Wednesday Prospect by Prospect Reports

[SoCalBronco]

Senior Bowl North Team Practice Reports


Adam Carriker By TFY Draft Preview

Posted Jan 24, 2007

*UPDATED* 1/24/07 - Daily practice reports from the North Squad practices.

Tyler Palko QB Pittsburgh 6007 215 32 1/4 9 7/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: This was clearly his best practice of the week so far. He threw with great accuracy and also improved on his deep throws. His foot work and pocket awareness were also better.

Troy Smith QB Ohio State 5112 214 32 9 1/2

Wednesday Practice Notes: He was much better in the early portion of practice in non-team specific drills. In one on one drills he was much more accurate. Smith tended to be off on his throws in 11-on-11 drills and had several deflected or picked off.

Drew Stanton QB Michigan State 6027 226 30 3/4 9 3/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: He did a good job of moving in the pocket and he was mostly on target on short to intermediate throws. His longer throws still tended to wobble a bit which has been an issue for him this week.

Tony Hunt RB Penn State 6016 239 31 1/4 9 3/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: He clearly lacks break away speed and is usually caught by defenders when trying to get outside. Hunt does hit the hole hard and doesn't dance and he knows how to use his large frame.

Kolby Smith RB Louisville 5112 214 32 9 1/2

Wednesday Practice Notes: Used at both fullback and running back.
He had a rather non-descript practice which has been the case for him this week for the most part. Smith has a little shiftiness to his runs and gets through the holes fairly well. It should be noted that he has played some fullback here this week.

Thomas Clayton RB Kansas State
Filled in for the injured Garrett Wolfe.

Wednesday Practice Notes: He started off quite well and showed a tremendous burst to and through the hole. Clayton also did a nice job in one-on-one drills against linebackers when asked to catch the ball. In team drills, he had a few good runs including one around end. His negatives were that he fumbled on a run and dropped a pass or two in team drills. Although this was his only true practice, he certainly has helped himself.

Brian Leonard FB Rutgers 6010 224 30 1/4 9 3/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Used at both lead fullback and running back.
He showed to have soft hands in most drills which has been the case most of the week. Leonard, for a player of his size, runs with vision. He still needs to put on 15-20 pounds if he wants to make it at the next level.

Scott Chandler TE Iowa 6065 268 34 9 3/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Caught the ball well and improved as a blocker. Blocks with solid fundamentals and gives a lot of effort. Still lacks true strength at the point but that should come in time.

Ben Patrick TE Delaware
Filled in for the Injured Clark Harris.
Wednesday Practice Notes: Looked effective catching the ball all day. Fell asleep at one point and waited for the ball to get to him instead going to get it and the pass was picked off. Showed decent route running skills as well.

Aundrae Allison WR East Carolina 6001 197 32 8 7/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Has terrific quickness and excellent body control. He runs precise routes, is always aware of his placement on the field and is capable of making spectacular catches. He struggles to create separation downfield and is far less effective in the red zone.

David Clowney WR Virginia Tech 6003 184 31 10 1/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: He shows excellent footwork and knows how to beat a jam at the line of scrimmage. He has excellent speed and acceleration and creates ample separation on a regular basis. He is terrific in the red zone as well, but he must be more consistent catching the ball. Showed a lot of improvement today.


Jason Hill WR Washington State 6004 204 32 9 5/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: He is quick off the line of scrimmage and is a long-strider with deceptive seed. He is sure handed, locates the ball quickly and will fight for it once it’s in the air. Needs to improve his consistency and run more precise routes.

Rhema McKnight WR Notre Dame 6007 207 32 1/4 10

Wednesday Practice Notes: Does a nice job beating the jam at the line of scrimmage and makes himself available to his quarterback once downfield. He tends to round off his routes and too often lets the ball into his body, but will fight for any pass thrown in his direction.

Brandon Myles WR West Virginia 6007 183 33 1/2 8 1/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Has terrific hands, body control and awareness of his placement on the field. He shows quick feet and is fast coming in and out of his breaks. He does a nice job of making himself available to his quarterback and is very effective in the red zone.

Paul Williams WR Fresno State 6010 200 35 10 1/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: He has smooth hips and utilizes his admirable stop-and-go speed to sell his routes well. He works to make himself available to his quarterback and will fight for the ball once it’s in the air. A physical player, he gives smaller defenders fits.

Levi Brown OL Penn State 6053 323 34 1/2 9 1/2

Wednesday Practice Notes: Starting to beat a dead horse here, but Levi really needs to work on his handplay. It is a problem not only in his pass set but in his running blocking as well. One particular play he was driven back because he did not shoot his hands, could not anchor once the defender got into his body, and was beat. While his hands are a question mark at this point in the week, his feet are very good. Once again showed the ability to slide well, keep his shoulders in proper position, and mirror in pass protection.

Ryan Harris OL Notre Dame 6046 299 33 3/4 9 1/2

Wednesday Practice Notes: Very solid morning playing both right and left tackle. Again, technically he performed very well especially in his pass sets. Showed very nice positioning all day in regards to the passing game and was very strong to his post leg. Much better day today and did not get beat often.

Marshal Yanda OL Iowa 6037 304 32 1/4 9 3/4
Wednesday Practice Notes: Very nice day overall, arguably the best of the unit. Again, received reps as both a guard and right tackle. Though limited athletically, his fundamentals continue to shine at times especially in his pass sets. Had the block of the day when he drove a linebacker fifteen to twenty yards downfield to spring the running back for a big gain during the inside drill.

Josh Beekman OL Boston College 6016 315 31 1/2 9 5/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Overall inconsistent day. While run blocking especially struggled in his recognition passing defenders off with his follow lineman. This is something which can become better with regular line continuity; but it would be nice to see better overall timing on these blocks from this talented player. Pass protection was better today but still needs to bring his hip underneath himself. Initial contact and pass set are good, but will lose defenders after the try to make countermoves.

Doug Datish OL Ohio State 6037 302 32 1/2 9 1/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Still receiving reps as both a guard and center. While runblocking he took nice angles to the second level and cutting off backside defenders. Continues to hold his blocks. Struggled a bit with his lateral quickness and not sinking his hips in his pass set.

James Marten OL Boston College 6073 303 34 9 5/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Continued to play both tackle spots. Was more sound in his overall technique than the previous day. The one area of improvement seen from yesterday to today especially was his ability to reposition himself after initial contact in his pass sets and defenders attempted a countermove.

Dan Mozes OL West Virginia 6023 300 31 1/2 10

Wednesday Practice Notes: Physically is just overwhelmed at times throughout the practice. Completely lacks strength at the point of attack. This is a result of not shooting his hands quick enough and letting defenders in his body as well as playing too high at times. Does move nice laterally down the line and in space to counter his weaknesses in other areas.

Manny Ramirez OL Texas Tech 6027 335 32 10 1/2

Wednesday Practice Notes: Big, physical, straight ahead drive blocker. Would excel in this area even more if he were to just get his hands inside and use his strength. Even showed some ability today to get to the second level when uncovered. Did have his helmet popped off by a linebacker who got underneath Ramirez’s chin at one point.

Samson Satele OL Hawaii 6022 294 31 3/4 10

Wednesday Practice Notes: Continues to show overall athletic by coming off the ball quick and hard, but struggles after making initial contact. Looked to wall off more than drive opponents off the ball today. One area of inconsistency this morning was Satele’s timing on his punch.

Victor Abiamiri DL Notre Dame 6044 271 33 1/2 10 1/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Athletically looks the part but had a quiet day. Part of the reason is because he struggled to get off of blocks. Change of direction during pass rush drills was not as stellar as was perceived during yesterday’s practice.

Adam Carriker DL Nebraska 6057 292 33 9 1/2

Wednesday Practice Notes: Consistently stellar. Does all the little things rights. Today for example, he is one of the few players who sets up their pass rush moves with an effective initial club. The one area which could improve as this week continues is his overall ability to the get the quarterback, which he has shown an ability to do but is not a premiere pass rusher. Coach Gruden even pointed out Carriker as one of the most impressive on the field during yesterday’s press conference.

Jay Moore DL Nebraska 6045 276 32 9 1/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Very quick off the ball but continues to struggle shedding blocks. Even with his quickness, Moore simply did not bring anything on contact. If allowed to move laterally or “run the ring” in his pass rush, then he can make plays; otherwise he has struggled.

Anthony Spencer DL Purdue 6024 266 32 3/4 10

Wednesday Practice Notes: More of a pass rusher than a run stuffer. Exhibited the ability to stay skinny in his pass rush as well as major quickness off the edge. Against the run he will give effort coming off low and getting underneath the pads of taller linemen.

LaMarr Woodley DL Michigan 6013 269 34 1/4 10

Wednesday Practice Notes: Did not dress after injuring his hamstring yesterday.

Brandon Mebane DL California 6010 304 32 1/2 10

Wednesday Practice Notes: Easily the best player on the field today for the North squad. A complete disruptive force which was barely slowed down, let alone stopped at any time. Did all this as a one technique. Fired off the ball hard, used his hands well, and shed blocks. Registered a handful of practice tackles for loss. The single knock from today’s practice was his inability on a couple of occasions to anchor on downblocks.

Amobi Okoye DL Louisville 6020 287 34 10 1/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Again, really was coming off the ball at the snap. Despite his perceived lack of size at this point; Okoye really fought against pressure quite well this morning. His initial pass rush moves are effective but needs to work on improving his counters after contact. Did register a practice sack.

David Patterson DL Ohio State 6017 274 32 10 1/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Not only does Patterson work his tail off, but he is a fighter. He will not give up on a play. Granted at times today he never gave up on a play, but he was driven outside of his lane. Was pushed off the ball by doubles at times today. Also needs to learn to finish his pass rush moves for them to be most effective.

Quinn Pitcock DL Ohio State 6023 301 32 9 3/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Really struggled with the change of direction drills early in practice. Allowed linemen to turn his shoulders to the play. Pass rush skills are marginal. Will get stuck on blocks and cannot get off of them. Did have one nice place in team which stood out as he burst through the line with a practice tackle for loss.

David Harris LB Michigan 6022 239 32 1/2 9 3/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Around the ball a lot, though he did not make many plays. Again showed good range and covered a nice amount of area on the field.

H.B. Blades LB Pittsburgh 5106 237 31 5/8 10 1/8

Thursday Practice Notes: Again- is able to stay on his feet and get to the play but really shows limited speed to the flanks. Beaten on several occasions to the sidelines on running plays.

Stewart Bradley LB Nebraska 6035 256 32 3/4 9 7/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Consistently left a trail of blockers in his wake as he moved towards the action. Stout against the run all morning. Shows marginal speed to the sidelines and struggled cutting off the flanks from ball carriers.

Prescott Burgess LB Michigan 6031 246 33 1/4 10

Wednesday Practice Notes: More active today making a lot of plays against the run and pass. Does get caught out of position and at times looks stiff but worked hard.

Kevin McLee LB West Virginia 5116 239 31 1/4 8 3/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Too his credit McLee has given great effort all week but he does not have the speed or strength to hold up. Was beaten several times to the flanks by ball carriers or pass catchers and consistently blocked from the action.

Paul Posluszney LB Penn State 6012 237 32 1/4 9 5/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Did a great job against the run today. On several occasions he over ran blocks by bigger linemen and got to the ball. Very intelligent as well. Struggled a bit in pass coverage though not as much as yesterday.

Leon Hall DB Michigan 5110 193 32 9 1/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: His techniques is impressive; he has terrific footwork and the speed to run stride for stride with receivers downfield. He diagnoses plays quickly and has great anticipation, then becomes a receiver once the ball is in the air. He needs to be more consistent in playing up to his abilities.

Daymeion Hughes DB California 5101 192 31 3/8 8 3/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Was injured midway through the practice session.

Tanard Jackson DB Syracuse 6000 192 31 8 5/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: He’s very aggressive; he’s quick out of his break, has terrific closing speed and will attack the ball at its highest point. He is quick in and out of his breaks and is very physical, willing to take on larger receiver. Needs to be careful not interfere with receivers downfield.

Marcus McCauley DB Fresno State 6005 200 31 1/2 10 1/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Showing the ability to play tight in man coverage. He is very physical at the line of scrimmage and is aggressive in coming forward and attacking underneath routes. He needs to do a better job of getting his head around and looking back for the ball.

Josh Wilson DB Maryland 5091 188 30 9 1/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: He really struggles both in the red zone and against taller receivers. He is fast and quick when breaking out of his backpedal, but he takes too long to locate the ball once it’s in the air. He is disciplined in his coverage and will not bite on double-moves.

Josh Gattis DB Wake Forest 6010 206 32 1/2 9 3/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: He is best working in a confined space, in which case he is aggressive in going after the ball. Otherwise, he appears indecisive and is slow in reacting to the ball. He is typically in good position but lacks ball skills and cannot be trusted in man-to-man coverage.

Aaron Rouse DB Virginia Tech 6035 218 33 3/8 9 5/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Is aggressive in going after the ball and shows good hands in attacking it at its highest point. He diagnoses plays quickly and shows great anticipation. He has terrific closing speed but needs to be more disciplined and play more consistently.

Eric Weddle DB Utah 5112 205 30 9 5/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: He’s a smart player with good anticipation. Always in the right position, he is a disciplined defender who does a nice job reading the quarterbacks eyes. He is aggressive in coming forward and is always looking to make a play on the ball. He does struggle in man-to-man coverage, though.

Mason Crosby K Colorado 6010 214 29 1/2 9 3/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Did not kick-off in practices today. Did kick field goals and drilled them down the middle from 50-yards late in the session with room to spare. Has a huge leg but poor follow-through. As a result his long field goals had very poor trajectory.

Adam Podlesh P Maryland 5106 203 29 1/2 8 5/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Very inconsistent. Booted a moonshot of almost sixty yards early in practice but then really got off some ugly punts later in the day. His ability to get quite a bit of hangtime for the most part was his greatest strength. If he could get the ball to turn over consistently, his average would certainly rise.

http://nflexperts.scout.com/2/612041.html

[SoCalBronco]

Just waiting for the South reports to come out...

[SoCalBronco]

South team reports are still not out yet, but here's some Wednesday Buzz...

Senior Bowl Buzz: Wednesday Afternoon


RB Lorenzo Booker By Scout.com

Posted Jan 24, 2007

It's the final big day in Mobile as scouts and coaches begin to pack up and head for home. Here's the latest on the Cowboy's coaching search, who the Chargers are interested as well as players that other teams interviewed this afternoon.

While the names of Wade Phillips and Mike Stoops has been openly bandied about as as possible replacements for Bill Parcells in Dallas, another name has surfaced here in Mobile. It is that of Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville. While it seems to have come out of nowhere it is a bit curious the coach Tuberville was milling about both practices today dressed for business.

A San Diego Charger scout on hand took Reggie Nelson, who has been in Mobile all week, and walked him up to be interviewed Buddy Nix. The feeling is the Chargers could look for a free safety in April's draft.

Here are some of the players that were interviewed Wednesday afternoon:

Browns – Aaron Ross (Savage spent a lot of time with him on the field after practice), Buster Davis, Mansfield Wrotto, Chansi Stuckey, Tim Duckworth, Ben Grubbs, Chase Pittman.

Ravens – Patrick Willis, Dallas Baker, Tank Tyler

Saints – Earl Everett

Giants – Brandon Meriweather, Rufus Alexander, Kareem Brown

Chiefs – Justin Blalock, Patrick Willis

Broncos – Dallas Baker, Dustin Fry

Eagles – Kevin Payne

Panthers – Chansi Stuckey, Lorenzo Booker

Bengals – Ryan McBean, Ray McDonald

Chargers- Quentin Moses


http://nflexperts.scout.com/2/612709.html

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

A couple of receivers on that north squad would fill the bill here and will probably be around in the 3rd round.

[Dedhed]

Day One for the Broncos:
Adam Carriker
Brandon Mebane
David Patterson
Joe Staley

[chickennob2]

Originally Posted by Dedhed

Day One for the Broncos:
Adam Carriker
Brandon Mebane
David Patterson
Joe Staley

if this happens, Shanny gets a 20-year extension.

[-Slap-]

I would love to see Carriker there @ 21, but I can't see any way that happens after this week.

[SoCalBronco]

Senior Bowl South Team Practice Reports


Florida WR Dallas Baker (Getty) By TFY Draft Preview

Posted Jan 24, 2007

*UPDATED* 1/23/07 - Daily practice reports from the South Squad practices.

Player Pos School Height Weight Arm Hand
Kevin Kolb QB Houston 6027 220 31 3/8 9 7/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: He's been pretty consistent with his throws all week and the accuracy has been solid. He throws a pretty good spiral. His footwork was good as was his mobility. Deep throws were an issue.

Jordan Palmer QB UTEP 6053 229 33 9 7/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: His footwork and mechanics have been off which has caused inaccuracy with his throws. While he has an above average arm he missed open receivers through out the session.

Chris Leak QB Florida 5117 203 31 1/4 9 5/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Accuracy continued to be an issue with him and his throws were inconsistent throughout the session. Leak did a good job of moving in the pocket but reading the defense was also an issue.

Kenny Irons RB Auburn 5101 188 31 3/4 10 1/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: His cutting and slashing style worked well for the most part but he did dance through the hole at times which had him run in to defenders. He had a bunch of good runs around end where he found daylight. His only problem was catching the ball out of the backfield where he dropped a few passes.

Lorenzo Booker RB Florida State 5103 188 30 3/4 9

Wednesday Practice Notes: He ran hard and well for most of the session. Booker looks more like a change of pace/No.2 back at the next level, not a feature back.

Kenneth Darby RB Alabama 5101 211 29 1/2 9

Wednesday Practice Notes: He ran with good power and speed and ran very well inside. Darby's powerful build helped him get through several tacklers. While he's not fast, he ran with good vision.

Le'Ron McClain RB Alabama 6000 265 32 9

Wednesday Practice Notes: He basically played fullback the entire session which will be his role at the next level. He did catch the ball well when out of the backfield.

Martrez Milner TE Georgia 6036 256 34 9

Wednesday Practice Notes: Improved as a blocker giving good effort and showing better strength than earlier in the week. Fluid moving about the field as a pass catcher.

Joe Newton TE Oregon State 6065 257 34 1/2 10 5/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Better all around job as a pass catcher and blocker but still shows limited athleticism which will hurt his draft stock.

Courtney Taylor WR Auburn 6015 200 31 3/4 9 5/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: He runs precise routes and is always where his quarterback expects him to be. He knows how to find soft spots in the defense and show his numbers to his quarterback. He doesn?t create much separation, but he always finds a way to make the play.

Dwayne Bowe WR LSU 6022 222 33 1/4 9 1/2

Wednesday Practice Notes: Shows terrific hands and the ability to consistently create separation. He has big, soft hands and catch passes smoothly. He excels at getting a smooth release and will fight to catch anything near him. He?s a definite red-zone threat.

Chansi Stuckey WR Clemson 5101 193 31 9 3/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Is an undisciplined route runner who is too easily knocked out of his routes at the line of scrimmage. He has very quick feet and the ability to beat cornerbacks both inside and downfield. He drops too many passes and his overall consistency must improve.

Johnnie Lee Higgins WR UTEP 5112 183 31 3/8 9 1/2

Wednesday Practice Notes: He will fight for catches and is surprising effective in the red zone for a player of his size. He?s capable of making some exciting catches but too often loses focus on the easy ones. He has great body control and field awareness yet fails to consistently create separation.

Dallas Baker WR Florida 6030 203 35 3/4 9 7/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Runs crisp routes and does a good job selling his fakes. He tends to let the ball into his body but his hands are excellent when he uses them. He will fight for the ball and excels at creating separation by utilizing his quickness coming in and out of break.

Chris Davis WR Florida State 5102 180 29 3/4 9 3/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: An incredibly fast athlete with quick feet and terrific acceleration. He tends to run undisciplined routes but is good at finding soft spots in the defense and making himself available to his quarterback. His suddenness and willingness to fight for the ball are impressive.

Joe Staley OL Central Michigan 6055 296 34 1/4 10 1/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Really worked hard early in the practice on his pass set and was eventually applauded by his coaches for perfect form in this one area. Slides very well in pass protection and the athleticism shown so far this week would make one believe he could easily play the blindside at the next level.

Justin Blalock OL Texas 6033 331 33 1/2 10 1/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Bit of a struggle for Blalock today. He was corrected in multiple facets of his game, especially when overhearing the line coach yell, ?When you?re wide, you?re week?. Obviously his base was too wide and he suffered in his run blocking because of it. On his zone blocks was not able to get his head across. His lateral quickness today was better, but is still lacking. The one area where Blalock did look better was in his overall pass sets especially in his patience when engaging the defender.

Tony Ugoh OL Arkansas 6054 301 36 9 3/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Again struggled with technique. Did not keep his feet pumping today. Initial punch and hand placement were erratic at best. Had a fantastic block on the backside of a zone play, creating a very large hole for his running back to hit.

Arron Sears OL Tennessee 6031 317 34 10 1/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Very good practice for Sears today. Really started to put everything together. Strong at the point of attack and the issue of his feet has slowly started to fade. Only once was his footwork questioned today by coaches and that was in his pass set where the back foot was drug instead of planted properly. Sears was even able to collapse the side of the line on one occasion with his power on a downblock.

Ben Gubbs OL Auburn 6030 315 33 10

Wednesday Practice Notes: Very solid performance this afternoon. Grubbs especially exhibited a very strong initial punch. While his footwork has been a concern all week, Grubbs did improve and his ability to recover after getting too wide a base. Still struggled slightly with getting to the second level on a consistent basis. One time he whiffed on his block, while he sprung a big run up the middle by reaching the middle linebacker.

Tim Duckworth OL Auburn 6032 304 32 1/2 9 1/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Continues to work hard but has not put everything together in regards to his overall technique. For instance when asked to pull Duckworth needed to get lower working his way down the line and into he second level; but he was still able to get a nice seal block on a scraping linebacker. At other times in both his running and pass blocking his hands would often get too wide and his feet would stop.

Leroy Harris OL NC State 6024 298 33 10 3/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Not dressed again today due to a possible knee injury. Severity is not yet known.

Ryan Kalil OL USC 6027 291 32 9 3/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Again his quickness along the interior of the line was very evident. Really excelled in recognizing and reaching the second level to make blocks. One area his lack of size is currently hurting Kalil is the inability to true anchor in pass protection in the middle versus bigger defensive tackles. He often can wall them off due to good technique, but tends to be driven back a bit too far to begin with.

Mansfield Wrotto OL Georgia Tech 6030 316 33 10 1/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Saw reps predominantly as a right tackle, but moved inside for a couple snaps during one on one drills. Today slid better in his pass set and once again showed a very strong post leg. Still plays a bit too compact and needs to get more extension after his initial punch.

Dustin Fry OL Clemson 6023 326 33 1/8 9 3/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: An area which has been noticeable all week but has yet to be mentioned is Fry?s hand strength. While he certainly needs to work on his extension, Fry places his hands well in tight and can hold with the best of them. Also showed better lateral quickness today after making the snap. Still needs to work on getting lower and needed to be corrected by the coach in this area.

Quentin Moses DL Georgia 6047 249 33 1/2 9 1/2

Wednesday Practice Notes: Let me repeat myself, a whole lot of flash without much substance. Moses has not excelled in any one area. Plays too high, has trouble fighting pressure from offensive lineman, and gives up his body to those blocking him. Only once did he finally put a good pass rush move during drills.

Chase Pittman DL LSU 6044 272 32 3/4 10 7/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: Showed some strength at the point of attack today as well as in his pass rush. Started using his long arms to his advantage. Athletically limited prospect who has struggled against superior talent to this point.

Tim Crowder DL Texas 6037 271 33 9 1/2

Wednesday Practice Notes: Again, the most consistent pass rusher on the South unit. Crowder uses his long arms very well when getting after the quarterback and actually displays counter moves on a consistent basis as well. Has not made many plays against the run, but flashes enough strength to hold up at the point of attack. Also displayed a nice motor today hustling after plays were past him.

Ray McDonald DL Florida 6033 282 33 1/4 10

Wednesday Practice Notes: Every day so far has had the bad habit of jumping offsides and anticipating too much instead of making proper reads and reacting. Powerful as a defensive end, throwing the opposing tight end around on a few occasions. Rushed the passer some from defensive tackle. Absolutely loves power moves when getting after the quarterback.

Antonio Johnson DL Mississippi State 6027 305 33 3/4 9 1/2

Wednesday Practice Notes: Disappointing practice after two very solid days. Had trouble getting off blocks all practice. Also struggled with recognizing and fighting pressure. Never gives up on a play though and always fires off the ball hard.

DeMarcus Tyler DL NC State 6021 323 33 9 3/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: FINALLY showed some pass rush moves. He coupled this with great burst off of the snap during today?s practice. Solid day and starting to show improvement.

Ryan McBean DL Oklahoma State 6045 277 32 1/2 10 1/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Received action from his traditional defensive tackle position, as well as lining up as a defensive end in some pass rush drills. Today was much better using his hands to shed blockers. Because of his size, McBean has trouble anchoring against downblocks.

Kareem Brown DL Miami (Fla.) 6040 303 33 1/4 10 1/2

Wednesday Practice Notes: Really struggles with getting off any and all blocks. This inability has really hindered his overall play. The talent is there and you see it when he fires off the ball so hard an offensive lineman cannot make a proper block, but more often than not Brown is usually ends up in a wrestling match against the opposing lineman.

Buster Davis LB Florida State 5093 244 31 1/8 10 1/2

Wednesday Practice Notes: Best practice of the week. Very explosive and fast to the action. Did a great job reading plays and quickly getting to the spot. Took great angles to the play.

Patrick Willis LB Mississippi 6010 240 32 3/4 9 3/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Did not distinguish himself in coverage. Did more turning and running in coverage than backpedaling. Lacks skills in pursuit.

Tony Taylor LB Georgia 6005 237 32 9

Wednesday Practice Notes: Showed a little more mobility today and gave effort yet rarely made plays on the ball.

Earl Everett LB Florida 6021 235 32 1/4 9 1/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Again; did more chasing than actual play making.

Juwan Simpson LB Alabama 6023 223 33 10 1/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: While this was his best practice Simpson is constantly late getting to the ball.

Rufus Alexander LB Oklahoma 6007 227 33 9 1/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Solid session; looked explosive and made a number of plays on the ball.

A.J. Davis DB NC State 5095 192 30 1/4 8 1/

Wednesday Practice Notes: A slower player who is often late to break for the ball, Davis must do a better job getting in front of receivers. He lacks the anticipation and play recognition necessary to be an elite defender. He is a fluid athlete, though, and his fundamentals are sound.

David Irons DB Auburn 5107 198 31 8 3/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: He?s a fast player, capable of shadowing receivers downfield. He tends to throttle down too much when changing direction and has a tendency to hand-check players downfield. Still, his awareness and ball skills are excellent and he is willing to get physical at the line of scrimmage.

Fred Bennett DB South Carolina 6007 196 33 9 1/4

Wednesday Practice Notes: Does a poor job of redirecting players at the line. He seems most comfortable playing center field but his reaction time is subpar. His ball skills are lacking and needs to do a better job of distinguishing himself.

Aaron Ross DB Texas 6004 192 31 1/4 9

Wednesday Practice Notes: (Same report as Tues)

Kevin Payne DB Louisiana-Monroe

Wednesday Practice Notes: He is aggressive in going after the ball and will
challenge recievers over the middle of the field. He is a bit slow and does not
get out of his breaks quickly enough. He is a physical player who appears
better covering underneath routes.

Brandon Merriweather DB Miami (Fla.) 5105 192 30 8 5/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: He shows terrific anticipation. He reads
the quarterback and makes breaks on the ball at an incredible speed. His footwork is very solid and he is extremely aggressive in going after the turnover. He's also a talker with no shortage of confidence.

Michael Griffin DB Texas 5114 195 31 7/8 10 1/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: He's a physical player who is equally capable
against the run and pass. In run defense, he diagnoses plays quickly and is eager to deliver the big hit. In pass defense, he shows good discipline and has a nose for the ball, although his quickness leaves something to be desired.

Jonathon Wade DB Tennessee

Wednesday Practice Report: Is an aggressive player who is always looking to make a play on the ball. He is quick coming in and out of his breaks and has excellent anticipation. His ball skills are impressive and he has the ability to shadow recievers down the field.

[DBroncos4life]

God I know we so aren't even going to think about drafting Carriker.

[BroncoBuff]

Brandon Mebane from Cal, eh? He'sprojected in the third round ... looks like he's movin' up.

Brandon Mebane DL California 6010 304 32 1/2 10

Wednesday Practice Notes: Easily the best player on the field today for the North squad. A complete disruptive force which was barely slowed down, let alone stopped at any time. Did all this as a one technique. Fired off the ball hard, used his hands well, and shed blocks. Registered a handful of practice tackles for loss. The single knock from today’s practice was his inability on a couple of occasions to anchor on downblocks.

And Crowder too ...

Tim Crowder DL Texas 6037 271 33 9 1/2
Wednesday Practice Notes: Again, the most consistent pass rusher on the South unit. Crowder uses his long arms very well when getting after the quarterback and actually displays counter moves on a consistent basis as well. Has not made many plays against the run, but flashes enough strength to hold up at the point of attack. Also displayed a nice motor today hustling after plays were past him.

Sounds great. They were not high on Quent Moses or Pat Willis today though. Is John Wendling at the Senior Bowl? Andre Fluellen?

[rugbythug]

Wendling was at the shrine bowl. Didn't do to much.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...?eref=si_ncaaf

By Tony Pauline, Special to SI.com

MOBILE, Ala. -- Wednesday at the Senior Bowl is always the most important practice of the week. The fields are lined with more scouts, coaches and general managers than any other day of the week. And as has been the case since Monday, a number of players are watching their draft stock rise while some are seeing it slide.

Here's the breakdown:

Risers
• Ken Darby/RB/Alabama: After a bitterly disappointing campaign Darby took advantage of his final opportunity to play football in front of NFL scouts. Explosive carrying the ball, he broke several long runs and was tough to bring down.

• Michael Griffin/S/Texas: The Longhorn defensive back has been exceptional in both pass coverage and run defense. A rangy centerfielder who makes plays in every direction, Griffin has constantly been around the ball all week.

• Martrez Milner/TE/Georgia: Another athletic tight end from the Bulldog program, Milner has looked sharp catching the ball all week. Running good routes, he's displayed the speed to break into the secondary and his blocking has improved.

• Arron Sears/OL/Tennessee: Sears is finally putting it together after a rocky start. Controlling opponents, he's showed a lot of strength and versatility as well. Sears' play in Mobile could vault him into Round 1.

• Eric Weddle/DB/Utah: The versatile defensive back started making a lot of plays on the ball Wednesday. Truly a hard-working player, he broke up several passes and was constantly around the action.

Sliders
• Kevin McLee/OLB/West Virginia: The hard-working Mountaineer linebacker has given a lot of effort all week but just can't matchup with the players in Mobile. McLee is slow to the sidelines and has been consistently blocked from the action.

• Kolby Smith/RB/Louisville: A physical specimen, Smith has not stood out in any aspect this week. Looking like an ordinary ball carrier, his blocking has also been lacking the few times he lined up at fullback.

• Kareem Brown/DT/Miami-Fl: After a good start to the week Brown's play has come down to earth. Unable to disengage from blocks, he's been easily tied up at the point by opponents the past two days.

• Tim Duckworth/G/Auburn: The interior blocker has not showed much in the way of balance, movement skills or footwork. The strength of his game, the ability to knock defenders off the ball, has also been lacking.

• Chase Pittman/DE/LSU: Pittman has given effort but the undersized and slow defensive end has not made many plays this week.

Senior Bowl Notes: There were two replacement players today as Delaware tight end Ben Patrick filled in for the injured Clark Harris of Rutgers while running back Thomas Clayton of Kansas State did the same for Garrett Wolfe of Northern Illinois. Both players distinguished themselves and had scouts talking. Clayton showed a lot of power and speed carrying the ball, beating some of the North's top linebackers around the corner. Patrick, meanwhile, made several great stabs throughout the day. Numerous players are starting to come around, shaking off the rust after not playing football in a number of weeks. Marcus McCauley, who was getting burnt with regularity in the early practices, made several positive plays at cornerback. Ditto for Virginia Tech safety Aaron Rouse who had a nice interception in practice.

[Rohirrim]

I'm starting to think I would sure like to see Dwayne Bowe in the O&B. Walker, Marshall and Bowe? Hooyah! The Red Zone becomes a red carpet.

[Requiem]

Fluellen's still a junior and didn't come out this year. Thank Jesus, Seminoles faithful know we need all the help in the world.

I like Bowe, but the Broncos need a speedster in the slot. Chris Davis out of FSU has done well this week and can return too. I think he's raised his stock from the mid Day-2 (5th round) to early fourth with his showing this week. Too much depth in this class to take him earlier; but if we had the opportunity to get him in round five, go for it.

[ColoradoBuff]

Bowe would be an awesome threat to have with Walker and Marshall. The one I would like to see in O&B is Courtney Taylor out of Aurburn. Not a burner, but could be a poor man's Rod Smith. Likely will be around in the 3rd-4th rounds.

Courtney Taylor WR Auburn 6015 200 31 3/4 9 5/8

Wednesday Practice Notes: He runs precise routes and is always where his quarterback expects him to be. He knows how to find soft spots in the defense and show his numbers to his quarterback. He doesn?t create much separation, but he always finds a way to make the play.

[ColoradoBuff]

• Michael Griffin/S/Texas: The Longhorn defensive back has been exceptional in both pass coverage and run defense. A rangy centerfielder who makes plays in every direction, Griffin has constantly been around the ball all week.


I would love to see him in Denver as well. Finally move Lynch back to SS and let him rule the line of scrimmage and have young Griffin roam the secondary.

[TheChamp24]

I would love to be able to get Carriker and Griffen, I doubt Griffen falls to our 2nd round pick though, however, Mike Doss and Bob Sanders both were 2nd rounders I believe.

[Elway777]

Originally Posted by jth1331

I would love to be able to get Carriker and Griffen, I doubt Griffen falls to our 2nd round pick though, however, Mike Doss and Bob Sanders both were 2nd rounders I believe.

Would you trade our 2008 first round that is top 8 protected plus our 3 round to New England for a late firt rounder plus a 4 rounder in order to draft both Carriker and Griffen.

[Obushma]

SoCal,

What do you think the chances of Weddle being there for our second round pick are?

[DBroncos4life]

http://highlightreel.blogs.mlive.com...sp?item=452089

BH24 Senior Bowl report: Visiting with new coordinator Joe Barry
Posted by Bill Emkow January 24, 2007 10:14
Highlight Reel Index Print | Email

Bob Gaunt, known to many Lions forum dwellers as Blackhat24, reports annually from Mobile, AL, the site of the Senior Bowl exclusively for MLive.com. Bob examines NFL prospects from Michigan, answers your questions in the forum, and talks to Lions reps on hand. This is his fifth report.

Being at the afternoon practice at Ladd Peebles was much like being in Petoskey in late November. The temperatures went downhill throughout the afternoon, and most of us who plan to return tomorrow will be dressed with much warmer clothing.

I hadn't been there long when I met new Lions defensive coordinator Joe Barry. We had a nice visit, and I came away with a very good impression. I asked him what he'd been able to accomplish since coming aboard with the Lions. He stated that he's begun personnel evaluations from "the very beginning", starting with the first exhibition game, and going throughout the season in order to see "what we have to work with". He states that he hasn't yet met with any of the players, but he plans to begin doing so as soon as he has had the opportunity to complete his film evaluations.

"I'm very excited to be with the Lions," he said. He's been so engrossed with watching the team's games that "I was bummed out having to leave and come down to Mobile." He says that the Lions "have some good players", and he believes that a good foundation has been made in Detroit. Can we look for anything drastic in the way of defensive philosophy changes? No, he says, but he hopes to get things on track. When asked about possible personnel changes, he replied "We're going to have to look at that matter, but we've got free agency and a very good position in the draft, so we've got a lot of hope that we'll have everything in place when the season opens." He didn't know how much cap money that the Lions have to bargain with in free-agency, saying that "That's something that the front office has to take care of", and that "My job is to get the defense ready."

He was unsure if the offensive line coaching situation has been finalized, adding that "Mr. Millen has been at work on that one, and we're confident that it will get taken care of soon." I asked if Matt was on hand, and he pointed up into the grandstand to the location that Matt seems to prefer; a place where the whole field can be viewed quite easily. Matt appeared to be in a group of about four of five other Lion staff members. When asked if Rod Marinelli was on hand, he informed me that Rod's hip replacement surgery had taken place (in Detroit) one week ago, and that "He's doing very well" following the operation.

I watched the offensive line drills with substantial interest once again. Joe Staley may be the most impressive of the group. He shows very good feet and he adjusts to rush moves very effectively. It appears that Joe is the real deal. Auburn's Ben Grubbs was impressive once again, and like yesterday, both Dustin Fry and Ryan Kalil demonstrated strong play.

I spent quite a portion of the afternoon watching and discussing defensive linemen with the defensive line coach of one of the NFC teams. Some of those guys are really nice and quite willing to share thoughts with folks like me. First, (before we talked about linemen) we conversed about the QB situation in this year's game. In his words "Can these guys really be the six best senior QB's in the country?" I responded by telling him that aside from Drew Stanton (perhaps), none of them look like a top flight NFL quarterbacking prospect. He agreed. With a couple of the guys here, deep passes seem to float. Jordan Palmer (at 6-5) had two passes batted down by rushers.

But when we talked about defensive linemen, he expressed that he'd been very impressed by the Nebraska DE's. "Both of them are wrecking balls," he said. "And they're typical, well-coached Nebraska defensive ends just like VandenBosch and Wistrom." The bigger one (Adam Carriker- 6-6, 290) isn't as athletic as the other guy (Jay Moore, 6-4, 275) but each of them are very disruptive and intense, according to the coach. He also liked the looks of DE's Chase Pittman (6-4, 265) and Texas' Tim Crowder (6-4, 270) each of those two have displayed a whole lot of pressure, and some impressive pass rushing moves. In the meantime, when I told him that I've been less than impressed with Quentin Moses, Georgia's heralded DE. I was almost afraid to say so, but he volunteered that he hasn't seen any signs of greatness from Moses, and added that the Georgia DE seemed to be playing like he's afraid of getting hurt.

I'd been impressed by the quickness of Mississippi State DT Antonio Johnson (6-3, 305) a very quick interior player who has demonstrated effective spin moves, and who has occasionally made some of the slower offensive linemen look very bad. The coach, while agreeing with Johnson's quickness factor, said that he's going to be limited owing to the fact that he's got a fairly stiff body.

The same guy has some Pac-10 background, thus I asked him if he was familiar with Joe Newton, the TE from Oregon State who has continued to demonstrate very excellent hands. He's VERY smooth in taking in passes thrown his way. I was told that he got quite a few balls thrown his way at OSU, and that he is a very solid downfield blocker, but he does not grade well in taking on defensive ends. I asked about his slender build, and he told me that it is just a matter of getting him on a good diet and that he's a guy who can really be worked with.

That led to quite a lengthy and interesting discussion about diets that collegiate football players tend to have, and how that influences things. "These kids are living at the poverty level" when it comes to meals", he says. They don't eat all of their meals at a training table, and if they're given something like $9.00 per day for meals, they're very apt to eat about three Big Macs or a pizza and call it a meal. That's not a good diet, and it results in players consuming too many fats, carbs and sugars; not a desirable arrangement. He pointed to an offensive linemen who appears to be about 15-20 pounds heavier than might be desirable, and observed "That is the sort of problem that it causes." Unless a player has parents who can supplement his food money, it leads to bad diets, and that is a real problem. I might add that the coach that I was talking to was working at a big time Division 1 program prior to accepting his assignment in the NFL.

Wednesday will find me attending two more practice sessions, the North at 9:30 and the South at 1:45. Those will be the last sessions where contact is involved, and I have several things that I hope to accomplish during the day. One of my hopes for the day is to connect up with Matt Millen.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9953923

MOBILE, Ala. (Jan. 25, 2007) -- As the afternoon practice on the third day of Senior Bowl week ended, many of the coaches and general managers around the NFL headed to the Mobile airport to get back to their respective cities. The intense three days of contact were coming to an end, and the walkthrough practices scheduled for Thursday and Friday were of little interest to the NFL decision makers. One GM told me he conducted 91 player interviews in four days. Another personnel director said he met with his 11-member staff every morning to review each position and refocus on the players who needed more information each day.

The Senior Bowl efforts in practice are considered more important than the game performance. The Wednesday practices are a tremendous opportunity for those players who struggled earlier in the week. Wednesday is also critical for those who have been increasing their value each day to keep the momentum on their side. The third reason Wednesday is so important is the chance to solidify the professional role a player can best handle. Let's break down a number of players into these three groups and add a fourth group: Players who still need a great performance in the game on Saturday to clear up the picture about their professional future.

PLAYERS WHO TURNED IT AROUND BY WEDNESDAY

Florida State's Lorenzo Booker improved as the week went on.
1. Lorenzo Booker, Florida State running back: On Monday, he was average-looking. On Tuesday, he made a quality defender flat out miss him in close quarters and scored a touchdown -- he flashed his skills. On Wednesday, he started to resemble a young Tiki Barber blending some power, good hands and a whole lot of shake.

2. Joe Staley, Central Michigan left tackle: Staley was adequate on Monday, shaky on Tuesday by his own admission to me and an absolute stud on Wednesday. Defenders bull rushed him, took a few turns at the speed rush and some tried to cross his face. Staley demonstrated movement skills, attitude and, most importantly, the desire to compete. Chase Pittman from LSU was his main competition all day, and he responded in a big way. Staley caught the eye of many coaches.

3. Brandon Mebane, California defensive tackle: Mebane had an active practice on Wednesday and showed he can play at the NFL level. Earlier in the week he looked like a journeyman; today he looked like a role player in an NFL defensive line rotation.

4. Tanard Jackson, Syracuse defensive back: Is he a safety or corner? That was answered by Wednesday -- he's both, an adjuster type who gives a defensive coordinator the flexibility every NFL coach is looking for in 2007.

PLAYERS WHO KEPT THE MOMENTUM ROLLING ALONG
1. Ryan Kalil, USC center: He was so capable of handling all fronts, whether it was a linebacker or nose tackle. Technique and to-the-whistle effort made him a stand out all week long.

2. LeRon McClain, Alabama fullback: He's the real deal as a lead blocker, and that never changed for one play all week. He is capable of a few critical runs a game and consistently demonstrated receiver skills.

3. Michael Griffin, Texas safety: He didn't flash greatness at any time, but his steady play all week long began to add up for the talented 6-foot-1, 205-pound playmaker.

4. Amobi Okoye, Louisville defensive tackle: He has the quickness and technique to line up as a rookie and be disruptive. Lots of coaches are thinking about how high they are going to have to draft him to get him.

5. Dwayne Bowe, LSU wide receiver: He got better looking at every practice. His height, weight and speed quotient was only outdone by his desire to play. I stood next to this kid most of the week, and he gave great effort every time the ball was snapped.

6. Aaron Sears, Tennessee guard: Sears has played up and down the offensive line, but if you took all of his snaps at guard and looked at them exclusively, his draft-round status would go up.

PLAYERS WHO CLEARED UP THEIR PRO POSITION

Ohio State's Troy Smith has made it clear with his play he's a quarterback.
1. Justin Blaylock, Texas guard/tackle: He's an NFL guard and a darn good one.

2. Patrick Willis, Mississippi linebacker: He's a Tampa 2 middle linebacker, a 3-4 weak inside 'backer, and he'll play the run early in his career with the pro passing attack just one year away.

3. Tony Hunt, Penn State running back: Maybe not right away, but Hunt will be an every-down back.

4. Troy Smith, Ohio State quarterback. Some came into the week thinking Smith was a hybrid player like Antwaan Randle El, but he is a guy getting first consideration at signal caller.

PLAYERS WHO NEED TO PLAY WELL ON SATURDAY
1. Tony Ugoh, Arkansas tackle: He had an inconsistent week, and a great game on Saturday in the pass protection area will go a long way toward helping him. Coaches want to see the fire burning!

2. LaMarr Woodley, Michigan defensive end: His hamstring injury may keep him out, but his performance earlier in the week raised some doubts about the great speed rusher.

3. Jordan Palmer, UTEP quarterback: Palmer has the height, weight and speed, but needs the game to establish his QB credibility. Lots of scouts like the athletic ability, and most of the time, his ball is delivered well, but one scout thought he might have a future as a hybrid receiver-type a few years down the road.


4. Brandon Myles, West Virginia wide receiver: He didn't look fluid in the passing work this week, but he has a game to change the notion that he is just a guy in the draft pool.

5. Leon Hall, Michigan cornerback: Hall doesn't have ideal height, but his movement skills give him a chance to erase the pain of the Rose Bowl. I watched Hall every practice, and I think the game is his statement moment.

If I could get rid of one thing in a few of these young men who are trying so hard to catch the eye of the NFL decision-makers, it would be:

1. For all of the tight ends, their inability to impress as downfield receivers and create matchup nightmares.

2. Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma linebacker, clearing up the nagging minor injury that controls his aggressiveness on the field. On Monday he was a lot different than he was Wednesday, as I caught him limping.

3. Aaron Rouse, Virginia Tech defensive back, stops playing too high and gets some more knee bends.

4. Manuel Ramirez, Texas Tech guard, stops getting viewed as a man who can't run block in this league after playing in a pass-happy Texas Tech package. This guy is a road-grader and one of the worst kept secrets in Senior Bowl History

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

http://www.topix.net/content/cbs/046...77632419843754

Most running backs would be happy with the way Utah's Eric Weddle ended his college career.

"The defense was playing so well and the offense made some plays in the end and they put me in and I had eight straight carries and scored a touchdown to put it away," he recalled.

Then, Weddle had an interception on the final play of the Utes' 25-13 win over Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl.

He is, after all, a defensive back.

That's the position he's practicing at this week for Saturday's Senior Bowl, trying to prove that he wasn't just college football's busiest player last season but also a legitimate NFL prospect.

Weddle was Utah's do-everything man. He saw action at cornerback, safety, quarterback, running back and holder and both returned and covered on punts and kicks.

This week's practices should be a breeze by comparison. The 5-foot-11, 201-pounder is working at safety and on punt and kick coverage teams for the North squad.

One thing Weddle can put on his resume for NFL teams: Very good at multitasking.

"It was unbelievably fun," the two-time Mountain West Conference defensive player of the year said. "I wouldn't trade back any of the extra work, all the running I had to do, all the extra film study I had to do watching the opposing defense. It was all worth it.

"I don't know how many kids in college football have a chance to play on offense and defense and some of the things I was able to do."

And the second-team Associated Press All-American was able to do plenty.

He led the league with seven interceptions, scored eight touchdowns and passed for a ninth as a senior. Weddle ran for 203 yards and five TDs, and also finished his career second at Utah with 18 interceptions.

Other highlights include:

_Returning two of his three interceptions against San Diego State for scores. In that game, Weddle also scored on back-to-back plays from scrimmage - a 2-yard run and an interception to open the ensuing possession.

_Making six tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery while assisting on a sack against Tulsa. He also ran for 56 yards, including that 4-yard clinching touchdown.

_Playing 90 snaps in the Air Force game. He had eight tackles, 72 yards rushing and scored Utah's only two TDs. He also held for the winning field goal.

"It helps me tremendously," Weddle said of his versatile background. "I see things differently. I know the angles at different positions and I know what's going on and what the offense is trying to do. It definitely helps me."

Weddle is also trying to prove he can compete with stars from more high-profile programs such as Florida, Ohio State and Texas.

"I'm running around making plays and hopefully showing everyone that I can play at this level of competition," Weddle said. "Some people say playing at a small school, the competition is not the same. Hopefully coming out here playing in this game shows that's not the case."

Weddle is projected as a likely second-round pick who could slip into the first. But he said he's not paying much attention to all those projections.

"I haven't looked into it much," Weddle said. "I'm just going out there having fun and playing my game. I hope for the best, but all I'm asking for is a chance. I know I won't let any organization down. I'm a straightforward kid. I do things right.

"I'll do anything I can to help the team."