I am sure I am not alone in saying I grew tired of hearing about how Tim Tebow was going to perform this week, how much Terrence Cody weighs, and looking at Mel Kiper’s hair, so I assure you not much else will be said about those issues. The story of the 2010 Senior Bowl for me came in the trenches, which is where football games are still won. A dominant performance by the defensive front of the North squad, along with solid play from the front seven of the South team as well were what made this game for me.
Led by defensive end Brandon Graham, the defense of the North was in the South’s backfield all day long. Graham, a 6’1 263 pounder from Michigan, routinely harassed the quarterback, had 2 sacks and a forced fumble, and also showed he has the ability to stop the run as well. He may be a bit undersized, but I can see him having a Dwight Freeney-like impact at the next level. Sean Weatherspoon of Missouri also had a good day. The 6’0 241 pound middle linebacker was all over the field for Coach Jim Schwartz, and also seemed to be the vocal and emotional leader of the team. That is something every team needs and will not go unnoticed by scouts and GM’s. A few other players from the North that impressed me defensively were defensive end Tyson Alualu of Cal, and linebackers Daryl Washington of TCU and Koa Misi of Utah.
Offensively, the North looked somewhat stagnant early on, but benefitted from good field position after the defense forced a couple turnovers. Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount had a good day averaging about 5 yards per carry to go along with a TD run of 14 yards. Obviously character issues are a huge concern with this guy, but at 6 feet and 245 pounds with good lateral quickness and the ability to get downfield in a hurry, he could end up having some good value since he will most likely fall to the late 2nd or 3rd round in the draft. Cincinnati wide receiver Mardy Gilyard had a huge day hauling in 5 catches for 103 yards and a TD, while also performing kick and punt return duties, showing scouts he is as dynamic as anyone in the nation. Dan LeFevour of Central Michigan had the best day among all the quarterbacks. The NCAA’s all-time leader in TD’s showed he has the poise, athleticism, and arm strength to be considered an NFL quarterback.
Defensive tackle Dan Williams of Tennessee and cornerback Patrick Robinson of Florida State led the South team defensively. Williams, a 6’ 2" 329 pounder, battled all day long with Idaho guard Mike Iupati who is widely considered to be the best offensive lineman in this draft. Williams got the best of Iupati on several occasions, constantly collapsed the pocket, plugged the gaps making it nearly impossible for the North to get a run game going while he was on the field, and even deflected a pass. Robinson, a 5’ 11" 190 pound speedster, showed he is the best senior corner in this year’s draft. The rules of the Senior Bowl only allow the defense to play Cover 1 or Cover 3, so there was a lot of man to man coverage played on the outside which allowed us a good look at the corners, and Robinson impressed by consistently staying with his man and not giving up big plays. Question marks still remain about his desire and play-making ability. Others that had good days for the South defense were DT Terrence Cody of Alabama, DE’s Brandon Lang and Cameron Sheffield of Troy, and LB Dekoda Watson of Florida State. USC safety Taylor Mays answered questions about his ability to make plays on the ball with a big interception at the goal line of a Tony Pike pass to halt a drive from the North. Scouts are still waiting for answers about the speed of Alabama cornerback Javier Arenas, especially after he was beaten deep by Gilyard on a 32 yard score from LeFevour. There are no questions, however about his ability in the return game after he showed he can to break tackles and get loose in the open field with a big return that was negated by a penalty.
There is not too much to tell about the South’s offense. They were limited to two field goals of 43 and 33 yards by Alabama’s Leigh Tiffin, along with a 19-yard TD pass from Zac Robinson of Oklahoma State to tight end Colin Peek of Alabama. Robinson came in on the final possession of the 1st half and executed a 2 minute drill to perfection, making excellent throws and showing some serious moxy, and then spontaneously combusted in the 2nd half. Tim Tebow looked about how everyone thought he would, but I still would not count this kid out. He is obviously open to constructive criticism and his drive and determination is unmatched. I think he will do everything he can to become successful at the next level, with that said he has a lot to work on but this game was a good starting point for him.
We saw a lot of guys lose and make money for themselves today, some speedsters make big plays, guys like LeGarrette Blount and USC tailback Stafon Johnson get some redemption, but the story came from the big guys in the middle who don’t get the glory. The North squad dominated the trenches, where football games have always and will always be won.
By Aaron Taylor
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