Brian Baker at USF pro day

[CatMan72]

From the ESPN NFC South blog:

TAMPA, Fla. -- It’s obvious we can’t be at every pro day around the country. But there was one almost literally in the backyard of NFC South Blog headquarters on Tuesday, so I went and checked it out.

My main purpose was to work ahead on an upcoming column on University of South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul that will come out as we get closer to the draft. But I took down a bunch of observations that I’ll share with you now.

• Read into this whatever you want, but the three head coaches I spotted out there were Tom Coughlin, Marvin Lewis and Lovie Smith. Head coaches generally don’t show up to watch potential late-round picks.

• I didn’t see an NFC South head coaches or general managers out there. But I did see New Orleans defensive line coach Bill Johnson. He helped lead some of the drills. Not sure Pierre-Paul’s going to last anywhere near where New Orleans is scheduled to pick at No. 32. But South Florida had another defensive end, George Selvie, working out and he could be around in the third or fourth round.

• Speaking of NFC South defensive line coaches in attendance, I also spotted Carolina’s Brian Baker. Carolina doesn’t even have a first-round pick at the moment, so I don’t think Pierre-Paul was the main reason Baker was there. He might have been checking out Selvie.

• Safety Nate Allen didn’t run the 40-yard dash. He said he passed because he’s not completely healthy. But he did the other drills and said he believes he fared well.

• Besides the head coaches mentioned above, I saw a few other dignitaries out there – Tampa Bay personnel executive Doug Williams, mega-agent Drew Rosenhaus (he represents Pierre-Paul), new South Florida coach Skip Holtz, Cincinnati defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and Cleveland defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

• Nice move by South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe to full take part in the workout. Grothe suffered a major knee injury last season. He worked out with a bulky brace on his left knee and his throws didn’t appear all that spectacular. But this was a kid who came in with doubts about his height and arm strength even before the injury. He had nothing to lose by working out. In fact, he probably scored some attitude points just by showing up. Grothe is a long shot to even get to camp with an NFL team and admitted he may have to head to the Canadian Football League. But he’s got a private visit with the Bucs coming up in less than two weeks and the workout might have reminded some teams Grothe is out there.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/9230/odds-and-ends-from-usfs-pro-day

[CharlotteBeer.com]

Seems like a guy that might fit well in Meeks' system -- but don't we already have a couple like him in Brown and Taylor? In my opinion -- and I realize it's not the consensus around here -- I think we need a tackle who can get pressure more than an end. I really think Brown and especially Johnson will do good things this year, and Brayton is solid if not a gamechanger.

[rayzor]

selvie would be great on the other side from brown. both of them together would be a QB nightmare for years. i think i would like austen lane more but i would be happy with selvie.

[rayzor]

Seems like a guy that might fit well in Meeks' system -- but don't we already have a couple like him in Brown and Taylor? In my opinion -- and I realize it's not the consensus around here -- I think we need a tackle who can get pressure more than an end. I really think Brown and especially Johnson will do good things this year, and Brayton is solid if not a gamechanger.

selvie >>> taylor

selvie could be had in the third. i have a mock in the draft forum in which i have us trading up for brian price. that would probably take care of the pressure from the inside.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

selvie would be great on the other side from brown. both of them together would be a QB nightmare for years. i think i would like austen lane more but i would be happy with selvie.

Do you not think Johnson can do good things for us? I'm more worried about Brown than I am Johnson (though I think Brown will be much improved next year as well).

Think Selvie would drop to us in the third?

[CharlotteBeer.com]

selvie >>> taylor

My point is that we've already got two smallish ends, Brown and Taylor, on the roster. I think Johnson has proven he can start -- he does big things just about any time he's in the game.

[scpanther22]

selvie would be great on the other side from brown. both of them together would be a QB nightmare for years. i think i would like austen lane more but i would be happy with selvie.

And where is Charles Johnson??

[rayzor]

Do you not think Johnson can do good things for us? I'm more worried about Brown than I am Johnson (though I think Brown will be much improved next year as well).

Think Selvie would drop to us in the third?

i like selvie and brown on passing downs. i also like what i saw in those three man rushes using johnson and brayton in the middle. johnson should be on the field more but i like the idea of the fast DEs coming around the edge. the pressure from the Dline has to be constant. with a heavy rotation it would be hard for the OLs to handle.

and yeah, i feel pretty good about selvie or lane being there in the 3rd. one of them will.

[scpanther22]

Seems like a guy that might fit well in Meeks' system -- but don't we already have a couple like him in Brown and Taylor? In my opinion -- and I realize it's not the consensus around here -- I think we need a tackle who can get pressure more than an end. I really think Brown and especially Johnson will do good things this year, and Brayton is solid if not a gamechanger.

This...

I would like to get Geno Aktins in the 3rd..or Houston if he falls to that round.

[rayzor]

My point is that we've already got two smallish ends, Brown and Taylor, on the roster. I think Johnson has proven he can start -- he does big things just about any time he's in the game.

And where is Charles Johnson??

johnson should be starting. again, i'm talking about on passing downs.

i'm not a taylor fan. i'd rather have selvie or lane than taylor.

we are going to use a committee approach to get those sack numbers that pep used to get. fox/hurney already said that. why not get the best committee possible? just replace taylor with the guy we draft this year...or keep him and go with 5 DEs. i just think we can and should improve on taylor.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

Taylor hasn't been able to see the field much with Peppers, the improving Johnson, and the newly-drafted Brown ahead of him. I'm still of the opinion he can be a good pass-rushing specialist. He's shown the ability in his very limited playing time.

[DaCityKats]

a 5 man de rotation would be hell for any oline.selvie would be nice mid round pick

[MadHatter]

My point is that we've already got two smallish ends, Brown and Taylor, on the roster. I think Johnson has proven he can start -- he does big things just about any time he's in the game.

You are assuming that Taylor will make the squad. He is on the bubble of making it out of camp.

[rayzor]

taylor will be lucky to make the 43 man game time roster if he can even make the 53 one.

we can and should do better than him. i don't want to have to rely on him. taylor would/should be little more than just this guy we throw in to give the others a breather and probably wouldn't be active all that much.

i feel ok with a johnson/brown/brayton DE corps. i would feel much better with a johnson/brown/brayton/selvie(or lane) DE corps. that would be dominant.