This is Charlie Campbell’s Monday 2014 Senior Bowl Practice Report. Charlie is reporting live from Mobile, Ala., and he’ll describe what he sees at practice and whom certain prospects talk to all week.
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2014 Senior Bowl Practice Report
By Charlie Campbell –
@draftcampbell
The North team took the field of Ladd-Peebles Stadium for their first practice of the Senior Bowl. The Atlanta Falcons coaching staff ran the practice and will coach the North squad all week. The Falcons’ staff had the players practicing in shells (shorts, shoulder pads and helmets). Atlanta’s staff kept the players going at a good pace and at a reasonably physical level. They started the session with some installation and work in individual position groups. After that, the team did a few one-on-one sessions, a few periods of special teams work and a team scrimmage. Here is a rundown of the noteworthy players.
On the offensive side of the ball, the most impressive player was Notre Dame left tackle Zack Martin (6-4, 305). He had an excellent practice. Martin started out by beating Stanford’s Trent Murphy on back-to-back one-on-one reps. Murphy tried a speed rush to the outside and was pushed too far around by Martin. A swim move by Murphy went nowhere on the rematch. Martin also won two reps against Louisville speed rusher Marcus Smith. On one rep, Martin pushed Smith around to the outside, and on the other, Martin stood up a bull rush. Smith (14.5 sacks) and Murphy (15 sacks) were college footballs two leading sackers in 2013, so Martin’s domination of them was very impressive.
Murphy didn’t have a great start to his week. He also struggled against Zack Martin when they when went against each other during the season. During the team scrimmage, Murphy did have a nice play where he pushed Stanford fullback/tight end Ryan Hewitt into the backfield before shedding the block and stuffing a wide receiver for a loss of a few yards on a reverse. However, Murphy lost another pass-rushing opportunity going against Martin. Murphy needs to perform better in the one-on-ones on Tuesday and Wednesday.
On the defensive line, the most impressive player was Pittsburgh’s Aaron Donald. The fast and strong Donald destroyed Baylor’s Cyril Richardson in four one-on-one reps. The first rep saw Donald win with speed to the outside. After another win on a speed rush, Donald blasted Richardson (6-4, 343) flat on his backside to get free to the quarterback. To complete the domination, Donald won with speed again. Donald (6-0, 288) made a serious statement to open the week as he was phenomenal against one of the top guards in the 2014 draft class.
Another defensive tackle who impressed was Minnesota’s Ra’Shede Hageman. He owned Miami guard Brandon Linder. Hageman beat Linder with bull and speed rushes on four reps. On the fifth try, Linder finally got a draw as he allowed some penetration, but kept Hageman from getting to the quarterback marker in time. Hageman (6-6, 318) started his week well, and he should solidify a first-round grade in Mobile.
Missouri speed-rushing outside linebacker Michael Sam had some nice battles against Miami right tackle Seantrel Henderson. To get things started, Henderson stood up a bull rush from Sam (6-1, 260). Sam came back with a win via an impressive rip move to establish leverage on Henderson with a rush to the inside. Sam also had a win with a speed rush to beat Clemson tackle Brandon Thomas. Henderson and Sam both need to impress in Mobile this week.
Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd had a mixed outing in his first practice. He displayed a strong arm with the ability to throw some fastballs past defenders to his receivers. In the one-on-ones, Boyd lofted in a well-placed ball to Oregon’s Josh Huff. They connected again when Boyd dropped in a long gain to Huff, who beat Wisconsin safety Dezmon Southward on an out-and-up. Boyd later threw a frozen rope to UCLA’s Shaq Evans on the run off a slant, but Evans dropped the pass.
During the 11-on-11 scrimmage, Boyd rolled out and helped get his receiver open with a pump fake on an out and up, but Boyd overthrew the wide out. A faster receiver like college teammate Sammy Watkins would have run it down for a long gain – probably a touchdown. A broken play by the offense saw North Carolina’s Kareem Martin smack the ball out of Boyd’s hands. Boyd came back to fire a bullet past the hand of Michigan State’s Isaiah Lewis to hit Wisconsin wide receiver Jared Abbrederis on a quick out. If Boyd is more consistent on Tuesday and Wednesday, his stock could rise.
Miami quarterback Stephen Morris had a mixed session. During the team scrimmage, he threw a ball up for grabs downfield into double coverage. Oregon wide receiver Josh Huff couldn’t get back to the underthrown pass for a reception, and it fell incomplete. That kind of throw and decision caused Morris to throw a number of interceptions in college. Morris had a good completion going downfield on a deep ball for Abbrederis. Morris laid it up there, and Abbrederis made a leaping grab over Wyoming cornerback Marqueston Huff. Morris also connected with Abbrederis on a slant. Morris had another completion on a throw to UCLA wide out Shaq Evans, who beat Wisconsin safety Dez Southward. Morris had a decent debut, but he needs to play better on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas was his typical self with some impressive plays and some other letdowns. During the team scrimmage, he basically took a sack since he held onto the ball too long when nothing was open. Thomas also fired a nice pass to Abbrederis, who beat Wyoming cornerback Marqueston Huff on a slant. Thomas threw a nice ball to Evans for a nice gain after he beat N.C. State cornerback Dontae Johnson. With his combination of size and athleticism, Thomas has evaluators watching him closely.
As if you couldn’t tell already, Wisconsin wide receiver Jared Abbrederis had a superb practice to open the week. He was very impressive with his route-running and sudden breaks. Abbrederis constantly got separation from defensive backs and outfought them for balls. He also did a nice job fielding punts. Abbrederis looks like a sleeper pick who could be a steal on the second day.
During the team scrimmage, West Virginia running back Charles Sims had a nice gainer on a screen pass. Baylor’s Cyril Richardson hit a block on the second level to spring him. Another running back who ripped off a carry for good yards was Toledo’s David Fluellen. Tajh Boyd sold a read option well, allowing Fluellen to go behind the left side for a chunk. Wisconsin running back James White tried to get outside to break off a long run on a sweep, but former teammate Chris Borland was able to get to the edge and keep White breaking into the open field. White did have an impressive catch during the one-on-ones going against Iowa linebacker Christian Kirksey, who had nice coverage on the play.
Colorado State center Weston Richburg had a solid opening to the week. He had nice feet and agility in the pass-rushing one-on-ones.
During the individual portion of practice, Michigan State safety Isaiah Lewis displayed some fluid hips and did nice job of flipping and running. He did have a dropped interception on one pass, but looked pretty good overall.
Utah State center Tyler Larsen really struggled. He was getting beaten by Penn State defensive tackle DaQuan Jones among others. Larsen needs to anchor better against bull rushes in particular.
WalterFootball.com will have more practice reports, post-practice interview observations and rumormill entries this week live from Mobile. Follow me or Walt (@walterfootball) for updates.
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2014 Senior Bowl Wednesday's South Practice Report
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Interview with Logan Thomas at 2014 Senior Bowl
Interview with Ra'Shede Hageman at 2014 Senior Bowl
2014 Senior Bowl: Tuesday's Rumor Mill
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Interview with Tajh Boyd at 2014 Senior Bowl
2014 Senior Bowl Monday's North Practice Report
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