The Senior Bowl squads will be coached by two current NFL staffs (Browns and Bears), adding an extra dimension to their evaluations. The Browns and Bears will be connected to every quarterback they coach, along with prospects at other positions. Position coaches of all teams have a tendency to fall in love with prospects at the event, as these are the first players they have watched during this year’s process.
Just like my Shrine Week coverage, I will be constantly tweeting (@JoshNorris) and producing frequent articles.
“Evaluating the Evaluator” - Waldman
I open this preview the same way every year, so here we go.
Before we dive into the top prospects attending the event, let us discuss the conclusions that can be drawn from practice. I have a baseline evaluation for every player attending this week, with the main goal of understanding where each player wins. This is important, since many of these prospects will be utilized in new ways and in a new environment during the Senior Bowl. Therefore, their success might be limited or they might put forth poor performances. These will be written up in practice reports in a negative light, but sometimes without context.
Take a pure press corner for example. A few years ago, DBs coach Raheem Morris asked his corners to play off coverage during one on one drills, and the more physical press corners were smoked play after play. These prospects were used to jamming receivers at the line, then sticking with them downfield at their own pace. Some of those corners were bashed by viewers during the week. I think it lacked understanding and context.
Practice notes are great and I learn so much from watching prospects this week. Just use your own judgment in some of the conclusions and do not be afraid to ask the author questions regarding certain performances.
And above all, remember we are evaluating with our own eyes. Your eyes might tell you something different. And the 300-plus NFL personnel members might each see it their own way as well. I watched every single player at the event except for two: WR Chad Williams from Grambling State and CB Brendan Langley from Lamar.
Senior Bowl Top 25
1. T Antonio Garcia, Troy
2. TE O.J. Howard, Alabama
3. OL Forrest Lamp. WKU
4. WR Taywan Taylor, WKU
5. DL Jaleel Johnson, Iowa
6. CB Tre’Davious White, LSU
7. G Dan Feeney, Indiana
8. TE Evan Engram, Ole Miss
9. EDGE Dawuane Smoot, Illinois
10. EDGE Derek Rivers, Youngstown State
11. S Justin Evans, Texas A&M
12. CB Cam Sutton, Tennessee
13. OL Jordan Morgan, Kutztown
14. EDGE/LB Hasson Reddick, Temple
15. EDGE Ryan Anderson, Alabama
16. RB Kareem Hunt, Toledo
17. OL Adam Bisnowaty, Pitt
18.TE Gerald Everett, South Alabama
19. iOL Ethan Pocic, LSU
20. iOL Jon Toth, Kentucky
21. CB Damontae Kazee, San Diego State
22. CB Desmond King, Iowa
23. WR Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M
24. EDGE Daeshon Hall, Texas A&M
25. T Conor McDermott, UCLA
Quarterbacks
After last year’s quarterback group featured Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott, along with Jacoby Brissett and Cody Kessler, the 2017 iteration seems far less exciting. It goes to show that the consensus top four quarterbacks are non-Seniors. Deshaun Watson could have attended this event but decided against it in a similar situation to Marcus Mariota following the 2014 season.
Pittsburgh’s Nathan Peterman started his career at Tennessee and really emerged over the last two years. During one of the East-West Shrine practices I spoke with an NFC personnel man who seemed a bit puzzled by the lack of buzz around Peterman. This evaluator watched Peterman while focusing on Tyler Boyd and kept commenting on the quarterback, so he went to the source and asked one of Peterman’s former coaches. That coach displayed very little enthusiasm for Peterman’s game, leaving the evaluator stunned. Sometimes coaches hype up their players with a dash of hyperbole, others are more honest with their commentary. Regardless of the input, the NFL personnel member was even more impressed with Peterman’s 2016 season and thinks he is the top passer at the Senior Bowl. I agree.
Cal’s Davis Webb has a terrific arm that will be put on display. Tennessee’s Josh Dobbs has not progressed since his first year on the field. Iowa’s C.J. Beathard might recreate those flashes that we saw at Iowa. Finally, Tiffin’s Antonio Pipkin has a huge stage to show he is a pocket quarterback whose game projects to the NFL.
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The Senior Bowl squads will be coached by two current NFL staffs (Browns and Bears), adding an extra dimension to their evaluations. The Browns and Bears will be connected to every quarterback they coach, along with prospects at other positions. Position coaches of all teams have a tendency to fall in love with prospects at the event, as these are the first players they have watched during this year’s process.
Just like my Shrine Week coverage, I will be constantly tweeting (@JoshNorris) and producing frequent articles.
Running Backs
There is a lot to like about Kareem Hunt’s game. I thought he would declare following the 2015 season, yet he stayed at Toledo and continued to produce. Hunt has long speed to create big plays and balance to add a few yards on the end of short runs. He does have a few off-field events that led to suspension.
So many are excited for Jamaal Williams out of BYU. I am too, but allow me to explain why he is not in the top 25. I think Williams’ style is reliant on athleticism. I don’t see the nuance of other runners and I think Williams mainly won with physical skill. I expect many to disagree with me, that is fine, but I’m going to delay expectation and judgment until the athletic testing portion of the process.
Wide Receiver
Happy Taywan Taylor week. I spoke to a director of college scouting at last week’s East-West Shrine practices about the receiver group at the Senior Bowl. I mentioned that everyone seemed more excited for a number of other receivers, but I am amped to watch Taylor on display. “You are looking in the right place,” he said. I see Taylor’s game on the same spectrum as John Brown. He can get downfield, adjust to off-target passes, win after the catch and even shows a willingness to go up for the ball, even if he doesn’t always win in that area.
The Senior Bowl is full of slot receivers. Ryan Switzer, Trent Taylor, Fred Ross, Zay Jones and Cooper Kupp. Yes, I know all of those receivers did not strictly work from the slot, but that is where I think they immediately win in the NFL. They can prove me wrong this week. Plus, this is a great opportunity for one or more to separate themselves.
Finally, be on the lookout for Josh Reynolds out of Texas A&M. I won’t go as far to say he is Marvin Jones, but his style is similar. Jones made a name for himself during Senior Bowl week. Maybe Reynolds does too.
Tight End
This might be the best talent at the tight end position I’ve seen at this event. We all know how great O.J. Howard is, yet the Crimson Tide only allowed him to catch 114 passes in three seasons. He is a great blocker, has an inline frame and runs like Greg Olsen after the catch.
Evan Engram versus Gerald Everett will be a fun debate this week. Theoretically, both fulfill the same role on an NFL team. I prefer Engram for his fluid movements as a route runner and ability to get up to speed quickly after the catch. Everett is really exciting and has home field advantage after playing in the stadium for his entire collegiate career.
Offensive Line
The riser of the week will be Troy T Antonio Garcia. Mark it down. There are so few prospects with his combination of athleticism in pass protection and tenacity in the running game. Add on his height, length and tape against Clemson, and you get a really intriguing prospect. Who knows, maybe his week doesn’t live up to my expectations, but I would be surprised if the South edge rushers give him issues in practice. He might leave as the top ranked offensive tackle, or this whole section could blow up in my face.
The offensive line talent does not end there at the Senior Bowl. Forrest Lamp, who practically shut down Alabama from his spot at left tackle, should have a great week. Don’t be so quick to move him away from tackle to guard despite his arm measurements. His base, hands and balance allow him to stay on the outside. Adam Bisnowaty has a wide base and wins with position. He does, however, extend and bend too much against rushers on the edge, which might lend itself to a move to guard. Dan Feeney wants to wrestle with interior defensive linemen, and frequently wins that battle. Kutztown’s Jordan Morgan is listed as a guard but played at left tackle. I’m amped for his week and he could open eyes with his powerful blocking. This is a really, really good group, especially in comparison to the edge rushers and interior defensive linemen this week.
Edge Rusher
Dawuane Smoot and Derek Rivers are the top two pass rushers at the event. Smoot wants to attack his oppositions shoulders, slap and shed on the outside or win with an inside step. Rivers can struggle to shed when locked up, but boy can he close on the quarterback or the backfield.
The expectations are high for Ryan Anderson. He’s a consistent player without many trump card or explosive moments. That’s fine, and he will be an NFL player for a long time, but that does not really excite me when I watch pass rushers. There are Ryan Anderson types in every draft. Daeshon Hall is a fluid athlete, yet his pass rush needs refinement. Maybe he learns that from coaches this week.
Defensive Line
The one name to know is Jaleel Johnson. His hand use and initial punch to win off the snap and continue in that dominant position really stands out and is the style that translates to the NFL. At least one interior pass rusher boosts their evaluator every year at this event. This year it will be Johnson, although he can be slow off the line at times. Montravius Adams can win on his first move, but if his initial momentum is stopped he has a difficult time resetting and even falls to the ground in those moments. Is he stiff? Dalvin Tomlinson might be a nose tackle-plus, in terms of a run defender with a great motor to disrupt the pocket. Chris Wormley and Isaac Rochell had to play on the outside in college, yet both might have upside as interior pass rushers in personnel groupings.
Linebacker
Outside of quarterbacks, this might be the weakest position group at the event. The one who stands out is not even a traditional or typical off-ball linebacker, although his athleticism lends itself to multiple positions. That is Hassan Reddick from Temple. He played both on and off the line of scrimmage, flashed as a pass rusher with bend and can really, really close. Alex Anzalone dealt with a number of injuries while at Florida. When on the field he displayed what many deem as “instincts” on a frequent basis, recognizing plays quickly and reacting to get in position.
Defensive Back
The corner and safety group offers plenty of talent. Let’s start with LSU’s Tre’Davious White. He has the skills to mirror receivers at multiple points in their routes, even after pressing at the line of scrimmage, and stick in phase to play the ball in the air. Even in off coverage when allowing underneath receptions White can click and close quickly. Cam Sutton is another who drives through his receiver to play the ball at the catch point, attacking the hands to force deflections.
There are some corners at this event who love to tackle, and the list starts with Damontae Kazee. You rarely see his type of ferocious, destructive style from a cornerback. Turn on his game from 2015 against San Jose State if you want to see a tackling clinic. He will definitely be tested in coverage this week. Many think I’m low on Desmond King. Perhaps I am, but watch if he can stick with receivers down the field or on breaking routes. There are a number of NFL people who consider him “slow.”
The Two East-West Shrine call ups to watch for: WR Jalen Robinette and CB Aarion Penton.
