2023 Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl Coverage

[Gulf of Brazil]

Lions mock draft roundup 9.0: Favorites emerge, new names introduced

Taking a closer look at the prospects from the 2023 NFL Draft that have been projected to the Detroit Lions over the past week.

www.prideofdetroit.com

No Frickin' Way at No. 22. Receiving an extra 3rd round pick for dropping 4 spots is highly enticing but NO. 18 overall seems like a great slot to draft a CB if there hasn't been a run on them already and I completely disagree with Schlitt stating Sanders is a secure tackler.

Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas​

No. 22: Arif Hasan (Pro Football Network) - Lions trade pick No. 18, receive picks No. 22, 86

“The Lions might reach a little bit here in order to replace Alex Anzalone, a locker-room leader that has often been injured and will hit free agency. No one seems to move smoother at the position than Drew Sanders, who could be what many projected Anzalone to be coming out of the draft were it not for injury.” — Hasan

Erik’s Thoughts:

Sanders is going to jump Clemson’s Trenton Simpson as LB1 on some teams' boards, especially those looking for a traditional linebacker. And while I like the fit in Detroit, I will agree with Arif’s above assessment that No. 18 feels like a “reach” to select him.

Sanders, 6-foot-5, 232 pounds, was an EDGE rusher at Alabama before transferring to Arkansas and switching to a stack linebacker role. He is still learning the position, but Sanders is further ahead of where Derrick Barnes (who made a similar transition) was during his draft process.

There’s a lot to like about Sanders. He is a smooth athlete, heavy hitter, secure tackler, still has pass rushing instincts, and is very much a modern-day linebacker. The Lions don’t tend to over-invest in their linebackers, but if they see how some of the modern-day linebackers get paid during this free agency period, they may be open to changing their tune.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Full 2023 Senior Bowl Practice Recap

Trevor Sikkema provides recaps for each day of practice at the 2023 Senior Bowl.

www.pff.com

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Detroit Lions could look to boost interior OL depth with Senior Bowl prospect

During Florida guard O'Cyrus Torrence's freshman and sophomore seasons at Florida, his offensive line coach Rob Sale used to make him watch tape of the elite college players in the game at the time.

One of the players Torrence watched a lot of tape on was then Oregon offensive tackle and current Detroit Lions Pro Bowl tackle Penei Sewell.

Even though Torrence was at guard and Sewell was a tackle, Sale thought the two had similar body types and athletic traits, and Torrence could benefit from studying his game.

"I liked how big he was, but he was nimble on his feet," Torrence said Wednesday at the Senior Bowl of watching Sewell. "Quick feet and also good hands. He never gave up on a hand battle. He always placed his hands pretty well and just the violent physicality he brought. I'm a violent and physical player by nature and watching him play and be violent and controlled at the same time helped me think about how I can be the same way."

Sale and Torrence would watch Oregon film and talk through the Florida offensive terminology trying to pair how Torrence could take parts of Sewell's game and incorporate it into his own game and Florida's scheme.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

10 players who impressed at 2023 Senior Bowl practices

1. OT Dawand Jones, Ohio State
2. DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
3. WR Jayden Reed, Michigan State
4. DL Karl Brooks, Bowling Green
Brooks has quick feet with a terrific burst for a man who weighs over 300 pounds. He played on the edge at Bowling Green last year and was dominant playing mostly on the interior this week. Quick feet and power are a good combination to provide some pass rush at the next level from the interior.
5. RB Tyjae Spears, Tulane
6. EDGE Keion White, Georgia Tech
White is a really athletic big man and was a one-man wrecking crew throughout the week. He's got a great first step and really nice closing speed. He was a thorn in offensive tackles' sides and disrupted quarterbacks.
7. LB Daiyan Henley, Washington State
His highlights came in coverage drills. He's got loose hips and great speed, and stuck with would-be pass catchers all week. In a pass-happy league like the NFL, Henley could find an early role as a third-down specialist.
8. TE Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
9. G O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
10. CB Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

I've watched some reduced game film on both Brooks and White and I've been quite impressed.

Brooks, at 6'3 300 lbs., would line up in a two-point stance as a rusher. He was quick off the snap, has some explosive ability, not too much bend, not one who can turn on a dime and chase the backside so much, but he does show pretty good hand placement and a decent repertoire of rush moves. I found myself being a little stunned watching such a big guy at the 6-7 tech spots being able to have his way with O-Lineman - granted it was mostly MAC games.

White was pretty much the same and versus what I'd expect a decent Clemson O-Line. I could see both as a 3-tech, but White would have to put some weight on. White could play as that Big closed end if Cominsky doesn't come back with the ability to slide inside occasionally.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

10 Senior Bowl prospects who helped themselves as potential Lions this week

These Senior Bowl prospects rose up during practices and interviews in the eyes of the Detroit Lions.

lionswire.usatoday.com

Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State​

McClendon Curtis, OL, UT-Chattanooga​

He looked capable of playing in the NFL right away at both right tackle and right guard, though he’s also seen time at left tackle for the Moccasins.

Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern​

Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State​

Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska​

Palmer showed the best hand of the group. Palmer isn’t big (6-foot, 194 pounds) but he’s got long arms, big hands and an understanding of how to make himself a bigger target than his size.

Cameron Young, DT, Mississippi State​

Nick Broeker, OL, Ole Miss​

Sydney Brown, S, Illinois​

Brayden Willis, TE, Oklahoma​

Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia​

McIntosh more than held his own and showed he’s got real juice that should translate well to the next level, too.

McIntosh thrived in the passing game all week. And not just as a receiver; he was the best back in pass protection drills in Mobile, something the Lions value very much:


This is an awesome display of pass-pro by McIntosh. He gets his base too wide.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

I've liked Wright for quite some time now, but I had him as a day 3 pick and that isn't happening. Start him out at RG.

Senior Bowl notebook: Day 2 standouts and notes

Here are some standouts and observations from the second day of Senior Bowl practices, with a focus on the lines

lionswire.usatoday.com

The Darnell Wright show.​

At 6-foot-5 and 342 pounds, Wright is a behemoth of a man. But he’s also, like Sewell, light on his feet and capable of making reach blocks and pulls. Generally projected as a second-round pick coming here, after what we’ve seen in Mobile, you’re going to see a ton of Wright’s inclusion into the late first round of post-Senior Bowl mock drafts. And he’s earned it so far.

Small schoolers rise up​

McClendon Curtis from Chattanooga

Cody Mauch of North Dakota State - BB_72: I'm not a fan of Mauch, at all.

Sacramento State linebacker Marte Mapu
Mapu is just under 6-foot-3 and weighed in at 217 pounds; he looks more like a Legion of Boom safety than a linebacker, but he showed very impressive power and pad level for an angular guy. He showed legit coverage instincts and the ability to jump routes.

Michigan men​

Olusegon Oluwatimi and Ryan Hayes.

OL winners​

–Minnesota C John-Michael Schmitz.
–Florida OG O’Cyrus Torrence.
–Nick Broeker from Ole Miss.
–Syracuse OT Matthew Bergeron.
–Jarrett Patterson from Notre Dame.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

The Draft Network

TDN

thedraftnetwork.com

The Draft Network

TDN

thedraftnetwork.com

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Senior Bowl 2023: 10 players who made big impressions this week

More than 100 NFL draft prospects descended on Mobile for practices, game

www.mlive.com

This player looks like a possible player who could play that Big closed end and some 3-tech.

1. Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern

Despite his tongue-twister of a name (for the record, it’s add-E-TOMMY-wah add-E-BAR-e), Adebawore’s name has been on everyone’s lips this week after his dominant showing in practice. Though he didn’t much if any action in the game, “Double-A” was a 6-foot-2, 284-pound wrecking ball in one-on-one drills against much bigger offensive linemen.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

2023 Senior Bowl: 10 offensive players who fit Detroit Lions’ draft needs

The Lions are fresh off one of their best offensive seasons in recent memory, with most of their cornerstone pieces locked up moving forward. But there are needs at guard, running back and tight end, while another depth receiver wouldn’t hurt.

www.mlive.com

2023 Senior Bowl stock report: How potential Lions fits fared at practices

There is still a lot of time to go until the NFL draft, but one of the first significant steps on the road is in the books, with the 2023 Senior Bowl practices concluded.

www.mlive.com

CB Kyu Blu Kelly and DT Jerod Clark, both impressed me as possible players to target.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

DT Clark is a behemoth of a young man that plays inside at 0-2 tech. He could become a good addition to that interior D-line.

Jerrod Clark

Coastal Carolina

6034​

343​

33 7/8​

9 3/4​

82​

 

[Old Lion]

I've liked Wright for quite some time now, but I had him as a day 3 pick and that isn't happening. Start him out at RG.

Senior Bowl notebook: Day 2 standouts and notes

Here are some standouts and observations from the second day of Senior Bowl practices, with a focus on the lines

lionswire.usatoday.com

The Darnell Wright show.​

At 6-foot-5 and 342 pounds, Wright is a behemoth of a man. But he’s also, like Sewell, light on his feet and capable of making reach blocks and pulls. Generally projected as a second-round pick coming here, after what we’ve seen in Mobile, you’re going to see a ton of Wright’s inclusion into the late first round of post-Senior Bowl mock drafts. And he’s earned it so far.

Small schoolers rise up​

McClendon Curtis from Chattanooga

Cody Mauch of North Dakota State - BB_72: I'm not a fan of Mauch, at all.

Sacramento State linebacker Marte Mapu
Mapu is just under 6-foot-3 and weighed in at 217 pounds; he looks more like a Legion of Boom safety than a linebacker, but he showed very impressive power and pad level for an angular guy. He showed legit coverage instincts and the ability to jump routes.

Michigan men​

Olusegon Oluwatimi and Ryan Hayes.

OL winners​

–Minnesota C John-Michael Schmitz.
–Florida OG O’Cyrus Torrence.
–Nick Broeker from Ole Miss.
–Syracuse OT Matthew Bergeron.
–Jarrett Patterson from Notre Dame.

I really like Wright too. What a nice replacement at RG. Think of all those run plays where he can pull and just blow open holes. Not to mention he could spell Peneii if needed. I just dont see Brown staying either.