2015 Senior Bowl Stuff...

Carp

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Shaw had good coverage, but he had to save his nephew.
 

boozeman

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That Manton guy might as well start looking into his Arena League options.
 

Carp

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Take Cobb out...he is going to move up to the 3rd round.
 
D

Deuce

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I think Orchard has played well. He's been very active and stout against the run.
 

Carp

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Every running back but the white guy have played well.
 
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Deuce

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My boy Rannell Hall is showing out in the 2nd half. This QB who's throwing to him has a cannon.
 

Carp

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MOBILE, Ala. -- So how many first-round picks were on display at the Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., Saturday?

NFL Media analysts provided a list of eight with that kind of potential: Washington DL Danny Shelton, LSU OL La'el Collins, Pittsburgh OL T.J. Clemmings, Iowa DL Carl Davis, Miami LB Denzel Perryman, Miami WR Phillip Dorsett, Utah DE Nate Orchard and Auburn WR Sammie Coates. But one, in particular, will need to solidify that status with a strong 40-yard dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis next month.

"Perryman, I think is a first-round inside linebacker if he runs well at the combine," NFL Media's Mike Mayock said.

Perryman returned to action for the final practice on Thursday after missing some practice time with an abdominal injury earlier in the week, but did not play Saturday.

Here are seven other things we learned from Saturday's Senior Bowl:

2. Husker makes an impact. Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah entered Senior Bowl week looking to prove that he's big enough for the NFL at 198 pounds, and shed questions about ball security. He was explosive during the game with some impressive running, including a 19-yarder early in the game. As for his draft stock, NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah provided an early projection of late-second round or early third-round on the former Cornhuskers star.

3. Making an impression. There was no position deeper with talent than wide receiver in Mobile this week, even without late withdrawal Kevin White of West Virginia. But the best route-runner of the bunch, according to Jeremiah, was one less heard of: East Carolina's Justin Hardy.

4. Progress shown. Georgia Tech guard Shaq Mason operated from the triple-option offense in college and therefore didn't exactly get much in the way of experience as a pass protector. Mayock saw significant strides during the practice week, however. "His first day of pass protection was poor as you might expect," Mayock said during the game. "But the next two days ... I think he might be a center in the NFL, but he competed his tail off on Wednesday and Thursday and I thought he showed everyone something. He learned quickly and adjusted on the fly."

5. Still in search of a position. Mayock's review of a few off-the-radar prospects included this remark on Norfolk State's Lynden Trail: "I don't know if he's an outside linebacker, a defensive end, or even a tight end, but I know everybody is intrigued by his size." Trail measured 6-foot-6 1/4 and 262 pounds at the Tuesday weigh-in.

6. Several players make preferred position known. One of the big things scouts were interested in this week was how various players took to certain positions they maybe didn't play in college. While nearly all of the players said they were open to lining up wherever in order to make it at the next level, a few of the players did note they would prefer one spot over another. Michigan State receiver Tony Lippett is an intriguing guy a lot of teams talked to about playing as a defensive back, but he told College Football 24/7 after the game his preference is to stick at wideout. Stanford defensive linemen Henry Anderson lined up just about everywhere during his time on the Farm but noted he was most comfortable as a 3-4 defensive end. They won't be the only ones who will get quizzed about a position change in Indianapolis, either.

7. Petty still focused on nailing fundamentals. Quarterback play during the week of the Senior Bowl was not the sharpest and that rang true on Saturday evening when the lights came on for the game. Nobody really stood out as head and shoulders above their peers. Baylor's Bryce Petty did lead the victorious North squad in passing yardage but confirmed he still missed a few timing passes that hampered the offense early on. "We had a couple of plays where the timing was off but at the end of the day, the ball was in my hands. It was still an unbelievable experience coming from Baylor to here and getting thrown into this system," he said. "It was great for me to understand concepts and protections and what it's going to be like at the next level. I had an absolute blast." The signal-caller is gunning to be at least the third player at the position taken in the draft and will head back to train with QB guru George Whitfield and dial down on his fundamentals as somebody taking snaps from under center in a pro-style offense.

8. Orchard finishes week with a bang. He didn't show up all over the box score, but Utah defensive end Nate Orchard showed up all over the field when the game action got going. The defensive MVP off of the North squad, the versatile prospect certainly made himself some money this week and was able to flash potential at both defensive end and outside linebacker. He mixed in special-teams snaps as well and might have been the player who saw the most action on the field as he ran from position-to-position to become somebody that every coach seemed to know about. Members of the Titans' coaching staff were quite high on the guy who led the FBS in sacks per game, and he rewarded them with a stellar outing on Saturday to send his draft stock soaring.

Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter @ChaseGoodbread.

Follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter @BryanDFischer.
 

Carp

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Forget about the 21-point thumping the North Team laid on the South in Mobile, Ala. on Saturday in the 2015 Senior Bowl. Few care about the team aspect of the game, preferring to focus more on individual game-day efforts and workouts throughout the entire week.

The entirety of the Senior Bowl is about the player. Who can show NFL coaches and scouts in a week's time that they deserve more of a look (read: more money from a higher draft slot) than the year's worth of game film they produced?

Second-rounders can turn into first-rounders. Small-school stars can emerge on the NFL scene. Solid players can show a brief glimpse of enormous upside that peaks the interest of a scout, thus elevating draft stock.

The name of the Senior-Bowl game is improving one's worth in the eyes on an NFL team. Here are the stars that did the most to improve their draft stock while at the Senior Bowl.

Danny Shelton, DT -- Washington

Shelton came to Mobile as a likley first-round prospect. He left as a potential top 10 draftee and a force to be reckoned with on the inside of the defensive line. The only way to slow Shelton down this week was to double team him, or grab him. By the third day of practices, the numbers on his jersey had been pulled off from all the holding offensive linemen did in the trenches.

Any offensive lineman that spoke on the subject, mentioned Shelton as the hardest interior lineman to go up against. Shelton greatly reduced the amount of time he's going to have to wait on April 30.

Laken Tomlinson, G -- Duke

One of the guards that sang the praises of Shelton was Duke's Tomlinson. While he was battling with Shelton, however, Tomlinson was showing that he deserved a lot more draft-day attention.

Tomlinson didn't always win when matched up against Shelton, but he didn't lose often either -- and he was never manhandled. Tomlinson was offered as the toughest guard to play against during practices at the Senior Bowl, and that should go a long way toward helping Tomlinson.

As a guard, Tomlinson won't be a first-round pick. But after the Senior Bowl, he won't have to wait terribly long on Day 2 to hear his named called.

Nate Orchard, DE -- Utah

The 2015 draft is rich with pass-rushers. And because of how he performed in Mobile, Orchard could now be considered a first-round draft pick.

Orchard finished second in the nation with 18.5 sacks in 2014, and showed folks at the Senior Bowl that those numbers could be replicated against the best talent available. He was one of the defensive ends that continually blew by linemen with his speed, and when power was necessary he showed the strength to be a bully too.

Not only did Orchard prove he could get after a quarterback, he offered soft hands (he picked off a poorly-thrown screen pass in 11-on-11 drills) and made an impressive play by staying with his assignment and closing down to back end of a play and thwarting an end-around.

Powerful, agile and football smart are good traits to have in a pass-rusher.

Cameron Artis-Payne, RB -- Auburn

Artis-Payne didn't finish as the top Senior-Bowl rusher (he gained 43 yards on 10 carries and caught three passes for 35 yards), but he did have a truly impressive opening drive where he showed power running and a keen pass-catching ability.

With the kind of vision and burst Artis-Payne exhibited, he should rise in the ranks of running backs in the 2015 draft, a draft class rich with talent. To grab the attention of NFL teams, a running back needs to be able to run with force, and possess good hands. Dual-threat isn't just for quarterbacks anymore.

Phillip Dorsett, WR -- Miami

Dorsett didn't play in the Senior Bowl because of an injury, but he was one of the most impressive receivers in practice, and those sessions were extremely valuable to the former Miami star.

With the ability to absolutely blow by defensive backs with his world-class speed, Dorsett should climb up draft boards in the pre-draft process on his wheels alone. But he also ran crisp routes in practice, showed good hands and fought for the football, and won, against defenders with more size.

Dorsett is explosive off the line, and drew comparisons all week to T.Y. Hilton and Brandin Cooks.

Carl Davis, DT -- Iowa

Davis was always thought to be more athletic than his film portrayed, but he never showed that at Iowa. He sure did in Mobile, however.

In addition to his strong base and being a tough player to move off his spot, Davis revealed a knack at getting penetration into the backfield. He was one of the most disruptive interior forces in practice, and many offensive linemen paired him almost equally with Danny Shelton in terms of being difficulty to handle.

Davis was a Day 2 prospect prior to the Senior Bowl, but could have worked his way into the first round.

Shaq Mason, G -- Georgia Tech

In the time he spent with the Yellow Jackets, Mason learned well how to explode into his assignment and work effectively with angles in a zone-blocking scheme. His skills were on display in Mobile.

There was little doubt Mason could move forward, but how would he handle pass protection? He used awesome strength and an ability to leverage himself into a winning week at the Senior Bowl.

Many scouts watched Mason and thought center instead of guard. Everyone looked on and saw a prospect that incredibly improved his draft stock.
 

Carp

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The Senior Bowl is like any other all-star game. It caters more to fans than scouts, with coaches more concerned with divvying up playing time than winning.

That doesn't mean that scouts weren't watching the North's 34-13 victory. They want to see if the players who stood out all week during the practices can carry it over to the game.

For players who struggled during the week's scrimmages, the game provides an opportunity to prove that they respond when the lights shine brightest -- something every scout is looking for in a player.

A couple of the themes from the week of practice carried through to the game. First, the general inaccuracy from the quarterbacks -- providing further evidence why there may not be a single senior quarterback selected among the first 100 picks in this NFL Draft.

On a more positive note, there was brilliance from running backs Saturday, showing off the depth of this year's remarkable crop. A number of small school prospects at various positions proved they belonged with standout performances.

Below is a list of the 10 players who stood out (for better or worse) on Saturday. In alphabetical order:

Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska: Leading the victorious North squad in rushing (73 yards) and receiving (four catches for 40 yards) for a game-high 113 all-purpose yards, Abdullah was named the 2015 Senior Bowl MVP. Abdullah's terrific agility, balance and acceleration helped him stand out all week and he rose to the occasion one last time.

Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Auburn: Though David Johnson and Abdullah had flashier runs later, Artis-Payne started in fine fashion for the South, showing balance, lateral agility and determination to run through would-be tacklers.

Jamison Crowder, WR, Duke: After a very impressive week of practice, Crowder had a tough game, twice bobbling kick returns. He was saved from a fumble on the first one by an obscure NFL rule that states that returners have the opportunity to re-secure a ball bobbled into the air if they waved for a fair catch. Crowder generally possesses very reliable hands. He has terrific quickness and first-step acceleration to make big plays after the catch or as a returner.

Rannell Hall, WR, Central Florida: Hall showed terrific body control to adjust over Oregon State CB Steven Nelson to haul in a 32-yard pass in the third quarter. This wasn't the case of one splashy play getting Hall attention, though. He made some terrific catches throughout the week, showing excellent timing, positioning and concentration to make contested grabs.

David Johnson, RB, Northern Iowa: While Abdullah may have been the flashiest back, the most impressive overall was Johnson, whose combination of size, sharp-cutting and terrific hands out of the backfield made him a mismatch in the running and receiving game. The vision, balance and determination Johnson demonstrated in the 19-yard touchdown to spark the game's scoring ranks among the most impressive individual plays.

Ali Marpet, OG, Hobart College: Marpet was arguably the most pleasant surprise of the 2015 Senior Bowl. All week long, the former Statesman left tackle demonstrated impressive strength, balance and toughness despite making the jump from Division III and switching inside to guard.

Steven Nelson, CB, Oregon State: Nelson stood out in coverage all day long, showing quick feet, a fluid turning motion and the closing burst. He officially broke up four passes, consistently undercutting receivers to bat away passes. Nelson has the blend of size and tenacity scouts are looking for in a nickel corner. He does, however, have a tendency to get grabby and drew a penalty in this game for holding.

Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami (Ohio): The most impressive corner throughout the week of practice, Rollins carried it over into the game. His interception with 19 seconds remaining in the third quarter may have been the game's most impressive catch, as he tracked the ball directly over his head and leapt to haul it in. Scouts are excited about Rollins' upside. He earned the MAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2014, the only season he spent on the football field, after playing his first four seasons on the basketball court for the Redhawks.

Martrell Spaight, OLB, Arkansas: With projected second round pick Denzel Perryman limited with an abdominal strain, scouts were anxious to see if any of the "other" linebackers in this contest would step up. Spaight flashed with his agility and terrific closing speed, making several eye-popping hits.

Tyler Varga, RB/FB, Yale: Varga ran for 31 yards and two touchdowns on only four carries and delivered a couple of crushing blows when asked to line up as a fullback. Varga's toughness, physicality and versatility stood out all week, but surprising agility and balance despite his rocked-up frame most intrigued scouts.
 

Clay_Allison

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Carl Davis, DT -- Iowa

Davis was always thought to be more athletic than his film portrayed, but he never showed that at Iowa. He sure did in Mobile, however.

In addition to his strong base and being a tough player to move off his spot, Davis revealed a knack at getting penetration into the backfield. He was one of the most disruptive interior forces in practice, and many offensive linemen paired him almost equally with Danny Shelton in terms of being difficulty to handle.

Davis was a Day 2 prospect prior to the Senior Bowl, but could have worked his way into the first round.
Next Geno Atkins?
 

Cowboysrock55

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Next Geno Atkins?
He is a lot bigger then Geno Atkins. Carl Davis is 6'4" - 6'5" 321 lbs or so. He is a guy who in my opinion could play the 1 technique in our defense and have an impact or play the 3 technique and have an impact. Just someone who could be a very valuable addition to this D-line.
 
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