Pro Football Draft Network | 2012 Pro Football Draft Analysis

The 2012 Senior Bowl week is in the books.  The final rankings of every prospect in this year’s draft are determined by an extensive amount of information.  A player’s collegiate career, performance in all-star games, individual workouts, football character and background are all taken into account.  The Senior Bowl is just one part of the evaluation.  Here is PFDN’s analysis of which players helped and hurt themselves the most this past week:

Helped Themselves:

RB Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati- Pead had a couple of explosive punt returns during the game.  He is not as thick as Darren Sproles, but there are similarities.  Pead can be a productive 3^rd down back who can catch passes, return punts and handle 8-10 carries a game.

RB/WR Chris Rainey, Florida- The fastest player on the field has been Rainey.  His instant acceleration has been impressive.  Rainey has looked very natural catching passes.  He could be a jack-of -all trades type of weapon at the next level.  A team could use him as a 3^rd receiver/running back/kick returner.  Rainey has the potential to be a match-up problem in the NFL.

CB Brandon Boykin, Georgia- Everyone knows that Boykin is a great athlete with terrific speed and quickness.  However, he displayed toughness and competitiveness during the week that opened some eyes.  Boykin battled receivers all over the field and provided tight coverage.  It looks like he has the potential to be a quality starting cornerback for an NFL team and also a dangerous kick returner.

DE/OLB Melvin Ingram, South Carolina- The best pass rusher at the Senior Bowl was Melvin Ingram.  He displayed an excellent swim and club move.  Ingram can beat offensive linemen with power and quickness.  He also looked comfortable rushing from a two or three-point stance.  Ingram has the look of a promising outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense. 

OT/G Cordy Glenn, Georgia- Glenn is a massive man who carries his weight (346 pounds) very well.  Glenn is freakishly big, yet he also is an athlete.  He held-up well at left tackle using his long arms, size and decent feet to negate pass rushers.  The former Bulldog clearly has the power in his lower body and flexibility to get low and move defenders when run blocking.  Glenn’s best position in the NFL may not be at left tackle.  It likely will be at right tackle or guard.  However, it could be a mistake to close the door on Glenn playing left tackle, at least in a pinch.  Glenn looked like an offensive lineman who will provide a lot of versatility to a team. 

LB Bobby Wagner, Utah State- Wagner had a strong game with an interception and an excellent pass break-up in the end zone to prevent a touchdown.  He put on display his sure tackling ability with a number of quick run stops.  Wagner is a quality football player who should be drafted higher than he probably will be. 

DT Alameda Ta’amu, Washington- The big man came to play this week.  He showed excellent quickness for a man of his size.  He can be disruptive and difficult to block when he wants to be.

DT Tydreke Powell, North Carolina- Powell is an unheralded prospect who could develop into a solid rotational defensive tackle for an NFL team.  Powell held his ground when taking on blocks and showed a good rip move.

DT Jaye Howard, Florida- Howard displayed excellent quickness and the ability to penetrate.  His spin move may have been the best among all of the defensive linemen.  He is a defensive lineman who likely will be available on the 3^rd day of the draft and could prove to be a bargain.

OT Mike Adams, Ohio State- Adams is another giant of a man who looked more athletic than expected.  His balance and ability to slide and mirror were all very good.  Quality left tackles are always in demand and Mike Adams looked like one.

WR Juron Criner, Arizona- Criner’s size, hands and body control all stood out.  It looks like Criner will be a reliable 3^rd down and red zone target.  He is not a burner, but Criner can catch the ball despite tight coverage.  His 20-yard touchdown catch over the middle in the game was a good example of his skills.  He ran a good route and was not bothered by contact made as soon as he caught the ball.

S Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State- It is hard to hide a safety who cannot cover a receiver in today’s NFL.  Martin moves fluidly and was solid in pass coverage.

RB Vick Ballard, Mississippi State- A back has to be able to block blitzing linebackers to get in an NFL game.  Ballard showed he could do this and also run with determination between the tackles.  He looks like one of those mid-round picks who can help a team.

WR/KR Joe Adams, Arkansas- Adams proved to be a slippery target during the game.  He caught a number of passes and then proceeded to gain yards after making the catch.  Adams is a proven dangerous punt returner.  His Senior Bowl performance revealed that he has the makings of a good slot receiver.

A Good Week, But Still Some Concerns:

DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina- Coples is a physical specimen, but he did not display that special fast-twitch burst to the outside of a top pass rusher.  He is not the second coming of Julius Peppers.  Coples had a strong game with a number of disruptive plays.  His best position in the NFL may be at defensive tackle where he can use his quickness to beat guards.  Coples reminds PFDN of Justin Tuck.  However, he comes across as laid-back and his motor runs hot and cold.  Coples will need the right coaches and/or teammates to light a fire under him.  He has high 1^st round talent, but comes with a decent amount of risk.

CB Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama- Jenkins clearly can run, flip his hips and locate the football.  However, he is quite small and he gambles too much.  He was caught peeking at the quarterback during the game and would have been burned deep had the pass been accurate.   Jenkins is an undersized cornerback who is going to have to play with consistent technique and intelligence to be a worthy 1^st round selection. 

DT Brandon Thompson, Clemson- Thompson had a solid week, but he may lack that special quality (unusual size, quickness or instincts).  He currently lacks a signature pass rush move.   Thompson makes sense toward the later parts of the 1^st round or in the 2^nd.

DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama- Upshaw gives good effort, but he does not possess the great first step of a big-time pass rusher.  He had a sack in the game, but it was really a coverage sack.  He also is raw as a pass rusher and really does not have many pass rush moves.  A team that believes he will be an outside linebacker in their 3-4 defense who can produce double digit sacks consistently may be disappointed. 

QB Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State- Weeden’s best quality is he has a quick release.  His arm strength is fine, but not exceptional.  He is capable of floating some passes that are head scratchers.  Weeden is an average athlete who could be forced into turnovers when pressured.  His feet do not look nimble to buy himself time. 

Hurt Themselves:

OT/G Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State- Quinton Coples ate him for lunch during the game with his quickness.  Osemele does not have the feet to play right tackle in the NFL.  This means he must play inside at guard.  Osemele is massive, but is he nasty and tough enough to maul defenders?  PFDN questions whether he has the temperament and work ethic to use his great frame effectively against the very best.  Osemele has the potential to be another Vladimir Ducaase.

DT Billy Winn, Boise State- Winn spent too much time on the ground and was pushed around.  He did not flash exceptional power or quickness during the week.

WR Jeff Fuller, Texas A & M- Fuller reminds PFDN of Roy Williams and that is not good.  Fuller is a big receiver who plays small and is not physical enough.  He also drops too many passes and does not look explosive. 

LB Zach Brown, North Carolina- PFDN cannot help but think of Aaron Curry when evaluating Brown.  Brown is super-fast, but has average instincts for the game.  He does not consistently locate the football in coverage.  Brown also is not particularly physical.  He has to be considered a better athlete than football player at this point. 

OT Matt McCants, UAB- McCants was vulnerable to power and was bull rushed effectively on a number of occasions.  He is a project who needs to play with better leverage.

CB Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska- Dennard did not look fast on the field.  He gave the impression that once a receiver gained a step or two on him that it would remain.  Dennard is also only 5 foot 10 and departed Senior Bowl week early with a hip injury.

QB Ryan Lindley, San Diego State- Accuracy was the big question mark for Lindley entering the Senior Bowl.  Unfortunately, he confirmed that this is a weakness by missing open receivers during the week and in the game.  Lindley has a fine arm, but has to be viewed as a developmental project at this point and not worth anything, but a late-round draft choice.

QB Nick Foles, Arizona- Foles showed during the game that he is an inconsistent passer.  He has a strong arm, but it frequently is erratic.  Some of his throws were late, low or behind receivers.  He struggles to shuffle his feet and still remain accurate.  Foles also is easy to sack and does not throw the ball well on the run.  He reminds PFDN of Derek Anderson.

QB Kellen Moore, Boise State- Moore had a fantastic college career, but the next level looks to be a difficult jump for him.  His weak arm for the NFL and lack of athleticism stand out.  There was a noticeable lag on intermediate passes that Moore threw.  His impressive 50-3 career record really does not mean much.  Moore looks like another Ty Detmer.  He is too physically limited to be a potential starter, but a team may want to spend a late pick on him as a developmental backup.  Moore was hurt by some drops during the game, but he gets very little on his passes when he cannot step into a throw. 

QB Russell Wilson, Wisconsin-Wilson needs a lot of work operating effectively from the pocket.  He delivered the ball late and inaccurately from the pocket during the game.  Wilson is much more comfortable rolling out, which limits where he can throw the ball.  He is a good athlete, but his small size has to be a concern as to how many hits he could take when running.  Wilson is a late round pick, at best.

WR Marvin McNutt, Iowa- McNutt dropped a touchdown pass over the middle on a well-thrown pass from Kellen Moore during the game.  McNutt is not an explosive receiver and cannot help as a kick returner.  He has to use his size and catch everything thrown his way to make it in the NFL.