2007 Senior Bowl - North Practice 1/25 John Clifford

2007-01-25

Thursday's North practice, pads free, began with drills of skill and execution at game speed, typically a practice for quarterbacks and wide receivers or defensive backs to solidify their week by showing off a little.   QB/RB passing – Tyler Palko began by fumbling another snap (a ridiculously and unusually high number from the position for the week).  Drew Stanton threw the ball with a much better spiral today and on target a bit more.  On play-action, a FB screen to Brian Leonard, showed once again that he's reliable catching the ball.  Meanwhile, Thomas Clayton and Kolby Smith continued to have some struggles handling passes, Tony Hunt had a drop as well.   WRs drills – All of the North WRs showed better hands on a repeat of sprinting under the football, locating it overhead, compared with struggling with it yesterday.  They showed a better ability locating the ball and better hands.   2 QBs/2 WRs – The drill began with more double reverses, and worth mentioning is that this was a drill where Sinorice Moss helped himself, and no one's emerged like that.  Running 20-yard in routes and double moves, most notable was Tyler Palko's inaccuracy, almost never leading the receiver.   QB w/skill positions – From the 20, Troy Smith hit Brandon Myles in the corner of the end zone with precision, Smith followed that with another perfect throw to the end zone, dropped by Paul Williams.  Troy Smith just appears to be a bit more refined, with better poise and mechanics, which enables him to be more consistent.  He simply made better throws than any QB in Mobile this week.  Drew Stanton hit Jason Hill in the corner on a nice throw, perfectly placing the ball over his far shoulder.  It's been that kind of execution that Stanton just didn't deliver with consistency this week.   DB INT drills – Aaron Rouse has the best combination of size and speed, making athletic moves and playing the ball well, he screams safety to me and it doesn't look like there's any going back, nor should there be.  Josh Wilson made a nice hands catch at the top of his jump, he seems to consistently get the most out of his size.  Leon Hall has excellent body control, always looked smooth.  Eric Weddle, Marcus McCauley and Josh Gattis followed with drops, but it's Gattis that didn't show that he has the hands to begin with, where Weddle and McCauley made plenty of plays all week.  Gattis even bobbled the pass he did pick off.    Coverage drills LBs/DBs – Stewart Bradley made a spectacular INT with his hands, on a ball over his head and behind his body.   1-on-1 WRs/DBs – Rhema McKnight probably helped himself a bit after a rough Sugar Bowl, he got better as the week went on, but played in the middle of the pack.  He made a great diving catch on an inside route.  Jason Hill has appeared to be the most skilled WR, certainly looks like he has the most speed, we'll see how that plays at the Combine I guess.  Brandon Myles showed strong hands, holding on to a ball despite great coverage by Leon Hall, who tried hard to get the ball out after the catch.  Aundrae Allison's quickness has been a plus, he's shown enough ability overall that I can't imagine some team doesn't see him as a great value and gives him an opportunity as a 3rd WR.  Rhema McKnight made a tremendous leaping catch over Eric Weddle, beating his jam and then winning the physical battle again in the end zone.  Paul Williams followed that play by getting completely knocked off his route by Weddle's jam, Williams has made plays this week, but his inconsistency has been noticed.  Drew Stanton, despite a generally better day, threw from the 15 to the corner of the end zone, putting the ball over the hedge, next throw to the opposite side, into the hedge.  Paul Williams concludes the series with a tremendous catch, showing a great leap with his hands at the top, getting shoved hard out of bounds by Eric Weddle, but he held on.  Leon Hall and Josh Wilson both looked good in coverage.    Troy Smith, Drew Stanton, Rhema McKnight, Jason Hill, Brandon Myles, Josh Wilson and Aaron Rouse. Tyler Palko and Thomas Clayton.