The 2021 Senior Bowl featured plenty of standout players

The 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl has wrapped up the week of practice. With the final day of practice on Thursday, it wraps up my 15th Senior Bowl experience. I’ve seen a lot of things – both good and bad – during that time, and this year was no different.

I don’t think this was a great crop of talent at the Senior Bowl, but there are certainly some players and position groups to highlight. The set up this year was fantastic at the new Hancock Whitney Stadium. The seating was limited due to social distancing, but there was plenty of room for the smaller group of media in attendance. The media was not allowed into the press box or mingle with the NFL scouts on the other side of the field like we used to do in the past. That meant things were different in terms of what you heard and who you heard buzz from, but it was great to be here, nonetheless.

Here is my recap for the week that was in Mobile.

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Mac Jones is Top QB

There is no doubt that Alabama quarterback Mac Jones was the best player at his position during the week of practice. Jones had the look of a first-round quarterback at all three practices he participated in at the Senior Bowl. He’s smart, makes quick decisions and is incredibly accurate when he works all three levels of the field. His draft stock is on the rise, and there are some now projecting Jones as a top-15 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

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Best of the COP Backs

The running backs at the Senior Bowl are mostly players who will have to be a part of a running-back-by-committee in the NFL. Alabama running back Najae Harris, perhaps a first-round pick, did not practice or we would have seen a player like that of other Crimson Tide running backs like Josh Jacobs or Derrick Henry. Instead of seeing a potential star bellcow back, I watched quality “change-of-pace” backs like Virginia Tech’s Khalil Herbert. Perhaps he could carry a larger workload than I currently project, like a Charlie Garner did for a few years back in the day, but I mainly see him as a big-play back who can work well as a runner or receiver out of the backfield.

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Tough to Cover

My favorite player to watch during three days of practice had to be Arizona State wide receiver Frank Darby. He’s always open – even when he’s not. Darby did a good job of making defenders bite on double-moves as he worked through the route tree, and he made corners and safeties reach for air when running after the catch. Darby was fun to watch because he’d always raise his hand to show that he’s open, even when the coverage was staying with him down the field. Darby has the quickness to work underneath routes, but he showed some speed to separate from defenders down the field.

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More Than Just a Blocker

While the Broncos aren’t in the tight end market, some teams will be and they got to see a show put on by Boise State’s John Bates and Boston College’s Hunter Long. Both players looked good as blockers, whether it was in one-on-one drills or in team drills. However, these tight ends showed that they could work well as receivers. Both players caught seam passes with ease and showed good ability after the catch. These tight ends worked better on out routes and did a good job of making catches with coverage linebackers or safeties draped all over them.

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The Biggest Jump

The one-on-one drills between the offensive line and the defensive line are some of the best to watch at these practices. Affectionately known as “the pit,” these drills really showcase what a player can do in the trenches. A player who has made a name for himself this week is Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Quinn Meinerz. He’s a Division III player who is trying to follow in the footsteps of Ali Marpet. I remember when Marpet, only the second Division III player to play in the Senior Bowl, put on a show in Mobile and that catapulted him to being a second-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Meinerz made a similar impression this week, and his draft stock may have taken the biggest leap over the course of a few days time.

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Rush to the Rescue

This is not a great pass-rushing class for the 2021 NFL Draft, so finding talent who can create pressure on the passer at the Senior Bowl is a must. Two players who stood out consistently from the edge were Kansas State’s Wyatt Hubert and Miami’s Quincy Roche. Hubert uses hand-fighting and multiple moves to get after the passer and he seems comfortable stacking moves in order. Roche is more of a power player. He likes to use strength at the point of attack to stunt would-be blockers. Both Hubert and Roche have the makings of fine pros in the NFL.

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Most Disappointing

I didn’t like the Carolina Panthers practices. The morning saw the Miami Dolphins staff run the National Team. Those practices had energy in terms of the pace of practice. They went through several “scout-friendly” drills that really showcased the players and what they could do on the football field. In the afternoon, the Panthers staff took over with the American Team. Those practices featured a lot of yelling from Panthers head coach Matt Rhule, but perhaps he wouldn’t have had to yell so much if his practices weren’t so boring.

The pace of play was slow, they worked on special teams a few times during the two-hour practice and rarely went through drills that highlighted the player’s strengths. Instead, there was lots of teaching and installing of the Panthers offense. One team (Dolphins) was trying to get these players to show off what they can do, while one team (Panthers) was practicing to win the game. I’d much rather watch the Dolphins than what the Panthers trotted out there.

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What Are You Here For?

It’s funny to see what some people are at the Senior Bowl to do. Some are there for the nightlife, while some are there for the football. I’ve been here 15 years and have seen tons of people come and go through the media. Those who are there for the football seem to thrive, advance and last longer. Those who don’t take a notebook to practice, are too hungover the next day to pay attention to practice and spend more time on Twitter posting selfies at the Senior Bowl will be here today and gone tomorrow.

I know my personal philosophy about these All-Star games is to do as much work as possible. That means I am not out and about on the town as much as others. That’s what works for me because I know what I’m there for and I know what makes me happy. It’s just sad to me when others come here, especially when space for media was limited, and waste their time with things that don’t have to do with what’s going on in practice or the league.

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