MORSE: Senior Bowl Practice Stars
(PHOTO: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 5 minutes
Posted Under: Patriots News
(PHOTO: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 5 minutes
New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
(PHOTO: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports) As we head up to the Reece’s Senior Bowl on Saturday (1:00 NFL Network), I will highlight those players that have stood out during the practices leading up to the game. The scouts put more credence into the performances during the practices than they do the game itself. Again, I will use a cumulative approach to those that I highlight. These are players that have been mentioned by numerous sources. The Patriots needs at QB, WR and OT will be emphasized.
After watching the first two days of practice on NFL Network, I am underwhelmed by the talent at Left Tackle. Some of the top tackles such as Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State), Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma) and Kingsley Suamataia (BYU) are strictly Right Tackles. Guyton took one rep at Left Tackle and was eaten alive by the edge rusher. Another mark against Guyton is that he only had 14 starts. He couldn’t beat out Wanya Morris, a 3rd round (#92) selection of Kansas City. Guyton was beat regularly in one-on-ones despite leaving early on the snap nearly every time. The scouts won’t miss that. Patriots scouts want 24+ starts in college.
You should read this article by Taylor Kyles of CLNS media. Kyles took over for Evan Lazar when he took a job with Patriots.com and he has done a terrific job. 2024 Senior Bowl Preview: Offensive Tackles – CLNS Media This is a free article and I also suggest that you subscribe to Taylor’s X feed.
Top performer at Left Tackle was Jordan Morgan (Arizona). His improved play and the lack of performance of other players will probably move Morgan into the 1st round and unavailable to the Patriots in the second round.
Patrick Paul (Houston) was high on my list but the 6’7” 319 lb Left Tackle disappointed in the one-on-one drills during practice. Paul had the most starts at Left Tackle (44) than any other Left tackle at the Senior Bowl. He was too erect in his step back pass protection.
Javon Foster (Missouri) had a steady performance during the drills and has helped himself. He had 41 starts (39 at LT) in the SEC during his college career. He stands 6’5” 319 lbs. He would make a nice developmental swing tackle.
A couple of relatively unknown Left Tackles made some noise. Ethan Driskell (Marshall) is a big 6’9” 328 lb Left Tackle. He had 25 starts at Left Tackle. Delmar Glaze (Maryland) was a name I learned just before the Senior Bowl. He stands 6’5” 328 lbs and is another name that could be a late round developmental depth piece.
I urge the Patriots to try and sign Michael Onwenu to a long-term contract. They need to re-establish that a player can get a second contract from the team, rewarding a low round player they have developed, paying them for the years they were overperforming their contracts. If they can’t sign him, then Franchise Tag him for one year, and draft a player that could replace him in a year.
Judging Wide Receivers at these All-Star games can be difficult because of the inconsistent play of the QBs. What is noticeable is whether or not the WR can beat press man coverage. Two players stood out to me, Ladd McConkey (Georgia) 6’ 187 and Roman Wilson (Michigan) 6’ 186. Wilson runs an estimated 4.37 40-yard dash. McConkey’s 40 was estimated at 4.59. Both play the slot position and were lightning quick off the line of scrimmage. Wilson in particular beat the top cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo) in a one-on-one drill only to have QB Bo Nix (Oregon) severely underthrow the deep pass.
Brenden Rice (USC) the son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice was very impressive. The 6’3” 212 lb, 4.36e 40-yard dash was one of the bigger receivers that got off press coverage easily. Rice got off the Line of Scrimmage with some nice moves against Quinyon Mitchell, but it was Mitchell who had the last laugh on an underthrown ball that he picked off. Mitchell has undoubtably been the star of the DBs in these practices. He has done this without committing any infractions like interference or holding.
Javon Baker (UCF) The Alabama transfer caught 56 passes for 796 yards and five touchdowns in 2022, then followed that up with 52 receptions for 1,159 yards (an average of 21.9 yards per catch) and seven scores in 2023. The 6’1” 208 lb. receiver is #111 on the PFF Big Board of prospects and has 4.48e speed. Baker is one of the lower ranked receivers in this game yet has shown up very well for the scouts and coaches in attendance.
This from Matt Holder of SB Nation. “After writing yesterday that Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. were underwhelming, today’s performance was probably worse for both guys.
Nix still seemed timid to let it rip and was spraying the ball all over the place, showing some accuracy issues. He just doesn’t seem to have the arm talent that he showed during the season. Meanwhile, Penix Jr. had accuracy issues and missed a few short, easy throws. He also didn’t handle pressure in the pocket well.
Of the two, Penix Jr. has been the better player during both practices as he’s at least flashed that impressive arm strength and made a few more eye-catching passes down the field.
Maybe it was because the top two quarterbacks in Mobile have been underwhelming so far, but the local kid from South Alabama, Carter Bradley, turned some heads on Wednesday. He was one of the few passers who was consistently willing to take some shots and dropped several nice balls in the process.” Bradley is coming off an impressive performance in the Hula Bowl. He is the son of NFL coach Gus Bradley.
Sam Hartman (Notre Dame) QB has been inconsistent. Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) QB has looked the best on the National team. Joe Milton (Tennessee) has shown the big arm but is way too erratic. It was tough for the receivers since the QBs have been so bad.
Ray Davis (Kentucky) RB 5’84” 220 lbs is a load.
Dylan Laube (New Hampshire) RB is putting on a show here in Mobile. People scoffed when I included him in my first mock. He ran well and was superior in catching the ball out of the backfield, bailing out the QBs bad throws. In the second day of practice Laube was put in the slot to go against a DB. He had a clean release off press coverage at the line and beat the DB deep for a TD. Laube stands 5’95” and 210 lbs. and runs 4.46e 40. Can’t wait to see what his 3-cone drill number is. He is flat out quick.
Darius Robinson (Missouri) Edge He couldn’t be blocked and had a tremendous 1st step. He has really helped himself this week.
T’Vondre Sweat (Texas) NT What a load! He is 6’42” and wouldn’t get on the scale at the senior bowl. Estimates is he could be 350 lbs and he can’t be blocked one-on-one. He dominated in the lineman drills.
Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo) CB I talked about him in the WR section but he clearly is the number one CB here.
Zac Ventola of NE Patriots Today reports the following players have met with the #Patriots:
Chau Smith-Wade DB Washington
Dylan Laube RB New Hampshire
Max Melton (x2)
Joe Milton III QB Tennessee
Spencer Rattler QB South Carolina (multiple times)
Xavier Legette WR South Carolina (expecting to tonight)
Evan Lazar of Patriots.com reports the Patriots have met with:
Sam Hartman QB Notre Dame
Devontez Walker WR North Carolina (x2)
Director of Pro Personnel Matt Groh was finally seen on the field in Mobile. Evan Lazar did a video piece about Groh from the Senior Bowl that can be seen on Patriots.com. Area Scout Matt Evans was also present in Mobile.
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