The annual festivities associated with Senior Bowl week include much more than the immense collection of NFL coaches and scouts and those collegiate hopefuls working to impress them.
Though this year is thusfar an exception, it is usually about favorable temps and sunny skies, as well as distinctively delicious cuisine, ancient oaks with Spanish Moss, wrought iron balconies, Southern hospitality and a whole lot of open-to-the-public football practice---which early evidence reveals is being observed by more eyes than previously experienced.
When this writer first made the sojourn five years ago, the media swarm was not nearly as heavy as is currently the case. The fan population is possibly unchanged, locally depressed by the chilly conditions perhaps. But those surging the field after each practice, eager to converse with the participants, exceeds both earlier visits.
As for those hoping to parlay their invitations into early-draft status, this does not appear to be an uncommonly-gifted contingent. There is plenty of talent here, to be sure, but not quite the knock-your-socks-off variety---though, in fairness, a South practice has yet to be witnessed and that figures to be the stronger of the squads.
Making matters even more disappointing regarding the North team, UNC DT Kentwan Balmer (6-5 308) appears to have possibly withdrawn from the contest. Neither Senior Bowl Director of Public Relations Vic Knight nor Adam Kaplan, a regular contributor to the OBR, knew precisely why the prospect did not partake in Tuesday morning's session.
Knight and his superbly-helpful and friendly staff had nothing to offer, while Kaplan---ambushed at the Krispy Kreme table---thought an injury was the reason. Lost in the throng following the early workout, Oakland Raider DL coach Keith Millard was unavailable for questioning. (The Raiders staff is responsible for preparing the North units, while cross-Bay rivals San Francisco will be handling the South.)
Balmer was the first of the DL on the field yesterday to receive personal tutelage from Millard, whose run-defense was among the sport's worst in 2007 and could surely use the services of one as promising as Balmer, who draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr., ranks with North teammate Sedrick Ellis (USC) among the elite DTs in this year's class.
In fact, Kiper foresaw the emergence of Balmer this season once Butch Davis hired onto his first-year Tarheel staff John Blake to coach his DL. Kiper considers Blake among the very best of college coaches for that positional unit, crediting him with the rapid rise in 2006 of Nebraska product Adam Carriker, whom the Rams made their top selection last April at 13.
And both Balmer and Ellis dominated Monday afternoon's brief scrimmage play, promising to give their team a legitimate strength to possibly counter a gifted South outfit.
Whereas Ellis is a Jerry Ball fire-hydrant type, built thick and low to the ground (6-0 307), Balmer is Reggie White-like, with tree-trunk-like upper legs for power and ballast. He resembles the prototype for the position, whether aligned inside in a 4-3 or on the end in a 3-4. His would be a significant loss for Northern hopes and represent a considerable disappointment for those hoping to further evaluate him against premier opposition, either in practice or in Saturday's exhibition.
Should Balmer depart, this would increase the burden on NC State's DeMario Pressley (6-3 300), whose shown far more thusfar as a pass-rusher than as a run-stopper. Pressley's techniques warranted special focus from Millard yesterday, particularly related to deficient hand use. He also seemed to struggle staying sufficiently low.
Hence, it is unlikely, at least from the North squad, that a club like the Cleveland Browns will be finding reinforcements for either its 3-4 DL or at ILB. In fact, UNLV's Beau Bell, possibly that squad's best MLB candidate, went down this morning with what appeared to be a right knee injury, though that is unconfirmed. Trying to convert inside from OLB, Bell got caught up in the wash during a running play and seemed to be hit from the side while extended.
What the North squad may have at positions of relative Cleveland need are interior OL, quick WRs and maybe an edge rusher to complement Kamerion Wimbley. For the last role, Va Tech's Chris Ellis (6-4 257) appears a bit better holding the point than Purdue's Cliff Avril, though the latter has an impressive upfield surge. The South looks to have a few candidates, as well; particularly intriguing is Wake Forest's Jeremy Thompson. In Mississippi State's Titus Brown, they may also have an ILB. (More on the South in a latter entry.)
Among the North interior OL are USC Drew Radovich (6-4 300), Oregon State's Roy Schuening (6-3 308)and Northern Iowa's Chad Rinehart (6-5 311), though Nebraska's Carl Nicks (6-5 345), currently working at tackle, could move inside at the next level.
Schuening and Rinehart were also LTs for their college squads, with the former appearing more comfortable inside at this point. Rinehart also shows good base and balance but is more inclined to remain tall. Rinehart is, however, a big raw-boned kid with a lot of upside. He's in the Ryan Tucker mold.
Cal's Lavelle Hawkins (5-11 186), Va Tech's Eddie Royal (5-10 181) and New Mexico's Marcus Smith (6-1 210) impress with quickness, versatility and big-play potential as complementary threats. The most heralded of the Northern receivers, Oklahoma State's lanky Adarius Bowman (6-4 220), on the other hand, is afflicted thusfar with dropsies.
None are nearly as remarkable, however, as the always well-represented assemblage of former league stars that populate Senior Bowl sidelines. There are probably more former All-Pros here than there are collegiate hopefuls, in fact. There is Paul Warfield shaking hands with Willie Brown. James "Shack" Harris leaning against the bleacher wall next to Doug Williams, just yards from Earnest Byner making the greetings gauntlet amid contemporaries saying things like: "Here comes my hero." Smallish WRs Harold Jackson and Henry Ellard are scarsely recognizable in their slightly-thickened forms. That gray-haired fellow can't possibly be Robert Brazile, is it?
It's Senior Bowl week in Mobile. I hope you can make the trip one day.
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