Senior Bowl 2015: Reviewing the Week's Early Standouts
The 2015 Senior Bowl is underway in Mobile, Alabama, where seniors and graduated juniors are taking the field to boost their draft stock heading into February's combine.
Initial reports are flowing in after two days of practices. After one practice in shells and one in full pads, top performers are emerging from the pack.
Unfortunately for any team that has a need at the quarterback position, the passers in Mobile have predictably struggled. Marcus Mariota and Brett Hundley declined invites, and the group in attendance is nothing special. They aren't considered anything more than project passers.
Instead, numerous skill-position players have stood out by showcasing top-level athletic skills from the get-go. The most physically talented have made their impact along both the offensive and defensive lines.
These are nine players whose first impressions were especially strong this week.
David Cobb, Minnesota
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Outside of looking quick, athletic and decisive as a runner in team drills, running backs who perform well in individual passing drills make the most money in Mobile. David Cobb has done just that.
Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports shared that Cobb is a natural at receiver and worked especially well with Texas linebacker Jordan Hicks.
Coming into this week, Cobb told Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com, "The biggest thing is I just want to compete every day. I want to show my skill set, show I'm an all-around back. I'm a three-down back. I can catch the ball, block, run inside and outside the tackles."
The ability to run slippery routes and catch the football is just what scouts needed to see from Cobb this week.
On top of that, Cobb has outperformed his counterparts at the RB position in pass-blocking drills. Backs are given unusually difficult tasks in blocking drills at the Senior Bowl, going one-on-one with blitzing linebackers in an unrealistic amount of space. For a RB to hold his own, he must possess impressive strength and technique.
Cobb is also making his mark in passing drills. He mostly performed in a downhill rushing attack at Minnesota, only catching 16 passes in 2014. Now that teams have seen his ability to contribute on all downs, his stock will rise.
Jamison Crowder, Duke
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Duke receiver Jamison Crowder produced with the best of them during his four collegiate seasons, tying the ACC record for career receptions in his final game, per NewsObserver.com.
He carried the Blue Devils offense for at least two seasons, doing his best to pillage secondaries with an inaccurate QB who missed long touchdown throws to him a handful of times in 2014. Crowder regularly freed himself as a route-runner and made a big impact as a punt returner as well.
As Emory Hunt of FootballGameplan.com describes, those route-running skills have translated to the practice field in Mobile.
The defensive backs Crowder has toasted feel the same way, saying he's the hardest receiver to cover, per Roster Watch.
Those skills will help Crowder compensate for his lack of size, so his development is encouraging.
Clive Walford, Miami
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Miami tight end Clive Walford tore through the competition on Wednesday, proving no match for linebackers as a route-runner and receiver.
Jeff Risdon of Real GM breaks down Walford's big day:
"He was not my primary focus but every time I looked in his direction he was making something positive happen. Walford is physically impressive at 6’4” and 254 pounds, and he showed real burst off the line throughout the last two days.
He made several catches that drew praise from the gathered scouting and NFL community. There is a major void in this draft at tight end behind Minnesota’s Maxx Williams, and Walford is doing a great job filling that void. He’s certainly making folks look back at his Hurricanes tape for longer looks.
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As noted, his rise is an important development at a tight end position that sorely lacks prospects for the first couple of rounds. Walford might just have the combination of size, athleticism and hands to find himself drafted in the second round.
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Ali Marpet, Hobart
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The Senior Bowl's biggest surprise after two days of practices is Ali Marpet of the Division III Hobart Statesman, where he picked up experience at both left and right tackle. At just under 6'4" and all of 310 pounds, Marpet might project better to guard or center in the NFL.
No lower-level player should be expected to hold his own right away at an event like this. Marpet did that after a jump of two divisions, squaring off with top talent from the best conferences in the country.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller and Rob Rang of CBSSports.com both commended Marpet's showing on Wednesday. Miller noted Marpet's good strength and movement, while Rang said he's fit in just fine.
The context of OL drills is important too. In one-on-one drills, offensive linemen are often hung out to dry against unrealistic rush paths and a static point to protect.
For Marpet to show the movement skills against quick rushers and the strength against power rushers to hold up is truly impressive. A Division III prospect should not perform the way he has against some of the country's best defensive linemen.
Carl Davis, Iowa
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No player has done more than Iowa defensive tackle Carl Davis to change the perception analysts have of him.
His final season with the Hawkeyes was less-than-spectacular. His teammate, Louis Trinca-Pasat, frequently outshined him on the Iowa defensive line. Davis often showed the physical tools of an NFL player, but inconsistency was a big issue.
Davis is having few issues in Mobile this week. Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com makes a case for Davis, noting his quickness and dominance one-on-one.
Individual drills are the perfect venue for Davis to show off his athletic ability for scouts. The quick first step and ability to get into an effective rush move will leave a big impression.
Every team in the league needs more interior disruptors on the defensive line, so Davis has surely upped his value so far.
Nate Orchard, Utah
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Utah defensive end Nate Orchard had something to prove coming into the week and has stepped up.
Orchard totaled up an impressive 18 sacks as a senior and has a lot of momentum heading into the predraft process. Athleticism was a question mark, though, because Orchard often relied on power and instincts for the Utes. Does he have the aesthetics to be an NFL rusher?
Per Jene Bramel of Football Guys, the first two days of practice say that Orchard is just that. "First off snap, mixing in variety of pass rush moves with power and leverage."
Orchard will never be a terror around the corner. If his first step stays quick, though, he can get hands to offensive tackles and work his repertoire of moves more effectively.
If he's able to continue his impressive showing for the rest of the week into the combine, Orchard will be a lock for the first two rounds.
Hayes Pullard, USC
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Hayes Pullard's solid showing started at the weigh-in. The USC linebacker measured in just above the 6'0" threshold and came in at a solid 236 pounds, which will reassure teams of his fit in the NFL.
Alex Brown of Optimum Scouting was impressed with Pullard's work against the run on Wednesday, saying he's capable of flowing downhill and getting to the ball-carrier.
That description matches his style of play for the Trojans as well. Pullard is an aggressive linebacker who delivers explosive hits. Seeing those skills translate so quickly in a much different setting will encourage scouts.
Pullard holding his own in coverage is big news too, because opponents had success throwing on him in 2014.
Thus far, Pullard has done everything in his power to back up a strong collegiate resume with an impressive start to the predraft process.
Quinten Rollins, Miami (OH)
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Quinten Rollins draws a bright spotlight in Mobile and will continue to do so until draft day. His situation is unlike any other, having only played a single season of football for the Redhawks after playing big minutes on the basketball floor for three years prior.
Rollins acclimated quickly to the gridiron, bringing down seven interceptions in a standout senior season. Now he is making his mark at the Senior Bowl. Brugler of CBSSports.com details Rollins' performance:
"Miami (Ohio) cornerback Quinten Rollins entered the week with plenty of buzz, but Tuesday's practice showed that while talented, he's still understandably unpolished on the football field.
With only one year of college experience under his belt, Rollins has plenty of work to do with his technique and comfort on an island. But during one-on-one drills, he played with confidence and never backed down, showing athleticism, aggressiveness and the raw ability that could make him the top senior defensive back drafted.
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Expectations should have been mild for such an inexperienced player, but Rollins holding his own right away is very encouraging. He should only keep improving over the course of the week.
Jaquiski Tartt, Samford
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Like most years, the 2015 class is calling out for more talent at the safety position. Samford's Jaquiski Tartt is making his case.
First, he measured in over 6'1" and 220 pounds, so he certainly possesses an NFL body despite coming from a smaller school. He backed up the initial promise by taking the practice field by storm.
Eric Galko of Optimum Scouting breaks it down:
"Safety Jaquiski Tartt really stood out among a crowd of talented defensive backs on the South roster. He’s a powerfully built safety that moves well enough to play as the single high defender, shows confidence to play over the slot and anticipates route developments at a high level.
He made play after play in team drills and looked very athletic during individual work, but I want to see him convert pass breakups into interceptions. Twice, Tartt properly read the route, beat the receiver to the football and simply couldn’t finish the play.
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Combining physical tools with coverage instincts is the ticket to a successful NFL career for Tartt. He's off to a great start.
Player measurements via Draft Breakdown. Statistics via ESPN.com.
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