Senior Bowl, Day 4: South Squad Practice Notes

The South took the field today in shorts, jerseys, and helmets for a jog-through just like the North. It was nice to see the team not waste half of their practice on special teams, however, it seemed that without the special teams work the Buffalo Bills coaching staff was lost. The South ended practice a half hour early.

As a whole, the North squad practice was a lot more intense today.

Nothing stood out during the second session of the day. Perhaps the most notable piece of information is the absence of Texas A&M’s Von Miller. Miller had a great week rushing the passer, but struggled in pass coverage. I have heard no word on what kept Miller out of the practice, but will be looking to gather as much information as possible.

Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy had the best day throwing the ball. He has been the most consistent quarterback all week and really could be a solid back up, potentially even develop into a solid starter down the road. McElroy compares favorably to Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, who was drafted last year out of Texas. McElroy may not have the athleticism of McCoy, but he has a very similar arm and decision making skills.

At wide receiver, Courtney Smith of South Alabama started to get his shine on. After a rough start to the week, which included multiple drops, Smith was able to get separation from defensive backs and use his giant frame to shield defenders from the ball. Another wideout who stood out today was Hawaii’s Greg Salas. However, Salas stood out for all of the wrong reasons. I recorded two drops for Salas, who had his worst day of the week. Luke Stocker had a contested pass knocked away, which was surprising because he has shown the most reliable hands here all week — USC’s Shareece Wright had some great coverage on the play.

At running back, Louisville’s Bilal Powell continued to impress. Early in the week he showed off his tough running style, but today he showed a bit of versatility. Powell showcased some exceptional hands and proved that he can also be a threat out of the backfield in the receiving game. I was very impressed with the way Powell caught the ball. On a bit of a negative note, Georgia Tech’s Anthony Allen again made no real impression. He has been  quite all week and hasn’t made the most of this opportunity.

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