Scouting the Senior Bowl: Jarrett Brown and Selvish Capers

West Virginia’s representatives at the Senior Bowl have made some of the most noise. And Jarrett Brown’s done it while sharing snaps with Tim Tebow.

WVU QB Jarrett Brown (6-3, 219)

Florida’s Tebow drew the throngs and gets Saturday’s start, but it was Brown, CBSSports.com’s Rob Rang wrote, who “was consistently the South’s best quarterback.” And who was, the National Football Post’s Wes Bunting wrote, “the most physically gifted quarterback here.”

Brown spent four years backing up Pat White, so with just this one year as a starter – and a sidelining-injury in the Gator Bowl – this week was very important for him. After running West Virginia’s spread from the shotgun, he had to show he could get under center and execute a five-step drop – and all the other footwork required of a classic pro-style quarterback. He did that and then some.

Brown’s body and athleticism were as billed, the ball came out of his hand well and Bunting gushed over how he spins the football, writing, “(he) can make some quality NFL throws.”

He will have to become more consistent over time, but as Mayock pointed out, he’s still raw.
“I think, ‘He doesn’t anticipate windows opening up and doesn’t respond to blitzes as well’ and then I have to tell myself, ‘Slow down, he’s only a one-year starter,’” Mayock said. “He’s a good-looking kid though and I think we’ll see good progress out of him.”

WVU OL Selvish Capers (6-5, 304)

Capers is the perfect example of why scouting is absolutely an art, not a science. Just as former Browns and Ravens scout Daniel Jeremiah was tweeting of Capers, “Rough week, looked like a priority free agent. Waist-bender, slow feet, no anchor,” ESPN’s McShay was writing that he “was the best offensive lineman on the South team, showing good mobility.”

Capers has always gotten to the second level well and, after starting his career as a tight end, has decent athleticism. He holds blocks downfield well, he’s generally considered to have good lateral mobility and both McShay and the National Fooball Post’s Bunting think he’d be a good fit for a zone blocking scheme. He needs to get bigger and stronger, though, especially in the lower body.

“I want to believe he can play left tackle,” Mayock said, “but he needs to work on his technique.”