Senior Bowl Standouts

The Senior Bowl is in the bag and we were able to see who was able to shine under the lights. Some players confirmed what they did in practice all week and some players left more questions than answers as we now head to the NFL Combine next month.

The North squad, coached by Ken Whisenhunt won the game 34-14 over the South squad. To me the game highlighted the strengths in the trenches. The North stifled the South and they also mauled the South’s defensive line.

With all the success of the North’s running game I started looking closer at the guys upfront since they were opening holes and blowing up people off the line. That being said here are the players that stood out for me.

In no particular order:

Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska (5-9, 195)

Abdullah ran with quickness and caught the ball out of the backfield, and showed good hands. I like how he ran the ball and was hard to tackle as he kept his legs moving. I saw Abdullah in a few games this year, so this game further confirmed his abilities. He was named the game’s MVP. For me, Abdullah is a smaller version of Joe Randle, so even if Murray is gone, I’m not so sure Abdullah would be on Dallas’ radar. David Johnson had a nice game as well, he could be someone to keep an eye on.

What others are saying:

Leading the victorious North squad in both running (73 yards) and receiving (four catches for 40 yards) for a game-high 113 all-purpose yards, Abdullah was correctly named the 2015 Senior Bowl MVP. Abdullah’s terrific agility, balance and acceleration helped him stand out all week and he rose to the occasion one last time for the Cornhuskers. – Rang

Rannell Hall, WR, Central Florida (6-1, 200)

Hall impressed me with his concentration and ability to make some really nice tight rope catches. He looked good in this game and stood out from the others. Hall impressed in practice as well.

What others are saying: 

Hall showed terrific body control to adjust over Nelson to haul in a 32-yard pass from Southeastern Louisiana’s Bryan Bennett in the third quarter that put the South in position tie the game at 10. This wasn’t the case of one splashy play getting Hall attention, though. He made some terrific catches throughout the week of practice, showing excellent timing, positioning and concentration to make contested grabs. -Rang

David Cobb, RB, Minnesota (5-11, 220)

Cobb runs with some toughness and ran nice between the tackles. Cobb looks like he is ready for the next level. I could see him as part of a rotation in the NFL. Cobb ran for 69 yards on 11 carries and 1 TD. Nice showing.

Laken Tomlinson, OG, Duke (6-3, 330)

Tomlinson had a solid week of practice and he put in a nice game today. He was a pivotal part of the North’s success. I don’t see the Cowboys taking another guard, but if they did it would be insurance for Ron Leary. Leary will get signed under his exclusive tag, but it’ll be interesting to see if they give him a long term deal, his knee has held up. Keep in mind the guards main backup is Bernadeau who has one year remaining on his contract.

Ali Marpet, OG, Hobart (6-4, 310)

Marpet received nice praise during this week of practice and he backed it up with a solid performance. Marpet did a very nice job against the South’s defensive line. For the Cowboys outlook, I have Marpet in the same regard as Tomlinson. The Cowboys could make a move in the draft for insurance or future guard. Hobart could be a nice pick up in a later round for this purpose.

Defensively, I was not impressed as I have been in other years, but there were a few names that I liked. It’s no secret the Cowboys need to get pressure on the QB and Will McClay will be tasked again in finding the right kind of guys for the Cowboys. Here are few guys to keep an eye on:

Carl Davis, DT, Iowa (6-5, 315)

Davis is not a name too familiar going into the Senior Bowl, but after a solid week of practice and a solid game he will draw more attention as we head deeper towards the draft. Davis will be on the Cowboys radar because is has some versatility as a DE and DT. I’m sure the Cowboys have been following him since Dallas scouted Hitchens last draft. Question is will he be there for the Cowboys at the end of the 1st round. Mike Mayock suggests Davis could be a 1st rounder now.

“On tape at Iowa, he flashed, here he did way more than that. He played every snap, he showed athleticism, an ability to push the pocket and get to the quarterback,” Mayock said Saturday. “He may have elevated himself right into the first round and that’s what this game is all about.”

Kevin White, CB, TCU (5-10, 174)

White had a good showing all week in practice and he brought that same quality of work onto the field. TCU had a vaunted defense this year and White was an integral part of their success. White had a solid Senior Bowl game and had an INT in this game. His size is being scrutinized by some, but you cannot deny the playmaking ability or scrappiness he plays with. White could be another Scandrick for the Cowboys.

With the cornerback situation looking a bit shaky right now, it could be wise to invest in another cornerback and it could happen in the 1st round. Scandrick is a lock, but you have to think Carr is either going to take a pay cut or get released. Even if Carr stays, he has not played up to par since leaving the Chiefs. Claiborne won’t be a factor next season, he’s coming off major knee surgery and he just seems to milk his injuries to stay off the field. That being said, don’t be surprised if we don’t see Claiborne on the field until later in the regular season, and hopefully as a deep backup. Done with him totally.

My sleeper prospect

Rob Havenstein, OT, Wisconsin (6-7, 332)

Havenstein didn’t get much recognition from the practices, but from what I saw, he did a good job shutting down his guys. Come gameday Havenstein put on another showing. He held up against the speed rush and stood people up.

The Cowboys will need to address the tackle depth even if Free or Parnell are re-signed. You have to think one or the other will remain in Dallas, but where’s the depth. Parnell filled in nicely for Free during his injury, but Parnell should be able to find a starting gig somewhere during free agency. If neither Free or Parnell remain in Dallas then RT will be a priority, and Havenstein should be a consideration.