Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Mark Schofield shares some of the highlights from the offensive line media sessions at the NFL Combine.
Thursday morning at the Indianapolis Convention Center was, for lack of a better word, imposing.
After all, the men who will be tasked with protecting the likes of Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Josh Allen and the rest of the 32 starting quarterbacks in the National Football League had their chance to address the media at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Here are some takeaways from what the big men had to say.
If the Titans are looking to add a guard in the 2022 NFL draft, Johnson should definitely be on their radar.
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One area of need the Tennessee Titans might have upon entering the 2022 NFL draft is at the guard position.
We say might because that depends on the future of left guard Rodger Saffold, who is no doubt a candidate to be a cap casualty in 2022.
Saffold has been a great leader and a mauler in the run game during his time in Tennessee, but his pass protection was sorely lacking in 2021, and he was constantly banged-up during games.
If Saffold is cut, the Titans might have an in-house solution in 2020 UDFA Aaron Brewer, who has been solid as a backup the past two seasons.
However, the jury is still out on if Brewer is not only capable of being a starter, but also being an upgrade over Saffold.
If the Titans find themselves in the market for a new left guard, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay believes Boston College product Zion Johnson would be Tennessee’s “dream draft target.”
Tennessee would be fortunate to land Boston College guard Zion Johnson when it’s the team’s turn to select on Day 1.
Johnson is a beefy 6’2″, 314-pound guard with a powerful playstyle. He has a low center of gravity and is extremely strong, making him almost impossible to beat with a bull rush.
If he lands with the Titans, the Eagles product will pave lanes with ease for superstar running back Derrick Henry while also offering adequate protection for quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
A two-year starter at Boston College, Johnson has experience playing both left guard and left tackle during that span. He projects to be a guard at the next level but could fill in on the end if required.
Tennessee would be getting an immediate contributor with this selection, a perfect pickup for a team looking to make a run before its window closes.
There’s a lot to like about Johnson.
While he projects as a guard at the next level, he does have at least some versatility thanks to his playing tackle in college. Furthermore, Johnson appears to be ready to contribute right away. The 6-foot-3, 316-pound interior lineman also excels in a zone-run scheme
Joe Marino of The Draft Network believes that Johnson is at his best in pass protection, which is good news for a Titans offense that needs to improve in that area. Marino calls Johnson “above-average” in the run game.
“Johnson is a smart and physical blocker with consistent technique. He plays within himself and is rarely caught with poor posture or poor control of his frame. I believe he is best in pass protection but he’s still an above average run blocker that is comfortable operating in space. Johnson has plug-and-play potential at guard in the NFL and given how consistent his technique is, I would keep him on the left side. He has the makeup of an above average starter that can lock down a starting role at least through a second contract.”
Johnson is one of three offensive linemen we’re on board with at the end of the first round. He, along with center Tyler Linderbaum (if Ben Jones leaves in free agency) and tackle Trevor Penning, should all be on Tennessee’s radar at No. 26 overall.
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Boston College OL Zion Johnson is up next in Unpacking Future Packers, a countdown previewing the 2022 NFL draft for Packers Wire.
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The last time the Green Bay Packers selected an offensive lineman in the first round was in 2011 when they selected Derek Sherrod with the 32nd overall pick.
A player that could put an end to that streak is Zion Johnson. The Boston College offensive lineman checks in at No. 61 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
Johnson was a 19-game starter at Davidson prior to transferring to Boston College in 2019.
During his first season at Boston College, Johnson started seven games at left guard. In 2020, Johnson started 11 games at left tackle.
This past season, Johnson kicked back inside to guard but made one start at left tackle.
“Zion Johnson had another stellar year at BC leading to his being named to multiple All-America teams and the All-ACC first-team again,” Niraj Patel, a contributor for BC Interruption, said. “He allowed zero pressures this season and graded out seventh-best among all guards in the country, per PFF. With some injuries along the offensive line, Johnson was often called upon to shift positions to get the next best man up. The man is just a star who can make life much easier on coaches. Primarily though, he returned to his more natural guard position this year and crushed it.”
A former zero-star recruit, Johnson turned himself into one of the best offensive linemen in college football. He finished his career at Boston College with 30 career starts (18 at left guard and 12 at left tackle).
Johnson is a plug-and-play starter at guard, but he has the versatility to kick out and play right tackle at the next level. He even took snaps at center during Senior Bowl week. That type of versatility could make him an attractive target for the Packers with the 28th overall pick.
“He can do it all,” Patel said. “He’s played in a couple of different blocking schemes in his time at BC and excelled at both. He also showed positional flexibility. In 2020, with a new zone-based scheme, Zion ended up playing a lot at left tackle. But we also later discovered this was due to an injury to another player. The staff trusted Zion to make the move even though he was so dominant at guard and he adapted well adding to his repertoire. He’s proven he can do so much. Heck, he even took snaps at center at the Senior Bowl. It’s clear he still projects as a top guard prospect, but that versatility in a moment’s notice can come in very handy.”
Johnson has a strong base and is able to anchor down against bull rushers. He’s stout and is a technician in pass protection. He has strong hands to quickly stonewall defenders. He displays a high football IQ and is quick to diagnose stunts and twists. According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson gave up just one sack and three hurries all season.
“He has a great anchor and prevents his opponent from even sniffing the quarterback,” Patel said. “With his steady frame and big hands, he generates a lot of power. Not to mention his arm length advantage. Pass protection is really where he is at his best. Zion’s a technician who shows great consistency. He handled himself at guard and tackle, allowing only one sack in his BC career. At 6-3, 316 he has the ideal size for an interior blocker, but that tackle experience definitely allowed him to improve even further in pass protection.”
Johnson is a mauler as a run blocker. He’s an outstanding finisher and is able to create a ton of movement to open up running lanes. He plays with outstanding leverage. The two-time captain has the athleticism to climb to the second level with ease.
“BC had a 1,000-yard rusher this year, and two years ago, as you Packer faithful have come to know, AJ Dillon put on a show,” Patel said. “Zion was a force to be reckoned with and paved the way on these lines for these tailbacks. Having played in a triple-option, power run, and zone scheme, he’s certainly seen his fair share of action as a run blocker. He’s not viewed as the most athletic in space, but he wins at the point of attack and can knock guys down. He generates a good push and clears gaping holes with good hip movement and pure strength.”
The last time the Packers selected a guard in the first round was 1994 when they selected Aaron Taylor with the 16th overall pick.
The Packers have had a ton of success drafting interior lineman on day three of the draft, but if Johnson is there his talent may be too good to pass up for Gutekunst.
Johnson fits the type that Gutekunst likes to select in the first round. He’s going to test through the roof and he’s only 22 years old.
Johnson is a plug-and-play starter at guard and has the ability to play right tackle. A future offensive line that has Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, and Newman in the interior with David Bakhtiari at left tackle has the makings of the best offensive line in football.
“I can’t have any tomato cans on the line with a franchise quarterback behind them,” Patel said. “These pass rushers today are going to eat the weak links up regardless of the help. Among the interior guys, Johnson will be a hit, and a safe pick too. He’s a high IQ football player and an absolute technician on the line.”
If the Packers indeed “run it back” with this core group, they’ll be looking for players that could provide an instant impact. Johnson could start immediately at right guard and be a decade-long starter for the Packers.
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Five Senior Bowl studs that the Browns should consider in the upcoming NFL draft from @joshkeatley16. #Browns
The nightmarish 2021 season is officially over and thank goodness as Cleveland Brown fans we didn’t have to witness a Cincinnati Super Bowl victory. At the Browns Wire we have been focused on the 2022 NFL Draft for a while and our sights have been set on what the possibilities are at the 13th pick and what missing pieces are needed for Cleveland to reach the level of play we saw in Cincinnati.
The Senior Bowl was recently completed and as always it featured a ton of talent that would look good in Cleveland. The following are five prospects that would be ideal for the Browns and looked great during Senior Bowl week based on reports and publicly available videos.
Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez and Cole Topham break down the 2022 NFL draft prospects that made themselves money at the Senior Bowl.
Now that the 2022 Senior Bowl is over, it is time to reflect back on the meaning of the week.
Which NFL draft prospects helped themselves the most throughout their time in Mobile? Let’s dive in with our winners and risers.
Our winner(s): Kenny Pickett (Pitt) and Malik Willis (Liberty)
Pickett refused to have his hands measured at the Senior Bowl, citing an issue with his double-jointed finger. No matter how much stock you place in the hand size of quarterbacks, Pickett was accurate and put together quality performances across all three days of practice. He was accurate, progressed through his reads quickly, and got the ball out in a timely fashion.
Throughout the week, Willis was an interesting study. His lower body fundamentals can be a mess at times in the pocket and Willis will need a strong coaching staff to develop that area at the next level. However, his ability to extend plays, find receivers on the run, and throw off-platform are traits to salivate over. The ball zips out his hand and I did not see a pass wilt on him all week.
Our biggest riser: Carson Strong (Nevada)
Like Willis, Strong entered Senior Bowl week as a wild card of sorts. By the event’s conclusion, Strong had done enough to disassociate himself from that label. For starters, he clarified the medicals around his knee and did not wear a brace after sporting one all through the 2021 season at Nevada. This resulted in increased mobility and comfortableness exiting the pocket and operating on bootlegs. Strong was fearless throwing the deep ball in practice, showing off his cannon and throw power. Sometimes, the ball would have too much arc, which increased the hang time, and often the receiver would have to sit on the end of the rope to make the catch. Nevertheless, Strong proved he has the intangibles to play quarterback in the NFL.
Our winner(s): Abram Smith (Baylor) and Brian Robinson (Alabama)
A compact rusher at 5’10” and 220 pounds, Smith was the best all-around running back in Mobile. A former linebacker, Smith showcased that physicality by punching through the line with vigor and running through tacklers with his frame. His deceiving burst allowed him to quickly dip in and out of the box.
Robinson performed well in every facet of the position but gained the respect of defenders for his work in pass protection. When practice was moved indoors on Thursday, Robinson put together his best showing. He bowled over Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall in a National Championship blitz pickup rematch. It was one of the more memorable moments at the Senior Bowl this year.
Our biggest riser: Rachaad White (Arizona State)
White introduced himself to those on the East Coast who fell asleep before he fueled the Sun Devil offense this season. White brought all the traits to the Senior Bowl that made him a star in ASU’s backfield. His jump-cut ability, soft hands out of the backfield, and methodical approach behind the trenches to allow the offensive line to root themselves in their blocks are all translatable to today’s NFL playstyle.
Our winner(s): Christian Watson (NDSU) and Calvin Austin III (Memphis)
Hulking 6’4” size and a spiderweb-like catch radius. Fluid hips and freakish speed that defy the physics of his frame. Strong hands and tracking skills to reel in the football through traffic. Watson dominated in pretty much every aspect of the wide receiver position at the Senior Bowl and quickly garnered the “unguardable” tag from the media in attendance.
Austin III was expected to be one of the Senior Bowl’s high-profile wideouts but surprised on Monday by measuring in two inches shorter than expected. The 5’7” speedster evaporated concerns over his height by becoming untouchable off the line and separating consistently on every level of his route. Austin’s electric route running and dauntless mentality was thrilling to watch and won the respect of a talented American defensive back group.
Our biggest riser: Bo Melton (Arizona State)
A legacy product out of Rutgers, Melton showed off one of the more advanced release packages at the Senior Bowl. Melton displayed exceptional short-area quickness and overall smoothness as a route runner. He ran a technical route tree, incorporated rocker steps as well as hesitation at the top of his stems, and was used heavily as a gadget player for the National offense in 11-on-11.
Our winner(s): Trey McBride (Colorado State) and Jeremy Ruckert (Ohio State)
McBride, the John Mackey Award winner, reaffirmed that he is this year’s No. 1 tight. Not only did he flash by catching nearly everything thrown his way during practices, but McBride showed athleticism in his routes to create separation, ran through arm tackles to pick up yards after the catch and finished plays with aggression. Further, McBride displayed the chops as a blocker. He capped off his impressive Senior Bowl week with a touchdown in the game.
Ruckert’s production was limited because of the offense he played in at Ohio State. Throughout the week, not only was he adept as a blocker but he showed why he is going to be far more reliable in the passing game as a pro. Ruckert looked smooth with his routes and his ball skills stood out, as he made grabs away from his body.
Our biggest riser: Greg Dulcich (UCLA)
McBride reassured that he remains the top tight end in this class, but Dulcich made a statement as one of the guys right behind him. At his best catching the football, Dulcich displayed fluid downfield strides and an understanding of route depth, with vacuum-like hands to reel in everything thrown his way. For a team like Chargers in need of someone to fill the “F” role, Dulcich is worth considering.
Our winner(s): Zion Johnson (Boston College) and Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa)
Johnson was our top guard coming into the week and he only helped maintain that spot with his showing throughout the week. While it took some time for him to adjust to center after spending his time in college at tackle and guard, Johnson quickly found his groove. With a combination of play strength, lateral quickness, leverage and proper hand placement, defenders struggled to get by him. He also provided a surge in the running game.
After facing and dominating small-school pass rushers, this was a big test for the presumed first-rounder. While it wasn’t always pretty for him as he struggled with leveraging and keeping his balance against power at times, Penning improved each day, with his mauler’s mentality and nasty temperament when finishing plays being the highlight of the week.
Our biggest riser: Cole Strange (Chattanooga)
After Quinn Meinerz put together a dominant week coming out of a Division III program, everyone was wondering if there would be another small-school stud to follow in his footsteps, and it was Strange. When isolated in pass protection in one-on-one drills, Strange stymied his opponents with a great anchor, base, and power absorption and the footwork to mirror. Further, he created consistent movement in the run game. Strange made his case to be a Day 2 selection.
The 2022 Senior Bowl was jam-packed with talent. Who should the Vikings keep an eye on?
The Senior Bowl is a fantastic event for many reasons, but the biggest reason is how much you can learn from this class. Over 100 players attend the event in Mobile to show off their skills and speak with teams. Throughout the week, players are put through drills to showcase their skills and traits.
The Senior Bowl staff, led by director Jim Nagy, has done a fantastic job not only finding players from high profile programs, but also standouts from the lower levels. These lower level guys usually have dominant tape, but this platform gives teams the ability to see them compete on an even playing field.
Players like Ali Marpet, Kyle Dugger and Carson Wentz have massively benefitted from being invited to Mobile.
When down in Mobile, there are a lot of different things you can take away from the event. Along with learning about the players, it’s also a major outlet for scouts and media to converse and learn more about what other teams think of the class and to hear what rumors are swirling.
After having been in Mobile this past week, here are the five biggest takeaways for the Minnesota Vikings.
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Highlighting the NFL draft prospects who made themselves money at the 2022 Senior Bowl.
Another Senior Bowl is officially in the books, and just like every other installment, this year’s week of festivities saw a handful of NFL draft prospects send their stock in the right direction with impressive performances.
Here are my picks for the biggest winners from the 2022 Senior Bowl:
7 potential #Eagles targets that stood out the most during the #SeniorBowl #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE #NFLDraft2022
The path to the NFL draft started in Mobile, Alabama this weekend after several impressive days of practice, college football’s top senior players put on quite the performance as Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder led the National team to 20-10 win over American team.
Ridder threw two touchdown passes on the day and the National team led by Boye Mafe logged eight sacks in the exhibition matchup.
Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett was 6-of-6 passing for 89 yards and a touchdown despite only playing the first quarter, while Liberty’s Malik Willis led all rushers in the game, but had moments where he struggled as a passer, amassing just 11 yards.
With three first round picks, the Eagles will have an opportunity to amass talent on both sides of the ball and here are the seven prospects that stood out the most on Saturday.
The Jets should have their eyes on these eight prospects during Saturday’s Senior Bowl.
The Jets spent the week in Mobile closely evaluating the talent taking part in Senior Bowl practices.
Now, it’s time for the real thing.
The National Team, which is led by New York’s coaching staff, will take on the American Team in the annual Senior Bowl game on Saturday afternoon. Practice evaluations are arguably the most important aspect of the Senior Bowl, but the game will provide the Jets with one last look at some of the 2022 NFL draft prospects they fancy in live-action.
Taking care of business in a practice setting is one thing. Getting the job done during a game is a completely different story. Which prospects should the Jets be watching closely on Saturday? Here are eight of the best to keep an eye on.
Cornerback Roger McCreary and offensive lineman Zion Johnson were standouts during day two of the 2022 Senior Bowl practices.
Senior Bowl week is still underway in Mobile, Ala., as the predraft process marched on despite the rainy conditions.
Even though the weather wasn’t too favorable for some of the perimeter positions, there were still players who stood out and made their impressions to the National Team coaches (New York Jets) and American Team staff (Detroit Lions).
Although the Houston Texans don’t have a coaching staff as that search for the fifth coach in team history continues, their scouts were present to soak up the talent on display who can complete the rebuild.
Here are five takeaways from a wet afternoon in Mobile:
