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With a lack of senior offensive firepower in this year's draft class, the Senior Bowl took on a defensive flair in Alabama. Teams with defensive needs were extremely pleased with many of the performances put on this week, and come this April, we'll see just how some of the players in Mobile solidified their draft position.

From what I saw, the most impressive players came from the defensive line and linebacker positions. All three linebackers from USC particularly stood out. They played with the speed and instincts that made them so fun to watch over the past three or four years. On the flip side, the quarterbacks and wide receivers (sorry Detroit) looked as thin as I can remember and anyone looking for assistance in the passing game this year may be sorely disappointed.

Here are some of the observations I saw this week:

The Ten Most Impressive Players in Mobile (in no particular order)
B.J. Raji - Defensive Tackle, Boston College, 6'2", 334 pounds: he was absolutely unblockable this week. He displayed quickness, power, and good leverage - the three most important aspects of a dominant defensive tackle. He was in the backfield on almost every play.

Rey Maualuga - Linebacker, Southern California, 6'2", 254 pounds: for a man his size, he showed incredible quickness, which he used to get around every tight end and running back that tried to block him. He showed explosion to the football, and as I alluded to earlier, he diagnosed plays early and flew to the ball quickly.

Peria Jerry - Defensive Tackle, Mississippi, 6'2", 290 pounds: a prototypical 3-technique, he confirmed what everyone's seen this year: quickness, great use of leverage, and a non-stop motor. He simply couldn't be blocked by a single offensive lineman, and even "rag-dolled" the 384 pound offensive lineman Herman Johnson. He also projected a high level of athleticism by effectively dropping into coverage a few times.

Alphonso Smith - Cornerback, Wake Forest, 5'9", 193 pounds: the diminutive defensive back looked very fluid, moving seamlessly in and out of his backpedal. His recognition was surprising, beating wide receivers to the ball several times. The primary knock on Smith is his size, which he makes up for with his ball skills and ability to time his jump for the ball at its highest point.

Brandon Pettigrew - Tight End, Oklahoma State, 6'5", 257 pounds: he proved that, as expected, he is the best overall tight end in the draft. While not spectacular as a receiver, he exhibited great hands and use of his ideal frame. What separates him from the other recent tight ends, however, is his superb blocking ability. He took on linebackers, defensive ends, and defensive backs, and for the most part, turned them away without a problem.

Brian Cushing - Linebacker, Southern California, 6'3", 243 pounds: his speed was very evident as he chased down several offensive skills players from behind. He played very instinctively and disciplined all week. He looked like an ideal fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

Pat White - Quarterback, West Virginia, 6'0", 190 pounds: don't get me wrong, I still don't think that he can hold up as a full time signal-caller at the next level, but his overall athleticism was on full display. At any time, it appeared as though he was the best athlete on the field. He threw the ball more effectively than any other quarterback, but will have to work on his slow delivery.

Kyle Moore - Defensive End, Southern California, 6'6", 270 pounds: he's very long and has the frame to add weight if needed. He played with great burst off the edge and used the swim, spin, and bull rush effectively throughout the week.

Andre Brown - Running Back, North Carolina State, 6'0", 224 pounds: he was by far the best running back in the group. I didn't see a guy who can make people miss, but he runs with great authority and a low pad level. My only concern is that he allows the ball to get too close to his body when catching passes.

Quinn Johnson - Fullback, Louisiana State, 6'1", 251 pounds: that's right, I included a fullback on this list. Johnson is a strong blocker who catches the ball very naturally, which is an asset to any team running the West Coast offense. In addition, he took instruction very well, and made sure he was the first player in line for every drill. I know it sounds silly, but it's the little things that stick when a team goes to turn in a name.

The Five Most Disappointing Players in Mobile (in no particular order)
William Moore - Safety, Missouri, 6'0", 223 pounds: I've never been high on Moore, but he is dropping on draft boards like a rock in quicksand. Granted, he's played hurt for much of the season, but nobody struggled in coverage more than him this week (too tight in the hips) and he wasn't that effective against the run either.

Graham Harrell - Quarterback, Texas Tech, 6'2", 217 pounds: he's never been known as a guy with a cannon, but his arm strength appeared to be slightly above average at best. Even worse, he struggled taking snaps under center and he only looked truly comfortable when placed in the shotgun.

Phil Loadholt - Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma, 6'8", 337 pounds: while he's a very physically imposing figure, he simply could not move quick enough to keep speed rushers out of the backfield. In addition, any time he was made to move side-to-side, he had a hard time keeping good balance. Lastly, and this may be because of his size, he allowed to many guys to get under him and push him around.

James Davis - Running Back, Clemson, 5'11", 207 pounds: his lack of speed and burst was very evident. Moreover, he ran tentatively and was not a factor in the running game at all.

Ramses Barden - Wide Receiver, Cal-Poly, 6'6", 227 pounds: I had heard that he should be this year's small school wonder, but he was anything but. Due to a lack of speed and toughness (he had a hard time getting off press coverage), he couldn't separate himself from any of the defensive backs. On top of that, he didn't catch the ball particularly well.