I had a chance to talk with Rob Rang, senior draft analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, and get his thoughts on last week’s Senior Bowl, including a couple players who helped themselves heading into April’s draft

And at the top of Rang’s list was Cal receiver Marvin Jones, who he believes elevated his draft stock with a solid performance during practices and in the game on Saturday.

“The one guy that immediately jumps out is Cal wide receiver Marvin Jones,” Rang said. “During the week of practice he was the best receiver on the field. He was kind of thought of as just a guy. A 6-2, 200 pounds, he was a good looking player and caught everything thrown to him.”

However, Jones did suffer a knee injury during the game, which could affect his draft evaluation down the road.

Along with Jones, Rang said fellow Pac-12 receiver Jeron Criner of Arizona played well.

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I thought Jim Armstrong’s piece for Football Outsiders attempting to measure an Aggressiveness Index among NFL coaches was an interesting read this morning.

Armstrong says that most statistical analysts who follow the game believe that NFL coaches should go for it more on fourth down because the percentages say they should.

The Aggressiveness Index ranks coaches based on how often they go for it on fourth downs. Seattle head coach Pete Carroll finished 10th overall, which sounds about right.

It’s interesting that the top two coaches on the list, Jacksonville’s Mel Tucker and Steve Spagnuolo, are no longer with their perspective teams – the risk/reward of going for it on fourth down and not converting enough is unemployment.

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Tony Pauline of Sports Illustrated offers his risers and fallers from Saturday’s Senior Bowl game. Pauline liked the performance of Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins, whom the Seahawks talked to this week, while pointing out Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson struggled to make plays from inside the pocket.

I’ll talk with Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com and get his thoughts on the Senior Bowl later on today.

Pauline: Kirk Cousins/QB/Michigan State: Cousins completed 5 of 11 passes for 115 yards, yet the stats tell a fraction of the story. Cousins made all the NFL throws from the pocket, displaying great speed on the ball while also putting touch on passes when required. His timing and accuracy was right on the mark as Cousins always gave his targets a good opportunity to make the reception. When he did miss on throws more times than not it was due to receiver error. It was important for Cousins to have a good game, as scouts questioned his judgment under center. At the Senior Bowl, decision-making was right on the money.

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Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com catches up with Seattle safety Earl Thomas by phone Hawaii, one of five Seattle players in this year’s Pro Bowl. Thomas says it’s not just another game for him this weekend.

Look in the front row of the picture above and I think you’ll recognize some lime green cleats.

“This is something special to me. I don’t know how the other guys are taking it, but I’m going to give it my best when I get out there. Because I know once I start playing, it’s going to be like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. So I’m just really looking forward to it.”

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Rob Rang, senior draft analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, praised the performance of North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples so far through the first two days of Senior Bowl practices.

Rang had Coples going to Seattle in his first mock drafts this year, but now has the North Carolina product headed to Buffalo at No. 10.

Rang: “Measuring in at nearly 6-6 and 281 pounds, Coples has the size, strength and athleticism to be a force regardless of scheme. Rated as the No. 1 defensive end prospect and 12th overall by NFLDraftScout.com, Coples is the highest-rated Senior Bowl participant. He hasn’t disappointed, terrorizing the South team’s quarterbacks and running backs by consistently penetrating the line of scrimmage to blow up plays before they’ve even begun.

“He’s been impressive,” one high-ranking team official thought likely to be considering a defensive lineman with their first round pick said Tuesday, on the condition of anonymity. “He played really well on Monday and followed that up with another strong effort today.”

Matt Bowen of the National Football Post also had high praise for Coples, saying he looks like a legitimate edge rusher.

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The Seattle Seahawks announced this afternoon that running back Marshawn Lynch was added to the NFL Pro Bowl roster, the fifth player headed to Hawaii for the Seahawks this year. Lynch replaces San Francisco running back Frank Gore, who will not play in the game because of an illness.

Lynch set career highs in rushing yards (1,204), carries (285) and rushing touchdowns (12) this season. Lyncb also set a franchise record with at least one touchdown in 11-straight games, breaking Shaun Alexander’s 2005 record of nine. Lynch became Seattle’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Alexander set a club record in …

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The Seattle Seahawks announced that cornerback Brandon Browner and safety Kam Chancellor, both first alternates, have been added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster.

Browner will replace San Francisco cornerback Carlos Rogers, Chancellor will replace San Francisco safety Dashon Goldson. Both San Francisco players will not participate due to injury.

Browner started all 16 games for Seattle, finishing with a team-high six interceptions and 54 tackles. Browner set a club single-season record for interception return yards in a season with 220 (Dave Brown, 179 in 1984). He also became the first Seattle player since Josh Wilson in 2009 to return …

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We were blessed with two very entertaining contests on Sunday in the AFC and NFC championship games. And with all the talk about elite quarterbacks going against talented defenses, it’s interesting that both contests came down to that important third phase of football – special teams.

Baltimore kicker Bill Cundiff missed a chip shot 32-yard field goal that would have tied the game at the end of regulation, allowing New England to sneak past the Ravens, 23-20.

And San Francisco returner Kyle Williams, playing in place of an injured Ted Ginn, fumbled twice in the New York Giants 20-17 overtime win over the Niners.

So NBC executives get the game they wanted, a rematch of the Super Bowl four years ago with the Patriots looking for revenge against the Giants, and hopefully fans get another competitive football game.

John Czarnecki of Fox Sports gives us an early breakdown of the matchup here.

Bill Barnwell of Grantland.com provides some in-depth analysis beyond the typical scapegoats for San Francisco and Baltimore staying home for the Super Bowl.

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