One Glaring Giants Need That Was a Strength at Senior Bowl

NFL talent evaluators know that many of the jewels pulled from the Senior Bowl are identified before the teams ever get to the game. Most don't stay for the game, feeling that they gather more information from the practices than the game.

However, there is something to be said for performing when the lights turn on against some of the best pro prospects in the world. Some positions helped themselves, and others still have much more work to do.

The running backs looked good all week, while the defensive backs struggled a little this week. But two position groups for both teams stood out as having a good or bad showing when the lights were bright, and the cameras came on, and one of the position groups just so happened to be a New York Giants need.

Stock Down: Quarterbacks

The quarterbacks are always a draw at the Senior Bowl because the best quarterbacks in the draft rarely participate in postseason bowls.

Fresno State's Jake Haener was named the Senior Bowl MVP for the National Team for his solid play. He finished 12 of 19 for 139 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown pass. Haener looked solid all week but never looked more than just an average option as a backup quarterback in the NFL.

Louisville's Malik Cunningham was the only other quarterback for the National Team. He attempted five passes and completed three for 49 yards. His average yards per completion was better than any other quarterback in the game.

One of his passes was intercepted and returned for a touchdown when one of his offensive linemen was pushed back into his face. Cunningham showed ability with his legs as well. He ran five times for 22 yards and a touchdown. He had a solid week of work but still left a lot of questions.

The American team's quarterbacks were not very impressive in the game. Tyson Bagent from Shepherd University was gifted with the lion's share of work. He finished 17 of 22 for 138 yards and an interception and looked a little unsettled in the pocket after a decent week of work, throwing a lot of short passes and not driving the ball downfield.

Clayton Tune of Houston completed 75 percent of his 12 passes but only amassed 70 yards. Max Duggan of TCU also looked disjointed on the field. His athleticism did not shine through, and he did not show any poise in the pocket.

We don't feel that any quarterback improved his stock in practice or during the game.

Stock Up: Linebackers

The linebackers were discounted all week because they don't all fit the ideal NFL-size prototype for the position. But the linebackers were balling during the Senior Bowl after showing up with impressive performances throughout the week.

Jackson State standout Aubrey Miller (5-foot-11, 225 pounds) led the American Team with seven tackles. He again showed, as he has his entire career, that when given the opportunity, he plays big. His physicality was unmatched, and he showed he could fill run lanes and make sure tackles.

Isaiah Land of Florida A&M was also impressive for the American team. He showed his ability as a pass rusher by getting a fourth-quarter sack on Haener on a fourth-down play.

During the week, he played as an edge rusher and an inside linebacker, and he was called upon to do both in the game. His 6-foot-4 frame is still slight at only 226 pounds, but his athleticism shined, and he has evaluators intrigued. He has a natural ability to rush the passer, but could he be a Micah Parsons-type player in the NFL?

The linebacker that made the biggest splash during the game was Cincinnati's Ivan Pace Jr, who played like the Tasmanian devil from the classic Looney Tunes series. Wherever the ball was, there was Pace. He was physical at the point of attack and brought down every ball carrier within his grasp.

He finished the contest with a game-high ten tackles, which helped his stock. But Pace, listed at 5-foot-10 and 229 pounds, still has his work cut out to convince NFL scouts that he's more than just a special teams player.

Final Thoughts

The Senior Bowl is just one part of the puzzle for these prospects to leave a lasting impression on NFL talent evaluators. Next is the NFL combine, and the pro days and visits with teams will follow that. But the Senior Bowl certainly has helped raise awareness of some of the names to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

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