Senior Bowl chat: Pat Kirwan
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM ETPat Kirwan
20 comments
NFL.com senior analyst and former NFL front office executive Pat Kirwan is on location at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. He chatted about the prospects and the NFL Draft live on Wednesday, January 27.
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Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Hi everyone and welcome to Mobile, Alabama. It's ben a good two days of practice so far at th Senior Bowl. Feel free to toss out your Super Bowl questions if you ike, but let's talk some draft, too. -
Larissa Kabat, Zumbrota, MN
4:01 PM ET
Good Afternoon Pat!! I love your work!! What position in this year's draft do you see being the strongest?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Hi Larissa. Too soon to determine - that will take another month or so. But here at the Senior Bowl, I am impressed with the running backs, a few of the corners. Keep in mind that more than half of the first round isn't even here (either juniors or players who decided not to come). The common opinion is that defensive tackles will dominate the top of the first round. But I'll have a much better idea in a month or so. -
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
One thing is for sure: There are not a lot of real good QB prospects. which brings us to... -
David, Pittsburgh
4:04 PM ET
There is so much talk against Tim Tebow and his struggles with taking the snap under the center. Why not let him be a shotgun quarterback and let him do what he does best. There is no doubt that Tebow is a great football player. Why do players need to adapt to certain schemes. Why can't offenses adapt to the player. Tim Tebow is a winner at the QB position and I believe a team like the Browns or Raiders could adapt to him and both Tebow and the team would be successful. What do you think?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
David, you are not off base at all. But -- whether you are in shotgun or taking a five-step drop, you have to be a consistent passer. And that is the concern now when assessing his value as an NFL QB. After watching him for two days - which is not enough to pass judgment -- it is clear that when he sets to throw and his first option is open, he throws the ball fine. When he has to fins a secnod and third read and move in the pocket, he has some mechanical issues that make the ball come out poorly.
You're a Steelers fan. Roethlisberger is in the shotgun a lot. What Tebow can't expect in the NFL is the running yards he had in college. I don't expect the yards he got running off tackle in college will be there in the NFL. But I do like him, and I respect him for being here. -
Julius, Washington D.C.
4:10 PM ET
Pat who are the best O-linemen you have seen so far?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Julius, the best starts with Mike Iupati from Idaho -- a phenomenal guard who can play tackle. He reminds me of a young Alan Faneca.
I like Matt Tennant, center from Boston College. I was intrigued today by Virginia Tech tackle Ed Wang -- a Chinese athlete whose parents were both Olympians. He had a very good morning. Mike Johnson from Alabama looks like a pro already technique-wise. I'd like to see more tenacity in his play. -
larry, arkansas
4:13 PM ET
Have there been suprises? someone who is preforming better than expected?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Hi Larry, Couple of guys that interest me that I would perceive as surprises: A young DE from Murray State, Austin Lane, has flashed pass rush skills and an endless motor today as well as yesterday. Arkansas State's Alex Carrington, a big player that fits in 4-3 as left DE or 3-4 as a five-techynique.
I was equally impressed with Wayne State RB Joique Bell. He reminded ma bit of Brian Westbrook -- good runner, terrific receiver, dangerous in the open field. -
Dragan, Split,Croatia
4:16 PM ET
Hi Pat.Which TE prospect do you see as the best blocking prospect and could he be drafted by the Rams in the second round?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Dragan, a blocking TE is not someone you take the scond round. Let's start there. when it comes to versatility, someone who can block and is equally impresive in the receiving game: Anthony McCoy from USC. He can do it all and would be a great second-round selection for your team. -
Ryan, Twin Falls, Idaho
4:17 PM ET
Pat, Do you think that Kyle Wilson has impressed enough scouts that he could be a late 1st round or early 2nd round draft selection?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
I do, Ryan. I mentioned him in my column on NFL.com yesterday. I'm not as impressed, though, with his play as I am with the custom bus in the parking lot with his name and face on it! The Kyle Williams entourage is here!
He has man-to-man skills and is pretty savvy as a Cover 2 corner. He gets his hands on receivers, re-routes, and he loves to make a play in the ball. H could sneak into the first round... But we have a long way to go. -
Jay, Orlando
4:20 PM ET
What do you think of the FSU prospects(Robinson, Rolle, and Watson)performance so far?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Jay, I'm very impressed with Myron Rolle -- as always, in phenomenal shape. Some think he is a bit stiff but I did not see that during practice yesterday. We'll keep an eye on that.
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Joel Gutzmer, Whitewater, WI
4:22 PM ET
Pat...Is Taylor Mays really disappointing coaches watching and hurting his draft stock??
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Joel, I don't think so. He felt he had to be here -- USC players typically don't hide from this game, and he says his former teammates Cushing, Maualuga and Matthews here last year. Mays has people that like him and people that don't, and he's not going to change the minds of either this week. -
travis , sc
4:25 PM ET
Hey Pat, what do you think about South Carolina's Erick Norwood where do u see him falling in the draft?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Travis, he did a nice job in practice yesterday. Not enough to build your draft status but a nice indicator. Right now I'd say middle second round. Too soon to tell, but he is helping himself here. -
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Norwood, for those who don't know, is a linebacker. Pretty rangy guy and a thumper. -
David T. Combest, Bronx, New York
4:27 PM ET
Is Jason Odrick the mastedon beast that can collapse the front of a pocket or who else can you reccommend at Rnd. 1:15 ! ;
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
David, Odrick is an impressive athlete on the field at practice. I have been studying him on tape and he doesn't make as many plays in games as I thought he would. But he has certainly impressed me and the coahces here at the Senior Bowl with his efforts. I've got to go back and watch more tape now that I've seen him in person. I don't know why the production doesn't match up. -
Shelby, Memphis, TN
4:30 PM ET
Hey Pat, I've heard good things so far about running backs Anthony Dixon and Dexter McCluster. They are completely opposite style of backs, but how do they look to you?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Shelby, it's more than opposite styles. One guy is a featherweight and one's a heavyweight. I like both. The challenge with Dexter is where to play him -- and can you justify a high second-round pick for him. If you factor in 5-6 punt returns and train him to be a slow receiver, and get the ball to him five or six times to him that way. I can justify the pick. He looks like the fastest player on the field.
Dixon is just a good power back. He fits the NFL running scheme right away. -
Tim, Warren, Mi.
4:34 PM ET
Hi Pat, Where do you see Brandon Graham, defensive end from Michigan, going in the draft?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Tim, I am so impressed with Brandon Graham. I don't know how he gets out of the first round. He's a unique athlete that has every defnesive scheme figuring out how to use him. Outside as a weakside LB in the 3-4, DE in a 4-3 in the mold of Dwight Freeney. He is very impressive on the field and equally impressive when you interview him, which I did Monday. -
Laci, Budapest, Hungary
4:37 PM ET
Hey Pat! From these players, who would U choose for the Eagles? I'm saying that a safety (Mays) would be the best in the first, and a OLB (Wheatherspoon)in the second rnd. What do U think?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Laci, I really like Weatherspoon. He would be a good fit with the Eagles -- he has tremendous range. I like Taylor Mays enough to say he would be a fit for your needs. Keep an eye on FSU's Myron Rolle, too.
Spend some time watching Nate Allen from South Florida. He's here too and doing a nice job at FS. -
Adriana, Lima, Peru
4:39 PM ET
Pat, is this the most important offseason in recent Steelers history and what players do you think would be a great fit with the Steelers at no. 18?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Adriana, it's an important year, having slipped from world champs to middle of the pack. The o-line situation hasn't gotten any better and your QB's career will be cut short if he doesn't get better protection. some of it is his fault, but the line can be better. -
ben, louisville, ky
4:41 PM ET
which QB do you think will be best fit to the NFL?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Ben, I'm not overly impressed with the six QBs here at the senior bowl. I saw bright spots from Tony Pike of Cincinnati and sat down with him today -- he is truly 6-foot-6. He has big hands and understands the game, and he'll be fine in his conversion to being under center. but there is concern about the time it takes to get the ball out of his hands. Tim Tebow will play a role in the NFL. And there are those who think Jimmy Clausen is the top QB. I have more studying to do on him. Overall, my first notion is that I'd be nervous about the position if clausen is the top guy. -
Boogie, Buffalo
4:44 PM ET
Pat, does anyone in Mobile look like a top 10 prospect? Is anyone playing themselves into top 10 consideration?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Hi Boogie. Coaches love players that are willing to put the pads on and practice, and it will help. But getting into the Top 10 -- that may not happen here with this group. But picks 15 through 75 will be dominated by players who are here.
A guy like Bill Belichick who loves to get his hands on as many second-round picks as he can would love the action on the field here this week. -
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Okay, getting ready for afternoon practice and my Sirius radio show. Thanks for the great questions. I'll have more notes from the Senior Bowl practices on NFL.com later this week, and you can watch the practices and the game on NFL Network.
See you next week in South Florida!
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