Detroit Lions: 2012 Senior Bowl Draft Targets

There will be some outstanding 2012 NFL Draft targets at the 2012 Senior Bowl.

The Senior Bowl is always fascinating because of the range of draftable players.  On the top end there are sure fire first-rounders like Mike Adams (OT, OSU), Alfonzo Dennard (CB, Neb), Courtney Upshaw (OLB/DE, Ala), Janoris Jenkins (CB, N Ala), Melvin Ingram (OLB/DE, S Car), etc....

On the low end you have outstanding college players who may not even be drafted such as Kellen Moore (QB, BSU), Terrance Ganaway (RB, Bay) and Drew Butler (P, Georgia).  Everything in between is covered, too.

The Lions will get an up close and in depth look at these draftee's who will play in this year's 2012 Senior Bowl.  Here are some potential targets (including how their week of practice went and how that may effect their draft stock). 

Zebrie Sanders, OT FSU

Zebrie had a decent week this week at the Senior Bowl.  With a great week of practice and a good game he might have climbed into the second round.  This clearly wasn't the case.  He looks like a third-round prospect.  His Combine will determine if he goes early in the third or late.

One thing is clear, Sanders is NOT a left tackle in the NFL.  He may be a right tackle.  Unless a team is desperate for offensive lineman he probably isn't a starter as a rookie. 

He needs to work on his lower body strength and his knee and ankle flexion to anchor against a bull rush.  He could also use some development with hand placement to gain control on opposing pass rushers.

The Lions might look for Zebrie in the third round, though I am not sure he fits a big need as a right tackle.

DeVier Posey, WR OSU

While nothing jumped out about DeVier as being top-notch or special, he was solid.  He demonstrated that he belonged with that group of college seniors.

DeVier looks to be a deserving mid-round prospect (late third- to fourth-round).  His willingness to block and do some of the dirty work will get Posey on the field as an NFL rookie on special teams, and maybe in some multiple receiver sets.

He can work on being more sudden into and out of his breaks, as well as sinking his hips on those cuts to run sharper patterns.

Posey would be good value in the fourth round, if he lasts that long.

Markelle Martin, S Ok State

Martin showed some of his good skills as well as some of his deficiencies.  He may have been overtaken as the No. 2 safety in the draft by Harrison Smith of Notre Dame. 

Markelle showed that he has good range and could make a pretty good center fielder-type safety.  When the ball is in the air he can cover the ground to get there.  Though he's no Steve Atwater, he is a willing hitter and usually brings his man down.

On the flip side he didn't show much ability in man-to-man coverage.  Yes, I realize that few college safeties do.  But if he wants to be an impact NFL player, he needs to at least learn how to position himself with respect to the man he is covering to dictate routes and make his assignment simpler.

Martin won't make it out of Round 2 and may not even be there for the Lions pick in that round.

Ben Jones, C Georgia

Ben Jones is an emotional, feisty technically sound center with some natural leadership qualities.

He has good ability to get to blocks on the second level but he will definitely need to improve on his functional strength in order to handle a bona fide NFL run stuffer or a quality bull rush in the middle.

He is the No. 2 center in the draft and if the Lions don't pick up Konz in the first round they will have a shot at Jones in the second.  He won't be there in round three.

Casey Hayward, CB Vanderbilt

Hayward has a very high compete level.  He tracks well.  He is physical with receivers.  He has good football IQ.  Unfortunately for Casey, he just doesn't seem that fast or fluid, probably the two most important qualities that a corner might need.

He would be a great fit as a cover two corner.  A team like the Bears might really like him. 

If he manages to run a sub-4.45 40 at the Combine he might find himself in the late second round.  Barring that he is a third-round prospect and I am not sure he makes it around to the Lions. 

Donnie Fletcher, CB Boston College

Donny Fletcher was awful in off man coverage.  He did show improvement as the week went on.  I liked his size and his physicality. 

He was a monster in press man coverage.  I am not sure that he has deep recovery speed.  His Combine could vault him into the second or leave him in the third round where he is now. 

If the Lions get lucky he might be there for them late in the third.

Zach Brown, OLB N Carolina

Zach Brown is the fastest linebacker in the NFL.  And he isn't even in the NFL yet.  There is talk of him running in the 4.3's?!?  That is absolutely scary.  

He has speed, strength and good movement.  What more could a coach want???  Production, that's what.  Not that Brown hasn't played well, but his gifts say G.O.A.T. and his production says pretty good college linebacker.

Zach Brown is a no-doubt first-rounder.  If he is there the Lions would be foolish not to snatch him up.  Once the NFL game clicks in, this guy is a Pro Bowler.

Audie Cole, ILB NC State

Audie Cole is was one of my favorite players this week. 

He was suspected of being a little light, but showed up at 248lbs.  6'4", 248lbs is great size for a middle backer. 

When I watched him practice, his directional transition was excellent for a middle linebacker of his size.  He showed the speed and quickness to cover as well.  He had a little bit of a challenge locating the ball in the air but that is a very rare skill for a middle linebacker.

Audie helped his draft status this week.  Post-Combine, he could be a surprise second-round pick or a solid third-rounder.  Even if this isn't a position of need he would fit the Lions B.P.A. strategy in the third round.

Mike Brewster, C OSU

The bottom line is that Mike Brewster has some wood to chop.  He looks great, with a strong build and a good muscle to fat ratio.  But he just really struggled to anchor. His shotgun snaps were also problematic at times.

He got after it, showed a strong motor and grit.  I think his ceiling is higher than any other center in the draft (except Konz) but he may take a year or two on the bench to develop.  He can't be moved to guard either due to that lack of functional strength.

If he is available in the third round and the Lions haven't picked up a center in the first two rounds, he should get some strong consideration at that point.  His upside merits selecting him if the value is there.

Alfonzo Dennard, CB Nebraska

Alfonzo probably didn't enhance his draft stock much during 2012 Senior Bowl week.  This actually might be good news for the Lions.  Prior to this week Dennard was almost surely a top 20 pick.  Now he may be available for the Lions.

He is well built and physical.  His run support is outstanding.  He does well in press man coverage and by contrast seems lost in off man coverage.  Keeping his feet moving is the source of the problem.

Dennard won't make it out of the first and the Lions will be sorely tempted if he is still there at their pick in the first round.

Mike Adams, OT OSU

Mike showed a few things this week.  The first is that he does have the feet and athletic ability to play left tackle in the NFL.  The second is that he can struggle against change of direction by a skilled pass rusher. 

Mike came into this week as a first-rounder and the best offensive lineman in the 2012 Senior Bowl and that didn't change.  He might be better served by getting his weight down to around 310-315lbs if he hopes to play left tackle in the NFL.

It is highly unlikely that an NFL caliber starting left tackle as a rookie will be available when the Lions pick at No. 23.  If he is, expect to see the Lions' personnel guy showing off his 40 time when getting to the podium.