thrown his way and made a beautiful tip-toe grab on the sidelines that drew a few oohs and ahhs from the crowd. The Razorback definitely brings bigtime deep speed to the table but he has the ball skills and intelligence to win his matchups and consistently get open against the South corners.
↓ RYAN LINDLEY - QB - SAN DIEGO STATE: Maybe it’s because Weeden looked so polished and that’s what made Lindley appear to be extremely rough around the edges but his ball placement was terribly inconsistent today. Lindley has adequate arm strength and a nice delivery but his release is a bit elongated and his accuracy is still an issue on all ranges off attempts. He had a number of overthrows on deep routes and his mid range game is lacking, as he twice hit Jeff Fuller on the shoe laces and also couldn’t seem to throw his receivers open on the large number of slant routes that were run today.
DRAFT NOTES: Bulldogs OG Cordy Glenn actually saw a lot of reps at left tackle and the big man from Georgia looked very comfortable there. Although his future is more likley at the guard position, he’d be able to play on the outside in a pinch and could feasibly play on the right side with his length and power.
Arkansas DE Jake Bequette is listed here in Mobile as an “LB” and that’s exactly where Bequette saw a lot of action in today’s practice but it was not to his benefit, as his 271 pound frame took quite the effort to manipulate in space. There are certainly teams looking at him as an outside linebacker but he will be best served playing with his hand in the dirt as a base end.
TRENCH POSITIONS:
Georgia offensive lineman Cordy Glenn answered questions today about his positional future; there is no doubt that he can play tackle in the league, and in fact was the first team left tackle for the South in team drills. As expected he was a load in the run game and mauled players in 9-on-7 drills. For a man of his size, he has remarkable foot quickness and does an adequate job in pass protection. He certainly wasn't perfect against edge rushers, of which the South squad has several notable talents, but he does the job. With 35 inch plus arms, he's a chore to get around. Equivalent pro player comparisons might be to Marcus McNeill or Shawn Andrews (thanks to Chris Steuber for that last comparison, it is especially astute). Like Andrews, his value might peak at the middle of the first round.
North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples was among the class of the South defense. Coples is a pass rush terror and had several clean wins in the Pit drills. He displayed up-field explosion and a decent variety of moves. On the down side, he was having some trouble getting off of run blocks against Cordy Glenn, but even in that respect he improved as practice progressed. These two players had great battles. There are still questions about this player's consistency, but if we use only today as a guide, Coples might be the highest selected player in town this week.
Alabama defensive end Courtney Upshaw is another outstanding South defender who will likely be selected extremely high in April's draft. He's excellent setting the edge against the run, and also can burst in the backfield to disrupt the pocket. He might not display impressive timed speed but he has excellent short-area quickness. He's great in pursuit and shutting down plays to his side of the field. There is much to like about Upshaw, but one notable aspect is his hand-play. He's got a violent punch that displaces the blocker, and that skill is hard to find among college seniors. Most project this player as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but he's likely scheme-diverse and could help any team.
South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram shares many of the same qualities as his South teammate Upshaw. He's stout against the run and aggressive rushing the passer. Like Upshaw, he's excellent in pursuit from the back side. Ingram lacks a refined punch, and neither player are likely to impress over 40-yards. But in the box area he's a versatile player that gets out of the blocks quickly and often disrupts the play. Ingram is a player which I look forward to watching in the upcoming full-contact practices, as he has a tendency for making big plays.
SKILL POSITIONS:
Arkansas wide out Joe Adams was impressive for his speed and ability to create separation. He's a solid route runner with above average hands and has potential to be a true deep threat. Although he weighed in light, at 174 pounds, he is built for speed and is helping his stock with his play on the field. This player was thought to be a sleeper mid-round target, and while that might still be true, the secret is quickly getting out.
Arizona quarterback Nick Foles is a smooth thrower that often takes what the defense gives. He will check down rather than force a bad throw, and while that isn't always exciting, the scouts appreciate that in a signal caller. Foles has great height and a live arm, but he also throws a catchable football. Past the top two, there is still a spot open for that annual third quarterback in the mid to late first round. Foles didn't seal that up with today's practice but he's put his name in the conversation.
Texas A&M wide out Jeff Fuller showed sure hands and had an impressive day. The highlight was a sweet diving catch along the deep sideline, bodying out the defender along the way. Fuller had a tough year but has always had the talent to make an impact. Fuller could be on his way to having a very profitable week.
Player team observations: Dolphins speaking with Kendall Reyes and Audie Cole
http://www.rookiedraft.com/?p=5305
http://www.draftdaddy.com/blog/nfldraft.htm
http://draftcountdown.com/features/SeniorBowl/reports/Observations/Monday.php