Sparano Senior Bowl Press Conference

[newlownorder]

http://www.draftcountdown.com/features/SeniorBowl/Senior-Bowl-Blog.php
​

• Puts players on the spot with specific football questions at the Scouting Combine.


• Learning a lot about players makeup. Wants them tough, smart and disciplined.


• Feels that having Mike Nolan on the staff is a tremendous advantage because he has coached in the Senior Bowl so many times.


• This is also an opportunity to break in the Dolphins new coaches.


• Noted that Myron Rolle's makeup is tremendous and that he "has the smart thing covered". Also said that Rolle loves football.


• Was an offensive line coach for a long time so he's been around 370 pounders like Terrence Cody before. Said that Cody has unique abilities, moves his feet well and is not necessarily just a stationary guy. It sure sounded like he is a fan of Cody.


• Pulled Jimmy Graham aside for technique / fundamental coaching.


• Tim Tebow played better today and was more comfortable. He got the ball out with more urgency and had a couple of nice playaction passes. Showing he is smart.

 

[#1dolphinsfan]

i am a big fan of Myron Rolle and would love to see him get drafted by miami

 

[MP-Omnis]

When is Rolle expected to be picked? Do we have a 2nd round shot at him?

 

[Dogbone34]

McClain and Rolle would bump our defensive IQ

 

[rushfinfan85]

Rolle wont be drafted till the 5th or 6th I have a 5th round grade on him very smart and battle tested but below average hip movement

 

[newlownorder]

They have said Rolle has been doing pretty good for the past 2 days. He would be an interesting selection in round 4 or 5.

Jimmy Graham also seems to be doing well but is a project at this point.

Observers of the Senior Bowl seem to think that yes, Cody is waaaayyy out of shape, but he has some really good qualities and can play.

 

[MP-Omnis]

Rolle wont be drafted till the 5th or 6th I have a 5th round grade on him very smart and battle tested but below average hip movement

Oh dang, ok. Well I guess that's good news for us if we want to grab him.

 

[Pinkboy]

Our defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers was really getting after it today at the senior bowl. I liked what I saw and heard when he was coaching up the Defensive linemen in the drills.

It was an intense session. It was a drill teaching how to disengage off a block and making yourself small and compact, getting low to the ground as the 2nd blocker comes along.. this keeps you in the hole or gap before exploding to the ball. And makes it more difficult for the 2nd blocker to get their hands on you when you're not upright or too high.

Double-team tips and drills.

Now if only Phillip Merling can learn how to not fall on his butt when using such a move. Randy Starks is exceptionally good at this move however. He does a very good job of getting low after disengaging off a block, maintaining his balance all the while, then gaining the leverage (or angle) on the 2nd blocker before firing through, or chasing the ball carrier.

Phillip Merling convinced me this year that he is only a one-gap defensive lineman, he's just not a 2-gap or 5 technique 3-4 DE. He simply doesn't have the balance in tight to be great at that position.

And balance is something that you can't teach if a guy just doesn't have it.

A lot of people here were stunned when they thought Merling would start at DE only to find out that Starks was ahead of him on the depth chart during training camp. Well Kacy Rodgers' drill today, if you were paying attention, tells you all you needed to know between Randy Starks and Merling.