Rams draft six players from Sr. Bowl

[Elmgrovegnome]

I don't recall seeing this.

http://theramswire.usatoday.com/2017/04/29/los-angeles-rams-senior-bowl-nfl-draft-selections/



There’s a reason the Senior Bowl draws so much attention each year — it can single-handedly get players on a team’s radar.

The Los Angeles Rams scouts certainly made the most of their time in Mobile, Alabama. Of the eight draft picks, the Rams met six in Mobile.




The Rams kicked off their draft moving back in the second round, drafting tight end Gerald Everett. He was the first ever player out of South Alabama to get drafted.

In two seasons, he totaled over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns but it was the week of the Senior Bowl. He’s been brought in as a pass catch first and foremost, where he continued to impress against higher competition.

Following that week, most pundits expected a third round selection out of him. But the tight end, whose game is reminiscent of former Sean McVay tight end Jordan Reed, was too good to pass up on at No. 44 overall.

Following Everett’s selection, the Rams stuck to drafting small school prospects and grabbed Easter Washington receiver Cooper Kupp in the third round.

He was highly praised by his Senior Bowl quarterback Nate Peterman of Pittsburgh who described Kupp as having a “chip on his shoulder” to prove his worth out of a small school.



Kupp caught a lot of attention in Alabama with his speed. He may have run just a 4.62-second forty at the combine, but he was clocked at a hair under 21 mph at the Senior Bowl with wearable GPS technology.

Kupp was among the fastest players recorded in Mobile which helped earn him a private workout with the Rams.

Not only did he prove his athleticism but his overall playmaking ability. He was one of the top talents throughout the week of practice with PFF giving him a 4.5-point grade, the highest among offensive players.

Similarly, the Rams scouted fourth-round selection, receiver Josh Reynolds of Texas A&M but on the opposite sideline, partnering with Everett on the South team.

Reynolds has impressed scouts, hauling in 30 touchdowns in three seasons as a top red-zone target for the Aggies.

At the Senior Bowl, he had five receptions on five targets for 85 yards with a touchdown — leaving scouts impressed with his playmaking ability, scoring a 2.1 pass catching grade from PFF, among the highest marks.


Of course, Reynolds wasn’t the only player from a Power Five the Rams took. The previous round saw the team select John Johnson, a safety out of Boston College who had one of the biggest stock boosts following the Senior Bowl.

He was put through not only work as a safety but was also tested in cornerback drills, showing off much-valued versatility. Johnson showed continued growth through his week at the Senior Bowl.

He finished the 2016 season with five passes defended and two interceptions in the final five weeks of the season and proved that wasn’t a just a one-off hot streak.

The Rams became familiar with another defensive prospect, Tulane defensive tackle Tanzel Smart that same week. Smart is bound to be a rotational player for run-first situations.

Lastly, the Rams found one of the most unique players in the draft in Virginia Tech fullback Sam Rogers — one of the only at his position in the whole draft.

Fullbacks are a rare breed in the league today and the Rams are without one. He looks to be the player McVay had in Darrell Young in Washington.

At the Senior Bowl, Rogers left with the second-highest grade from Pro Football Focus among offensive players. The highest grade went to second-round receiver Zayn Jones. It may have been the game that helped Rogers be the first fullback off the boards.

If one thing can be taken from the Rams draft strategy, it was to target experienced talent no matter the school’s pedigree.

The Rams also took two outside linebackers that were not invited to the Senior Bowl but were indeed seniors: Eastern Washington’s Samson Ebukam (fourth round) and Pittsburgh’s Ejuan Price (seventh round).

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Snead loves him some Sr. Bowl

 

[Merlin]

I do too it's like a sneak peak into how these guys will integrate to NFL practices. Invaluable.

 

[wolfdogg]

That's a 3.9 40 yards in the open field for kupp. He will catch in stride from our accurate qb who is known for putting it there and then kupp will pull away.

 

[FaulkSF]

Conspiracy theory: The Rams fired several scouts prior to the draft. Were these scouts hired to review the big schools and failed?

Perhaps this is why Snead picked from the Sr bowl. Because the scouts came back with poor analysis and Snead spent time at Sr bowl.

 

[DaveFan'51]

Snead loves him some Sr. Bowl

Snead said in his Post Draft Presser that he felt Players, in resent years, who do well in the Senior Bowl, tend to do well in the Pro's! I don't doubt his analysis!

 

[SteezyEndo]

This doesn't surprise me one bit. Alabama is Sneads stomping grounds. It would be easier for him to evaluate talent all at once, but maybe that is just how he thinks. I just want to see these guys on the grass already.

 

[André]

I had the exact same thought.

Conspiracy theory: The Rams fired several scouts prior to the draft. Were these scouts hired to review the big schools and failed?

Perhaps this is why Snead picked from the Sr bowl. Because the scouts came back with poor analysis and Snead spent time at Sr bowl.

 

[Rambitious1]

Conspiracy theory: The Rams fired several scouts prior to the draft. Were these scouts hired to review the big schools and failed?

Perhaps this is why Snead picked from the Sr bowl. Because the scouts came back with poor analysis and Snead spent time at Sr bowl.

If that's true, the Rams are screwed for years to come.

 

[Ram65]

It makes sense to take a long look at the players during the senior bowl. They get spend time interview the players and watching them adjust during practice. Here is an article that breaks down the number of players drafted that played in the senior bowl. The Rams drafted the most while the Cardinals were one behind with five players taken.

http://www.fox10tv.com/story/35292187/85-reeses-senior-bowl-players-selected-in-2017-nfl-draft
MOBILE, AL (WALA) -

Eighty-five players from the Reese's Senior Bowl were selected in the 2017 NFL Draft over the weekend in Philadelphia, PA, marking the 11th time in the last 12 years the game has had at least 82 players selected.

After having four players selected in the first round on a Thursday night dominated by juniors, the Reese's Senior Bowl was a huge factor in the next three rounds, accounting for 47% of all selections (53 of 113), including 26 selections in the third round on Friday night.

Temple linebacker Haason Reddick was the first Senior Bowler off he board in Thursday s first round, going 13th overall to the Arizona Cardinals. Reddick was followed in the first round by Alabama tight end O.J. Howard (Bucs - 19th), Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram (NY Giants - 23rd) and LSU cornerback Tre'Davius White (Bills - 27th).

Thirty one of the 32 NFL clubs selected at least one player from the Reese's Senior Bowl and all but six teams picked at least two Senior Bowlers. Only the New York Jets did not select a player from the game. The Los Angeles Rams selected the most players (six), followed by the Arizona Cardinals (five).

Overall, the Reese's Senior Bowl accounted for one-third of the players drafted over the three-day draft. A complete list of every player selected from the Reese’s Senior Bowl is available at seniorbowl.com

 

[LACHAMP46]

Snead said in his Post Draft Presser that he felt Players, in resent years, who do well in the Senior Bowl, tend to do well in the Pro's! I don't doubt his analysis!

Isiah Pead was the Senior Bowl MVP.....

 

[DaveFan'51]

Isiah Pead was the Senior Bowl MVP.....

He said they "Tend to do well in the NFL". Nothing is 100% accurate! Unless it's MY personal analysis!!:rolllaugh:

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Snead said in his Post Draft Presser that he felt Players, in resent years, who do well in the Senior Bowl, tend to do well in the Pro's! I don't doubt his analysis!

Well, with the exception of Isaiah Pead.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Snead said in his Post Draft Presser that he felt Players, in resent years, who do well in the Senior Bowl, tend to do well in the Pro's! I don't doubt his analysis!

I would imagine Snead has specific players in mind to observe based off film and need, but when someone outside his scope steps up with a superior performance, he'd reverse engineer his methods and take a 2'nd, 3'rd look at the film. These guys are the very best of all the seniors to choose from, the only thing really missing are the sophs & juniors, injured players, perhaps also a few smaller school guys. Seems like a pretty good way to build on or fine tune what has previously been done in the film room. jmo.

 

[TexasRam]

Snead talked about it a little in interviews. It's actually a pretty good idea to put a lot of weight in the senior bowl.

One big reason is that it shows how smaller school guys stack up against top talent from top schools.

Maybe most important, it shows where
A player is currently at right now in his development. A player may not have had a big track record of multiple years success. Senior Bowl accents players that may have started their college careers slow and refined their game along the way. or at the end of their final year, while other players may have not refined their game along the way and would not standout by the time the senior bowl rolls around.

 

[Memphis Ram]

http://draftanalyst.com/senior-bowl-north-team-practice-page

Name: Sam Rogers

School: Virginia Tech

Ht: 5102

Wt: 231

Arm: 29 5/8

Hand: 9 5/8


Tues: Really was not impressed with his blocking as Rogers was run over on a couple of occasions. He did look good catching the ball out of the backfield, but he lacks vision as a runner and ran into the back of his lineman on one occasion.

Wed: Struggled throughout most of the day. Was run over a number of times as a blocker and dropped a sure catch when he was wide open in underneath coverage.

Thurs: Today was the best day of practice for Rogers. He caught the ball well and held his own blocking. I am impressed with his quickness and burst.

Analysis: In the Senior Bowl preview, I stated Rogers had to show whether he was a true lead blocker or a West Coast fullback. Through three days of practice, he showed little in the way of strength at the point of attack or overall blocking skill, but he did have a nice set of skills carrying the ball and catching it out of the backfield. As a result, he’ll be a late-round pick as a West Coast fullback/H-back.

Name: Cooper Kupp

School: Eastern Michigan

Ht: 6014

Wt: 198

Arm: 31 2/8

Hand: 9 4/8


Tues: Kupp was a mixed bag Tuesday, catching most of the balls thrown his way but failing to create consistent separation. He also let a few passes get too far into his body, which caused issues catching balls in traffic.

Wed: Kupp was the star of North practice among the receivers, getting open at will and catching everything thrown his way. He ran sharp routes, showed good reactions to snag an errant pass in the short field and was always ready to catch balls off his stem.

Thurs: Kupp didn’t play as well as he did Wednesday but still enjoyed a productive practice, running good routes and beating DBs to the spot with his frame and sharp cuts. He did have a bad drop in traffic over the middle that tipped into the air for an easy interception.

Analysis: Kupp was outstanding during Wednesday’s practice, getting open at will and catching everything thrown his way. He wasn’t as good the other two days but remained productive, running sharp routes, coming out of his breaks ready to catch the ball and beating defenders to the spot. Kupp had some issues catching the ball in traffic throughout the week but acquitted himself well at the higher level of competition.

Name: John Johnson

School: Boston College

Ht: 6005

Wt: 205

Arm: 31 4/8

Hand: 9 4/8

Tues: Johnson was one of the better defensive backs on the North squad this afternoon. He showed a nice ability to high point passes in the air and good athleticism and awareness.

Wed: Johnson has looked like the best safety on the North squad through two days, showing natural hands and ball-tracking ability and playing a good centerfield. He showed good recognition of play-action in red-zone drills.

Thurs: Johnson continued his strong week at the Senior Bowl, showing good athleticism and fluidity and the ability to stay with receivers in coverage in one-on-ones.

Analysis: Johnson was the best safety on the field during all three Senior Bowl practices. He’s as fluid and athletic as some corners and shows the range and ball skills to be a very effective center fielder. Johnson has good ball-tracking skills and the awareness and recognition to get involved quickly in the running game, and he significantly improved his draft stock in Mobile.


Name: Aarion Penton

School: Missouri

Ht: 5093

Wt: 177

Arm: 29 5/8

Hand: 9 1/8

Tues: Penton was one of the few North defensive backs who had a rough day on the field. He was hurt by drops and didn't show much in the way of ball skills, and he also consistently gave receivers the separation they needed to make open catches.

Wed: Penton didn’t improve much on his Day 1 performance, getting beat badly by Trent Taylor on an in-breaking route, allowing too much cushion on the goal line and stumbling when he went to plant and drive. He doesn’t attack the ball aggressively in the air, instead waiting to make basket catches or let the ball into his body.

Thurs: Penton continued to struggle on the final day of practice, allowing too much separation to opponents. He was again beaten badly by Trent Taylor off the line and at his route stem, and it’s hard to be encouraged by the performances Penton put on tape this week.

Analysis: Penton failed to build off his momentum from the Shrine Game last week. His ball skills left a lot to be desired and he allowed consistent separation during each practice, giving up too much cushion and not trusting his ability to plant and recover. Any improvements in his draft stock that came about from the Shrine Game were lost at the Senior Bowl.

http://draftanalyst.com/senior-bowl-south-team-practice-page

Name: Gerald Everett

School: South Alabama

Ht: 6020

Wt: 227

Arm: 32 7/8

Hand: 8 2/8

Tues: Everett was the second-best tight end for the South on Tuesday, showing strong hands away from his body. He made a great diving catch toward the end of practice, contorting his body in the air to keep the ball from making contact with the ground. Everett also held his own blocking, which was a pleasant surprise.

Wed: Everett didn't quite live up the expectations he set on Day 1 as a pass-catcher, but he continued to move well and displayed good hands.

Thurs: Everett missed Thursday's practice due to injury.

Analysis: During the two days Everett practiced, he showed himself to be a competent pass-catcher with the ability to break long plays. Fluid and natural, he caught everything thrown in his direction and held his own blocking.


Name: Josh Reynolds

School: Texas A&M

Ht: 6026

Wt: 187

Arm: 31 4/8

Hand: 8 7/8

Tues: Reynolds had several early drops but recovered well and cleaned them up. He was very effective using his height to reel in high passes.

Wed: Reynolds struggled with drops throughout practice, including a big one near the end after he skied over Marquez White on the sideline. He continues to be the first man to balls in the air, but he doesn't always come down with the catch.

Thurs: Reynolds mixed in a few highlight-worthy catches with his usual drops, showing the inconsistency that has plagued him all week. He made a great reaching grab on a pass thrown behind him and skied for a touchdown in the back of the end zone, tapping his toes nicely before going out of bounds.

Analysis: Reynolds was the epitome of a boom-or-bust receiver in all three practices. He was always the first to balls in the air and put a few highlight-reel catches on tape, but he dropped several balls and was inconsistent overall. If Reynolds can clean up his drops, his height and vertical ability would make him an excellent red-zone target at the very least, but his current game is riddled with ups and downs.

Name: Tanzel Smart

School: Tulane

Ht: 6005

Wt: 296

Arm: 32 3/8

Hand: 9 7/8


Tues: I was incredibly impressed by Smart today. He fired off the snap, played with great explosion and showed sound technique. Smart keeps his pads low to the ground, plays with great leverage and uses his hands well. He won on a number of occasions and beat Ethan Pocic several times.

Wed: Another good day for Smart. He’s quick, athletic and moves well. Strength at the point is an issue and Smart is a bit of a scheme-specific defender.

Thurs: Smart did not have the same impact today as he did earlier in the week. He was still quick but was not getting the same penetration.


Analysis: Smart looked terrific during the first two days in Mobile. He was stronger, more athletic and more disruptive than people expected. Smart’s intensity was also off the charts. Though he seemed a bit worn down during the final day it was a plus week for Smart, who now moves towards the draft as one of the best three-technique tackles available in April.

 

[Memphis Ram]

http://draftanalyst.com/shrine-practice-east-team-page

East West Shrine

Name: Alex Kozan

School: Auburn

Ht:
Wt:

Mon: Kozan displayed a good pad level throughout the day, constantly staying low throughout drills. He set a good base in his pass sets and had quick feet. However, when run blocking, he took lengthier steps and sometimes found himself off balance.

Tues: Kozan had a good strong base in his pass sets and was able to display a strong upper body, with good extension when engaged. When pulling, Kozan reached his destination faster than expected and moved efficiently in footwork drills. His hands were a little slow and needs some improvement in his hand technique.

Wed: Kozan did not fare as well as the past two days. During the team period, when pulling, he took a poor angle and had some trouble changing direction. He also made a few mental mistakes, including getting flagged for a false start. His pass set is low and strong and he has a powerful punch.

Analysis: Kozan had a pretty average few days. He shined when it came to his leg strength. He had a strong low base in his pass sets and was hard to move when defenders attempted a bull rush. His run blocking, however, displayed poor technique. His steps were too long and he was unbalanced. Shortening his steps is an easy fix, but he also had trouble moving down the line when pulling and took a poor angle of pursuit towards defenders. Overall, Kozan did little to distinguish himself from the group of offensive linemen.

Name: Ejuan Price

School: Pittsburgh

Ht:
Wt:

Mon: Price did not take part in today’s one-on-one drills because of a minor injury sustained earlier. He was, however, able to display his lower body strength earlier in practice.

Tues: Price did not practice today because of injury.

Wed:

Analysis: Price injured himself early in the first practice, but impressed some people with his lower body strength.

 

[Psycho_X]

It's not like we're drafting 6 players from one school like, say, Auburn. Senior Bowl is an invite of the best talent in the nation. Not sure why it's weird to see anyone focus on the players there. Especially at positions of need. Helps kids from small schools compete against the best and show what they got and since small school kids tend to drop in the draft you usually get great value when you draft them. Not surprising considering our lack of draft capital going in.

 

[LACHAMP46]

Thanks for the read @Memphis Ram

A bunch of writers go to the Senior Bowl practices and write stuff...Josh Norris does a pretty good job too...So does a guy at CBS....I thought it was Tony Pauline, the guy that wrote this piece. NFLN also does an evaluation

I don't like what I'm reading from that fullback, and either of these wrs....especially Reynolds. And I don't know what the hell we signed Penton for? Dude has terrible measurables and can't play either???? WTF?

Josh Johnson....sounds like he was the best player we got....and if you look at film, he doesn't look like a pro either.

Senior Bowl is an invite of the best talent in the nation.

Not necessarily. A lot of the best guys don't have to go....OJ Howard was a rare treat, a top player that wanted to participate. The injury risk in a glorified all-star game is too great.