""I can say this - information is power in this profession," said Joel Thomas, the New Orleans Saints' running backs coach who is coaching the American team at the Senior Bowl. "We're always trying to get together information so it might be the second, the third, the fifth interview where all of a sudden something pops and it might be the thing like you talked about that takes him over the edge and we're like, 'That's our guy.' Where we're sitting right now, I'd say it's the first leg, it's the first gate so to speak.""
"Miami Dolphins left tackle Patrick Paul thought he left a bad initial impression on offensive line coach Butch Barry two years ago during his in-person interview at the NFL scouting combine. Paul thought he came across as arrogant, an account that Barry didn't dispute. Fortunately, Paul won over former general manager Chris Grier during his interview at the Senior Bowl. "Chris Grier, he loved me from the Senior Bowl," Paul said last season. "(Former coach) Mike McDaniel, he loved me. ... (Barry) had to get to know me a little bit. And then he started liking me." As it turned out, Barry and Paul ended up getting along so well that they did pilates classes together last offseason."
"The focus of this week's Senior Bowl will be the practices that start Tuesday, four days ahead of Saturday's game."
Practices at the Senior Bowl are the primary on-field focus, but in-person interviews during the week carry substantial weight for NFL evaluations. Patrick Paul initially believed he left a poor impression at the combine but won over team decision-makers through Senior Bowl meetings and later developed a strong rapport with a coach. New Miami general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan identifies offensive-line building as a priority. Coaches describe interviews as an information gate that can reveal traits causing a team to identify a player as "their guy." Players expect and prepare for these meetings as lasting opportunities to influence teams.
Read at Sun Sentinel
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