2009 Senior Bowl Recap: Offense—Studs and Duds

The 2009 Senior Bowl is now in the books.  Some considered it a down year for the game considering the number of players who decided to sit this one out (including Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe, James Laurinaitis, and Michael Johnson).  While the first round talent was in short supply, the number of players looking to improve their stock was not.

Without further ado, here are this year’s Senior Bowl Studs and Duds (by position).

Quarterbacks

Studs

This has to be the worst QB class in the Senior Bowl in years, considering the player who looked the best, Pat White, was criticized all week by numerous media outlets for not playing wide receiver or running back.

Personally, I don’t blame White for playing QB because despite his flaws (namely height and accuracy) he was easily the best QB in Mobile.  He displayed above average arm strength, good pocket awareness, and of course, excellent mobility.  He especially impressed in the team portion of practices, where his instincts shined.

While he will likely be no more than a backup QB in the NFL, the emergence of the Wildcat will make White a third round draft pick by someone on draft day.

Sam Houston State’s Rhett Bomar was not terrible but did not take advantage of the opportunity and remains a fourth round pick at best.

Duds

I want to say all of them, as poor passing made it difficult to evaluate the receivers. Limiting the duds to two, let’s go with Cullen Harper and Nathan Brown.  Harper continues to baffle the scouts who once projected him as the top senior QB.  He struggled mightily with accuracy and awareness all week.

As for Brown, he struggled in every facet of the game, including poor accuracy and a below average arm.  Most concerning how was how many center exchange problems he had.  Fumbled snaps were such a problem the coaching staffs decided to use a lot more shotgun formations than evaluators would have liked during the game on Saturday.

Running backs

Studs

Andre Brown entered the week as a bit of a mystery. His play at NC State was up and down due in part to injuries, but this week he showed good power and burst and may have elevated himself to the top senior RB prospect.

Liberty’s Rashad Jennings also had a good week displaying a nice blend of speed and power.  Overall though he was more good than great, meaning his stock remains in the fourth/fifth round range.

If there was a breakout guy, it was Jeremiah Johnson, who showcased big play ability out of the backfield.  However, his lack of size will likely keep him a mid-round/late round pick.

Duds

It’s not that they played bad, but neither Arian Foster nor James Davis did anything to distinguish themselves this week.   In the words of Dennis Green, “they are what we thought they were.”

Wide Receivers

Studs

Derrick Williams showcased good hands, excellent run after catch ability, and overall was the most talented receiver on the field.  Kenny McKinley, Brian Robiskie, and Juaquin Iglesias all had solid weeks as well.  In particular, Iglesias showed better than expected route running for a guy coming out of the spread.

Duds

I know I listed him above, but it is worth mentioning that Derrick Williams struggled mightily fielding punts and needs to work on his route running.   Mike Wallace probably helped himself being here and built on an excellent final month of the season, but his upward mobility will be limited because he catches the ball with his body too often.  He did show good speed and an ability to get separation.

Cal Poly’s Ramses Barden came in with high expectations but overall was merely average in terms of performance.  In particular, his route running and ability to get off the line need work.

Tight Ends

Studs

Brandon Pettigrew had a good week and solidified his stranglehold on the No. 1 tight end position.  While he does not possess blazing speed, he runs good routes, is an above average athlete, and most importantly is a good blocker.

Southern Mississippi’s Shawn Nelson was among the week’s biggest winners, as he showcased tremendous speed and surprisingly good blocking ability.  Watching him shutdown Rey Maualuga in a pass rushing drill not once but twice was a nice statement for a guy considered undersized.  Depending on his 40 time, he could be this year’s Dustin Keller (with better blocking).

Duds

None of the tight ends was especially bad, although Connor Barwin proved he was not a tight end.  That said, Barwin might have been the best example of what the Senior Bowl is all about, as he wanted to be there so bad he was willing to play out of position just to showcase his athleticism in front of the scouts.

At defensive end he showed he was a raw but talented pass rusher.  While he struggled in one on one drills, he played well in team drills when he was allowed to play more instinctively and the linemen were not focused on stopping just him.

Offensive Tackle

Studs

The tackle position lost a lot of its luster when Eugene Monroe and Jason Smith decided not to play, leaving Michael Oher as the only top talent at the position.

Oher showed why he is considered a first round pick with his athleticism and a bit of a mean streak.  He also showed his flaws, namely an occasional lack of focus and a tendency to stand upright, making him vulnerable to bull rushes.  While Oher was not the star of the week many had hoped, it is hard to grade him down too much because he was the only top tackle willing to play.

The next best tackle was probably William Beatty.  Beatty was notorious for frequent holding calls, but he also showed the athleticism to play the left side.  He could be the best of the second tier tackles in the draft.

Duds

Of the big name guys, Phil Loadholt was one of the biggest disappointments of the week.  Despite being 6'8" and possessing long arms, his inability to handle speed rushers was noticeable, making a move to the right side or inside a necessity at the next level.

Troy Kropog was also a bit of a disappointment.  He showed above average athleticism but was overwhelmed physically.  Xavier Fulton struggled mightily all week as well.

Offensive Guard

Studs

None of the true guards had an especially good week.  The best of the lot were Trevor Canfield and Tyronne Green, who both had their moments.

Duds

LSU G Herman Johnson entered the week as one of the top two guard prospects in the draft but was overpowered by defensive tackles and was out of his league against speed rushers.  He may be a mountain of a man, but he was either out of shape and ill-prepared or he was exposed. 

Center

Studs

The 2009 center class is being talked about as the best center class in years, and the group performed rather well during the week, so much so that if your team is looking for a guard, it would be a smart move to consider one of these centers first.

Alex Mack stood out as the best of the group, but Eric Wood and Antoine Caldwell both had good weeks as well.  Wood looked especially good in team play when his ability to pull was on display.

Duds

Jonathan Luigs had an OK week, but his performance lagged behind a competitive group.  He was overpowered by the defensive tackles and was a step slower than his competition.

Coming Soon: 2009 Senior Bowl Defensive Studs and Duds

Chris Maier is senior editor for NFLDraft101.com and can be reached at [e-mail].  Chief Scout Dan Wernery contributed to this article and he can be reached at [e-mail]