Each team incorporated new drills or scrimmage formats into their sessions on Day Three of the Senior Bowl practice. However, both squads’ practices were dialed-down versions of Days One and Two. With most of the work in the books, now’s the time to explore overarching themes emerging from the workweek.

Eye Candy

There are players with various levels of appeal.  Some of these prospects look so good in limit aspects of their game that I call them eye candy. They possess the physical qualities that stand out to both the general viewer and the trained eye. The difference is that more observant person will look past the attention-getting qualities of this player to see them in a fuller dimension. This usually means spotting the flaws in the player’s game, although sometimes even a person who does his homework might get hooked on something a player a player can do well. It can progress to the point that it might cause temporary blindness to what is fundamentally more important to this player’s prospects for success/failure.

Here are two guys you’ll find in the display window of the Senior Bowl candy store:

TE Jimmy Graham, Miami: If you catch Graham in one-on-one drills there’s things he does that is impressive after he gets open. What happens after the break is the portion of a route the general public sees on TV most often. It can create a mentality among fans that complain when a player they’ve seen make impressive displays of athleticism doesn’t see the ball enough. They often blame the quarterback or coach for not targeting the guy enough, not giving him the playing time, or for inept play calling.

Jimmy Graham could wind up being that guy early in his career. When he is in a position to use his athleticism to leap, adjust to the ball, or to showcase his hand-eye coordination, he looks like a stud in waiting. In fact, he has moments that can make a guy with a trained eye drool like a chocoholic passing a display bin of Hershey Bars. What I saw today on the South sidelines curbed my proverbial salivation, and that was his deficiencies as a blocker and route runner.

Graham and USC’s Anthony McCoy worked extensively with the Dolphins TE coach on their initial punch from both a stand up position, and from the three-point stance. The difference between Graham and McCoy’s technique and power were like night and day. Even if you couldn’t tell how much faster the life-size, gauntlet pads hit the ground after McCoy’s strikes compared to Graham’s in a side-by-side comparison, all you had to do was listen to the Dolphin’s coach praise McCoy on every other rep and either chew out or correct Graham on his turns.

In one-on-one drills, Graham had frequent trouble getting away from the linebackers on a timely basis. Because these drills are set up so the QB is only throwing to the TE, it’s easy to overlook how much time it takes for the TE to get separation because unless the TE falls or gets completely shut down to a ridiculous degree, the QB will sit back and wait for the TE to work himself open. If you try to apply a 2-4 second count while watching the drill, it becomes far more apparent whether the TE is doing well on the front end of the route that casual fans rarely get to see on TV unless the route results in a big play. 

The takeaway with Graham is that he’s fantastic at the backend of a play, but he’ll need to get a lot better at the front end to even see these opportunities with any frequency in the NFL. This is probably why the Titans Jared Cook got tons of pre-camp hype from beat reporters but was silent during the season. Graham is a more physical player than Cook, but don’t be surprised if we hear more hype about his potential than see stats in the box scores during his rookie season. I think he has a lower chance of a complete disappearing act during his rookie year, but temper your enthusiasm somewhat.

QB Tony Pike, Cincinnati: If you have a sweet tooth, you know what it is like to experience sugar cravings and settle on whatever was available at the nearest vending machine. While that first bite initially satisfied the initial jonz, you often find the experience left you empty, and wishing for what you really wanted.

I have a feeling there are NFL teams that have the directive to find a top-end quarterback prospect this year. Tony Pike is the one senior that comes closest to fitting that description. If a team is going to reach for a QB, it is becoming more apparent that Pike will be that guy. I have already talked about his issues dealing with pressure and negative plays in games against an elite college defense and in these practices. However, those who cannot spot the eye candy will hang onto Pike’s height, decent arm, and pedigree.

Rob Johnson was the ultimate eye candy QB, and like Johnson, Pike will have moments of goodness. In today’s practice, Pike showed nice touch and vision on a crossing route to Clemson WR Jacoby Ford where the Cincinnati QB waited until Ford reached the second passing window and then arced a timely pass just over the linebacker to the receiver in stride for a long gain. It was a good throw, but until he can demonstrate that he can climb the pocket effectively, this type of throw won’t be common for him. Pike is mobile moving left or right. So was Rob Johnson or, a more recent example, Matt Ryan. But neither of these QBs climbs the pocket well. Ryan might get better, but he regressed in this area in 2009.

In contrast, most quarterbacks could have beaten Dan Marino in a footrace, but there might have been no one better when it came to his mobility within tight spaces of the pocket. Give me that skill any day over a fleet of foot guy who can’t use it to truly create opportunities. Once again, Pike is an example of players who look good in the back end of a play that isn’t likely to happen with much frequency unless the get better with the techniques in the front end process of most plays.

Nutritious

WR Riley Cooper, Florida: I think he is closer to NFL-ready than any receiver at the Senior Bowl. He is physically impressive: height, powerful legs, long-limbed, and fast enough. What separates him from his peers in Mobile is his ability to come back to the football, to adjust to a cornerback getting the better of him during a route so that he comes out of the break on time and in position to make the catch, and his intelligence to set up a defender makes it look like he’s spinning an intricate tale where the defender is led down a false path despite knowing he shouldn’t be compelled.

I spoke with some respected analysts at the Senior Bowl, and the opinions were mixed. However, I take the stance that he consistently ran the some of the best routes in one-on-one’s, nine-on-sevens, and 11-on-11’s. He also did a fine job of working his way open in the red zone twice in Day Three’s 11-on-11 drills. He catches the ball well in teeth of the defense, but showed the speed to get vertical separation, although against these cornerbacks it was not the most impressive feat.

WR Andre Roberts, The Citadel: In the short and intermediate game, Roberts was one of the more impressive players within a decent, but not special group of Senior Bowl receivers. At least once in the first three days of practice, Roberts left a cornerback on the ground due to his technique and quickness in and out of his breaks. I might have missed it, but I didn’t see any other receiver even do this more than once the entire week. Roberts routinely got at least a solid step on his coverage on slants, digs, and outs and he catches the ball cleanly and away from his body as consistently as any player here.

Roberts, Jacoby Ford, and Mardy Gilyard were the three shortest receivers. Gilyard is thin, but well defined with noticeable core definition in the thighs, hips, stomach, and chest. Ford is thicker than Gilyard, but his body doesn’t seem as strong above the waist. He is fast, but not as explosive. This is something you can tell from his body. However, Roberts looks like the strongest of the three. He has the density in the legs and hips of Ford, but it is like the well-defined muscle of Gilyard. Roberts also had that same thicker, defined build in his upper body. If you gave him a number in the 20s or 30s, he would look like a scat back with the balance to run it with some physicality between the tackles.

Where he struggles to get open is vertical routes against a corner or safety-providing cushion off the line. He lacks that intermediate burst to eat the cushion and climb the defender early in the route. This is a skill that makes the Colts Austin Collie effective, despite average top end speed.  Roberts should at least be a good role player, but I’m thinking his ceiling is more along the lines of a Hines Ward. He might be able to get deep once in a while, but not without misdirection built into the play.

RB Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State: Dixon was most impressive running routes on Day Three. He did a great job using his hands, shoulders, and quickness to create separation and he finished routes with good body control and strong hands to do things like high-point the ball, or extend his arms away from his frame while on the run to make the reception. In 11-on-11’s, Dixon showcased his power and balance, bouncing outside after breaking two tackles in the hole, the second-one a split second after the coach blew the whistle to end the play, although the defender engaged with Dixon had not let up.

Dixon’s only real deficiencies are his top-end speed (he has a good enough burst and second gear, but not that third gear that transforms runs of 25-30 yards into runs longer than 40 yards) and his professionalism. Dixon has documented issues of allowing himself to get out of shape, arriving late for meetings and practice, and not listening to his coaches.
As we have seen with players like Cedric Benson and Garrison Hearst, immaturity isn’t a terminal condition. However, projecting how long it will take for a player to grow up is much harder than knowing if he can play the game.

Dixon was one of the more friendly players wet met at media day. I think his southern accent combined with what I think was a bit of a down-home personality might throw off some observers who have northeastern or western biases; people who subconsciously believe slower speech and a drawl automatically lowers IQ points, and pay more attention to the delivery of his answers to questions rather than the quality of his response.

The Mississippi State RB has pro ability – starter ability – but he will need to prove he can be a professional. I think he will, and I believe a team will be happy to pick him within the first three rounds.

If you want to be a pro, you have to…

…Stop slow down out of your breaks,  WR Joe Webb, UAB: The former quarterback looks like a terrific athlete. He’s high-hipped and strong with some build-up speed. Yet on every intermediate or deep route, Webb’s intensity dropped significantly after his break, and invariably this lull resulted him not catching up to the ball. On first appearance it might look like he was overthrown but close up, Webb consistently slowed down after his break until he realized the ball was further ahead of him than he anticipated, resulting in a last-ditch attempt to accelerate in vain. He has a lot more work to do with routes, but even on these more straightforward patterns where he has the athletic potential for a team to use him sooner than later, Webb will need to improve.

…Prove you can pass protect, RB Joique Bell, Wayne State Bells’ effort was high, but his technique was not good. The back has thighs and hips similar to LaGarrette Blount, but in a more compact frame and as a pure runner, is good enough to help and NFL team. However, I learned why Cedric Peerman, my No.3 – rated back in the 2009 Rookie Scouting Portfolio, who is a better runner and receiver than Bell, and most of the backs here, but he has not been able to stick with two teams in less than a year. The issue has been his difficulty developing good technique as a pass protector. If Bell wants a chance to break into the NFL, he will need to show he can play on third down.

…Learn how to use your hands WR Danario Alexander, Missouri: The physical dimensions, and skill after the catch is there for the Big-12 prospect. He is also willing to be a physical player. What he doesn’t do well is use his hands. He doesn’t keep his hands high in and out of breaks and he runs out of control, which makes him a less consistent performer than he should be as a route runner. In one-on-one drills against DBs to practice his work against the jam, Alexander repeatedly showed difficulty using his hands and long arms to his advantage, getting significantly thrown off course during his release or jammed to a literal standstill on several reps. The smaller Mardy Gilyard got thrown off course a few times on these reps and in 11-on-11’s, but he showed the speed and quickness to fight his way back into the play to get open and make a play on passes in his direction. Alexander lacks that kind of explosiveness as a bigger receiver. The potential is there, but he is not a guaranteed stud in the making.

“Tebow was better today”

In the context of Day One to Day Three of practice, yes he was better. He challenged the defensive secondary repeatedly in 11-on-11 drills today. He even used a pump-fake and threw deep to his right.

However, when you hear these reports about Tebow improving throughout the week, know that this statement isn’t a reflection of his play getting better each day compared to what he did in live games during the season. This was purely based on his practices here, none of them impressive in any way for a quarterback prospect.

Tebow always showed he could throw a ball 20-40 yards with arc down the seam or sideline with fair accuracy. These were his “deep throws” in Day Three’s scrimmages. The Florida QB can also throw to the right when it is his first read and the play design affords him time to set and deliver one of these straightforward passes.

What he has never shown is the ability to make a play to the right where he has to attempt a throw more than 15-20 yards downfield while forced in that direction. This is a prerequisite NFL starter throw, and he can’t do it.

Nothing I saw on Tebow from Day Three of practice was better than anything he did during the year he just wasn’t as inadequate as he was during the initial Mobile practices.
There is one thing I will retract about my take on Tim Tebow this week. He might be fast enough to be a tight end. If the Illini’s Mike Hoomanawanui has enough speed, Tebow will be just fine.

Players who helped their cause

QB Dan LeFevour (C. Michigan): He won’t wow anyone, but he has all the physical skills and fundamentals to develop into a starter one day. While the extent of Tim Tebow’s on-field leadership was doing things like jumping up and down and fake head-butting his peer Zac Robinson prior his reps in drills on Day Two, LeFevour was frequently communicating to his receivers about how to adjust routes for the next opportunity or giving his linemen encouragement after a well-blocked screen pass or run play on a daily basis. Tim Tebow can preach, but he has to prove he can lead practice in a capacity greater than a cheerleader.

RB Dexter McCluster (Ole Miss): He showed just enough explosiveness, athleticism as a downfield receiver, and savvy to sustain his reputation as lightning in a bottle.

TE Colin Peek (Alabama): He was consistently good in all aspects of the game. He isn’t an elite athlete, but he will develop into a No.2 TE with some productivity in the passing game.

RB LeGarrette Blount (Oregon): I sense if he dialed down his personality a few notches to play it safe here. Not that I think he was ever an exuberant guy, but this Boise State experience really forced him inward. Although a quiet guy in words, his game screamed power, athleticism, and instincts as a runner.

TE Ed Dickson (Oregon): Dickson provided a lot of support to Blount by encouraging his teammate to come out of his shell on media night. He comes across as a smart young player with skills to get open down the seam and adjust to the ball in the air. He isn’t the elite athlete in the class of Jimmy Graham, but he is a bigger threat downfield than a Colin Peek. Dickson showed in practice that he has the all-around game to produce as an NFL team’s No.1 TE if called upon. An organization may look for a more spectacular prospect if Dickson is their starter, but he has the skills and athleticism to put up a fight to keep the job when that happens. He is an underrated player.

WR Jeremy Williams (Tulane): His first three days of practice was quietly good. He showed good speed as a runner around the perimeter of the defense, got separation downfield, and caught the ball away from his body. He had some miscues, but there were minor lapses of concentration. A player like Danario Alexander will draw more interest because of his body type, but Williams is a better technician and pass catcher right now.

QB Jarrett Brown (West Virginia): The ball flies off his arm and he will challenge the defense downfield. If Pat White had Brown’s physical dimensions, there would have been no questions about his skill level. Brown might have been the most physically imposing QB there. His forearms could be mistaken for some of his teammate’s calves and he’s a broad-shouldered athlete with good height. He fumbled a lot of balls in the center-exchange, but I think his raw tools passed the eyeball test and it will earn him a chance to make a roster.

WR Taylor Price (Ohio): He adjusts well to the football and has enough athleticism to encourage personnel people to give his film portfolio a second look.

LB Sean Witherspoon (Missouri): He was a vocal leader in practice, showed a variety of good moves to get off blocks as a pass rusher, and flowed well to the ball. I overheard a scout from an AFC team say after a play on Day Two of practice, “He’s going to be just fine.”

OL Mike Iupati (Idaho): His ability to run, pull, and get to the second level has earned him big bucks. There is an NFL running game that is going to get a long-term upgrade this summer.

Players who hurt their cause

RB Lonyae Miller (Fresno State): His pass protection was very bad, and in today’s offensive sets, he’ll be a liability until he can improve this area of his game drastically.

QB Sean Canfield (Oregon State): I discovered that, like me, a lot of people liked what they saw from Canfield on film and were eager to see him practice this week. We all left disappointed with his performance. His arm strength is now more of a question mark. His accuracy and decision-making were shaky all week.

S Taylor Mays (USC):  I called him the male model this week. He looks good in a pose, but he got beat in pass coverage and after the catch. After this week, Mays not only confirmed some deficiencies with his game, but he gave an even bigger boost to Eric Berry’s stock.

QB Tim Tebow (Florida): There are teams that could have a complete man-crush on Tebow because of his character, championship pedigree, and his appeal to a community. These things might influence a team to believe they can work through his deficiencies to make him their future QB. This could mean a team picks him much higher than people who analyze his game project he’s worth. As one of those analysts, he did nothing to impress me.