Milians

Here:

MOBILE, Ala. -- This year's crop of talent at the Senior Bowl compares favorably with the last few years. A couple of the quarterbacks and defensive backs elevated those groups, but the wide receiver corps was disappointing. This year's group of offensive linemen in Mobile has some talent. The defensive ends and linebackers will have a better chance to showcase their skills in Saturday's game (ESPN, 4 ET). Overall, there seems to be more balance to the roster this year.


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D'Brickashaw Ferguson was dominant during Senior Bowl practices.Virginia OL D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams were unquestionably the best players this week during the Senior Bowl practices. They were spectacular.

Ferguson displayed great hands, long arms and good feet. He was the best player on the field. Williams showed a burst to daylight that is second to none. He displayed great vision, cutting ability and feet. As a pure natural runner, he has very few peers.

QBs Jay Cutler from Vanderbilt and Brodie Croyle from Alabama are among the players who raised their stock this week.

Croyle moved from the third or fourth round into the second. He was electric during Wednesday's practice. His arm is outstanding -- as good as any QB I've seen down here in the last few years. He was accurate in the pocket or on the move.

Cutler still needs to work on his accuracy, but displayed a terrific arm and good mobility. Cutler solidified himself as an early-to-mid first rounder.

USC TE Dominique Byrd and Clemson CB Tye Hill moved into the first round with great weeks at Mobile.

Byrd caught everything, showed great hand-eye coordination and outstanding natural pass-catching skills. He did a great job of sensing where the defender was. Byrd has a good feel for when the defender moves in and avoids him. His great awareness leads to yards after the catch. Byrd is not a great blocker, but that will improve with time in the weight room.

Hill just covered everyone. He displayed great coverage instincts and awareness. Hill is tough, alert, spunky, confident and loves to play the game. He responds to challenges. Hill totally blanketed Notre Dame WR Maurice Stovall in practice on Thursday. Stovall had been outstanding, but was not a factor when matched up against Hill.

Nebraska safety Daniel Bullocks showed he can cover. He also displayed toughness and a feel for coverage. He was a second-round pick and solidified that status.

Pitt OL Charles Spencer has been drawing raves from position coach Mike Munchak. The 330-pounder showed good feet and quickness this week.

USC OL Deuce Lutui was physical, strong, tough and finished his blocks. Ohio State center Nick Mangold proved something this week. He showed that he is a stronger anchor than most scouts thought. Mangold proved to be more than smart and athletic.


On the other hand

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Mathias Kiwanuka struggled with his technique this week.Boston College DE Mathias Kiwanuka and Arizona State WR Derek Hagan struggled this week. Kiwanuka had a tough time against Ferguson and needs some technique work. He plays a little high.

Hagan is a solid receiver and caught a lot of balls at ASU, but there was not a practice this week that he did not drop a ball or two. In Thursday's practice, Hagan made a good inside move on CB Will Blackmon, but then dropped a sure TD pass. He can't do that. Hagan's a frustrating prospect to watch because you see glimpses of a very good player followed by some drops. He's dropped out of the first-round. Look for him to go in the second or third round.

Penn State's Michael Robinson is not a quarterback. He's not a natural receiver, either. However, he's tough, competitive. The 218-pounder should be tried at safety. At best, he is a late-round pick.

Safety Anwar Phillips from Penn State dropped from a second-round pick into Day 2 with his Senior Bowl performance. Phillips struggled in coverage all week.

Michigan WR Jason Avant did not show speed, separation or great hands. If a WR is not fast, he needs to have great hands.

RB Jerome Harrison from Washington State is a good natural runner but did not catch the ball well down the field.


Prospects who impressed during practice
RB Joseph Addai, LSU
Safety Daniel Bullocks, Nebraska
DL Brodrick Bunkley, Florida State
TE Dominique Byrd, USC
QB Brodie Croyle
QB Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt
OL D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia
LB Chad Greenway, Iowa
RB Andre Hall, South Florida
DL Orien Harris, Miami
CB Tye Hill, Clemson
LB D'Qwell Jackson, Maryland
OL Max Jean-Gilles, Georgia
CB Kelly Jennings, Miami
DE Manny Lawson, NC State
OL Deuce Lutui, USC
Center Nick Mangold, Ohio State
FB Garrett Mills, Tulsa
WR Sinorice Moss, Miami
OL Ryan O'Callaghan, California
Safety Anthony Smith, Syracuse
OL Charles Spencer, Pittsburgh
WR Maurice Stovall, Notre Dame
DE Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech
RB DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
WR Travis Wilson, Oklahoma
DE Kamerion Wimbley, Florida State


Prospects who need a big game to impress the scouts
WR Jason Avant, Michigan
CB Will Blackmon, Boston College
OL Daryn Colledge, Boise State
OL Ryan Cook, New Mexico
OL Mike Degory, Florida
DE Elvis Dumervil, Louisville
QB Darrell Hackney, UAB
WR Derek Hagan, Arizona State
Safety Roman Harper, Alabama
CB Darnell Hunter, Miami (Ohio)
DE Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College
OL Marvin Philip, California
CB Anwar Phillips, Penn State
DB David Pittman, Northwestern State
QB Michael Robinson, Penn State
OL Albert Toeaina, Tennessee
TE T.J. Williams, NC State

TheDeuce

You heard it here folks, Matt Leinart and the "impressive" D'Qwell Jackson