Senior Bowl

[stirs]

Practices start today, NFL Network has coverage starting at 2pm.

Several guys there we need to keep an eye on, especially the OT's from rounds 3-6.

OT's looked horrible at Shrine game, so hoping some guys stand out for the Senior Bowl.

Set your DVR's

[top dawg]

Not trying to steal all of David Newton's thunder, but here are some of the guys he thinks we'll be interested in. Click the link at the bottom for the others.

"Running back Jamaal Williams, BYU: He might get lost in a deep class of running backs on draft day, but in this game he has a chance to showcase his abilities. At 6-2 and 220 pounds, BYU’s all-time leading rusher appears to be the complete package as a runner, receiver and blocker. The latter is particularly important to the Panthers."

"Defensive end Keionta Davis, UT-Chattanooga: A small-school player with a big motor when it comes to pressuring the quarterback. At 6-4 and 270 pounds he has the size to be a 4-3 end, and his 10.5 sacks led the Southern Conference. He just needs to prove his worth against more big-time competition."

"Safety Nate Gerry, Nebraska: Built solid at 6-2, 220. That he was a two-time team captain might impress a Carolina staff looking for character players. He’s always around the ball, finishing first or second in tackles and interceptions for the Cornhuskers the past three seasons."

http://www.espn.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/24441/can-panthers-find-another-vernon-butler-james-bradberry-at-senior-bowl

There are some guys worth watching, and like Newton said, this is definitely in G-man's wheelhouse.

[Ace_Aladdin]

4 minutes ago, top dawg said:

"Running back Jamaal Williams, BYU: He might get lost in a deep class of running backs on draft day, but in this game he has a chance to showcase his abilities. At 6-2 and 220 pounds, BYU’s all-time leading rusher appears to be the complete package as a runner, receiver and blocker. The latter is particularly important to the Panthers."

He could be a steal in the mid-rounds if Fournette is gone. I have seen him play against MSSTATE  & he looked like a 3 down back.

[top dawg]

10 minutes ago, sanjay_rajput said:

He could be a steal in the mid-rounds if Fournette is gone. I have seen him play against MSSTATE  & he looked like a 3 down back.

Daniel Jeremiah is impressed as well. Here is what he had to say after watching Williams' bowl game.

"Williams had the stage to himself on Wednesday night against Wyoming in the Poinsettia Bowl and he put on a show.

"He racked up 210 rushing yards and he did it in physical fashion. He has a tall/muscular frame and he has somewhat of an upright running style. However, when defenders approach him, he can crouch down and lower his shoulder to break tackles. He unleashed several vicious stiff arms on Wednesday when he arrived at the second and third level of the defense. He is very decisive and he showed tremendous vision. I don't think he'll run very fast at the NFL Scouting Combine (I predict he'll run the 40-yard dash in 4.60/4.65 seconds), but I think his game translates very well at the next level.

"He definitely ended his college career on a high note and he'll have another opportunity to help himself at the Reese's Senior Bowl next month. I gave him a third-round grade when I studied him on tape, but he will probably go lower than that because of the depth of the running back class. I struggled to come up with a clear comparison for his game, but I think he has a similar build and style to Matt Forte. Both guys are smooth and physical. The main difference is that Forte has a little more juice and he's more polished in the passing game."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000761436/article/shades-of-matt-forte-from-byu-rb-jamaal-williams-in-bowl-win

[LinvilleGorge]

3 hours ago, stirs said:

OT's looked horrible at Shrine game, so hoping some guys stand out for the Senior Bowl.

Just took a peak at the roster and that's not surprising. Avery Gennesy and Storm Norton were the only two names I recognized. Gennesy is well known for being a big athlete with potential more so than a plug and play OT and regarding Norton, I've been quite vocal on here for sometime about my opinion of small school OL. Just stay away unless it's a late round flier or UDFA.

Senior Bowl roster looks a little more promising. Zach Banner, Adam Bisnowaty, and Conor McDermott.

I'll definitely be watching McDermott.  He's a guy I've seen play very little (basically watched about 3/4s of his game vs. Colorado) but in that game he looked perfect. Then again, I think all of the NFL prospects on that CU defense are in the secondary. I don't think they have any edge rushers who are pro prospects. 

[Swaggasaurus]

Keionta Davis and Tarell Basham are two of my favorite DE in this draft, they played against lesser competition, but I like the way that both of them bend around the edge and play with a high motor. I'm excited to see how they fare against these power 5 guys.

[KDawg004]

What round is Jamaal Williams projected to go as of now?

I wouldn't mind drafting a RB early (Fournette) and another RB late to groom together similar to (hate to say it) Freeman and Coleman.

JStew at the very most has one year left with the Panthers. May even be a cap casualty this offseason.

[Untouchable]

3 hours ago, top dawg said:

Not trying to steal all of David Newton's thunder, but here are some of the guys he thinks we'll be interested in. Click the link at the bottom for the others.

"Running back Jamaal Williams, BYU: He might get lost in a deep class of running backs on draft day, but in this game he has a chance to showcase his abilities. At 6-2 and 220 pounds, BYU’s all-time leading rusher appears to be the complete package as a runner, receiver and blocker. The latter is particularly important to the Panthers."

"Defensive end Keionta Davis, UT-Chattanooga: A small-school player with a big motor when it comes to pressuring the quarterback. At 6-4 and 270 pounds he has the size to be a 4-3 end, and his 10.5 sacks led the Southern Conference. He just needs to prove his worth against more big-time competition."

"Safety Nate Gerry, Nebraska: Built solid at 6-2, 220. That he was a two-time team captain might impress a Carolina staff looking for character players. He’s always around the ball, finishing first or second in tackles and interceptions for the Cornhuskers the past three seasons."

http://www.espn.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/24441/can-panthers-find-another-vernon-butler-james-bradberry-at-senior-bowl

There are some guys worth watching, and like Newton said, this is definitely in G-man's wheelhouse.

He had a couple of good suggestions.  Now that the measurements came in, Taywan Taylor (WKU WR) and Deashon Hall (TX A&M DE) both look like players to watch.

The Bucknell OT Davenport came in with a massive reach (36" arms ) and wingspan.  Temple's OT Dawkins was up there too.

http://www.draftcountdown.com/2017-all-star-game-weigh-in-results

[Yaboychris28]

Clement from Wisconsin impressed me all year long. I wouldn't mind him as a day 3 pick

[d-dave]

I'm not holding out much hope for an immediate OT upgrade out of the draft.  Everything I've read has talked about how talent poor the pool is.

Conversely, there is a poo ton of talent in the RB and DE ranks, which is pretty nice!  

As far as how this sets us up in the thinking about it process, we'll need to us FA for our OT depth.  I don't think we're going to get an immediate tackle upgrade right now.  Maybe a developmental player for the future.

[top dawg]

15 minutes ago, Untouchable said:

He had a couple of good suggestions.  Now that the measurements came in, Taywan Taylor (WKU WR) and Deashon Hall (TX A&M DE) both look like players to watch.

The Bucknell OT Davenport came in with a massive reach (36" arms ) and wingspan.  Temple's OT Dawkins was up there too.

What did Taylor come in at?

Never mind, I found it

[top dawg]

http://draftwire.usatoday.com/2017/01/24/live-2017-senior-bowl-weigh-in-results/

And then there's this:

http://draftwire.usatoday.com/2017/01/24/winners-losers-from-2017-senior-bowl-weigh-ins/

Fred Ross is on the losing side.

[top dawg]

26 minutes ago, Untouchable said:

He had a couple of good suggestions.  Now that the measurements came in, Taywan Taylor (WKU WR) and Deashon Hall (TX A&M DE) both look like players to watch.

The Bucknell OT Davenport came in with a massive reach (36" arms ) and wingspan.  Temple's OT Dawkins was up there too.

http://www.draftcountdown.com/2017-all-star-game-weigh-in-results

 

Not that it may matter much, because what I see is more of a one-trick pony speed receiver anyway, but WKU trumped up Taiwan Taylor's height too. He is only 5'11. That'd put him him in the "loser" column as far as measurables go (a two inch deficit).

[top dawg]

Honestly, I don't know how David Newton doesn't highlight Obi Melifonwu (or Zay Jones). He takes an L for that.