BOWL TRIPLE PLAY

There are three pretty good college bowl games to help folks warm up for this weekend's final NFL regular season weekend.

Saturday, December 30

Meinke Car Care Bowl, Charlotte; 1 PM ET; ESPN

Navy (9-3) vs Boston College (9-3)

It will seem like old times for Boston College and Navy when the former Eastern Independents hook up in the Meinke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte early this afternoon. And playing in ACC country will be apropos for Boston College which tagged along with Miami and Virginia Tech when the three schools bolted the Big East for the ACC, but through the first two years of the deal, the Eagles have probably been the best of the trio. The Eagles should also be a player at the 2007 draft as Boston College features one of the best interior offensive linemen in the 2007 draft class in rugged OG Josh Beekman (#75, 6-2, 325), a prototype road grader, who figures to be off the board sometime early in the first day. Beekman in fact anchors a huge, nasty offensive front which also includes OTs James Marten (#70, 6-7, 315) and junior Gosder Cherilus (#77, 6-6, 325) who could ultimately be the unit’s best pro prospect. Indeed, the best is yet to come for the Eagles who best prospects are underclassmen including juniors such as DT B.J. Raji (#90, 6-1, 335), LB Brian Toal (#16, 6-0, 240), who also doubles as a very efficient short-yardage back, CB DeJuan Tribble (#27, 5-9, 190), and QB Matt Ryan (#12, 6-4, 225). Meanwhile, other BC seniors pro scouts will be watching today include FB Mark Palmer (#49,6-2, 245), CB Larry Anam (#9, 6-0, 195) and SS Ryan Glasper (#24, 6-0, 210). As one of the academies, Navy isn’t likely to have anyone drafted this year, but does have a number of players who may get some free agent consideration including OLB Tyler Tidwell (#45, 6-2, 225), CB Keenan Little (#4, 5-11, 195) and MLB Rob Caldwell (#57, 6-0, 230)

Alama Bowl, San Antonio; 4:30 PM ET; ESPN

Texas (9-3) vs Iowa (6-6)

Texas failed to defend its national championship this fall when the Longhorns stumbed a couple of times. However, Texas is loaded just about everywhere and should be one of the dominant teams at the 2007 draft where veteran OT Justin Blalock (#63, 6-4, 335) is a potential top 15 pick, while junior DT Frank Okam (#97, 6-5, 315), FS Michael Griffen (#27, 6-0, 205), DEs Tim Crowder (#80, 6-4, 270) and Brian Robison (#39, 6-3, 270), and CBs Aaron Ross (#31, 6-0, 195) and Tarrell Brown (#5, 6-0, 200) all should all get later first-day looks, while interior offensive line Lyle Sendlein (#62, 6-5, 315) and Kasey Studdard (#64, 6-3, 205) are solid second-day prospects.

At least on paper, this looks like a mismatch as Iowa lost 5 of its final 6 games to finish at 6-6 and barely qualify for the bowls at all. It will also be a mismatch at the 2007 draft where no Hawkeye is likely to be taken until the second day. Iowa, though, has some decent second-tier prospects in TE Scott Chandler (#87, 6-6, 260), OG Mike Jones (#76, 6-5, 305), OT Marshall Yanda (#73, 6-4, 305), OLB Ed Miles (#27, 6-1, 230), and safeties Marcus Paschal (#25, 6-0, 210) and Miguel Merrick (#15, 6-0, 205). The Hawkeyes will also be bidding farewell to long-time starting QB Drew Tate (#5, 5-11, 195), a wonderful college QB throughout his Iowa career, although he probably lacks the size and arm strength to play in the NFL but the Canadian league may beckon. Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes best prospects overall may be juniors RB Albert Young (#21, 5-10, 210) and MLB Mike Klinkenborg (#40, 6-1, 240), although the latter likely won't play because of a foot injury.

Chick Fil-A Bowl, Atlanta; 8 PM ET; ESPN

Georgia (8-4) vs Virginia Tech (10-2)

Georgia had been expected to be a serious contender for conference and national honors, but struggled through an uncharacteristic four-loss campaign. And nothing may have been more representative of Bulldogs’ year than DE Quentin Moses (#94, 6-5, 255) season. The disruptive Moses had entered the season rated as potentially the top defensive prospect overall for the 2007 draft, but saw his stock drop appreciably after a very quiet year. Indeed, Moses was outplayed by fellow DE Charles Johnson (#99, 6-2, 265), a junior who is also thinking of entering the 2007 draft. The Bulldogs, though, can get after people with an aggressive defense which also includes MLB Tony Taylor (#43, 6-0, 240), OLB Danny Wheeler (#42, 6-2, 245) and undersized safety Tra Battle (#25, 5-11, 170). On the other side of the ball, the Bulldogs have a solid running game featuring several good young backs led by junior Kregg Lumpkin (#6, 6-0, 215), while both TE Martrez Milner (#87, 6-4, 250) and RT Daniel Inman (#72, 6-7, 330) should get early second-day calls this coming April. The key for the Bulldogs though will be getting a consistent outing from true freshman QB Matthew Stafford (#7, 6-3, 225).

For it’s part, Virginia Tech is coming off a 10-2 season which may have been one of the quietest ten-win seasons on record. And Tech isn’t likely to make a whole lot more noise during the first-round of the 2007 draft, although several Hokies should attract plenty of attention early on the first-day. DB Aaron Rouse (#36, 6-3, 225), for example, is one of the fiercest hitters in college football, while WR David Clowney (#87, 6-0, 175) is one of the fastest receivers in college football. The Hokies also have several decent second-tier prospects in FB Jesse Allen (#37, 6-0, 245), OT Brandon Frye (#74, 6-3, 305), DE Noland Burchette (#96, 6-2, 260). For the most part, though, the Hokies best prospects are underclassmen like juniors OLB Xavier Adibi (#11, 6-2, 224), MLB Vince Hall (#9, 6-0, 235), and DE Chris Ellis (#49, 6-5, 250) and sophomore RB Branden Ore (#28, 5-10, 205).....

Texas junior DT Frank Okam said Wednesday that he plans to return to school for his senior season rather than enter the 2007 NFL draft. Okam, though, likely will still ask the NFL draft advisory committee for a projection on where he would be drafted if he did indeed opt to give up his final year. The 6-5, 315-pound Okam had been projected as a possible top 15 prospect at the start of the season but has seen his stock plummet as a result of some very ordinary production this fall.....

Florida State junior LB Lawrence Timmons has decided to skip his senior year and enter the 2007 NFL draft. The 6-3, 230-pound Timmons who has been timed in under 4.6 seconds for the 40, led the Seminoles with 18 tackles for loss this fall.....


Week Seventeen Practice Reports

Friday December 29, 2006


Saturday

NEW YORK GIANTS (7-8) AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS (5-10) NLF NETWORK 8:05 PM EST

GIANTS

Both teams held their before the game walk-through's on Friday.

Starting TE Jeremy Shockey (ankle) was downgraded to out on Friday and he didn't make the trip to Washington with the team. Shockey hasn't played in a season finale since his rookie season in 2002. Backup TE Visanthe Shiancoe will start for him.

Backup OL Rich Seubert (shin) was also downgraded to out.

REDSKINS

Backup MLB/special teams ace Khary Campbell (hamstring) was placed on IR Friday.