what scouts said about nathan peterman prior to the draft

MOBILE, Alabama — Greetings from the Port Metropolis, as Typhoon Season is officially underway. Senior Bowl practices wrapped up on Thursday, concluding a week that began (for me, at least) with a tornado warning hours earlier and later on touching downwardly on Saturday. (Luckily it was just that, a alarm). I've heard the same sentiment repeated by scouts, coaches and personnel guys: This is an especially deep pool of talent at the Senior Basin, possibly the best of the past few years. And yet, unless you're a draftnik, there aren't too many big names downward here.

But big names around this fourth dimension of year are ever quarterbacks, and when Deshaun Watson declined his invite (he was eligible as a junior since he had graduated), the already-shallow senior quarterback pool was quite dry. However in talking to folks in Mobile before practices began, at that place was a belief that ii of the half dozen quarterbacks competing here could strengthen their stock—the ceiling being "the side by side Dak Prescott." Those guys: Nathan Peterman of Pittsburgh and Davis Webb of California.

We'll brainstorm with Peterman because he's been by far the most impressive quarterback hither. Says ane evaluator who has studied Peterman extensively: "He reminds me a lot of Kirk Cousins in this sense: He's not going to blow yous away with whatsoever of his traits, simply he can do everything you lot demand." The evaluator stressed that Peterman is very mature. A graduate transfer from Tennessee, he enrolled at Pitt in 2015 to pursue an MBA and the 22-year-old got married to his longtime girlfriend in April.

Peterman didn't have too many weapons to throw to at Pitt; inferior receiver Jester Weah (no catches before 2016) came through, and tight end Scott Orndoff had a proficient twelvemonth, but other than that "there was non much there," the scout said. Peterman has been playing for the North team coached by the Chicago Bears, and yes, they're in the market for a quarterback. The 22-year-erstwhile has thrown some pretty, well-placed balls and earned bonus points at counterbalance-in when his easily measured at ix 7/viii inches—impressive considering he's simply 6' 2 1/2". (Yeah, the hand debate is dorsum! Sad I'k not sorry. There's even ane more hand-size reference after in the column, though I'll go on tape with my manus-size stance: It does matter, only only for quarterbacks, who have to grip the ball, especially in poor conditions.) My sense is that Peterman is not fix to start next year, but would be a solid third to fifth round target and developmental project.

•WHO IS MITCH TRUBISKY?:It'south the question evaluators across the league are scrambling to answer as the first-twelvemonth UNC starter has established himself as the best draft-eligible quarterback in college football.

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Webb is an interesting case. Coming into the week, one evaluator was effusive well-nigh his potential. "He'south put up nearly identical numbers to Goff, playing in the same exact criminal offence," the evaluator noted.

He's correct. Webb'southward last season at Cal: 61.6% completions, four,295 yards, 37 touchdowns, 12 interceptions.

Goff's last flavor at Cal: 64.v% completions, four,714 yards, 43 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

The evaluator: "He's bigger than Goff, sturdier, and has a much stronger arm. Goff might accept been more accurate, but I don't think [Webb] gets enough credit." I knock on Webb is that he could non win the starting task at Texas Tech in 2015, losing out to Patrick Mahomes. Calculation a layer of complexity, though: Webb was named a captain at ii different schools, which is a huge plus in the leadership department. He flew into Mobile on Fri dark, 2 days earlier than the residual of his peers.

"I kind of wanted to just conform my body clock and acclimate to the surround downwardly here," he told me Thursday night subsequently do. "Information technology's a long trip from LAX and you know, things happen with delays, etc. I didn't desire to risk being delayed, missing a meeting. Plus, I wanted a chance to explore Mobile. I ate at a actually good pizza place." Once Webb landed, he scrambled to arrange a throwing session with seven receivers from the local college, South Alabama.

His arm strength is worth getting excited over. Accurateness, nevertheless, could prove to be Webb's downfall. He started a flake shaky in the first practice, non actualization wholly comfortable taking snaps under center, just was far more impressive by 24-hour interval 3. The adjustment to a pro-style offense is what will be monitored closely.

"Obviously I know there'southward always the label of existence an 'Air Raid Guy,' not working under middle, it'southward the same stuff that Jared went through," Webb says. "But I've been working with Jim Zorn as my coach and I'1000 getting a lot more comfortable at it. I haven't had to huddle up and use that verbiage and practice the snap count, just that doesn't mean I'm not capable of it. I think I've done a little better at every do than the last, and I'1000 showing teams that I can pick things up quickly."

Webb is on the South roster, coached by the Browns staff. It's also early to gauge his Senior Bowl functioning; he could wow at the game, at the very least proving he can pick up new concepts in a short period of time. And Webb is right—he has improved throughout the week.

•WHAT NFL MINDS Call back OF DESHAUN WATSON:We assembled a panel—a Super Bowl-winning bus and two NFL quarterbacks—to watch the national title game and share their thoughts on Watson.

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FACTOID OF THE WEEK

Alabama tight end O.J. Howard is a Bama boy; his hometown, Prattville, Ala. is smack-middle of the land. "I wanted to come to the Senior Bowl considering it was down here in Mobile," Howard says. "But likewise to make a neat first introduction to these NFL teams. I know some people out in that location might say I'thousand the top tight end in the class, but nothing is certain and I want to prove my case that I'g the guy."

And and then Howard accepted his invite. There was only one conflict: Prattville was planning on having an O.J. Howard Day, complete with a parade, this weekend. When Howard accepted his Senior Bowl invitation, O.J. Howard Day wasn't cancelled—it was moved, 180 miles down the road. Instead of a parade, a group of 150 Prattville residents will have a big tailgate at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. "Homo, I don't even know the details," Howard says. "That'southward all my mom's doing."

And Howard looks like he fabricated the right call, coming to Mobile. One scout told me on Wednesday that Howard is "definitely the tiptop" tight end in 2017, proving he's a polished pass-catcher (even if he wasn't maximized as a receiver in the Red Tide'southward law-breaking) and a very willing blocker. He shined in Twenty-four hour period 1 with at to the lowest degree two one-handed catches and a prissy grab while beating onetime teammate Ryan Anderson on a one-on-one drill, with Nick Saban watching from the sidelines.

•THE Render OF THE TIGHT Stop:A tight end hasn't been taken in the first round of the draft since 2014. All the same, a stacked 2017 class, featuring Michigan's Jake Butt, is poised to break that trend.

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GET TO KNOW A PROSPECT

Michael Hickey/Getty Images

In a new segment, a quick Q&A with a prospect generating some buzz. This calendar week, Illinois defensive cease Dawuane Smoot. In a deep course of laissez passer-rushers, the 6' 3", 255-pound Smoot is a Height 50 candidate. He's on the pocket-sized side, but would plug in well as an terminate in a iv-3 system. He spent a year playing nether long-time NFL coach Lovie Smith'south tutelage at Illinois. Smoot generated enthusiasm from the scouting customs early in the season, though it calmed in the second half—while some evaluators raved almost Smoot'due south burst and ability to disrupt, others questioned long spells where Smoot seemed like a non-factor—he'south regaining momentum and has moved dorsum into the kickoff-round conversation.

Give me a scouting report of yourself…
I atomic number 82 kickoff step, quick off the snap. I actually feel like I'k an underrated pass-rusher. There's a lot that I am capable of. I have really adept easily and I've got a non-stop motor. This week is going to put me on the map, and show teams why I should be a outset-rounder.

What do yous consume for breakfast?
Unremarkably cereal. Cinnamon Toast Crunch is my favorite.

Who is the toughest lineman yous've faced?
I've had some adept competition here at Senior Bowl practices. [Western Michigan'due south] Taylor Moton, we had some good battles the first solar day of practise. Then Zach [Banner] the big guy from USC. That guy is huge. He'south the biggest guy I've ever faced. It's similar 50-50, you're going to get put down or you're going to get around him.

What'due south the craziest question a picket has asked yous?

Honestly, nix has been weirder than your question of what kind of cereal I similar. That's probably the craziest matter someone has asked me. Everything has been pretty routine. And then far, I gauge.

•ZACH Banner NEEDS TO BE A 'LOSER':When does 'big' get 'also big'? USC offensive lineman Zach Banner is 6' nine" and once weighed shut to 400 pounds.

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FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Scouts had good things to say about Eastern Washington's Cooper Kupp.

Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review/AP

Recapping the top college and draft-related storylines of the past week…

one. It's all about the pocket-sized-school guys down here in Mobile. The histrion emerging as the Senior Basin darling is a wide receiver from Eastern Washington: Cooper Kupp. Western Kentucky offensive lineman Forrest Lamp—who first excited scouts with impressive record against Alabama—wowed on Solar day i, but returned home after sustaining a high ankle sprain. Toledo's Michael Roberts has entered the crowded tight cease conversation, rousing scouts at the weigh-in with his xi v/8-inch hands (bah, hand size!), the largest recorded at the Senior Bowl in 5 years. And Temple linebacker Haason Reddick is a riser to monitor; I was impressed by how he switched seamlessly from outside linebacker to inside linebacker in drills, blitzing and dropping dorsum into coverage. And this was a guy who walked on at Temple. But Kupp is the guy I've heard the most buzz on. One Westward Coast area scout couldn't stop gushing over his potential while an assistant general manager I asked nigh him said only: "He'south the existent bargain. Could exist a Twenty-four hour period ane starter." Philly beat guy Jeff McLane has an excellent story about Kupp'due south connections to the FCS breakout histrion from last yr'due south game, Carson Wentz. Kupp may exist from a small schoolhouse, but he has large connections. His grandfather played with Archie Manning, and Kupp has been a regular at the Manning Passing Academy since childhood.

2. The Senior Bowl game is Sat at 12:30 p.grand. The game arrogance on NFL Network. Need a reason to tune in? Of the participants in last yr's game, 87 were selected in the typhoon, including iv in the starting time circular: Quarterback Carson Wentz, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, guard Josh Garnett and defensive tackle Vernon Butler. Oh, and at that place was some other guy who did pretty well in concluding year's game: Dak Prescott.

3. There's a very skilful chance 128 new football jobs volition be created. A proposal to add a 10th full-fourth dimension assistant to every college football coaching staff picked up back up at last week'southward coaching convention, and is expected to be canonical by the NCAA'southward lath of directors before long. It's unclear the parameters of the new position, though many believe about staffs will promote a grad assistant or part-time positions to a full-time role.

4. The Senior Basin is actually important for some players. Ryan Anderson of Alabama injured his pollex at Tuesday's do, needing his hand wrapped on Tuesday dark, but refused to bow out, telling organizers it was important to prove himself as a competitor and top-end pass-rusher. Meanwhile Syracuse broad receiver Amba Etta-Tawo dislocated the middle finger on his left hand at Wednesday's exercise—and all the same returned to play subsequently in the session later on meeting with trainers. That'south not to say the players who left with injury or declined invite don't run across value in the game; sometimes it's smarter not to risk making minor injuries major ones, peculiarly with the combine a few weeks away.

v. Hither's something that irks media-savvy scouts: reports of X team meeting with Ten player. "Do you know how many players nosotros really talk to?" is the common refrain. Rules are much looser at the Senior Basin—in that location are scheduled interview sessions at night and after practices, scouts grab players off the field. Equally for what they're asking? A lot of the time: cell phone numbers. They're also filling in some background information they might not have, or sorting through discrepancies on groundwork information they've already obtained.

Question or comment? Email u.s. at talkback@themmqb.com.

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Source: https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/01/27/nfl-draft-senior-bowl-quarterbacks-nathan-peterman-davis-webb-cooper-kupp-oj-howard-haason-reddick

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