Finding talent, toughness at the Senior Bowl
By Pat Kirwan
NFL.com Senior Analyst

Senior Bowl photo gallery
http://nfl.com/photos/football_2007_senior_bowl

MOBILE, Ala. (Jan. 24, 2007) -- First, my thanks go out to San
Francisco 49ers coach Mike Nolan and his staff, who are coaching the
South team here at the 2007 Senior Bowl, for letting me get right out
in the middle of all their drills and get a real feel for the talent
on the field. The 49ers staff is a first-class operation and the
access is much appreciated.

Because it was my first practice with this team I decided to let the
talent come to me. No predispositions about which players were great
in college this season -- just an open look to see who could deliver a
great first impression.

It took five minutes of the first contact drill to realize Alabama
fullback Le'Ron McClain is one tough football player. Is he a
first-round pick? No. Is he a first-day pick? Only if a team is
interested in a man who is going to get on linebackers and physically
dominate them and can catch a short pass to move the chains when the
defense overplays the run. A 6-foot, 255-pound bulldozer, McLain is in
the model of NFL fullbacks Lorenzo Neal, Mack Strong and Heath Evans.
He's not winning any beauty contests, but he is going to set the tempo
for the running game.

Next stop was the offensive and defensive line drills to see what the
big men look like for the 2007 draft. The first man to jump out at me
was Joe Staley, a 6-6, 300-pound tackle from Central Michigan. As I
walked towards him he reminded me of a young Jon Runyan -- a big
athlete with a nasty streak. He's strong enough right now, but when he
grows into his frame and continues to move away from the tight end
body he came to college with, he will be a 10-year starter in this
league. Staley's techniques are good and his competitive nature is
better.

After Staley finished impressing me, my eyes turned right inside to
center Ryan Kalil from USC. He's not bulky at 290 pounds but his
techniques and effort to finish are outstanding. Kalil may struggle to
handle the nose tackles in the 3-4 defense in the NFL, but he will
survive because of his ability to move and adjust. At the linebacker
level he is superior, and there's a good chance he will be able to
pull, trap and fold from the center position.

Mike Nolan and his staff are getting college seniors ready for the
NFL.
Everyone was talking about Auburn guard Ben Grubbs, who is good, but I
couldn't help notice Justin Blaylock from Texas. Blaylock isn't a bad
tackle prospect but he's a terrific guard talent. He's tough with a
road-grader style when he's inside, but out in space against a wide
speed rush he will struggle.

Next stop: the inside linebackers where Hall of Famer Mike Singletary
is coaching this group. He's satisfied with his group as practice ends
because they all like contact, they all key and diagnose the plays
well and they take to his coaching. Patrick Willis (Mississippi) and
Rufus Alexander (Oklahoma) are quick off the snap and meet the run
game with force. Singletary has to make corrections in their pass
drops, but no sooner do I observe the corrections and the 'backers are
handling their pass drops better.

Wednesday I focus on all the defensive backs down here in Mobile and
hope that the tight ends start to look better. Most of all, however,
I'll look for the six quarterbacks to throw the ball better than they
have during the first two days.

[Talk about getting an edge!]
[You can't get closer to the players than coaching them]

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