| MOBILE, Ala. — Three meaningful
football games are still to be played in the NFL, but with Senior Bowl week upon us, the
2002 draft is on the radar screen. Many of the best college football players in the
country have descended upon this bay town, looking to improve their standing come Draft
Day. The catch is, they have only five practices and one game to do so. Time is of the
essence, and according to Mike Holmgren, head coach of the North team, the players are
well aware.
"I think they know what’s at stake, they know why they’re here, they
know everyone’s watching them," said Holmgren, the Seahawks’ general
manager and head coach. "You know, David (McGinnis) and I got a chance to speak to
both squads together the first night, and I think we made it clear, they’ll be
evaluated on everything that they do."
McGinnis, head coach of the South team, has sensed the urgency in his players by their
promptness.
"The past two days, every meeting that I’ve been ready to start, they’ve
been in their seats 10 minutes early," McGinnis said. "Now, we left (for
practice) seven minutes early (Tuesday) from out front because everybody was on (the bus).
They came up to me and said, ‘Coach Mac, everybody’s here.’ I said,
‘Well, let’s go then.’ "
Both coaches believe the time constraints affect the quarterbacks and offensive linemen
the most. The QBs have to learn a new system and its terminology and be able to
communicate the play calls in the huddle. The linemen don’t have nearly enough time
to develop much cohesiveness, a must for an effective blocking unit.
Nonetheless, the game will go on Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium (ESPN, 5 p.m. EST),
marking the 53rd time the North and South have clashed here. An annual
tradition dripping with civic pride, the game is nearing its eighth consecutive sellout.
Jack-of-all-trades
One player who is drawing particular interest — from both coaches and media —
is Indiana’s Antwaan Randle El. A quarterback in college, Randle El finished sixth in
last season’s Heisman Trophy voting. But he’ll practice mostly at wide receiver
with the North team.
He’s still looking good. In a one-on-one drill against a cornerback, Randle El
blew past the defender with a nifty shake-and-bake move, drawing "Oohs" from
teammates. He’s also shown good hands.
"He is an exciting young guy," Holmgren said. "We have someone on our
football team (the Seahawks), a young man named Charlie Rogers, who is a little bit
undersized who I just love having around. His personality and his enthusiasm are
infectious, and that’s how I see Randle.
"He’s got great skill; he’s very quick. As a return man, we’re
looking at him obviously there; he catches the ball very easily. He’s just got a
great attitude. He’s a young guy who you want on your football team."
But the question remains: Where? Randle El told Holmgren that he would like to play
quarterback in the NFL. So Holmgren planned to work on Randle El’s mechanics some in
Wednesday’s practice. Still, at 5-foot-9 and about 195 pounds, Randle El likely has a
future elsewhere.
"I think he’s skilled enough, certainly, to be in the league," Holmgren
said. "Initially, depending on what team he goes to, he could be your third
quarterback, he could be a special quarterback in certain situations, you might make him
your second quarterback.
"It appears to me he could play wide receiver. Now, he hasn’t done that a
lot, but it appears to me he could do that. And he could be a punt returner, he could be a
specialist. So there’s a lot of ways to go, and I think it will be determined by who
drafts him."
Whose turn?
The Senior Bowl is normally coached by the staffs of those teams that were last to be
eliminated from the playoff race in both the AFC and NFC. That held true for the Seahawks,
but the Cardinals arrived here another way.
The Redskins were first asked to coach in the game, but because of uncertainty
regarding their staff at the time the league inquired, they declined. Same with the
Falcons, who reportedly were asked next. Then came the Cardinals, who jumped at the
opportunity.
"The league office called us and asked if we would coach the ballgame, and I
immediately said yes," said McGinnis, who claimed he didn’t know why the league
turned to his staff. "That’s not up to me. That’s a league matter. …
Believe me, my staff was very eager to come down here and coach this game."
This is the third time McGinnis has coached in the Senior Bowl. He previously did so
with the Bears under Mike Ditka and Dave Wannstedt. Holmgren is making his first coaching
appearance in Mobile.
Odds and ends
Oregon QB Joey Harrington pulled himself from the Senior Bowl because of a knee injury
suffered in the East-West Shrine game Jan. 12. Sam Houston State’s Josh McCown, the
Southland Conference Player of the Year, replaced him on the North roster. …
Syracuse DE Dwight Freeney sprained an ankle in practice Tuesday and is doubtful to
play in Saturday’s game. Freeney had 17 1/2 sacks and 11 forced and recovered fumbles
last season, both NCAA records. …
Players officially weighed in Monday in front of NFL scouts. The heaviest player is
Colorado OT Victor Rogers at 333 pounds (6-foot-5), and the lightest is Georgia Tech WR
Kelly Campbell at 166 pounds (5-9). …
On Friday, QB Bert Jones, QB Steve McNair and RB Todd Christensen will be inducted into
the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame.
Quotable
Holmgren on who will be calling the plays in Saturday’s game: "You know what?
I’m going to let my offensive coordinator (Gil Haskell) call the plays this week. And
I told him not to get too excited because when the season starts, I’ll take it
back."
Watch for more reports from Jeff Agrest at the Senior Bowl |
