Senior Bowl: Baylor's Watkins, Texas A&M's Miller the stars of week - Page 3

**Tribal Warfare** · 12:54 AM

Senior Bowl: Baylor's Watkins, Texas A&M's Miller the stars of week

MOBILE, Ala. — Prospects come to the Senior Bowl, in hopes of showing that one special skill that perhaps was hidden by their college scheme and meet NFL coaches and general managers for the first time, hoping to wow scouts and move up draft boards around the league.

Here is a look at the 14 seniors who improved their draft stock the most in practices and interviews this week:

1. Danny Watkins, G, Baylor. Watkins (6-3 1/2, 312) shined this week playing inside at guard and displayed the outstanding hand usage, technique and surprising strength. He will be a great NFL guard and should move into the late first round. Watkins reminds us of Patriots All-Pro G Logan Mankins.

2. Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M. Miller (6-2 5/8, 237) proved this week that he is an elite prospect who has the explosiveness, speed and athleticism to be an impact player in the NFL. Miller is a lock to go in the top 10 and could go in the top five. He could become a star in a 3-4 scheme, a la Cowboys Pro Bowl OLB DeMarcus Ware.

3. Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal. Jordan (6-4 1/8, 287) showed this week what we War Room scouts had seen all year: He is an explosive player who has the athleticism to defeat blocks easily and the strength to overpower blockers. He locked up a top-15 spot this week.

4. Titus Young, WR, Boise State. Young (5-11 1/4, 174) proved he is an explosive athlete with the athleticism to run good routes and burst to create separation from cornerbacks. He also displayed the hands to make tough catches over the middle and flashed the ability to be a dangerous punt returner.

5. Rodney Hudson, C/G, Florida State. Hudson (6-2 1/4, 291) looked good at the weigh-in and then displayed good strength and blocking technique the whole week. As one scout for an NFL team told us, "Hudson made himself a lot of money this week."

6. D.J. Williams, TE, Arkansas. Williams (6-1 7/8, 236) lacks ideal height and weight, but he proved to be a good prospect who should catch a ton of passes in the NFL. With his athleticism and receiving skills, he reminds us of the Chargers' Antonio Gates and Colts' Dallas Clark.

7. Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami (Fla.). Hankerson (6-1 5/8, 205) displayed better quickness, agility and route-running skills than what we usually see receivers taller than 6-0. He also showed excellent hands, consistently plucking passes out of the air and away from his body and catching off-target throws.

8. Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College. Castonzo (6-7 1/8, 305) pass blocked with good leverage and hand usage to enable him to play strong. In our eyes, he won the battle over Colorado's Nate Solder and now is the top senior offensive tackle in the draft.

9. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue. Kerrigan (6-3 7/8, 255) lacks great size but showed the strength, ability to play with leverage, technique and competitiveness to be an effective pass rusher and against the run as a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme.

10. Kendric Burney, CB, North Carolina. Burney (5-9, 181) showed better quickness and coverage skills than expected this week. He also proved he can absorb on-field coaching and apply it quickly, often showing improvements from snap-to-snap in practice.

11. Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada. Kaepernick (6-4 5/8, 225) clearly had the strongest arm of the quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl. He still must improve his mechanics, but he was surprisingly accurate and looked comfortable dropping back from under center after playing in a spread-option offense at Nevada.

12. Luke Stocker, TE, Tennessee. Stocker (6-4 7/8, 255) showed much better speed than expected and showed the hands and body control to adjust and make tough catches seem routine. For a player with real questions coming to Mobile, he erased most of those in three practice sessions.

13. Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona. Reed (6-2 1/2, 257) is built well and shows deceptive athleticism. He shows excellent hand usage, technique and smarts to consistently defeat blocks and pressure the quarterback or disrupt running plays.

14. Christian Ballard, DT, Iowa. Ballard (6-4 1/8, 288) displayed the quickness, agility and power to consistently win one-on-one drills. He was very effective at penetrating into the backfield in nearly all team drills. He proved he can play defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme or defensive end in a 3-4 defense, definitely increasing his draft stock.

**BossChief** · 01-28-2011, 06:02 PM

Miller is gonna be a good pass rusher, but teams will run right at him. He will have to bulk up and do so without losing speed or quick twitch ability at the same time as learning to be a better run defender to balance his game so he can if he is to live up to where he is drafted.

Remember, the kid is only 235.

The guy is no Orakpo, more like a better version of Manny Lawson.

DJ's left nut · 01-29-2011, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd1020

Cutler is mobile... Such a fail comparison.

This is where I would put Mallett.

Upside - Roethlisberger

Current - Derek Anderson

Downside - JaMarcus Russell

So his upside is a completely immobile Cutler.

No, his upside is not Roethlisberger. Roeth is a good decisionmaker and a strong leader. He's also built like a tank and can simply throw guys off him. Oh, and he has exceptional pocket awareness.

Mallet is rail thin and injury prone and pisses down his leg whenever he feels pressure.

There is no way in the world he ever becomes Ben Roethlisberger.

You're right, he'll never even be as good as Cutler.

jd1020 · 01-29-2011, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

So his upside is a completely immobile Cutler.

No, his upside is not Roethlisberger. Roeth is a good decisionmaker and a strong leader. He's also built like a tank and can simply throw guys off him. Oh, and he has exceptional pocket awareness.

Mallet is rail thin and injury prone and pisses down his leg whenever he feels pressure.

There is no way in the world he ever becomes Ben Roethlisberger.

You're right, he'll never even be as good as Cutler.

Have you even watched Mallet?

You seem to be the only person on the face of the earth that believes Mallet has a low ceiling. He has a very high ceiling. It's all about the situation he inherits.

jrobbins 20 · 01-31-2011, 08:36 PM

Yeah and herm edwards was a horrible coach,he could draft good players just couldnt coach them.

Nightfyre · 01-31-2011, 08:48 PM

Ponder's injury concerns could cause him to fall to the third. THAT would intrigue me.

JimBaker488 · 02-01-2011, 01:29 PM

Miller is a tremendous prospect, but he's very much on the smallish side for a 3-4 OLB. But in spite of his size, I'd be stunned if he lasted beyond the first 10 picks ?
Speaking of 3-4 outside backers, what do you guys think about moving 4-3 DEs Kerrington & Brooks Reeds to that position ? Do you see either as an edge-rusher playing there or will they be strictly 4-3 DEs ?

01-27-2011, 11:41 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2817187	Senior Bowl: Baylor's Watkins, Texas A&M's Miller the stars of week Senior Bowl: Baylor's Watkins, Texas A&M's Miller the stars of week MOBILE, Ala. — Prospects come to the Senior Bowl, in hopes of showing that one special skill that perhaps was hidden by their college scheme and meet NFL coaches and general managers for the first time, hoping to wow scouts and move up draft boards around the league. Here is a look at the 14 seniors who improved their draft stock the most in practices and interviews this week: 1. Danny Watkins, G, Baylor. Watkins (6-3 1/2, 312) shined this week playing inside at guard and displayed the outstanding hand usage, technique and surprising strength. He will be a great NFL guard and should move into the late first round. Watkins reminds us of Patriots All-Pro G Logan Mankins. 2. Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M. Miller (6-2 5/8, 237) proved this week that he is an elite prospect who has the explosiveness, speed and athleticism to be an impact player in the NFL. Miller is a lock to go in the top 10 and could go in the top five. He could become a star in a 3-4 scheme, a la Cowboys Pro Bowl OLB DeMarcus Ware. 3. Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal. Jordan (6-4 1/8, 287) showed this week what we War Room scouts had seen all year: He is an explosive player who has the athleticism to defeat blocks easily and the strength to overpower blockers. He locked up a top-15 spot this week. 4. Titus Young, WR, Boise State. Young (5-11 1/4, 174) proved he is an explosive athlete with the athleticism to run good routes and burst to create separation from cornerbacks. He also displayed the hands to make tough catches over the middle and flashed the ability to be a dangerous punt returner. 5. Rodney Hudson, C/G, Florida State. Hudson (6-2 1/4, 291) looked good at the weigh-in and then displayed good strength and blocking technique the whole week. As one scout for an NFL team told us, "Hudson made himself a lot of money this week." 6. D.J. Williams, TE, Arkansas. Williams (6-1 7/8, 236) lacks ideal height and weight, but he proved to be a good prospect who should catch a ton of passes in the NFL. With his athleticism and receiving skills, he reminds us of the Chargers' Antonio Gates and Colts' Dallas Clark. 7. Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami (Fla.). Hankerson (6-1 5/8, 205) displayed better quickness, agility and route-running skills than what we usually see receivers taller than 6-0. He also showed excellent hands, consistently plucking passes out of the air and away from his body and catching off-target throws. 8. Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College. Castonzo (6-7 1/8, 305) pass blocked with good leverage and hand usage to enable him to play strong. In our eyes, he won the battle over Colorado's Nate Solder and now is the top senior offensive tackle in the draft. 9. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue. Kerrigan (6-3 7/8, 255) lacks great size but showed the strength, ability to play with leverage, technique and competitiveness to be an effective pass rusher and against the run as a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. 10. Kendric Burney, CB, North Carolina. Burney (5-9, 181) showed better quickness and coverage skills than expected this week. He also proved he can absorb on-field coaching and apply it quickly, often showing improvements from snap-to-snap in practice. 11. Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada. Kaepernick (6-4 5/8, 225) clearly had the strongest arm of the quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl. He still must improve his mechanics, but he was surprisingly accurate and looked comfortable dropping back from under center after playing in a spread-option offense at Nevada. 12. Luke Stocker, TE, Tennessee. Stocker (6-4 7/8, 255) showed much better speed than expected and showed the hands and body control to adjust and make tough catches seem routine. For a player with real questions coming to Mobile, he erased most of those in three practice sessions. 13. Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona. Reed (6-2 1/2, 257) is built well and shows deceptive athleticism. He shows excellent hand usage, technique and smarts to consistently defeat blocks and pressure the quarterback or disrupt running plays. 14. Christian Ballard, DT, Iowa. Ballard (6-4 1/8, 288) displayed the quickness, agility and power to consistently win one-on-one drills. He was very effective at penetrating into the backfield in nearly all team drills. He proved he can play defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme or defensive end in a 3-4 defense, definitely increasing his draft stock. Last edited by Tribal Warfare; 01-28-2011 at 12:54 AM..
Posts: 43,430

01-28-2011, 06:02 PM	#31
BossChief SuperBowl or bust Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: BF Iowa Casino cash: $-1595912	Miller is gonna be a good pass rusher, but teams will run right at him. He will have to bulk up and do so without losing speed or quick twitch ability at the same time as learning to be a better run defender to balance his game so he can if he is to live up to where he is drafted. Remember, the kid is only 235. The guy is no Orakpo, more like a better version of Manny Lawson. __________________ Dreams do come true... http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showp...postcount=1407
Posts: 47,884

01-31-2011, 08:36 PM	#34
jrobbins 20 Rookie Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: independence Casino cash: $10004900	Yeah and herm edwards was a horrible coach,he could draft good players just couldnt coach them.
Posts: 20

01-31-2011, 08:48 PM	#35
Nightfyre MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Helena, MT Casino cash: $1348849	Ponder's injury concerns could cause him to fall to the third. THAT would intrigue me.
Posts: 18,647

02-01-2011, 01:29 PM	#36
JimBaker488 Starter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Houston, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	Miller is a tremendous prospect, but he's very much on the smallish side for a 3-4 OLB. But in spite of his size, I'd be stunned if he lasted beyond the first 10 picks ? Speaking of 3-4 outside backers, what do you guys think about moving 4-3 DEs Kerrington & Brooks Reeds to that position ? Do you see either as an edge-rusher playing there or will they be strictly 4-3 DEs ?
Posts: 88