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Is John Elway Facing Same Tough QB Question That Dogged Mike Shanahan in Denver? by Mark Kiszla Denver Post Jan

Is John Elway Facing Same Tough QB Question That Dogged Mike Shanahan in Denver? by Mark Kiszla Denver Post Jan

Kickin’ it with Kiz: Is facing same tough QB question that dogged in Denver? By Mark Kiszla Denver Post Jan. 28, 2018

Do you trust John Elway with the No. 5 pick in the NFL draft? Isn’t Elway the same guy who kept and dumped Kyle Sloter, while drafting , and Isaiah McKenzie? Wasn’t Elway too soft in contract negotiations, and gave away way too much money for and ? Is Elway gambling when he makes personnel moves? He got lucky with .

Richard, sacking Elway

Kiz: So the diamonds in that 50 ring don’t shine for you anymore? I remember when it was said Mike Shanahan couldn’t win championships without Elway as his . Now Elway can’t win without Manning? Don’t know if that’s irony, but it’s funny. You are correct to put Elway on blast for the team’s 5-11 record in 2017. But you’re telling me the Broncos would have made the playoffs if they had kept Sloter? Consider this: Sloter couldn’t beat out in . Even after his departure from Broncos Country, however, Sloter does serve an important purpose around here. He gives fans that know nothing about football something to gripe about.

Baker Mayfield will be the next .

Rick, Sonoma, Calif.

Kiz: Hey, are you the same person who told me would be the next ?

I hate that I doubted the great Mark Kiszla regarding Siemian as the Broncos quarterback.

Brandon, Hayward, Calif.

Kiz: Hey, we all make mistakes. I thought Lynch was a smart draft pick. I’d drop and give you 50 push-ups as penance, except I can’t do 50 push-ups.

I’m shocked that you voted Oklahoma State receiver James Washington No. 1 on your ballot, Kiz.

Straz, Oklahoma Sooners fan

Kiz: I would be happier to sip a drink and watch a game at Lumpy’s in Norman than Eskimo Joe’s in Stillwater. But the NFL team that drafts Washington will be happier than the one that takes Mayfield.

Edgar Martinez is Hall of Fame worthy.

Nick, all-hit, no-field

Kiz: Even a knucklehead like me was smart enough to include Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, Vladimir Guerrero and Trevor Hoffman on my Hall of Fame ballot. And, yes, I was tempted to toss a vote in the direction of Martinez, but wasn’t certain he could catch it, after watching his 18-year major-league career as a designated hitter.

Would you consider offering some thoughts on the sexual abuse of U.S. female gymnasts and what might be the complicity of Michigan State?

Linda, sees the big picture

Kiz: The courage shown by Rachael Denhollander, Aly Raisman and an army of gymnasts to take on a predator makes them true American heroes, while the resignations of officials at Michigan State that enabled Larry Nassar’s abuse remind us that good journalists tackling tough stories will always be essential work.

And today’s parting shot is proof my 2018 is off to a better-than-usual start.

The Broncos shouldn’t draft a quarterback in the first round. That’s the first time I agreed with ya, Kiz, in almost a calendar year!

Frank, Denver

Will Broncos jump aboard the spread offense bandwagon? By Nick Kosmider Denver Post Jan. 28, 2018 he Eagles and their fan base aren't ones to absorb sleights — real or perceived — lying down.

The fans, in the throes of a miserable season in 1968, exercised their frustration by throwing snowballs at a teenager dressed as Santa Claus during a halftime performance. Fifty years later, players donned dog masks after their NFC divisional-round playoff victory over the Falcons on Jan. 13, a shot at those labeling the conference's No. 1 seed as a longshot underdog once its second-year quarterback, , was lost for the rest of the season in December because of a knee injury.

So it's no surprise that folks in Philadelphia took umbrage with comments made by Broncos Chris Harris after the Eagles blasted Denver 51-23 on Nov. 5.

"They run this college offense," Harris said.

Those five words spread rapidly through social media. The implication, some Eagles fans believed, was that Philadelphia ran a gimmicky offense based on trick formations, exotic schemes and general subterfuge.

But the reality is Harris was heaping praise upon an offense that had taken the latest emergence of spread concepts — yes, those used widely by college teams — to another level. Even without Wentz, the Eagles have continued to hum with an offense riddled with spread concepts. Those formations and plays — designed to create mismatches by isolating individual defenders and forcing them into difficult choices — are a major reason the Eagles will be playing the in a matchup of 15-3 teams in Super Bowl LII next Sunday. excel as the substitute conductor of that offense like he did during a 38-7 demolition of the in the NFC championship game last week, those concepts may just help Philadelphia prevent the Patriots from adding yet another title chapter to their dynastic history.

It's an offense, Patriots coach told reporters, that forces defenses "to defend every blade of grass." And it just may be taking over the NFL.

Getting a front-row seat

The Eagles weren't the only team in the NFL to feature spread-offense concepts this season. The , and were among playoff teams that also found success with such an attack. And almost every team has some spread concepts. But no team merged those philosophies with that of a standard pro-style attack more effectively than Philadelphia, as Denver found out firsthand.

The staple of the spread offense being used in the NFL is the run-pass option — RPO, as coaches and broadcasters shorthand it. The basic tenet of the play is that it gives a quarterback several decisions to make based on how a defense reacts.

In the run-pass option, a usually is lined up to the side of the quarterback rather than directly behind him. At the snap, the running back typically moves horizontally along the line of scrimmage. That gives pause to defenders covering the edge of the field. On one side, the running back may take the handoff and sprint to the edge. But defenders on the other side of the field must be aware of the quarterback faking a handoff and running toward the other edge.

But the ability to pass out of that play adds another element that can often break a defense. A play in the first quarter of the Broncos' loss to the Eagles perfectly illustrated the conundrum a defense faces in defending the spread. Philadelphia was at Denver's 32-yard line when Wentz took a snap out of the shotgun with running back to his right. At the snap, Ajayi moved left to take the ball from Wentz.

As Ajayi moved toward the ball, Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib, who was covering on the outside of the formation, briefly froze as he stared into the backfield at the exchange. He was wary of Wentz keeping the ball and running his way. Wentz did in fact fake the handoff, but Talib's split-second pause to confirm that action was all Jeffery needed to sprint behind the all-pro corner. Wentz simply had to shuffle to his right and float a pass for a 32-yard .

The Eagles put the Vikings in similarly compromising positions last week. Foles used his athleticism and fakes to create easy throwing lanes. For Minnesota, defending the spread was like reading a choose- your-own-adventure book and realizing a demise existed at the end of nearly every chapter.

A Broncos awakening?

As the Broncos observed and instructed the latest grasp of NFL draft hopefuls at workouts in Mobile, Ala., last week — most of them the products of some form of spread offense in college — they hinted at philosophical alterations in how they will develop offensive players going forward, particularly .

"In my opinion, we have to take what those guys do best and kind of put it in our plan," said Denver . "We can't watch those guys on tape for four or five months and then draft those guys and ask them to do different things. What they do best, we have to do with those guys. Obviously you want to be under center some, but if they are a spread guy, we have to implement spread concepts for those guys to be successful on our level."

Such an approach would be a departure from how the Broncos have operated in recent seasons. Even when playing 2016 first-round draft pick Paxton Lynch, who operated almost exclusively out of the spread while at Memphis, the coaching staff put a limited amount of run-pass option or other spread plays into the game plan.

But the success of the Eagles and other teams this season while heavily incorporating spread concepts has pulled the Broncos, and other teams, back toward the drawing board. It's time to send their offenses back to college, at least part time.

"You watch Philly (and you see) we have to evolve as coaches, also," Joseph said recently. "Take these kids' skill sets and put them to work. So what we see in these players that we love, we have to apply to our game.

"It's simple as that."

After 'miserable' season, Elway embraces challenge of fixing Broncos By Mike Klis 9NEWS Jan. 28, 2018

John Elway began by making the general manager job look easy.

The first player he drafted was Von Miller. His first five seasons ended with the Broncos winning AFC West titles. His team played in one Super Bowl thanks to a record-setting offense, and two years later won a Super Bowl on the strength of a historical defense.

Elway was a Golden Boy all over again. But in these last two seasons, Elway has needed thick skin. Luckily for him, all those years of playing quarterback in the Broncos-crazed town of Denver had already developed extra layers of epidermis.

“You know, it comes with the territory,’’ Elway said in an interview with 9NEWS following a Senior Bowl practice Wednesday. “It’s expectations. We have those same expectations of ourselves. Every time you go through a 5-11 year, it’s miserable. I don’t think people understand how miserable it is going through it. As hard as it is for them, it’s hard for us, too.’’

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Before Vance Joseph and his Broncos coaching staff led the Senior Bowl North team to their on-field practice Wednesday at Ladd Peebles Stadium, they held a walkthrough in a second-floor hallway at the SMG Mobile Convention Center.

Bill Musgrave, the Broncos’ , set up chairs in a defensive-like formation on the far side of the hallway. The North squad offense then walked through plays. It’s an exercise every NFL team often goes through in hotel ballrooms the night before a game.

On the other side of the hallway, leaning back on a table and sipping on a cup of coffee, was Elway. He was watching the walkthrough.

“Just to be around them, get as much as you can,’’ Elway said later. “It’s good to be around football, see how these guys learn.’’

Here at the Senior Bowl, Elway got a long look at quarterbacks and . Which one does he like? He likes them both. He likes non-seniors Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen, too.

Much as all NFL teams try to guard their information, in the end there are no secrets when it comes to evaluating the top players. Put together a list of the top five players at every position and every team will have at least four in common.

Everybody gets the same film on these players and the film doesn’t lie. When it comes to player evaluation, no scouting tool tops the tape.

“It is about the tape, but that’s only part of it,’’ Elway said. “You’ve got to find out what they’re made of and if they love the game. It’s a hard game. If they don’t love it, it’s hard for them to be successful.’’

Thing is, if Elway signs say, Washington’s from free agency, he won’t draft a quarterback at No. 5.

With that No. 5 overall draft pick, it doesn’t matter what player Elway takes. All that matters is he selects the right player.

“Any time you draft that high you have to make ‘em count,’’ Elway said. “We’ve got a lot of picks so we have the ammo also (to trade), so we’ve got to make sure we make them all count.’’

Joseph may have inadvertently put some pressure on his boss earlier in the week when he said, “you rarely miss (with draft picks) when you coach this game.’’

“I hope he’s right,’’ Elway said with a laugh. “Anything we can do to improve our misses, we’ll be in good shape. The hard thing is getting to know them. When you’re around them in the meeting room as well as on the field, it’s much better than a 15-minute interview at the Combine.’’

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Six weeks before the draft, the Broncos are expected to be active in free agency. Their needs may exceed their $25 to $30 million in salary cap space, but you can always manipulate cap room.

Besides quarterback, the Broncos figure to make changes at tight end, offensive tackle, defensive line, inside linebacker and cornerback, and possibly running back and receiver. And Elway the former quarterback will never pass on a quality edge player who can rush the quarterback.

After free agency, the Broncos will have nine picks in the draft. Elway has work to do. No matter how much success he had through the first five seasons of his general manager’s term, if the Broncos are at a crossroads, so is he.

Which brings a dash of excitement to the offseason.

“You’re going to have those years,’’ Elway said. “We don’t expect that. Our expectations of what we do as the , the expectations that had and the family has is to be competitive year-in and year-out. We didn’t do our job last year so it's a great challenge for us to get that turned around this year.’’

Richmond’s goes from FCS to Senior Bowl star By John Zenor Jan. 28, 2018

Kyle Lauletta more than held his own in elite quarterback company.

A standout at FCS Richmond, Lauletta threw three second-half touchdown passes and Texas-San Antonio’s Marcus Davenport scored on a 19-yard fumble recovery to lead the South team to a 45-16 victory over the North in the Senior Bowl on Saturday.

Lauletta capped the weeklong audition for NFL teams in strong fashion, thriving amid more heralded passers from the North team. That group included Oklahoma Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield and Wyoming’s Josh Allen, a potential No. 1 overall draft pick who also had a huge third quarter.

“We knew that we were underdogs coming into the game for whatever reason,” said Lauletta, chosen as the game’s Most Valuable Player. “I guess that kind of motivated us. We knew that those quarterbacks on the other side were getting all the attention. So we just went out there and played our game. We did what we know how to do.”

Lauletta completed 8 of 12 passes for 198 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown strike to LSU’s DJ Chark and some other nice downfield throws. Davenport, projected as a likely first-rounder and potential Top 10 pick, scooped up a fumble forced by Mississippi’s Marquis Haynes to punctuate a big third quarter.

Allen finished 9-of-13 passing for 158 yards, all but 14 coming in the third quarter, along with a pair of .

Mayfield played only the North’s first two drives, going 3 of 7 for 9 yards. He left before the second half to fly to Austin, Texas, to be with his ailing mother.

Mayfield was named the game’s top quarterback after the practice sessions led by the Denver Broncos staff. Team officials requested him for the North squad.

“He’s a great dude, the ultimate competitor,” Allen said. “I think we actually made each other better this week.”

Allen and Lauletta forged a nice third-quarter duel with each launching a couple of touchdown passes.

Allen led an 81-yard touchdown drive to start the second half with the North trailing 18-3. He ran for a first down and passed for a fourth-down conversion before faking an end around handoff and hitting Central Michigan tight end Tyler Conklin in the right corner of the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown.

He followed that up with two big throws right on target: A 31-yarder to Colorado State’s and a 27-yard touchdown to Notre Dame tight end Durham Smythe. The potential tying two-point attempt failed.

Lauletta answered on the next play with the bomb to a wide-open Chark. He also had a long pass from his own end zone and broke two tackles in the backfield on another play. Chark had five catches for 160 yards and flashed a celebration he called his “little cat dance” where he mimics a cat.

“That’s the dance I’ve been waiting on for four years,” he said. “You can’t celebrate in college so the first time I got a touchdown I could celebrate, I had to pull it out.”

AWARD WINNERS

Chark and San Diego State running back Rashaad Penny were co-South Most Outstanding players. Penny ran nine times for 63 yards and caught a 73-yard touchdown pass from Virginia’s Kurt Benkert. Allen was chosen as the Most Outstanding Player on the North.

QB NUMBERS

Nebraska’s Tanner Lee attempted the most passes, completing 8 of 19 for 86 yards with an . He also lost a fumble. Western Kentucky’s had a big first half, going 8 of 11 for 128 yards and a TD. Benkert threw for 90 yards on 4-of-11 passing with a TD and interception.

GRIFFIN’S GAME

UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin, who doesn’t have a left hand, had four tackles but also had a week of practices to prove himself. “I felt like I had to prove myself because obviously scouts can say one thing and people are going to say another,” Griffin said. “I had to make sure that I could show everybody what I could do, and I think I was able to accomplish that this week.”

COACHING STAFFS

The Denver Broncos (North) and (South) coaching staffs led the teams. The Broncos, who got to work with quarterbacks Allen and Mayfield, have the fifth overall pick and are in need of a QB. The Texans traded their first- and second-round picks last year to get Deshaun Watson and don’t pick until the third.

Rejected Super Bowl ad by military veterans shows NFL only wants to hear one side By Paul Klee Colorado Springs Gazette Jan. 28, 2018

It's one week until Super Bowl LII. Know what’s tougher than stopping Tom Brady in a two-minute drill or scoring against Philadelphia’s hair-on-fire defense?

Holding a productive conversation that allows only one perspective.

That’s the problem that Tim Hutchinson has with the NFL’s egregiously hypocritical decision to reject a Super Bowl ad that asked players to stand for the national anthem. The advertisement was submitted for a spot in the game program by American Veterans (AMVETS), a non-profit that raises money to fund scholarships and helps military vets with issues like homelessness and unemployment.

The ad says, simply, “#PleaseStand.” The NFL said no thanks.

“I don’t see why they would reject the ad," said Hutchinson, a Navy vet who directs the AMVETS post in Broomfield, one of three active posts in Colorado. “As far as free speech goes, isn’t it very similar to the actual protests themselves?”

I thought so. The NFL thought not. But wait, the whole thing gets even better when you consider the working title of the NFL’s $90 million campaign to appease the protesting players and combat perceived social injustices: “Let’s Listen Together.” Good one, guys.

“The Super Bowl program is designed for fans to commemorate and celebrate the game, players, teams and the Super Bowl. It has never been a place for advertising that could be considered a political statement,” an NFL spokesman said in a statement released to media. “The NFL has long supported the military and veterans and will again salute our service members in the Super Bowl with memorable on- field moments that will be televised as part of the game.”

If there was any doubt, that’s where the NFL stands in 2018: politely asking U.S. citizens to stand for the national anthem could be considered “a political statement.”

“'Please stand’ is nothing different than what they say before each game: please stand for the singing of the national anthem,” Hutchinson said.

Here’s some more background on a story that shows how far the NFL will go to avoid media blowback for not being woke enough: the same ad (#PleaseStand) is scheduled to run in event programs published by the NBA, NHL and NASCAR, according to John Hoellwarth, the non-profit's national communications director. The going rate for a full-page ad in the Super Bowl program is $120,000, according to AMVETS, which was offered ad space at a significantly reduced rate. The offer arrived around 4 p.m. on the Friday before the Martin Luther King Day weekend, and AMVETS acted fast to beat the deadline to submit its ad (and then decline the NFL's request to change the wording of "#PleaseStand"). The NFL acted just as fast to shoot it down.

“The NFL is the only one of the leagues who had a problem with it,” Hoellwarth said.

“The ‘please’ is just as important as the word ‘stand.’ We’re not insisting or demanding that people stand, or even pretending this is a matter of right or wrong. We know it’s their choice,” Hoellwarth added. “We’re just asking they please stand. I think the other leagues understand that. The NFL clearly doesn’t.”

For his part, Hutchinson, who spoke on behalf of the AMVETS post near Denver, has no designs on boycotting the Super Bowl. He coached his sons through 14 years of football and still considers himself an NFL fan.

“The NFL is a great source of entertainment for our country. And a lot of players in the league do a lot of good things for folks,” he said. “The main thing that I think is frustrating is when someone takes the one thing (the anthem) that is meant to unite us and turns it into a divisive force.”

The most powerful sports league in America was happy to dish out $90 million to appease the protesting players, but it wouldn’t accept a countering, paid ad from a non-profit organization that serves military vets. Let that soak in. And here’s a hunch if the NFL had just accepted the ad like its peers in the NBA and NHL, this whole what-have-you is a non-story.

Smart folks recognize the NFL’s stance as more hypocrisy that appeases the noisy but rejects the reasonable. Maybe we can all pool together a few bucks for our own ad: #Pleasestoppretendingyouwantaconversation. It takes two.

Sacco Sez: The Broncos have found a quarterback at the Senior Bowl before By Jim Saccomano DenverBroncos.com Jan. 28, 2018

For Denver Broncos fans, this week was all about the Senior Bowl.

With great respect for the , the minds of Broncos coaches, administrators and fans are all focused on the college talent, which was coached in part by the Denver staff in Mobile, .

Head Coach Vance Joseph pointed out in his first Mobile press conference that it is a lot harder to make mistakes in drafting when you spend a week with the top prospects.

And we all know a top player personnel goal for the Broncos is improvement at the quarterback position, whether through player development, free agency, a trade or the draft.

The Broncos-coached North team had two of the top college prospects on its roster: Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield from the and Josh Allen from the University of Wyoming.

But this would not be the first time the Broncos selected a Senior Bowl quarterback in the draft. Denver once drafted a quarterback who had been chosen the Senior Bowl MVP.

The year was 1976, and the quarterback was San Diego State’s , who had finished his college career with the Aztecs after starting at Colorado for his first two years.

He set all kinds of records at San Diego State, where one of his teammates was safety John Fox, who would later serve as the Broncos’ head coach.

I had the chance to catch up this week with "Penny," as he was known to Fox and his future Broncos teammates.

"In my era of time, the Senior Bowl was the biggest audition possible for college players," Penrose said over the phone. "I had played in the Blue-Grey [Football Classic] and Shrine Games, which both were wonderful, but the Senior Bowl practices all week seemed like a rehearsal for all the NFL teams, all the time."

He said the serious tone of the game was several notches above the others.

"We had two a day practices in full pads, and every drill was packed with NFL scouts,” he said. “As a player, you knew this was serious stuff. There was no 'going through the motions' that week. Our team was coached by the New England Patriots staff, which meant that was the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator."

Anyone who knew Red, the future Broncos Ring of Fame coach, knew he was always all business.

"The offense we ran that week turned out to be the same one I would run for three years with the Broncos in just a couple of years,” Penrose said. “People are always forming opinions, and the longer you are in the league the more you cross paths, and during that week I never would have dreamed that I would be in the Super Bowl with Red and the Broncos just two years later.”

Former Broncos head coach John Ralston drafted Penrose in the fourth round of that year’s draft, and Ralston's personnel instincts were right on. However, he and the Broncos parted ways after the 1976 season and Miller came to the Mile High City as the head coach in 1977.

"The Senior Bowl was by far the most unique of the three all-star games, the most businesslike in every way. We had a nice team with good receivers and an excellent line," Penrose said. "A quarterback can get into a rhythm, like we all saw do [in the NFC Championship] for Philadelphia, and that happened to me in the game.”

"It was one of those days, I dropped some balls into tight spots and hit some guys downfield, and they all did a great job running with the ball."

He sure did.

Trailing 28-21 in the third quarter, Penrose threw three touchdowns in that period, and the North led by a 42-28 margin going into the fourth. They would hang on for the win.

The North team won 42-35, and Penrose engineered a record-setting offensive performance as his team recorded 596 total yards and 427 passing yards. The team also completed 70 percent of its passes. All three were Senior Bowl records at the time.

"You never consciously think anything about setting records or being the MVP, you just play and hopefully get into a good rhythm,” he said. “In those days the Senior Bowl MVP got a car, and I was fortunate enough to get a Dodge Charger."

Penrose got to choose the color, and he fittingly chose gold.

"It was also the only in which the players got paid, as we were all finishing our college careers in that game,” Penrose said. “I think the winners got something like $2,500 per player, so that was great as well!"

Penrose has nothing but the best of memories from that week.

“Your perspective of what has great meaning gets better as the years go by,” he said. “It was an intense and rewarding week, a wonderful stepping stone for me to the Broncos and the NFL, and an absolutely priceless highlight of my career."

The achievements didn’t end there for Penrose. He was drafted and played four years with the Broncos, mostly as the backup to Ring of Famer . Most importantly, he added a with the Broncos in 1977 to his gold Dodge Charger.

He had a key role off the bench to secure a Denver win at Cincinnati in that first Super Bowl season, engineering an 11-play drive for the clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Bengals. That win helped Denver move closer to home-field advantage for that inaugural Super Bowl run.

Perhaps Mayfield or Allen will eventually play a part in another Super Bowl run. Regardless, the Senior Bowl remains a big deal for quarterbacks looking to take control of their futures. In the 40-plus years since Craig “Penny” Penrose won MVP honors, not all that much has changed.

2018 draft: 7 prospects who helped themselves in Senior Bowl By Daniel Jermiah NFL.com Jan. 28, 2018

After a week of practices here in Mobile, we finally had a chance to see some of the 2018 NFL Draft's top prospects on Saturday in the Reese's Senior Bowl.

The story of the day at the marquee college all-star game was the quarterback play.

Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield was the biggest star in attendance, but he was a non- factor Saturday, throwing 7 passes on 2 offensive series before exiting. Three other QBs took full advantage of their time in the spotlight. I was there to see it all up close, analyzing the game from the sideline for the NFL Network broadcast.

Here's a look at seven players who helped themselves on Saturday.

Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

Allen is going to build momentum in scouting circles coming out of the Senior Bowl. He's already considered one of the top prospects at his position, and I expect there to be even more excitement about him now.

He didn't have a lot of success in the first half, and could have shut it down at that point, but he didn't. He came back out to start the second half, and I love that he did. He competed, and he showed his complete skill set in second half, finishing the day 9-of-13 for 158 yards and 2 TDs.

We saw his strength to be able to absorb hits and make throws despite the contact. We saw his athletic ability when he took off and ran a couple times. We also saw the fastball that everybody talks about -- he gets plenty of juice on his throws. However, both of his TD passes in the third quarter were beautiful touch throws. I also liked watching him interact with his teammates in this game. He had a lot of energy, and you could see guys rally around him.

The fact that he hasn't fared well against Power Five teams in his career has been one of the biggest knocks against Allen, but he took advantage of the opportunity this week to show the NFL that he can compete against elite talents. I came into the week with Mayfield ranked one spot ahead of Allen on my board, and it remains very close between those QBs. I'm not ready to call that race just yet.

Allen has some rough edges that he still needs to smooth out, but we got a glimpse on Saturday of what it looks like when it all clicks for him. He makes throws that no one else can make.

Richmond QB Kyle Lauletta and Western Kentucky QB Mike White

Obviously, Allen and Mayfield were the biggest stars this week, but Lauletta and White were the two biggest winners of Saturday. With all the attention on the other QBs, they stepped up in a big way and showed they have starting traits. They possess plenty of poise, anticipation, timing and accuracy.

White looked like he had the game MVP award locked up with his outstanding play early on (8-11, 128 yards, TD), but Lauletta entered in the second half and swiped it from him, completing 8-of-12 passes for 198 yards and 3 TDs.

Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA Davenport wasn't very effective in the first two days of practices here, and some people didn't really give him much of a chance to adjust to the environment at the Senior Bowl before criticizing him. He clearly needed that adjustment period because he was unstoppable late in the week of practices, and it carried over to the game. He recorded a half sack and scored a TD on a fumble recovery. His numbers might not jump off the page, but the North team had its hands full trying to slow him down.

DJ Chark, WR, LSU There was zero buzz on Chark coming into this week, but he had everyone talking by the end of the week. His production was outstanding (game-high 160 yards on 5 catches) -- everyone can see that -- but it shouldn't go overlooked that he also was good on the coverage teams, covering kicks.

Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State Penny showed that he has plenty of burst, racking up 137 total yards (64 rushing, 73 receiving). His 73- yard TD catch showed the versatility that he brings to the table. In a year where we have so many good underclassmen running backs, he had to make a splash in this game to stay relevant. He definitely did that. I think he's positioned himself as a second-rounder at this point in the process.

Darius Leonard, LB, South Carolina State Leonard has been one of my favorite players all week long. He was all over the field again on Saturday, recording a game-high 14 tackles. I liken him to Jaguars OLB Telvin Smith.

Von Miller: already have their franchise QB By Joe Schad Palm Beach Post Jan. 28, 2018

The Miami Dolphins may be considering drafting a quarterback as high as the 11th overall pick in the next NFL draft, but Broncos pass rusher Von Miller believes the team has the quarterback it needs.

Miller was conversing with a reporter about if Ryan Tannehill has it in him to take the next step to the Pro Bowl level of say, Alex Smith of the Chiefs or Matt Ryan of the Falcons.

“I think he has it in him,” Miller said after a Pro Bowl practice on Saturday. “But he’s shown it before. He’s shown that he is a franchise quarterback. He’s just got to stay healthy. That’s the name of the game for everybody.”

Miller and Tannehill were teammates at Texas A&M.

Tannehill missed Miami’s defeat of Denver this season. In his only start against the Broncos, Tannehill passed for 228 yards and 3 touchdowns, but lost in a shootout, 39-36, in 2014.

Miller said he had a good relationship with Miami coach Adam Gase when the Miami coach was in Denver.

“I love Gase,” Miller said. “He is one of my guys. I wanted him to let me play wide receiver. But he’s one of my guys.”

Miller also advocated for the return of Broncos coach Vance Joseph, who was Miami’s defensive coordinator in 2016.

“I just think he has got that ‘It Factor’ about him,” Miller said of Joseph. “That special thing you need to be a great coach, he’s got it.”

Senior Bowl 2018: What the week meant for Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen and more By Chris Trapesso CBSSports.com Jan. 28, 2018

Senior Bowl 2018 is in the books, and it was an intriguing week in Mobile, Alabama, with two of the most high-profile quarterbacks in attendance, an assortment of wide receivers showing out, an athletic freak at running back, and top-10 hype for a small-school pass-rusher.

It's imperative to keep in mind that the week of Senior Bowl practices and the game itself are an incredibly small portion of the predraft process.

Perceptions of prospects fluctuate between the last bowl game and the draft in April, but the week in Mobile won't absolutely make or totally plummet someone's draft stock.

Here are my takeaways from the week that was in Mobile.

The quarterbacks During practice, Baker Mayfield was the most effective quarterback on either squad. He did have instances of hesitation if his first read wasn't open during the week, and he showed that in the game too. Overall though, Mayfield's stock is steady, and many teams will like that he came down to Mobile and competed.

Josh Allen undeniably helped himself at the Senior Bowl. His second practice of the week had some ugly throws, yet it also featured two elite-level touchdown passes. In the game, he demonstrated something that's exceptionally rare on film: soft touch down the field. All week, there were instances in which he held the football too long; however, Allen should be happy with his Senior Bowl performance. Many expected him to tank against top competition in Mobile. That wasn't the case.

Kyle Lauletta taking home MVP honors is certainly helpful to his draft stock. Yes, there'll be comparisons, and they won't be that crazy. Like Jimmy G, Lauletta is decisive, has a quick release, and is accurate at the short and intermediate levels. His last touchdown -- to Oklahoma State wideout Marcell Ateman -- was a tight-window strike. I thought he was the second-best quarterback during practice too.

No other signal-caller did much to create any type of post-Senior Bowl buzz.

The guards This is obviously not solely based on their Senior Bowl efforts, but I'll be surprised if UTEP's and Georgia's Isaiah Wynn aren't the second and third guards taken after Notre Dame stalwart .

Hernandez looks like a five-year veteran, rarely loses a battle against a bull rush and is surprisingly nimble and under control at the second level. Wynn's left-tackle feet work wonders inside at guard, and his somewhat smaller stature gives him the leverage advantage over most interior defensive linemen. He's deceptively strong too. Both were excellent all week in practice and stood out in the game.

The Marcus Davenport train has long left the station On Tuesday and Wednesday, Davenport was quiet in practice. Offensive tackles kept him at bay in one- on-one and team drills.

Thursday was an entirely different story, and Davenport was unblockable in the game. The UTSA standout had a sack and a plethora of other quarterback pressures. He repeatedly got underneath the pads of offensive tackles and used his speed to generate power and his length to dispatch those blockers. He even got dinged and returned to the game, demonstrating his toughness.

Davenport was the most talked about non-quarterback in Mobile, and some chatter centered around him going as high as No. 4 to the Browns. Landing with the Buccaneers is a more likely top-10 possibility.

The wideouts LSU's D.J. Chark, Iowa State's Allen Lazard, Oklahoma State's James Washington, and Penn State's DaeSean Hamilton all had fine weeks in Mobile, and Chark stole the show in the game. Gallup and Washington were effortlessly uncoverable, especially deep, while Hamilton's crisp route-running got him open often, and Lazard was the best jump-ball wideout in practice.

This receiver class may not have insane top-end prospects, but it's a deep group.

Where'd that come from? Rutgers outside linebacker Kemoko Turay had an up-and-down collegiate career plagued by injuries. His best statistical output came as a freshman in 2014 when he tallied 8.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. His film was generally underwhelming, with a rare flash of pass-rushing brilliance.

At the Senior Bowl, his explosion and bend around the edge was nearly unbelievable at times, particularly for someone a shade north of 6-foot-4 and 252 pounds. And that outstanding display of athleticism didn't happen once or twice. He was dominant often in practice and created pressure in the game. For perspective on Turay's physical profile, he has close to the same height and weight measurements as underrated 49ers defensive end Aaron Lynch.

The sleepers South Carolina State's was, by far, the springiest, most active linebacker in practice and was credited with 14 tackles in the game. At 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds with plenty of speed and athleticism, he has a chance to be one of the first few off-ball linebackers taken in this draft in a class without many sideline-to-sideline second-level tackling-machines.

Virginia defensive lineman Andrew Brown got penetration on a handful of snaps in the game, and during practice he was a menace all week. Inside at three-technique, where he can attack upfield as opposed to setting the edge on at end, is where he belongs in the NFL.

Boston College cornerback had himself a week in Mobile. Outside of one post-corner run by Hamilton, he was glued to receivers all week, and just as importantly, demonstrated the awareness to locate the football in the air and knock it away. At 6-foot and around 190 pounds with 32 1/4-inch arms, he has nearly identical measurements to Lions star cornerback Darius Slay.

North Carolina State defensive tackle B.J. Hill was superb in practice, routinely showing off his ridiculous anchoring ability and heavy hands to beat offensive linemen at the point of attack. He'll give a sprinkle of pass-rush here and there, because he has some twitchiness relative to his size. His bread and butter is defending the run.

Arizona State running back Kalen Ballage had 10 carries for 57 yards in the game, and receiving drills were a breeze for him all week. He even was sturdy in blitz-pickup drills. The Sun Devil alum may not be an old-school feature back in the NFL. He should be a 15-20 touch offensive option who'll thrive in space and provide above-average ability between the tackles due to his jump-cut capabilities and power when finishing runs.

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