Risers and Fallers
Updated on Jan. 29, 2007
The Senior Bowl is considered by many to be the preeminent pre-draft event, featuring a greater collection of future NFL talent than any other collegiate game of the year. Nearly half of the players selected in the first round last April played in the 2006 Senior Bowl, and only a dramatic influx of underclass wide receivers may keep the number from rising again this year.
A strong week of practice at the Senior Bowl can push a mid-round prospect into first-round consideration. But week-long struggles can drop a player just as dramatically.
This week's Risers & Fallers takes a look at those who helped -- and hurt -- themselves the most in Mobile.
| Risers & Fallers |
1.  Nebraska outside linebacker Stewart Bradley might have been the most pleasant surprise of the Senior Bowl. The 6-foot-4, 256-pound strong-side linebacker provided the physical presence against the run as expected, but also showed surprising athleticism in coverage. Bradley was consistently the most effective pass defender of the linebackers in Senior Bowl drills, despite playing opposite linebackers with bigger household names and supposedly more athleticism. |
| 2. California cornerback Daymeion Hughes makes the list despite missing the final three practices and the Senior Bowl itself. Hughes evoked memories of shut-down corners of past Senior Bowl weeks with his performance in man-to-man coverage the first two days of practice. Challenged on short, intermediate and long routes, Hughes' agility, instincts and fearlessness in coverage made him nearly impossible to complete passes against. Hughes' 40-yard time will determine just how high in the first round he is ultimately drafted. |
| 3. While Auburn cornerback David Irons wasn't quite as dominant as Hughes, his steady, spectacular play lasted throughout the week of practices and the game. Perhaps inspired by speculation that he was invited to the Senior Bowl only to assure his brother (Auburn running back Kenny Irons) would attend, David Irons played with a chip on his shoulder all week. The 5-foot-10, 188-pound cover corner was aggressive at the line of scrimmage and cat-quick in coverage. |
| 4. Nebraska defensive Adam Carriker entered Senior Bowl week ranked higher than any other player on this list of Risers. However, he was viewed as a prospect who only fit certain schemes, as the career defensive end seemingly lacked the burst for the edge or the power for the inside of the 4-3 alignment at 6-6, 292 pounds. With only a handful of teams running the 3-4 defense and with the end position in this scheme considered more of a space-filler than a playmaker, Carriker's prospects for rising seem limited. But Carriker showed impressive burst off the edge, consistently pressuring the passer. Carriker also played so strong at the point of attack that teams late in the week were talking of a potential move to defensive tackle. Entering the week, Carriker was viewed as a one-dimensional prospect. By the end of the week, he had proven himself to be one of the more versatile defensive line prospects in recent memory. |
| 5. California defensive tackle Brandon Mebane had been invited to the Senior Bowl, according to most scouts, due to consecutive first-team Pac-10 honors more than real NFL potential. Despite the accolades, Mebane was graded by most teams as a late-round selection. After a week of practice in which the 6-1, 305-pounder proved immovable in the middle despite consistent double-teaming, Mebane forced scouts to re-evaluate him. There may not have been a player in the Senior Bowl who made himself more money than Mebane. |
1.  Georgia defensive end Quentin Moses entered his senior season as the highest ranked senior prospect in the land by one of the scouting services used by NFL teams. That changed following a disappointing senior season in which his tackles, tackles for loss and sacks all dropped significantly. There was speculation that the 6-5, 249-pound Moses would prosper in the Senior Bowl environment, where offenses weren't able to key their protection schemes to limit him. Instead, Moses appeared one-dimensional. His burst up field is impressive, but Moses lacks the size and power to hold up against the running game. Having never played outside linebacker in his life, Moses was held after practice to try the position as his upside at defensive end appears limited. |
| 2. Ohio State defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock was exposed throughout the Senior Bowl practices as the blue collar, run-stuffing defensive tackle he is. After averaging a sack per game over the first seven games of his senior season, Pitcock was incorrectly characterized by some as a natural interior pass rusher. Pitcock managed only one sack the remainder of the season, and didn't show the quick burst off the snap or ability to break free from blocks during the Senior Bowl practices to be a legitimate pass rush threat at the NFL level. Pitcock is one of the more reliable run stuffers of this year's weak defensive tackle crop, but his value lies closer to the third round than the first. |
| 3. North Carolina State's Tank Tyler is another defensive tackle who struggled to live up to expectations at the Senior Bowl. Characterized by some as a carbon copy of 2006 first-round pick and former teammate John McCargo, Tyler didn't show the explosive quickness off the snap consistently enough in practice to solidify himself as a potential first-round prospect. In fact, throughout the first two days of practice Tyler was arguably the biggest disappointment in Mobile. He was manhandled at times by centers and guards known more for their finesse than power early on, though he did show improvement as the week went on. |
| 4. Fresno State cornerback Marcus McCauley is as gifted as any cornerback who was at the Senior Bowl. The 6-1, 200-pounder had to answer questions about the level of competition he faced in college, and seemed capable of doing so in drills, showing the change of direction, pure speed and leaping ability to impress. Once the scrimmages began, however, McCauley struggled to cover anyone. He was consistently beaten on short, intermediate and deep routes, regardless of which receiver he lined up against on the first two days of practice. |
| 5. When in the open field, Florida State running back Lorenzo Booker is one of the more electric runners in this draft and appears capable of making an immediate impact at the NFL level. At 5-10, 188 pounds, he seems most likely to help as a change-of-pace back. However, how he can be utilized remains anyone's guess as he lacks toughness and consistently dropped passes out of the backfield. |
Rob Rang is a Senior Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.
