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In any year the Reese’s Senior Bowl is a big deal because the prospects get a chance to work with an NFL coaching staff and participate in actual football drills in front of all 32 NFL front offices. But with the 2021 NFL Scouting Combine canceled that makes this year’s Senior Bowl all the more important and a great opportunity for Brenden Jaimes to improve his NFL Draft Stock.
Why Is this Year So Important
With there being no Combine this year, that prevents teams from getting to see some of the NFL Draft prospects in person and competing against each other. That leaves the Senior Bowl (and to the lesser extent College Gridiron Showcase) to actually get to see these players compete in person.
Not to mention that the Senior Bowl allows NFL General Managers and scouting staffs to be able to interview each prospect in person instead of over Zoom like they’ll do to replace the Combine. This is great for a player like Jaimes who’ll be able to make a strong impression on teams and have a shot to use that to improve his draft standing.
Who Will Be Coaching Jaimes
Brenden Jaimes was placed on the National Team which is coached by the entire Miami Dolphins coaching staff. The Dolphins are in the middle of rebuilding their offensive line and relied on rookies at left tackle, right guard and right tackle. That leaves both left guard and center open for competition. While Jaimes has played his entire college career at tackle, he does have the size and traits to also excel moving inside.
Nebraska LT Brenden Jaimes showing good quickness off the line to get to the second level and take on the LB #Huskers #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/OUNFghJZxk
— Brian Johannes (@Draft_Brian) October 29, 2020
Jaimes will have the opportunity at the Senior Bowl to work with Dolphins offensive line coach Lemuel Jeanpierre and get looks at multiple positions. Whether it is at tackle, guard or even center, if Jaimes is able to have success that could go a long way to impress the Dolphins who may look at him inside or even as a key backup.
The Carolina Panthers staff will coach the American Team and while they won’t work with Jaimes directly, they’ll still have strong access to him as well. While the Dolphins have some young pieces in place with their offensive line, the Panthers could use help at every single position. It’s too bad that Jaimes couldn’t get coached by the Panthers, but he’ll have a shot to meet with Matt Rhule (former offensive line coach) and the rest of their staff throughout the week as well.
Who Jaimes will face off against
Prospects in the Senior Bowl make their names but putting up impressive performances during the week of practice. And for Jaimes he’ll have an impressive group of defensive lineman to go up against. Jaimes has already faced off against and held his own against Ohio State’s Jonathan Cooper and Penn State’s Shaka Toney, but he’ll also see talented edge rushers like Notre Dame’s Daelin Hayes, Pittsburgh’s Patrick Jones and Rashad Weaver.
Nebraska LT Brenden Jaimes with th lateral agility to engage with the DE and then using his length to ride him past the pocket #NFLDraft #Huskers pic.twitter.com/bBFcGJEKEX
— Brian Johannes (@Draft_Brian) October 29, 2020
But the true test is when he’ll get lined up inside at guard for the first time and face off against Washington’s Levi Onwuzurike who Senior Bowl Scouting Director Jim Nagy says is the best 3 Tech defensive tackle in the draft. Jaimes has already done well during games against the best edge pass rushers and if he is able to win his battles against Onwuzurike it could really solidify him as a potential day three pick.
Viewing Information
Normally the practices are televised on the NFL Network, however for this year’s game ESPN will be televising the practices on Wednesday and Thursday. NFL Network will still cover the practices each day and will televise the Game on Saturday the 30th at 1:30 central time.