Reese’s Senior Bowl has always been seen as an important part of the evaluation process, with top contenders going to Mobile to participate in a star game that serves as a weeklong test in front of NFL coaches and scouts.
Meetings, practices and training allow appraisers to assess a potential client’s potential in an ultra competitive environment. With some time to make some calls and evaluate the practice tape, here are my thoughts on the best performances and stories from Day 2:
The talent and depth of the O-Line class are impressive.
If talent in the Senior Bowl is any indication, the 2021 class is full of talent along the front lines. Teams that need attackers must be able to find top players based on the talent and depth of the offensive tackle and offensive guard / center. At the Senior Bowl, the impressive performances of James Hudson of Cincinnati, D’Ante Smith of East Carolina, Creed Humphrey of Oklahoma and Quinn Meinerz of Wisconsin-Watewater only confirm the exceptional collection of talent available in the 2021 draft.
Smith and Hudson dazzled the evaluators with their athleticism, balance and body control. Each edge blocker was able to block the passage of rushers in one-on-one exercises and their success continued in competitive team sessions. Smith, in particular, showed the patience, versatility, and punch that scouts covet in swing players (offensive guard / offensive tackle).
Meinerz’s dominance in the Senior Bowl was a pleasant surprise, based on his lack of activity in the fall and the jump in competition. The DIII standout featured defenders in the line of scrimmage with their strong hands and unpleasant behavior. Meinerz served pancakes to several defenders in the early days of training and his finishing skills certainly stood out. If he can punch the competition in the Senior Bowl after missing a regular season, imagine how he could do well as a professional with more repetition and quality instruction.
Keep an eye on Hunter Long as the best “Y” in the class.
It is difficult to find a tight end of kick with the ability to block an offensive tackle and the reception skills of a wide receiver. Boston College’s product has the potential to develop into a five-star tight end that thrives as a blocker and receiver at the next level. The 1.80 meter, 255 pound athlete is a long, slim figure with enough speed and quickness to evade linebackers and security guards. Long is a smooth route runner with a knack for creating separation at the top of routes, using a variety of head and shoulder fakes and body bumps to lose defenders. he combines his excellent route running skills with reliable reception skills that allow him to thrive as a chain motor in the middle of the field.
As a blocker, Long is a sticky blocker with size, strength and body control to neutralize defenders at the edges. He displays quick hands involving defenders after the snap and works his feet to sustain and finish his blocks. Although he is not an overwhelming blocker, he is a sticky blocker capable of winning in his haste and relentlessness.
At a time when teams are looking for an old school tight end with the ability to anchor sets of “12” people (1 RB, 2 TE and 2 WR), Long is an intriguing option as a “Y” in this class of draft.
The little highlights of the school shine on the big stage.
The Senior Bowl is seen as a great piece of the assessment puzzle when it comes to watching small school players. Scouts want to see how low-level players perform against key competitors to determine whether they will be able to adapt quickly to the professional game. Based on their performances this week, Central Arkansas CB Robert Rochell and South Dakota State WR Cade Johnson have a chance to shine as professionals.
Rochell, a 1.8m covered 195-pound corner with an ultra-aggressive game, displayed the athletics and movement skills that go with the fast perimeter pass catchers. Although he is a little rusty from a long layoff (he played only one game in 2020), he showed the tools that coaches love in an outside corner. From its excellent acceleration and explosion to its explosive ability to change direction, Rochell moves like a gazelle at the edges. If he can refine his technique and footwork, he can become a legitimate ace on the island with his excellent ball skills (10 career INTs) and tackle skills.
Johnson is a natural slot machine receiver with quick stop and start, running skills on route and hands to be an effective “chain engine” like a WR3. The productive pass receiver (139 career receptions, 2,554 reception yards and 25 touchdowns) has a knack for opening up using a variety of tricks to prepare and beat defenders. Johnson’s ability to open up combined with his excellent kickback skills should allow him to thrive as a “catch and run” expert in an attack that features optional routes and cruisers. If it falls into the right system, Johnson can flourish as a slot receiver in scattered formations.
Jamie Newman is the wild card in the quarterback.
The evolution of the quarterback game in the NFL led scouts to look for more athletic options in the position. Newman is a double threat game creator with size (1.80 m, 230 pounds), speed, athleticism and raw arm talent to create problems with the ball in his hands. Although he is an unfinished product with inconsistent passing skills and limited experience, the former Wake Forest star showed enough potential as a runner-passer to gain some consideration as a developing player in the position.
As a three-year-old with 16 career starts, Newman accumulated 4,787 yards in total (3,959 passing yards; 826 rush yards) and 45 combined touchdowns (35 passes; 10 rush) while igniting opponents with his creative skills. robust perimeter game. From the pocket, he has the potential to hit the field in game passes, but he needs to become a more efficient player in the batting game. He misses the target in some pitches and shows some indecision as he reaches his second and third progression options when opponents take his primary reading.
That said, Newman is an explosive athlete and his ability to play on the move in the Senior Bowl certainly captured the imagination of scouts and coaches. He has been at his best performing bootlegs and motion passes, especially rolling to the right. Newman’s success as a movement duster combined with his size and running ability makes him an intriguing option as a development perspective.
There are not many defensive attack options.
It is no secret that the 2021 class lacks depth in the position of defensive tackle. The Senior Bowl only confirmed this opinion with only a few guys standing out as defenders during the first few days of training. Washington DT Levi Onwuzurike certainly showed dominant potential on Day 1 as a disturbing force on the inside, but he was the only defensive tackle to show five-star potential. Florida State DT Marvin Wilson is an intriguing power player with the size, strength and pop to shock defenders in the line of scrimmage, but he doesn’t have the elite explosiveness and contraction to be a top-notch bag artist on the inside.
USC DT Marlon Tuipulotu is an interior defender with a heavy hand, with strength and power to defend himself against the race, but he has not shown cutting-edge pass-rush skills. He is more of a pocket pusher in the scrimmage line and his inability to win quickly or subtly limits his impact as a pass launcher on the next level.