Senior Bowl Day 2 Notes: Oher Draws Mixed Reviews
By david
Legendary Cincinnati Bengals line coach Jim McNally put in an appearance in Mobile yesterday in support of University of Cincinnati guard Trevor Canfield. McNally called Canfield “a real tough kid who finishes well.”
gbnreport.com scout Jon Cozart fell hard for B.J. Raji at yesterday morning’s North practice. “He can turn the corner and make himself small to beat the man in front of him. Honestly, I have to make myself focus on other players because I could watch him all day,” Cozart writes. “Raji is a top five pick in my opinion and has been by far the most impressive player on the North.” On the South side, top prospect Michael Oher had a rough first series, getting beat by Hawaii DE David Veikune. “Clearly, someone on the Jacksonville coaching staff, which is running the South practices, got in Oher’s ear hole as he dominated on his next series; in fact, Oher pretty much shut everything done in front of him the rest of the day,” Cozart continues. “The fact that he needed to be jumpstarted isn’t going to enhance Oher’s grade as he came to Mobile with a reputation for turning it on and off at times during his Ole Miss career.”
PFW’s Matt Wilkening says the Bengals staff has DE Larry English, projected as a rush LB in a 3-4, working at end in a 4-3. Wilkening came away with a higher opinion of Oher than Cozart did. Speculation is rife about West Virginia QB Pat White’s future position in the NFL. In an NFL Network interview (video available on bengals.com) Marvin Lewis said White could play either QB or WR, which “adds tremendous value” now that the “Wildcat” offense is all the rage.
Today’s PFW Senior Bowl profile is Ramses Barden. Draft Headquarters’ Shawn Zobel says Barden reminds him of a stronger Plaxico Burress.
Sporting News has good things to say about Alex Mack, Rey Maualuga and Wisconsin G Kraig Urbik. As for Max Unger, not so much.
Sports Illustrated thinks Veikune helped his stock with his performance against Oher. Meanwhile, Cincinnati CB DeAngelo Smith’s nickname yesterday may as well have been “toast.”
Added: Walterfootball.com’s Matt McGuire gives his review of day 2’s morning and afternoon practices. At the end of the latter piece he lists players individual teams are showing interest in. So far, he has just one for the Bengals, CB Darius Butler, a guy Bengals DC Mike Zimmer likes. In his NFL Network interview, Lewis said the Bengals planned to do most of their interviewing of prospects Thursday and Friday.