Von Miller a top-five pick? Really? Surely not?

The Senior Bowl is a fantastic opportunity for the top senior prospects to showcase their skills, put their name on the map and improve their draft stock.

It’s also an opportunity for snap judgements and an awful lot of unnecessary hype.

I read a tweet yesterday that nearly made me drop my phone. ESPN insider and all round brilliant reporter Adam Schefter posted the following:

“To those asking where Texans A+M LB Von Miller will go in the NFL draft, the early signs are, Top 5 pick.”

This isn’t likely Schefter’s opinion rather information he’s received from people watching work outs and from inside the NFL. I suspect it’s hyperbole.

Miller is a guy I’ve been watching for two years now. After a 17-sack season in 2009 it seemed likely he’d declare for the subsequent draft. Then he received a third-round grade from the draft committee and returned to Texas A&M for his senior year.

At no point in watching tape of Miller did I think he looked like a top-five pick.

Here’s what I saw: excellent speed used to consistently exploit college opponents by rushing the edge. The huge production is emphasis on that and his skills in coverage gradually kept improving. At the same time I saw only a marginal first round prospect.

He’s about 238lbs and it showed sometimes when he took on big offensive lineman. I’m not even talking about elite athletes at the position – just big bodied guys who could just use their size and strength to knock him out of the play. In the NFL, he’s not going to be able to rely on edge speed over and over again. The big guys will also be elite athletes, capable of restricting his edge speed and dominating him due to size. He can’t play defensive end or LEO because teams will target him again and again against the run. Miller will just get washed out and become a liability.

Can he play outside linebacker in the 3-4? Maybe – because playing in space will allow him to pick his gap and use the speed to rush the passer. He’s no slouch in coverage – but again he’s a bit of a one-trick pony. It’s all about his nimble frame and speed which is fine in college, but won’t be in the NFL.

For me his best fit is at OLB in the 4-3, but even then he’s under sized and will need to adapt to that position. He’s about 12lbs lighter than draft bust Aaron Maybin (taken 11th overall by Buffalo) who has struggled to have any impact at all because he can’t rely on speed and quicks alone at the next level.

He’s got mixed reviews from the Senior Bowl. Some say he’s been the star of the show, others (like Tony Pauline) have been reporting a struggle:

“Not a good day for a guy that’s projected to be a 3-4 OLB.  Was easily controlled by blocks all day and at one point got annihilated by Luke Stocker.  Showed decent skills in coverage when he had to move in reverse. Miller was brought over to the pass rush drills to showcase his talents, which were average at best.”

The hype surrounding Von Miller sums up the issue I have with the Senior Bowl. Tape is generally pushed aside while we watch guys work out in unnatural situations. A bit of talk about a prospect performing well suddenly leads to a power surge.

It’s a similar situation for Colin Kaepernick (QB, Nevada). Suddenly he’s a second round pick because he’s flashed a strong arm this week. Suspect mechanics are seemingly ignored because the guy can throw it downfield under no pressure. Titus Young (WR, Boise State) apparently hugged Mike Mayock today because of a positive review on the NFL Network which has boosted his stock.

Some prospects will thrive in isolated work outs and walkthroughs. While you need to be prepared to be impressed and possibly proven wrong – I just don’t think you can beat watching game tape. When I watched the tape – I saw a lot to like about Von Miller, but also a lot of concerns about how he translates to the next level. I wouldn’t roll the dice on an under sized project 4-3 linebacker in round one.

Can Von Miller be a top 10-15 pick? Sure – why not? That kind of pick has been made before. It’d be a huge mistake in my opinion though. I’m also willing to be proven wrong, so we’ll see how it works out.

Regular visitors to the blog will know how highly I rate Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith. He’s been a weekly feature among the top-ten picks in my mock drafts.

It seems like maybe he’s finally going to get the recognition he deserves on a national level.

ESPN’s Todd McShay just tweeted this about Smith:

“Finally got to study 2010 coach-copy tape on colorado CB Jimmy Smith. Silky smooth for 6-2. Might be second best CB behind lsu’s Peterson” 

There are two new mocks to run through this week. As we’re in the thick of the Senior Bowl – I’ve made a new projection (click here to view) to represent some of the events happening in Mobile. I will come on to the changes in a few moments time.

Guest blogger Glen Peer has also conducted a mock draft, which is also added to this post (see below).

As always – my intention is never to present these mocks to you as a defining attempt to guess what will happen on April 28th. These are merely discussion starters and a way to represent options for the Seahawks, the other high profile picks and see which prospects are rising or falling.

Changes at #25

For the first time I am mocking Phil Taylor (DT, Baylor) to the Seahawks at #25.

He’s impressed in Mobile this week mainly due to his mobility at 337lbs. Really he’s a huge, immovable object of a nose tackle. The fact he’s not a complete statue as well could easily see him settle into a home among the first round picks.

There are some concerns – firstly, he started his career at Penn State but was essentially thrown off the team. He’s re-launched his career at Baylor with some success. The Seahawks haven’t been afraid under Pete Carroll and John Schneider to take on a reformed character with the right talent.

Secondly – is he capable of playing any more than 25-30 snaps at that weight? If not, can he be enough of a force on first and second down to justify the investment? It’d be easier for a Pittsburgh or Baltimore to make that choice having secured a lot of other positions and owning talented defenses already. Can the Seahawks afford that move?

You could also ask – do they have a choice? They won’t be flush with alternatives at #25 and the general depth among interior defensive lineman makes it a legitimate option in the late first round.

If Pete Carroll really is satisfied with ‘depth’ along both lines, the #25 pick isn’t a bad place to find it. Muhammard Wilkerson (DE, Temple) is an alternative flexible option who can play the five technique or move inside on passing downs.

However – in this hybrid 4-3 scheme that uses a LEO ‘specialist’ and a larger 5-technique, it almost stresses the importance of the nose tackle as much as any 3-4 does. If you want to create 1-on-1 match ups for your LEO rusher, you need the interior to take up blocks. If you want to dominate against the run, again the nose has to clog the middle allowing your 5-tech and outside linebacker to beat the edge.

Taylor has shown in Mobile he’s adept at carrying two blockers. The nose tackle can become a defensive MVP for the right team. I suspect there will always be a ‘plug-in-and-play’ quality to the LEO role, but that won’t necessarily be the case at the NT. Losing Colin Cole had a surprisingly adverse affect on the team – even if Cole is no more than a middling player.

Getting good – possibly great – at nose tackle can set this defensive line up for years to come. It has to be a consideration if the Seahawks stay at #25.

To see Rob’s full first round mock draft click here.

Glen Peer’s 2011 mock draft 1.0

In my first mock I have the Seahawks taking University of Miami DE Allen Bailey with the 25th pick.   It is a name that has not been discussed much amongst the top DE’s in this years draft but in my opinion is a very interesting prospect to look at, more on him in a minute.  I also want to be very open that I placed a few stretches, at least in my opinion, not necessarily because I truly believe that the draft will roll out that way, but because it should generate some good discussion.  Also as we saw with Jacksonville (Tyson Alualu) and the Eagles (trading up for Brandon Graham instead of Earl Thomas) surprises will happen in rd 1.

We should all remember that until the combine, and pro days when coaches, and personnel staff can talk to every prospect they want to it is going to be extremely difficult to project where players will be selected.   Not to mention that if a CBA is agreed upon before the draft and a free agency period takes place that will change things even more.

Who is Allen Bailey?   Bailey weighed in at 6’3″ 277 lb at the Senior Bowl earlier this week.  He is a little bigger than Chris Clemons who is listed at 6’1″ 261 lbs, and clearly smaller than Red Bryant on the other end.  I point out Bailey because of the impact that Raheem Brock had on the defensive line, especially down the stretch for the Seahawks.  Brock is listed at the same height and weight.  Here are some highlights from his scouting report on  ESPN.com:

– A ‘tweener DE/DT. Good size for power-DE position but could also fit well as a 3-technique in a Tampa 2 scheme. Has adequate top-end speed for his size.

– Good initial quickness. At his best using inside pass rush moves or bull rush. Shows an effective swim move. Has very good combination of size, quickness and power but lacks the top-end speed to consistently turn the corner as an edge rusher.

– Fires out of his stance low and generally plays with good leverage. Shows good strength at the point of attack. Will fight through double team. Does a nice job of using hands and power to stand up the offensive lineman while looking for the ball. Has the size and anchor to hold his ground when teams run at him. Strong tackler for his size. A striker with good power at the point of attack. Shows the ability to jar the ball loose.

For his career in 38 games Bailey registered 103 tackles, 30 tackles for a loss, 19 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.

I choose Bailey over some other options on the defensive line such as JJ Watt, Cameron Heyward, Corey Liuget, and Stephen Paea to point out another option for the Seahawks and his similar size and skills to Raheem Brock. Also what fun would it be if Rob and I selected the same player for the Seahawks this early in the process . 

Glen’s full first round projection

1. Carolina Panthers – AJ Greene – WR Georgia

– New regimes mean new QBs.  However, with Andrew Luck heading back to Stanford, and no clear cut #1 QB prospect as of today, adding a talent like AJ Greene across from Steve Smith makes the most sense this early in the evaluation process.  Blaine Gabbert, Cam Newton, Nick Fairley, & Da’Quan Bowers will vie for this position until one separates from the pack.  The combine, pro days, and private workouts will be closely monitored leading up to draft day.

2.  Denver Broncos – Nick Fairley – DT Auburn

– With Fairley and a healthy Elvis Dummervill would instantly upgrade the Broncos defensive front.  Da’Quan Bowers similarity in athleticism to Julius Peppers will make John Fox think long and hard about taking him here (Fox took Peppers #2 overall in 2002) but GM Brian Xanders, and team President John Elway will also have a say.

3.  Buffalo Bills – Marcel Dareus – DT Alabama

– 2nd year head coach Chan Gailey committed to Ryan Fitzpatrick being the starter next season, and that may or may not happen based on how the underclass QBs show prior to the draft in interviews and pro days.  Right now Dareus fills a big need on the defensive line.

4. Cincinnati Bengals – Blaine Gabbert – QB Missouri

– Carson Palmers wants a trade, and Mike Brown says its not happening.  The same thing happened to Brown with Boomer Esiason who also wanted a trade.  Brown kept Esiason, drafted Dave Kingler with the #6 overall picked and traded Esiason the following year. 

5. Arizona Cardinals – Da’Quan Bowers

– Certainly the Cardinals need to address their QB situation, and I think they will…just not via the draft.  Ken Weisenhunt will be on the hot seating next season, and in my opinion, will fight for his job with a veteran QB, opposed to a rookie signal caller.  Bowers adds another pass rush threat to go along side Darnell Dockett, and Calais Campbell.

6. Cleveland Browns – Patrick Peterson – DB LSU

– In my first proposed scenario I don’t think the Browns could pass on Peterson.  A chance to pair Peterson and 2nd year CB Joe Haden for at least the next 5 years presents serious problems for the rest of the AFC North.  However, they may not want to allocate that much money to one position and look to address WR or trade down.

7. San Fransisco 49ers – Prince Amukamura – DB Nebraska

– Jim Harbaugh will need to address the QB position, and make take a shot with Cam Newton, or Jake Locker but I don’t see their skill sets fitting with how Harbaugh runs his offense.  With Nate Clements possibly on the outs in San Fransisco due to his contract, and diminishing skills Amukamura will compete to be the opening day starter opposite Shawnte Spencer.

8. Tennessee Titans – Robert Quinn – DE North Carolina

– Many had Quinn as a top 5 prospect heading into 2010.  Not having played football for a year due to his suspension may cause him to fall.  At this pick the Titans can pick up another young pass rusher to pair with 2nd DE Derrick Morgan whom the Titans drafted last year.  The combine, pro days and interview process will be very important for Quinn.

9. Dallas Cowboys – Cameron Jordan – DE California

– I don’t think there are many people that believe the talent on the Cowboys roster warrants a pick this high, so they are in a position to take the best player available, or trade down.  Early word from the senior bowl has been that Jordan has been dominating in practice.  Combined with a great personality Jordan could rise further over the next few months.

10. Washington Redskins – Cam Newton – QB Auburn

– Mike Shannahan needs to figure out the QB position after the Donovon McNabb debacle.  Newton fits the Shannahan mold of mobile with big arm.  Many speculate that Jake Locker will be in play and that may very well be true but his inconsistency gives Newton the leg up right now and that.

11. Houston Texans – Von Miller – DE/OLB – Texas A&M

– Wade Phillips is bringing the 3-4 to the Houston.  Miller should provide the pass rush threat off the edge, but also has the ability to drop into coverage effectivly.  Phillips will need to find a big nose tackle but can look to Free Agency (whenever that happens) to address that.  Getting a play maker like Julio Jones opposite Andre Johnson could be addressed here or later rounds.  Getting the right guys to play a new scheme seems a little more important early though.

12. Minnesota Vikings – Ryan Mallett – QB Arkansas

– Character, and off field issues will ultimately determine where Ryan Mallett is drafted, however his skills can not be overlooked.  He can make all the throws, and shown improvement in his decision making, and accuracy this year.

13. Detroit Lions – Gabe Carimi – OT Wisconsin

– Matthew Stafford has taken a beating in his 1st 2 seasons as the Lions QB.  The Lions need to protect the future of their franchise, or all the steps they’ve made in rebuilding will be for not if they can not keep him healthy.  This years OT population is good, but not great and right now Carimi holds the edge on other options such as Nate Solder, Tyron Smith, and Derrek Sherrod.

14. St. Louis Rams – Julio Jones – WR Alabama

– Sam Bradford needs weapons.  Jones gives Bradford, and new OC Josh McDaniels, a go-to type WR to pair with deep threat Donny Avery who will becoming back off knee surgery.

15. Miami  Dolphins – Mark Ingram – RB Alabama

– Both Ronnie Brown, and Ricky Williams contracts are up.  The interior offensive line did not help the run game at all in 2010 so that maybe a viable option with prospects like Rodney Hudson, or Mike Pouncey still on the board.  Ingram gives the Dolphins run game a shot of youth, and although he had a down season in 2010 should still be productive runner on Sundays.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars – Brandon Harris – CB Miami

– In a division with Peyton Manning, and Matt Schaub you can never have too many pass rushers or cornerbacks.  JJ Watt, Adrian Clayborn, or Aldon Smith at the DE position will also be in play at this pick.  Harris struggled in his bowl game, but otherwise had a standout year at Miami.

17. New England Patriots (from Oakland) – Jonathan Baldwin – WR Pittsburgh

– Tom Brady has 2 big targets, but they’re both tight ends.  Baldwin would give Brady the big target outside that will help stretch the field and open up underneath for Wes Welker.  This is early for Baldwin, but by not taking account of trades, I see this as a possibility if there are no top tier prospects at their position left for Belicheck.

18. San Diego Chargers – Adrian Clayborn – DE Iowa

– Clayborn had a down year for the Hawkeyes but would have an impact on the end for the Chargers 3-4.

19. New York Giants – Tyron Smith – OT USC

– The Giants are old on the offensive line.  William Betty has not been answer they thought he would be when the drafted him 2 years ago.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Aldon Smith – DE Missouri

– Putting Smith on the end of Brian Price, and Gerald McCoy could be the start of something special in Tampa Bay on the defensive side of the ball.  Interior offensive line may also be an option with prospects like Hudson, Pouncey, and Stefen Wisniewski still on the board.

21. Kansas City Chiefs – Justin Houston – DE/OLB Georgia

– Houston is moving up the draft board after his performance against Florida in the Sun Bowl.  Getting another pass rush threat along side Tamba Hali should be an area of focus for the Chiefs this off season.

22. Indianapolis Colts – Anthony Castonzo – OT Boston College

– With Peyton Manning preparing to break the record for highest paid player sometime in the next month and a half it would be wise to protect that investment.

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Nate Solder – OT Colorado

– Many of the deficiencies in the Eagles offensive line were covered by Mike Vick’s ability to escape pressure.  However, down the strech Vick took a serious beating and the wear and tear was visible.  Offensive line has to be the greatest area of need for the Eagles.

24. New Orleans Saints – Rahim Moore – UCLA

– It was very apparent that the Saints have issues at safety in their loss to the Seahawks on Wildcard weekend without Mike Jenkins healthy.  The Saints are currently in a position to take a safety here, even while there are talented defensive tackles like Corey Liuget, and Stephen Paea on the board.

25. Seattle Seahawks – Allen Bailey – DT/DE University of Miami

– Pete Carroll’s message at his end of season press conference was we need to get better, and deeper up front…on both sides of the ball.  Outside of Left Tackle on the offensive line those needs can be more easily filled in later rounds, and via free agency.  Going with a guy like Bailey or Paea, or Liuget here makes sense.

26. Baltimore Ravens – JJ Watt – DE Wisconsin

– Watt had a terrific season.  A high motor player that can play the run and get after the quarterback will benefit from the surrounding talent in the Ravens defensive front.

27.  Atlanta Falcons – Kyle Rudolph – TE Norte Dame

– Tony Gonzalez says he’ll be back for one more year.  The Falcons could use this pick for his future replacement, or on another WR to pair up opposite Roddy White.  The former seems like a smarter choice with the top end WRs off the board.

28. New England Patriots – Mike Pouncey – G/C Florida

– The Patriots will probably trade one of their 1st round picks for more picks next year.  Logan Mankins should be a free agent when the CBA issue is cleared up, and the contract dispute that held him out of 7 games may make it difficult to resign him.  Pouncey could step in as a replacement and is solid value at this pick.

29. Chicago Bears – Derek Sherrod – OT Mississippi State

– Jay Cutler was sacked 10 times against the Giants, and over 5 times in at least 2 other games (Seahawks week 6, and Packers week 17).  It did seem as the line got better as the season wore on but adding young talent to an older line makes sense. 

30.  New York Jets – Stefen Wisniewski – Penn State

– The Jets offensive line seemed to take a step back with the loss of Alan Faneca.  Unless the Jets front office is 100% confident that Vlad Ducasse will step in next season and start this is one direction the Jets could go.

31. Green Bay Packers – Corey Liuget – DE/DT Illinois

– Liuget is being mocked much higher than I have him and would be outstanding value at this pick for the Packers.  He would add size, and talent to an already dominate front 7 in Green Bay.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers – Cameron Heyward – DE/DT Ohio State

– Heyward didn’t have a great season, but had an outstanding National Championship game.  At this pick the Steelers could take a player with a lot of upside and allow him to grow into a big time player, similar to Ziggy Hood who was drafted 2 years ago, and now plays a huge role replacing the oft injured Aaron Smith.

As with yesterday’s practise I will update this thread throughout so stay tuned…

Cameron Jordan (DE, Cal) is fast becoming the star of the Senior Bowl. He’s flashing a great pass rush repetoire to add to excellent physical qualities. Jordan is by far the top five-technique prospect, but I’m not sure 4-3 teams will be put off drafting him either. I wonder if this week will put him into the top-1o pick range – something we’ve been talking about throughout 2010?

Reports suggest Jake Locker (QB, Washington) is still having a few issues with accuracy. It’s possible to blow this out of proportion – it’d be more of a concern if the tape showed anything different to what we’re seeing in Mobile. Locker will come out of this Senior Bowl in the same position he arrived – some will love his physical potential and therefore be willing to draft him as early as the top ten. Others will run a mile.

Kris O’Dowd (C, USC) is struggling and it’s not a huge surprise. Despite a lot of gradings even as high as the second round – his stock was based on being well known rather than actual performance. Wes Bunting from the NFP sums it up in this tweet.

It looked obvious to me ever since the Oklahoma game that Florida State’s Christian Ponder was a mid/late round prospect at best. Some high profile draft pundits kept him in the 1/2 round range despite no evidence to suggest this was possible. Events like the Senior Bowl focus minds and that’s happening again with Ponder. He’s not showing a good arm and his accuracy is all over the place.

Keep an eye on Brooks Reed (DE, Arizona). He’s a potential LEO candidate for Seattle and according to Scouts Inc is enjoying his time in Mobile:

“Arizona’s Brooks Reed had another good day. He has heavy, violent hands. You can hear the difference in bag drills between him and other D-linemen. He used his hands really well in one-on-ones and during team periods and disengaged defenders to keep them from shooting inside. He showed a variety of pass-rushing moves from outside pass rush to inside countermoves to a great spin move to beat Georgia’s Clint Boling during the team period. Just love the way the guy plays the game. He hustles, chases the ball downfield and is relentless off the edge as a pass-rusher.”

Not good news for Stephen Paea (DT, Oregon State) – he needs surgery on a knee injury and is out of the combine. It’s unclear how long he’ll be out for.

TFY’s Draft Insider is the site to visit during the Senior Bowl with opinions on every prospect for each day of practise. Click here for analysis on the North team and South Team. Here’s the report on Jake Locker’s Tuesday:

“Slightly better yet still struggling.  High of the mark and still has receivers getting vertical to grab the ball.”

Walter Cherepinsky has a daily stock report at Walterfootball.

Jake Locker spoke to the NFL Newtork on his Senior Bowl experience.

Todd McShay has a stock report from day two:

It’s day one of the Senior Bowl and for once, it appears to be well attended by most of the big name prospects. While Adrian Clayborne (DE, Iowa) isn’t in Mobile – the likes of Jake Locker, Ryan Kerrigan and Von Miller have shown up to work out for scouts.

Today started with the weigh-ins… here’s some of the key numbers:

Jake Locker (QB, Washington) was listed at 6-2 and 228lbs. He’s a shade shorter than expected but it shouldn’t be an issue. This is a big week for Locker – as ESPN’s Todd McShay discusses in the video below:

There’s more from McShay here:

“This week Locker has a chance to show that he can be a more efficient passer with quality pass protection and legitimate weapons at his disposal. And it’s a chance to have the spotlight to himself as the other three quarterbacks with first-round potential — Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert, Auburn’s Cam Newton and Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett — are all underclassmen and not at the Senior Bowl.”

Rodney Hudson (OG, Florida State) is one of my favorite prospects in the 2011 draft. It was good to see him listed at 6-2 and 291lbs. Although a lot of teams will be put off by the sub-300lbs size, he’s still a perfect option for any team running the zone blocking scheme. He looked broad with room to add more weight. Top-25 talent without top-25 size.

Von Miller (LB, Texas A&M) came in at 6-2 and 237lbs. He’s going to play outside linebacker in either scheme for me and isn’t an option for Seattle unless they’re looking for a strong-side outside linebacker.

Jeremy Beal (DE, Oklahoma) could be  LEO option though – he came in at 6-2 and 268lbs. You’d prefer he was a little taller, but he’s a mid-round option for the Seahawks.

DeMarco Murray (RB, Oklahoma) will also provide good value as a runner and pass catcher. He had nice size at 6-0 and 216lbs.

Stephen Paea (DT, Oregon State) only weighed 291lbs at 6-1. It’s not good news if you want him in Seattle – his strength is against the run but can you draft a nose tackle with that build? Can he translate to the 5-technique?

Ryan Kerrigan (DE, Purdue) isn’t a stunning athlete, but he’s relentless and looks the part at 6-4 and 255lbs. He’s a LEO possibility and will interest 3-4 teams at OLB.

Phil Taylor (DT, Baylor) may be one to watch this week. He’s the top rated nose tackle at 6-3 and 337lbs.

For measurements in full for the two teams click here: South team, North team

As more information comes in from Mobile I’ll update this post. Stay tuned.

** One of my favorite under rated prospects in the draft is Alabama offensive lineman James Carpenter. He’s a JUCO transfer who performed well at left tackle in 2010. He’s been working out at left guard today for scouts. He’s a mid/late round steal waiting to happen and really flexible.

** Cameron Jordan (DE, California) deserves credit for showing up in Mobile. He’s already making plays in day one and standing out. If you’re looking for a riser over the next few weeks who can break into the top-ten – this is your guy.

McShay reviews the day one workouts:

Tony Pauline has reports on every single prospects performance on day one, including weigh-in numbers. The Draft Insider website is essential viewing at the moment.

Pauline has this to say about Jake Locker’s performance:

“Struggled from the get go.  Constantly high of the mark and almost always had receivers stretching vertically to grab the ball.  Wild for the most part.  Shows a nice arm and effective throwing on the move but the inaccuracy is a major concern.”

In contrast, Scouts Inc reported:

“Washington’s Jake Locker’s day was a little bit like a microcosm of his career. He made some unbelievable throws, like one fade route in the back of the end zone. Perfect timing, perfect touch and dropped it right in. He nailed a couple skinny posts where he led the receiver and put it in the perfect spot for yards after catch. And maybe his best throw of the day was a sideline comeback route where he just drilled it with perfect timing. But he can’t bottle it up and do it consistently. He had a handful throws that he made one time, but didn’t do it the next time. It’s that inconsistency that is frustrating. If it was just today and you saw something else on film, you could attribute the inconsistency to just being Day 1. But if this pattern continues, this isn’t going be the week he needs it to be. Still, he did not have a bad day. In fact, he had the best day of the QBs here and there is no doubt who is the most naturally talented QB here.”

Universally though it appears Cameron Jordan (DE, California) is lighting up Mobile. This isn’t a surprise and something we’ve been touting throughout the 2010 season. His ability to fit both schemes will help make him a top 10-15 pick.

The NFL Network has Senior Bowl Day One highlights. Mike Mayock and Charles Davis take a look at the North team quarterbacks.

Senior Bowl week is here and I’ll be tracking events in Mobile up until Saturday’s game.

Of course it was also the East/West Shrine game on Saturday and a chance for prospects to put their name on map following a week of practises in Florida.

ESPN’s Todd McShay reviews who impressed:

Syracuse running back Delone Carter received high praise. Here’s more from McShay:

“Of all the running backs here, Carter showed the most quickness and was the most consistent runner. While he still has weaknesses in his game — he dances around too much at times and is not a great pass catcher — he runs hard. He’s very competitive and fights for extra yards. Much more than we saw on tape, he also showed a good initial burst to turn the corner. We gave him a fourth-round grade off game tape and if nothing else, he showed he is worth of being picking in the mid-rounds after this week.”

Although McShay wasn’t as impressed with Oregon’s receiver Jeff Maehl:

“We expected more from Maehl this week. We knew going in that he doesn’t have the size, but we expected more savvy after watching him on film. He has a lack of burst out of his breaks, a limited strike zone and we saw some uncharacteristic drops. He is a one-speed route runner and doesn’t have the speed to stretch the field. He also lacks suddenness and tempo in his routes. We just wanted more from him this week.”

Probably the best special teams player available in this draft is Iowa punter Ryan Donahue. He was clearly the best punter in college football the last two years, combining accuracy with a strong leg and decent hang time. He was again impressive during the shrine work outs and he should get drafted and provide one team with a solid long term roster-filler.

Rob Rang lists his ten players who did the most to help their stock during work outs.

Sports Illustrated has a photo gallery and review of the prospects participating in Orlando last week.

TFY Draft Insider reports Cameron Heyward (DE, Ohio State) had elbow surgery this week. I was never that high on Heyward and felt he was generally over rated – but this may have a small impact on his stock anyway.

TFY also lists all 56-players granted eligibility for the 2011 NFL Draft.

Looking ahead to the Senior Bowl – Adrian Clayborn (DE, Iowa) will not participate and has been replaced by South Carolina’s Cliff Matthews (a LEO candidate in Seattle). Unsurprisingly the ever-injured Christian Ponder (QB, Florida State) isn’t healthy and won’t attend. Nathan Enderle (QB, Idaho) will work out instead after a solid week at the Shrine practises. ***Update*** – it now appears Ponder has arrived in Mobile after a U-turn.

Charles Davis publishes the rest of his first round mock draft for NFL.com. He has the Seahawks taking Stephen Paea (DT, Oregon) with the #25 pick. In terms of scheme, I’m not sure how Paea would fit. He’s not an ideal fit at the one-technique given his lack of pure size, but can he translate to the Red Bryant position?

Mike Mayock lists his ‘top fives’ at each position with some interesting choices. He isn’t high on Robert Quinn (DE, UNC) and he doesn’t even name five corner prospects.

The NFL Network began it’s coverage of the draft this week as they followed the East/West Shrine game (more on that later today). In the meantime, check out these videos:

Mike Mayock lists his top quarterback prospects and ranks them, with Blaine Gabbert in at #1

Charles Davis posts a top-10 mock draft and Jay Glazer offers some thoughts on Cam Newton

Jamie Dukes and Trent Green discuss what Carolina should do with the first overall pick

Written by Glen Peer
Holding the 25th pick in the draft, the amount of QB needy teams drafting ahead of the Seahawks, and the unsettled CBA leaves no real clear picture of how the Seahawks QB situation will work out for the 2011 season.  QB is certainly a huge area of need for this franchise, and needs to be addressed but I don’t think its as simple as saying “take a QB with the 1st pick” and let him figure it out.

Via Free Agency

First we all must understand that as of right now Free Agency will not exist, as we all have come to know it.  With the owners opting out of the current CBA and no new one in place starting March 4th there will be no player trades, or contracts signed until it is resolved.  This leaves teams in a very precarious position since typically they have the free agency period to sign players in areas of need and then draft based on areas of need knowing what players they will enter OTAs and training camp based on free agency activity.  With no CBA the draft will take place before free agents are allowed to sign with teams. Continue reading

To see the updated mock draft click here

Pete Carroll held his end of season press conference yesterday and amongst other things the discussion turned to ‘priorities’ for the continued building of the roster.

The Seahawks head coach was quite vocal in his desire to improve both lines, an area he felt suffered due to depth and injury issues during the 2010 season.

On the defensive side – Brandon Mebane, Colin Cole and Red Bryant all missed time during the regular season. The absence of each was certainly felt.

The need amongst the interior defensive line may be increased knowing that Mebane is scheduled to be a free agent – although the unknown future of free agency and the CBA makes projecting what will happen a complete non-starter.

My initial reaction to the press conference was mainly not to read too much into anything that was said. Teams never show their hand this early in the post season and intentions can certainly change based on circumstance.

Carroll also spoke about the importance of improving the quarterback position for the long term – and it’s still difficult to imagine this isn’t an area of major priority even if it means potentially needing to make a significant move up the board.

Most recently I’ve been projecting the Seahawks could consider taking a receiver like Jonathan Baldwin (Pittsburgh). Following advances for Brandon Marshall and Vincent Jackson last season – it’s hard to believe the Seahawks have ended such interest in getting a sizable playmaker who can get downfield purely because they’ve re-signed Mike Williams and Ben Obomanu.

Indeed I’ve already received tweets claiming the fact receiver wasn’t a need named by Carroll in his conference as a sign that this is unlikely. In reality – it may mean the exact opposite.

Even so, my intention with these mock drafts is not to make inch-perfect accurate projections months before the event. I want to cover all bases and use the mocks as discussion starters. Who might the Seahawks consider? Would this be a good move? What alternative options are there?

The picks that stay the same are the ones where I feel strongly about their possibility and don’t see the projections made elsewhere. My continued decision to keep Jimmy Smith (CB, Colorado) in the top ten has stirred some debate. I often read comments saying this is unlikely because no other mock is making the projection.

I really believe Smith will be on everyone’s minds come the combine next month and while I’ll not be so stubborn to prolong the projection if I’m proven wrong – I’ll also continue to mock him in the top-ten until that moment.

In this latest mock draft I have the Seahawks taking Corey Liuget (DT, Illinois).

I’m not that familiar with Liuget, although ESPN’s Todd McShay recently commented that he isn’t far behind Nick Fairley and Marcell Dareus in another strong class for first-round defensive tackles.

Courtesy of the excellent Aaron Aloysius I’ve located tape on Liuget when he faced Ohio State:

He’s not as explosive as Fairley, who often breaks into the backfield with consummate ease. He also doesn’t do as good a job as Dareus disengaging blocks or flash the same kind of range. They’re both top ten picks though, so you can’t expect the same level of pure quality at #25 overall.

Liuget appears to have potential as a lighter alternative to Colin Cole in the one-technique role but also operate as a three technique spelling Brandon Mebane. That’s the kind of depth the Seahawks may be looking for on their defensive line.

Even so – it begs the question that with so many needs on the roster, can you justify a rotational cog on the defensive line with a first round draft pick?

You may notice I have Ryan Mallett falling out of the first round – not for the first time. Concerns with his character linger and while this may prove to be insignificant come the combine – you have to believe meetings conducted in Indianapolis will define the Arkansas quarterbacks stock.

Then again – can the Seahawks afford to roll the dice on Mallett given that they’re picking so late in the first round? The possible cost of only $11.5m as a first contract with only around $6-7m in guarantees limits the risk factor. The risk/reward of a quarterback for the future at that stage in the first round is much greater than a rotational defensive lineman.

To watch Ryan Mallett vs LSU from the 2010 college football season in full – click here

To see the updated mock draft click here