Senior Bowl Day Four – South Practice Report

January 28th, 2010 by Jeremy Shory

Basic walkthroughs allows very few to show off on last full day of practice.

In contrast to yesterday’s full pads, full go practice that lasted just over two hours, today’s practice for the south was not much more then some simple walkthroughs on special teams and a few opportunities during some 2 minute drills and very brief 5 v 7 period which then turned into an 11 v 11 period to close out the day.

Believe it or not, Tim Tebow actually looked the best out of the QB corps today. The competition did not really show any true desire to perform which could have been more due to the extra laid back feel during today’s practice. Yesterday, the Miami Dolphin coaches were hot and fierce. Today, they were more even keeled and mild mannered. Regardless of what it was, Tebow (however still nothing to really get super excited about), did end up looking the sharpest out there.

During the warm up drills, Tebow’s balls were either laser-like with bad accuracy or slow and wobbly but on target. I thought this was going to be yet another day where he gives the media more to talk about and digest about his true NFL potential. During the same drills, I thought that Zach Robinson showed some inconsistencies. He would zip in a perfect ball on a slant route but then would throw the ball far too high on a fade into the back of the endzone. He had some really good balls and some really bad one’s, which ultimately led to an interception during the 2 minute drill. Jarred Brown however struggled all day. His warm-up passes were pretty balls, but showed lack of arm strength and his decision making was questioned several times as he would either force a ball in where it shouldn’t have been, or he would panic and just take off with his legs gaining maybe three yards.

Tebow really began to shine during the 2 minute drills. His first pass during the simulation was a beautiful stop and go route, ran by his collegiate teammate, Riley Cooper, where Tim pumped and got the defender to bite, then nailed Cooper over the top for about 27 yards. He then followed that up with a 9 yard pass to QB converted to WR, Joe Webb. Another laser to Miami Tight End, Jimmy Graham for 6 more yards. He wrapped up his series with a 16 yard pass to USC Tight End, Anthony McCoy.

Zack Robinson really struggled; he only managed to gain about 11 yards on four passing attempts with really only two of the attempts connecting with their target. The other two passes were batted down by the defenders.

On Brown’s first attempt at it, he ran the ball for a total of 12 yards on three of his five downs. Not to mention a fumbled snap on the second play where he panicked and just tried to make something out of nothing by using his legs. Brown actually managed to fumble the snap 3 times today between the 2 minute drill and the 11 v 11 session.

The most impressive player by far continues to be Dexter McCluster; used in a variety of ways at receiver, running back, and even playing some in a wildcat formation. When asked about what position he is really going to be utilized for, he said “…as an offensive playmaker.” During the 11 v 11 drills, McCluster ran the ball for 6 times for a total of roughly 30 yards. Add in the fact that he is also an excellent return man, this Darren Sproles clone could end up being a force in the NFL.

Anthony Dixon was not as much of a factor today as he only was handed the ball about 4 times during the 11 v 11 drills. The no pads practice didn’t play into Dixon’s strengths as a bruising back that likes to give the hit instead of taking it. He has been compared to Dallas RB Marion Barber in a way for that exact playing style.

The stars in the receiving corps were surprisingly Riley Cooper and USC TE, Anthony McCoy. Cooper only had a couple of balls that were thrown his way that did not end up in his hands, and they were not his fault. A bad pass from Tebow to his back right thigh on a crossing route is next to impossible to snag. But Cooper showed great signs of coming back to the ball to help his quarterbacks out. A particular play comes to mind as Cooper lined up on the left and ran a 15 yard curl route. The ball was thrown way low and to the wrong side. Cooper made the adjustment and made a phenomenal catch.

McCoy provided a big target for all three quarterbacks, especially in the red zone. He had several catches for big gains and even one of them for a TD on a great spin move along the goal line. It’ll be interesting to see how he is used in the game. I have noticed that the Miami staff have been using the TE in more a receiving role then a blocking role which is somewhat opposite of the North team. The North has been using their TE in a 50/50 split of blocking and receiving.

There was not a whole lot to write about in regards to the defense as the offense was really able to move the ball fairly well throughout the practice. Granted, this will be a different and even ferocious defense once the pads are on and it is game day, but today was a gimme.

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