2021 Senior Bowl: Recap of the second day of training

The second day of testing of the 2021 Reese Senior Bowl kicked off on Wednesday and was just as exciting as the opening day.

Although there was a slight emphasis on special team training compared to the day before, the format of practice was still quite similar. It turned out that there were plenty of opportunities for players from all positions to show off their stuff.

Some familiar characters from Day One showed up and excelled on Wednesday, as did a few new faces. Here are some of the main takeaways from Day 2 of Senior Bowl practice.

Senior Bowl Day 2 Notes

Mac Jones walked out the gate with a poor performance on Day 1, but he certainly bounced back with his performance on Wednesday.

Jones generally looked more precise when throwing the ball, and he demonstrated more balance when moving in the pocket. His specific limitations were obvious, as they have been every time he stepped onto the pitch. He’s a talented player, however, and he showed a much more comfortable style of play with a day of practice behind him.

The quarterback’s play was generally quite pedestrian as it was on day one. Jamie Newman stood out among a rather disappointing field, again showcasing arm strength and solid intermediate precision. He had a few examples of forced reads that resulted in turnovers, but he was one of the best quarterbacks. However, no other quarterback has put in a truly remarkable performance.

I made it a priority to watch more offensive and defensive line practices on Wednesday, and it was certainly a smart move. The drills introduced a class of blockers that can fit into a starting lineup and contribute fairly quickly.

It also marked a strong performance for many offensive linemen in smaller schools. Dillon Radunz of North Dakota State looked powerful at the point of attack and showed great agility in space. Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Quinn Meinerz shone again, taking reps as both guard and center while displaying a nasty edge and polished form. Another big beneficiary of today’s practice was D’Ante Smith of East Carolina, as he instantly dominated with power, a high engine and good pads. The same applies to Grambling State’s David Moore, who was incredibly strong on contact. James Hudson of Cincinnati also showcased top-notch physical tools in his tackling practice.

However, it wasn’t just a day for little students – some Power 5 hopefuls came to play in a big way as well. Creed Humphrey of Oklahoma was a stationary object at the center point of attack, as was Drake Jackson of Kentucky. Deonte Brown of Alabama also proved powerful when engaged with defenders at the guard post.

A handful of defensive linemen were also able to make a pretty big impact. Among them was Tulane’s Cameron Sample, who used quickness both in his first step and in his hands to beat offensive linemen in one-on-one drills. A bit of a tweener as an inside edge hybrid, Sample was able to get into the backfield no matter where he was lined up.

Quincy Roche of Miami (FL) was another notable talent who lived up to his billing early in the round. His speed out of the snap and his flexibility to change direction and turn the corner made him a difficult rider to stop, especially for Alex Leatherwood of Alabama, who had a somewhat difficult day. Carlos Basham Jr. of Wake Forest was also consistent enough to beat blockers with power.

Other edge defenders who looked good Wednesday were Jordan Smith of the UAB and Shaka Toney of Penn State. The inside defensive line class saw UCLA’s Osa Odighizuwa put on another quality performance, but the inside offensive line seemed to gain the upper hand, overall.

I didn’t spend so much time watching wide receivers and defensive backs start over this time around, but I caught enough head-to-head to see which players generally stood out.

On the defensive end of the ball, UCF’s Aaron Robinson stood out for me. He looked like a closed cornerback and was able to stay physical through his opponents’ rods and get them out of their way. Tre Brown of Oklahoma has always been able to end opposition in men’s coverage, which was a welcome sign for a player whose playing strip had just decent physicality.

The receivers seemed to gain the upper hand, however. Clemson’s Amari Rodgers has been fantastic, showing sudden quickness in his cuts and a big explosion from the line of scrimmage. Josh Palmer of Tennessee was another wide receiver who was able to open steadily with a crafty arsenal of outs, which is encouraging for a 6-foot-1, 210-pound wide.

By the first half of training, Oklahoma State’s Tylan Wallace and South Dakota State’s Cade Johnson both excelled in one-on-one exercises. Wallace showed why he was highly touted as a Day 2 prospect, while Johnson showed why many draft hoops are sleeping on him.

The remaining positions turned out to be more difficult to assess given their circumstances, as many securities have been placed in unfavorable head-to-head with wide receivers, running backs usually don’t have much of a chance to come together. stand out in offside contexts, and the latter case rings true for linebackers.

In those positions, however, I liked what I saw of Florida safety Shawn Davis, Missouri running back Larry Rountree III and Houston linebacker Grant Stuard. Both defenders looked nimble on cover, while Rountree leaned on a solid Day 1 with another well balanced day.

With practice now halfway through the week, some of the best players of the week have started to stand out. There are still two days of entertaining action left before the Senior Bowl game itself is played on Saturday, which could give several prospects an opportunity to make up for lost ground.