Charlie Campbell:
http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2014practice6.php
Excerpts below:
Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr completed his solid week of practice with another quality outing. Carr threw some nice, accurate passes downfield while displaying some footwork. He made a few good passes on the run, including in the team scrimmage. Carr didn't have to scramble around a whole lot in college, so it was good for him to show scouts that he has the potential to throw on the move.
Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo did well overall, despite missing a huge opportunity on the first snap of the team scrimmage. On a flea flicker, Garoppolo had Alabama wide receiver Kevin Norwood running wide open down the field for a touchdown. It was the most wide-open bomb Garoppolo may ever have, but instead he threw incomplete to the sideline in the intermediate part of the field for Jordan Matthews. The entire team groaned and shouted at Garoppolo while the Jaguars play-caller hit him over the head with the play sheet. Other than that missed opportunity, Garoppolo was solid on Wednesday.
Tennessee defensive tackle Daniel McCullers dispensed Arkansas center Travis Swanson with an impressive bull rush. McCullers can be tough to block, but he has to rembemer to keep his knee bend and pad level in check. Otherwise, McCullers stands up too high, which allows offensive linemen underneath his pads. McCullers looks like a natural as a 3-4 nose tackle to line up over centers.
Auburn edge rusher Dee Ford was impressive again on Wednesday. He burned Matt Pacthan in the team scrimmage for a potential sack of David Fales. Ford had some nice reps in the one-on-ones as well. Ford could be a nice pass-rushing weapon in the NFL.
BYU outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy flashed on Wednesday. He surprised North Dakota State's Billy Turner in the one-on-ones with a bull rush that pushed Turner straight back to the quarterback marker. In the rematch, Turner was able to beat Van Noy when he rode him too deeply around the pocket. Van Noy destroyed Vanderbilt left tackle Wesley Johnson with a bull rush on the final play of the practice to pick up a sack on Fales.
Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald completed his phenomenal week of practice with another dominant session. Donald couldn't be stopped in the pass rushing one-on-ones. He got started by burning Baylor guard Cyril Richardson with a speed rush. He used some power and then speed to get by Utah State's Tyler Larsen. Donald showed great hand usage to shed a block from Tennessee State's Kadeem Edwards with speed to burst away. Edwards and Clemson's Brandon Thomas were able to get some draws against Donald by stuffing bull rushes. Donald got penetration, but not enough to get to the quarterback marker. During the team scrimmage, Donald blew by Edwards to get a tackle for a loss on a run play. Donald has been one of the best players in Mobile and has made himself a lot of money this week. His pass-rushing skills as a three technique are very rare and he could be a potential double-digit sacker in the NFL.
Minnesota's Ra'Shede Hageman had another nice practice, and he had a good win against Colorado State center Weston Richburg with a speed rush.
Notre Dame left tackle Zack Martin had a win against Penn State's DaQuan Jones when he anchored on a bull rush. Martin also had an impressive win when he pushed North Carolina defensive end Kareem Martin outside of the pocket and into the turf. Zack Martin has had a strong week of practice to answer some doubts.
Oregon's Josh Huff had a nice touchdown reception, but he used a push-off on North Carolina State's Dontae Johnson to get open. Huff and Wisconsin's Jared Abbrederis have played well this week.
Abbrederis showed his superb route-running by getting open in the front of the end zone on curl route for a reception. He beat Northern Illinois' Jimmie Ward on the play. Ward, of course, is the boyfriend of Jim, VMB elder, who was crushed when learning about this play and couldn't be reached for comment as he wept into a tub of ice cream
Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd had his best practice of the week. Boyd got started by throwing a fastball through a tight window to Jared Abbrederis in zone coverage. He then threw a beautiful deep ball that dropped in over Lindenwood cornerback Pierre Desir to Northwestern wide receiver Kain Colter in the team scrimmage. Desir had tight coverage but was beaten by a nice catch and a great throw. Boyd had a good play from the 20-yard line where he saw nothing open, scrambled forward and threw a short pass on the run to Stanford fullback Ryan Hewitt. Hewitt had an open field and coasted into the end zone. Boyd needed a good practice and came through with one.
Miami quarterback Stephen Morris hasn't had a big week either. In the team scrimmage he hit a slant to Wyoming's Robert Herron who cut back to dodge Wyoming's Marqeston Huff and dart down the field for a nice gain. Morris and Herron hooked up again when he beat Huff on an out route.