2007 Senior Bowl
January 22, 2007
- All the scouts on hand agreed that Nebraska has one of the best weight training programs in the nation. The NU players on hand (Jay Moore, Adam Carriker and Stewart Bradley) were hands down the most physically impressive group from any single team. (Scout.com)
- Schick's Shtick: Carriker receives praise
- ESPN Senior Bowl Chat: Stewart Bradley
- Sigmund Bloom and Cecil Lammey, Day Two Practice Notes --
Stewart Bradley, LB, Nebraska - great in pass rush and in coverage, big enough to play 3-4 OLB, standout of the North OLBs
Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska - making plays with a mean streak just like Monday
- NFLDraftScout.com Monday Practice Report: One defensive lineman who did hold his own against Brown and beat all others was Nebraska's Adam Carriker. Carriker is the best 3-4 defensive end prospect in this draft and among the best in recent years. He is known for his strength at the point of attack and at 6-6, 290 pounds, that shouldn't come as a surprise. What was surprising, however, was how effective Carriker was in pass rush drills. He was terrifically quick off the snap, but showed enough burst to get the offensive tackle leaning and once Carriker caught his opponent leaning, he simply latched on and tossed tackles away like rag dolls. I enjoyed watching Daymeion Hughes play cornerback today and was loathe to look elsewhere when he was on the field. Adam Carriker forced me too, at times.
January 23, 2007
- The best player on the field... for the North was Nebraska DE Adam Carriker who dominated one-on-one pass blocking drills and was very disruptive in the 11-on-11 scrimmage. Huskers teammate Jay Moore also showed some good outside quickness as did Purdue DE Anthony Spencer. ...Nebraska LB Stewart Bradley also had a strong practice. Bradley is by far the biggest LB in Mobile; he’s also been smooth playing in both directions. (GBNReport.com)
- Nebraska defensive ends Adam Carriker and Jay Moore both continue to make a lot of plays as pass rushers and Carriker has seen action inside at tackle as well this week. ...Nebraska's Stewart Bradley continues to impress and showed good range to the sideline while David Harris of Michigan looked good at the line versus the run. (NFLDraftCountdown.com)
- From Bill Emkow's MLive.com Blog-- "In watching the linemen's drills, I was very much impressed with both Nebraska's Adam Carriker (6-5, 290 and Jay Moore (6-4, 275) a pair of defensive ends that seemed to be giving the tackles a whole lot of problems. Nebraska DE's appear to have been very well coached, and they come with an excellent array of moves, both inside and outside. Neither of them is projected to be first round material, but they're both good looking kids who may bear watching."
Emkow added, "Penn State's Levi Brown did not look like the dominant LT that he's been advertised to be (thanks largely to the previously mentioned Nebraska DE's), but he may simply have not been having a good day".
- Lance Zierlein of Chron.com is providing Senior Bowl updates as he did for last week's Shrine Game:
According to Zierlein, "Carriker doesn't show much wasted motion when he rushes the passer. He has been able to beat guys with quickness and leverage on outside pass rushes which has made his inside rush moves that much more effective. His stock is definitely on the rise."
- Senior Bowl Thru Orange Colored Glasses (Carriker)
- Tony Pauline listed his "early winners and losers as the Senior Bowl kicks off" on SI.com. Adam Carriker was among his "Risers" early in the week--
"If [Mississippi St. DT Antonio] Johnson is the best defensive lineman on the South then Carriker is the best one on the field to date. Carriker has also been impossible to stop, displaying a great combination of power, speed and smarts."
- An AFC scout who said he paid particularly close attention to the defensive ends said he liked Nebraska's Adam Carriker and Notre Dame's Victor Abiamiri during the North practice Tuesday morning. (Rivals.com)
- According to NFLDraftCountdown.com, Jay Moore visited with scouts for the Browns and Chargers; Stewart Bradley meanwhile visited with New York Giants scouts.
- NFLDraftScout.com Tuesday Practice Report: Nebraska's Adam Carriker continues to beat nearly everyone placed in front of him. In individual drills, his combination of strength and surprising quickness has been difficult for all to handle. The anticipated battles between he and Levi Brown were rare, with each getting the better of the other on occasion and neither consistently beating the other. Against all others, however, Carriker won -- at times easily.
January 24, 2007
- "There are a lot of good players, but (Nebraska defensive end Adam) Carriker certainly stood out," North/Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said.
Gruden also said his team has picked three players to serve as captains for the team in Saturday's game. The players selected are Penn State's Posluszny, Nebraska's Carriker and Louisville defensive lineman Amobi Okoye. (Al.com)
- More Gruden comments from Buccaneers.com--
"We’re a physical team. I think the North is a big football team. The South appears to be very fast. I like [Adam] Carriker from Nebraska. He is a big, physical defensive end who has impressed us over the guard as a three-technique as well. He has stood out in my mind. There have been a number of guys flash. I don’t want to make any public statements about who I like, but there are some guys that have really stood out.”
- Jim Flynn, of the Pewter Report, reports Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden had praise for Nebraska DE Nick Carriker during Senior Bowl workouts this week. "I like Carriker from Nebraska," Gruden said. "He is a big, physical defensive end that's impressed us here. He's also capable of playing the three technique as well. He's really stood out in my mind…" (KFFL.com)
- Senior Bowl rosters full of regular-season teammates (Carriker, Jay Moore
- From Bill Emkow's MLive.com Blog--
"I spent quite a portion of the afternoon watching and discussing defensive linemen with the defensive line coach of one of the NFC teams...
...when we talked about defensive linemen, he expressed that he'd been very impressed by the Nebraska DE's. 'Both of them are wrecking balls,' he said. 'And they're typical, well-coached Nebraska defensive ends just like VandenBosch and Wistrom.' The bigger one (Adam Carriker- 6-6, 290) isn't as athletic as the other guy (Jay Moore, 6-4, 275) but each of them are very disruptive and intense, according to the coach."
- In the daily press conference, North head coach Jon Gruden said he thinks Adam Carriker is powerful with a great motor and can be a base end but the Bucs are looking at him as an under tackle. (NFLDraftCountdown.com)
- TFY Draft Preview (Scout.com), Wednesday Practice Notes:
Stewart Bradley LB - Consistently left a trail of blockers in his wake as he moved towards the action. Stout against the run all morning. Shows marginal speed to the sidelines and struggled cutting off the flanks from ball carriers.
Adam Carriker DL - Consistently stellar. Does all the little things rights. Today for example, he is one of the few players who sets up their pass rush moves with an effective initial club. The one area which could improve as this week continues is his overall ability to the get the quarterback, which he has shown an ability to do but is not a premiere pass rusher. Coach Gruden even pointed out Carriker as one of the most impressive on the field during yesterday’s press conference.
Jay Moore DL - Very quick off the ball but continues to struggle shedding blocks. Even with his quickness, Moore simply did not bring anything on contact. If allowed to move laterally or “run the ring” in his pass rush, then he can make plays; otherwise he has struggled.
- NFLDraftScout.com Wednesday Practice Report: One outside linebacker who has certainly improved his draft stock this week is Nebraska's Stewart Bradley. At 6-4, 255 pounds Bradley has great size and is surprisingly athletic in coverage. In drills against running backs trying to catch passes out of the backfield, Bradley showed uncanny instincts for the routes back were going to run and a late burst to break up passes. Often in coverage during scrimmages Bradley forced quarterbacks to turn away from even their check down options as he blanketed backs and tight ends. Entering the week I personally had Bradley pegged as a mid 2nd day guy. If he plays with the physicality I expect in the game I see him moving into the first day, perhaps even ahead of some of the bigger named OLBs of this draft.
January 25, 2007
- Jay Moore off and running
- FoxSports.com's "Three Senior Bowl players that'll likely be drafted after the first round, but will be outstanding...": #2, Nebraska DE Adam Carriker. "Possibly lost in the shuffle among the top end prospects, he played like a first-rounder all week in Mobile, but might be one of the top 10-picks of the second round."
- Nebraska defensive end Adam Carriker has probably been the most impressive defensive lineman in Mobile this week, though Louisville's Amobi Okoye isn't far behind. (ClevelandBrowns.com)
- One defensive lineman who may be emerging is Nebraska's Adam Carriker.
Carriker is listed at defensive end, but he has played inside on occasion and was there again this week for a spell after Pitcock was forced to sit out some snaps with an injury.
Shortly thereafter, Bucs defensive line coach Larry Coyer, who is coaching Carriker and the North squad's defensive linemen, talked of Carriker as if he'd found something special.
"I think Carriker can play anywhere," Coyer said of the 6-foot-6, 290-pounder. "He's big, tall, athletic, very powerful and very versatile."
Carriker is one of those guys who could slip in the draft or go in the first round. It all depends on need and how he performs at the Senior Bowl and during the combine in February.
"I definitely think I can get up there into that group," Carriker said when asked if he could force a team to pass on the likes of Branch or Adams. "That's why I'm here.
"You get a chance to play against the best the nation has to offer, and it can't do anything but help you. I think this week of workouts is going to help me a lot." (The Tampa Tribune)
January 27, 2007: Gameday
- ...With things already going badly for the South, Florida QB Chris Leak was blindsided by Nebraska Jay Moore and fumbled at his own 26. The turnover set up a 7-yard TD pass from Michigan State's Drew Stanton to Aundrea Allison of East Carolina. (AP)
- Jay Moore posted "MVP-type numbers" (according to NFL Network's Mike Maycock) with 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Stewart Bradley had 4 solo tackles (lead the team), 1 assist, and 1 tackle for a loss; he also forced a fumble. Adam Carriker had numerous QB pressures but official only posted a fumble recovery. (SeniorBowl.com)
- NFLDraftCountdown.com - Any discussion of the 2007 Senior Bowl game has to start and end with the North's defensive line which was nothing short of amazing all game long, notching eight sacks. Nebraska's Jay Moore actually had three of those and looked pretty good while his Husker teammate Adam Carriker had a very nice showing as well.
- Defensive End (DE) Adam Carriker from Nebraska... will be a hot commodity in the 2007 NFL Draft because of his quickness, strength and size. Carriker has prototype size at 6-5 292 pound and can play the run and the pass equally well. He was just too much for the South's offensive line and was pressuring the QB's all day. He could play in a 3-4 or a 4-3 type defense, but he really fits the mold of a New England Patriot's type defensive end.
Carriker's teammate from Nebraska DE Jay Moore also had a heck of a game. Moore had two sacks and a big league strip that caused the QB to fumble the ball. Moore has a quick first step, but at 6-4 276 he might have to play outside linebacker in the NFL. (NFL-Draft-Site.blogspot.com)
- Adam Carriker was second on on SI.com's 'Ten Prospects Who Exceeded Expectations':--
"Another front four player who was tough to block, Carriker elevated his draft stock significantly. Displaying a combination of strength and intelligence, he also came across well during interviews.
- Nebraska defensive end Jay Moore said the chilly, rainy weather may have given the North a slight advantage, but it was something else that worked for his squad. "We wanted to be there for each other," Moore said, who had three sacks and two forced fumbles. (SunHerald.com)
- Nebraska defensive end Adam Carriker helped himself as much as any player this week, the 6-6, 290-pounder showing off great pass rush ability. Then his Cornhusker teammate, Jay Moore, recorded three sacks Saturday.
"The schemes we ran at Nebraska were to help the team, but they kind of hurt me personally because I couldn't show what I could do," Carriker said. "This week I've been showing what I can do." (The Plains Dealer)
- Game evaluations from Mel Kiper:
Stewart Bradley - Good overall player. Versatile OLB. Rarely out of position. (Round 3 or 4); Jay Moore - Good quickness. Explosive first step. Works hard. (Round 2 or 3); Adam Carriker - Versatile. Long arms. Big frame. Uses hands well. (mid-Round 1)
January 28, 2007
- NFLDraftScout.com Senior Bowl Prospect Summary - Jay Moore, DE, Nebraska: Moore struggled to keep his feet throughout the week of practice, but capitalized on some monster mistakes by the South offensive line to post 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles on Saturday. Moore showed good quickness off the snap and exploded into ball carriers. While his strength at the point of attack was questionable, he did show enough lateral agility to cause some scouts to wonder if he could transition to the outside linebacker position at the next level.
- Two Huskers part of Rivals.com 'Senior Bowl Hot 11'--
Adam Carriker - The absence of Clemson's Gaines Adams – one of the top defensive players on most draft boards – gave other standout defensive ends a chance to prove themselves in Mobile. Carriker made the most of the opportunity. The former Nebraska star stood out all week because of versatility that should make him an ideal fit for any NFL defense's scheme. He was one of the top individuals in practice all week and recovered a fumble in the game. Carriker's performance should assure his status as a top-20 pick.
Jay Moore - Nebraska teammate Adam Carriker made more of an impact last season and earned more attention during Senior Bowl practices, but Moore stood out in the game itself by compiling three sacks and forcing two fumbles. Although he wasn't quite as dominant as those statistics suggest – he wasn't blocked on two of his sacks – Moore still made quite an impression.
- A different Husker pairing were on Rob Rang's (CBS) top Risers and Fallers chart--
No. 1 on the rise - Nebraska outside linebacker Stewart Bradley might have been the most pleasant surprise of the Senior Bowl. The 6-foot-4, 256-pound strong-side linebacker provided the physical presence against the run as expected, but also showed surprising athleticism in coverage. Bradley was consistently the most effective pass defender of the linebackers in Senior Bowl drills, despite playing opposite linebackers with bigger household names and supposedly more athleticism.
No. 4 on the rise - Nebraska defensive Adam Carriker entered Senior Bowl week ranked higher than any other player on this list of Risers. However, he was viewed as a prospect who only fit certain schemes, as the career defensive end seemingly lacked the burst for the edge or the power for the inside of the 4-3 alignment at 6-6, 292 pounds. With only a handful of teams running the 3-4 defense and with the end position in this scheme considered more of a space-filler than a playmaker, Carriker's prospects for rising seem limited. But Carriker showed impressive burst off the edge, consistently pressuring the passer. Carriker also played so strong at the point of attack that teams late in the week were talking of a potential move to defensive tackle. Entering the week, Carriker was viewed as a one-dimensional prospect. By the end of the week, he had proven himself to be one of the more versatile defensive line prospects in recent memory.