Cavanaugh's Senior Bowl Observations: Day 3

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North Team Notes

I know the rules here, so first things first from the North (Cowboys coaching) side:

1. Carson Wentz.  I think he had his best day on Tuesday and was pretty good again today.  They did a lot of work in the red zone and his accuracy on the short and intermediate throws was very good with one exception.  He left a pass behind the Ohio State TE Vannett on an out route, Vannett couldn't gather it and it was intercepted.  All of his other throws that were slants/ins/outs/stops were on the money and in rhythm.  The speed of the game doesn't seem to have affected him at all with increased competition out here.  He mentioned to us after practice that the pace has picked up for all of these guys, regardless what school they are coming from, and he's responded it to it well.  He's a very confident and seems to be a mature guy with leadership skills.

2. Braxton Miller continued to impress at WR and Jason Garrett noted after practice that he's made a lot of progress even in just the three days they've had to work with him.  He went down with what was called a cramp during practice, but before that he made a mark on the day.  In red zone work he was tough to stay with because of his suddenness in and out of breaks and wasn't shy about letting the guys covering him know that they'd been beaten.  Got a little chippy with he and Deiondre Hall from Northern Iowa after one of the plays.  He'll go no later than the 2nd round in the draft.  I have some concerns about his durability, but he's a really intriguing player as a WR/KR/PR/RB.  Game breaking type talent.

3. Tyler Ervin (RB San Jose State) continued to get open with ease against LBs in one on one work.  He weighed in at 190 pounds which was a good number for him since he played much lighter.  He still retained his explosiveness and shiftiness and is showing very natural hands even on deep passes.  If you're looking for a guy in a Dunbar-type role he'd be a really nice addition late in the draft if he makes it.

4. Aaron Burbridge (WR Michigan State) is one of the guys that looks the slowest when it comes to agility drills.  He's not an explosive player for the position but he has a knack for making contested catches.  He's never going to get a ton of separation but made a really nice play on a fade route from Wentz to go and take it from the defender.  He plays tough.

5. Kenneth Dixon (RB La Tech) is one of my favorite players here.  Was again good catching out of the backfield and looked great as a runner, finding holes with ease and showing some explosiveness getting through them.  He's a complete back.

6. Adolphus Washington (DT Ohio State) continues to win early from the 3 technique DT spot.  Has a nice combination of pass rush moves and instant quickness off the ball.  If he doesn't win early he struggles to generate power and can be blocked and moved, but he wins early quite a bit.

7. Sheldon Day (DT Notre Dame) was playing at DE today.  I was underwhelmed by the tape on him, thought he got moved too much and didn't win enough as a pass rusher to make up for how often he was pushed off his spot in the run game, but at end he was playing with a nice explosion off the edge.  He did a good job with his hands to stay free from OTs and affect the play in the backfield multiple times.  Also showed a nice bullrush that I don't think Jason Spriggs was ready for in one on ones.

8. Carl Nassib (DE Penn State) was one of my biggest winners of the week.  Another guy I had doubts about on tape, but he's been consistently winning out on the edge and getting to the QB.  Also lined up inside a couple of plays and still had success as a penetrator.

9. Eric Murray (CB Minnesota) is a guy that keeps flashing in the coverage game.  Has shown a knack for timing at the catch point to force incompletions against these WRs.

South Practice Notes

1. Reggie Ragland (LB Bama) is continuing to line up at OLB and as an edge rusher in these practices.  No doubt his camp wants to use this event to try and build value by showing another facet of his game.  I haven't been impressed by his ability as an edge rusher out here.  His value is going to be as a MLB and he's darn good at it.  Let the guy play the middle and tackle everything that moves, that's his home.

2. No one here can block Noah Spence (Eastern Kentucky DE).  He combination of speed and bend around the corner is unparalleled in this draft class.  If his background stuff checks out throughout the process leading up to the NFL Draft he should be a top 5-10 pick.  I would consider him at #4 for the Cowboys, although they will sometimes not put a player on their board if he has a drug history, which Spence does.

3. Cody Whitehair (OG Kansas State) is the best offensive lineman here to me.  He played OT at Kansas State but the move inside to guard is a perfect fit for him.  He's got everything you want in an interior blocker.  Strong lower body, feet that are active enough to stay in front of guys and technically sound.  He'll probably be picked in the first two rounds and be an instant starter in the NFL.

4. Glenn Gronkowski (FB Kansas State) is showing some nice versatility out here.  He has some movement skills and has shown nice hands.  He'll be able to help and NFL team as a TE/FB/H Back sort of hybrid player.  Plus he's a Gronk.

5. A couple of undersized CBs out here had flashes of the good and the bad in very short order today.  Cyrus Jones (Alabama) and Jonathan Jones (Auburn) both made some nice plays on bigger guys in the end zone to bat down balls at the highest point.  Then they both had guys go over top of them to score.  The height is a challenge, but they've both had their nice moments and have good competes.

6. DJ Reader (DT Clemson) is a mountain of a man that the last couple of days has shown surprising quickness and agility for a man of his stature.  Going to have to get on his tape here pretty soon.

7. Jerell Adams (TE South Carolina) flashed yesterday as a guy that is capable as a blocker and willing to compete in the trenches.  Today he was making some nice plays as a catcher down the seam and in the middle in 11 on 11 work.

8. Two local products at RB I took a look at today.  DeAndre Washington (Texas Tech) I thought had an outstanding day.  He got open with ease against LBs and showed natural hands.  As a runner he showed burst, vision and toughness.  Was disappointed to see Aaron Green (TCU) really struggle to get open against LBs in his one on one chances.

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