Mitch

Just watched the Senior Bowl again and was able to look closely at our three picks---and here's a summary of what I saw:

Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma:

* Started the game at RCB.

* CBs are at a disadvantage because they have to play off and they cannot press---so this needs to be taken into account.

* That said, he gave up a couple of catches to Joe Adams on short passes in front of him, but he was quick and sudden making the tackles, the second of which was so good that he stripped Adams and caused a fumble that the defense recovered.

* One one play 15 yards down field, Adams and Fleming made contact---and it looked to me like Adams pushed off, but Fleming was called for an illegal contact penalty, which was waved off because Adams had made the catch.

* No WR ever got past him deep.

* He made an outstanding play late in the game where Brandon Weeden tried to sell an underneath hitch to then throw over the top of Fleming, only Fleming did not bite and made an easy interception.

* Was very good on STs, especially as a blocker, as his blocks on two occasions helped to spring Isaiah Pead for long returns.

Comment: one could make the case that he was the best CB in the game--forcing a fumble and making a game sealing interception. The kid plays with a flair and he's quick and physical.

Senio Kelemete, LT, Washington.

* Played LT---alternating time with Mike Adams, who started the game.

* Only missed one block in the entire game---it was a designed scheme for Kelemete to cut block Quinton Coples with LG Tony Bergstrom there to pick Coples up after the cut, only Coples made his best play of the game, leaping over Kelemete, storming past Bergstrom and sacking Russell Wilson, who ran backwards instead of stepping up into the pocket, a la Kevin Kolb.

* The thing is---the coaches didn't have to resort to cut blocking Coples because Kelemete was having no problem at all locking him and Courtney Upshaw up as neither one of them ever got close to the QB.

* In the running game, Kelemete was stellar---he sealed off Malik Jackson perfectly on a good run inside that block by Isaiah Pead, and Kelemete sealed off every other run block versus Coples, Upshaw, Jackson, Ingram and a couple of very good inside seals on Texas A&M's Tony Jerod-Eddie.

* Extremely well coached---because he has a very good, quick set of counter moves---for example on one running play, he tried to influence Coples to the inside in order to seal him off inside. Coples sensed the influence and tried to swim back through to avoid the seal, so Kelemete did what all smart, well-coached offensive linemen are taught to do, he adjusted quickly to the swim, got under Coples' pads and rode him out of the play the way Coples wanted to go.

Another example---was in pass protection, Melvin Ingram, who did not start the game (position question?) and played mostly at DT when he did play, was once lined up outside and tried to run his patented fake outside storm the inside gap rush. Kelemete set up quickly to the outside, and was able to redirect quickly enough to get a enough of a hand on Ingram to push him too far inside.

Comment: Watching Mike Adams' performance in the game as comparison---Kelemete was more consistent, played with better balance, strength and body control. Having watched Kelemete stop Quinton Coples and Courtney Upshaw in their tracks on numerous occasions in pass protection, and having watched him seal off every one of his run blocks while getting off the ball with a real snap to his game, in addition to being able to counter versus unpredictable moves, I strongly believe he could be a good left tackle in the NFL. What I love about him too is he's so much in control---he never once jumped the snap---his setup is quick and balanced---he packs a punch on initial contact but instantly maintains his balance and his firm base---and he's not a grabber at all, which so many of the tackles in today's football are. I think he would make an excellent LG as well...and I was expecting to see skills that translated more that that position and was very pleasantly and unexpectedly surprised to see him put in a near flawless performance versus three of the top pass rushers in the draft (two first rounders and an early second rounder).

Ryan Lindley, QB, San Diego St.

* Was the second QB in after Brandon Weeden---Weeden struggled in the game and threw 2 interceptions and his team turned the ball over another time when Jamell Fleming stripped Joe Adams.

* Lindley's frist drive was about 65 yards---he threw two perfect passes to Juron Criner, one on an out pass on third and medium and another into the left seam for 18 yards on a 2nd and 10. The drive ended in a field goal inside the ten when Lindley narrowly missed Criner on a back shoulder fade and then when Bobby Wagner got a little piece of a skinny post pass to Criner on 3rd and goal.

* For the remainder of the game, Lindley and Criner were having miscommunication problems, as Criner seemed to be running shallower routes than what Lindley was expecting. This is often the case in All-Star games---

* The NFLN crew said that the coaches during the week felt that Lindley was the most comfortable QB of all the QBs there---that he was perhaps the best prepared for the NFL having worked under center his senior year, and that his arm strength was very good.

* Charles Davis said a couple of the coaches likened Lindley to Andy Dalton---Mike Mayock, who did not seem very high on Lindley because of his career 57% completion rate and Mayock kept harping on that. So Mayock and the crew threw out another name: Jake Locker---because of the completion percentage issues.

* Mayock was quick to praise Lindley for the absolute 110 mph rope he threw 35 yards up the left sideline that WR Jeff Fuller dropped.

Comment: I liked what I saw in this game. I've seen a lot of tape on him---and I thought his footwork (3-5 step drops) and ballhanding (exchanges and handoffs) were excellent---he hangs in the pocket nicely and he has a big arm and in this game it looked plenty accurate to me. His quick hitch passes were out very quickly and right on the money---with tight spirals as well, which isn't easy when you have to throw it that quickly. I think that with good coaching and some continuity in the system and with the WRs, this kid could be very good---

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only1one

Duckjake

Two things on Lindley:

The gurus talk about how winning in college isn't important but physical skills are. That's a plus for Lindley. The other thing they talk about is number of games started and accuracy. Lindley fails the accuracy test.

As far as his fit with the Cards he probably couldn't have been selected by a worse team for him. He appears to be the same type player as Double Duece and DD has a two year head start on him and all those wins last season. And then there's Kolb who is going to have a huge head start on all 3 of the other QBs because of the money he's been paid. Of course being the #2-3 QB on an NFL team is a pretty good gig. Several guys have made a multi year career out of it.

Oh and one more very important thing that just occurred to me about Lindley. If he's big and has a big arm and has a big accuracy problem why didn't Oakland trade up to draft him in the first round?

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Forget the pay. Can the guy play.

WildBB

Awesome, thanks. Another reason to have real hope that this is an above average to very good class.

I don't know how teams take so many players rated in the 50's and 60's so early in the drafts and leave these players for late in drafts.

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PT - 42 - 40 NFC CHAMPS 2008
JS - CoL - RIP - #1

Duckjake

Different teams with different evaluations. Especially if you aren't like fans who judge a draft pick not on talent or fit for your team but where he was rated vs where you drafted him. Getting the 67th rated player in Elton Brown with the 111th pick wasn't exactly a steal was it?

The fans would hate me as GM as I'd take guys I really wanted as soon as I could. I could never roll the dice on a guy I had high on my board still being there 32 or 64 picks later just so I could get "value".

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Forget the pay. Can the guy play.

TJ

FTFY

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Duckjake

Dang, in addition to Sendlein and Sam Acho we'd have Michael Griffin and Brian Orakpo and Michael Huff and Earl Thomas and Lamarr Houston and Jermichael Finley and Henry Melton and Aaron Ross and Jamaal Charles and Derrick Johnson and Brian Robison and David Thomas and Tarell Brown and Phil Dawson and.... well, no, even as much of a homer as I am I wouldn't have signed Blake Gideon or drafted Chris Simms.

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Forget the pay. Can the guy play.

Duckjake

Wow look at the Defense you could have with just former Longhorns!

DE Brian Robison
NT Casey Hampton
DE Henry Melton
OLB Sam Acho
ILB Derrick Johnson
ILB Emmanuel Acho
OLB Brian Orakpo
CB Tarell Brown/Cedric Griffin
CB Aaron Ross/Quentin Jammer
S Michael Griffin
S Earl Thomas

Hook 'em

After all these years still can't figure out what the problem is with Texas and QBs. The last really good NFL Qb we've produced was Bobby Layne, still the career passing yards leader for the Detroit Lions, and he last played in 1962!

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Forget the pay. Can the guy play.

TJ

Fair enough, just keep Vince Young away from my team, please.

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Duckjake

LOL See my edit.

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Forget the pay. Can the guy play.

Goodyear Card

Maybe we could trade him to Oakland for next years 1st round pick

Duckjake

Given Lindley's talents we might get a first and a third. I wonder if he could change his name to JaMarcus Gannon.

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Forget the pay. Can the guy play.

az jam

Because Al Davis passed away this past season.

Vermont Maverick

You should be Pete Carroll's GM. He would love you. We are going to get a chance to see how that works with the super-reaches of Bruce Irvin and Russell Wilson - players whom Seattle fell in love with.

az jam

Excellent analysis Mitch. Here are some updates from the Senior Bowl practices from draftcountdown.com:

• Oklahoma CB Jamell Fleming enjoyed an outstanding day. An outstanding athlete with a smooth backpedal and make-up speed, Fleming was able to adjust to balls that were underthrown by Kellen Moore and always seemed to be in position to make a play. Fleming also got physical at the line of scrimmage on almost every rep during the 1-on-1

• Most of San Diego St. QB Ryan Lindley’s passes were in the dirt. Even Lindley’s short passes were often thrown at receivers feet. Lindley was just highly inaccurate and never got his timing down, sailing most passes deep and overthrowing his targets. With all that said, Lindley did have one great pass deep to Chris Rainey over Janoris Jenkins, but it was one of the lone good throws on the day

Washington’s Senio Kelemete continued to work at left tackle but it’s hard to imagine the former Husky manning that position at the next level. Cam Johnson beat Kelemete in 1-on-1’s with a good first step and Kelemete just couldn’t recover. However, Kelemete did well against Billy Winn when the blocker got his hands inside and stood the potential early round pick up. Coming into the week most projected Kelemete as an offensive guard and the evidence appears to be mounting in that direction

52brandon

I was shocked when we took a CB in the 3rd, but the more I see, the more impressed I am with Fleming. We can have a really shut-down D for years with all of this young talent (as long as we re-sign CC)

Kelemente will probably still have a shot at LT here. Levi has been far from impressive until very recently. Hopefully he keeps it up, but it's good to have competition

Lindley is the most confusing pick. A project QB would be all well and good if we didn't already have one. Especially with similar strengths and weaknesses. Maybe he was BPA at the time, but I don't particularly see a use unless they're losing faith in Skelton, which I don't see just yet