Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy cracked a bone in his throwing hand during Saturday's Under Armour Senior Bowl. He is expected to miss about two weeks of throwing. McElroy completed a pass on the first play of the fourth quarter to South Alabama's Courtney Smith, but hit his right hand on a helmet on the follow-through. "I had no feeling the rest of the series," he said immediately after the game. "The ball was kind of sporadic. I couldn't get a grip on the ball. I still can't get a grip on the ball. I think it will be OK." He was invited to the NFL combine beginning Feb. 23 in Indianapolis.

By Jeff Risdon One more postseason all-star game remains, the NFLPA game in San Antonio this coming weekend. The talent pool there is hoping to lap at the bottom of mocks like this, and I?ll be there most of the week to ascertain if any are worthy. My usual two disclaimers: -- Do not mistake the selections here for the choices I would make. I am trying to forecast what the given team would do with the given pick, not tell you what I would do with the same pick. -- I am more focused on matching the player with the draft slot, not necessarily the team currently in that slot. This is especially true in picks 25-50, where over half the picks get traded every year. If you think I?m intoxicated and/or asinine because I put a player with a team that you think doesn?t need him, you might be right?but it?s more about the player and draft slot. Try and pay less attention to the team aspect. 1. Carolina Panthers: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn. The Panthers need an interior force more than they need a pass rusher. Keep in mind Charles Johnson bagged 12 sacks and they have other promising young talent at DE/OLB. The only DT under contract right now for next season is Andre Neblett. The door is open for Cam Newton to ?wow? them. 2. Denver Broncos: Da?Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson. John Fox begins the massive and long-needed defensive overhaul by taking Bowers, the closest thing to Julius Peppers since Fox had him in Carolina. I think Peterson and Miller will both be highly tempting, but Bowers athleticism at his position is freakishly hard to ignore. 3. Buffalo Bills: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU. Corners almost never go in the top 5, but Peterson has the measurables and big-play ability to qualify as an exception. The Bills almost invariably go best talent available and they need impact playmakers across the board regardless of position. 4. Cincinnati Bengals: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M. Even though Carlos Dunlap finished with a major flourish, upgrading the pass rush is a priority for Marvin Lewis & Co. Their LB play took a major decline in 2010, and Miller has emphatically shown he is more than just a pass rusher. 5. Arizona Cardinals: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn. I?ll be honest.. I actually believe Newton will go higher than this; he?s the most dynamic offensive presence to hit the draft since Michael Vick. He?s not necessarily the best QB right now, but his upside is Ben Roethslisberger's size and guts paired with Steve Young?s athleticism. The Cardinals sure seem like a strong candidate to roll the dice, even if they also court a veteran QB. 6. Cleveland Browns: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia. The Browns are acutely aware they sorely lack a playmaking threat to help Colt McCoy. Green is the complete package, and his impact on Georgia?s offense with and without him was stunning. That kind of dynamic presence is tough to ignore for a WR-desperate franchise. 7. San Francisco 49ers: Robert Quinn, LB, North Carolina. Quinn is a big risk, as he has not played since November 2009. But he?s also a big potential reward as a speedy pass rusher with a physical style, both of which will play very well with the Niners new staff. 8. Tennessee Titans: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri. It?s a foregone assumption the Titans are taking a QB here, and I won?t fight that in this edition. The coaching change could be the best thing to happen to Gabbert, who has a lot of potential but a long ways before he gets there. Less pressure to win means he won?t be rushed and can learn from Kerry Collins. 9. Dallas Cowboys: Nate Solder, T, Colorado. The first tackle comes off the board later than any year since 2005, when Jammal Brown went #13 overall. Solder is still growing into the position, as much as a 6?8?+, 314 pounder can still be growing, but his potential is higher than any other tackle and he?s not far away from achieving that potential. 10. Washington Redskins: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama. Quick, active, big, and not shy to flash a nasty streak. Sounds like Albert Haynesworth, a guy the Skins must regrettably replace. Dareus fits the bill and his heeling under Nick Saban helps mitigate some of the risk for a player that registered 3 tackles or less in 17 of his 23 college games. 11. Houston Texans: Aldon Smith, DE/OLB, Missouri. Making the switch to a 3-4 defense requires a lot of new faces, and Smith has the potential to make a big impact as an edge rusher that they?ve never had. 12. Minnesota Vikings: Anthony Castonzo, T, Boston College. Built like a professional wrestler, he?s more agile and also more versatile than their two current tackles, but could also play guard if they need him there more. 13. Detroit Lions: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska. Getting the reputation as a ?safe? pick, which hasn?t always been for the best (think Aaron Curry). But the Lions need a ?safe? corner, and his very high talent floor and ability to tackle will fit well in Coach Schwartz?s defense. 14. St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama. Last year they hit pay dirt with their franchise QB and very good LT. Now Sam Bradford gets a legit receiver to help him. There are concerns about Jones? top-end speed and frequent minor injury history, but he is a great physical presence capable of taking over a game. 15. Miami Dolphins: Cameron Jordan, DE, California. Mr. Wake, meet Mr. Jordan. He will help you lead the league in sacks next year too, along with getting a handful of his own and being a general menace with his quickness. His intelligent aloofness will play well in their locker room. 16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado. I have a feeling he will go higher than this, but Smith winds up in a place that sorely needs a physical DB presence. I?m sure they would prefer one of the above pass rushers, however. 17. New England Patriots (from OAK): Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State. Heyward has the mantra of a Patriot already--tough, smart, able to rise up when needed but confident enough to sublimate himself when it helps his teammates rise up. Of course the Patriots will not be staying here; maybe this will be the year where they actually move up and go for a premier talent instead of trading back and getting 4 merely functional pieces. They are scarily lacking in premier talent right now. 18. San Diego Chargers: Gabe Carimi, T, Wisconsin. He?s not without his detractions, but Carimi is the top run blocking tackle in this draft. His physical style and ability to lead the charge at the second level will bring a missing edge to the Chargers already potent offense. 19. New York Giants: Tyron Smith, T, USC. Smith?s draft stock is still highly variable, and perhaps no player needs a better weigh-in day at the Combine than the undersized tackle. He?s got a lot of Joe Staley in him, but there?s a lot of Tony Ugoh on display too. 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue. The Bucs know they must improve their pass rush if they want to catch the Saints and Falcons. Kerrigan is an accomplished edge rusher that lived in opposing backfields at Purdue, and his quickness gave the top Senior Bowl tackles fits. 21. Kansas City Chiefs: Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor. It?s one thing when fans demand a team get bigger and tougher up the gut, but when the coach and defensive coordinator volunteer that information, you know they?re going to address it aggressively. Taylor is the top immovable object in this draft, with the potential to be as good as a motivated Shaun Rogers?who could also find his way to KC. 22. Indianapolis Colts: Rodney Hudson, C/G, Florida State. Jeff Saturday can?t play forever, and none of their guards can play anytime soon. Hudson fits the Colts profile--extremely athletic, undersized, and loaded with football IQ. His ability to play guard or center will allow him to contribute right away. 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA. His size (258 pounds) is what makes Ayers appealing to the Eagles, but what makes him a 1st rounder is his ability to move and play in space at his size. He?s a strong blitzer as well. 24. New Orleans Saints: JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin. Evaluators are still trying to figure out just where he fits best in the NFL at 6?5? and 290 pounds, but the Saints have had great success using big Will Smith as a pass rushing end. Watt has some juice off the edge but his power is a refreshing changeup against a league turning towards smaller offensive tackles. 25. Seattle Seahawks: Jake Locker, QB, Washington. I?m not sold that Locker will wind up in the first round, and I?m not sold he?s a Pete Carroll kind of guy. But I like the ?local? angle, and I see him more like Brady Quinn than Jimmy Clausen in terms of ?once highly touted QB that plummets on draft day?. Quinn fell to this range, and I think Locker ultimately winds up in the mid-20s as well. It might as well be Seattle. 26. Baltimore Ravens: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois. In 2009 I went to an Illinois game and was intrigued by Liuget?s ability to crash the line, but his stamina and base strength were substandard. He got himself in great shape in 2010 and was often Haloti Ngata-like in the OL-rich Big Ten. What?s better for Baltimore fans than one Nagata? How about Ngata-lite playing next to him as Kelly Gregg?s career winds down. 27. Atlanta Falcons: Danny Watkins, G, Baylor. Some will be turned off by his age (he?s 26), but his maturity and strong technique despite being inexperienced mean he?s game-ready for a contending team like the Falcons. 28. New England Patriots: Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia. Again, the odds the Pats keep this pick are about the same as me waking up next to Rachel Weisz, but he brings an added dimension of fast-twitch athleticism to a stolid young Pats defense. 29. Chicago Bears: Mike Pouncey, G/C, Florida. Mike Tice did a nice job molding an under-talented collection into a reasonably functional OL, but if the Bears are going to improve offensively, they need a legit studhorse up front. Mike?s not quite his Pro Bowl twin brother, but he?s close enough to really help Chicago. 30. New York Jets: Jarvis Jenkins, DT, Clemson. Jenkins fits the Rex Ryan profile--aggressive, pugnacious, verbose, and probably better at his job than often credited. He can play end in a 3-4 or tackle when they move to a 4-man front. 31. Green Bay Packers: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa. The Packers have the playmakers already, but could use some talented supporting cast members. Clayborn is a solid football player and strong athlete that doesn?t need to make lots of plays to make a big impact. 32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Derek Sherrod, T, Mississippi State. His athleticism is ahead of his technique at this point, but he?s an accomplished ?recovery blocker?, something that blends well with Big Ben?s QB style. Round 2 33. New England Patriots (from CAR): Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama 34. Denver Broncos: Quinton Carter, S, Oklahoma 35. Buffalo Bills: Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame 36. Cincinnati Bengals: Mikel LeShoure, RB, Illinois 37. Arizona Cardinals: Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State 38. Cleveland Browns: Demarcus Love, T, Arkansas 39. San Francisco 49ers: Titus Young, WR, Boise State 40. Tennessee Titans: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State 41. Dallas Cowboys: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami FL 42. Washington Redskins: Stefen Wisniewski, C, Penn State 43. Houston Texans: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple 44. Minnesota Vikings: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas 45. Detroit Lions: Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois 46. St. Louis Rams: Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia 47. Denver Broncos (from MIA): DeAndre McDaniel, S, Clemson 48. Jacksonville Jaguars: Rahim Moore, S, UCLA 49. Oakland Raiders: Dontay Moch, LB, Nevada 50. San Diego Chargers: Jerrel Jernigan, WR, Troy 51. New York Giants: Luke Stocker, TE, Tennessee 52. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Curtis Brown, CB, Texas 53. Kansas City Chiefs: Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State 54. Indianapolis Colts: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas 55. Philadelphia Eagles: Ben Ijalana, T/G, Villanova 56. New Orleans Saints: Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech 57. Seattle Seahawks: Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland 58. Baltimore Ravens: Davon House, CB, New Mexico State 59. Atlanta Falcons: D.J. Williams, TE, Arkansas 60. New England Patriots: Colin McCarthy, LB, Miami FL 61. Chicago Bears: Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami FL 62. San Diego Chargers (from NYJ): Jordan Todman, RB, UConn 63. Green Bay Packers: Rashad Carmichael, CB, Virginia Tech 64. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State Round 3 65. Carolina Panthers: Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada 66. Denver Broncos: Jabaal Sheard, OLB, Pittsburgh 67. Buffalo Bills: Kenrick Ellis, DT, Hampton 68. Cincinnati Bengals: Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh 69. Arizona Cardinals: Marcus Cannon, T/G, TCU 70. Cleveland Browns: Drake Nevis, DT, LSU 71. San Francisco 49ers: Shane Vereen, RB, California 72. Tennessee Titans: Richard Sherman, CB, Stanford 73. Dallas Cowboys: James Carpenter, T, Alabama 74. New Orleans Saints (from WAS): Brandon Burton, CB, Utah 75. Houston Texans: Orlando Franklin, G/T, Miami FL 76. New England Patriots (from MIN): Andy Dalton, QB, TCU 77. Detroit Lions: Mason Foster, LB, Washington 78. St. Louis Rams: Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana 79. Miami Dolphins: Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State 80. Jacksonville Jaguars: Christian Ballard, DT, Iowa 81. Oakland Raiders: Pat Devlin, QB, Delaware 82. San Diego Chargers: Jeremy Beal, OLB, Oklahoma 83. New York Giants: Bruce Carter, LB, North Carolina 84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tyler Sash, S, Iowa 85. Kansas City Chiefs: Kelvin Sheppard, LB, LSU 86. Indianapolis Colts: Vincent Brown, WR, San Diego State 87. Philadelphia Eagles: Robert Sands, S, West Virginia 88. New Orleans Saints: Allen Bailey, DE, Miami FL 89. San Diego Chargers (from SEA): Quan Sturdivant, LB, North Carolina 90. Baltimore Ravens: John Moffitt, C/G, Wisconsin 91. Atlanta Falcons: Clint Boling, G/T, Georgia 92. New England Patriots: Jaiquawn Jarrett, S, Temple 93. Chicago Bears: Terrell McClain, DT, South Florida 94. New York Jets: Kenny Tate, S, Maryland 95. Green Bay Packers: Jason Pinkston, T, Pittsburgh 96. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kendrick Burney, CB, North Carolina

An NFL scout told Ross Tucker of Fox Sports that he believes Auburn quarterback Cam Newton could be the first overall pick in April's draft. "If VY went #3 & Tebow 1st Rd, wouldn't surprise me at all if Cam Newton went #1. His upside is limitless," Tucker wrote on his Twitter page. RealGM's Jeff Risdon has Newton going seventh in his last mock draft.

Another week of practices have come and gone, and the diaspora of pretty much every NFL coach and talent evaluator have returned home to process what they?ve seen. One of the things I picked up this week, more than in past trips, is the disparity of opinions between the scouts who have been closely following these players for months and the blank slate opinions of the coaches, often seeing them for the very first time. There is always some contrast but it seemed starker this year, particularly on the quarterbacks and offensive linemen. Winners The North Offensive Tackles-- We all expected a talented group and were not disappointed. Anthony Castonzo, Nate Solder, and Gabe Carimi all consistently displayed first-round talent with the ability to be very good starters very soon. Solder probably helped himself as much as anyone, putting some distance between himself and the other top tackle candidates with his package of size, strength, and length. A month ago I did a mock draft where I slotted him #5 overall and most people thought I was nuts, but now I doubt anyone would be surprised if he went in the 5-10 overall range. I thought Indiana?s James Brewer and Pitt?s Jason Pinkston both showed enough to solidify 4th-5th round statuses with decent, albeit more limited potential as well. The Unheralded QBs-- The marquee names heading into Mobile were Jake Locker and Christian Ponder. The guys that attracted the most positive attention all week were Andy Dalton and Ricky Stanzi, and Colin Kaepernick to a lesser extent. Both Dalton and Stanzi are excellent examples of what I was talking about in the opening--the coaches with no preconceived opinions loved what they saw, while the scouts who have been iffy on them were generally impressed but much more skeptical. That will mandate a lot of film study and is sure to provoke some war room battles. But if you throw out what you knew beforehand, there is no question these three were the three best QBs in Mobile for the week. Titus Young-- He drew a very public comparison to Desean Jackson by consistently blowing past defenders and making plays down the field. I wouldn?t put him at that level but he certainly impressed. He also struck a memorable impression early with his Maria Sharapova-like grunting whenever he makes a move. It?s silly but it made him stand out the first couple of days when everyone is still referencing their roster sheets to figure out who is who, and his play more than backed up the increased attention and awareness. Cameron Jordan, Von Miller, and Ryan Kerrigan--all three were first round locks heading into the week, and all proved why. Miller (as I?ve been touting since late Sept.) really impressed with his ability to drop in coverage and play the run, aside from being unstoppable as an edge rusher. Jordan made a huge splash Tuesday, essentially taking over North practice. He wasn?t as dynamic the rest of the week, and he needs to learn more pass rush moves than his arm-over rip, but he was still mighty impressive, both on the field and to anyone who got a chance to talk to him. Kerrigan gave the very good North tackles fits with his speed and ability to flatten inside after starting wide. All are very likely top 20 picks, with Miller almost certainly a top 7 pick. Others who impressed Kendrick Burney Clint Boling Danny Watkins, who is probably the biggest gainer in terms of overall draft position from the week?if things hold. Went from middle-round mystery to no worse than a 2nd round talent, which will be validated on game film. Rashad Carmichael, though the injury hurts Luke Stocker Rodney Hudson Richard Sherman Ronald Johnson Kendall Hunter Greg Jones Kelvin Sheppard Phil Taylor Non-Winners They?re not losers because they still have lots of opportunities for damage control, but these guys didn?t help themselves in Mobile? Derek Sherrod and DeMarcus Love-- The presumed top two tackles on the South squad, both projected as late 1st/mid 2nd round picks heading to Mobile by many, both got outplayed by their lesser heralded mates (notably Clint Boling and James Carpenter). Sherrod had enough positive moments that he won?t be hurt too much, though he?s clearly not in the conversation with the top North guys anymore. Love confirmed many scouts worst fears about him, as he had trouble staying balanced and didn?t show much pop in his run blocking. Now the lasting impressions on Love are the whipping Cameron Heyward put on him in the Sugar Bowl and a subpar week in Mobile. The Small Schoolers-- It?s a Catch-22 for both the Senior Bowl committee and the players themselves; the players feel like they deserve a shot to show what they can do with the big boys and desperately angle to get chosen, but then they?re under more pressure to prove they belong once the action starts. And by and large they proved they did not belong. Brandon Fusco and local hero Courtney Smith both looked undraftable, clearly struggling most of the week at the jump in level of competition. Cedric Thornton showed some potential but also the need for a lot of work before he can ever see the field. Edmund Gates flashed the jets the first day but got shut down with injury, unable to really build on the buzz. Ben Ijalana didn?t even make the trip, as an injury cost him a shot to really make a name for himself. Not a good showing for the non D-IA contingency, something that could be held against future players from those levels. The non-BCS D-I schools didn?t fare much better; Kevin Kowalski, Charles Clay, Dwayne Harris, Jaiquawn Jarrett, and Greg Salas didn?t do much to create positive momentum heading forward down the draft path, though Jarrett and Salas had their moments. The one exception: Vincent Brown, whom I mistakenly omitted in the ?Winners? category of those that impressed. Jake Locker--He?s another example of a player viewed very differently by the scouts that have watched him for years and coaches seeing him for the first time. Even his most ardent critics in the draftnik and scouting community (I?m one of them) will concede he has a lot going for him, and even though he was shorter than expected, he is the QB that most looks like an NFL starter?until he throws the ball. His inability to throw the ball with any sort of accuracy, particularly outside the hash marks, was alarming to say the least. I thought one NFC offensive coordinator summed up the coaching community perspective on Locker: ?Intangibles can only take him so far. I need a guy that can hit a moving target, and this guy can?t do that. No thanks.? Locker needs to be flawless with his accuracy at the Combine and his pro day or else I have a real hard time seeing him sticking in top 20. I know it only takes one to love him, but I?m not sure any one does right now. Others that didn?t build positive momentum Mark Herzlich, unfortunately a better story than football player a la Myron Rolle a year ago Ian Williams Joe Lefeged Nate Irving Pierre Allen The entire North RB squad not named Kendall Hunter Casey Matthews The punters, Alex Henery and Chas Henry. The Senior Bowl has had some great punting performances the past few years and these two were not up to that level. ...As for the game itself, I like the North to win 27-17 but the South has a chance with what I expect to be vastly superior special teams play.

Boise State wide receiver Titus Young has been compared to Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson. "Titus Young does look to me like DeSean Jackson looked to me when he came out of Cal," NFL analyst Mike Mayock said Thursday. "I see a kid there that physically has helped himself. Teams are going to have to do a lot more homework on him off the field."

Bright sunny afternoon with a whole lot fewer NFL people present than in the morning session. It sounds like the vast majority of coaches and personnel people are heading out tonight, so tomorrow?s practice sessions should be sparsely attended. This practice session wasn?t as scout-friendly but still provided a lot of things to evaluate. Quarterbacks Christian Ponder has raised a lot of flags the last couple of days despite having some obvious strengths. The biggest issue is his delivery--he throws with his arm and elbow much more than anyone else here. It?s no wonder he has had elbow troubles and if he doesn?t change his fundamental throwing motion he always will. The accuracy is strong and he doesn?t lack zip, however; he probably has the biggest gun here despite the arm-y throwing style. I am also concerned at how quickly he makes decisions. There have been several instances where he took an extra half-second to process what he was seeing and it let the defender make up enough ground to make a play, when if Ponder would have been quicker he would have had a nice completion. On Tuesday he was a count late to see a wide open Preston Dial down the field and gave Ahmad Black enough time to read and recover. There was a play today where he missed seeing Anthony Allen (GT RB) alone in the flat (both the safety and LB sucked to the TE) and forced a ball down the field. I watched him after he threw it and he immediately saw Allen and just nodded. But he made a great throw on a bootleg where the defense took away his TE and he fired a ball on the dead run into a tight spot. He?s got decision-makers firmly divided in opinion as well--one longtime NFL QB standing within earshot was gushing about him and thinks he?s the best QB here, but another NFL alum QB thinks he won?t last 3 years with his throwing style. The health concerns are weighing higher on my mind than before. Dalton continues to make a good showing. He stands taller than his stature and has a nice, clean release, though he does go a little long at times. Good footwork, and he performed well in the agility drill the Bills coaches ran. He made a couple of crisp throws outside, easing the concerns about his arm strength. Two concerns persist: when he misses he misses high, which equals INTs and creamed receivers; and as a defensive coach pointed out to me while we were watching practice today, he looks at his primary target with his last look before taking the snap every time. There?s a lot of Matt Flynn to him, and I suspect that?s how most NFL personnel people here see him--a good #2 that you could trust to fill in for a week or two even on a championship-level team, but not a franchise QB to build around. Few had lofty expectations for McElroy (other than the Bama faithful) and he?s largely done little to prove otherwise. The arm strength isn?t great, but he spots the ball well--probably more accurate out to 25 yards than any QB here. He reminds me of Brian Hoyer. Focused some on the corners and safeties. Thoughts: Clemson safety Deandre McDaniel continues to stand out. In agility drills he was surprisingly (to me) fluid and showed burst out of breaks. In 11-on-11 drills the last two days he consistently does a good job of reading his keys and finding the ball. I?d like to see him finish better, but some of that is no doubt a function of the format. Demarcus Van Dyke of Miami is a lightweight at 168 pounds and it shows when the ball is in the air. He tries to compensate with a lot of fight, and he can jump and has good timing, but receivers have no trouble getting where they want against him and can overpower him to make the catch. He also struggled to catch the ball in a drill, and when you?re his size you?d better be able to make plays. Zac Etheridge from Auburn looked good in drills, though on one play he bit on an outside move by Greg Salas (Hawaii) and gave up the inside slant with no help inside. He plays bigger than his listed size. Nice guy too, very positive attitude. Texas? Curtis Brown is really struggling. In agility drills he consistently needs an extra step out of his cuts, and his hips are tight. He also is consistently late to find the ball. He?s better in 11-on-11, but unless he cleans up his feet he?s going to disappoint in the NFL. Marcus Gilchrist from Clemson is smaller but quite feisty and very good with his hands. Very quick feet and good burst out of his breaks. Made a couple of nice breaks on outside throws and anticipated routes well, with one ugly exception where he bit on a great head/shoulder fake by Ronald Johnson. I like him as an inside nickel corner in the NFL, though more time in the weight room would serve him well. Johnny Patrick from Louisville is consistently high in his backpedal and doesn?t break out with the burst you want to see. He?s good with the ball in the air though and doesn?t lack for confidence. RB/LB drills: -- Von Miller (TAMU) continues to dominate with his pass rush, but he also held up well lining up in a 3pt. stance and holding the point of attack. No way he falls out of the top 10, perhaps top 5. -- Kelvin Sheppard (LSU) also looked very good in blitz drills, showing a variety of moves and good power. He overpowered every back he faced. Reminds me of Deandre Levy. --Bilal Powell (Louisville) looked good in pass protect. He also flashed nice hands in the open field. He runs like Chester Taylor. -- Derrick Locke (Kentucky) had major troubles in pass protection. He has very little functional strength and he runs/plays like he knows it. Strictly a 3rd down receiving back that had better wow someone with punt/kick return ability. I was expecting more after being fairly impressed in watching a few Kentucky games this year. -- Colin McCarthy (Miami) doesn?t have a lot of flair or overwhelming athleticism, but he uses his hands well and never stops fighting. He bull rushed Allen on a blitz, and Allen is a pretty stocky, powerful RB. He also flashed nice hands in a coverage drill. Has some Na?il Diggs to him. -- Josh Bynes (Auburn) keeps proving he?s a jack-of-all, master-of-no trades type of backer. He has quick feet and closes on the ball with good speed, but he got caught overrunning the play a couple of times. He made a very athletic catch off his right shoe in drills. Brief random notes: -- Florida T Marcus Gilbert did not practice, which was a disappointment because he played pretty well on Tuesday. -- Florida State C Rodney Hudson is having a very strong week. Incredibly athletic for a center even though he ate a lot to get up to 291. I like him better at center than guard. TCU?s Jake Kirkpatrick is a better center prospect than any on the North squad as well. -- Luke Stocker (Tennessee) is the best overall TE here. DJ Williams (Arkansas) is a better downfield threat, Lance Kendricks (Wisconsin, the North side) gets quicker releases and runs better after the catch, Lee Smith (Marshall, also on the North) is bigger and a better in-line blocker, but Stocker can do it all reasonably well. Reminds me a lot of Heath Miller of the Steelers. He?s the only TE here that belongs as high as the 2nd round, and even he might be a stretch there because he?s not quite as fast or as strong as Miller. -- In prior trips here the Alabama fans have greatly outnumbered the Auburn contingency. This year it?s probably 50/50 and I?m seeing a lot more Auburn paraphernalia around Mobile. Funny what a national championship will do for school pride?

I spent the early part of a chilly, sunny morning practice watching the QBs up close. Jake Locker showed a lot today. He has such great mechanics and it really jumped out in comparison to Ricky Stanzi and Colin Kaepernick. Very natural, fluid motion throughout his setup and release. He looks comfortable taking the snap and scanning the field. And his accuracy today was improved. On a rollout drill Locker was very confident throwing across his body and kept his feet under him when delivering the ball, something the other two QBs didn?t do once. In a red zone drill he consistently fired the ball high to the back line (as designed) with real zip but also catchable balls. One thing that continues to plague him is throwing sideline routes, particularly to his right. He is consistently well off target on almost every route where the receiver is within about 3 yards of the sideline, as if he?s trying to aim it too much instead of just throwing it. Wednesday was a better demonstration of why some are so very high on him, but I want to see him throw with that sort of ease and accuracy more consistently. Bonus points earned for his positive and encouraging attitude. The more I watched Ricky Stanzi, the less I liked him. To quote one QB coach standing within earshot, ?he?s got a slow arm?. What that means: His windup and over-the-top shoulder delivery take too much time to get the ball out. It?s not much of an issue on longer throws and in drills, but in live action reps his delivery gives the defense an extra step to read him. It makes him have to gun the ball harder and he loses accuracy and touch when he does so. He also tended to stare down his target, both in drills and live reps. He does throw the best sideline ball of the 3 and he slides forward in the pocket better than his peers, but from what I?ve seen the last two days he?s nothing more than a marginal #2 NFL QB. Colin Kaepernick is a very different kind of QB. The thing that stands out is his happy feet--he?s always bouncing on his toes but does so with stiff knees, a stark contrast to Locker?s very natural pocket stance. Kaepernick has clearly learned to play this way and I?m sure it?s some function of playing in the offense he did at Nevada. That pistol/read option background reared its ugly head a few times today, when he quickly took off when rushed instead of letting his receivers do some work. But one time he slid to his right to buy time and delivered a strike to Dane Sanzebacher on a deep cross that was exactly where the ball needed to be. Bottom line: he needs a lot of work on NFL-style offense, but the potential is there to become a starting-caliber QB for an offense tailored to his strengths. He?s comparable to Drew Stanton at the same point (who was a 2nd rounder), though his accuracy is better than the Lions backup. The running backs and linebackers did a couple of drills together. One was pass protection/blitz, the other was route running/coverage. Thoughts: Came away very impressed with Kendall Hunter from Oklahoma State. He?s the smallest back out there but he sure doesn?t play like it. Ran very smooth routes with great burst to pull away from the LBs. On a wheel route from the 25 he beat Mark Herzlich to the end zone by a good 3 yards, but Kaepernick underthrew the ball, it bounced off Hunter and right to Herzlich for the INT. Where Hunter really stood out was pass protection. He?s ?one aggressive little SOB? to quote a line coach. Great technique and he explodes into his blocks, able to successfully stone both Herzlich and Greg Jones on blitzes. Jones tried a straight bull rush on him and Hunter successfully turned his shoulders enough to give the QB a lane. Hunter also made a great backside cut on a run early in the 11-on-11 and got past the pursuit before it could react to him (nice blocks by Marshall TE Lee Smith and BC tackle Anthony Castonzo helped). Roy Helu Jr. from Nebraska showed some very natural receiving skills. Makes sharp cuts and goes out and seizes the ball from the air. He made a great fake on a middle release, planting hard and exploding across a flat-footed Casey Matthews. Helu also looked good in pass protection. His running style reminds me of Lesean McCoy. Style, not efficacy. Demarco Murray (Oklahoma) had trouble catching the ball but also had no trouble getting open. He runs low to the ground and showed a nice innate ability to set up his blocks. Owen Marecic (Stanford) is a hybrid RB/FB, which in theory should make him ahead of the game in pass protection. Not so. He was easily the weakest of the lot in pass pro, too upright and indecisive. Both Mason Foster (Washington) and Herzlich easily discarded him in drills, and he was late to provide help against Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue DE) in 11s that would have gotten Locker creamed in real action after Kerrigan ran right past Nate Solder (Colorado). Best LB in coverage for the 2nd day in a row was UConn?s Lawrence Wilson. Very natural and fluid moving in space, though he doesn?t locate the ball well. Casey Matthews had a very rough morning. He was beaten every single rep in coverage and got tied up by blockers on almost every play in 11s. In the pass rush drill he proved he doesn?t have a lot of burst, and he tried a spin move that was almost comically premature--Helu just waited for him to finish his spin and popped him. Good morning for Kerrigan. Aside from that play, he routinely got around the edge on almost every rep in drills, and was flying around the edge in 11s. His first step is very explosive and he takes a more inside track to his outside move that is a nice changeup. The long-armed tackles (notably Solder and Jason Pinkston of Pitt) can?t extend or get any strength in their punch on him and Kerrigan is fast enough to get through before they can adjust. Boilers fans will be happy to note he won every individual rep battle against IU?s James Brewer, who looked stiff today. Gabe Carimi (Wisconsin) stood out amongst the linemen today. He was decent in drills but where he shined was in 11s, esp. playing right tackle next to college teammate John Moffitt. Carimi is very good at making a jolting initial block and then working down the field. He did this on almost every running play and also got 10 yards in front of a screen and walled off a safety that let Hunter scoot down the sideline for a TD (moot point thought because Locker bounced the throw to him at the sideline). On a screen to his side he threw out a powerful hand to steer Cameron Jordan (not as dominant today but still highly impressive) wide, then got out in front and pushed Casey Matthews a good 10 yards off the play to clear a huge lane. Nate Solder drew mixed reviews. I watched him up close with a current OL coach and former offensive tackle and they bantered back and forth about him on every rep. Bottom line: his size/strength are what every coach dreams of, but he needs some technique refinement, specifically in extending his arms with power and reading the tip-offs from the defense. An example: Jeremy Beal (Oklahoma) lined up with his inside hand down and back foot angled inside on a rep, and the guys I was with both immediately picked up on it and declared he was going to try and cross Solder?s shoulders (say that three times fast!) and get inside. But Solder didn?t pick up on it, took his first step with his outside foot and Beal got across him and would have drawn a holding penalty. Everything wrong with Solder is very coachable and he?s proven he can learn and apply lessons, but he?s not as ready to plug into an NFL OL as Castonzo or Carimi are right now. Greg Jones is another guy who is better in 11s than he is in individual drills. I continue to be impressed with how quickly he reads plays and gets to the point of attack under control but with power and quickness. He?s not as top-end fast as you?d like for a guy with his lack of height, but I see a lot of London Fletcher in him. Jeff.Risdon@RealGM.com

The afternoon practice ran about 20 minutes long, which was welcome because the first 15 minutes were the Bills coaches implementing game-specific stuff that didn?t translate well to the scouts and coaches in attendance. It was very dark and the field was damp from a rain that fell between practice sessions. Linebackers: Von Miller is the marquee attraction, and he gave fodder to both his supporters and critics on Tuesday. He?s on another level in terms of speed, athleticism, and closing burst and it shows. Miller is easily the fastest around the edge and in chase mode, and he is more fluid in movement than anyone else. But when you see the group standing together, Miller?s skinny lower body stands out as well. He also had a couple of reps where he didn?t feel the back flaring out fast enough; he recovered quickly but was late to make the play. There?s no way he?s anything but a 3-4 pass rushing OLB in the NFL, but he could be a very effective one. Mississippi State has two LBs here, Chris White and K.J. Wright. Wright is bigger and carries himself as such, but White probably had the more consistent afternoon. In pass coverage drills, Wright struggled to get depth and showed choppy feet and took false steps. White was much cleaner in movement though he lacks Wright?s burst to the ball. In 11-on-11 drills White made a nice play at sniffing out a screen, though he couldn?t catch Noel Devine. Kelvin Sheppard from LSU is a guy that I?ve held mixed opinions on all year, but I like what I saw today. He?s the best field general, a natural leader who is quick to pick up offensive sets and align teammates. He?s also thicker than he was in October, having gained about 10 pounds of well-worn bulk. He moved fluidly in cover drills and showed good football IQ in 11s. He still needs to work on staying out of the fray though; he got caught up in the trash a couple of times and was essentially helpless to get out. He?s got good potential as a Cover-2 MLB but isn?t a 3-4 ILB, and he needs to work on catching and scooping the ball. Nate Irving of NC State did not impress. He appeared heavy-legged and rigid. He was too upright in a blocking drill and was easily steered by tight ends that aren?t noted for being good blockers. I watched the OL/DL drills quite a bit. Observations: Allen Bailey (Miami) moves like an outside linebacker despite being almost 280 pounds. He?s very lean and explosive, with quick feet and no wasted energy. But when asked to do anything but go around the edge, he really struggled. He extends out too far and got pushed to the ground every time when he ventures inside. He also doesn?t appear to know what to do with his hands all the time, doesn?t extend out or fight off offensive linemen?s punch. Phil Taylor (Baylor) reminds me a lot of Shaun Rogers. Very big, very quick off the snap and immediately establishes leverage. He has the brute strength to walk back any lineman here, but he also showed some ability to change direction on the move. He?s 337 pounds but moves like he?s ?only? 300 or so. A couple of coaches standing with me during the drill were quite impressed with Taylor as well. Pernell McPhee (Mississippi State) stands noticeably higher than the others, not necessarily taller but his hips and waist are visibly higher than his peers. He is an odd size at 274 pounds with his height, and he had trouble beating the offensive linemen to the punch. He out-quicked Lee Ziemba when the Auburn O-lineman was out of position at guard, but overall McPhee didn?t show a lot. For his part, Ziemba looked real stiff and very slow with his hand punch, and he had a couple of instances where he didn?t keep his feet moving after contact. Chris Neild (West Virginia) was underwhelming during most of the drills until they did a goal-line drill where he morphed into a fire hydrant that could not be moved. He?s compactly built and has no neck, and his lateral range is subpar. But to his credit he?s tenacious and gets his hands inside well and could make a solid 0 or 1 technique as part of a rotation at the next level. Jarvis Jenkins (Clemson) is very physically impressive and showed quick, powerful hands and arm extension. He doesn?t have great leverage once engaged and had some issues finding the ball, but I saw some ability to crash the A gap and pursue under good control with solid speed for a man his size (6?4?, 309 pounds). He needs to learn to drop his butt more, according to a DL coach within earshot. Cedric Thornton (Southern Arkansas) strikes me as trying too hard to make an impression. He?s got good quickness and has some variety to his moves, but he wastes a lot of energy taking false steps. Thornton has cultivated a ?me against the world? mentality and appears to be deliberately trying to distance himself from his teammates. I like the chip on the shoulder, but he needs to learn how to more positively channel it. He looks like a later-round pick that could blossom down the line. Brooks Reid (Arizona) had a rough afternoon. He is very methodical and appears to lack the ability to adjust on the fly. Example: he lined up in 5 technique on Alabama tackle James Carpenter, who telegraphed that he was surrendering the inside rush. Rather than attack that, Reid had already made up his mind he was going wide with an inside shoulder push. Carpenter easily tossed him away. On a very similar rep, Sam Acho (Texas) saw the opening and quickly shot inside, catching Carpenter lunging. The ?quickly? with Acho is relative, as he?s just not a real dynamic athlete and badly lacks lower body base. Sorry Texas fans, but I really don?t see it. From the OL perspective, the South is well behind the North team. Arkansas? Demarcus Love struggled at guard, couldn?t handle the inside power of Jenkins or Taylor and had issues keeping his balance. He did better at RT but was outshined by Georgia?s Clint Boling, who is a guard by trade. Boling acquitted himself nicely outside, but he needs work on opening up his shoulders when he?s not covered by a tight end and an outside rusher is present. Love did look real good at run blocking; he and Ziemba had a couple of reps where they blew the DL backwards. Florida tackle Marcus Gilchrist also needs to learn to open his shoulder and stay balanced over his feet. His initial punch is almost painfully slow; the defenders routinely got into his pads before he could extend. He actually impressed with his ability to adjust during the play and with his tenacity, but he?s more of a project than I expected to see. He reminds me of Jonathan Scott of the Steelers when he entered the league with the Lions. Derek Sherrod (Mississippi State) came to Mobile as one of those ?high-ceiling? guys that intrigue, but he?s got a long way to go before he scrapes that ceiling. He looks the part more than any linemen on the South roster, but he?s very methodical and inconsistent. On some reps he fired out with a strong punch and showed good knee bend and balance, but on others his hands went too high and his first move in pass protection was upward and not reacting to the defender. On one run blocking rep he flattened Acho, but the very next rep he basically whiffed at Bailey, who made a nice matador move and crashed hard inside. It backs up game tape, where at times he looked real good but also had some plays where you wonder if he?s seen pads before. Baylor?s Danny Watkins was also hit and miss. He tends to keep his hands too high and his punch isn?t real strong, but he showed good footwork and leg drive. I worry he?s a G/T tweener. USC C/G Kris O?Dowd is very lacking in base strength. He got pushed backwards on almost every rep and was unable to get much surge in run blocking. He just doesn?t have the strength to turn shoulders or seal a seam. Blake Kirkpatrick from TCU was better, but not as much better as I expected. Didn?t spend much time on the DB/WR matchups except at the tail end of practice. Some quick thoughts: -- Hawaii?s Greg Salas doesn?t show a lot of wiggle but he has strong hands and decent speed. He ran a sluggo route that left Curtis Brown (Texas corner not having a good week) flailing, then tracked a good throw from Greg McElroy for a touchdown. On that play, Florida safety Ahmad Black was a half-step late but might have been able to make a play in real game conditions. -- Jeremy Kerley (TCU) has strong hands and reliably made tough catches. He also showed some elusiveness once the ball was in his hands. -- Ronald Johnson from USC is probably the most well-rounded wideout on the South. He high-pointed one ball, reached behind him to make a difficult catch on another. His routes are polished and crisp, and he sells his fakes well. -- South Alabama?s Courtney Smith is a physical beast. Alas, he battled the ball all afternoon and is not a natural hand-catcher. He looked decent in route running, but I?d like to see him lose a little bulk and get a little quicker in changing direction. -- Arkansas TE DJ Williams ran the exact same route that Greg Olsen did in the Bears/Seahawks game for the early TD and got open in just the same way, blowing past a flat-footed safety (Deandre McDaniel from Clemson, who otherwise had a good day) and getting wide open deep. But Christian Ponder never saw it. More on the QBs and DBs tomorrow. Jeff.Risdon@RealGM.com

Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea will not participate in the remainder of Senior Bowl week because of a possible tear to the lateral meniscus in his knee, according to sources. Paea was undergoing an MRI on Tuesday after hurting the knee during Monday's opening practice. At 6-feet-1, 295 pounds, he was the Pac-10 defensive player of the year. In his most recent mock draft, RealGM's Jeff Risdon listed Paea as a first-round pick.

Starting fresh on Tuesday, here are the notes from the North's practice. Star of the morning: Cameron Jordan. He not only won every individual battle I watched, he dominated them. Great leverage, quick feet, gets his shoulders thru the gap and explodes out. There was a drill where he lined up right over the tackle the way a 3-4 end would, and he showed the ability to go inside or outside. He knows he?s unstoppable here, similar to the way BJ Raji was a couple years ago when he almost seemed bored at the inferior competition. Spent some time watching the DBs in drills. Thoughts: Best corner was Rashad Carmichael of Virginia Tech. Not very big but he extends his arms on the jam well, stronger than he looks. Low, controlled backpedal and he flips out of it at good speed and balanced. Was able to turn and run with any receiver. Showed natural hands. Thrived on inside technique, he?s clearly played it before and has been well-coached. Reminds me of Kyle Wilson last year but a little more fluid athletically, not as physical in run support though at VT. He?s not bad at that, just not great. Eric Hagg (Nebraska) struggled. Very upright when he runs, reaches out early with his hands, got his hips too far open when trying to turn and run. The coaches were working on an inside technique drill and his man (Titus Young and Dwayne Harris) easily got inside him. Joe Lefeged (Rutgers) is a guy I really want to like but he didn?t have a good morning. Slow to see the routes and he?s not a dynamic athlete when he reacts. Steps way in the bucket when changing direction. Got flattened by Lance Kendricks when trying to chase down an outside run in 11-on-11 drill. Just not quick enough either athletically or in making decisions, not today anyways. I?ve seen him play much better in some games. DaNorris Searcy (UNC) impressed me, relatively speaking. Thickly built, showed good strength and field awareness. Not real fast to turn and run but closed on the ball well. Displayed very good hands, made a couple of athletic catches. Read the receiver well to find the ball and pick up the route. My expectations weren?t high and he greatly exceeded them. Quinton Carter (Oklahoma) has the worst hands of any DB I?ve ever seen in any postseason games or the Combine. He can?t catch a thing. He did show nice range and closing speed on the ball, he just can?t catch it. He?s not as big in person than he appeared on game tape, though he shows good tackling form and some pop with his hits. Jalil Brown is ?the other Colorado corner? after Jimmy Smith. Another guy too upright in his backpedal, but he breaks with power and hits top speed quickly. Uses his size nicely in the inside technique drill but got caught leaning by Niles Paul, who ripped inside his overextended shoulder and blew past. Quick thoughts on the wideouts: Titus Young (Boise State) is the best of the lot. Very vocal, grunts all the time like a women?s tennis player. Real slippery with great feet. He owned the sidelines, gets outside real quick and quickly corrals the ball. Showed strong hands, snatched the ball from the air. Made a great toe-tap catch on a strong throw from Ricky Stanzi under tight coverage from Jalil Brown. The other Boise State wideout, Austin Pettis, is almost scary raw. Bengals WR coach Mike Sheppard had to coach him up on rudimentary things after almost every play. Wild with his feet, taking extra steps to make a cut, no route discipline or consistency. Had one play where he made a nice catch over his head but Temple safety Jaiquawn Jarrett quickly dislodged the ball because Pettis never tucked the ball away, left it out dangling. Much more of a project than I expected, but he does have intriguing size and can flat-out fly. To his credit, he processed the coaching quickly and made adjustments. SDSU?s Vincent Brown has great hands and really goes out and attacks the ball. He takes an extra hop step off the line that needs to go, though. Dwayne Harris (East Carolina) is very explosive in space, but he doesn?t cut with sharpness and was easily steered when pressed. Carmichael pushed him 3 yards out of bounds before they were two yards from the line on one rep. Made a couple of tough low catches on inaccurate throws from Jake Locker, of which there are seemingly no other kind. Dane Sanzebacher looked like he was in over his head. Just not a dynamic enough athlete and he?s not physical. Failed to locate the ball on a play in 11s that got picked. Linebackers: I watched a couple of drills up close. Overall impression: this is not an impressive lot. Mark Herzlich (BC) had a poor morning. In a screen drill where they had to break outside and tackle a fellow LB playing the role of runner, he overran the outside twice. Consistently arm tackled and left his feet to make the tackle. Casey Matthews (Oregon) is real upright even though he?s not real big. Doesn?t have the burst to quickly close on the ball. Also got sucked in on play action every single time in 11s. Couldn?t stop Ross Homan (Ohio State LB) from getting around the corner in the screen drill. Homan did little to stand out either. Greg Jones (Michigan State) is the biggest hitter. Good tackling technique, keeps balanced and drives thru the man. He?s added about 10 pounds since I last saw him in September and wears it well. Flows to the ball well and made a huge hit in 11s that drew oohs. Best candidate here to be a 3-4 ILB even though he?s short?and he?s real short at under 6?. Mason Foster (Washington) has the quickest closing burst and does so under control. Also looked the most comfortable in space, though he let his feet early on a couple of tackles that a better runner than an opposing LB would eat alive. Lawrence Wilson (UConn) is probably better in coverage and has the makings of a good nickel-package LB. He?s real light though and got pushed around in 11s. Watched the pass rush drill next. Aside from the top stuff on Jordan, here?s what I saw: Christian Ballard (Iowa) showed great quickness and the ability to get into the blockers before they can extend their arms. Dominated Kevin Kowalski (Toledo center who did not look like he belonged), and made a nice inside-out move on Stephen Schilling (Michigan), though he ran right past the QB on the play. Just in general, all the offensive linemen really struggled with the defenders going inside them. The B gap was exploited all drill against the tackles. Jordan and Jeremy Beal (Oklahoma) both had a couple of reps where they did a quick fake outside and got through the gap almost untouched. Beal embarrassed Nate Solder (Colorado) in that regard and looked quicker than I expected. The only DL that couldn?t win battles consistently was Pierre Allen (Nebraksa) who was easily stonewalled because he gets too upright and doesn?t have leg drive. Both James Brewer (Indiana) and Solder pushed him well beyond the QB and controlled him. Slippery Rock center Brandon Fusco had a lot of trouble with inside power, and after a couple of reps where he got beat he bounced a shotgun snap. Not a good showing for a guy who is largely a blank slate to the coaches in attendance. I know everyone wants to know about the QBs, but honestly I didn?t pay a whole lot of attention to them this morning. I saw Stanzi make a few nice throws with zip to the sideline. Locker threw the ball well over the middle but when the route is outside I don?t think even he knows where the ball is going to wind up. He overthrew one where Young was wide open on the sideline, so far overthrown that a Seahawks coach standing on the fencerow caught it. Kaepernick had one play where he didn?t read the coverage and threw the wrong route when the receiver clearly had the inside post wide open; Kaepernick threw the corner even though that?s where the safety help was, and it was obvious. His wind-up/release is longer than his peers here. Jeff.Risdon@RealGM.com