ITP Covers the Senior Bowl

[mascho]

So Idiot Kicker and I are heading down to Mobile next week for a few days. Sure, the sun, surf and seafood is great down along the Gulf this time of year, but it's a business trip. If there are any draft prospects you guys are interested in learning about, let us know and we'll be sure to watch them during practice. Or, if you want us to openly troll some football media personalities, coaches or GMs, put in a request here and we'll try to comply.

 

[Darnell's Son]

Can you cover Carson Wentz?

Can you troll Chuck Zodda?

 

[wibi]

Can you cover Carson Wentz?

Can you troll Chuck Zodda?

Can we get an auto text change so anytime Chuck's name is mentioned it changes it to NFL Kicking Expert

 

[ElcaballitoMVP]

Sterling Shepard (WR), Oklahoma- Is he big enough to play outside?
Jason Spriggs (OT), Indiana - Can he hold up vs bigger DL?
Joe Haeg (OT), North Dakota State- Similar- is he big enough? How is his technique?
Charles Tapper (DE), Oklahoma- Potential Nink replacement in round 3-4?
Josh Perry (LB), OSU- Another freak athlete to mix with Collins and Hightower?

I could list 10 more guys (LITTLE GRONK), but I think 5 is more than enough. Thanks guys!

 

[gingerbreadmann]

This is a total homer pick, but DeAndre Houston-Carson out of W&M. He totally outshone Luke Rhodes this year, who was the only FCS player on the preseason watch list for the Butkus award. He was a special teams monster and never, ever out of position at safety. I'm curious how he stacks up against FBS competition athletically -- I have little doubt in his field awareness, technique, and IQ.

 

[Doug Beerabelli]

Tyler Matakevich (LB) of Temple. Both because this Stratford CT native was not offerred a scholarship by UConn (Coach Blue!) and a friend of mine is good friends with the family.

 

[mascho]

Can you cover Carson Wentz?

Can you troll Chuck Zodda?

Done and done.

Sterling Shepard (WR), Oklahoma- Is he big enough to play outside?
Jason Spriggs (OT), Indiana - Can he hold up vs bigger DL?
Joe Haeg (OT), North Dakota State- Similar- is he big enough? How is his technique?
Charles Tapper (DE), Oklahoma- Potential Nink replacement in round 3-4?
Josh Perry (LB), OSU- Another freak athlete to mix with Collins and Hightower?

I could list 10 more guys (LITTLE GRONK), but I think 5 is more than enough. Thanks guys!

Really excited to see both Shepard and Haeg. Shepard is rising up boards right now, lots of people love his game. Haeg played a ton for the Bison, always stood out to me when watching Wentz. I'm not a big OL guy, it's not my strength, but he passes the eye test to me.

This is a total homer pick, but DeAndre Houston-Carson out of W&M. He totally outshone Luke Rhodes this year, who was the only FCS player on the preseason watch list for the Butkus award. He was a special teams monster and never, ever out of position at safety. I'm curious how he stacks up against FBS competition athletically -- I have little doubt in his field awareness, technique, and IQ.

The homer in me is excited to see him too. Dane Brugler has spoken very highly of him this season. Might benefit from safety being a somewhat down position this season, and his ability to help on special teams (I think he is the school record holder for blocked punts) will definitely help him.

Tyler Matakevich (LB) of Temple. Both because this Stratford CT native was not offerred a scholarship by UConn (Coach Blue!) and a friend of mine is good friends with the family.

Will do.

Also, the Shrine Game practices are happening now. Idiot Kicker and I chatted with Jeff Risdon for a Quick Kicks podcast that will be up tomorrow, as he's down in St. Pete. Said that Ochi, the DE from Stony Brook, is the belle of the ball this week. I'm sure RedOctober will love to hear that. For those of you high on Sharpe, the UMass WR, his hands are tiny. Under 8 inches. Just something to file away.

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

This likely goes without saying, but can you keep it in your head to look at guys likely to be first round values that, for whatever reason (injuries, off field stuff, even just more Patriots-value than general value), might fall as far as, say, the last pick in the second round?

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

Any insights on this guy? Sounds like a possibility. 4th rounder? 5th? Apologies in advance for my cluelessness re this prospect.

CSN New England - Patriots Talk: Troy Brown spent time with Navy's Reynolds at Shrine game
http://www.csnne.com/new-england-patriots/troy-brown-spent-time-navys-reynolds-shrine-game

 

[ZMart100]

I am very interested in OTs after the Denver game.
Joe Haeg (North) - Can he get his hands on longer defenders?
Le'Raven Clark (South via Texas Tech) - How does his footwork look from a 3-point stance? How nasty is he in the run game?

 

[mascho]

This likely goes without saying, but can you keep it in your head to look at guys likely to be first round values that, for whatever reason (injuries, off field stuff, even just more Patriots-value than general value), might fall as far as, say, the last pick in the second round?

Will do.

Any insights on this guy? Sounds like a possibility. 4th rounder? 5th? Apologies in advance for my cluelessness re this prospect.

CSN New England - Patriots Talk: Troy Brown spent time with Navy's Reynolds at Shrine game
http://www.csnne.com/new-england-patriots/troy-brown-spent-time-navys-reynolds-shrine-game

I'm a huge fan of Reynolds and have written about him a bunch. Here's one look at him in the Navy flexbone offense, and there are other articles on ITP as well: http://insidethepylon.com/film-study/film-study-u/offense-film-study-u/2015/10/01/air-force-at-navy-preview-the-midshipmen-rushing-attack/

I am very interested in OTs after the Denver game.
Joe Haeg (North) - Can he get his hands on longer defenders?
Le'Raven Clark (South via Texas Tech) - How does his footwork look from a 3-point stance? How nasty is he in the run game?

I'll look at Clark. Having watched an obscene amount of Wentz I have a good feeling about Haeg. He seems legit. Here is a look at the NDSU offense from the 2014-2015 season, and you can see Haeg at work in some of these plays: http://insidethepylon.com/film-study/film-study-u/offense-film-study-u/2015/08/14/ncaa-film-preview-ndsu-and-montana/

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

You guys are seriously killing it. Thank you!

 

[soxfan121]

In case you missed it, Schofield wrote a book. The wildly overpriced pre-order, signed copies can be purchased here: http://insidethepylon.com/product/17-drives-author-signed/

The Amazon paper & E-book versions will be available on Weds, if all goes to plan.

 

[mascho]

These are wildly overpriced, but I'm happy to personalize the message, make fun of myself, whatever floats your boat.

 

[mascho]

We are live from Mobile ladies and gents.

 

[mascho]

Some thoughts/random mind dump from two days of practices:

Wentz is legit. Best QB here easily. Second-best might be Jason Garrett.

Northwestern's Dan Vitale is a great football player. Can get open against most LBs or SS types. Great in blitz pickup - stoned Reggie Ragland in one drills.

Charone Peake and Malcolm Mitchell are two WRs you don't hear a lot about but they are having a good week down here. Braxton Miller is getting hype and is incredibly athletic, but there are some struggles against press coverage and he lets chippy DBs get into his head. A lot.

Kevin Byard, MTSU safety. He can play.

Kenneth Dixon is the best RB here. Kenyan Drake is nice in the pass game, but needs a lot of work in pass pro.

Jen Welter easily the nicest person I've met down here. And that's saying something, since everyone is incredibly nice. Steve Palazzo (PFF) is a GIANT. Gotta be 6'5" or more.

OL groups have generally struggled. Both DL groups are ahead of their offensive counterparts. Jihadi White, from Illinois, is a very intriguing DE. Not foot on tape but with some coaching from Rod Marinelli he's improved tremendously over the week.

Eric Murray is a very nice CB. Broke up a GL fade route in team drills today. Aggressive. Might be someone BB likes.

More later.

 

[mascho]

More on Miller. Here's the good and bad sides:

 

[PaulinMyrBch]

Peake got better as the season went on. He had a great opportunity when Mike Williams broke his neck but hung DeShaun out to dry early in the season a few times not finishing routes or fighting for the ball. He was much better at seasons end but it's hard to explain how he wasn't ready to be an impact player early in his senior year. Film review will show some issues.

 

[Super Nomario]

Some thoughts/random mind dump from two days of practices:
Steve Palazzo (PFF) is a GIANT. Gotta be 6'5" or more.

Six-foot-TEN: http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=palazz001ste

Mark and Chuck talked some Senior Bowl practice on the daily podcast: http://insidethepylon.com/football-podcast/2016/01/29/january-29-quick-kicks-podcast/

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Note: moved draft threads to the "main" board & stickied for more eyeballs & participation.

 

[Auger34]

mascho,

What did you think of Noah Spence? Getting a ton of buzz right now but I would love to hear your first hand impressions

 

[mascho]

mascho,

What did you think of Noah Spence? Getting a ton of buzz right now but I would love to hear your first hand impressions

Man, out of all the guys who made money last week, he might be at the top of the list. Watched him do some DL bag drills when I first rolled into practice, and the speed-to-power was evident at first blush. At times in one-on-ones and team drills he was unblockable. The character/drug question might scare some teams, but barring something bad at the combine he's a first-round guy. Also, the DLs for both teams were really solid, so for him to stand out the way he did is also telling.

 

[Tangled Up In Red]

Any feedback on Darian Thompson, North MVP?

 

[Auger34]

Man, out of all the guys who made money last week, he might be at the top of the list. Watched him do some DL bag drills when I first rolled into practice, and the speed-to-power was evident at first blush. At times in one-on-ones and team drills he was unblockable. The character/drug question might scare some teams, but barring something bad at the combine he's a first-round guy. Also, the DLs for both teams were really solid, so for him to stand out the way he did is also telling.

As maybe the only person who has a rooting interest in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on this entire board, all the buzz is that he will be taken 9th overall by them. Sounds like if you ignore the drugs and getting kicked off of an Urban Mayer program (a HUGE caveat as Brandon Spikes, the Pouncey twins, Aaron Hernandez and Percy Harvin show) you think he has the talent of a top 10 pick?

 

[Super Nomario]

In case you missed it, Schofield wrote a book. The wildly overpriced pre-order, signed copies can be purchased here: http://insidethepylon.com/product/17-drives-author-signed/

The Amazon paper & E-book versions will be available on Weds, if all goes to plan.

Bumping this since I'm not sure we let folks know it is on sale:
$15 for the Paperback, $5 for the Kindle. Tons of charts and graphs and play breakdowns as you've come to expect, and Mark also gets at how those plays tell the narrative of the games and season as a whole.

And if you buy it and like it, or if you've bought it and like it, please leave a review on Amazon and / or spread the word on Twitter, Facebook, InstaFace, or whatever social media you've got going these days. Thanks.

 

[pappymojo]

There's a jarring typo in the Jalen Ramsey article: "Quarterbock Jalen Ramsey...." just a heads up.

 

[Super Nomario]

There's a jarring typo in the Jalen Ramsey article: "Quarterbock Jalen Ramsey...." just a heads up.

Thanks, fixed it.