Live From the Senior Bowl
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Next Level Scouting's John Murphy reports from Mobile

posted January 29, 2005 - print me!
neworleansprofootball.com

WIDE RECEIVER: Oklahoma’s MARK CLAYTON (North) -- was clearly the best pure route runner and most refined wide receiver in attendance at this year’s game… shows superior quickness… gets in-and-out of his cuts very fast… smart, instinctive football player… knows how to setup defenders… made several double-moves that allowed him to get open… shows excellent acceleration and separation, while the ball is in the air… good leaper for his size… catches the ball with his hands… can start and stop on a dime after the catch… makes defenders miss in the open field, but is also stronger than you would expect and breaks tackles… weighed in at 5096, 187 pounds… very well defined athlete… strong for his size, would seem to have the ability to carry 192-195 pounds without sacrificing any of his speed/quickness… type of high character, smart, well-experienced skill position player that could step in and contribute right away next season… would currently earn a mid-to-late first round grade based on his career, which also might provide him the chance to play for a winning team… excellent prospect to team with a bigger, physical, possession type receiver… can also double, as a solid return man…

Northern Colorado’s VINCENT JACKSON (North) -- stood out initially at the weigh-in, as he was 6043, 238 pounds… well-developed upper body… had the look to excite after the eye-ball test… showed impressive acceleration while the ball was in the air… showed deceptive speed on several vertical routes… would have had posted one of the plays of the week during Tuesday’s practice, as he glided past a pair of defenders only to drop what would have been a long touchdown catch… dropped a total of 4-5 very catchable balls during the practices… needs to work better on keeping focus and concentration… little slow out of his cuts at times… will not be able to get away with some of things he did against I-AA defenders the past few years… catches a few balls close to his body… long arms and strong upper body will allow him to continue making strides, as a blocker… has the body type to create mismatches if he fine tunes his game… but do not think he would accept a move inside to H-Back or motion tight end with open arms… has a wide receivers mentality despite his above-average size… there is a fine line between being the next "Big, physical wide receiver" and becoming a perennial tease like Mikhael Ricks…

Georgia’s REGGIE BROWN (South) -- was very impressive throughout the week… caught the ball in traffic… showed better consistency with both his hands and route running skills for the duration of these practice sessions than he did during most of his senior campaign… had good strength, as a blocker… was able to get off the line against most defenders… had better acceleration and burst while the ball was in the air than previously seen… strong runner after the catch, but still need to see if he can be a vertical threat… the one drawback to his superb week was that the South defensive coaches were using a lot of soft zone coverage, which really did not play to the strengths of some of the team’s cornerbacks… would have liked to see them attempt to jam/press more often, as it would have given a better read on the receivers, as well… gave a strong effort each day… well-defined chest, thinner arms, but showed some definition… has the ability to develop into a solid #2 type receiver…

UAB’s RODDY WHITE (South) -- was having a superb first few days in Mobile before pulling up with a strained hamstring… decided to return to his pre-combine training site to start rehabbing rather than stay on-site for the rest of the week… showed even better-than-advertised straight-line speed… rolled past several top-rated defenders during individual and team drills… still rounds off some of his routes… and does not explode out of his cuts at times… gives a good effort, as a down field blocker, but could be very good in that area if he so desires… solidly built kid that could eventually carry 210-215 pounds without sacrificing any of his current speed… can get caught up with defenders at the line of scrimmage… needs to use his hands more to get off the jam… struggled at times against inferior defenders, but usually played up to the caliber of his opponents… little rough around the edges, both on and off the field… emotional kid that can draw some flags, but also get into the mind of an opposing cornerback… plays best when he is under control, as he gets overly excited or temperamental at times… can come across the wrong way to some folks… likes to talk and brags a little too hard for some people’s liking… not a really bad kid, but someone that seems overly influenced by the hype of this whole process…

Purdue’s TAYLOR STUBBLEFIELD (North) -- has made all of the catches throughout both this week and his previous stop at the East-West Shrine game… really has benefited from playing with his college quarterback, Kyle Orton, at both contests… smallish frame, but catches everything with his hands… makes some quick/elusive moves after the catch… more quick than fast, overall… but gets himself into good position to make plays, and has a nose for the first down marker… very good body control… knows how to setup defenders… and runs very refined routes, which allows him to get open against tight coverage or faster foes… would almost have liked to have seen him play on the opposite roster of Orton, as he tends to be the primary focus when both players are on the field… plus, you would like to see him catching passes from a great variety of angles/arm strengths… none-the-less he cannot be overlooked, as he could find himself being a clutch third-down/slot receiver type in the league… although his 5110, 172-pound frame and below average hand size (7 ¾") could effect the high-end of his market value…

Oklahoma’s BRANDON JONES (North) -- came into this week with a lot of focus projected for other wide receivers, including his fellow college teammate, Mark Clayton… while that has still been the case he has made strides in the areas necessary to improve his final grade, as well… was a bit smaller in terms of overall size than most expected; weighed in at 6007, 207 pounds, but had very big hands (10 1/8")… has not made any highlight reel plays… but has showed impressive straight-line speed… good leaping ability… made the most of his chances in both individual and team drills, catching the ball with good precision… and also proving that his route running ability has improved to the point where he could be considered more than just a vertical threat… likely has positioned himself as more of a mid-round than later round draft choice thanks to his progress…

Arkansas’ MATT JONES (South) -- former quarterback who is an outstanding all-around athlete… may be tried out as a jack-of-all-trades… lined up primarily at wide receiver during the practice sessions… some teams have said they would also like to see him run some routes inside, as a H-Back or motion tight end… since he weighed in at 6057, 242 pounds… solid in his shoulders, but not overly defined… was able to get off the line against top-notch defenders… showed some good acceleration, while the ball was in the air… made several impressive catches, one being a vertical route that he caught between two defenders… little mechanical in his routes… obviously still rounds off some routes and gives a defender too much room to make a play on the ball… an impressive portion of his versatility is that he dropped back to return a few kickoffs and stepped in, as the team’s deep snapper for most of the Thursday afternoon practice… little bit a of a different kind of guy… can look like he is loafing or not paying full attention at times… might like to see less of a laid back attitude, especially for a guy that would be changing positions or learning multiple spots at the pro level… big enough frame to contribute in several ways on special teams… has rare speed and athleticism for his size, which gives him intriguing potential… Tampa Bay’s offensive quality control coach Kyle Shanahan has spent time getting him extra reps and explaining the nuances of his new position throughout the week…

Indiana’s COURTNEY ROBY (North) -- impresses because he was the "Go-To" guy on a team that lacked many other offensive weapons… still he managed to post impressive numbers over the past two seasons… road both the high-and-low wave of success this past week… had some difficulty hanging onto the ball in early practices… but then seemed to grow more confident… caught the ball with his hands… showed some good separation… and the ability to make plays after the catch with his straight-line speed… many expect him to run in the 4.4 range in the 40, although he does not seem to play to that speed on the field at all times… displays better toughness than most 185-pound receivers… not afraid to go up for tough catches in the middle of the field… made several of those type of grabs during the middle two practices… would also like to see him tried on kickoff returns, as he has good vertical speed… still catches a few too many balls close to his pads…

Georgia’s FRED GIBSON (South) -- his slim build was noticeable during the weigh-in, as he as 6035, 194 pounds… has a very thin lower body and not very defined in his arms… excellent leaper who prefers to do most/all of his damage on the outside, as he has seemed to shy away from contact or attacking the middle of the field… likes to run fade, corner and out routes… can create some space with a good, but not great burst of speed, while the ball is in the air… has long arms… but could be challenged off the line by strong defenders… can also get knocked off his routes at times… does not offer great strength or balance, as a downfield blocker… little bit of a long strider at times… not as good on reverses, as his 40-time would indicate… also had some durability issues, while in college… made a few nice moves during the practices, which allowed him to get open and make plays… easily beat both Corey Webster (LSU) and Nick Collins (Bethune-Cookman) with double moves… and also shook off several other defenders when they lined square up on him in man coverage… has the body-type to mature into a 205-212 pound receiver… but will never reach his full potential until he decides to get more physical…

UCLA’s CRAIG BRAGG (North) -- performed decently during the week… showed good elusiveness after the catch … adjusted well to the ball, as he made several catches on balls that were thrown low or inaccurately… did not show great acceleration… he’s a better player than what he showed this week, which was just poor timing on his part to give a mediocre showing at an even that had so many good-to-above average receivers… has the ability to bounce back at the Combine by running early-to-mid 4.4’s in the 40 at 200 pounds; was 194 pounds here in Mobile… going to get drafted later than some of the other receivers in this group, but has the ability to become a very solid pro, boarding on being a quality #2 to #3 type guy… felt that this was the guy that could have emulated the type of week had by fellow Pac-10 receiver Keary Colbert (Panthers) last season, but Bragg came up short in too many areas…

Florida State’s CRAPHONSO THORPE (South) -- struggled too often this week to earn a high round grade… dropped too many catchable passes… seemed to slow up on a few that were overthrown rather than go all-out on the play… has a similar body-type to Georgia’s Fred Gibson… and also plays a similar style of finesse receiver… prefers to make plays on the outside; fade, corner and out routes… can get knocked off his routes… struggles against press coverage… will tend to lend an eye towards the middle of the field when the ball is in the air… will occasionally brace himself for contact before or while also attempting to make the catch… very good leaping ability… more of a straight-line speed guy… does not show a lot of refined skill level in terms of his routes… leaves too much room for defenders to make plays… will lose focus/concentration at times… type of guy that will turn outside/inside when the quarterback is expecting the opposite, wondering why they are not on the same page… will fit best on a team that uses multiple receiver (4-5 WR’s) sets, so that he can be eased into the lineup… athleticism gives him some upside, but more of a 3-4th round choice instead of a top-two round guy…

Tulane’s ROYDELL WILLIAMS (South) -- had been eyeing an possible invite to the Senior Bowl for most of the past two years… smooth-looking pass catcher that lacks the straight-line speed to overly impress most scouts… but can make up for it at times thanks to his route running and attention to details… does a good job of setting up defenders with his routes… beat both LSU defenders during the course of 9-on-7 and team drills… shows some acceleration while the ball is in the air… but needs to get stronger in order to fight his way off the line of scrimmage… durability is a question, as he had a major ankle injury in college… but was also ultra-productive on an offense that featured very little in terms of other playmakers this past season… more of a #3-#4 wide receiver in the NFL…

Clemson’s AIRESE CURRIE (South) -- speedster who was added to replace injured UAB receiver Roddy White… two-sport performer throughout his college career… still considered by most to be more of a track guy than all-around football player… little tougher than you would expect for a track athlete… but clearly enters most draft boards with defined roles; vertical threat and return specialist… needs to prove he is durable enough to provide big plays in both of those areas… quick in the open field… shows an exciting extra burst once the ball is in his hands… weighed in at 5102, 185 pounds, according to one game official, since it was recorded upon his late arrival to Mobile… will see action in Saturday’s game, but has not learned much of the offensive plays and was a reserve return man in Thursday’s practice…

Texas A&M’s TERRENCE MURPHY (South) -- one of the fastest exits in recent Senior Bowl memory… came through the weigh-in at 6004, 194 pounds… but pulled up lame during the initial portion of his first practice with what was described as a possible groin strain, and was replaced by Tulane’s Roydell Williams… he has posted eye-opening marks in both the 40-yard dash and vertical jump in the past, so having two healthy legs in time for the Combine will either make or break his final draft grade… a big week in Mobile would have likely allowed him to carry a late first round grade into next month’s Combine…

TIGHT END: Stanford’s ALEX SMITH (North) -- came into this week’s game as the premier senior tight end… has an excellent frame for the position… impressive physique in the weigh-in, as he has an athletic build (257 pounds) and long arms… has struggled some to get off the line… little slow at times out of his routes… not overly explosive in terms of straight-line speed… but knows how to find the opening in an opposing defense… average blocker at the point of attack… does not cause much disturbance off the snap… can hold his man at bay, but just an average finisher in most cases… good athlete, but he lacks an extra gear of speed to become a true downfield threat at the next level… should be very competent, as a short-to-intermediate pass catcher though… smart kid that may need to step up his level of intensity… looked like he was sort of going through the motions during certain portions of the week… felt like he could have made a real jump into a position in the latter portion of the first round… but really looks to be more of a second-to-third round choice in terms of overall ability…

Colorado State’s JOEL DREESSEN (North) -- good-looking pass catcher… provides a big target in the middle of the field… catches most passes with his hands, although I shook his hand after one practice and they were smaller than the other three tight ends in attendance… withstood the hardest hit of the practice week, as he came down with a 25-35 yard reception down the middle of the field, while getting stung by UNLV strong safety Jamaal Brimmer… he bounced back up and headed back to the huddle with nothing to say and stayed in rotation for the rest of Wednesday’s practice… blue-collar type kid that plays with good, but not great strength, as a blocker… could improve, as an in-line blocker… better as an on-the-move blocker… has the body type to get stronger, and plays faster than what he will time in the 40... will fit best on a team that likes to use a lot of multiple tight end sets… should become a productive contributor in the mold of a Jay Riemersma (Steelers)…

USC’s ALEX HOLMES (South) -- caught the ball very well throughout the week… can adjust to poorly thrown balls… decent quickness for his size, but lacks ideal speed to become too much of a pass catching threat in the pros… should be adequate in the short-to-intermediate game… good safety valve type receiver… catches the ball with his hands… gives his quarterback a big target, although he lacks ideal height for the position… weighed in at 6013, 267 pounds… might be best served if he dropped his playing weight down to the 255-262 pound range… not well-defined in any one area… fights for extra yardage after contact… but just a good, not great, all-around athlete… like his effort, as a blocker… and he could get better, as he can get underneath a defenders pad and play with better leverage/balance than he has to date… more of a role player type for the next level… should develop into a steady #2 tight end/H-Back… will not post overly impressive workout results… and had a serious knee injury earlier in his college career…

TCU’s CODY MCCARTY (South) -- workout warrior-type that posted impressive all-around numbers for his coaching staff this past summer… although it does not always translate into production for him on the field… his weight room strength really does not carry over in terms of his in-line blocking skills… got pushed back into the backfield and even turned if not actually thrown aside on a few plays by opposing defenders… little slow off the snap in terms of getting into his routes… has some upside as a pass catcher… did not have a great upper body, but was rather well-defined in most other areas… more of a work-in-progress type of guy whose final grade could vary greatly from one team to the next…

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