One of the NFL’s steadiest franchises over the past four decades always needs some immediate help though the Draft and a few more guys with solid potential pro careers. The Rooney family is in it’s third generation of leadership and there is no indication that management styles are changing any time soon. Expect a thoughtful, conservative approach next… Read More »
Despite the Jerry Jones propaganda machine, the Cowboys have a lot of holes to fill if they are to pose a serious threat to the Eagles for the NFC East crown in 2018. The cutting of Dez Bryant creates one more hole near the top of their roster, but his contract became untenable against the Salary Cap. Round… Read More »
Like an awful lot of teams around the NFL the Chiefs are a little tough to project for 2018 with John Dorsey gone, and for all intents and purposes the team now almost totally in the hands of ANDY REID. We shall see how Andy does, but for now here are my Picks for them. Don’t forget that… Read More »
The Packers have the most picks of any team in the League this year. It irks me that you might never know it for how little attention and mention they get at NFL Network on their Path to the Draft program. I guess little Green Bay just isn’t sexy enough for NFLN. I would expect that new GM… Read More »
Let’s move on over to the defensive side of the line-of-scrimmage for a few profiles of some very good defensive Combine performers, who deserve more attention over the next month. I’m not sure any one performer proved more in Indy than CB/JAIRE ALEXANDER of Louisville. Going into the Combine I think many scouts felt that Alexander was right… Read More »
You know I’m not a big fan of doing Mock Drafts, other than by team. But in advance of the Combine, I felt it would be fun to post a Mock First Round. Please understand that I am not trying to project who teams will actually take. My picks are based upon a combination of best available and… Read More »
The All-Star Draft prospect exhibition season is over. Final scores in these games are almost meaningless. Who was there and how did they perform is the meat and potatoes that we look at. So here are some post-game thoughts. Please keep in mind that rosters at these games can be very fluid as injuries occur. So some of… Read More »
I wanted to wait until I got back to my home in Florida to select my final Game All-Star team, so that I could watch the game tape at least once. Working in a radio broadcast booth does not always allow for specific player watching since the broadcast follows the ball primarily. I would also note that many… Read More »
The following players were those that I thought performed best overall during the 3 days of practice this year. If I failed to mention someone who performed well but escaped my attention I truly wish to apologize. QB BAKER MAYFIELD #6 RB RASHAAD PENNY #20 WR TRE’QUAN SMITH #4 WR D.J. CHARK #7 WR CEDRICK WILSON #11 TE… Read More »
Funny how time just slips away. I first heard those words in a country song when I was very young. They mean more to me today and especially during Senior Bowl week. Here we are about to begin Thursday practices, which are the last before the game on Saturday. North Practice Our last chance to see all the… Read More »
We opened out action today with the NORTH practice at 12:30. As expected a bit more action and hitting today. I spent a good deal of the first hour with the DL group , which seems to be one of the more talented position groups on the team. And some of the work and constructive instruction OL Coach… Read More »
In the brave new world of the Senior Bowl the weigh-in now starts at 7:30 AM, but that is my problem not yours, dear reader. Here are some odds and ends observations from Pigskin Paul. It is my opinion that we are continuing to see the brave new world of college football players under the new, more aggressive… Read More »
Not sure if I should really call this Day 1 or just check-in time. Although there was a pre-dinner Press Conference with a few introductory comments by Director Phil Savage. Phil explained that despite the plethora of “drop-outs” from the original acceptances list it was really not more than in many recent years. Bowl injuries that still require… Read More »
As always there seems to be a performance dichotomy between practice and game-day performances below is my All-Star team based on actual in-game performance. Please also remember that some practice warriors never go to perform in the actual game because of injuries or other circumstances. QB NIC SHIMONEK #16 TEXAS TECH RB PHILLIP LINDSAY #23 COLORADO WR JEF… Read More »
Below is my All-Practice team for this year’s Shrine Game. These are the 22 (actually 25) players who stood out to me at their positions for the week’s work in practices. I did not consider the Special Teamers since we actually see them do so little during practice time. I got extra input and help this morning from… Read More »
The last day of full practices had a lovely weather start in the morning for the East squad. Temps were in the low 50’s with a bright warm sun shining down. Wednesday is the last day of full contact practice for this game, so the intensity level is high given that it’s the last chance for some guys… Read More »
Another wonderful Florida Winter day with morning practice temps of about 55-60. But not such a great day for the East OL unit, or their coaches. I never even saw KYLE BOSCH on the field this morning. And by the end of practice both JAMAR McGLOSTER/Syracuse and CORY HELMS/South Carolina had left for medical attention. The McGloster injury… Read More »
On the ground again in St. Petersburg, FL for Day One of the 2018 Shrine Game practices. Because of the morning National Scouting player weigh-in, which the press is strangely barred from, both Monday practices are in the afternoon. The temps had risen to the low 60’s with mostly clear skies and warm sunshine. The EAST took the… Read More »
KEISHAWN BIERRIA #7 LB WASHINGTON 6’1/230. Because he lacks the traditional bulk of an ILB BERRIA has not gotten the credit he deserves as an active, productive IB, who plays the run effectively, and has the athleticism to handle pass coverage in the middle of the field. He has a nose for the ball and pursues from sideline… Read More »
There are times when the only value in my world for many of these earlier Bowls with .500 teams in action is that it gives me an opportunity (tongue in cheek) to look at a few prospects that fit the category of ‘good players in bad/mediocre programs’. So let’s separate a little fly-shit out of the pepper, shall… Read More »
Got a trifecta of games for you to watch on New Year’s Day. These are big time Bowls with top tier teams playing, which means lots of pro prospects to watch in anticipation of the NFL Draft in 4 months. Also note that Editor Colin has the two Final Four games for you elsewhere on the site. Monday… Read More »
Friday Dec. 29 1PM/ET ESPN BELK BOWL Charlotte, NC WAKE FOREST (7-5) by 3 VS TEXAS A&M (7-5) Another game that finds at least on of the participants in the midst of a head coaching change. The Aggies are now moving into the Jimbo Fisher era. WAKE has gone through their upheaval and this is now HC DAVE… Read More »
INDEPENDENCE BOWL (Shreveport); SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (8-4) vs. FLORIDA STATE (6-6) by 3; 1:30 PM ET; ESPN After a bit of debate about whether FSU’s schedule actually earned them a bowl bid at 6-6, it appears we are ready to play some football. Southern Miss has been a solid mid-major football program for decades now. Without a doubt their… Read More »
We’re getting warmed up for the legit Holiday Bowl schedule, which I happen to think begins Christmas Eve. But for now let’s take a peek at games for this Saturday the 23rd. The overall talent from a Pro Prospect standpoint clearly elevates with this trio of games. Saturday Dec. 23rd NOON/ET ESPN. Birmingham Bowl, Birmingham, AL TEXAS TECH… Read More »
DAVID BRIGHT #64 OT STANFORD 6’5/300. I don’t think this guy has gotten the credit he deserves for his all-around play out at LT for the Cardinal. Every time I watch Stanford play he impresses me with his steady work out at LT in both pass-pro and the all important run blocking in the Stanford ground and pound… Read More »
