03-18-2024, 03:10 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-19-2024, 10:17 AM by wetwilleh. Edited 2 times in total.)
The second of 3 days of the prospect bowl took place on Saturday 16th March between the Carolina Reapers and South Beach Sting.
Once again, I’ll start this review by briefly summarising the three game before going into individual prospect performances.
Game Summaries:
Game 4:
The games on day 2 were generally much more competitive than those on day 1, and that started in the very first quarter.
After South Beach went up through a FG from kicker Kenny, Carolina QB Greg Hirsch corked off another long TD run to put the Reapers up 7-3 at the end of the first. The second quarter was dominated by kicking as Carolina out 2 through the uprights before the Sting replied with one of their own. 13 - 6 at the half.
Unfortunately a game that held a lot of promise early petered out in the first half as defences dominated allowing only a further 3 FGs between them.
The story of the matchup is not represented in the final score as the Sting had more first downs, were better on 3rd downs, had 70 more total yards and had a marginally longer time of possession, however 2 turnovers proved costly as despite the better offensive production the Reapers walked out winners. The Reapers picked up right where they left off on day 1 offensively, putting on a dominant performance on the ground racking up over 200 yards at a rate of 5.5 per attempt.
Carolina Reapers 16 - 12 South Beach Sting
OPOG - WR Seer Ial
DPOG - LB Finn Murphy
Game 5:
The game of the series so far, game 5 had a bit of everything you could want out of a well contested game of football.
The Reapers once again went up early with Hirsch showing he can be a threat through the air as well as on the ground, completing a 7 yard TD pass to newcomer TE Austin.
South Beach struggled offensively in the first half, relying on a string performance from kicker Kenny to keep them in it. His 51 yard FG towards the end of the half is the joint longest made at this years prospect bowl so far.
A further FGs from Kenny put South Beach up early in the third before LB Mannheim forced a fumble on a sack of Hirsch inside the Reaper 5 yard line. Unfortunately the Sting weren’t able to capitalise with 7 and had to settled for another Kenny field goal before Hirsch showed why he is a threat with his legs again, finding the endzone from 28 yards out to put Carolina back on top.
South Beach scored on a 19 yard connection from Qiller to Seer Ial early in the 4th before defences showed up and prevented any more points for the majority of the quarter. With 30 seconds left in the game Hirsch connected through the air with Lawrence Crawford for a 5 yard TD that ultimately proved the difference in what was a thrilling contest between two string sides.
The Sting must have been left scratching their heads a bit after this one; leading in first downs, dominating total yardage by 150 yards and avoiding turnovers but still just missing out on the win. Without an answer for the Reapers run game, which averaged 5.5 yards per attempt again, this series could quickly slip away from Siuth Beach.
South Beach Sting - 19 - 22 Carolina Reapers
OPOG - RB Animal Blundetto
DPOG - LB Mac Mannheim
Game 6:
South Beach had clearly had enough at this point and ,after a strong talking to from the coaching staff, showed signs of turning things around after back to back defeats.
After a slow start to the game, with both offences struggling to get things going, the Sting went 7 up through a 8 yard connection from QB Qiller to WR Ial. Carolina came back early in the second with a 1 yard TD run from Hirsch before 2 Kenny FGs gave South Beach a 13-7 lead headed into the half.
While the Reapers started the second half strongly, taking the lead with another 1 yard TD run this time from RB Guile, the Sting found their groove. A 2 yard run from Dream and successful 2 point conversion gave South Beach back the lead before a 4 yard TD catch from Dorr made it a 2 score game halfway through the 4th. The Reapers had no answer in the second half and the game fizzled out to a quiet end.
I don’t mean to blow my own trumpet here, but I mentioned previously how if South Beach wanted a chance in the rest of this content they were going to need to do something about the Reaper run game. In game 6 they did, for although Carolina still averaged 5.3 yards per attempt they were held to a total of 64 yards on the ground.
The Sting, on the other hand, put up 230 yards both passing and rushing in a dominant offensive performance encapsulated by a time of possession of over 43 minutes.
Carolina Reapers 14 - 28 South Beach Sting
OPOG - RB Animal Blundetto
DPOG - LB Willeh Strong
Prospect summaries:
Quarterbacks:
Greg Hirsch followed up his performance on day 1 of the prospect bowl with an almost identical performance on day 2. Hirsch was once again a problem for South Beach on the ground, racking up 95 yards and 3 rushing TDs on 9 rushing attempts over the 3 games. At an average gain of 10.6 yards per rushing attempt, the Sting defence had very little answer for him on the ground, resulting in him getting awarded OPOG for game 5.
Unfortunately for Hirsch, his struggles as a passer also continued into day 2 of the prospect bowl. Hirsch completed 27 of his 66 passing attempts, good for a completion percentage just under 41%, totalling 330 yards throw the air, an average of 5 yards per attempt.
Hirsch’s issues with costly plays continued as well, as he ultimately threw 3 interceptions and was sacked 5 times across the 3 games this time out.
The big play ability and game wrecking threat on the ground is clearly there for Hirsch, but he has to develop as a passer to match that. I’m not sure Hirsch is a starter in the DSFL right now, but he has potential to develop sat behind a starter for a season or 2.
On the other side of things was Jamarcus Qiller, who was hoping to back up an introductory performance on dpgameday 1 with a big time showing this time out. Unfortunately for Qiller it was a similar performance, completing 52.4% of his passes compared to 54% last time out. The positive for Qiller this time was that he racked up a total of 719 yards through the air, proving his is capable of solid production at this level. He continued his trend of looking after the ball as well, with a TD/INT ratio of 3:1.
Qiller’s limited mobility was cause for concern again, as he Reapers front all but eliminated any threat he possesses as a runner, consigning him to a meager 2.4 yards per attempt.
Qiller showed he can be productive through the air this time out, and while I don’t think any team on the DSFL would be rushing to start him in game week 1, I can see him filling in for an injured veteran if needed for a couple of games his rookie year as he looks after the football well. Qiller is still yet to prove to me that he can be an explosive playmaker, but seems like the safer bet at QB in this season’s class.
Running Backs:
It was a string showing from RBs across the board on game day 2 of the prospect bowl, but one made a big push to be considered RB1 of the class. South Beach Sting’s Animal Blundetto absolutely showed out on day 2, compiling 268 yards on 40 attempts for an average gain in the ground of 6.7 yards. That is utterly dominant and answered any questions recruiters may have had about him after game day 1 where he only manage 3.7 yards per carry. He also showed value as a receiver out of the back field, telling in all 6 targets for a total of 32 yards, leaving him with exactly 300 yards from scrimmage through 3 games. Though Blundetto didn’t manage to find the endzone this time out, he did rack up 2 OPOG awards in a performance that is sure to cement him as a top offensive prospect.
Despite the dominance of Blundetto, he was not the most efficient back of the day with prospect bowl newcomer Chanos recording 7.7 yards per attempt on 6 carries. Although a small sample size, Chanos showed explosiveness with the ball in his hands and I would like to see what he can do with a greater share of the carries. Chanos also brings value as a returner, averaging 18.5 yards per kickoff return.
Star of prospect bowl day 1, Claflin Jr had a quieter day at he races second time out as he amassed 119 yards on 26 touches. Averaging 4.6 yards per attempt on the ground, and coming down with the only pass thrown his way, this was a solid if not spectacular performance that should help solidify Claflin Jr’s status as a promising back in his seasons class.
The leader of the Reaper ground attack this time out was Guile. A steady but productive back on day 1, Guile was more efficient on day 2, increasing his yards per carry from 4.1 to 4.7 as he recorded 170 yards total on 36 carries. Guile showed once again that he has a nose for the endzone, recording his second TD in as many outings. If Guile can keep up this level of consistency, as he also caught 100% of passes thrown his way, he will find himself high up a number of big boards come draft time.
Prospect bowl newcomer American Dream had a slow start to his prospect bowl performance, averaging 2.3 and 3.1 yards per carry through his first 2 games. He really found his feet in game 3 though, turning 14 touches into 76 yards and a score. Though he may have felt pressured early, once settled Dream looked like a dynamic runner with the ball in his hands and is someone who could really look to improve draft stock on day 3. Was game 6 a fluke, or is that the kind of runner Dream can be in the league? We need to see more of him before we can make that call.
Despite the number, or distinct lack thereof, I find Jag McQueen a really intriguing prospect. Once again, McQueen didn’t record a single carry through 3 games, the same as on day 1, and yet he once again proved himself to be a reliable pair of hands. Having had the highest catch percentage of all RBs last time out, McQueen caught all 4 targets for a total of 54 yards. That’s unbelievable production on very limited touches and I just can’t help but wonder what he could do with more. While he may not project as a bell cow at the next level, McQueen has the makings of a really promising 3rd down back with big play/home run potential. It will be up to the team that draft him to put him in positions that suit his strengths, and if they do I think McQueen could be a real contributor.
Day 1 darling Zigzag Zipstep saw a more limited role this time out in what was ultimately a pretty busy backfield. He was still pretty productive on his limited snap count, recording 32 yards on 6 touches, and showed himself to be a contributor to both aspects of the game on offense. Zipstep will be hoping to see a role more similar to that he saw on day 1 on day 3 as he looks to make a case for himself as RB1.
I can’t help but feel for Sodo Mojo. The promising back has seen just 7 carries over the first 6 games of the prospect bowl, which really isn’t enough to make any judgement on his chances as a prospect. I’ve got everything crossed that Mojo gets a bigger role on day 3 and can really show us what he is about as a runner.
Wide Receivers:
Favourite to be WR1 after day 1 of the prospect bowl, Old Man Walker had another string showing in day 2. After sitting out on offense for game 4, he continued his ridiculous yards per catch numbers compiling 160 yards on 6 catches through games 5 and 6. Old Man by name, but anything but by nature; the guy is just a constant threat downfield. The only knock Inhave against Walker as a prospect is the catch percentage. He dropped 8 targets in day 1, he dropped a further 10 on day 2. If he can sort out the drops Walker could be dominant at the next level, but if he can’t…..
Seer Ial, I owe you an apology. Last time out I complained about your lack of catches compared to targets, and in my defence he brought in a third of the balls thrown his way. Day 2 though? WOW, what a performance! With 10 catches on 13 targets for a mind boggling 233 yards and 2 touchdowns, Ial has vaulted himself straight into the conversation for WR1 of this class in an utterly dominant fashion. The Reapers defence just had no match for him as he racked up over 50 yards receiving in every game on day 2. Ial may have just put himself into contention to be a first round pick come draft time.
Moving on, I want to talk about 2 receivers that had similar performances on day 2. Christian Dorr and Jaylin Reyes put up 107 and 109 yards respectively, which from the outside looks pretty solid. The issue here for me is the drops, Reyes had 9 while Dorr had 14!
I like Dorr as a prospect, each catch he makes seems to go for 8-12 yards and move the chains and he’s proven himself to be a weapon in the red zone as well, but 11 catches to 14 drops is just not going to cut it at the next level.
Reyes clearly has big play potential, recording a 47 yard gain in game 6 (the second longest of day 2) and averaging over 18 yards per reception, but catching 40% of your targets does set off some quiet alarm bells despite the production.
Prospect bowl newcomer Lawrence Crawford had a nice day as a role player, recording 57 yards on 3 catches. He will be looking for an increased role on day 3 to prove he can continue to be productive as the targets increase. He also caught a TD in what was ultimately a pretty successful, if limited, first outing.
Prince Jr had a strong start to day 2, catching 4 balls for 41 yards in game 4. Unfortunately an overcrowded receiving room meant he didn’t see much action as a weapon in game 5 and 6, mainly getting on the field as a returner. Prince Jr will be hoping for an expanded role on day 3.
DeFanco and Prince Jr seemed to share a role on day 2, with only one of them seeing the field each game and gaining yards at a similar rate (11.3 vs 10.2 yards per catch). DeFanco should feel pretty pleased with his production across 2 games on day 2, but will be hoping for an increased role on day 3, much the same as Prince Jr.
Both of these receivers have shown potential is a limited role, and have a chance at propelling themselves up draft boards with a strong performance on day 3.
Moses Dewitt and Pranks Schofield did not see enough of the ball on day 2 to gain any useful insight into them as prospects. Fingers crossed they get a shot on day 3 to show us all what they are capable of.
Tightends:
Despite only having 2 tightends last time out, day 2 saw a total of 5 take the field.
Prospect bowl newcomer Gilbert had a strong showing, reeling in 7 of 9 targets for a position leading 40 yards.
Also with 40 yards in day 2 was fellow newcomer Nixon, who emerged as the deep threat in this TE class putting up his 40 yards on just 2 catches.
Despite their similar overall production, these 2 prospects epitomise the differences you can get in receiving TEs and I found their different styles both really entertaining to watch on day 2.
After a disappointing day 1, Kurt Wagner recovered with a better performance on day 2 recording 32 yards on 5 catches with just 1 drop. While not lights out production, Wagner showed he can be a reliable target and a consistent chain mover over the middle, a trait that often makes a good receiving TE a QB’s best friend.
After rising up draft boards on day 1, Beauregard will be disappointed with his outing this time around as he caught just 3 of 7 passes for 19 yards. Beauregard will need to prove he is the TE we saw on day 1 when he takes the field on day 3, and this outing was just an off day or he could find himself slipping in draft night.
Finally, rounding out the TE class is newcomer Austin. Austin had a strange day, ad although he only caught 1 pass for 7 yards, he did manage to catch that pass in the endzone. If he can prove to be this kind of red zone threat with an increased workload he could be a really promising prospect.
Defensive Ends:
Excitingly, in a change from day 1, we had 3 prospects at DE on day 2.
I think Ricky Van Vale will be the happiest out of the group as, despite only seeing playing time in game 5, he managed to record a TFL and a sack, showing he can be a presence in offensive backfields. If Van Vale can prove this kind of production isn’t a fluke with a strong showing on day 3, he could make a solid case for DE1 in this seasons class.
Rex Havox also had a pretty solid showing, racking up 10 total tackles over all 3 games as well as recording a TFL. Havox showed himself to be a valuable run defender, using his power to set the edge and consigning the opposing ground attack to marginal games. However, if Havox wants to be a contender to be selected high in the upcoming draft he will need to show more as a pass rusher, as that is where DEs make their money.
I would imagine Marx will be disappointed with his showing on his first time out. He may need to think more about himself on day 3 and push for a larger role so we can really see what he can do, rather than focusing on the good of the many.
DTs:
We had a new addition to the DT class on day 2 of the prospect bowl, with Carrasco joining Princess Donut and Adebisi to fill out a small but strong class on the interior.
It was a strong showing across the board from the DTs, with no really stand-out performance. All 3 prospects racked up between 5 and 7 tackles, and each had 1 ‘splash play’: a TFL for Adebisi, a sack for Princess Donut and a FR for Carrasco.
All 3 look like good players and string contributors at the next level, but none of them did much to separate themselves from the field on day 2. I wouldn’t be surprised to see all 3 go pretty close together in the draft, but as there is no clear DT1 at this point I can see hem dropping more than expected as teams won’t rush to grab their guy first.
LBs:
The tackle leader from day 1 had another big showing on day 2. Finn Murphy recorded another 26 tackles through the 3 games on day 2, giving him 52 through 6 games on the prospect bowl so far. Proving once again to be a force against the run, Murphy also recorded 4 TFLs and a sack in a performance that will strengthen his claim to best run defending LB in this years class. A well deserved DPOG in game 4 (ok he didn’t actually win it but it didn’t feel right giving it to a bot) capped off what has been an impressive pre-draft process for Murphy so far.
Day 2 of the prospect bowl meant we got to see the first action from rumoured favourite for the number 1 overall selection, Willeh Strong. Strong had watched from the sidelines through day 1, still recovering from an injury that had so far kept him out of the pre-draft process, but there were few, if any, signs of rust once he saw the field, The wettest of Willehs racked up 20 tackles through 3 games, with a TFL and sack to go with it, and proved himself more capable than expected in coverage for a man of his size, also recording 3 PDs. Strong was DPOG for game 6, and the only signs of rust in his game were a couple of penalties that ultimately didn’t prove costly, but still, something to watch as we move into day 3.
Rounding out our DPOG winners from day 2 is none other than the steamroller himself, Mac Mannheim. Due to a large LB class, Mannheim saw a limited role in games 4 and 6, but more than made up for it with a dominant performance in game 5. Mannheim racked up 9 tackles, a sack and a FF inside the opponents 5 yard line as he tried to give his team every chance of getting back into the game. Although the offense ended up failing to convert such a golden opportunity, Mannheim’s performance was inspiring, and had the Sting managed to fight back and get a result, his FF would have be hailed as game changing.
Mako Mendonca Jr had another strong showing on day 2 of the prospect bowl, equalling Murphy’s 26 tackles. Mendoca Jr had an especially impressive game in game 6, recording 12 tackles, a sack and a PD. Mendonca Jr has been a consistent presence in the middle of the Carolina defence so far this series, and his strong showings so far through the draft process has to have reinforced that he is amongst the top prospects in what is a proving to be a quality LB class.
Reinforcing a strong performance on day 1, especially against the run, Patsfield produced a similar performance on day 2. 22 total tackles with 3 TFLs and a sack completed a strong showing on the ground for Patsfield, but only 1 PD through 6 games of the prospect bowl might raise concerns with scouts about his abilities in coverage.
The final 3 LBs I’ve got to talk about all suffered from a large LB core on day 2.
Robot Sunfish has been considered one of the highest rated LB prospects in this class for a long time, and had a pretty strong showing on day 1. On day 2 he saw a much reduced role as the snaps were split between lots of prospects, but still managed to rack up 2 TFLs and a sack out of 6 tackles.
Collins is also one of the highest TPE earners out of this LB class and has long been touted as a strong prospect. He saw a slightly larger role than Sunfish on day 2 and managed to compile 11 tackles and 1 TFL. Despite a strong tackle total in a limited role, Collins was not able to replicate the big plays he made on day 1, only recording 1 TFL with no sacks or PDs.
Prospect bowl newcomer Alejandro Thatcher had a pretty slow start to his prospect bowl journey as he saw a very limited role and was only able to record 2 tackles and a PD. We haven’t seen enough from Thatcher to comment on his prospects in the draft or the league, and I’m looking forward to seeing him in a larger role on day 3.
Safeties:
Leroy Jenkins again showed that he can be an absolute force in the run game, flying downhill into the box to compile 20 tackles over 3 games. He showed once again to have a nose for the football, recovering a fumble, and was at least competent in coverage recording 2 PDs. Jenkins’ performances over day 1 and 2 of the prospect bowl have all but cemented him as S1 for me, he has been dominant through 6 games and can be a true chess piece on defence if used correctly at the next level.
The next standout performance at S during day 2 for me was River Ride. Ride wasn’t a big contributor to the run defence, only recording 3 tackles through 3 games. He was, however, an absolute animal in coverage recording 3 PDs and 2 INTs in a performance that personified the phrase ‘no fly zone’. While Jenkins is my S1 at the moment, I could see teams having Ride right up there, especially if they need a more typical ‘single high’ style coverage guy.
DaPinchi is my Jack of all trades of this S class, recording 7 tackles as a solid contributor to the run defence while also recording an INT and PD. While not as high up my board as the other two guys I’ve already talked about, DaPinchi is a solid, do-it-all safety that is probably the safest pick of the class. His floor is as an all round contributor on defence, but his ceiling may not be quite as high as some of the other prospects.
After the masterclass in coverage that Sotiris put on in day 1, I would imagine he will be a bit disappointed following the second day of the prospect bowl. While still a reasonable performance in coverage, recording 2 PDs, he lacked the splash plays that made him standout on day 2. A strong performance on day 3 could still throw him into the mix at the top of this seasons safety class.
Cornerbacks:
Prospect bowl newcomer Andrews Jr blew up day 2 and catapulted him right into contention for CB1. 8 tackles, 4 PDs and an interception highlighted a strong all round performance for Andrews Jr as he went from off the map to right near the top of CB boards across scouting departments. Andrews projects best as a slot corner at the next level, allowing both his coverage abilities and tackling skills to shine through.
Sam Coverdale showed why he should be considered a promising prospect in this CB, compiling 15 tackles and 5 PDs. Sure, he gave up a few catches but there is no denying the potential and talent is there. If this guy lands in the right place and is allowed to develop at his own speed, he could become an All-Pro level CB in the DSFL, the talent is just undeniable.
Tyler Oles III didn’t need to do much to cement his draft stock after his performance on day 1, but he showed up in coverage again with a further 3 PDs alongside 6 tackles. While not spectacular on day 2, another solid showing all but confirms Oles III as one of the top CB prospects in this draft. Barring an absolute catastrophe on day 3, Oles III should be near the top of most draft boards.
Adam Journey, Widdle Warrick and TheGEIOCamel all suffered from the large draft class, each seeing a limited role and none of them featuring in all 3 games on day 2. Despite this they still out up some solid performances given the limited opportunities, but I would like to see more from them before I discuss their draft prospects. I hope to see each of the, see a larger role on day 3 of the prospect bowl, so they can show the league why they deserve a shot.
Extras:
While we didn’t have any kickers on day 1, Kenny showed up on day 2. Including extra points and FG, Kenny was 10 for 11 on the day, and included a FG apiece from 40+ and 50+ yards. It was a solid first showing from Kenny, who while known for his power, showed he can be accurate as well.
We had some strong O line prospect performances on day 2 aswell, with Farkas and Tractor showing us why they should be considered top prospects. Farkas recorded 13 pancakes while Tractor racked up 6 of his own in what was a big showing from the big lads up front.
Next up, day 3: the final chance for prospects to impress before the draft on Thursday.
Once again, I’ll start this review by briefly summarising the three game before going into individual prospect performances.
Game Summaries:
Game 4:
The games on day 2 were generally much more competitive than those on day 1, and that started in the very first quarter.
After South Beach went up through a FG from kicker Kenny, Carolina QB Greg Hirsch corked off another long TD run to put the Reapers up 7-3 at the end of the first. The second quarter was dominated by kicking as Carolina out 2 through the uprights before the Sting replied with one of their own. 13 - 6 at the half.
Unfortunately a game that held a lot of promise early petered out in the first half as defences dominated allowing only a further 3 FGs between them.
The story of the matchup is not represented in the final score as the Sting had more first downs, were better on 3rd downs, had 70 more total yards and had a marginally longer time of possession, however 2 turnovers proved costly as despite the better offensive production the Reapers walked out winners. The Reapers picked up right where they left off on day 1 offensively, putting on a dominant performance on the ground racking up over 200 yards at a rate of 5.5 per attempt.
Carolina Reapers 16 - 12 South Beach Sting
OPOG - WR Seer Ial
DPOG - LB Finn Murphy
Game 5:
The game of the series so far, game 5 had a bit of everything you could want out of a well contested game of football.
The Reapers once again went up early with Hirsch showing he can be a threat through the air as well as on the ground, completing a 7 yard TD pass to newcomer TE Austin.
South Beach struggled offensively in the first half, relying on a string performance from kicker Kenny to keep them in it. His 51 yard FG towards the end of the half is the joint longest made at this years prospect bowl so far.
A further FGs from Kenny put South Beach up early in the third before LB Mannheim forced a fumble on a sack of Hirsch inside the Reaper 5 yard line. Unfortunately the Sting weren’t able to capitalise with 7 and had to settled for another Kenny field goal before Hirsch showed why he is a threat with his legs again, finding the endzone from 28 yards out to put Carolina back on top.
South Beach scored on a 19 yard connection from Qiller to Seer Ial early in the 4th before defences showed up and prevented any more points for the majority of the quarter. With 30 seconds left in the game Hirsch connected through the air with Lawrence Crawford for a 5 yard TD that ultimately proved the difference in what was a thrilling contest between two string sides.
The Sting must have been left scratching their heads a bit after this one; leading in first downs, dominating total yardage by 150 yards and avoiding turnovers but still just missing out on the win. Without an answer for the Reapers run game, which averaged 5.5 yards per attempt again, this series could quickly slip away from Siuth Beach.
South Beach Sting - 19 - 22 Carolina Reapers
OPOG - RB Animal Blundetto
DPOG - LB Mac Mannheim
Game 6:
South Beach had clearly had enough at this point and ,after a strong talking to from the coaching staff, showed signs of turning things around after back to back defeats.
After a slow start to the game, with both offences struggling to get things going, the Sting went 7 up through a 8 yard connection from QB Qiller to WR Ial. Carolina came back early in the second with a 1 yard TD run from Hirsch before 2 Kenny FGs gave South Beach a 13-7 lead headed into the half.
While the Reapers started the second half strongly, taking the lead with another 1 yard TD run this time from RB Guile, the Sting found their groove. A 2 yard run from Dream and successful 2 point conversion gave South Beach back the lead before a 4 yard TD catch from Dorr made it a 2 score game halfway through the 4th. The Reapers had no answer in the second half and the game fizzled out to a quiet end.
I don’t mean to blow my own trumpet here, but I mentioned previously how if South Beach wanted a chance in the rest of this content they were going to need to do something about the Reaper run game. In game 6 they did, for although Carolina still averaged 5.3 yards per attempt they were held to a total of 64 yards on the ground.
The Sting, on the other hand, put up 230 yards both passing and rushing in a dominant offensive performance encapsulated by a time of possession of over 43 minutes.
Carolina Reapers 14 - 28 South Beach Sting
OPOG - RB Animal Blundetto
DPOG - LB Willeh Strong
Prospect summaries:
Quarterbacks:
Greg Hirsch followed up his performance on day 1 of the prospect bowl with an almost identical performance on day 2. Hirsch was once again a problem for South Beach on the ground, racking up 95 yards and 3 rushing TDs on 9 rushing attempts over the 3 games. At an average gain of 10.6 yards per rushing attempt, the Sting defence had very little answer for him on the ground, resulting in him getting awarded OPOG for game 5.
Unfortunately for Hirsch, his struggles as a passer also continued into day 2 of the prospect bowl. Hirsch completed 27 of his 66 passing attempts, good for a completion percentage just under 41%, totalling 330 yards throw the air, an average of 5 yards per attempt.
Hirsch’s issues with costly plays continued as well, as he ultimately threw 3 interceptions and was sacked 5 times across the 3 games this time out.
The big play ability and game wrecking threat on the ground is clearly there for Hirsch, but he has to develop as a passer to match that. I’m not sure Hirsch is a starter in the DSFL right now, but he has potential to develop sat behind a starter for a season or 2.
On the other side of things was Jamarcus Qiller, who was hoping to back up an introductory performance on dpgameday 1 with a big time showing this time out. Unfortunately for Qiller it was a similar performance, completing 52.4% of his passes compared to 54% last time out. The positive for Qiller this time was that he racked up a total of 719 yards through the air, proving his is capable of solid production at this level. He continued his trend of looking after the ball as well, with a TD/INT ratio of 3:1.
Qiller’s limited mobility was cause for concern again, as he Reapers front all but eliminated any threat he possesses as a runner, consigning him to a meager 2.4 yards per attempt.
Qiller showed he can be productive through the air this time out, and while I don’t think any team on the DSFL would be rushing to start him in game week 1, I can see him filling in for an injured veteran if needed for a couple of games his rookie year as he looks after the football well. Qiller is still yet to prove to me that he can be an explosive playmaker, but seems like the safer bet at QB in this season’s class.
Running Backs:
It was a string showing from RBs across the board on game day 2 of the prospect bowl, but one made a big push to be considered RB1 of the class. South Beach Sting’s Animal Blundetto absolutely showed out on day 2, compiling 268 yards on 40 attempts for an average gain in the ground of 6.7 yards. That is utterly dominant and answered any questions recruiters may have had about him after game day 1 where he only manage 3.7 yards per carry. He also showed value as a receiver out of the back field, telling in all 6 targets for a total of 32 yards, leaving him with exactly 300 yards from scrimmage through 3 games. Though Blundetto didn’t manage to find the endzone this time out, he did rack up 2 OPOG awards in a performance that is sure to cement him as a top offensive prospect.
Despite the dominance of Blundetto, he was not the most efficient back of the day with prospect bowl newcomer Chanos recording 7.7 yards per attempt on 6 carries. Although a small sample size, Chanos showed explosiveness with the ball in his hands and I would like to see what he can do with a greater share of the carries. Chanos also brings value as a returner, averaging 18.5 yards per kickoff return.
Star of prospect bowl day 1, Claflin Jr had a quieter day at he races second time out as he amassed 119 yards on 26 touches. Averaging 4.6 yards per attempt on the ground, and coming down with the only pass thrown his way, this was a solid if not spectacular performance that should help solidify Claflin Jr’s status as a promising back in his seasons class.
The leader of the Reaper ground attack this time out was Guile. A steady but productive back on day 1, Guile was more efficient on day 2, increasing his yards per carry from 4.1 to 4.7 as he recorded 170 yards total on 36 carries. Guile showed once again that he has a nose for the endzone, recording his second TD in as many outings. If Guile can keep up this level of consistency, as he also caught 100% of passes thrown his way, he will find himself high up a number of big boards come draft time.
Prospect bowl newcomer American Dream had a slow start to his prospect bowl performance, averaging 2.3 and 3.1 yards per carry through his first 2 games. He really found his feet in game 3 though, turning 14 touches into 76 yards and a score. Though he may have felt pressured early, once settled Dream looked like a dynamic runner with the ball in his hands and is someone who could really look to improve draft stock on day 3. Was game 6 a fluke, or is that the kind of runner Dream can be in the league? We need to see more of him before we can make that call.
Despite the number, or distinct lack thereof, I find Jag McQueen a really intriguing prospect. Once again, McQueen didn’t record a single carry through 3 games, the same as on day 1, and yet he once again proved himself to be a reliable pair of hands. Having had the highest catch percentage of all RBs last time out, McQueen caught all 4 targets for a total of 54 yards. That’s unbelievable production on very limited touches and I just can’t help but wonder what he could do with more. While he may not project as a bell cow at the next level, McQueen has the makings of a really promising 3rd down back with big play/home run potential. It will be up to the team that draft him to put him in positions that suit his strengths, and if they do I think McQueen could be a real contributor.
Day 1 darling Zigzag Zipstep saw a more limited role this time out in what was ultimately a pretty busy backfield. He was still pretty productive on his limited snap count, recording 32 yards on 6 touches, and showed himself to be a contributor to both aspects of the game on offense. Zipstep will be hoping to see a role more similar to that he saw on day 1 on day 3 as he looks to make a case for himself as RB1.
I can’t help but feel for Sodo Mojo. The promising back has seen just 7 carries over the first 6 games of the prospect bowl, which really isn’t enough to make any judgement on his chances as a prospect. I’ve got everything crossed that Mojo gets a bigger role on day 3 and can really show us what he is about as a runner.
Wide Receivers:
Favourite to be WR1 after day 1 of the prospect bowl, Old Man Walker had another string showing in day 2. After sitting out on offense for game 4, he continued his ridiculous yards per catch numbers compiling 160 yards on 6 catches through games 5 and 6. Old Man by name, but anything but by nature; the guy is just a constant threat downfield. The only knock Inhave against Walker as a prospect is the catch percentage. He dropped 8 targets in day 1, he dropped a further 10 on day 2. If he can sort out the drops Walker could be dominant at the next level, but if he can’t…..
Seer Ial, I owe you an apology. Last time out I complained about your lack of catches compared to targets, and in my defence he brought in a third of the balls thrown his way. Day 2 though? WOW, what a performance! With 10 catches on 13 targets for a mind boggling 233 yards and 2 touchdowns, Ial has vaulted himself straight into the conversation for WR1 of this class in an utterly dominant fashion. The Reapers defence just had no match for him as he racked up over 50 yards receiving in every game on day 2. Ial may have just put himself into contention to be a first round pick come draft time.
Moving on, I want to talk about 2 receivers that had similar performances on day 2. Christian Dorr and Jaylin Reyes put up 107 and 109 yards respectively, which from the outside looks pretty solid. The issue here for me is the drops, Reyes had 9 while Dorr had 14!
I like Dorr as a prospect, each catch he makes seems to go for 8-12 yards and move the chains and he’s proven himself to be a weapon in the red zone as well, but 11 catches to 14 drops is just not going to cut it at the next level.
Reyes clearly has big play potential, recording a 47 yard gain in game 6 (the second longest of day 2) and averaging over 18 yards per reception, but catching 40% of your targets does set off some quiet alarm bells despite the production.
Prospect bowl newcomer Lawrence Crawford had a nice day as a role player, recording 57 yards on 3 catches. He will be looking for an increased role on day 3 to prove he can continue to be productive as the targets increase. He also caught a TD in what was ultimately a pretty successful, if limited, first outing.
Prince Jr had a strong start to day 2, catching 4 balls for 41 yards in game 4. Unfortunately an overcrowded receiving room meant he didn’t see much action as a weapon in game 5 and 6, mainly getting on the field as a returner. Prince Jr will be hoping for an expanded role on day 3.
DeFanco and Prince Jr seemed to share a role on day 2, with only one of them seeing the field each game and gaining yards at a similar rate (11.3 vs 10.2 yards per catch). DeFanco should feel pretty pleased with his production across 2 games on day 2, but will be hoping for an increased role on day 3, much the same as Prince Jr.
Both of these receivers have shown potential is a limited role, and have a chance at propelling themselves up draft boards with a strong performance on day 3.
Moses Dewitt and Pranks Schofield did not see enough of the ball on day 2 to gain any useful insight into them as prospects. Fingers crossed they get a shot on day 3 to show us all what they are capable of.
Tightends:
Despite only having 2 tightends last time out, day 2 saw a total of 5 take the field.
Prospect bowl newcomer Gilbert had a strong showing, reeling in 7 of 9 targets for a position leading 40 yards.
Also with 40 yards in day 2 was fellow newcomer Nixon, who emerged as the deep threat in this TE class putting up his 40 yards on just 2 catches.
Despite their similar overall production, these 2 prospects epitomise the differences you can get in receiving TEs and I found their different styles both really entertaining to watch on day 2.
After a disappointing day 1, Kurt Wagner recovered with a better performance on day 2 recording 32 yards on 5 catches with just 1 drop. While not lights out production, Wagner showed he can be a reliable target and a consistent chain mover over the middle, a trait that often makes a good receiving TE a QB’s best friend.
After rising up draft boards on day 1, Beauregard will be disappointed with his outing this time around as he caught just 3 of 7 passes for 19 yards. Beauregard will need to prove he is the TE we saw on day 1 when he takes the field on day 3, and this outing was just an off day or he could find himself slipping in draft night.
Finally, rounding out the TE class is newcomer Austin. Austin had a strange day, ad although he only caught 1 pass for 7 yards, he did manage to catch that pass in the endzone. If he can prove to be this kind of red zone threat with an increased workload he could be a really promising prospect.
Defensive Ends:
Excitingly, in a change from day 1, we had 3 prospects at DE on day 2.
I think Ricky Van Vale will be the happiest out of the group as, despite only seeing playing time in game 5, he managed to record a TFL and a sack, showing he can be a presence in offensive backfields. If Van Vale can prove this kind of production isn’t a fluke with a strong showing on day 3, he could make a solid case for DE1 in this seasons class.
Rex Havox also had a pretty solid showing, racking up 10 total tackles over all 3 games as well as recording a TFL. Havox showed himself to be a valuable run defender, using his power to set the edge and consigning the opposing ground attack to marginal games. However, if Havox wants to be a contender to be selected high in the upcoming draft he will need to show more as a pass rusher, as that is where DEs make their money.
I would imagine Marx will be disappointed with his showing on his first time out. He may need to think more about himself on day 3 and push for a larger role so we can really see what he can do, rather than focusing on the good of the many.
DTs:
We had a new addition to the DT class on day 2 of the prospect bowl, with Carrasco joining Princess Donut and Adebisi to fill out a small but strong class on the interior.
It was a strong showing across the board from the DTs, with no really stand-out performance. All 3 prospects racked up between 5 and 7 tackles, and each had 1 ‘splash play’: a TFL for Adebisi, a sack for Princess Donut and a FR for Carrasco.
All 3 look like good players and string contributors at the next level, but none of them did much to separate themselves from the field on day 2. I wouldn’t be surprised to see all 3 go pretty close together in the draft, but as there is no clear DT1 at this point I can see hem dropping more than expected as teams won’t rush to grab their guy first.
LBs:
The tackle leader from day 1 had another big showing on day 2. Finn Murphy recorded another 26 tackles through the 3 games on day 2, giving him 52 through 6 games on the prospect bowl so far. Proving once again to be a force against the run, Murphy also recorded 4 TFLs and a sack in a performance that will strengthen his claim to best run defending LB in this years class. A well deserved DPOG in game 4 (ok he didn’t actually win it but it didn’t feel right giving it to a bot) capped off what has been an impressive pre-draft process for Murphy so far.
Day 2 of the prospect bowl meant we got to see the first action from rumoured favourite for the number 1 overall selection, Willeh Strong. Strong had watched from the sidelines through day 1, still recovering from an injury that had so far kept him out of the pre-draft process, but there were few, if any, signs of rust once he saw the field, The wettest of Willehs racked up 20 tackles through 3 games, with a TFL and sack to go with it, and proved himself more capable than expected in coverage for a man of his size, also recording 3 PDs. Strong was DPOG for game 6, and the only signs of rust in his game were a couple of penalties that ultimately didn’t prove costly, but still, something to watch as we move into day 3.
Rounding out our DPOG winners from day 2 is none other than the steamroller himself, Mac Mannheim. Due to a large LB class, Mannheim saw a limited role in games 4 and 6, but more than made up for it with a dominant performance in game 5. Mannheim racked up 9 tackles, a sack and a FF inside the opponents 5 yard line as he tried to give his team every chance of getting back into the game. Although the offense ended up failing to convert such a golden opportunity, Mannheim’s performance was inspiring, and had the Sting managed to fight back and get a result, his FF would have be hailed as game changing.
Mako Mendonca Jr had another strong showing on day 2 of the prospect bowl, equalling Murphy’s 26 tackles. Mendoca Jr had an especially impressive game in game 6, recording 12 tackles, a sack and a PD. Mendonca Jr has been a consistent presence in the middle of the Carolina defence so far this series, and his strong showings so far through the draft process has to have reinforced that he is amongst the top prospects in what is a proving to be a quality LB class.
Reinforcing a strong performance on day 1, especially against the run, Patsfield produced a similar performance on day 2. 22 total tackles with 3 TFLs and a sack completed a strong showing on the ground for Patsfield, but only 1 PD through 6 games of the prospect bowl might raise concerns with scouts about his abilities in coverage.
The final 3 LBs I’ve got to talk about all suffered from a large LB core on day 2.
Robot Sunfish has been considered one of the highest rated LB prospects in this class for a long time, and had a pretty strong showing on day 1. On day 2 he saw a much reduced role as the snaps were split between lots of prospects, but still managed to rack up 2 TFLs and a sack out of 6 tackles.
Collins is also one of the highest TPE earners out of this LB class and has long been touted as a strong prospect. He saw a slightly larger role than Sunfish on day 2 and managed to compile 11 tackles and 1 TFL. Despite a strong tackle total in a limited role, Collins was not able to replicate the big plays he made on day 1, only recording 1 TFL with no sacks or PDs.
Prospect bowl newcomer Alejandro Thatcher had a pretty slow start to his prospect bowl journey as he saw a very limited role and was only able to record 2 tackles and a PD. We haven’t seen enough from Thatcher to comment on his prospects in the draft or the league, and I’m looking forward to seeing him in a larger role on day 3.
Safeties:
Leroy Jenkins again showed that he can be an absolute force in the run game, flying downhill into the box to compile 20 tackles over 3 games. He showed once again to have a nose for the football, recovering a fumble, and was at least competent in coverage recording 2 PDs. Jenkins’ performances over day 1 and 2 of the prospect bowl have all but cemented him as S1 for me, he has been dominant through 6 games and can be a true chess piece on defence if used correctly at the next level.
The next standout performance at S during day 2 for me was River Ride. Ride wasn’t a big contributor to the run defence, only recording 3 tackles through 3 games. He was, however, an absolute animal in coverage recording 3 PDs and 2 INTs in a performance that personified the phrase ‘no fly zone’. While Jenkins is my S1 at the moment, I could see teams having Ride right up there, especially if they need a more typical ‘single high’ style coverage guy.
DaPinchi is my Jack of all trades of this S class, recording 7 tackles as a solid contributor to the run defence while also recording an INT and PD. While not as high up my board as the other two guys I’ve already talked about, DaPinchi is a solid, do-it-all safety that is probably the safest pick of the class. His floor is as an all round contributor on defence, but his ceiling may not be quite as high as some of the other prospects.
After the masterclass in coverage that Sotiris put on in day 1, I would imagine he will be a bit disappointed following the second day of the prospect bowl. While still a reasonable performance in coverage, recording 2 PDs, he lacked the splash plays that made him standout on day 2. A strong performance on day 3 could still throw him into the mix at the top of this seasons safety class.
Cornerbacks:
Prospect bowl newcomer Andrews Jr blew up day 2 and catapulted him right into contention for CB1. 8 tackles, 4 PDs and an interception highlighted a strong all round performance for Andrews Jr as he went from off the map to right near the top of CB boards across scouting departments. Andrews projects best as a slot corner at the next level, allowing both his coverage abilities and tackling skills to shine through.
Sam Coverdale showed why he should be considered a promising prospect in this CB, compiling 15 tackles and 5 PDs. Sure, he gave up a few catches but there is no denying the potential and talent is there. If this guy lands in the right place and is allowed to develop at his own speed, he could become an All-Pro level CB in the DSFL, the talent is just undeniable.
Tyler Oles III didn’t need to do much to cement his draft stock after his performance on day 1, but he showed up in coverage again with a further 3 PDs alongside 6 tackles. While not spectacular on day 2, another solid showing all but confirms Oles III as one of the top CB prospects in this draft. Barring an absolute catastrophe on day 3, Oles III should be near the top of most draft boards.
Adam Journey, Widdle Warrick and TheGEIOCamel all suffered from the large draft class, each seeing a limited role and none of them featuring in all 3 games on day 2. Despite this they still out up some solid performances given the limited opportunities, but I would like to see more from them before I discuss their draft prospects. I hope to see each of the, see a larger role on day 3 of the prospect bowl, so they can show the league why they deserve a shot.
Extras:
While we didn’t have any kickers on day 1, Kenny showed up on day 2. Including extra points and FG, Kenny was 10 for 11 on the day, and included a FG apiece from 40+ and 50+ yards. It was a solid first showing from Kenny, who while known for his power, showed he can be accurate as well.
We had some strong O line prospect performances on day 2 aswell, with Farkas and Tractor showing us why they should be considered top prospects. Farkas recorded 13 pancakes while Tractor racked up 6 of his own in what was a big showing from the big lads up front.
Next up, day 3: the final chance for prospects to impress before the draft on Thursday.