And then it was over. I still have a hard time seeing 3 days of practice as enough to mold a team or to get a great read on prospects, but it is still better than nothing and another tool to use in evaluating a player. The weather was more like normal Mobile today with lower temperatures, and rain clouds in the air. But the rain held off (just now drizzling outside) and the wind was not a factor. All things considered a very nice day for football.
NORTH AM PRACTICE
TYLER VARGA/FB/RB/YALE #30 has been an intriguing guy this week. He wowed us all on Tuesday morning with his muscular, ripped body. But he has also been more than just a guy in practices. He’s technically the North’s blocking FB, but this guy can tote the rock. He has also shown good hands catching a few balls out of the backfield. WHen he gets the ball in his hands he has a burst and more speed than I thought he had. He is on the cusp of being draftable, and making a few plays on Saturday would really help him make a strong case. At the least, the CFL is about to gain an excellent young player if the NFL doesn’t want his services.
TY MONTGOMERY has really bounced back after a rather shaky Tuesday. MONTGOMERY got attention for the wrong reasons right from the start of the week when instead of being 6’2/215 he measured in at under 6′ tall @ 5’116. He looked sluggish and hesitant at times in the Tuesday practice, with some dropped balls. But he bounced to back to exhibit some explosion at times and good hands since then. I never thought he was a deep ball guy, but he did show good explosion after the catch the past two days. If he can show something in the return game during the game he should leave Mobile with some Draft momentum. But in my mind any talk of him in either Rounds 1 or 2 would seem a stretch right now.
The best looking, most productive, all-around TE on this squad is NICK BOYLE/Delaware #86. He had a couple of crunching blocks this morning on run plays. He has also shown good ball awareness, and big strong hands on some receptions. BOYLE won big on Tuesday at the weigh-in with the following numbers: H/6’044, 267 lbs., H/1058″, a/3338″. He looks to me like a solid all-around NFL TE prospect, who has decent speed for his size. I doubt he will blow up the TE group numbers at Indy, but he’s not going to disappoint either. I see bOYLE having a shot at Round 4 in May if he test well.
One of the feel good guys here this week has been ALI MARPET/OL/Hobart #50. Hobart is a D-3 school so this guy is in over his head literally. He’s worked exclusively inside at OG this week later posting some nice numbers at the weigh-in. It should come as no surprise if I tell you I have waited to write about him hoping he would improve over the course of the week. After looking like a blocking bag earlier in the week in drills against the big school boy DL, he came to life. He accepted coaching and worked hard on technique. He’s not leaving here as a star, but he held his own today, winning a few battles in the 1-on-1 pass blocking drills. I would expect him to make the leap to a Combine invitation based on his improvement and potential. Good for you ALI MARPET!
MARCUS HARDISON/DL #11, was a late invitee after a few bigger name guys backed out of the game. I wrote some good things about him for you late in the college season. He has done a very nice job here in Mobile. He is not a big flash player, but he holds his ground and gets his assignment done. To my eyes he has won more 1-on-1 battles than he has lost by a wide margin. He was listed at 300 lbs. by the Sun Devils, but he weighed in at 311 Tuesday, and was still able to move around well in practices. I think his best position will be playing the 5-technique in a 3-4 scheme. He has looked as good as any other DL here this week.
The OLB group here in Mobile is indicative of what NFL teams are going through these days trying to find OLB help. This squad lists 3 OLB and each of them played DE with their hand on he ground in college. The best overall prospect amongst them is clearly NATE ORCHARD/Oregon State #99. He was a sack artist at Oregon State and a top level athlete. He looks the part of a 3-4 OLB, but it is going to be an adjustment and he will need to make the learning curve a quick one.He has shown explosion and athleticism and has responded well to coaching this week. I feel the game will tell us a lot about how much progress he has made.
ERIC ROWE/CB #18 has gotten some buzz here this week. He’s a former S at UTAH who made the conversion to CB and played well last season. He has the size (6’005″/204) that the Sea Hawks have made all the rage in recent seasons. I was especially impressed watching him today with his ability to transition out of his back-pedal into forward motion. He has very little wasted motion or time in doing so. He is not cat-quick like some of the smaller guys, but if he shows a willingness to battle with receivers for position and the ball he has the size to make an impact.
DONOVAN SMITH/OT #76 caused a few folks to scratch their heads when he announced he was going pro, but in the course of this week’s practices some of the doubt has been wiped away. He’s not flashy or overpowering but he is well versed in both run & pass blocking technique and has excellent measurables. He checked in here @ 6’056″, 341 lbs, H/10.5″, A/34.25″. He is stout and patient in his technique. I don’t quite see the preferred quickness of an NFL LT, but he looks like a good fit for the RT spot for a power running team. He might even be able to crack the Top 100 prospect list if he finishes in the top half of the OT group during Combine testing.
For those of you who are watching, or have watched, the NFLN presentation called “Finding Giants” I spent a few minutes chatting with Joe “Candy Man” Collins, GIANTS Scout near the end of practice today. Joe is the guy who loves to go to Elon College scouting because of the wide variety of candy offered to those in the press box each game. He’s just as nice of a guy as he appears to be in the series. I was pleased to give Joe a bag of M&M’s with my name and avatar printed on them. A Christmas gift idea from my wife.
SOUTH PM PRACTICE
The South squad held a spirited practice this afternoon. THat’s the style of JAGS HC GUS BRADLEY, who is from the PETE CARROLL school of high energy and positive vibes for his team, whether he admits it or not.
Let me just start by saying that I understand the local appeal of starting Alabama QB/BLAKE SIMS for the local fans. But I am also convinced that GARRETT GRAYSON/Colorado State #8, is the best overall QB on this squad, and can do the most to lead his team to victory. But I will admit that SIMS scrambling ability might be the team’s best weapon once the game gets underway.
One of the biggest player turnarounds this week may have been the play of ARIE KOUANDJIO/OG #77 from Alabama. His brother was drafted last year by the BILLS. ARIE struggled on Tuesday and got some heavy coaching from the JAGS OL coach. Watching today he looked like a different guy. He handled his business quite well in drills. ARIE has excellent size to play inside. His weigh-in stats were as follows: 6’047″, 318 lbs, H/11.25″, A/32.75″. As ARIE lined up for another rep after a mediocre first try a coach’s voice rang out,’Arie, remember what we talked about.’ He proceeded to stone the DL trying to rush past him for the rest of the drill. That is a big part of why this game can really help a draft prospect.
Another local favorite this week has been local boy JAQUISKI TARTT/S #6, from Samford. He’s a nice sized S at 6’013, 220 lbs, 10 1/8″ hands. He started slowly but with extended reps and playing opportunities he was a guy who was on the field a lot this afternoon in 11-on-11 goal line work. He actually ended the practice with a leaping INT in the end zone. Watch for him to do well in the actual game this weekend. He looks to have positioned himself well heading toward the Combine. I think he will test well at the Combine and be a possible Top 100 draftee this year.
CLIVE WALFORD/TE #46 has clearly been the top TE prospect for the South. He can do it all and has shown that this week. He runs well for a big guy and has good hands, even though he drops a few throws. He can run a bit after the catch and dishes out punishment to defenders trying to tackle him. He is also a good inline blocker, who has the size and athleticism to get even better. IMO, he is battling with MAXX WILLIAMS/Minnesota to be the first TE drafted, likely in Round 2.
Last Fall I was quite high on the Oklahoma football team. My mouth hung open multiple Saturdays as the team stumbled badly down the stretch. As I watched game tapes I wrote off their two senior OT WILLIAMS & THOMPSON as both being immobile big guys with little real NFL potential. After watching DARYL WILLIAMS #78 at work this week I must say he has changed my mind. He is massive, but moves pretty well laterally in pass pro. He uses his almost 35 ” long arms to fend rushers off and force them to take round about paths to the pocket. He has recorded good results in every drill I have watched.
As I have mentioned multiple times this week an awful lot of new NFL LB talent is going to have to be harvested from converted college DE prospects. But one guy who has looked good, and is a natural LB is MARTRELL SPAIGHT, #47. SPEIGHT is a bit undersized by normal NFL ILB standards at 5’117″, 232 lbs. But he moves very well, in any direction and hits hard. I noticed him multiple times in heavy discussions with his coaches. He appears to be a quick study who accepts coaching well. He will be an immediate hit on Special Teams in the NFL. He may have to work hard to overcome his physical shortcomings, but I would not bet against him in his efforts to do so.
PRESTON SMITH/DE #91 has been an interesting study this week. He was an anchor of the Mississippi State defensive front, but not a big flash player. His sack totals were not impressive in college. But he has a long frame 34″ arms, 10 5/8″ hands and stands a full 6’046″ tall. He is quick to get his hands up as he fights with blockers. He got to the rush edge several times in practice today and pushed the pocket. A concern is still whether he can anchor against the run at 270 lbs. I can’t answer that right now, but I would say that in the pro game most DE who don’t generate many sacks are thicker and very stout against the run. My question is can SMITH gain at least 10 lbs. without slowing himself down.
That is a wrap folks. I will be ranking my top dozen prospects from the practice sessions for each team for posting Friday.
Good night from Mobile football fans.
Pigskin Paul
