Re-print of my Senior Bowl articles, I hope these will help you during your rookie drafts. Well the long Senior Bowl week is almost over. Most of the NFL coaches and scouts have gone back to their team headquarters. The team meetings, practices, press conferences, and hospital visits are over. Now is the time toplay. Who
really stood out in real game conditions? I will break down my thoughts from the press box in alphabetical order:Antonio Andrews, RBThe running back runs well behind his pads and can be a very effective power rusher and receiver. He was a volume back in college so he tends to start slowly and work himself into the game. This might be an issue as I’m not sure if there is an NFL that would be willing to start him right away. Andrews might not be worth more than a fantasy flier.Chris Borland, LB WISCThe athletic linebacker was everywhere in the game. He covers potential receivers tightly out of the backfield and is a very hard hitter. For a stretch of two quarters it seemed like he was a part of every single tackle as he is always around the ball. His size means nothing to me as Borland can flow to the ball, disengage blockers and hit. If you are in tackle heavy leagues, he might be a LB2 this season! Tajh Boyd, QB CLEMHe started the game off jittery as he was not comfortable in the pocket. His downfield passes missed the mark as he did not quiet his feet and throw with a solid base. The two interceptions were throws that should not have been forced. I think he needs to concern the defense with his legs to open passes in the middle of the field instead of throwing check downs or bombs. Also Boyd looks a lot more comfortable in the shotgun. It may be in his best interest to sit behind a veteran quarterback for a year or two before he gets thrown to the wolves.Derek Carr, QB FRES STCarr played a very poised game. He finds the open receiver which is usually the one running underneath. The quarterback threw a nice underneath pass and let his tight end Gilmore do the hard work to rumble into the end zone. He has good footwork and missed out on two big throws, one of those was a flea flicker. Carr has a quick release, and moves well in the pocket, including rolling out.Aaron Donald, DT PITTThe award-winning superstar defensive tackle may have played his way into the first round. He was disruptive, constantly demanding double teams to contain him despite his 288 lbs. shell. If you play in DT required leagues, he is a must draft.David Fluellen, RB TOLThe back gets low, moves the pile with fighting for extra yardage. He average over 5.5 yards per carry running north and south. Tacklers bounced off him and then the back would occasionally make them miss with a stutter step. Fluellen can catch the ball cleanly and pass blocks well. He even spun out of a tackle when he initially tried to run the defender over. I see him as a Green-Ellis type guy that could be a solid dynasty RB2 for a few years if he finds himself in the right situation.Dee Ford, DE AUBThis athletic, superstar playmaker had a fantastic game where he sacked the quarterback on back to back plays. He gets a great jump on the center-quarterback exchange, almost getting across the line of scrimmage before the ball makes it from the ground into the signal caller’s hands. If Ford isn’t sacking the quarterback, he is getting his hands up to knock down the pass with a well-timed leap. depending on what scheme he ends up with, Ford will be at least a dynasty DE2/LB2.Jimmy Garoppolo, E ILLHis best pass of the game was an ill-advised one as he threw against his body on a rollout and made a nice throw. The young quarterback tries to take the check down pass first instead of looking to push the ball down the field. He just missed a few long passes where he put too much into the throw. Garoppolo needs to calm down a bit and work on the little stuff he does well like ball fakes. He is an ideal QB3 and should be drafted in the third round of rookie drafts.Crockett Gilmore, TE COL STThis replacement player ended up having the most prolific game of anyone as he caught five passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. Two of those catches were 17 yards or more and he ran thru people on the way to the end zone on Carr’s rollout.Jordan Matthews, WR VANDMatthews had a rather quiet day with two receptions for 38 yards. Keep in mind one of those receptions was a 33 bomb that he tippy-toed for a beautiful sideline catch. He may slip in rookie drafts with the influx of juniors, but sit back relax and get him later in the first or early second round. He may never be Jerry Rice (WR1), but I got a feeling he will be at least John Taylor (WR2).Kevin Norwood, WR ALAWhile the stadium and Alabama love this receiver, Norwood is a decent developmental guy who works hard. He looks good in open space and looks like a WR4 receiver at best. The receiver snuck behind the defense for his wide open touchdown catch as he was wide open. His team attempted a trick play where Norwood got the ball on a reverse and then threw the ball into the end zone. Too bad this pass was picked off, but Norwood is a hard worker and might be a viable option in deeper dynasty leagues.Jacob Pederson, TE WISCIn the fourth quarter, something clicked with this athletic tight end. He caught four passes for 46 yards in that quarter as the primary outlet receiver. Pederson does a good job shielding the ball from the defender and catches the pass with his hands outstretched from his body as many tight ends tend to body catch. After the first four rookie tight ends, the number five-spot might belong to him.Charles Sims, RB WVThe running back was quick to the outside, showing a lot of explosion. He reads his blocks well both as a running back and as a returner. Sims was not very active after the first quarter and may have gotten slowed down by injury.He should still be on fantasy radars starting in the second round in rookie drafts.Chris Smith, DE ARKSmith got penetration early in the game and got his hands up to knock down a third down pass. He appeared to be a better pass rusher than someone who helped out on run support.Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB CCThe young back looked powerful bursting thru the line of scrimmage. He has quick feet and has a slight jump cut, but Taliaferro is a better north and south runner. The runner constantly chops his feet and falls forward. Where he ends up will decide his value fantasy-wise.James White, RB WISCWhite was the best North running back of the game averaging over 5.6 yards per carry. He gets small, is very quick, but does not have enough agility to make you miss. The back sometimes runs straight into a pile without much of a plan or tries to dance too much. When White runs north and south, he can grind out yards, but I don’t see him more than an NFL RB2 which would make him more of a taxi squad player to hold onto to see if he grows into a role.
