| MOBILE, Ala. — Come Saturday, it’s a good bet the real story of
the 52nd annual Senior Bowl will take place in the trenches, where the North squad’s
offensive line could very well be the featured attraction. "I’d like to take
these guys back to Pittsburgh with me if I could," said North squad head coach Bill
Cowher at his early Thursday evening press conference. "Those three guys from
Michigan (Jeff Backus, Steve Hutchinson and Maurice Williams) have
been most impressive. They really have a tremendous work ethic. They go through the
drills, and they’re still finishing blocks. It really is a solid line. I think
it’s going to be a classic matchup against the South defensive line. It will be very
interesting to see how it materializes."
If the draft rankings of Pro Football Weekly personnel expert Joel Buchsbaum are any
indication, the edge goes to the North. Hutchinson, a 6-5, 305-pounder with feet like
Mikhail Baryshinikov’s, is Buchsbaum’s top-rated guard. Backus, at 6-5, 303, is
the fifth-ranked tackle. Also firmly entrenched in this unit is Chad Ward, a 6-4,
339-pound guard out of Washington, ranked just two notches below Hutchinson.
While the South offensive line isn’t as highly rated by Buchsbaum, it’s
hardly chopped liver.
Two behemoths on the South squad who have received good reviews are Char-ron Dorsey
from Florida State and Tulane’s Bernard Robertson, an amiable 6-3, 297-pounder
who fills up more than half a hotel elevator — a fact substantiated by the ride he
took with yours truly earlier this evening.
But the North appears to have the real horses, including another guy who definitely has
caught a lot of NFL scouts’ eyes — Ryan Diem out of Northern Illinois.
Of course, when you’re 6-7 and weigh 334 pounds, it’s no wonder that as many
as five different NFL teams have made it their business to get to know you a lot better.
And just how does that feel?
"Very cool," said Diem, a tackle at NIU who is projected as the 12th-ranked
guard by Buchsbaum. "It makes it seem a lot more real, instead of just hearing about
teams that are interested, to actually be approached and interviewed by them. To know that
something is actually going to happen. It’s a pretty cool feeling."
For Diem, the whole Senior Bowl experience couldn’t be more awesome.
"That’s for sure," he said. "When I first got on the plane from
Atlanta, there were about 20 other guys coming here, including all the big-time guys from
Michigan or wherever, and I was like saying to myself, ‘Wow!’ But then after the
first day of practice, you find out you’re just like everyone else and that everyone
really is on the same level."
Does Diem think he’s holding his own?
"For sure," he said. "The level of competition is different at Northern,
but everyone really is the same. Everybody’s just as strong as everyone else.
It’s a pretty level playing field."
While Diem says the North coaches have been hesitant to change the techniques of any of
the offensive linemen in just one week’s time, they have passed on some useful
pointers.
"Since I’ve never played guard before, they’ve helped me with my pass
protection from the OG position," Diem said. "Basically, they told me that I was
just so big, nobody could get around me. So they said I should just pop my hands up and
get locked in and just control the area."
In scrimmages this week, Diem has gone up against some pretty tough cookies.
"Kris Jenkins out of Maryland has probably impressed me the most,"
said Diem. "He is a pretty physical guy, and he uses his hands a lot. He really
impressed me. He’s a good player."
Needless to say, Diem and his OL counterparts are in the midst of a great learning
experience. At the same time, all of them are getting kind of antsy for game day.
"I’m so tired of practicing, it ain’t funny," said Robertson on his
way out of the elevator. "I’m really ready to see somebody different across the
ball than the guys I’ve been seeing the last few days."
In two short days, he’ll get his wish, with the action on the line of scrimmage
expected by many to steal the show.
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