Senior Bowl Recap:

Sione Fua is an absolute load in the middle. Don’t be fooled by his smallish 6’1 307 pound frame, he’s a boulder. He brings almost nothing as a pass-rusher, but as a run stuffing nose guard this kid is as a good as they come. He has a solid base and he takes on the double team with ease. He plays with a low pad level and he knows how to gain leverage. He’s just really tough to move at the POA. With so many defenses moving to a 3-4 he could be a valuable commodity come draft time. Phil Taylor is getting a ton of love, but I personally like Sione Fua more.

He may not be big and he may not be fast, but Kendric Burney is just a football player. I normally hate that overused cliche, but he just gets it. He understands situational football and on a couple occasions he actually ran the WR’s route for them. It was an up-and-down game for him because he had his struggles in off coverage, but that’s not his game. He needs to be able to get a jam at the line. He won’t impress at the combine, but I want players with his toughness and football IQ on my team.

I love me some Derrick Locke. He’s decisive in the hole and I really like his vision and agility. He doesn’t dance and he runs tougher between the tackles than he gets credit for. When he sees some daylight he makes defenses pay. He has impressive burst, and honestly he reminds me of a poor man’s Jahvid Best. Injuries have held him back for most of his career, but as a 3rd down/change of pace back that doesn’t have to carry the load I really like what he brings to the table.

Derek Sherrod looked dominant. He completely shut down Pierre Allen, never even losing an inch of ground in pass protection. He has very good footwork with impressive upper body strength. He got great push in the run game as well. He’s a complete OT. Nate Solder and Gabe Carimi seemed to get all the praise this week, but Derek Sherrod looked like the best OT today. I thought Sherrod was the best OT in this class before this week and my mind hasn’t changed.

I was not impressed by Noel Devine at all. He seems explosive in space, but when he actually has to pick his way through a hole he looks like an ordinary back. Unlike Locke, Devine is incredibly indecisive. I don’t think he will be able to carve himself out a role on an offense with his skill-set and size. He looks like a kick returner/gadget player in the NFL, nothing more. Just for a comparison; Trindon Holiday: 5’5 166 pounds…Noel Devine: 5’7 160 pounds.

Colin McCarthy looked like a heat seeking missile out there. He was looking to lower the boom every time he had a chance to make a play. Whether it was on defense or on special teams he was looking to leave his mark today. He jumped off the screen as an athletic backer that can close on the football with speed and power. He knows how to stay clean through traffic. His coverage against RBs in the flats was solid as well. He certainly impressed me, I loved what I saw from him today.

DeMarcus Love got outclassed today. It looked like everyone else was playing at one speed while Love as moving in slow motion. He has really sloppy footwork and he really isn’t much of an athlete. It looked like every DE that went up against him, especially Ryan Kerrigan, were salivating on obvious passing situations when they saw Love across them. Kerrigan beat Love like a drum on numerous occasions. Love looks like an OG only, he simply doesn’t have the footwork to play in space against edge rushers.

If I am looking for a QB I can groom for a year or two I would be happy to draft Colin Kapernick. Does he have a long release? Yes. Does he have any experience playing out of a pro-style system? No. However, his physical skills cannot be ignored. He has great pocket presence, a rocket arm and awesome athleticism. He’s also a really smart kid with a good head on his shoulders. His accuracy tends to run hot and cold, but he’s a weapon that has a chance to become the best QB from this class.

Rodney Hudson is going to make some team very happy in the draft. From a technical standpoint he’s just awesome. Despite not having the necessary bulk (weighed in at 291 pounds) he understands how to use his hands and he plays with impressive balance and footwork. He completely neutralized fast-riser Christian Ballard all day. He’s a great athlete and I think he could really shine in a ZBS. With his versatility to play C as well he’s just a great prospect. He’s the top OG on my board.

Jake Locker is a huge project, much bigger than I anticipated him to be. His accuracy is terribly inconsistent and on numerous occasions he laid his WRs out to dry with high throws. He was off the mark all day. Most expected that when Steve Sarkisian (who coached Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart) signed on to coach Washington that Locker would start to realize his potential as a passer. Well it hasn’t happened. He has great physical tools, but he has a long way to go to become a starter in the NFL. It was a poor showing.

Winners:
Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
Colin Kapernick, QB, Nevada

Losers:
Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia
DeMarcus Love, OT/OG, Arkansas
Jake Locker, QB, Washington