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| Senior Bowl |
| --Game Day: Saturday, January 30 (4 ET) |
| January 26 -- Press Conferences: |
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Jim Schwartz |
Detroit Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz
(Advantages of Coaching the Senior Bowl) -- I think the advantage to this game is that you're around these players for seven straight days. At the combine, you have a 15 minute interview. If you go visit a guy at his Pro Day, you may get to spend two hours with them. You may spend a full day with them at your team's facility, but there's nothing like being around these guys in every facet -- the training room, the dining hall, media and social events. At practice, you see the way they get ready, even up to game time. Everyone will see the game film, but one team will see how their guys get ready on Saturday morning for the game and the frame of mind they're in.
(Coaching Philosophy) -- Our philosophy has been to let the coaches coach with their personality. We're not testing anybody or seeing how they'd react. Just coach with your own personality and coach them aggressively, but there's no scheme behind it; we didn't turn anybody loose or target anybody, we treat them all the same. When we came down into this game as a coaching staff, I wanted the coaches to come down with a clean slate. Our scouts had spent a lot of time grading these players significantly and watched a lot of film, but we wanted them to have open minds and not make up their mind about how good a player was or what their strengths and weaknesses were before this week. We just want them to go compete, then let the evaluations start.
(Early Player Impressions) -- I'm not one to give "pats on the back", let's wait until Saturday to do that. We'll look back on the week then; practice is important, and these guys are being evaluated on practice, but there's a difference between making a play in practice and making a play in the game.
(Small School Players) -- You want to see a guy who makes this jump and is not out of place, and
with [Iupati] and [Joique Bell] we've seen that, they're not out of place here. No doubt, when you
evaluate a running back you want to see it live when there's tackling, there's a huge difference.
In practice, nobody is leaving their feet -- you can evaluate wide receivers and quarterbacks that way, even
offensive linemen. It's difficult to evaluate RB (and LB) that way, because until you see them finish a run (or tackle), it's not the same. The game will be very important for [Bell].
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Tony Sparano |
Miami Dolphins Head Coach Tony Sparano
(Advantages of Coaching the Senior Bowl) -- Tremendous advantage, it's one of the reasons when the opportunity came our way that we wanted it. I see it as an advantage to get close to these players and learn a little about them, it's been great for me to learn about the players and to pick their brain.
(Individual Meetings) -- You're asking more about some things personally -- background and family information, family history. Things that are important to them from a football standpoint; organization philosophy and how they might fit. Some of those things could last, depending who you're talking to, five minutes to a half hour.
(X's and O's) -- Not right now. Especially in this opportunity, you certainly see enough of the players from a football background so that's not an issue. As you get on closer to the combine and individual workouts, you can spend more time with them from a football standpoint. At the combine, one of the things I like to do with our staff is to have a block of time when you get the player in the room is to ask them specific football questions and put them on the spot a little more.
(On the Make-up of Team) -- Learning a lot about it, no question about it. I think some of the players here could tell you, we tested them on that this morning: smart, disciplined and tough, and those are the things we're able to find out right now. These practices are pretty physical, so you can see their toughness. What you do in three days doesn't erase what you did in three or four years in college. There is plenty of film to study what a guy has done, but the learning end of things is something you can get here which is valuable.
(North/South Rosters) -- I just know that looking at the roster and the preparation we've done before coming here that there was a lot of players I'd be interested in, on both teams.
(Cody/3-4 Defense) -- When you find a guy that's that big and can play that position, and you look around the league at the teams that have those types of players you realize how rare they are. More teams are running the 3-4 right now, so if those are pieces, and every team has different needs, then once one or two players go you could be at a shortage depending how deep the draft is.
(On Tim Tebow) -- He was better today, felt a little more comfortable with some of the things we were asking him to do. That just tells you, in two days, this thing is actually getting slower for him, which is good, shows how smart of a player he is. He processes information very easily, so this is going to slow down for him a bunch and when that happens, he's able to play faster. I've seen him get better today in a couple of different areas and was real happy for him.
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LeGarrette Blount |
Oregon Running Back LeGarrett Blount
(On Senior Season) -- I don't regret coming back (for my senior season), after I got suspended I did everything they asked me to do so I could come back.
(On Lions Coaches) -- To play this game at the next level you have to play it fast and hard, you have to finish your runs. This game is a lot faster than college football and you learn that quickly. I have to use my size to my advantage, being balanced when I run and staying low.
(On Punch) -- I just tell them exactly what happened. It was a mistake on my behalf, I shouldn't have let my emotions get out of control. Expectations for myself and the team were high, and we didn't perform like we wanted to. It was just a bad night all together. I have learned to keep my composure and watch my temper. You're going to have bad games and bad days, but the way I handled that situation was a mistake.
(Playing in Senior Bowl) -- I was excited when I found out that I was invited. I'm happy that I'm getting this chance, and everything's been going great since I stepped back on the field.
(On Reinstatement) -- It was very important, I wanted to be a part of the season, and have the chance to go to (and win) the Rose Bowl. It was like a long nightmare, I just wanted to get back out there and support my teammates.
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Dexter McCluster |
Ole Miss RB/WR Dexter McCluster
(Make-Up Test) -- I thought of myself. I'm a competitor, I'm very smart, and I give it 110 percent, every play, every day. [Sparano] saying that made me think of myself, I felt like I fit that make-up. He let us know about the Dolphins and how that make-up went, and he wanted us to be that, so we're doing our best to do that.
(Finding Ways to Get Ball) -- However they want to get me the ball, I'll take it. I'm not a selfish player, I am a team player but I will never deny the ball. I'm versatile enough to get the ball out of the backfield, a direct snap from center, or in the slot. I feel like I'm very valuable, just give me a shot and I won't let you down.
(RB or WR?) -- The first thing is, wherever they want me, I'll be there, whether it's punt return, kick return, slot receiver or running back. I will let them know they will get everything out of me, because this is my make-up and I want to get better. I take everything full force and head-on, hard work has paid off so I'm not going to change now.
(His Size) -- I never shy away from contact. People look at me and say I'm not the biggest player, and I know that. With my heart and passion for the game, I don't care how tall or big you are, I want to make sure that you know who I am by the end of the day. That's just who I am, I've never had a problem with finishing and I'm not afraid of contact. I have the speed to get around and create separation, so I just want to show what I can do.
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Brandon Graham |
Michigan DE/OLB Brandon Graham
(His Size) -- I don't worry about that, I just continue to work hard. My motor is at a high level right now and I need to stay focused on the task. I just need to make plays but whereever the coaches want me to be is where I'll be.
(NFL Comparison) -- LaMarr Woodley was the one that taught me most of my stuff when I came in as a freshman. I try to imitate everything I see from him. I only had two years with him, but he was a great player. I had a great coach in Steve Stripling, and I had guys like Alan Branch who showed me how to use my hands.
(Practicing vs. Jake Long) -- Going against him every day, he played every down like it was the game so he got me ready too. [Playing on the same defense as] Woodley, Branch and Hall had a lot of impact.
(3-4 OLB) -- I played linebacker all my life. I came in to Michigan at 305, and they put me down as a DE. Stuff happens for a reason, I'm in the best position possible for myself as a defensive end, but if the coaches want me to stand up, I'll show them that I can drop back and cover if that's what they want me to do.
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Geno Atkins |
Georgia Defensive Tackle Geno Atkins
(Pro Game) -- Need to work on my fundamentals and make sure everything is perfect. At the next level everything is faster and harder and it's all about technique.
(College Position) -- I played nose and 3-technique. We'd base our scheme depending on the (opposing) team. I'd be okay if they want to move me to linebacker or defensive end.
(Sr. Bowl with Jeff Owens) -- I was surprised I'd have a teammate that I know well and someone right next to me that I mesh well with. We were both excited to be going to the Senior Bowl.
(Best OL Here) -- They're all pretty good. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses, so we've been watching film on them to try to exploit their weaknesses.
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(May 31) --
Welcome to Sideline Scouting - Season Two! We're glad you're back with us as we prepare for the 2011 NFL draft.
Even with the uncertainty of the 2011 NFL season, there will be a rookie draft regardless and we're glad to help you prepare
for the big day. Over the next couple of weeks the site will be under minor reconstruction as we
shift toward our 2011 content.
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