Some random bowl observations

[Icness]

A little taste of what it's lke to watch a bowl game with me...

Ciron Black of LSU flat-out dominated Michael Johnson, rendered him useless. I'm not a big Black guy (insert joke here), but he looked real solid. I've not been real high on Johnson all year because he is a guy who does not dictate action, and the more I see him the more convinced I am he's going to be a huge bust.

Matt Stafford had his "Matt Ryan vs. VT" moment in the MSU game. His play down the stretch after an iffy start was the stuff of a #1 overall pick. If he ever learns touch on his short throws he's going to live in the Pro Bowl. Better arm and accuracy than Jay Cutler when he came out, better downfield accuracy and vision than Rivers when he came out.

I watched the Rose Bowl specifically to see the USC defense. My game notes from the legal pad:
--Taylor Mays plays so freaking deep. That will never fly in the NFL. He went for the knockout hit and wound up missing the tackle three times, approaches his hits with his head down. Closes with authority and showed better sideways range than I expected. Was not fooled once on play action, held his assignment every time, of course that's easier to do when you're starting so deep.
--Clay Matthews is the best NFL LB on that team. He is a difference-making pass rusher and he has cover skills
--Good game by Maualuga, showed much better gap integrity and play-reading than I've seen from him
--if that's the Matt Sanchez going forward, he's as good as Stafford and should come out

Macho Harris looked very good for VT. Outstanding footwork and the ability to dictate the action.
Terrell Byrd will make a solid 3-4 DE for a team willing to deal with his mental lapses

[hermes]

Icness what do you think of Shonn Greene?

[ReasonablySober]

I was thinking the same regarding Mathews. Of all the NFL talent on that team, I felt Mathews was the biggest difference maker yesterday. I also thought Moala had a nice game as well. Regarding Maualuga, maybe this is just a case of expecting too much or finding warts on a guy that aren't there, but I didn't think he played all that well, especially early. He overran plays and got caught out of position. I think if Royster is healthy that game ends up differently.

[Icness]

Icness what do you think of Shonn Greene?

He's a less-elusive Jonathan Stewart, kind of. Well-built downhill runner with good burst, decent vision, cuts off his blocks real well. Passing game skills need work but he's not bad at blocking or catching. He's probably going in the 25-45 range. His age and academic problems are yellow flags, maybe an orange one for some teams. I really like his low center of gravity and the power he generates in his legs from a dead stop. The Illinois coaches told me they thought he was better than Rashard Mendenhall, FWIW.

[Icness]

I was thinking the same regarding Mathews. Of all the NFL talent on that team, I felt Mathews was the biggest difference maker yesterday. I also thought Moala had a nice game as well. Regarding Maualuga, maybe this is just a case of expecting too much or finding warts on a guy that aren't there, but I didn't think he played all that well, especially early. He overran plays and got caught out of position. I think if Royster is healthy that game ends up differently.

I've been involved in some healthy, heated debates about Maualuga vs. Laurinaitis vs. Spikes vs. Curry. There is wide discrepancy in evaluation on all except Curry, who is going to be a top 5 pick. Almost everyone talks about Rey in a "yeah, but" vein; he's a physical monster, yeah but he takes himself out of too many plays; he's got phenomenal power and good tackling fundamentals, yeah but he plays stiff and can't change direction; he's a leader and warrior, yeah but he's impervious to coaching.

It makes projecting him very difficult because different teams are going to value him so differently. Laurinaitis too to some extent, but there will be teams that would potentially trade into the teens for Rey and teams that wouldn't take him in the 3rd round.

FYI I haven't talked to one NFL-employed scout who thinks Taylor Mays is a 1st round pick. Not one, and I've probably talked to 20 different guys about him. He'll be a good gauge for mock draft credibility--if you see him going #10 overall, the mock artist knows not what he speaks. I'm cooking one up right now and I've got him as Chicago's 2nd round pick.

[ReasonablySober]

I have absolutely no idea what to think about Mays. He's a physical marvel but I don't see him make many plays. In fact, he basically disappears in every game I watch USC play. Sean Taylor used to stick out. So did Palamalu and Laron Landry. But if you're talking about freakish athletes he's one of them.

This is a pretty crummy class of safeties. All William Moore does is give up passing plays. Rashad Johnson is sort of just-a-guy. I do like Patrick Chung but I think he's going to get hurt quite a bit with the way he plays.

[Rafael122]

Heh. I'm not sure when was the last time a player who didn't play in a bowl game improved or reaffirmed his draft stock, but Smith, OT of Alabama did it.

Wilson was constantly under pressure and I think he was sacked 4 times from his blind side.

[NoSkyy]

Icness you wrote "Matt Sanchez" instead of Mark.

I actually really like Mark Sanchez and I hope the Bears take him or maybe even Tebow. Someone that can sit behind Orton and eventually take over if he doesn't work out.

[Icness]

Icness you wrote "Matt Sanchez" instead of Mark.

I actually really like Mark Sanchez and I hope the Bears take him or maybe even Tebow. Someone that can sit behind Orton and eventually take over if he doesn't work out.

LOL I do that all the time. I have a good friend named Matt Sanchez and it confuses the crap out of me.

Heh. I'm not sure when was the last time a player who didn't play in a bowl game improved or reaffirmed his draft stock, but Smith, OT of Alabama did it.

Wilson was constantly under pressure and I think he was sacked 4 times from his blind side.

Couldn't agree more, great point. Although his suspension was not for contact with an agent but rather a violation of team rule, which could chink his armor a little.

[Icness]

More...

Nate Davis had another bad day against Tulsa. He does not handle pressure in his face well at all, and he really needs to improve his decisoin-making under duress. I still like the kid but the warts are getting hairier.

His TE, Darius Hill, continues to impress me. He's got a solid career as an all-around #2 NFL TE. That probably equals as 5th or 6th round pick, but he'll make someone happy down there.

Beanie Wells continues to flummox. He has a stellar 1st half, running around and thru the Texas D. Then he gets nicked, argues with his coaches, and disappears from the game. He's just as good as Adrian Peterson when he's right in both mind and body, but that appears more and more to be a rare occasion.

I though Todd Boeckman threw the ball with zip and precision. It says a lot that he didn't give up on himself and that the Buckeyes still valued his leadership and professionalism after he lost his job to Pryor. He's worth a 7th round pick an a year on the practice squad IMO.

On Pryor: am I the only one who thinks he's got the potential to be Calvin Johnson II if he moves to WR? File that one away for two years from now when he leaves early!

Not many people helped their stock more than Ole Miss DT Peria Jerry. He flat=out dominated the Cotton Bowl and showed great agility and motor for a big man. No question he's a 1st rounder now. I thought Oher played very well too, as did their RT Jerry. Graham Harrell was exposed for his lack of arm atrength and inability to buy time.

National Title game halftime thoughts:
Tebow needs loads of work before he's a capable NFL backup, let alone a starter or high draft pick. Two years of coaching and he coudl be real dangerous though. He's the kind of guy you want to be his second coach and GM, not his first.

Louis Murphy on the TD looked fantastic, then he gets a bonehead penalty and hsi play reflects his negative attitude about it.

Duke Robinson is not faring well. The Gators are crowding his gap and he's not handling it well.

Brandon Spikes looks leaner and a little quicker.

Gerald McCoy has been almost unblockable and he knows how to finish. Good showcase game for him to declare. Ditto Gresham on the offense--his blocking has looked real solid.