QB and O-Line depth wild card

Reese’s Senior Bowl has always been seen as an important part of the assessment process, with top prospects coming to Mobile to participate in an All-Star Game that serves as a week-long audition in front of the coaches and scouts of the NFL.

Meetings, practices and training allow evaluators to assess a prospect’s potential in an ultra-competitive environment. Given the amount of time it takes to make a few calls and assess the practice tape, here are my thoughts on the best performers and scenarios for Day 2:

The talent and depth of the O-Line class is impressive.

If Senior Bowl talent is any indication, the 2021 class is teeming with frontline talent. Teams that need offensive linemen should be able to find top notch players based on skill and depth at the offensive tackle and offensive guard / center. At the Senior Bowl, the impressive performances of James Hudson of Cincinnati, D’Ante Smith of East Carolina, Creed Humphrey of Oklahoma and Quinn Meinerz of Wisconsin-Watewater only confirm the exceptional collection of talent available in the 2021 Draft.

Smith and Hudson wowed the reviewers with their athleticism, balance and body control. Each edge blocker was able to block the rushers in individual drills and their success continued in competitive team sessions. Smith, in particular, displayed the patience, versatility, and punch that Scouts covet in swing players (offensive guard / offensive tackle).

Meinerz’s dominance in the Senior Bowl came as a pleasant surprise due to his lack of activity in the fall and the competitive jump. The standout DIII possessed defenders at the line of scrimmage with his strong hands and wicked demeanor. Meinerz served pancakes to several defenders in the early days of training and his finishing skills certainly stood out. If he can beat the competition at the Senior Bowl after missing a regular season, imagine how well he could perform as a pro with more repetition and quality instruction.

Keep an eye out for Hunter Long as the top “Y” in class.

It’s hard to find a tight end back with the blocking ability of an offensive tackle and the receiving skills of a wide receiver. The Boston College product has the potential to develop into a five-star tight end that thrives as a blocker and receiver to the next level. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound player is a long, lanky athlete with enough speed and quickness to flee linebackers and safeties. Long is a fluid road runner with a knack for creating road-top separation using a variety of head and shoulder scythes and body bumps to lose defenders. he combines his superb road running ability with reliable receiving skills that allow him to thrive as a chain mover in midfield.

As a blocker, Long is a sticky blocker with the size, strength and body control to neutralize defenders on the edges. He displays quick hands engaging defenders after the snap and works his feet to hold and finish blocks. While not a crushing blocker, he’s a sticky blocker capable of winning with his restlessness and relentlessness.

In an age when teams are looking for a tight end of the old school with the ability to anchor sets of personal “12” (1 RB, 2 TE, and 2 WR), Long is an intriguing option as a “Y” in this draft class.

The little school characters shine on the big stage.

The Senior Bowl is considered a big piece of the scoring puzzle when it comes to spotting smaller school players. Boy Scouts want to see how lower level players fare against higher level competition to determine if they will be able to acclimatize to professional play quickly. Based on their performances this week, central Arkansas CB Robert Rochell and South Dakota State WR Cade Johnson have a chance to shine as pros.

Rochell, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound blanket wedge with ultra-aggressive play, showed the athleticism and movement skills to match the quick pass sensors on the perimeter. Although he was a bit rusty after a long layoff (only played in one game in 2020), he flashed the tools coaches love in an outside corner. From his excellent acceleration and bursting to his explosive ability to change direction, Rochell moves like a gazelle around the edges. If he can hone his technique and footwork, he could become a legitimate playmaker on the island with his exceptional ball skills (career 10 INT) and tackling ability.

Johnson is a natural slot machine receiver with the stop-start speed, road racing skills, and hands to be an effective “chain mover” as a WR3. The productive wide receiver (139 career receptions, 2,554 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns) has a knack for opening up using a variety of tricks to set up and outsmart defenders. Johnson’s ability to open up combined with his superb kick-return skills should allow him to thrive as a “catch and run” specialist in an attack that features routes and optional cruisers. If he lands in the right system, Johnson could thrive as a slot receiver in spread lineups.

Jamie Newman is the quarterback’s wild card.

The evolution of quarterback play in the NFL has prompted scouts to seek more athletic options in the post. Newman is a double threat playmaker with size (6-4, 230lbs), speed, athleticism and the raw talent of the arm to create trouble with the ball in his hands. Despite being an unfinished product with inconsistent passing skills and limited experience, the former Wake Forest star has shown enough potential as a runner-passer to gain some consideration as a developmental player at this point. post.

As a three-year-old with 16 career starts, Newman amassed 4,787 total yards (3,959 passing yards; 826 rushing yards) and 45 combined touchdowns (35 assists; 10 carries) while torching opponents with his skills. sturdy playmakers on the perimeter. From the pocket, he has the potential to deliver field strikes on passing play, but needs to become a more efficient player in the return game. He misses the mark on some rhythmic throws and shows some indecision for his second and third options in progressions when opponents take away his primary reading.

That said, Newman is an explosive athlete and his ability to move around the Senior Bowl has certainly captured the imaginations of scouts and coaches. He’s been at his best performing bootlegs and movement passes, especially rolling to his right. Newman’s success as a movement passer combined with his size and running ability make him an intriguing option as a development prospect.

There aren’t many options for the defensive tackle.

It’s no secret that the 2021 class lacks depth in a defensive tackle position. The Senior Bowl only backed that up with just a few guys who stood out as inside defensemen during the early days of practice. Washington DT Levi Onwuzurike certainly showed dominating potential on Day 1 as a disruptive force on the inside, but he was the only defensive tackle to display a five-star potential. Florida State DT Marvin Wilson is an intriguing power player with the size, strength and pop to shock defenders at the line of scrimmage, but he lacks the elite explosiveness and contraction to be a sack performer. upscale interior.

USC DT Marlon Tuipulotu is a muscular inside defender with the strength and power to defend against the run, but he hasn’t demonstrated top-of-the-line pass-running ability. He’s more of a pocket pusher at the line of scrimmage and his inability to win with speed or finesse limits his impact as a passer to the next level.