Thoughts From Day One of Senior Bowl Week:
January 23, 2012
SUNDAY, JANUARY 22:
This is my first Senior Bowl experience, and let me say it is a bit of a whirlwind experience. In addition to quite a bit of travel, Senior Bowl week is packed full of events. From practices, press conferences, receptions and the game itself, the week is filled with things to keep everybody occupied. Tonight was the opening night of Senior Bowl Week and the NFL Kickoff Reception, in addition to the opening press conference. Here are some of my thoughts from tonight’s event:
- It is a bit of a mad house. You have 32 teams represented there (each with multiple scouts and personnel), media, bloggers, agents, sponsors, invited guests, and about 100 plus prospects shuffling through.
- Teams and media are fighting to get to talk to each player (teams usually win that battle). And this is after players flew or drove into town in the last couple of hours.
- After one team is done with a player he wanders around until the next team grabs him in for an interview.
- The Interviews are another interesting facet, because it appears that each team approaches it differently. Some teams commandeer a table or area which is that particular team’s ‘station’. From this point they send out their scouts (and presumably interns) to go find all the available prospects and bring them back to home base where they can be interviewed or given a questionnaire. While other teams go out and interview players individually.
- How teams interview also seemed to differ by team. Some teams appeared to place a much greater emphasis on their questionnaire, and wouldn’t even ask players questions, while other teams focused more on getting to know a player and maybe highlighting a particular game or two.
- One of the most interesting things I found was the fact that teams due their due diligence on everyone. Not only were the higher level draft picks like Melvin Ingram and Alameda Ta’amu, popular interview targets, but even special teams guys like punter Drew Butler and long snapper Josh Harris. I saw one team talk with Harris for at least 10 minutes, which was as much as the same team talked to RB Doug Martin.
Thoughts From the Quinton Coples Press Conference:
- Coples was chosen from the 100 players there to have the honor of answering questions at the first press conference.
- He was well mannered and impeccably spoken, responding to each question with poise and class. Including questions about the difficulties at UNC the last couple of years.
- Coples thanked the Senior Bowl committee for the opportunity to represent the game.
- He said that he is working out as both a 3-4 OLB and defensive end, and expects to play defensive end this week in Mobile.
- While not acknowledging a preference for his future position, he made it very clear that he understands that the NFL game leans toward the rush linebacker position and he is capable of doing that.
- Said that due to various blitz packages that he believed he stood up about a quarter of the time last year.
- Said that he wants to have fun and look forward to the opportunity this week.
- To me Coples character showed through and that is going to be a major benefit to his draft stock. He’ll interview well, and coaches will love his maturity.
Tomorrow begins with the players Weigh-in, followed by the first practice. Fanspeak will be covering it LIVE here all week, and will have all your Senior Bowl needs covered .
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