After a long week of practice, the 2020 Reeses Senior Bowl is finally here. The week of practice is probably the most important piece to use from scouting, but you can get plenty out of a college All-Star setting. After watching the East-West Shrine Game and NFLPA Game, the Senior Bowl provides the best of the best around the country.
I should also point out that coaching does matter. Matt Patricia looked way more organized during the week of practice than Zac Taylor. The entire Bengals staff was a mess. Probably no surprise that the score was 34-17. There is no reason the South team should ever lose this game either.
Let’s get right down to it. Who stood out for the South team at the 2020 Reeses Senior Bowl? Here are the notes from the actual game.
Quarterbacks:
We didn’t see much from Jordan Love. Not sure how we learned anything from this. How could you learn anything from this? 4-6 for 28 yards? Uhhh….
Shea Patterson proved once again he flat out can’t play. I won’t waste another word more than I have to. Here you go. Truly makes me want to throw up watching him.
Anthony Gordon is a nobody but he had the best game from the guys in this group. Gordon went 8-12 for 69 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Running Backs:
JaMychal Hasty I’m out on. I’ve been trying to think of a way to describe him, but I got it. He’s a small back that moves like a big back. Slow twitch movements and doesn’t really create anything. He also had an awful fumble.
Darius Anderson came up with a long reception. He has some nice speed to him. Anderson was a game changer in the passing game. 87 yards on two catches and 6.1 YPC on the ground for a nice day.
Josh Kelley was actually impressive. Has more of a burst than I thought he did. Kelley ran well between the tackles and broke out some nice runs. 105 yards on 15 carries. I was pleasantly surprised.
For the record, I don’t think any of them are more than late round guys. Game didn’t change my opinion. I’m having a hard time with these backs because they’re making plays, but something feels off.
Wide Receivers:
Denzel Mims had a shot to reel in a nice deep ball from Jordan Love. He failed to track the ball in the air. Maybe this isn’t fair, but I see a lot of flashes from other Baylor wide outs that look good but are just missing something. Kendall Wright is that example. Good size, speed, and physicality. Just not an elite receiver for whatever reason.
Quartney Davis looks like a skinnier version of Mims. There are so many quality receivers, it’s hard to know what to do with all of them. Davis was really the most impactful receiver in this one with 4 catches.
Chase Claypool caught a touchdown at the goal line. He’s a tough one. Big body tight end that’s a receiver? That’s what I see. In terms of potential or a comp? I still don’t know.
I don’t know what to make of Antonio Gandy-Golden either. He scored a touchdown but technically wasn’t an NFL touchdown not getting two feet in. Regardless, he looks imposing but disappears for quarters. Don’t ask me on this one.
Tight Ends:
Adam Trautman has been a big topic and looked good during the week catching the football. I’m impressed with his blocking. He did a really nice job there. Only 2 catches for 5 yards in this one.
Offensive Line:
Josh Jones continued his excellent run. He was superb in pass protection. He was matched up against Jonathan Greenard and shut him down most of the time. Greenard is a beast too.
Matt Hennessey was great too. He really did a nice job opening up holes in the running back. He just looks like a pro center all day.
Overall, there was some bad offensive line play, but the guys on the North did a significantly better job blocking compared to the South. Jones and Hennessey were standouts for this side.
Defensive Line:
I don’t know what Josh Uche was doing? He had a wide open sack and went with the two hand touch? Is he just dumb or did he forget it wasn’t practice anymore? What is a postive is that he’s really good at bending the edge. Outside of the one head scratching play, I thought he looked tremendous. Beat up tackles all game.
Kenny Willekes has some speed to him off the edge. He came away with a sack in this one after the offensive tackle didn’t even react to the snap. I just don’t know what else he has.
After having a forgettable week, Syracuse pass rusher Alton Robinson really showed up. This sack was impressive. Just watch his hand usage. He had to work for this one and the pass rushing moves were on full display. Robinson beat Throckmorton for a sack too. Felt like a big theme. Line up against
Then Bradlee Anae got two sacks on back to back plays. I should say, Anae got what felt like 500 sacks. Here was the initial question. Was the Texas Tech tackle just awful or can Anae and Robinson really play? I didn’t necessarily love them during the week. Anae cleared that up later when he killed Calvin Throckmorton for a deadly pressure that created an interception. Anae did a great job finishing sacks and looked quicked off the ball. I have some homework to do now. Both Anae and Robinson were superstars in this one.
Neville Gallimore lost the battle between Damien Lewis. I like Gallimore but the more I watch him, the more I feel better about him being a mid round pick rather than him being a counted on starter. I like Gallimore but I didn’t see much from him in this one and that was disappointing.
Linebackers:
Malik Harrison is GOOD. I’m so impressed with the way he can drop back in coverage and make plays. He did it again during the game. Jump ball high in the air, Harrison makes the play. That’s not normal for al linebacker. He’s on a different planet from the rest of the guys here at his position. Speed, coverage ability, and athletic traits aren’t hard to spot. Malik Harrison is a total stud.
Evan Weaver of Cal also impressed me. He was just always around the ball. Looks like he has great instincts and tackles well. I’m not sure he’s uber athletic that’s the concerning part. Nevertheless, he made some nice plays.
Cornerbacks:
In a group full of bad corner play, Troy Pride was the one standout. He came away with a gift interception. Forget the interception, Pride was outstanding in coverage in general. Has some serious ball skills too.
Lamar Jackson got beat up on numerous occasions. It seemed like they targetted him when he was on the field. After having a strong day one of practice, he went way downhill ever since.
Safeties:
Terrell Burgess was super impressive. Turns his head around and plays the ball. Down in the red zone, Stephen Sullivan was the target and Burgess covered him perfectly.
IF you want to read the practice notes for each day, they will be linked below!
