Arlington wasn't the only place where there was football action happening in Texas yesterday (duh, it is Texas). Prospects were outside on a chilly field practicing for the NFLPA Game in San Antonio yesterday, trying to give their draft stock a boost before the Combine and ultimately the 2011 NFL Draft.
Taking a brief run through the practice reports from yesterday, here's the top line takeaways with a particular emphasis on players who might meet a need for the St. Louis Rams.
Who knows if it was the wind, the QBs or a very mediocre group of receivers, but it was all about the cornerbacks yesterday and Draft Scout's Chad Reuter has a report packed with CB notes. A couple notes of interest:
Josh Gatlin, CB, North Dakota State - Reuter notes his physical play and an INT in practice, but mostly it's his speed. Gatlin seems like he is "capable of sticking with any receiver in this league."
Ryan Jones, CB, Northwest Missouri State - Has the size teams look for and looked good working in press coverage yesterday. Wes Bunting from the National Football Post commented on Jones too in his report,
What I like is that he's a big, strong-looking kid who has the ability to turn and run. Plus, he showcases good balance and footwork when asked to redirect out of his breaks on throws in front of him and was tough to separate from underneath.
It sounds like a very poor group of wideouts at the NFLPA Game. Reuter and Bunting do point out a couple of names that have some upside including Murray State's Marcus Harris and Hillsdale's Andre Holmes.
Reuter points out an offensive guard to keep an eye on, Arkansas' Ray Dominquez. According to his report, Dominquez
...seemed to have found a home at guard after starting at tackle the past two years. He is still lunging a bit in one-on-one and team drills, but is not dropping his head on contact as he and teammate DeMarcus Love did all season long.
Plenty of prospects to know in both reports so be sure to check them out.