Little-known fact: Mobile averages more rain in the winter months than Seattle. Between December and March, famously damp Seattle receives an average 19.31 inches of precipitation, while Mobile absorbs 21.94 inches a year.
Having lived in Seattle and being a regular January visitor to southern Alabama, I can attest to the validity of that statistic, which reared its head on a dreary, raw morning for the North team’s practice. Today, temperatures struggled to lurch past 50 degrees, and while the rain didn’t pelt upon us as it did during the monsoon-like storm that engulfed Ladd-Peebles Stadium during last year’s Senior Bowl game, the lower temperatures made the morning feel like the Broncos-Chargers game on Oct. 7, when the cold rain provided an apt accompaniment for a 41-3 Denver loss.
As a result of Thursday morning’s conditions, most of the scouts who convened for Thursday morning’s practice sought the lone refuge that provided a view of the field, huddled in the five rows of bleachers that remained dry below the press box.
This is where the Broncos’ brain trust often sits, regardless of weather. Thursday, they were joined by scouts from the rest of the league and the occasional reporter who doesn’t want to run the risk of ruining his camera.
Hence, some of these photos are from 52 rows away from the playing field. All things considered, they’re not bad.
But the players didn’t have the option of seeking shelter, and for Oklahoma State wide receiver Adarius Bowman, that led to a frustrating day in which several passes slipped just past his grasp.
“I ain’t going to lie. I’m not going to make a lot of excuses, but my fingertips are frozen,” he said. “That was the biggest adjustment. I wish I’d have known it was raining. I would have probably grabbed a hand-warmer.”
Stillwater, Okla. sees weather like that, but not usually between September and November. For Bowman, it’s better to learn how to adjust to the tricky conditions now rather than later.
“They’re not going to cancel any games because of weather,” he said. “I’m just trying to get used to it.
“I feel like I wasn’t prepared today.”
With the players still getting used to one another and also focusing at least as much on impressing scouts and coaches as their hastily assebled teams, timing would be an issue even in warm, dry conditions. Thursday morning, such problems increased ten-fold, with a few players slipping. However, turnovers were few, and some players managed some solid performances, including North Dakota State punter Mike Dragosavich, Virginia Tech wide receiver Eddie Royal and Oklahoma State running back Antrell Savage.
A few more photos …
Offensive linemen Chad Rinehart and Sam Baker tag-team Virginia Tech defensive end Chris Ellis.
Eastern Michigan defensive end Jason Jones keeps Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco within his sights as he closes from the outside.
Cal running back Justin Forsett falls forward for extra yardage.
Virginia Tech’s Eddie Royal beats Colorado’s Terrence Wheatley in one-on-one red-zone drills for a touchdown near the right sideline.
Michigan State tight end Kellen Davis can’t get to this pass amidst a crowd of defenders in the end zone.
That’s all for now … until the next post, vaya con Dios.
Tags: Senior Bowl
Got a feeling Terrance Wheatley is gonna be playing on Sundays, I have him rated higher than most people do……time will tell.
Finally! Someone else sees Wheatley. He will, for sure, be playing on Sundays. Hopefully for the Orange and Blue. He is also a great kick off and punt returner.
That would be sweet, Maybe Wheatley and Dizon in Broncos’ Uniforms next year!!!
Mike is awesome, he’s a great dude! GO DRAGO, GO NDSU!
Hey,
Well at least we know that Adarius Bowman will slip a little further in the draft because he didnt prepair…
Hey, looks like Miami is willing to ”give” their 1st pick…
Maybe Javon…
Love the Broncos TV clips, keep them coming.
Dizon does look like a freak! I hear he plays really smart…and he’s built like a brick outhouse.
Chances Sedrick Ellis slips to 12?
I meant to post this on today’s blog, not yesterday…sorry!
It is a great time of year. You get so torn between what needs to address in the draft and which ones to address via free-agency. It’s so easy to criticize coaches and GM’s for failed draft picks, but when you see all of these guys in action, read about them and get to know them like a lot of fans across the country do this time of year, it’s so easy to see how a coach can buy into any of these guys out here.
The difference in Connor and Dizon for example, to most of us, we see them play, we look at their stats, read their interviews and there’s little or no difference in their potential and character as men. How do you tell if Connor’s better numbers are a result of his coach, the defensive system, the competition he played against, the surrounding players on his own team, his football smarts or his physical ability? It would be so easy for Sundquist and Shanahan to look at Dizon, see that maybe his numbers weren’t quite as great, but with the right coaching, the right system and a great d-line in front of him, that he could develope into an all-pro. Not only that, but if you can pick up Dizon in the 4th round, vs spending a first rounder on Connor, you’d be way ahead of the game.
It’s a pretty complicated thing really. The difference in the 1st round athletes vs. the 5th round athletes is so tiny and has so many other factors involved in it. Randy Moss would be a great example. If he didn’t go to Marshall, a very small and relatively unknown college, he’d have been the top pick in that years draft. Instead, he falls to what? 17th I believe. That was a great move by Minnesota to look beyond the obvious and see the potential. Shanahan did it just a few years ago with Dumervil. I’d bet if you look at Dumervil’s numbers vs. every other DE taken before him, that Dumervil’s would dwarf most of them.
That’s how you grade a draft 3 yrs later. Put the same players in the draft pool and see where they’d get picked after being in the league 3 yrs. If your player, say Dumervil, would be a 1st round pick after a 3 yr review, then Shanahan made a GREAT pick by getting him in the 3rd.
Wheatley is a really good returner and Dizon would be a great strong side linebacker.
Dizon yeah a good player, but after watching the Senior Bowl Dan Connor is the best LB in this years Draft and would be a great upgrade to the Broncos, the guy is not the Fastest LB on the fiel but he is by far the most instinctive. Which goes along way in the NFL.
Just checked Scout.com.
4- Ellis
7- Phillips
10- Stewart
19- Clady
26- Mendenhall
28- Jackson
33- Balmer
47- Abidi
82- Okam
98- Dizon