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SOUTH PRACTICE NOTES
January 27th – 4:36 PM

Mobile, AL – Day three has come and gone at the Senior Bowl, which also wraps up our on-site coverage of the collegiate showcase. After watching three North practices and two South practices, it’s very clear that there will be some excellent one-on-one matchups this Saturday.

First off, the offense looks like it could very well carry the South team this weekend. That could lead to a very intriguing clash with the way the North defense has looked over the course of the week.

It’s also apparent that the South is going to get creative on Saturday. While we’ve seen primarily traditional offensive sets out of the North squad, the South has showed sets with multiple tailbacks and Wildcat snaps to play-makers without a “QB” preceding their names. They’ve also tried double passes and reverse plays.

With that said, the North practices seem to be far more intense. It will be interesting to see how the two different practice philosophies compare on Saturday.

Over the course of this week we’ve highlighted a number of Senior Bowl prospects that Chiefs fans might find interesting this weekend and beyond. Here are the South players that caught my eye at practice today. Add these guys to your Saturday watch list.

• Ole Miss ATH Dexter McCluster continues to be the most explosive player on the field at each practice. He’s been getting past the second-level all week and today he drew some “ohs and ahs” from the CFL scouts during inside run with his quick cuts and forward acceleration (sorry guys, but I don’t think he’ll be available). You won’t miss this guy on Saturday, even if you try. Some scouting services say that McCluster’s solid week in Mobile has him creeping up towards the end of the first round.

• A converted quarterback, UAB’s Joe Webb can fool the casual observer. He looks every bit the part of a wide receiver despite becoming the first player in NCAA history to post back-to-back seasons of 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing. Looks like he was under-utilized for the Blazers (kidding). Webb pairs with Miami (FL) TE Jimmy Graham (the basketball convert) as two of the most intriguing “projects” in the 2010 draft. Webb is projected by scouting services is late-round pick or college free agent.

• The most watched man at the Senior Bowl, QB Tim Tebow, has continually had problems finding downfield receivers this week, but he struck early during the team period on a 40-yard streak to Tulane WR Jeremy Williams. Williams turned in a beautiful one-handed grab to energize Tebow for the remainder of the workout. Scouting services say that Williams is a mid-round pick who’s stock is rising. Let’s not even get to Tebow’s projection.

(side note: I’m not sure what the most glaring need is for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but drafting Tebow would bring that fan base instant energy. It’s absolutely incredible the amount of fanfare that Tebow gets in Mobile. I can’t even begin to imagine what that would be like in Gainesville’s backyard.)

• There wasn’t any brotherly love in the South practice when Oklahoma State CB Perrish Cox picked of fellow Cowboy Zac Robinson during red zone work. Cox seems to be playing with a chip this week after missing his final collegiate game for disciplinary reasons (multiple curfew misses during Cotton Bowl week). How far will he fall (if at all)? He was being talked about as a late first-round pick prior to the Cotton Bowl game.

• Are you one of the many Chiefs fans talking Tennessee’s Eric Berry at number five? If so, are you also one of the Chiefs fans that doesn’t think Berry will be available with the fifth pick? If that’s you, there are plenty of other safeties to watch this Saturday.

We’ve already taken a look at Taylor Mays from USC and Nebraska’s Larry Asante (look for his exclusive interview to premier on the LIVE call-in show tomorrow…12-1 PM on kcchiefs.com

NORTH PRACTICE NOTES
January 27th – 11:39 AM
 
Mobile, AL – There hasn’t been a single cloud hanging over Mobile for Senior Bowl practices this week and the great weather has given scouts and coaches an untainted look at tomorrow’s NFL talent.

If the players were starting to tire in the third practice in as many days, it certainly didn’t show. Then again, when you have NFL head coaches and coordinators watching your play not 10 feet away, it’s likely pretty easy to leave the aches and pains for after practice.

Before we get into today’s practice coverage, I’ve got to say that North practices continue to feel like a Chiefs training camp version of Twilight Zone. Every time that Gunther Cunningham yells “SHOW UP!” I think River Falls.

As we’ve done throughout the week, here are some player performances that stood out in this morning’s practice. These are players Chiefs fans may be interested in watching when sitting down to take in Saturday’s Senior Bowl.

For the North squad, the offense finally had a day of progress, catching up a bit with the defense. Oregon TE Ed Dickson (who is the school’s all-time leader in receiving among tight ends), had a nice morning matching up with the linebackers and safeties in “Dallas” drills (at least that’s what we called them in college). He made several nice catches, showing scouts why the big man was such a reliable target while at Oregon (scouting services have him projected anywhere from a second to fourth round pick). He added his second diving catch of the day during team period.
 
At 6-4, 244 pounds, Dickson is a bit leaner than the Chiefs current crop of receivers. He almost looks like a h-back/tight end combo type. See for yourself this Saturday on where you think he could fit with the Chiefs.

Anyone in attendance that plays a 3-4 defense had to be impressed with North Carolina DT Cam Thomas (6-4, 341) during one-on-one drills. Thomas lined up in a zero technique over center and got plenty of push (and love from the intense d-line coaches on the Lions staff) against multiple opposing centers. Thomas’ draft value is all over the board depending on which “expert” you prefer to listen to. However, most services seem to agree that his stock is rising this week in Mobile.
 
Interested in return men? Cincinnati WR Mardy Gilyard and Clemson WR Jacoby Ford took care of return duties today in practice. A smaller player, Ford got loose on a mid-level crossing route and went the distance today and he parlayed that with another deep crossing reception in team drills. Gilyard is also one of the more intriguing talents on the North squad. With the Chiefs playing musical chairs with returners in 2009, could one of these players fit in both the offense and the return game? Services seem to think that both of these players could be mid-round picks on the verge of breaking into the upper rounds.
 
Oregon RB Legarrette Blount just keeps showing. I’d like to think that it’s the authority he runs with, but it could just be those bright yellow Oregon Ducks Nike kicks that draw the eye every time he touches the ball. Regardless, he’s a player for Chiefs fans to watch on Sunday.
 
Blount has seemed to carry the North runners this week, but today Fresno State’s Lonyae Miller looked impressive turning the corner and going off-tackle. Though not nearly as big as Blount, Miller is still a heavier load than Jamaal Charles at 220 pounds. Just who plays supplement to Charles in 2010 remains a major question mark in Kansas City. The Chiefs could go a number of ways via in-house, collegiate or free agent faces. Will one of these runners impress enough this week? Services project Miller as anywhere from a mid-to-late pick or college free agent.
 
Nebraska CB Larry Asante wasn’t only a vital part of the Huskers’ revived Blackshirt defense in 2009, but he’s also an extremely important cog to the North’s defensive unit this Saturday (along with fellow Big 12 North LB Sean Weatherspoon). With the Chiefs safety situation anything but set heading into 2010, Asante could be a potential candidate for the Chiefs to take a look at in the secondary. He was also coached by Bo Pelini at Nebraska, the same man who groomed Tyson Jackson, Glenn Dorsey and Demorrio Williams. Will KC add another Pelini alum?
 
By the way, Asante absolutely teed-off on Wisconsin TE Garrett Graham during a deep slant route. Graham outweighs Asante by 25 pounds, but that didn’t keep away the “BOOM.”

(We talked with Asante following today’s practice. Look for video of an exclusive interview later this week on kcchiefs.com)

California CB Syd’Quan Thompson got the defense fired up when he made a clean break and laid a nice hit on a slanting North receiver to force an incompletion. Thompson came into the Senior Bowl known as one of the top cover corners in the country (specifically in zone overages), but if today is any indication, he’s not afraid of brining the wood either. Most scouting services differ on whether or not he’ll be a first or second-round pick in 2010.
 
Each day the North offensive linemen sprint from the north endzone to the south 20 yard-line to begin the first period of team work. Today, Virginia Tech OL Ed Wang (6-5, 315) won the footrace. A preview of his pulling ability? Wang is projected anywhere from a mid-round pick to college free agent by various scouting services.
 
That’s our final practice for the North in Mobile. Halfway through the week, it appears that the North defense will carry the team during Saturday’s game. We’ll have plenty of North team coverage you’ve yet to see on kcchiefs.com this week in our hour-long call-in show tomorrow from 12:00-1:00 PM at Arrowhead.

Up next on kcchiefs.com, an exclusive video interview with Mississippi State RB Anthony Dixon, The Red Zone with Soren Petro (LIVE) and South practice notes later this afternoon. Don’t worry, it doesn’t stop there; that just takes us into the evening.

MORE THAN THE GAME
January 27th – 6:27 AM

Believe it or not, the Senior Bowl isn’t all about evaluating future pros (although some might wish it was). 

Walk through the shoulder-to-shoulder lines of people at the conclusion of a Senior Bowl practice and you’ll quickly realize that most of these men aren’t fans. Most are current team employees, former team employees or prospective team employees.
Although the National Football League dominates the masses, representatives from the NCAA, Canadian Football League, United Football League and various other league formations join the NFLers in the grandstands at Ladd-Peebles Stadium and on the playing surface following the practice sessions. Then there is also the long list of agents, former players and media members in Mobile as well. Really, the fans represent the minority at Senior Bowl practices.

The Chiefs, for example, are represented in Alabama this week by every coach on staff as well as the entire scouting department.

From air horn-to-air horn, it’s all notepads, flips sheets and business, but before and after working hours its network city in Mobile. The process can be beneficial for both the teams in attendance and the individuals involved, but there is also balance to be had; one which isn’t always minded.

For the Chiefs specifically, Mobile offers a central location to attack the task of rounding out the club’s coaching staff for 2010. “Phase I” of the Chiefs 2010 offseason, as we like to call it, has already begun in full force with the addition of new coordinators Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel. At the Senior Bowl, “Phase I” is starting to mix with “Phase II,” as the Chiefs seem ready to add a few more talented coaches as they scout possible rookie roster additions in the process.

“This is an important process for us as well as some other coaches that we’re talking to for potential positions within our staff,” general manager Scott Pioli said.
At the same time, teams would love to have their coaching staff 100% set by the time Senior Bowl rolls around, but that’s not always common place in today’s NFL.
“You don’t like to have to be down here in that position,” Haley said. “You’d like for everything to stay the same and continue on, but we’ve made some changes so this is an opportunity.“

Officially, the Chiefs have parted ways with two assistants this offseason, choosing not to renew the contracts of defensive line coach Tim Krumrie and assistant offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris. It’s unclear what staff additions may be in the future, but the probability of a couple new faces officing at Arrowhead seem favorable.

“Kind of a well known aspect of the Senior Bowl is that everybody comes down here that’s interested in working in the NFL and that are already in the NFL,” Haley explained. “It is a good opportunity to maybe spend some time in a single location. I’d say that is one aspect and, as a head coach, that’s one of those things that has made the week a little busier.“
At the end of a practice, one can just sit at the top of the grandstands and watch. It’s quite a sight to see.

The hustle and bustle below can pay dividends if there is a mutual relationship, but it’s also easy to see how the job fair-like atmosphere can be a distraction for team’s looking to focus on bettering their rosters.

“I enjoy it a lot more being able to watch practice,” Pioli said. “The difficult part about an event like this is that there are a lot of people down here looking for things that don’t have to do with what we’re trying to get done on the field and there are a lot of distractions down here.

“What I really enjoy doing is evaluating tape and evaluating players, and getting my own mind on what I feel about the players,” Pioli continued.

It’s easy to tell one from the other at the Senior Bowl. Rest assured, folks wearing the Arrowhead logo are all business in Mobile. It will be interesting to see what the future holds (in both phases of the Chiefs offseason) from these Mobile meetings.

What’s on deck for Senior Bowl coverage on kcchiefs.com today? Here’s what to expect out of Mobile today.

One-On-One Exclusive Interview with Todd Haley (video)
North Practice Notes (blog)
One-On-One Exclusive Interview with Mississippi State RB Anthony Dixon (video)
South Practice Notes (blog)
One-On-One Exclusive Interview with Notre Dame T Sam Young (video)