- Thursday's practice came to a highly competitive end during an 11-on-11 red zone drill. Both sides were yelling and cheering after every play and the coaches followed suit, as defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and coach Hue Jackson engaged in some friendly trash talk. Williams said he couldn't have scripted it any better. "Those things right there are memories for life," Williams said. "We're never going to apologize for competing. It's been really good for Hue and for me and the new staff members to get out here and do what we're supposed to be doing, and that's teaching young men about how to play in the National Football League."
- When Jackson and his coaching staff draw up their final game plan for Saturday, they'll likely be doing so without some of the most talented players on the South roster. A slew of the team's top players didn't practice Thursday because of injuries and one, LSU cornerback Tre'Davious White, was already ruled out for the game because of an ankle injury. White, whom many pegged as the best defensive back at the Senior Bowl, is considered to be a fringe first-round pick. The South team is already without highly touted offensive lineman Forrest Lamp and did not have Alabama LB Ryan Anderson or South Alabama TE Gerald Everett at Thursday's practice.
- Another unheralded player who made the most of the week was Temple linebacker Haason Reddick. All he did throughout his four-year career was make big plays, and he finished with a bang, collecting 22.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks as a senior. NFL Network's Mike Mayock listed Reddick as his No. 2 star on Day 2 and his No. 1 on Day 3. NFL.com lists Reddick as an "ascending prospect with high end potential" who can fit as either a 3-4 inside linebacker or 4-3 WILL.
- Williams got to meet Jamie Collins Sr. for the first time Monday when the Pro Bowl linebacker dropped by Mobile to meet his new coaches. Freshly signed to a four-year extension, Collins has left quite an impression on Williams with what he's accomplished in his first four seasons in the NFL. Now, Williams can't wait to get even more out of him. "I'm a better coach when you sign up players like that," Williams said. "Now, I've got to help him be the best he can be. He has some rare gifts athletically that hopefully, schematically and concept-wise, maybe I can help him be even better."
- Last week, Williams said he wouldn't need to watch a prospect's tape after working with him on the field at the Senior Bowl. He reiterated that point Thursday and provided even more context about his stance. "Players can smell cons and fake players and fake coaches a mile off. The same thing with good coaches … The fact of how engaged I get with every single player and how much I invest in every single player, it's better than watching film on anybody," Williams said. "I really like this experience and it's going to be one that overrides me watching anymore film leading up to the draft."
