PIOLI SAYS NO TO A QB, DEZ DOESN'T, A LOT TO LIKE ABOUT OKUNG & WILL THE RAMS TAKE BRADFORD OVER SUH?
During one of the pre-combine press conferences, Chiefs' general manager Scott Pioli dispelled the rumors Kansas City would be taking Jimmy Clausen with the 5th overall pick in the first round. This is good news. Clausen won't participate in the physical drills in Indy this weekend as he is still rehabbing from turf toe surgery & even tho he came in a little heavier than he was listed at Notre Dame, his extended hand measurement was the smallest of the QB's at the combine.
I told you how some teams ask truly stupid questions during their 15-minute private interviews, so on the combine's first day, the Tampa Bay Bucs got the ball rolling. One of their coaches asked Florida State safety, Myron Rolle, "what it felt like to desert his team this season?" Rolle left the Seminole program after his junior year to attend Oxford as a Rhodes scholar. Rolle said he kept his cool, but thought the question was strange. I guess the Tampa staff will ask every junior the same question, they should if they thought it was important to ask Rolle. I think some coaches will have a problem drafting a guy as smart as Rolle for their team. I'll say this again, I'd love to see this guy sitting there in the third round when it's the Chiefs turn to select. In today's NFL, with such sophisticated passing games, the smarter the better.
ESPN's Adam Schefter put out a guarantee regarding the Ram's first overall pick. He said St. Louis was going to take Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford instead of Nebraska DT Ndamakong Suh. The Rams do in fact need a quarterback & unless they are wild about Colt McCoy, a probable 2nd rounder, they need to pull the trigger in the first round. As great as Suh is, he can't run an offense & generate points. I think Schefter might be right, but before draft day, Bradford will have to undergo extensive examinations of his surgically repaired shoulder. Rams' GM, Billy Devaney, said he was glad "Dr. Schefter" gave the Rams the O.K. to draft Bradford. If the Rams do take a QB, it's good news for Kansas City pushing talent they might be willing to draft one pick closer.
Dez Bryant, the highest rated wide receiver on everybody's list has taken another step backward. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy reported to the combine & informed teams he wouldn't be able to workout since he had tweaked his hamstring last week. Teams are starting to bail on Dez, he was suspended for most of last season by the NCAA(an overreaction in my opinion) for lying to an investigator looking into his relationship with Deion Sanders & his agent Eugene Parker. Parker now represents Bryant. He claims he'll be able to perform a full workout at OSU's pro day on March 10th. Bryant was weighed & measured tho, 6' 2", 225 pounds & 34" arm length. With Bryant & Georgia Tech's Damaryius Thomas(broken foot), both 1st round probables out this weekend, Illinois' Arrelious Benn, Notre Dame's Golden Tate & USC's Damien Williams need to excel & they could move into the 1st round. Tate said today he'd like to be reunited with Chiefs' coordinator Charlie Weis, "the coach who taught me how to play wide receiver."
The more I see, read & observe about Oklahoma State offensive tackle, Russell Okung, the more I want to see him in a Chiefs' uniform next season. Okung showed up at the combine & weighed in at 307 pounds. He looked lean & showed excellent body tone & definition. The 6' 5" 4-year starter has very long arms at 36" & big hands, measuring 10 1/2". He is one of those "yes sir, no sir" kind of kids. He said he hasn't watched much NFL football as his regular Sunday church services start at 1PM. Okung has a visible mean streak, he finishes his blocks, he enjoys pancaking defenders. One more thing, of all the offensive lineman, Okung put up the 2nd most reps in the 225-pound bench press, 38. Very tough to do with such long arms.
Speaking of the bench press results, Missouri State tight end Clay Harbor led all TE's with 30 reps. Pretty impressive for one of the lesser knowns, he has put on 12 pounds of muscle since the season ended. BYU's Dennis Pitta finished 2nd amongst the tight ends with 27. Both of these prospects are considered excellent pass catchers but their blocking was always questioned. It looks like both have spent a lot of time in the weight room lately.
Rutgers O-tackle Anthony Davis started off on the wrong foot, he showed up looking pretty soft around the mid-section. He wasn't able to crack the top-10 in the bench press either. Many scouts have questioned his dedication to football. Seeing him without his shirt on & in the bench press just validates some of that concern about Davis. He just might have the most potential of all the elite tackle prospects, but if his discipline is in question, he might stay on the board longer than anticipated.
Jared Veldheer, another O-tackle from tiny Hillsdale College in Michigan, made a favorable impression on day one. He measured 6' 7 5/8" & weighed in at 312. He cracked the top-10 in the bench press with 32 reps. It will be very interesting to see him do the speed & quickness tests tomorrow(Sat.). He just might be this season's Sebastian Vollmer. Another guy who impressed scouts was Anthony Washington from Abilene Christian. The former LSU recruit had a good start with 33 reps in the bench press to go with his impressive measurables, 6' 6", 311 lbs, 35" arms & 10 1/2" hands. Both of these prospects could really turn into something special if they're picked by the right team. They need very patient line coaches who can mold them, teach them, but both play hard & appear to be in great condition right now.
Arkansas guard Mitch Petrus tied a 10-year best in the bench press with 45 reps. I'm not that high on him as a football player, but he is obviously strong. I don't think the light ever went on for Petrus, he just doesn't fire off on the line & really pop people, using that strength to his advantage. His half-ass effort brings into question his desire to play at the next level.
The tight ends & offensive linemen workout today with the wide receivers, running backs & quarterbacks doing their bench press & medical exams. More tonight.
I told you how some teams ask truly stupid questions during their 15-minute private interviews, so on the combine's first day, the Tampa Bay Bucs got the ball rolling. One of their coaches asked Florida State safety, Myron Rolle, "what it felt like to desert his team this season?" Rolle left the Seminole program after his junior year to attend Oxford as a Rhodes scholar. Rolle said he kept his cool, but thought the question was strange. I guess the Tampa staff will ask every junior the same question, they should if they thought it was important to ask Rolle. I think some coaches will have a problem drafting a guy as smart as Rolle for their team. I'll say this again, I'd love to see this guy sitting there in the third round when it's the Chiefs turn to select. In today's NFL, with such sophisticated passing games, the smarter the better.
ESPN's Adam Schefter put out a guarantee regarding the Ram's first overall pick. He said St. Louis was going to take Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford instead of Nebraska DT Ndamakong Suh. The Rams do in fact need a quarterback & unless they are wild about Colt McCoy, a probable 2nd rounder, they need to pull the trigger in the first round. As great as Suh is, he can't run an offense & generate points. I think Schefter might be right, but before draft day, Bradford will have to undergo extensive examinations of his surgically repaired shoulder. Rams' GM, Billy Devaney, said he was glad "Dr. Schefter" gave the Rams the O.K. to draft Bradford. If the Rams do take a QB, it's good news for Kansas City pushing talent they might be willing to draft one pick closer.
Dez Bryant, the highest rated wide receiver on everybody's list has taken another step backward. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy reported to the combine & informed teams he wouldn't be able to workout since he had tweaked his hamstring last week. Teams are starting to bail on Dez, he was suspended for most of last season by the NCAA(an overreaction in my opinion) for lying to an investigator looking into his relationship with Deion Sanders & his agent Eugene Parker. Parker now represents Bryant. He claims he'll be able to perform a full workout at OSU's pro day on March 10th. Bryant was weighed & measured tho, 6' 2", 225 pounds & 34" arm length. With Bryant & Georgia Tech's Damaryius Thomas(broken foot), both 1st round probables out this weekend, Illinois' Arrelious Benn, Notre Dame's Golden Tate & USC's Damien Williams need to excel & they could move into the 1st round. Tate said today he'd like to be reunited with Chiefs' coordinator Charlie Weis, "the coach who taught me how to play wide receiver."
The more I see, read & observe about Oklahoma State offensive tackle, Russell Okung, the more I want to see him in a Chiefs' uniform next season. Okung showed up at the combine & weighed in at 307 pounds. He looked lean & showed excellent body tone & definition. The 6' 5" 4-year starter has very long arms at 36" & big hands, measuring 10 1/2". He is one of those "yes sir, no sir" kind of kids. He said he hasn't watched much NFL football as his regular Sunday church services start at 1PM. Okung has a visible mean streak, he finishes his blocks, he enjoys pancaking defenders. One more thing, of all the offensive lineman, Okung put up the 2nd most reps in the 225-pound bench press, 38. Very tough to do with such long arms.
Speaking of the bench press results, Missouri State tight end Clay Harbor led all TE's with 30 reps. Pretty impressive for one of the lesser knowns, he has put on 12 pounds of muscle since the season ended. BYU's Dennis Pitta finished 2nd amongst the tight ends with 27. Both of these prospects are considered excellent pass catchers but their blocking was always questioned. It looks like both have spent a lot of time in the weight room lately.
Rutgers O-tackle Anthony Davis started off on the wrong foot, he showed up looking pretty soft around the mid-section. He wasn't able to crack the top-10 in the bench press either. Many scouts have questioned his dedication to football. Seeing him without his shirt on & in the bench press just validates some of that concern about Davis. He just might have the most potential of all the elite tackle prospects, but if his discipline is in question, he might stay on the board longer than anticipated.
Jared Veldheer, another O-tackle from tiny Hillsdale College in Michigan, made a favorable impression on day one. He measured 6' 7 5/8" & weighed in at 312. He cracked the top-10 in the bench press with 32 reps. It will be very interesting to see him do the speed & quickness tests tomorrow(Sat.). He just might be this season's Sebastian Vollmer. Another guy who impressed scouts was Anthony Washington from Abilene Christian. The former LSU recruit had a good start with 33 reps in the bench press to go with his impressive measurables, 6' 6", 311 lbs, 35" arms & 10 1/2" hands. Both of these prospects could really turn into something special if they're picked by the right team. They need very patient line coaches who can mold them, teach them, but both play hard & appear to be in great condition right now.
Arkansas guard Mitch Petrus tied a 10-year best in the bench press with 45 reps. I'm not that high on him as a football player, but he is obviously strong. I don't think the light ever went on for Petrus, he just doesn't fire off on the line & really pop people, using that strength to his advantage. His half-ass effort brings into question his desire to play at the next level.
The tight ends & offensive linemen workout today with the wide receivers, running backs & quarterbacks doing their bench press & medical exams. More tonight.
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