Senior Bowl giving Dolphins plenty to chew on

MOBILE, Ala. – Odds are the Dolphins will draft a player or two playing in this week’s Senior Bowl. But who? Coach Tony Sparano and his staff have the advantage of putting the South squad through the paces all week, while GM Jeff Ireland and the team’s personnel people will be here all week watching both squads. Ireland wouldn’t reveal the Dolphins’ picks, which will be released next week. But he did say the team has three sixth-rounders, the round where guard Donald Thomas and running back Lex Hilliard went. Some of the 104 players here this week are sure to last until the later rounds. To help sort out who’s who and what’s what, here’s some scuttlebutt making the rounds the past few days: Tony Sparano and the Dolphins’ front office has seen plenty of Taylor Mays out of USC — a player who likely won’t play safety in the NFL. (AP) – Despite some impressive physical tools, USC safety Taylor Mays will not be able to cover consistently in the NFL. The 6-foot-3, 231-pound Mays has made a couple of impressive hits downfield in between the numbers, but this hasn’t hidden a number of concerns. Observers wonder if he could be cut from the same cloth as Carolina Panthers’ LB Thomas Davis. Davis was a big, hard-hitting safety at Georgia who was moved to LB in the NFL. SI.com draft analyst Tony Pauline said Mays, despite being timed running the 40 in 4.32 seconds, struggles to pedal in reverse, cannot plant his foot and drive to the ball and cannot go outside the numbers. The Dolphins could use a safety, and the good news is many believe it’s a good class for them. South Florida’s Nate Allen, one of the top prospects, is on the South squad. Dan Williams from Tennessee has been the best defensive tackle at Senior Bowl. (AP) – The best nose tackle in Mobile isn’t Alabama’s Terrence “Mount” Cody , but Tennessee’s Dan Williams . Williams had a terrific practice on Wednesday and is playing as well as anyone here. Williams’ weigh-in also went well, unlike Cody, who tipped the scales at a slovenly 370 pounds. Williams is massive, especially in the lower body,

but carries 329 pounds well on his 6-foot-2 frame. He also had his best season as a senior, meaning he’s a player on the rise. – The player having the best week at the Senior Bowl appears to be Penn State defensive lineman Jared Odrick. Odrick has been dominating for the North squad. At 6-foot-5, 301, he’d be an ideal 3-4 end, a postion where the Dolphins appear to be set. But the word is the Dolphins love Odrick. – USC tight end Anthony McCoy is an athletic pass catcher with good size (6-4, 249). McCoy has made several nice catches down field, flashing impressive speed. But he’s not in the mold of a hard-nosed TE Bill Parcells and Co. prefer. Alabama’s 6-foot-5, 250-pound Colin Peek might better fit the Dolphins’ vision for the position. Sparano had nice things to say about Peek Wednesday. – The best wide receivers this week have been, in order: Cincinnati’s Mardy Gilyard , Florida’s Riley Cooper and The Citadel’s Andre Roberts . Mardy Gilyard may not have blazing speed, but he has been the top WR at the Senior Bowl. (Getty Images) Gilyard is as dynamic as any skill player here, along with Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster . McCluster is only 5-foot-8, 165 pounds and listed as a WR, but also played RB in college. Playing for the South, Cooper and Roberts have caught everything. Cooper (6-3, 214) uses his body well to and goes up to win the ball. But he ends up catching a lot of passes in traffic because he lacks the speed to separate to defenders. Roberts can get down field and is fearless. But even Gilyard, much less Cooper or Roberts, isn’t expected to be a No. 1 WR in the NFL, the one thing the Dolphins need at the position. – One scout said the sleeper of this week’s has been University of Virginia defensive back Chris Cook . Cook is 6-foot-1, 212 pounds and played for Al Groh. The Dolphins don’t seem need another CB, but Cook might be a later-round prospect who could be too good to pass up.

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Senior Bowl giving Dolphins plenty to chew on

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