Senior Bowl Analysis - Defense and WR
SIAP - Some analysis from Inside the Pylon on the Senior Bowl, Michigan player snippets below:
Chris Wormley:
Chris Wormley and Isaac Rochell both had strong weeks as long, powerful defenders who could play 5 technique in a 3-4 front or make the move inside to 3 tech and hold their own. Wormley is extremely heavy-handed and plays with excellent leverage and technique, consistently winning first contact with a strong first step. He’s not a top-tier athlete, but Wormley has a few go-to moves as a pass rusher and knows how to counter.
Ryan Glasgow:
Ryan Glasgow and Eddie Vanderdoes aren’t too different as prospects, both wide-set interior defensive lineman who play physical and aggressive despite being mediocre athletes. Vanderdoes has more pass rush juice than Glasgow, displaying a nice spin and swim to recover when his first move was stymied. Glasgow might be stronger, but he’s just 297 pounds to Vanderdoes’s 320, and I don’t know that the Michigan product can be an interchangeable nose and 3 tech at the NFL level. Vanderdoes is a better fit as a true nose, but he’s not going to be a long/late downs presence, which likely means a two-down role for him as a pro.
Jourdan Lewis:
Jourdan Lewis and Desmond King came in as two of the bigger name corners at the event, but both left with mixed reviews...Lewis seemed to struggle to identify routes and flip his hips in a timely fashion, but he competes at the catch point and had more highs than King did throughout the week.
Amara Darboh:
Darboh had arguably the most consistent week of practice from a receiver on the North team. ITP’s own Shane Alexander said that Darboh really impressed him during the weigh-ins with his physique. He measured in at 6’1 ¾”, 215 lbs with 9 ⅞” hands. He showed some good straight-line speed, giving cornerbacks issues when running deeper routes in one-on-ones as well as seven-on-sevens. Darboh also impressed with his smooth route-running ability. One catch that comes to mind was when he won on a fade route to the back corner of the end zone.
http://insidethepylon.com/nfl/2017-nfl-draft/2017/02/01/2017-senior-bow…
http://insidethepylon.com/nfl/2017-nfl-draft/2017/02/01/senior-bowl-wid…
February 3rd, 2017 at 11:45 AM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:16 PM ^
Which is something all of us Michigan fans knew... Imagine what this staff can do with oustanding athletes with outstanding tecnique
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:00 PM ^
Can't wait to see these guys excel at the next level. I really think Amara is going to be a great player at the next level. Makes it really easy to root for him too with my daughter also being named Amara. :D
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:04 PM ^
Sadly I think a draft day drop might be coming for Jourdan. Mid-season I saw a few mock drafts predicting he'd come off the board in the 10-15 range in round 1 (ahead of Peppers) but now, after his so-so Senior Bowl, less than imposing measurables, iffy tackling and the absolute GLUT of top shelf corners in this draft it would not shock me to see him slide to the back end of round 2.
He'd better KILL it at the combine.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:08 PM ^
heard a lot of the same stuff. However, the guys on the Move the Sticks podcast, two former NFL scouts, both absolutely raved about his performance at the Senior Bowl and think he's going ot be a steal for whoever takes him
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:10 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:20 PM ^
http://walterfootball.com/draft2017_3.php
Round 3 to the Jets
Four more round one mocks (none have him)
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/mock-drafts
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:43 PM ^
This is why I hate the combine. It's all about the measurables and not actually about playing football. The greatest receiver of all time, Jerry Rice, would do horrible in today's combine. Yet, he would still be the greatest receiver in today's game.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:55 PM ^
According to Gil Brandt - Rice ran 4.55 for the Cowboys.
According to NCAA News - Rice ran a 4.45
The myth that Rice was slow... was a myth.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:33 PM ^
His electric time was 4.79. When I read that at the time, I was shocked.
February 3rd, 2017 at 9:58 PM ^
NFL teams goes by their scout's stopwatches, not NFL's combine electronic timing. They think it's not 100% accurate. They get 3-4 scouts and time prospects and basically average them out between them which would be their official time.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:42 PM ^
Rice said he thought he ran something in the 4.5s, which historically puts him in the class of guys like Peerless Price, Erik Decker, and Antonio Brown (and if memory serves me right, this was considered a slow time for him). He wasn't "slow", but he wasn't a burner. And the reason people bring that up about Rice is that he was supremely consistent; he could run a 4.5 all day, every down, and handled contact well.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:52 PM ^
He's a slot corner in the NFL - he won't be a 1st round pick... and anyone who was saying he would was delusional all along.
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:22 PM ^
While Jourdan won't be able to play man against bigger strong athletic types like Julio, AJ, Evans, etc., I think he would be an option against less burly #1s like Hilton, OBJ, AB, Cooks, Landry, etc.
I may be going out of my depth here, but IOW, Lewis IMO seems like a viable CB against non-giant flankers (Z), but not necessarily bigger split ends (X). Plus, he will almost always be an option against a slot (Y).
Also, TIL that Jordy Nelson is listed at 6'3'', 217!
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:30 PM ^
I could see Lewis slip to the bottom of the 1st round/top of the 2nd round, but I have a hard time he'll go through 2 whole rounds without someone needing a corner. I do think it'll be incumbent on him doing well at the combine, but when I see guys like Jalen Tabor and Sidney Jones listed as late first-rounders I assume Lewis should be in that group.
February 3rd, 2017 at 4:21 PM ^
Don't be surprised if Peppers drops to the late 1st as well.
February 3rd, 2017 at 5:40 PM ^
I feel like both Lewis and King rely on their football IQ in addition to their physical ability to be as good as they are. Give them a week to study an opponent, identify tendencies in both technique and scheme, and they'll eat your lunch. Throw them out in a less controlled setting against a boat load of guys and just tell them to cover and it doesn't really play into their wheelhouse.
As far as measurables, didn't Lewis actually live up to his listed height, which should be a positive for him.
February 3rd, 2017 at 9:31 PM ^
King at S, not CB. They believe he doesn't run well to stick at CB and has the ability to move to FS where he can use his ballhawk skills to use.
February 3rd, 2017 at 9:30 PM ^
never saw him as a 1st round pick. He's too small to be consider a 1st round pick especially when CB class is LOADED with prospects. He barely meet the minimum measurement. They viewed him more of a nickel corner than an outside CB.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:21 PM ^
assessment of Lewis, it rings true. There were times his receiver seemed open, only to see him close incredibly. His amazing pick was an accurate throw from being a 90+ yards touchdown in a 14-7 game. I think he'll be an above average corner once he is able to recognize routes. NFL wr's and qb's are going to move a slight bit faster and his closign speed might not be as effective until he adds at least that to his repertoire.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:33 PM ^
I don't disagree with this assessment, but I think it's true for most corners. We watch Michigan quite a bit more than the average team so we notice these breakdowns, but even elite corners get beat sometimes, but it takes a QB being able to hit the WR to make it hurt you. Leave Lewis on an island and bigger WRs will be able to have some success against him, but I think that's true for basically every corner save your elites, which don't come around every year.