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College Football Defensive Tackles Shine at the NFL Combine

WebMaster/Admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:51:04 +0000

College Football Defensive Tackles Shine at the NFL Combine

There has been very little evidence to support any separation between two of the top defensive tackle prospects in this year’s NFL draft, Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy.

But a show of endurance and strength, or lack thereof, at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis could be a red flag for one player.

Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy completed only 23 bench-press repetitions of 225 pounds Sunday, and that was worrisome for NFL.com draft analyst Mike Mayock, who ranks McCoy as the best DT prospect in the draft, ahead of Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh.

“When you start comparing numbers, which is what this combine is all about, in the weight room yesterday Suh did 32 and McCoy did 23,” Mayock said Monday on the NFL Network. “I was stunned that McCoy only did 23 reps. That tells me he hasn’t been in the weight room the way he should have been over the last three years.”

McCoy was tied for 35th among 50 defensive linemen who took part in the bench press. Suh ranked sixth. The top defensive lineman, Jeff Owens of Georgia, had 44 reps.

Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was so impressive at the NFL scouting combine that he should have placed some distance between himself and Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy as far as who is the highest-rated prospect in the draft.

Unless St. Louis reaches to fill a need position by taking Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, the Rams are expected to select Suh.

“I just like being No. 1 and striving for No. 1,” Suh said. “If I’m to be No. 1, I’d be happy. If I’m not, then get ready for that next team who wants me and make the most of it.”

Suh (6-4, 307) bench-pressed 225 pounds 32 times and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.98 seconds.

Suh’s 35½-inch vertical jump, showed the kind of explosive power he has, and, was one of the best in combine history for a player at his position. He excelled at almost every drill.

Ideally, Suh will play tackle in a 4-3.

“I think I’d be able to adjust to anything,” he said. “I think whatever the team needs me to do I’ll be able to do.”

Suh was so dominant last season that he had 12 sacks, 24 tackles for loss and 26 hurries.

Unlike a lot of other highly rated prospects, Suh and McCoy never considered not working out at the combine for representatives from all 32 teams.

So who is the best?

“Two great players that’ll be great in this league,” Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “A couple of different styles, but both their styles are going to work.”

McCoy finished with six sacks and 15½ tackles for loss as a junior last season.

“I have a strong work ethic,” McCoy said. “I try to outwork the opponent that I’m going against.”

We here at Live From Then Press Box.Com vote for Ndamukong Suh!!

3 Future Stars that also Shined in Mondays Workouts;

1. Geno Atkins: DT, Georgia
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 293 pounds
Arm length: 32 in.
40-yard dash time: 4.75 (unofficial)
Bench reps: 34

2. Brandon Graham: DE/OLB, Michigan
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 268 pounds
Arm length: 32.25 in.
40-yard dash time: 4.72
Bench reps: 31

3. Sean Weatherspoon: OLB, Missouri
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 239 pounds
Arm Length: 31.25 in.
40-yard dash time: 4.68
Bench reps: 34

2010 NFL Combine – Sunday Results, QB’s, WR’s and RB’s

WebMaster/Admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:58:32 +0000

2010 NFL Combine - Sunday Results

Who impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday with the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers working out? Who had a disappointing showing? Doesn’t Anybody Want to Throw?

2010 NFL Combine – Sunday Results, QB’s, WR’s and RB Results

The annual NFL Scouting Combine is under way in Indianapolis, IN as we reported yesterday. On Sunday the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers worked out. Live From The Press Box.Com highlights the impressive and disappointing performers as reported to us by a Scout attending the event. The NFL Network provided the following stats regarding the players.

WHO IMPRESSED

Stanford running back Toby Gerhart (6-0, 231)
Gerhart opened up eyes when he ran the 40-yard dash in with an unofficial times of 4.53 and 4.58, the official time is probably around 4.6. The power back Gerhart had a lot of questions on if he had enough speed to be an NFL running back. Gerhart’s 40 time was better than optimistic projections. Unsurprisingly, Gerhart was fourth in running backs on the bench press with 22 reps. He was in the top 10 in the board jump and vertical jump of the running backs. Some felt that Gerhart had the most important sprint of any player in the 40-yard dash, and the Stanford standout made the most of it.

Tennessee running back Montario Hardesty (6-0, 225)
The Volunteers back had a fabulous showing at the scouting combine. Hardesty led all running backs in the vertical jump and board jump. That was after Hardesty had the fifth fastest 40-yard dash time for a running back at 4.49 seconds. Hardesty was sixth in the bench press with 21 reps. It was an excellent all-around combine that could cause a lot of NFL teams to re-evaluate Hardesty, who was projected to be a mid-rounder. Hardesty was a backup for most of his career. Tennessee running backs have had a lot success in the NFL, and last year Arian Foster went undrafted but still had a significant impact as a rookie in 2009. Don’t be surprised if Hardesty starts to rise.

Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster (5-9, 172)
Since the Senior Bowl McCluster has added seven pounds, and it looks like all of it is muscle. Despite his small size, McCluster finished seventh among running backs in the 225-pound bench press with 20 reps. Like Gerhart, McCluster also was in the top 10 performers at the board jump and the vertical jump. Those reps were better than some bigger power backs like Georgia Tech’s Jonathan Dwyer (5-11, 229) and Mississippi State Anthony Dixon (6-1, 233) who both had 15 reps. The Largo, FL product has fabulous speed, but that couldn’t be seen on his first 40-yard dash when he stumbled early on and ran an official time of 4.58.

Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn (6-1, 219)
Benn was in need of a good combine. His junior season he was hampered by some injuries and poor quarterback play. In limited opportunities in college Benn showed a nice combination of size and speed. At the combine Benn showed his skill set. He tied for the lead on the bench press among wide receivers with 20. Benn followed that up with a quality 40-yard dash time. The unofficial time was 4.48 seconds, so the official time was in the 4.5 range. On the pass catching drills Benn did a good job of running routes and catching passes. The combine performance shows teams that Benn put in the work to be ready, and excel in a pressure packed environment.

Clemson wide receiver Jacoby Ford (5-9, 186)
Ford had one of the fastest 40-yard dash times with a blistering time of 4.28, and Ford had 13 reps on the bench press. In the receiving drills Ford looked solid. For Clemson Ford showed some game breaking speed at times, and he was a track champion in college. However, at the Senior Bowl Ford did not burn defensive backs regularly with that speed and there are legitimate concerns about if that speed will translate to the football field in the NFL. Still a great 40 time helped propel former Buccaneer Dexter Jackson into the second round, and teams that place a high value on track speed, like the Oakland Raiders, will be intrigued by Ford after his great sprint in Indianapolis.

Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate (5-10, 199)
The Fighting Irish standout had an excellent combine that should help his draft status. Tate is a speed receiver and does not have good height or bulk. Thus, it was important for Tate to showcase excellent speed to help his draft status. Tate did just that in the 40-yard dash when he had an official time of 4.42. It was the fourth best time for the wide receivers. Tate also was seventh for wide receivers in the bench press with 17 reps. It wasn’t all perfect for Tate as he dropped three passes in the gauntlet drill. Still, the combine performance from Tate should help him, and could solidify him as a late first-round pick.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Kansas wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe (6-2, 207)
The Jayhawks standout who had some character concerns had a rough combine showing. His 40-yard dash time of 4.61 was slower than expected. Briscoe also had a poor showing on the bench press with only nine reps. In the pass receiving drills Briscoe had a bad dropped pass. The lackluster combine performance from Briscoe won’t ease the concerns about his work ethic and character. With the importance of the combine Briscoe gave teams a red flag about his preparation skills.

In other news we have to ask ourselves, does anybody want to throw at this years NFL Combine?

“Quarterbacks worked out at the scouting combine Sunday. But most of the big-name ones did not throw here, preferring to wait for their colleges’ pro days, when they can throw to familiar receivers.

That’s understandable for quarterbacks like Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy, who are recovering from injuries. But the decision by others hasn’t pleased many coaches and general managers, who wanted to see quarterbacks, the healthy ones, throw on neutral ground. (Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour irked them in particular, because he is healthy and, unlike Tim Tebow, is not revamping his throwing motion.)

In fact, the quarterbacks also retreated from the workouts Saturday, with 16 of 19 opting not to bench-press. Does the bench press really matter to quarterbacks? No. But for a player like Tebow, who many believe could wind up playing another position in the N.F.L., the bench press would have provided an intriguing barometer.

Team executives and scouts also use the combine to judge players’ competitiveness, and they think agents who advise their clients to sit out do the players no favors. Quarterbacks have been the exception to the recent trend that has seen more top-flight players work out at the combine since the NFL Network began broadcasting it in 2004.

Two of the quarterbacks who did bench-press were impressive. Penn State’s Daryll Clark did 21 repetitions, good news for him because he might end up playing another position. Troy quarterback Levi Brown benched 225 pounds 20 times. To compare: Bruce Campbell, the chiseled Maryland offensive tackle who turned in the most impressive workout of the combine, benched 225 pounds 34 times.”

For many NFL prospects, life begins at 40 (yards).

Covering that distance in a scorching time, as Clemson’s Jacoby Ford did Sunday at the NFL scouting combine — can turn the heads of potential employers, just as a slow 40 time can send a player’s draft stock into a tailspin.

According to an NFL scout who, along with dozens of others, was keeping his own stopwatch on Ford, the 5-foot-8, 182-pound receiver clocked in at hand times ranging between 4.18 and 4.23 seconds. The official (electronic) combine record is 4.24, set in 2008 by Chris Johnson, now of the Tennessee Titans.

Ford’s electronic time posted on NFL.com was 4.28. Regardless, he was blistering fast, and that’s the type of performance that could significantly elevate him in some teams’ eyes.

Among the other players who performed especially well in drills and physical tests were Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson, who some felt upstaged Cincinnati’s Tony Pike (the elite quarterbacks are waiting for their campus pro days to throw), and receivers Golden Tate of Notre Dame; Taylor Price of Ohio University; Mike Williams of Syracuse; Damian Williams of USC; and Carlton Mitchell of South Florida.

Clemson’s C.J. Spiller appears to have a strong grip on the top spot among running backs, and Fresno State’s Ryan Matthews is widely regarded the second-best at that position.

Tim Tebow used a different approach to the 40-yard dash. He walked up to the starting line about 10 minutes before his run, felt the turf with his hand, took a step in each direction to figure out where he wanted to begin, then moved back to the center of the field to continue preparing.

It was an interesting routine, one that no other quarterback went through Sunday at the NFL Scouting Combine. And it worked.

Tebow ran in 4.72 seconds, the fourth-best time among the 16 quarterbacks who participated in the 40.

The University of Florida standout not only demonstrated his outstanding speed, but he also showed he can be a cheerleader. He consistently stood off the line about 5 yards to the left and yelled encouragement to his fellow competitors.

Here were the top eight finishers among quarterbacks in the 40:

West Virginia’s Jarrett Brown — 4.54 seconds

Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour — 4.66 seconds

Oklahoma State’s Zac Robinson — 4.71 seconds

Tebow — 4.72 seconds

Texas’ Colt McCoy — 4.79 seconds

Duke’s Thaddeus Lewis — 4.84 seconds

Fordham’s John Skelton — 4.85 seconds

BYU’s Max Hall — 4.87 seconds

The drills Monday and Tuesday, the final two days of the combine, are mostly devoted to evaluating defensive players.

Combine Top Performers to Date

The 2010 NFL Scouting Combine Saturday Breakdown

WebMaster/Admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:56:57 +0000

The 2010 NFL Scouting Combine Saturday Breakdown

The 2010 NFL Scouting Combine Saturday Breakdown

Each February, hundreds of the very best college football players are invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., where executives, coaches, scouts and doctors from all 32 NFL teams conduct an intense, four-day job interview in advance of the NFL Draft. Here is a brief breakdown of the measurable drills:

40-yard dash
The 40-yard dash is the marquee event at the combine. It’s kind of like the 100-meters at the Olympics: It’s all about speed, explosion and watching skilled athletes run great times. These athletes are timed at 10, 20 and 40-yard intervals. What the scouts are looking for is an explosion from a static start.

Bench press
The bench press is a test of strength — 225 pounds, as many reps as the athlete can get. What the NFL scouts are also looking for is endurance. Anybody can do a max one time, but what the bench press tells the pro scouts is how often the athlete frequented his college weight room for the last 3-5 years.

Vertical jump
The vertical jump is all about lower-body explosion and power. The athlete stands flat-footed and they measure his reach. It is important to accurately measure the reach, because the differential between the reach and the flag the athlete touches is his vertical jump measurement.

Broad jump
The broad jump is like being in gym class back in junior high school. Basically, it is testing an athlete’s lower-body explosion and lower-body strength. The athlete starts out with a stance balanced and then he explodes out as far as he can. It tests explosion and balance, because he has to land without moving.

3 cone drill
The 3 cone drill tests an athlete’s ability to change directions at a high speed. Three cones in an L-shape. He starts from the starting line, goes 5 yards to the first cone and back. Then, he turns, runs around the second cone, runs a weave around the third cone, which is the high point of the L, changes directions, comes back around that second cone and finishes.

Shuttle run
The short shuttle is the first of the cone drills. It is known as the 5-10-5. What it tests is the athlete’s lateral quickness and explosion in short areas. The athlete starts in the three-point stance, explodse out 5 yards to his right, touches the line, goes back 10 yards to his left, left hand touches the line, pivot, and he turns 5 more yards and finishes.

The 2010 NFL Scouting Combine presented day one results on Saturday. In the first real action of the Combine, it was Bruce Campbell that stood out from the group, as the offensive linemen and tight ends took center stage in front of the throng of NFL Scouts.

The Combine will be running for the next several days, providing a set of very exciting circumstances and results for die-hard College and NFL fans looking forward to the 2010 NFL Draft, or simply looking to scratch the off-season College Football itch.

Maryland OT Bruce Campbell has been the early star of the Combine. He was impressive at Friday’s weigh-in, then stunned scouts on Saturday. Campbell ran the 40 in 4.85 seconds, and in position drills he looked like the elite athlete he is built to be.

The first day of the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine wasn’t just about the big guys on the line though, as the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers were allowed to complete the bench press event of the scouting combine. This allowed some of the biggest offensive players in the draft to show just how much they could bench press in front of the scouts. The bench press workout tests the strength of players, having them post as many reps as they can with 225 pounds. In the bench press, it was Fresno State’s Lonyae Miller and Auburn’s Ben Tate that led the way with 26 reps each.

To sum it up, we have a quote form a scout that is attending the Combine;

“It’s amazing how some guys just look the part. Ndamukong Suh just looks like a top draft pick. Bruce Campbell, Trent Williams and Russell Okung all seem like franchise left tackles. Quarterbacks like Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, Jevan Snead and Tim Tebow all carry themselves like savvy veterans. This, in turn, makes it painfully obvious to identify the guys that don’t look the part. Of course, it shouldn’t matter that much, but it’s hard to pull for a guy who just can’t even have an intelligent conversation.”

With three days to go, some of the biggest names are still left to perform, but we have a lot of results from the first day of the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine below for you to review;

Running Back Bench Press Reps

Name / Reps

Miller, Lonyae 26
Tate, Ben 26
Conner, John 24
Gerhart, Toby 22
Toston, Keith 22
Hardesty, Montario 21
McCluster, Dexter 20
Mathews, Ryan 19
Tonga, Manase 19

Wide Receiver Bench Press Reps

Name / Reps

Benn, Arrelious 20
Jones, Donald 20
Long, Brandon 20
McGaha, Chris 19
Williams, Damian 19
White, Blair 18
Tate, Golden 17
Easley, Marcus 16
Mitchell, Carlton 16
Parker, Preston 16
Price, Taylor 16
Shipley, Jordan 16

Offensive Lineman 40-Yard Dash

Name / Time

Campbell, Bruce 4.85
Williams, Trent 4.88
Newhouse, Marshall 5.00
Veldheer, Jared 5.09
Smith, Shelley 5.11
Capers, Selvish 5.14
Jerry, John 5.15
Brooks, Dorian 5.16
Tennant, Matt 5.16
Degeare, Chris 5.16

Offensive Lineman Vertical Jump

Name / Height

Smith, Shelley 34.0
Williams, Trent 34.0
Davis, Anthony 33.0
Veldheer, Jared 33.0
Campbell, Bruce 32.0
Degeare, Chris 32.0
Brown, Charles 31.0
Capers, Selvish 30.0
Olsen, Eric 29.0
Washington, Tony 29.0
Young, Sam 29.0
Welch, Thomas 29.0
Saffold, Rodger 29.0

Tight End 40-Yard Dash

Name / Time

Dickerson, Dorin 4.40
Graham, Jimmy 4.56
Dickson, Ed 4.67
Harbor, Clay 4.69
Moeaki, Tony 4.69
Quarless, Andrew 4.69

Tight End Vertical Jump

Name / Height

Dickerson, Dorin 43.0
Harbor, Clay 40.0
Graham, Jimmy 38.0
Gresham, Jermaine 35.0
McCoy, Anthony 35.0
Dickson, Ed 34.0
Moeaki, Tony 34.0
Pitta, Dennis 34.0
Graham, Garrett 34.0

There’s a lot to look forward to on Day 5(Sunday). On the field, the quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs will begin drills. It always proves to be the most interesting on-field day at the combine. The defensive linemen, who measured Saturday, will hit the bench.

Bruce Campbell at the 2010 NFL Combine

2010 NFL Combine: Ndamukong Suh will be the most watched

WebMaster/Admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:02:42 +0000

Ndamukong Suh Destroying Texas

2010 NFL Combine: Ndamukong Suh will be the most watched

The annual NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., gets rolling today with several key players involved. Player interviews, etc., begin Wednesday. Workouts begin Saturday.

Of course, former Grant High School defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh out of Nebraska will be the headline act at this years Combine.

Suh is considered by many to be headed to the St. Louis Rams with the Number-one pick while some experts believe that Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy could be the first player selected.

How both perform at the Combine could tip the scales one way or the other.

Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma):

Some have McCoy above Suh in their mock drafts and big boards, and while we don’t feel that strong about the kid, there’s no doubt that McCoy is an impact player. What we don’t see with McCoy that we see with Suh is a greater variety of pass rush moves, McCoy seems to get caught up in blockers more often than Suh does, though that could be a question of scheme. However, McCoy is exceptional in peeling off blockers and pushing through to the ball-carrier, this may be his greatest asset. While he’s relentless to the ball, he might not be quick enough in recovering to take out the quicker-release quarterbacks in the NFL. He’ll be a dominant three-tech tackle in the right system; specifically in a front four with a larger nose tackle to soak up blockers.

Our expert leans towards Suh, saying “his resume speaks for itself.”

What Makes Suh so good?

“He has amazing quickness off the snap, tremendous upper-body strength (he often turned blockers into padded dummies), agility that has to be seen to be believed, and the kind of intensity and work ethic that could make him a true star in the NFL. Example: He’s probably the first overall draft pick no matter what he does, but Suh will go to the Combine, and will participate in every single drill.”

“I want to go out and do everything,” Suh recently told Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News. “I don’t want to leave any questions. I’m the type of person that feels like I don’t have anything to hide, so why go up there and start trying to hide things now?”

Suh’s awards are numerous and it is obvious why he has become one of the hottest players at this years Combine;

Suh is the first defensive player to win the honor since its inception in 1998. Suh is Nebraska’s second winner of the AP National Player of the Year Award, joining quarterback Eric Crouch who captured the award and the Heisman Trophy in 2001. Suh received 26 of a possible 59 first-place votes from the panel, edging Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, who received 20 votes.

Suh captured the Outland Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award. Both awards were presented in Orlando, Fla., at the ESPN Awards Show. The Bednarik award is given to the Nation’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player and is presented by the Maxwell Football Club. He is the first Husker to win the award in its 15-year history.

The Outland Trophy is presented annually to the Nation’s Most Outstanding Interior Lineman, and Suh adds to Nebraska’s long history with the award. Suh’s trophy gives Nebraska a nation-leading nine Outland Trophies, four more than Oklahoma. Suh is the first Husker to win the award since offensive lineman Aaron Taylor captured the honor in 1997.

Suh becomes the fifth Nebraska player to win the Lombardi Award, joining Rich Glover (1972), Dave Rimington (1982), Dean Steinkuhler (1983) and Grant Wistrom (1997). Nebraska’s five Lombardi awards are the second-most by one school in the 40-year history of the award, trailing only Ohio State’s six Lombardi Award winners. The Lombardi Award goes to the college football lineman — offensive or defensive — who in addition to displaying outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the character and discipline of Vince Lombardi.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in college football. Suh became the 17th winner of the award as voted upon by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. He’s the first Nebraska player to win the award.

Black Coaches in NCAA Football – A Look During Black History Month

WebMaster/Admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:16:07 +0000

Black Coaches in NCAA Football

Black Coaches in NCAA Football, lets take a look at the current situation in College Football during Black History Month.

First we have an article written by SECfan and published on our sister site; The College Football Voice.

We have updated the article a bit, which is an indication of the positive change NCAA College Football is heading towards!

February is black history month and it only seems appropriate on a college football blog to address some positive changes occurring at the collegiate coaching level. With the departure of Mississippi State’s Sylvester Croom last season, the NCAA division 1A found itself with only 3 black head coaches out of 119 programs; Miami’s Randy Shannon, Buffalo’s Turner Gill and Houston’s Kevin Sumlin.

It appeared that while boosters and program directors were more than willing to have black assistant coaches, few programs seemed comfortable turning the keys over to a man of color. Even when they did, all too often it was an awkward affair as witnessed with the clumsy firing of Tyrone Willingham at Notre Dame. Fortunately, as Bob Dylan would say, times they are a changing.

Turner Gill has been promoted to a major program at Kansas. Former Florida assistant coach Charlie Strong is the head honcho at Louisville. Mike London is the head coach of Virginia. East Carolina has Ruffin McNeill, and Joker Phillips is captain of the ship at Kentucky. Willie Taggart also went from running backs coach to a head coach, returning to Western Kentucky to head up the Hilltoppers. Yes: Alma mater. And finally, Larry Porter went from LSU running backs coach to Memphis head coach. Porter is also going back to his Alma mater.

In less than a month the amount of black head coaches has more than doubled. Obviously more can be done but considering how long it has taken to see this type of progress, it truly is remarkable.

Many will ask, “Why does it matter”? Some may even question blogs like this one saying that pointing out a person’s race is, in itself, racist. I would argue otherwise and give you an example why. It is crucial for people of all races to see black men and women in leadership roles. This alone destroys negative stereotypes.

As an example I will refer to comments I heard while living in Kentucky in 1997 after Tubby Smith was hired to take over the basketball program at UK. It was not uncommon to hear comments like “Adolph Rupp would be turning over in his grave”. Tubby was judged harshly and even his successes (including a national championship in 1998) where often attributed more to Rick Pitino’s recruiting than to Tubby’s coaching.

Sadly, one of the biggest detractors of Tubby was my own brother in law, and many of his comments where based solely on Tubby’s race which is why I found it ironic that while discussing Joker Philips he was almost giddy. He discussed how Joker was the right man for the job and how much Rich Brooks had relied on him over the past few years. Then he went on to discuss how concerned he was that Charlie Strong was taking over at Louisville, one of his bitter rivals, because he is a “helluva coach.” Not once in the conversation did race come up. He was just an Eastern Kentucky boy judging a man based on the strength of his character and not the color of his skin, just as Martin Luther King Jr. requested so long ago.

- SECfan

Tony Dungy Weighs in On the Topic

It’s only been a little over a year since Tony Dungy retired from being head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, but that doesn’t mean he’s resting on his laurels. The former Super Bowl winning Head Coach has been doing quite a bit of speaking engagements and promotion of his books.

But one thing Dungy also wants to do is help the growth of Black coaches in College Football;

“To think that you would have a Black president of the United States and two Black men who have won Super Bowls before you would have a Black head coach in a top-20 school is hard to believe,” Dungy told the New York Times. “It doesn’t make sense. The baffling thing for me is that you can have African-American professors at these schools, you can be the head of the department, you can be the basketball coach, you can be the track coach, but you can’t be the football coach. How are we going to change that? I don’t know.”

Although Dungy wants to help in changing the culture of hiring practices at the Collegiate Level he understands why the practices are the way they are. In the NFL, the owner of the teams is the ultimate authority, at Universities; the schools have people to answer to, their Alumni, and therein lies the problem.

“Colleges are result driven, but the difference is that when [Steelers owner] Dan Rooney decides to hire Mike Tomlin, he doesn’t have to worry about any ramifications other than people buying tickets,” Dungy said. “The athletic director and the president at the University of Minnesota, they get Mike Tomlin’s name and their response is: How’s this going to affect donations? How’s this going to affect alumni relations? How’s this going to affect a whole lot of other things? That’s the pressure, that’s why it’s difficult, that’s why it is different. I don’t know how you change that unless an institution makes a moral stand and says, ‘We’ve just got to be a strong enough force that we’re going to do what’s right and if it does cost us a $12 million library, we’ll make up for it.’ “

Black Football Hall of Fame’s First Inductees

Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Deacon Jones and Eddie Robinson, the former Grambling coach, were among the first class inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The hall was established last year by James Harris, a former Pro Bowl quarterback, and Doug Williams, the most valuable player of Super Bowl XXII.

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH

The Gentleman’s Guide to College Football Etiquette

WebMaster/Admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:30:43 +0000

College Game Day Crowd

The Gentleman’s Guide to College Football Etiquette By – SECfan of our Sister Site;
The College Football Voice.

Proper: To hold up one’s second digit and proclaim you are #1 after winning the BCS Championship Game.
Improper: To hold up one’s finger and declare you are #1 after winning the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Proper: To attach your teams flags to your car to show your support on game day.
Improper: To show up to sunrise service Easter morning with aforementioned flags still attached.

Proper: To be a young coed and wear cowboy hats, ripped, form-fitting t-shirts, and daisy duke shorts.
Improper: To be a member of AARP wearing a tube top and standing on your own breast.

Proper: To pray for safety for your team’s players and the ability to make good decisions during a game.
Improper: To pray that the star quarterback with Bible versus under his eyes breaks his femur.

Proper: During a game, asking the person next to you to stand up during a break so you can exit to the restroom.
Improper: Urinating on the person next to you.

Proper: Taking a picture with your team’s mascot.
Improper: Taking the opposing team’s mascot.

Proper: Discreetly blowing one’s nose on a kerchief or napkin.
Improper: Picking your nose while you are on the jumbo-tron.

Proper: Asking someone to hold your drink while you urinate in the restroom.
Improper: Asking someone to hold anything else while in the restroom.

Proper: Chanting SEC! SEC! SEC! while observing the Security Exchange Commission bust another billionaire for fraud.
Improper: Chanting SEC any other time.

Proper: Allowing bright young Coeds to visit a potential recruit’s high school for encouragement.
Improper: Dressing them only in whip cream.

Proper: Painting your end zones to reflect your school colors.
Improper: Painting the whole damn field smurf blue.

Proper: Buying a vehicle that compliments your team’s colors so the magnets on game day match.
Improper: Buying that vehicle if you are a Tennessee, Clemson, Texas, or Oregon State fan.

Proper: Shouting encouragement to the university’s dance squad.
Improper: Pointing to any part of your body while shouting the encouragements.

Proper: Upon becoming head coach promising to be loyal until the end.
Improper: Stating you are leaving for another school at the end of that speech.

Crazy College Football Fans

How crazy the UGA University of Georgia fans are!!

Florida Gator Fans goes Crazy after loss to Auburn

A Columbus BW3′s (Ohio State Fans) go crazy after LSU loses in OT

Notre Dame QB Clausen won’t work out at NFL Scouting Combine

WebMaster/Admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:36:16 +0000

Jimmy Clausen

As had been rumored, Jimmy Clausen, former QB of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, won’t be working out at the NFL Combine next week, possibly leaving himself open to more criticism or perhaps shedding the Diva image he has been labeled with.

“I’m planning on doing all the interviews and, obviously, being seen by the doctors so they can see my toe, but my toe isn’t ready to go right now,” Clausen told Sporting News Radio. “I’m really excited to go down to Indianapolis next week so teams can get to know me as a person. And I think after they get to know me as a person, they’ll see the truth from what the perception is out there about me.”

This is a fairly logical decision by Clausen and his agent Gary Wichard, as he’s still healing after postseason toe surgery to repair an injury that bothered the potential Top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft most of the season.

Numerous NFL Mock Draft Boards have Clausen at or near the top of the 2010 Draft Board.

It is also clear is that Clausen and his Agent are taking a proactive step to battle the diva reputation that’s hung on Clausen since his decision to announce his college choice at the College Football Hall of Fame after a family ride in a stretch Hummer limo.

With or without the workout, Clausen’s spot in the first round will likely be based on his individual workouts. Mainly because, even if 100-percent healthy, most elite quarterbacks usually take a pass on throwing at the Combine, and instead chose to throw to familiar receivers at a workout set up for success.

“It’ll be interesting to see if skeptics spin this decision into more anti Clausen sentiment, when the reality of the situation is that the other elite quarterback in the draft, Sam Bradford (Oklahoma Sooners) specifically, most likely will not be throwing at the NFL Combine either.”

2009 Jimmy Clausen Highlights

QB Jimmy Clausen Highlights/Lowlights 2009 Notre Dame Part 1

QB Jimmy Clausen Highlights/Lowlights 2009 Notre Dame Part 2

Sources;

nbcsports.msnbc.com
Notre Dame Website
You-Tube
Notre Dame Message Board

Pac-10 Rumblings of Expansion Rattle Mountain West Conference

WebMaster/Admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:39:20 +0000

Pac-10 Rumblings of Expansion

“It all had been going so well for the Mountain West.

It had started with the recently concluded football season. Check that, it had started with the football season that concluded in January 2009, when Utah busted the Bowl Championship Series for the second time in four years, whipping Alabama, 31-17. Not Alabama-Huntsville or Alabama A&M. Alabama Alabama. Bear Bryant’s Alabama. The one that beat the dog snot out of Texas in this year’s national championship game.

So what if Texas Christian lost to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl? No harm, no foul. Leading up to the game, ESPN said the Mountain West was halfway home to receiving an automatic BCS bid. ESPN said that. Not The Mtn. or Versus or the Navy Football Network or Wayne and Garth’s public access channel or one of the other obscure networks that Mountain West games are available on, provided the log-rolling contest leading up to them doesn’t go into overtime. ESPN. A sports channel that everybody gets.

Then basketball season heated up. For one shining moment, the Mountain West had three teams ranked among the Top 25. Or one more than the vaunted Atlantic Coast Conference had.

That was last week, before the Rebels were getting out-hustled to virtually every loose ball. Before they realized how much they missed Derrick Jasper on the boards and on defense.

Before, more important to a nationwide audience, the Pacific-10 Conference had to open its big mouth.”

Click Here to Read the Entire Article

The Top 10 College Football Draft Prospects; 2010 NFL Draft (Updated)

WebMaster/Admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:08:36 +0000

The Top 10 College Football Draft Prospects; 2010 NFL Draft (Updated)

We here at Live FromThe Press Box.Com decided to take a look at The Top Ten College Football Draft Prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft(Which obviously takes place in 2011).

We then presented those results in an article published on January 20, 2011. Now after the Super Bowl has been played, things are a bit clearer in terms of Draft Order and many teams have settled on their draft board preferences, so we contacted our Own NFL Draft Expert once again and asked him to update the board for us based on how he thinks the up-coming NFL draft will play out.

2010 NFL Draft 1st Round Order – Updated After Superbowl.

Tiebreakers: Easiest Strength of Schedule picks first. If still tied, then worst division record picks first. If still tied, then worst conference record picks first. If still tied, (*)coin flip decides order.

Round 1

1. St. Louis (1-15)
2. Detroit (2-14)
3. Tampa Bay (3-13)
4. Washington (4-12)
5. Kansas City (4-12)
6. Seattle (5-11)
7. Cleveland (5-11)
8. Oakland (5-11)
9. Buffalo (6-10)
10/11. Chicago (7-9)* (Traded to DEN)
10/11. Jacksonville (7-9)*
12. Miami (7-9)
13. San Francisco (8-8)
14. Denver (8-8)(Traded to SEA)
15. New York Giants (8-8)
16/17. Carolina (8-8)* (Traded to SF)
16/17. Tennessee (8-8)*
18. Pittsburgh (9-7)
19/20. Atlanta (9-7)*
19/20. Houston (9-7)*
21. Cincinnati (10-6)
22. New England (10-6)
23. Green Bay (11-5)
24. Philadelphia (11-5)
25. Baltimore (9-7)
26. Arizona (10-6)
27. Dallas (11-5)
28. San Diego (13-3)
29. New York Jets (9-7)
30. Minnesota (12-4)
31. Indianapolis (14-2)
32. New Orleans (13-3)

Our Expert, a retired NFL player with current involvement in Scouting in the NFL made his initial selections based on what he saw back in January. After some time has now elapsed from when we ran this story first, and the picture is becoming a bit more clear (or not so clear in many cases), here is the updated draft order from our Expert. This time with what he believes are the top alternate choices on the board for each of the Top Ten teams in the Draft order along with his thoughts.

He mentions that Team Pro days, Individual workouts, and the NFL Combine, combined with the indecisiveness of several teams (and their past draft history), many players are still in play here. Not to mention that the very nature of the NFL draft is fluid, and one late trade move by any NFL team can and most likely will blow up the entire selection process, to quote him directly, “It is the nature of the Beast”.

So here we go;

Experts Pick(s) for the 2010 NFL Draft

1. St. Louis Rams – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

Although they are still wrestling with Jimmy Clasuen, and to a lesser extent Sam Bradford as a possible choice, at the end of the day he believes “Suh is clearly the best player in the draft, and the Lions will shore up that defense with his selection.

Rumors are also swirling that The Rams are looking to deal for Michael Vick at Quarterback”.

Why has the bloom dropped off of Clausens Rose? He has heard from a couple sources that there are some teams and scouts that dislike Jimmy Clausen’s personality. “He might come off as a diva or arrogant, but comments similar were also made about about Philip Rivers, one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. ”

2. Detroit Lions – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

“Jim Schwartz and the Lions offensive line coach have raved about Jeff Backus’ play this season, and it seems that we can diminish the odds that Oklahoma State tackle Russell Okung will be the pick here. Gerald McCoy is one of the top players in this class. He has elite athletic ability and is a consistent play maker in the mold of a Kevin Williams. The Lions need play makers desperately on the defensive line so it seems almost certain this pick will either be Suh (If Available) or McCoy.”

3. Tampa Bay Bucs – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

“This is the last thing the Bucs want to happen. Defensive tackle is their No. 1 need and it would kill them to see Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy already off the board. I am also not buying that Tampa will move up for Suh because they have too many needs and those second-round picks are pure gold.

Eric Berry is an elite talent and the No. 2 player on my board. His ability to make plays against the run is amazing and he will be reminiscent of John Lynch for many Tampa fans. In coverage he will give this team more versatility at safety because they can use he and Tanard Jackson in an interchangeable role, which seems to be a trend around the league.

Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan could also be in play here and barring Donald Penn’s contract situation, we can’t completely rule out Russell Okung, but I’m willing to bet Tampa’s board will be stacked Suh-McCoy-Berry up to this point.”

4. Washington Redskins – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

This selection has our expert confused a bit;”What this comes down to is Bradford’s shoulder. If he’s healthy…. and the Redskins have Dr. James Andrews working for them, so they’ll know better than anyone, Bradford will be the pick. If Andrews is pessimistic, Washington will take Russell Okung or Jimmy Clausen if he’s available”.

5. Kansas City Chiefs – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

Our expert says that Okung is the “real deal”. “He could take the Chiefs’ offense to the next level if he is still available”. Other Options; “Eric Berry, S – Berry is the other major option here, but it would go against everything GM Scott Pioli believes in if he were to take a safety without having his Offensive and Defensive lines finished”.

“It will be interesting to see whether it ends up being Okung, Anthony Davis or Bruce Campbell, as the battle for the No. 1 tackle spot is one of the best story-lines of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Okung was the most consistent lineman in the nation this year and he will test out on a very high level athletically. I see no reason as to why Anthony Davis can take this from him (more inconsistent – doesn’t have elite lateral movement or athleticism), but watch out for Campbell because an amazing Combine could really vault his draft stock.

Other Choices; Eric Berry and Bruce Campbell if Available; While Campbell could definitely be the pick, there are two things that are swaying me toward Berry.

First, Berry is the far superior prospect. Campbell’s no slouch, but Berry is being hailed as the next Ed Reed. And second, Campbell has an extensive history of minor injuries that may deter some teams from taking him in the top 5-8. Recall what happened to Eugene Monroe last year.

And it’s not like Seattle couldn’t use Berry; the team was miserable against the pass this year, allowing seven of their final 10 opponents to compile at least 249 passing yards each game, with the three exceptions being two rookies and Vince Young.

If Berry and the top two quarterbacks are off the board, I believe the Seahawks will draft Campbell. ”

6. Seattle Seahawks: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

“Carroll will be looking for his own “guy” to play quarterback and a franchise left tackle to protect him. Jimmy Clausen is unquestionably the top quarterback prospect in this draft. He threw for 28 touchdowns and only four picks on an 8.8 YPA and a 68.0 completion percentage this year. He’s superior to Sam Bradford because he has a bigger arm and has spent three years in a West Coast offense. Bradford, on the other hand, is coming out of a shotgun spread offense and just had shoulder surgery. His arm strength is also very questionable.

If the Rams are genuinely interested in Clausen, don’t be shocked if Daniel Snyder tells Bruce Allen to make a trade up to secure the chance to draft him. With teams in the top 10 needing quarterbacks (St. Louis, Washington, Seattle, Cleveland, Buffalo), Mr. Clausen might be quite the commodity come late April. ”

7. Cleveland Browns – Joe Haden, CB, Florida

“Cleveland is clearly looking for a franchise Quarterback, while thier fan base keeps screaming for DEFENSE! Well, there is good news and bad news… The good news is that with Sam Bradford off the board, most Browns fans will be happy with this selection, assuming they take Eric Berry or Joe Haden. The bad news is that Cleveland is delaying its return to playoff contention for another year. To win in the NFL CONSISTENTLY, you need a franchise quarterback. The Browns are the only team in the AFC North without one, so it’s no coincidence that they contend for the postseason only once every five seasons.

Haden projects as a shutdown corner, the scouting report compares him to Leon Hall – but cornerbacks don’t lead teams to the Super Bowl. Franchise quarterbacks do. Just look at the last seven NFL champions if you don’t believe me.

Haden will provide a huge boost for Cleveland’s defense, but the Browns won’t be a consistent winner until they find a franchise signal-caller.”

Also on the board for the Browns; Inside linebacker is a big need for Cleveland, and Rolando McClain is the consensus No. 1 prospect at that position in this class.”

8. Oakland Raiders – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

“There are only four possibilities here: Taylor Mays, Carlos Dunlap, Bruce Campbell and Everson Griffen. That’s it. If you think otherwise, you really don’t realize how horrible of a drafter Al Davis is.”

9. Buffalo Bills – Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa

“Left tackle is a huge need for the Bills, and they really have to be kicking themselves for passing on Michael Oher last year.

After watching and talking with a couple sources in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, I’ve learned that tackle Anthony Davis out of Rutgers has some serious work ethic concerns. I’m not sure Buffalo wants to gamble on his upside when they can draft a player with just as much potential in Bryan Bulaga who battled a thyroid injury all season. He shut down Derrick Morgan in the Orange Bowl and it wouldn’t shock me if Bulaga went in the top 10 picks.”

10.* Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

“Jacksonville’s top need is selling tickets and drawing fan interest. The team’s No. 2 need is finding someone who can get to the quarterback. The Jaguars tried the 4-3 and the 3-4 in 2009, but nothing worked. Amazingly, the team finished with just 14 sacks, and no one had more than three.

Derrick Morgan is without a doubt the best player on the board at this point, and what we learned in the 2009 NFL Draft was Gene Smith is a huge fan of the Best Player Available theory. He will wreak havoc off the edge for Jacksonville as Smith continues to build his team on the line of scrimmage. The Jaguars need a pass rusher, and I think Morgan can be that guy.”

* Coin Flip

As you can see “Fluid” was an appropriate choice of words, let the debate begin on the 2010/2011 NFL Draft.

This Video is a bit dated, but interesting nonetheless;

Our Experts Number One Draft Choice; Ndamukong Suh

The Top Five Sleeper Recruits of College Football Recruiting 2010

WebMaster/Admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:36:07 +0000

Top Five Sleeper Recruits

Rivals.com has done a nice article on the Five Super Sleepers in 2010, so we here at Live From the Press Box .Com took a look;

1. Corner-back; Orne Bey, Monroeville (Penn.) Gateway (Miami University)

2. Safety Chris Hughes, Mobile (Ala.) Davidson (Mississippi State)

3. Wide Receiver; Lamar Ivey, Mebane (N.C.) Eastern Alamance (East Carolina)

4. DQB Kevin Spain, Phoenix (Ariz.) Paradise Valley (Hawaii)

5. Corner-back; Dale Trimble, Gadsden (Ala.) Gadsden City (Kentucky)

Click Here to Read the Entire Article

National Signing Day in College Football – Time for Prep Stars to Decide

WebMaster/Admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:58:48 +0000

National Signing Day

“With the collegiate version of the NFL draft — minus the high-dollar contracts. Unless you attend Southern Cal. (lighten up, it’s a jab. A poke, if you will.) — fast approaching, the fine folks at NBC Sports.com have asked us to offer up a preview of what to expect when National Signing Day rolls around.

So, we are graciously obliging. Even as our recruiting expertise is roughly equivalent to Vince Young’s ability to master the Wonderlic.

Regardless, here are just a few of the myriad storylines that might be able to whet your appetite ahead of the day that could go a long way in determining the future success of (insert your school here).”

Click Here To Read Entire Article

How High School Prep Stars Decide where to play College Football

WebMaster/Admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:59:27 +0000

College Football Recruiting

Ever wonder how a highly regarded teenager decides where to play College football? So did we here at Live From The Press Box.Com. After scouring the internet and talking to a few players that have been through the process, here is what we have come up with;

There are just three angles that play a varying degree of importance in each recruits decision to pack up and play College football at a certain University. Each of these has multiple facets to them so we’ll do our job here at Live From The Press Box and break down how location, the school itself, and the scheme the school plays play a role in a recruits decision.

Before we get into each of the aspects we’ll do what every coach has to be able to gauge early on; who is the decider. For some recruits it is their ego, they think of themselves and what will make them happiest in terms of girls, parties and the like.

However, generally, there’s another person helping to make the decision. Girlfriends, Mothers, Fathers, Grandparents, Uncles or high school coaches are the likely choice. When a coach gets a bead on who is making the decisions he can then proceed to look for what is the most important to the kid and to his “decider.”

Location & University

These two items seem to go together so let’s tackle them together;

The most obvious facet of location’s role in decision making is a player’s desire to play within a close proximity to his home. If the player wants to play in front of his hometown supporters, grandmother or his family then a cross country school will likely be out of the question. Many kids have transferred back home because of these reasons and so proximity is a serious issue when looking at a school.

On the other hand, there are High School athletes that want to OR don’t mind getting away. Guys from Florida that go to Ohio State or kids from California that come East to play. It takes a strong kid to pack up his goods, ship out from Arizona and enroll at Georgia. There’s a different way of life, a different set of rules and no mothers or fathers there to keep you grounded and on the straight and narrow.

Weather

Getting back to location, let’s take a look how the location and university itself go into a recruits decision;

Enjoyment of the locale. Weather, co-eds, campus, bars, parties and the overall fun all come into play here. Kids from the south aren’t always chomping at the bit to head up north, play in snow and wear parkas. Kids from the west aren’t lining up to head down to the swamps of the south and suffocate in the humidity. Beach goers aren’t falling in love with programs that are landlocked.

While it might just be sweater weather or “football weather” to the fans these kids have to practice in it everyday, when a kid hates the cold spending 8 months out of the year in snow and wind is a depressing hell.

Time to break out the Lane Kiffin Jokes now; Girls do matter, always have to teenage boys, always will, this is not rocket science here, it is Teenage Boys 101.

When High School recruits go on their official visits they meet women, not necessarily set up by the university (Sorry Lane), rather girls met at parties. The better looking (Gorgeous), more interesting girls, means another way to entice a 17 year old kid into becoming a part of your recruiting class. Parents may not want to think about this or even discuss it, but the idea that having gorgeous, entertaining co-eds meaning nothing is pure fallacy.

There are 120 some odd schools playing FBS level football for the time being and if location has narrowed your choice down quite a bit then what step comes next?

Clearly looking at the academics and the university should play a fairly significant role. Rare is the case that a football player enrolls at a college without ever experiencing the campus life. Here location and the university do a delicate dance where the institution’s atmosphere combine with the location to have a combined effect on recruits.

However, universities aren’t just about campus life when it comes to decision time; they’re also about school. Two schools of thought here; can a recruit get into a certain school and does the recruit have a certain academic desire. The NCAA has a sliding scale for admissions, this means the higher your high school GPA the lower your required SAT/ACT score is to make you eligible to play.

Some schools; Stanford, Vanderbilt, Northwestern and Duke for example, take this sliding scale as a “suggestion” before adhering to their own substantially more stringent baseline for the admission of football players. The biggest thing to remember here is every school plays by the NCAA standards, there is no avoiding those, but each school is free to enforce tougher acceptance requirements.

The problem here lies with figuring out if a kid can get through admissions. While every school is not as strict as the Stanford’s of the world, schools such as Florida, Oklahoma and USC do have their limits. At this point the decision becomes prep school in an attempt to reach an acceptable standard, or enrolling in a lesser institution.

Not to name names but schools in the Big East, C-USA and the MAC have shown a propensity for scooping up academic risks that other universities passed over.

Schematics

Regardless of the factors we have just covered, in the end these guys are still football players and often times the bottom line for their decisions is the football itself.

Everyone speaks on the relationship between a player and their recruiting coach. Folks know names like Eddie Gran and Ed Orgeron; not because of their coaching prowess but because of they’re ability to woo recruits. There’s no doubt that a school’s persistence comes into play but scheme is more than just getting along with or liking a coach; scheme fueled decisions fall into two categories: playing time and the system.

Playing time is a very recent phenomena, the days of whole classes redshirting and players emerging as juniors and seniors is long gone thanks to the influence of ESPN and the 85 scholarship rules. More games on TV coupled with less scholarships to give means good players are looking to go places where they can “showcase their game to NFL Scouts” as soon as possible.

Its a tough task for schools to stockpile talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Today’s players want to play, play immediately and when the choice is playing special teams and as a back up for two seasons at Florida vs playing the opener at their position at the University of South Florida often times the Bulls will win out.

The first round battle in the system decision comes from the position. What position will the player be asked to play at School X vs School Y?

High school linebackers don’t always want to become defensive ends. Quarterbacks don’t want to move to corner. Tight Ends don’t want to be Tackles.

The most obvious example of this is the 2004 signing day swap of Pat White. White was committed to LSU as a wide receiver, however he flopped on LSU for Rich Rodriguez’s spread attack at the West Virginia Mountaineers and now is one of the greatest option quarterbacks of the last decade.

The opposite was true for current South Carolina Gamecock Cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Coming out of South Pointe High, Gilmore was a great and dynamic high school quarterback but without any BCS level offers to play Quarterback he opted for the Gamecocks’ where he started at Cornerback in 2009.

Position changes aren’t the only problems with scheme as the actual playing philosophy must be taken into account. Spread options don’t work for pro styled quarterbacks. Flexbone attacks don’t fit big time wide receiver attacks. 3-3-5 defenses don’t fit pass rush defensive ends. A player must decide which system is the right one for them, their playing style and their skill-set. This is key to the decision making process.

Most recruits get this portion right from the beginning. Pro styled guys head to places like Alabama, USC, Georgia and Ohio State while spread styled recruits opt for Florida, Texas and Oregon. However, we’ve seen coaching changes affect scheme in a big way this season with two big name SEC performers coming to the conference after spending their early seasons outside of the league.

Its a complex and sometimes life changing decision, and these kids have a lot to consider.

College Football Coaching: Tips and Advice : Off-Season Recruiting in College Football

Senior Bowl; Tebow Shaky, while other NFL Draft Prospects Shine

WebMaster/Admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 12:38:59 +0000

2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl

In the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl, Tim Tebow was Shaky, while other NFL Draft Prospects Shined

Mardy Gilyard was once homeless and worked four jobs to stay in school after losing his scholarship.

However, in the Under Armour Senior Bowl, Mardy Gilyard was the star of this Show. The former Cincinnati Bearcat turned in an a strong audition for NFL Scouts in attendance at Saturday’s Senior Bowl. Gilyard compiled 103 yards receiving and caught a 32-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to help the North win a decisive 31-13 victory over the South.

“All my hard work just kind of came into one game,” an exuberant Gilyard said. “I’m truly blessed. I worked my butt off and I played my butt off. I’ve been through so much in my career.

“This game sums up everything, because I’ve been through all the hard work, all the ups and all the downs, the peaks and the valleys. I’ve been through everything. I’ve been from the brown sticky stuff at the bottom of the barrel to the cream at the top of the coffee.”

One of the nation’s top all-purpose threats, Gilyard set up the third-quarter touchdown with a 43-yard catch down the right sideline and had five receptions. Both that pass and the TD came from Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour.

Gilyard returned two kicks for 52 yards and gained 24 on two punt returns. He was chosen offensive player of the game while Mississippi State’s Jamar Chaney earned defensive honors.

Meanwhile, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow had a shaky outing running a pro-style offense against a sturdy defense.

He fumbled twice and finished 8 of 12 passing for 50 yards in the showcase for senior NFL prospects. Tebow’s longest completion was 11 yards and he netted 4 yards on four rushes, but was never turned loose as a power runner as he often was with the Gators. He battled strep throat early but didn’t miss any practice time during a week when he was trying to prove to skeptical NFL teams and draft analysts that he could be a starting pro quarterback.

The Senior Bowl game is most likely a showcase of future NFL talent. The majority of the players in the game are considered top prospects for the future NFL draft, including Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. Tebow, who has been in the news lately over his controversial Superbowl ad, was considered sloppy in today’s game.

Some believe today’s performance may be a precursor for Tebow’s drop in the NFL draft rankings. Others say he’ll be just fine.

Michigan defensive lineman Brandon Graham had two sacks and a forced fumble and was chosen the game’s Most Valuable Player. The South committed six turnovers.

Tulane receiver Jeremy Williams had six catches for 82 yards, added a 27-yard run on an end around and was named the South’s most outstanding player. That honor went to Central Michigan’s LeFevour for the North. He completed half of his 10 passes for 97 yards and added a 1-yard touchdown run on a sneak, once again outdistancing the much more heralded Tebow.

LeFevour finished with more total touchdowns (150) than any other player in Football Bowl Subdivision, including Tebow (145). Zac Robinson had the game’s best passing numbers, throwing for 176 yards and a touchdown before getting intercepted late in the game.

Alabama players accounted for all of the South’s points. Robinson hit tight end Colin Peek for a 19-yard touchdown and Leigh Tiffin booted field goals of 43 and 33 yards.

Game Recap

The North never trailed in the game, taking a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on Brett Swenson’s 43 yard field goal. Leigh Tiffin would answer with a 43 yard field goal of his own–tying the game at three late in the first quarter. Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount’s 14-yard touchdown run in the second quarter would give the North a 10-3 lead and Austen Lane’s six yard fumble return for a touchdown put the visitors out in front 17-3 with just under ten minutes to play in the half.

Hanging onto the football was a bit of a challenge for both squads all day long. The game featured nine turnovers, with six of those belonging to the South (four fumbles, two interceptions) and three to the North (two fumbles, one interception). Making matters worse for the South was the fact that two of those turnovers led to North touchdowns.

Despite the turnovers, Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano’s South squad seemed to be riding some momentum into the half—scoring 10 unanswered points to close out the first half. Leigh Tiffin drilled a 33 yard field goal and Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson fired a 19 yard touchdown pass to Alabama tight end Colin Peek, cutting the North’s lead to just four, 17-13, at the half.

But the North squad, under the direction of Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz and his staff, shut out the South in the second half—scoring 14 unanswered points in the final two quarters. Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour, who earned Most Outstanding Player honors for the North, ran for a one-yard touchdown and threw a 32 yard scoring strike to Cincinnati’s Mardy Gilyard to close out the scoring.

2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl | North Vs. South Highlights

2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl | #15 Tim Tebow Highlights

Senior Bowl Recap 2010

Tim Tebow is the Senior Bowl’s Big Question Mark

WebMaster/Admin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:50:28 +0000

Tim Tebow at Senior Bowl Practice

Tim Tebow is the Senior Bowl’s Big Question Mark

Tim Tebow’s position is set; He will play quarterback, and not in the Wildcat today in the Senior bowl.

The guessing game for the former Florida quarterback’s NFL future is still wide open, but in today’s Senior Bowl his role is clear, he will help lead the South team against Tony Pike and the North and operate an NFL-style offense that doesn’t call for him to plow over defenders on designed running plays when he’s not flinging passes.

The week long practice and game are just the start of Tebow’s bid to prove he’s an NFL caliber quarterback.

He will be the biggest name in the All-Star game for senior NFL prospects, which includes few players regarded as surefire first-round draft picks.

The Game itself will have something of a rematch of the Sugar Bowl quarterbacks, Tebow and Pike. Both will have their favorite relievers in Riley Cooper of the Florida Gators, and the Cincinnati Bearcats Mardy Gilyard.

Tebow out shined Pike in the first match-up, passing for a career-high 482 yards and three touchdowns in the Gators’ 51-24 victory. Pike was held to 170 yards and four interceptions thanks to a smothering Gator defense.

But, it is not Tim Tebow’s astounding College Football career that has been the big question this past week. Senior Bowl practices are scrutinized by sidelines full of NFL team representatives noting every misstep and technique glitch.

At least one observer didn’t think the trip has helped Tebow.

“He’s out there every drill and he’s showing improvement getting snaps under center, and he’s working at it,” said Todd McShay, ESPN’s director of college football scouting. “But he’s just not there. I thought coming in that maybe all the intangibles and all the little things he did and showing signs of improvement could help his stock, but I would say unfortunately that he’s hurt his stock.”

As an NFL-type pocket passer, McShay said, “He was no better than the fourth-best here.”

According to NFL Network’s Lindsay Soto, Florida QB Tim Tebow botched several snaps on his first day of Senior Bowl practice.

Unfortunately, along with being one of the generation’s most decorated college football players comes the microscope at the next level. Tebow played primarily out of the shotgun formation at Florida, and clearly isn’t used to taking snaps from under center. Soto added that Tebow’s tendency to lower the football below his hips before delivering it also isn’t going away. Other reports have Tebow struggling badly with accuracy.

South coach Tony Sparano of the Miami Dolphins said Tebow brings plenty of assets. He won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore and helped Florida win two national championships with a unique style of power running and passing.

“Obviously this guy knows how to win,” Sparano said. “That’s not something that you take lightly at all. When you get a player the caliber of him, that comes with the stripes he has and has won as many games as he’s been involved in winning at Florida, that says an awful lot.”

The Dolphins have utilized the Wildcat formation, though Sparano said that won’t be used in this typically vanilla offensive game. They drafted West Virginia’s athletic QB Pat White, who played in last year’s Senior Bowl.

Asked if Tebow could be effective in the Wildcat, Sparano said, “Oh, I think he’d do good.”

There are many conflicting reports out of Mobile, but there is consensus on the following; How practice played out.

The first two days proved a few things about the Gators’ star that the skeptics had shouted all along.

The same two days also proved that he has upside.

Tebow’s first day was full of fumbles, bad footwork, and missed targets. Nearly every Tebow naysayer is screaming “NAY!” right now.

He looked lost under center.

He was somewhat absolved from the bad start thanks to a report stating that he had a high fever and possibly strep throat. A 103°F temperature can throw you off your reads.

It wasn’t a total disaster as Todd McShay would have you believe though. Scouts praised Tebow’s poise despite the bad start.

Day Two was a little more of the same and a little less jittery. He was still inconsistent, but he was better. His fumbling rate dropped, although he still had one, and he showed off a much underrated part of his game.

Despite all of the criticism of Tebow the passer, his down-field touch is at or near an NFL level. In fact, prior to the 2009 season, he was a better deep ball thrower than Super–Sooner Sam Bradford.

Tebow has a lot of work to do to get his game NFL-ready, but showing progress will help ease doubts about his ability to play at the next level.

He’s not going to turn into Peyton Manning before Saturday’s game, but he can show that he’s able to adapt to a new offense.

Day three was pretty much more of the same for Tebow.

On day four one Pro Scout noted;

“Tim Tebow had the worst practice that I have seen with my own two eyes this week. He was horrible. In skeletons, he really struggled with his decision-making and accuracy. The running back ran a basic circle route literally five yards in front, but Tebow actually skipped the ball on the ground and it ended up at John Conner’s ankles. This was the worst pass I’ve ever seen by a college quarterback in my life. Nobody can say Tebow had a good week during practice – just impossible. He could possibly go in the first round if Jacksonville is desperate enough or Brad Childress is stupid enough.”

Thus is the Life of NFL prospect Tim Tebow currently

Tim Tebow throwing at 2010 Senior Bowl Practice

Nice Comparison of Tebow’s often criticized throwing motion and other QB’s at the Senior Bowl Practice;

Craig James, ESPN Analyst, Threatened to Sue Texas Tech Reportedly

WebMaster/Admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:15:19 +0000

Craig James and Mike Leach

In the Story that refuses to go away, we now have this;

Craig James, ESPN Analyst, Threatened to Sue Texas Tech Reportedly

Craig James involvement in a complaint that led to an investigation and eventual dismissal of Mike Leach by the Texas Tech Red Raiders appears to have been more serious than previously thought.

James, an ESPN analyst, threatened to sue the university if it didn’t investigate Leach’s treatment of his son, Adam, who was recovering from a concussion.

This according to a memo by Texas Tech attorney Ronny Wall, who wrote that on Dec. 20, James “indicated that litigation could ensue if TTU did not proceed to investigate Leach for the improper treatment of an injured student-athlete.”

“The threat did not appear to be an idle threat as the parent expressed genuine concern for the health and well-being of his injured child, as well as other student-athletes.”

Wall’s memo was obtained by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal in response to an open records request.

Click Here to Read the Entire Article

And in typical Craig James behavior in this mess, we have this;

Scott McLaughlin, a spokesman for James, said no threat of legal action was made at any point.

“Craig James never threatened to sue Texas Tech University,” he said. “Further, Texas Tech initiated its investigation of its own accord.”

Ted Liggett, who is Leach’s lead attorney, contacted Tech administrators on Dec. 21 and informed them that he would represent the coach in the event of any legal action by the university or James. This seems to bolster Tech’s claims.

As has been previously reported here on Live From The Press Box.Com, that litigation is now moving forward.

ESPN has been criticized for its “dark and odd” stance in the controversy.

Joe Cutbirth, a Journalism Professor at the University of British Columbia, recently wrote in the Huffington Post that;

“the network owes its viewers, Tech and frankly the journalism profession a look at its own ethical guidelines. It also has to stop stonewalling new questions about Craig James’ actions with flip denials from a corporate spokesman.”

Cutbirth added that if;

“allegations Leach made [Dec. 31] to the New York Times prove true, Craig James should face disciplinary action and possibly lose his job.”

In the NY Times Interview, Leach said he felt James tried to leverage his position as an ESPN analyst to get more playing time for his son. He said James frequently attended practices and called assistant coaches.

“I think he used his position at ESPN to try to coerce me into allowing Adam to play more,” Leach said.

Will this drama ever end?

Sources;

Associated Press
Huffington Post
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
New York Times

How the College Football Recruiting Calender Works Year Round

WebMaster/Admin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:34:34 +0000

College Football Recruiting

How the College Football Recruiting Calender Works.

College football recruiting used to be something that was seasonal. Starting in December, along with watching bowl games, football fans would tune in to see what elite prospects their schools would sign the first Wednesday in February.

Now, recruiting is 365 days a year. The year-round nature of it means that there is a lot to follow depending on where you are in the cycle. Here is a look at the recruiting calendar from national signing day to national signing day.

The Class of 2010 can sign national letters of intent beginning Feb. 3, 2010. But that’s not the only important date on the college football recruiting calendar.

Aug. 1 – Nov. 28: Evaluation period
Sept. 1: Juniors can receive written offers
Nov. 29 – Jan. 30: Contact period
Dec. 16 – Jan. 15: Junior college transfer
Feb. 3 – April 1: Signing period
April 15 – May 31: Evaluation period

No down time in football recruiting

College Football Payday; Non-B.C.S. Conferences Split $24 Million

WebMaster/Admin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:56:30 +0000

College Football Payday

College Football Payday; Non-B.C.S. Conferences Split $24 Million

The five conferences that do not receive automatic bids to the Bowl Championship Series will receive a record $24 million from this season’s B.C.S. bowl games, according to figures obtained by The Associated Press.

That figure is well below what the Six Conferences that automatically qualify for the B.C.S. games received.

The Big Ten and the Southeastern Conferences got $22 million each. The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big East Conference, Big 12 Conference, and the Pacific-10 Conference got $17.7 million each

Could this cause more Congressional hearings about the distribution of money in the B.C.S. System and add fuel to the fire for a playoff in College Football?

USA Today does a Study on Coaches Salaries in College Football

WebMaster/Admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:07:12 +0000

College Football Coaches Roll In Cash

The latest in College Football news; USA Today has done a comprehensive study on the salaries of Coaches in College Football, its a good read that has some surprising numbers on it. The list of Coaching Salaries can be sorted by College Football School name, the Coaches name, and Assistant Coaches salaries.

Methodology

To determine the total pay packages of Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A) coaches for their current contract years, USA TODAY requested all forms of compensation for the head football coach at all 120 schools. USA TODAY obtained at least some information on all but nine schools, most of which are private. Four public schools did not provide contracts; 17 did not provide the NCAA-mandated outside income report, which covers athletically related income the coach receives from non-university sources (e.g. support organization, apparel contracts). Schools that provided contract information were given the opportunity to review their figures. A not available (NA) in the chart denotes schools that are private or did not release the information or schools whose coaches are new and had not filed an outside income report. A $0 means either the coach doesn’t get compensation from that activity/source or it’s contained in another category and the documentation did not break it down.

Click Here to Read the Entire Article

Runaway Lane (Lane Kiffin Song) Hilarious Tribute to Ex Vol Coach

WebMaster/Admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:55:01 +0000

Runaway Lane

Runaway Lane (Lane Kiffin Song) Hilarious Tribute to Ex Vol Coach

It goes without saying that Lane Kiffin is not exactly Mr. Popular in Knoxville these days. After Kiffin bolted for The USC Trojans internet stories have been rampant. This song is hilarious and here it is set to a crazy video. Some scary scenes ahead…lol!

Sung to the tune of a Soul Asylum- hit, “Runaway Lane” is a little ditty that embraces all that was good and righteous about the 14-month Kiffin Era with the Volunteers………Yeah Right

Runaway Lane (Lane Kiffin Song)

Ex Vol Coach Lane Kiffin’s Tennessee intrigue doesn’t end?

WebMaster/Admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:43:20 +0000

Ex Vol Coach Lane Kiffin

Ex Vol Coach Lane Kiffin’s Tennessee intrigue doesn’t seem to end with his exit?

Based on Internet rumors ,which are notoriously over blown and incorrect, there is a story currently circulating about Ex Tennessee Volunteer Coach Lane Kiffin and his involvement with an accident

Back in August, Kiffin was involved in a single-car accident as he was heading home after a late night at the Volunteers football complex. At the time, he was driving a vehicle provided by an area Lexus dealer.

Kiffin claimed at the time that he had “nodded off… about a half mile from home” and proceeded to slip “off the side of the road into the ditch.” According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, neither the Knox County Sheriff’s Office nor the Tennessee Highway Patrol have a record of any wreck involving Kiffin in 2009.

Perhaps in response to the ‘net-generated speculation, the Lexus dealership issued a statement this afternoon addressing the incident.

“For the past 15 years, Lexus of Knoxville has been a proud sponsor of the Tennessee Fund and the coach’s vehicle program at the University of Tennessee for the men’s and women’s athletic programs,” the statement reads. “Former University of Tennessee head football coach Lane Kiffin was involved in a single car accident in one of our vehicles. The proper authorities were contacted and the vehicle was towed to our location. Coach Kiffin’s insurance was contacted and promptly paid the claim.

“We have no knowledge of any of the alleged facts surrounding the accident being reported on the Internet. Any further questions should be forwarded to Lane Kiffin at the University of Southern California.”

Live From the Press Box.Com after checking with several sources has determined the following;

Lane Kiffin was behind the wheel of his leased Lexus in August when, the coach said, he fell asleep and crashed the car, a high-ranking University of Tennessee official confirmed to ESPN.com’s Mark Schlabach on Tuesday.

Also, Kiffin told athletic director Mike Hamilton that he had been at the football complex for a late meeting that night and said that he was heading home when he got into the accident, according to the source.

Kiffin walked home from the scene of the wreck, a high-ranking Tennessee source told ESPN’s Dwayne Bray.

It’s unfortunate this situation happened, nobody wants to get in an automobile wreck, but this does not necessarily mean that Kiffin is a failure as a head coach or a bad guy. Based on the facts presented, he crashed the car, because he was tired after a long day at the office. Nothing more and nothing less. Now, let’s close the book and move on.

Wouldn’t you prefer your head coach to be putting in those extra hours anyway?

Lane Kiffin Quits; Pre-Presser Drama with Mike Hanillton -Tennessee Athletic Director Video