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More draft winds, plus a few baseball notes
by pstrelow , Pawsitive Press
BUFFALOS NEW WING
As noted in previous blogs, Ive thought undrafted former Tigers quarterback Cullen Harper stood a pretty favorable chance of surviving the Buffalo Bills initial rookie minicamp this weekend and making a run at the teams No. 3 quarterback job because of the underwhelming options already on their roster.
If he doesnt hang on and signed a free-agent contract as so many other undrafted QBs did ? then he really has paid dearly for his infamous text that Tommy Bowden got what he deserved.
Because regardless of perceptions about character, NFL folks will give talent a chance. And while there can be legit debate about his degree of talent ? I, for one, think he can be an NFL backup at a minimum ? his competition this weekend leaves plenty to be desired.
The other two quarterbacks hes vying with for a summer camp invite with this weekend are Washington States Gary Rogers and Midwestern States Daniel Polk.
Rogers started two of four games for the lowly Cougars last year before a back injury ended his college career. Polks college career ended in 2007, and he was considered more of a receiver prospect at the time because he was more of a running threat at quarterback.
In other words, neither remotely had GMs lighting up their cell phone to be a priority free agent as the drafts final rounds came to a close.
Of course, at this stage, beggars cant be choosers on either side. To put the free-agent tryout thing into context, Harper was joined on the Bills 30-member tryout list by North Greenville running back Rashad Cummings. Buffalo signed Columbias Ventrell Jenkins, a defensive lineman from Kentucky, as well as Furman left tackle Joel Bell, to free-agent deals.
A FITTING CONCLUSION
Blog reader Gregory Brandyburg e-mailed me a question that I thought worth expanding on.
Gregory wanted to know which of Clemsons four drafted players ? DT Dorell Scott (4supthsup round, St. Louis), S
Instant impact, Im going to go with Hamlin.
In Dallas, he immediately steps into the backup strong safety role behind fifth-year pro Gerald Sensabaugh ? coincidentally, cousin to Clemson backup corner Coty Sensabaugh. Gerald, it should be noted, was signed to only a one-year deal, and Jacksonville made no effort to try to re-sign him. Hamlins greatest competition initially for the backup spot will be another 5th-round pick, Cincinnatis DeAngelo Smith, who played corner in college.
A lot of folks thought Hamlin projected as a situational player in their scheme, but Dallas employs the same ?quarters secondary coverage that Clemson used under Vic Koenning, so there should be an instant comfort there. Plus, if he simply doesnt bite on half the play-action passes, hell be beloved in comparison to the positions predecessor, Roy Williams.
In one year, it could be an all-Hamlin secondary, with Michael playing alongside free safety Ken Hamlin (no relation).
Clemons would be my second choice, because I think hell be an instant special teams contributor there and should displace Tyrone Culver as the backup free safety behind free-agent signee Gibril Wilson. Likewise, Miami is instituting ?quarters coverage, and Parcells bunch takes a liking to consistent, low-key performers (and he takes both to extremes).
I question Scotts fit in St. Louis. By nearly all personnel accounts, Scott profiled as a nose tackle (aka ?5-technique,) for a 3-4 defense, serving as a run-plugger who took up 1-2 interior offensive linemen in order to keep their hands off playmaking linebackers.
New Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, former the N.Y. Giants defensive coordinator and trained under esteemed Eagles defensive coordinator Jimmy Johnson, prefers quick pass-rush types on the interior.
Justin Tuck, Scott is not.
St. Louis has only two bona fide interior tackles, and the plan is for Scott to serve as the third tackle and swing between both spots. So hes pegged for playing time because you have to rotate defensive linemen more than players at about any other position. But I wouldnt say I think hes being put in the optimum spot for success.
Davis is the great wild card. What will it say about Davis if he doesnt make a Cleveland roster where there is one recognizable backup behind Jamal Lewis ? Jerome Harrison, a third-rounder a couple of years ago who hasnt proven much and seems a 3suprdsup-down back?
On one hand, Cleveland was an ideal landing spot for him because the opportunitys there. Plus you dont exactly see Lewis being asked to catch many passes, so perhaps that schematic characteristic will minimize his deficiency in that area.
On the other hand, maybe hed have a better chance of earning a job if he brought a dimension they didnt have. Always been a fan of his running style, but in a situational league, hes neither a lead back or a 3suprdsup-down back. Nor has he ever been asked to be a special teams contributor. Wheres his niche?
BASEBALL NOTES
A few baseball tidbits as Clemson hosts Maryland this weekend: Not one to ever think a baseball team SHOULD sweep another because of the parity throughout the college baseball ranks. But considering Clemson has won 21 straight at home against the Terps and has a 51-1 record against them at Doug Kingsmore Stadium ? well, anything short of a three-game sweep should be disappointing to a Clemson team that should be motivated by the chance to host an NCAA tournament regional. Gotta feel for freshman right-hander Kevin Brady. What a nightmarish first year. Brady hasnt pitched since early March vs. Michigan State because he got a case of the control issues/yipes that ruined Rick Ankiels pitching career. Bradys had his good moments and bad in bullpen sessions since and seemed upbeat when I spoke to him last week. But then his father died Sunday ? I havent confirmed the cause ? and hes spent the week at home in Silver Springs, Md., and probably wont return to the team until next week. Youve gotta think the summer cant get here fast enough for the kid. Although senior righty Trey Delk returned from a back injury just last week, the Tigers have stuck him in the series-opening starting slot Saturday so they can see what he gives them and then map out how to use the bullpen the rest of the series. Coach Jack Leggett said the move also takes some pressure off freshman Chris Dwyer, who had assumed the No. 1 starter spot, but I believe it has more to do with the former. Sophomore Graham Stoneburner has excelled recently in long relief, but Leggett wouldnt want to save him for the series last game (as he did a week ago, when Delk started and was on a 50-pitch limit) if a more pressing situation arose earlier. So this move gives pitching coach Kyle Bunn a lot more flexibility. Furthermore, I expect Clemson to stick with its closer-by-committee approach, using both juco changeup pitcher Tomas Cruz and freshman Scott Weismann in the role. Hope everyone has a great weekend!
(Davis photo via Clevelandbrowns.com)
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