This is Charlie Campbell’s Tuesday 2015 Senior Bowl Practice Report. Charlie is reporting live from Mobile, Ala., and he’ll describe what he sees at practice and whom certain prospects talk to all week.
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2015 Senior Bowl: Tuesday Practice Report: North Team
By Charlie Campbell –
@draftcampbell
The North team took the field of Ladd-Peebles Stadium for its first practice of the Senior Bowl. The Tennessee Titans’ coaching staff ran the practice and will coach them all week. The Titans’ staff had the players practicing in shells (shorts, shoulder pads and helmets). Tennessee’s staff kept them going at a good pace and at a reasonably physical level. They started the session with some install and work in individual position groups. After that, they did several one-on-one sessions, a few periods of special-teams work and a team scrimmage. Here is a rundown of the noteworthy players.
Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton could be one of the favorites to be the first Senior Bowl prospect drafted. Shelton had a strong start and did well in the one-on-ones. He had a powerful rush over Florida center Max Garcia for one win. He used a quick burst and swim move to beat Laken Tomlinson. In the run scrimmage, offensive linemen struggled to move Shelton and he was getting push into the backfield. Shelton will only stand out more when practices get increasingly physical as the teams are fully padded on Wednesday and Thursday.
Pitt offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings (6-4) has some ardent fans in some draft analysts. After checking in a few inches shorter than listed, he had a mediocre first day of practice. The Titans’ coaches had Clemmings at right tackle, and he had a few underwhelming reps in the one-on-ones. The worst one was when Kentucky defensive end Za’Darius Smith had Clemmings gasping at air on a fast spin move to the inside. On other reps, he allowed penetration into the pocket and had some holds on rushers. Clemmings did have a nice win pushing Arizona State’s Marcus Hardison into the turf.
Some early-round pick offensive linemen have had some rough moments early in the week before getting better in the following practice. However, if Clemmings stays consistent to Tuesday’s practice, he definitely should remain at right tackle.
One player who struggled was Wisconsin right tackle Rob Havenstein. In the run blocking one-on-ones, Penn State’s Deon Barnes shed Havenstein to get in the backfield before Shelton tossed him into the turf with force. In a rematch, Havenstein held Barnes to get a win.
Havenstein did get a win locking up Harvard linebacker Zach Hodges, but he lost a number of pass rushing one-on-ones. Utah defensive end Nate Orchard beat him with a bull rush and Arizona State defensive tackle Marcus Hardison got by him with speed. In the run scrimmage, Havenstein was pushed backward into the backfield by Kentucky defensive end Za’Darius Smith.
Speaking of Smith, he had a quality week at the East-West Shrine, and he continued that in his first Senior Bowl practice. Along with burning Clemmings with a spin move, he used a bull rush and strong hands to shed Penn State offensive tackle Donovan Smith on an edge rush. Playing in the East-West game looks like an advantage for Smith, as he wasn’t rusty, and he didn’t get tired like some of the other Senior Bowl participants who have been off from practice for weeks.
Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion continued to show an incomplete game as he did as a senior for the Beavers. Mannion has size and a quality arm, but his accuracy and ball placement was off at times. He had a back-shoulder throw way too far to the inside, and Miami of Ohio defensive back Quinten Rollins dropped the pick. Mannion lofted another floater to Ty Montgomery, but the pass was thrown late. The poor timing allowed cornerback Quandre Diggs to recover and slap the ball away after Montgomery had gotten separation.
Montgomery was similar to Mannion, as he flashed some good traits but also couldn’t finish some plays. He dropped a corner post on an over-the-shoulder catch for a touchdown after beating Arizona State defensive back Demarios Randall.
Montgomery’s collegiate teammate, defensive end Henry Anderson, had a solid start to the week. He had a good tackle in the run scrimmage where he shed a block and stuffed a back. Anderson also had some wins in the one-on-ones. He used a strong bull rush to beat Arizona State’s Jamil Douglas and Duke’s Laken Tomlinson. Anderson looks like power left end for a 4-3 defense. He would also be a great fit as a 3-4 defensive end.
Utah defensive end Nate Orchard started the week well with a number of good rushes in the one-on-ones. Orchard was challenging the tackles with speed to get upfield and strength to shed blocks. In the team scrimmage, he had a nice pressure of Mannion to flush him out of the pocket.
Michigan State safety Kurtis Drummond flashed some man coverage skills with an impressive rep against Delaware tight end Danny Boyle. Drummond stayed close and broke on the ball well to get a good break-up.
Michigan State running back Jeremy Langford had a nice cut around the right side to break off a chunk gain in the run scrimmage. Langford showed nice feet and vision on the play. He runs with good pad level and did well on day one.
Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith had a mixed debut. He ran some quality routes and showed off his good speed. He ran well on a wide screen for about 10 yards in traffic on a screen pass in the team scrimmage. However, Smith also dropped a pass in the middle of the field on a short route. It would help Smith’s draft stock if he showed the ability to function as a possession receiver along with being a deep threat.
2015 Senior Bowl Home
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Senior Bowl-Only NFL Mock Draft
Interview with Denzel Perryman at 2015 Senior Bowl
Interview with Garrett Grayson at 2015 Senior Bowl
2015 Senior Bowl: Friday's Rumor Mill
Interview with Nate Orchard at 2015 Senior Bowl
Interview with Jerry Reese at 2015 Senior Bowl
2015 Senior Bowl: Thursday's Rumor Mill
2015 Senior Bowl Thursday's North Practice Report
2015 Senior Bowl Thursday's South Practice Report
2015 Senior Bowl Thursday's North Team Prospect Meetings
2015 Senior Bowl Thursday's South Team Prospect Meetings
Interview with Devin Smith at 2015 Senior Bowl
Interview with Phillip Dorsett at 2015 Senior Bowl
2015 Senior Bowl: Wednesday's Rumor Mill
2015 Senior Bowl Wednesday's North Team Prospect Meetings
2015 Senior Bowl Wednesday's South Team Prospect Meetings
2015 Senior Bowl Tuesday's North Practice Report
2015 Senior Bowl Tuesday's South Practice Report
Interview with T.J. Clemmings at 2015 Senior Bowl
2015 Senior Bowl: Tuesday's Rumor Mill
Interview with Danny Shelton at 2015 Senior Bowl
2015 Senior Bowl Tuesday's Prospect Meetings
2015 Senior Bowl Tuesday's North Practice Report
2015 Senior Bowl Tuesday's South Practice Report
2015 Senior Bowl: Monday's Rumor Mill
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Quarterbacks
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Running Backs
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Wide Receivers
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Tight Ends
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Offensive Linemen
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Defensive Linemen
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Linebackers
2015 Senior Bowl Weigh-In: Defensive Backs
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