Senior Bowl Takeaways: Two QBs Shine, Tomlin Takes Over
MOBILE -- The Pittsburgh Steelers continue their scouting down at the 2024 Senior Bowl, with plenty of action coming on Day 2.
Big questions remained going into Day 2. Will a quarterback step up and take the bull by the horns? Which defensive linemen have really put themselves on the map with their play in Mobile? Why are teams so interested in moving certain offensive tackles to guard? Is Mike Tomlin interested in every single player here?
Two days into practice, it's time to answer those questions and give you all the insight on what's happening down here in Mobile.
Two Quarterbacks Step Up
The quarterback position is such a fascinating discussion to have during Senior Bowl week because different people will interpret plays in different ways. In terms of what I witnessed down at practice, I think Carter Bradley and Spencer Rattler were the two who really took control today.
Both Rattler and Bradley did a tremendous job of getting through their progressions, identifying the defense, but also just taking chances. They aren't afraid of the moment, and that's the biggest thing that stands out. They aren't trying to play it safe, they're ripping tight seam shots in seven on sevens, or drilling deep corners with touch and anticipation in scrimmages.
Practice does not always entail what the future is in store for these players, but it's hard not to be encouraged by the guts and arm talent they've shown.
Mike Tomlin Takes Interest In All Positions
While Tomlin was absolutely glued to the offensive linemen during Day 1, he didn't leave his love out for the other positions. You just talk to any of these players, and he'll tell you he's teaching them about not just football but also just life in general. Tomlin's presence is unlike any coach in the scouting process and it's why he is so well respected by these players.
Tomlin saw guys like Roman Wilson and Quinyon Mitchell continuing to stack good days and elected to have them battle it out on one last rep at the end of practice. Wilson ended up snagging a one-handed pass that was clearly behind him. Wilson has drawn quite a bit of attention from the Steelers, who told the media that he had met with them twice.
Taliese Fuaga Is Not An Offensive Guard
Zack Martin is an incredible player, but the trend that started with him of moving college offensive tackles to guard is getting out of hand. Taliese Fuaga is someone who should not be considering any sort of move to guard. Why would you elect to move someone with as balanced and explosive of a pass setter as him along the interior?
There's also just a remarkable amount of strength and power behind his game. Even when someone gets into his chest and gets that initial drive back, he's able to keep a strong base and anchor down on that rush. It's not even like he has bad length either as an offensive tackle.
Fuaga has dominated both days against some of the best pass rushers out here and he has only continued to cement himself as one of the top tackles in this upcoming class. Moving him to guard is absolute hogwash.
Darius Robinson and Michael Dominates In The Interior
It's hard to tell what the best fit for Darius Robinson will be at the next level, as he does possess the length and size to fit along the interior of the defensive line, but there's also a requisite amount of athleticism that is worth seeing him stay as an edge rusher as well.
Robinson is one of those players whose play this week has really gotten the attention of coaches, scouts, and general managers, with some believing he may have pushed himself into the round-one conversation. What is apparent is there's really nobody down there at the defensive line position with the type of tools that Robinson possesses.
Michael Hall is cut from a very similar cloth as past Ohio State interior defensive linemen, with the pass rush being the bread and butter of his game. What's apparent about Hall is he has quite a diverse toolbag to account for as he can set you up with speed to power and the next play, take one step inside and spin outside.
Hall isn't quite the best run defender on tape, but his pass-rush tools are going to be very much intrigue teams as a pure pass-rushing three-technique. In many ways, he projects similarly to former Buckeye defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones of the Seattle Seahawks.
Conclusion
Tomlin continues to have his fingerprints all over these Senior Bowl practices and has been almost dictating certain matchups. Whether you read about Tomlin being up close with a player, it's important not to look too deep into it, as he's talking to almost everyone down here, regardless of position.
Defensive linemen really asserted themselves in Day 2, with Hall and Robinson really cementing themselves as pass-rush threats. Meanwhile, on the offensive line, Fuaga continued to stack another strong day and looks to have cemented himself firmly in the round one conversation, potentially towards the middle, where a team like Pittsburgh could be in real need of his services at offensive tackle.
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