Posting this at kickoff time for the Senior Bowl may not be the brightest editorial decision… but I couldn’t help but wonder what the Eagles’ division rivals in the NFC East would be looking at most in Mobile based on their own unique personnel needs.
Walker Rhodes, also of Optimum Scouting, touched on this subject briefly last week, but let’s take a deeper look:
Terence Newman, the great veteran cornerback for Dallas, 5-10, 190, in his 10th year out of Kansas State, is 34 years old. The Cowboys must be looking at defensive backs with a real sense of front office urgency to find similar talent and depth for their next 5-year Plan…
Dallas Cowboys
Interior Offensive Line
The Cowboys are fairly loaded at all the skill positions on offense. It’s an offense that has the potential to be one of the best in the league, but it won’t come close to realizing that potential without some serious upgrades on the interior offensive line. Dallas needs to improve at center and guard heading into 2012.
Cornerback
It doesn’t appear likely that Terence Newman will be a Cowboy in 2012. Age finally caught up to Newman, and Dallas will need to find a young playmaker to fill the void in the secondary.
Outside Linebacker
Dallas had hoped that Anthony Spencer could contribute opposite of Demarcus Ware, but they only ended up being disappointed. Ware is one of the best in the league, but he can’t do it all on his own. Finding another pass rusher will be crucial for the Cowboys.
New York Giants
Middle Linebacker
Middle linebacker has been an issue for a few years now in New York, but they haven’t done a whole lot to address it. They drafted Greg Jones in the sixth round in this past draft, and Jonathon Goff in the fifth in 2008, but it’s time they made a serious investment at the position.
Offensive Line
The Giants really could stand to improve, or at least get younger all along the offensive line. They may want to begin by focusing at right tackle, where a replacement for Kareem McKenzie needs to be found sooner than later.
Tight End
There will likely be a good deal of debate as to how the Giants should approach the tight end position. Since the departure of Kevin Boss they haven’t have a real impact player there. Jake Ballard hasn’t been a disappointment, but he’s only averaging just over 2 catches per game. He’s got time to develop, but New York may want to look to add a playmaker here.
Washington Redskins
Quarterback
Rex Grossman had a couple of good games, but he’s clearly not going to bring the Redskins to the next level. Rebuilding their offense is going to be a long process, but getting a franchise quarterback is the first step in the right direction.
Offensive Line
Aside from (possibly) right guard, there isn’t a spot on the Washington offensive line that doesn’t need improvement. Tackle may be the top priority, as Trent Williams would be suspended for a year with a failed drug test, and Jamaal Brown is aging and injury prone.
Wide Receiver
The Redskins have hardly any playmakers to rely on, and it’s a problem that has to be addressed. Getting a wide receiver that can make plays on his own would be the easiest way to do that, and it’d also help the development of their new quarterback.
Speaking of scouting college senior talent, there was an all-star game last week that barely received national or even regional attention. It was the first-ever Battle of Florida…featuring mostly players who are hoping to slip into the latter rounds of April’s NFL draft.
Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden and ex-Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger were on the sidelines for last Saturday’s night game at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton. Bowden, 82, coached the North team and Schnellenberger, 77, led the South squad. Players who ever played high school or college football in Florida were eligible for the game.
Over 140 NFL and CFL scouts attended the inaugural event. Damond Talbot filed this report:
“Although it was a blowout with the North squad beating the South squad 51-3, the game had a pretty good turnout. The FAU stadium was such a beautiful place, the stadium was the right size to hold the game, and there was a pretty good turnout. When I was pulling in they had a bunch of fans tailgating wearing the garb of Florida Gators, Florida State and miscellaneous Florida college and high school teams.”
Legendary Coach Howard Schnellenberger said:
“I think we made a real statement, for this game. It has a great future, and there were more fans then we had expected. To put the game on in as little time as the Battle of Florida staff had, I was impressed. There are more good football players from this state than any, besides maybe Texas and California, and the people of Florida love their football. The stadium was a perfect fit for this game, and it was a terrific experience, the field is a fast field, the only grass field in the Sun Belt conference, and it is beautiful. You have to love the Valet Parking, and all the amenities that Boca has. I couldn’t be more excited with the turnout and can’t wait to see how the next 4 years of the lease turn out.”
“There were some football players who really stuck out to me as a scout, and who were getting some raves from the NFL scouts surrounding me:”
The North Squad Highlights
• Josh Bellamy – WR – Louisville, had a great week of practice and was able to get open on a very nice touchdown pass by Stephen Garcia where Bellamy hit a double move on the South CB and was wide open for a 60 yard score. Bellamy has great hands and is able to make a move after the catch.
• Dominique Davis – QB – ECU, looked a bit rusty— he threw a strike on his first throw to Bert Reed of FSU, but after that was throwing too much off his back foot and on the run. He has the size and arm strength to play at the next level.
• Stephen Garcia – QB – South Carolina, Didn’t come in ’til the third quarter but when he did he didn’t slow down, he had two touchdown passes, and looked comfortable in the pocket. He is not the biggest QB, but could be a good fit in a CFL system.
• Kevin Elliot – WR – FAMU, was running good routes, could have had two touchdowns if the ball in the 4th quarter was thrown better. He was good across the middle and had a terrific catch in the middle of the field to get in the end zone.
• Josh McGregor – QB – Jacksonville, McGregor was the most impressive QB at the Battle of Florida, he led the North down the field on the first three drives and scored, he finished the game 11-for-12 and looked very good. Just remember that McGregor’s coaching staff was calling the plays and he was familiar with the playbook.
• DeAndre Pressley – CB – Appalachian State – Pressley was a QB before turning CB, and had a few good plays in coverage, but his best play came on special teams where he was able to burn everyone with a few amazing moves to score on a 65 yard punt return.
• Lamont Bryant – TE – Morgan State – This kid is a tweener, who could be a WR at the next level, at 6’5 and 228 he is faster than any TE at the game. He could block and catch, he is a blazer he had a nice catch in the middle of the field and was able to pick up the first down.
• Jermaine Thomas – RB – Florida State – Thomas looked like a big back in the beginning of the year, but man was he hitting the hole with velocity… He was the most impressive running back at the game and showed great vision. He found a way to get outside and was able to follow his blocks. He had a 1 yard touchdown run as well, finishing the game with 70 plus yards on very limited carries.
• Patrick Hampton – DE – USF, This kid was all over the place, he was causing problems in the backfield the entire game. He started the game as a RDE and was in the backfield, both him and Ryan Davis were beating the tackles all game.
• Ryan Davis – DE – Bethune – Cookman, This kid again was the player I have seen all year long, he was in the backfield constantly. He contains his lanes very well and started the game at LDE. He had a huge sack in the first quarter and the first sack of the game. He looks the part and did a tremendous job.
• Elliot Hennigan – DT – UAB, What a big guy, he was able to clog the middle and was a major part of why the South couldn’t run the ball well. He was eating up defenders in the middle and allowed the edge rushers to get pressure.
• Adam Nissley – TE – UCF, He was one of the guys that I thought was really impressive. He was very good at blocking and was able to get off the blocks and run a good enough route to get open. He was hit in the flats a couple times and could be used as a fullback.
• Claude Davis –DE, USF, This kid is special, I think he could be a guy that gets the most looks from any scout at the game. You knew when number 90 was in the game, he came off the edge so hard that he was difficult to get a hand on. He is only 6’2 but his first step is very quick. Teams were talking about him a ton in the Scout room.
• Josh Long – DT, Webber International – Long and Hennigan in the middle of the field were the answer to the North’s run defense. They showed great push and were not giving up. They had a very good showing and Long could be a sleeper, he finished with a few good tackles in the backfield.
South Squad Highlights
• Marcus Dowtin – LB – North Alabama, He was given Defensive MVP because they were on the field the entire game. He had a few nice tackles but to me was not the MVP on defense. He was good in the run support but lacked the coverage skills.
• Chris Hart – QB – Webber International, The kid can make all the NFL throws, has a cannon, for an arm, but is very inaccurate. He had a few good throws, but will have a huge uphill battle to get to the next level.
• Deonte Thompson – WR – Florida, Deonte runs a very good route, he has decent hands and good moves. He is not the tallest guy in the world, but showed his skills on both returns and as a wide out.
• Travaris Cadet – RB – Appalachian State, he was very impressive on kick returns and showed his ability to make a cut. This kid seems like a really good athlete, he couldn’t get any running lanes because the line had a very poor game for the South.
• Jean Fanor – S – Bethune Cookman, On the first drive the Bethune Cookman boys were ballin. Fanor was a very hard hitting safety who put his shoulder into a few guys in this game. He had a chance for an interception but Fenelius tipped the ball away from him at the last second.
• Beau Relliford – TE – FSU, This kid had a good week of practice per the NFL scouts, he looked good on a few pass plays, but was totally blown up on a run blocking play. He was pushed about 5 yards off the ball and caused a big play for loss.
• Antonio Fenelius – CB – Wisconsin, This kid had a good game in coverage, and c
ame down with one interception. He knocked a pass away as well, he was a good player for the South.
• Reggie Sandilands – ILB – Bethune Cookman, I don’t know how he wasn’t the player of the game for the South, it seemed at the end of the game that Sandilands was the only one still hustling, even though his team was down by a ton. He never gave up and fought all the way til the end. You saw number 11 in on tons of plays.
• Donovan Varner – WR – Duke, When the QB was able to get him the ball he looked the most fluid at the WR spot. His route running is better than anyone here, but they just couldn’t get the ball to him. He caught the only ball thrown to him and made a pretty catch on the sidelines to get his feet in.
• Sean Ferguson – DE – Mississippi State – He was a good player for the South, and had the only sack for the South. He knocked the ball out of Garcia’s hand and came off the edge extremely hard. He looked like a good DE who had the size to do it at the next level.
• Michael Williams – S – Bethune Cookman , Both the Bethune boys started the game at safety and they looked good. They were lowering their pads and hitting players hard. They didn’t shy away from contact../ Williams did a great job but needs to remember to keep his head up on tackles. On a few I though he was going to get hurt because his head was down.
Player that I was disappointed with and thought I would see more was—
Adewale Ojomo – DE – Miami, he was non – existent, I couldn’t believe that he was demolished the way he was by the offensive line of the North. He did not look good at all, I can’t even remember him making a play.
Thanks to Damond Talbot for that report from Boca Raton… and for adding even more data to our MACH 10 plans. I’m guessing the Battle of Florida will get a little more media attention next year. This also makes me wonder if there will one day be a Battle of Pennsylvania? I can only speculate that in a year when both the Steelers and the Eagles have been knocked out of contention, it would have been nice to have a college all-star game produced locally and featuring home-grown talent. If the Super Bowl can one day soon be hosted by the New Meadowlands, why not a college all-star game of meaning produced in a Northern state?
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