MORE COMBINE NEWS & NOTES
A surprising news item came across the wires tonight, Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones, my #1 combine riser, sustained a broken bone in his foot that will require surgery. It might even have occurred before the combine. Jones had given his draft stock quite a shot with his blistering performance Sunday. What this does to his future is unknown, NFL orthopedists said he should be fine in 8 weeks or less, but we got that story from Demaryius Thomas last year at the combine & he was plagued by the injury well into his rookie season with the Broncos. He might last until St. Louis' pick at #14 after all.
Here are some observations regarding a few of the bigger name players at the combine:
Aldon Smith/OLB-DE/Missouri
Smith ran well at 4.74 but his 20 reps in the bench press was disappointing. He scored a fine 34" vertical jump & scouts loved his 35 3/8" arms & 11" hands. He just might make a better 4-3 defensive end than a 3-4 outside linebacker. His agility in drills was nothing special & he might have too much difficulty making the transition. His frame could easily carry another 20-pounds, so he might be selected by a 4-3 team. A 6' 4" DE who can jump nearly 3' straight up with 35" arms is tough to throw over or around.
Robert Quinn/DE/North Carolina
Like Smith, Quinn didn't rock anybody's world, he was solid all-around except his 22 bench press reps was 3-4 less than hoped for & he was good, not great in position drills.
Akeem Ayers/OLB/UCLA
Also transitioning to a 3-4 OLB spot, Ayers had difficulty in some of the position drills that linebackers need to be able to do with ease. His 18 bench press reps was slightly low but it was his 40-time that set off a few alarms. Most first class outside backers who are supposed to be edge rushers run faster than 4.80. But a few years ago Terrell Suggs fell down draft boards because he ran 4.87 at the combine & a few weeks later at his pro day. Suggs led the league in sacks twice & has been in double digits all but one season as a Baltimore Raven, so a mediocre 40-yard dash time isn't the end of the world. I was more concerned with his agility, or lack of it.
J.J. Watt/DE/Wisconsin
He weighed in at 290-pounds on his 6' 5" frame & gaining 13 pounds since the Rose Bowl didn't hurt his speed(4.85) or his agility in any of the position drills. His 37" vertical was amazing for his weight & he pumped up 34 bench press reps too. Watt was already a 1st round candidate & he did nothing to change anyone's mind.
Mark Herzlich/LB/Boston College
Had he come out as a junior, Herzlich would have been a top-20 pick IMO. Sadly, he was stricken with a rare form of cancer, Ewings Sarcoma, that attacks the leg bones. He underwent chemo & radiation plus surgery to insert a 12" titanium rod in his femur. I watched him twice this season & could tell he wasn't the same player. After watching his workout Monday, I think he may have to move inside. He just doesn't have that sideline to sideline speed & agility. He ran a very disappointing 4.92, which is slow for an outside spot. He did 29 bench press reps which was excellent for the position & his 32 1/2" vertical jump was very good. Herzlich is a very smart, extremely dedicated football player, so I think he'll find a spot in the NFL. But he's going to be a 4th round selection or lower IMO.
Marcel Dareus/DT/Alabama
Had a solid workout except his 24 reps in the bench press was slightly off what was expected. He ran well, 4.92 at 319-pounds & he looked quick & agile in position drills. I doubt he'll last longer than the 5th-6th pick in April.
Ryan Bartholomew/C/Syracuse
Did everything well, 34 bench press reps led all O-linemen, ran 4.89 at 302-pounds & for a 6' 1" center, having 33 3/4" arms is a real plus. Excellent movement in position drills as well.
David Arkin/G/Missouri State
This ones just for my wife, a MSU grad. Arkin, a college tackle, showed excellent footwork in position drills, much better than I expected. He completed a respectable 25 reps in the bench press & his 5.28 was fast enough for an interior lineman. might not ever be a starter in the NFL, but he has a better than average chance to make a roster or practice squad.
Derek Sherrod/T/Mississippi State
Scouts & media slobbered all over this kid during the season & into Senior Bowl week & then he laid a giant egg. He was beaten like a rented mule during 1-on-1 pass blocking drills & didn't look any better in the game. He looked slow, un-athletic & lackadaisical in combine workouts Saturday.
Mark Ingram/RB/Alabama
The 2009 Heisman Trophy winner did exactly what I expected, I always thought the comparison to Emmitt Smith was a good one. Smith didn't wow anybody during the scouting process, they just believed he would be a solid, dependable NFL running back. That turned out rather well didn't it? Ingram doesn't run away from too many defenders, but he bounces off a lot of tacklers, doesn't fumble & has a real knack for finding the endzone. His 4.58 is slightly quicker than Emmitt ran & I think he's the only running back that carries a 1st round grade.
Shane Vereen/RB/Cal
This 5' 10" blazer ran 4.43 at 210-pounds & followed that up with a 34" vertical jump & a position 2nd best 31 bench press reps. I saw this Cal RB 6 times this past season & when healthy, he runs thru arm tackles & can leave defensive backs in the dust. Staying healthy has been the problem. Like his predecessor at Berkley, Jahvid Best, another speedster, Vereen missed a lot of snaps in 2010. When healthy, he's a real weapon running or receiving.
Kendall Hunter/RB/Oklahoma State
Another undersized runner at 5' 7" & 199. Hunter ran 4.47 & jumped 35". He has a plate in his ankle from a 2009 injury but showed no ill effect last season. In the Cowboy games I saw, Hunter is fearless picking up blitzers, he just steps up & hits them.
An overview of a decent group of receivers:
Jonathan Baldwin/Pittsburgh
Huge at 6' 4" & 228, Baldwin looked great in the measured tests, running a 4.45 forty & recording a 42" vertical jump. He looked really stiff running routes & changing directions.
Jerrel Jernigan/Troy
Fast at 4.47, big, soft hands & the ability to not gear down going into his breaks. Looked very quick.
Vincent Brown/San Diego State
Not fast(4.66) or big(5' 11" 187) but silky smooth running routes & catching the ball with large, dependable hands. This kid will find a spot in the NFL despite not having the impressive measurables.
Titus Young/Boise State
Pretty small at 5' 11" & 174, but he's a blazer(4.43) & is very quick into his breaks. Excellent hands & a good route runner but had a couple of team suspensions in '08 & '09.
Austin Pettis/Boise State
Big, dependable possession receiver. At 6' 3" & 209, he uses his body to shield defenders & has excellent hands. He ran a respectable 4.56 & was very impressive running the gauntlet.
Leonard Hankerson/Miami
Made himself some money Sunday, probably a 2-round move with his workout. The 6' 2" 209-pound wideout ran well(4.45) & looked good in all the position drills, catching the ball with his hands every time.
A.J. Green/Georgia
The most NFL-ready wide receiver in the draft, Green just reinforced his ranking with a solid workout Sunday. At 6' 4" & 211, Green ran a stout 4.48 in the forty-yard dash & tho he dropped a couple of passes, he also made a couple of his patented one-handed grabs as well. He's a top-5 selection IMO.
Edmund Gates/Abilene Christian
Decent size at 6' & 192, gates is the fastest prospect at the combine so far at 4.35. He was also best in the standing broad jump & 2nd in the vertical jump but all these great measurables don't translate on the field, at least from what I saw Sunday. He gears way down to make his cut allowing a DB to close on him. He runs fast, but doesn't play fast.
Niles Paul/Nebraska
I mentioned last fall this Cornhusker appeared to have very small hands. It's official, he does, in fact the 2nd smallest at the combine at 8 7/8". He looked too heavy at 229 pounds. His forty time of 4.59 was also disappointing, I'd say Paul could drop to the 6th round.
Jeff Maehl/Oregon & Greg Salas/Hawaii
This pair is like a mirror image. Same size, same speed, same leaping ability & same smarts. Excellent route runners who consistently get open, catch the ball with ease & move the chains.
More combine news & reviews tomorrow.
Here are some observations regarding a few of the bigger name players at the combine:
Aldon Smith/OLB-DE/Missouri
Smith ran well at 4.74 but his 20 reps in the bench press was disappointing. He scored a fine 34" vertical jump & scouts loved his 35 3/8" arms & 11" hands. He just might make a better 4-3 defensive end than a 3-4 outside linebacker. His agility in drills was nothing special & he might have too much difficulty making the transition. His frame could easily carry another 20-pounds, so he might be selected by a 4-3 team. A 6' 4" DE who can jump nearly 3' straight up with 35" arms is tough to throw over or around.
Robert Quinn/DE/North Carolina
Like Smith, Quinn didn't rock anybody's world, he was solid all-around except his 22 bench press reps was 3-4 less than hoped for & he was good, not great in position drills.
Akeem Ayers/OLB/UCLA
Also transitioning to a 3-4 OLB spot, Ayers had difficulty in some of the position drills that linebackers need to be able to do with ease. His 18 bench press reps was slightly low but it was his 40-time that set off a few alarms. Most first class outside backers who are supposed to be edge rushers run faster than 4.80. But a few years ago Terrell Suggs fell down draft boards because he ran 4.87 at the combine & a few weeks later at his pro day. Suggs led the league in sacks twice & has been in double digits all but one season as a Baltimore Raven, so a mediocre 40-yard dash time isn't the end of the world. I was more concerned with his agility, or lack of it.
J.J. Watt/DE/Wisconsin
He weighed in at 290-pounds on his 6' 5" frame & gaining 13 pounds since the Rose Bowl didn't hurt his speed(4.85) or his agility in any of the position drills. His 37" vertical was amazing for his weight & he pumped up 34 bench press reps too. Watt was already a 1st round candidate & he did nothing to change anyone's mind.
Mark Herzlich/LB/Boston College
Had he come out as a junior, Herzlich would have been a top-20 pick IMO. Sadly, he was stricken with a rare form of cancer, Ewings Sarcoma, that attacks the leg bones. He underwent chemo & radiation plus surgery to insert a 12" titanium rod in his femur. I watched him twice this season & could tell he wasn't the same player. After watching his workout Monday, I think he may have to move inside. He just doesn't have that sideline to sideline speed & agility. He ran a very disappointing 4.92, which is slow for an outside spot. He did 29 bench press reps which was excellent for the position & his 32 1/2" vertical jump was very good. Herzlich is a very smart, extremely dedicated football player, so I think he'll find a spot in the NFL. But he's going to be a 4th round selection or lower IMO.
Marcel Dareus/DT/Alabama
Had a solid workout except his 24 reps in the bench press was slightly off what was expected. He ran well, 4.92 at 319-pounds & he looked quick & agile in position drills. I doubt he'll last longer than the 5th-6th pick in April.
Ryan Bartholomew/C/Syracuse
Did everything well, 34 bench press reps led all O-linemen, ran 4.89 at 302-pounds & for a 6' 1" center, having 33 3/4" arms is a real plus. Excellent movement in position drills as well.
David Arkin/G/Missouri State
This ones just for my wife, a MSU grad. Arkin, a college tackle, showed excellent footwork in position drills, much better than I expected. He completed a respectable 25 reps in the bench press & his 5.28 was fast enough for an interior lineman. might not ever be a starter in the NFL, but he has a better than average chance to make a roster or practice squad.
Derek Sherrod/T/Mississippi State
Scouts & media slobbered all over this kid during the season & into Senior Bowl week & then he laid a giant egg. He was beaten like a rented mule during 1-on-1 pass blocking drills & didn't look any better in the game. He looked slow, un-athletic & lackadaisical in combine workouts Saturday.
Mark Ingram/RB/Alabama
The 2009 Heisman Trophy winner did exactly what I expected, I always thought the comparison to Emmitt Smith was a good one. Smith didn't wow anybody during the scouting process, they just believed he would be a solid, dependable NFL running back. That turned out rather well didn't it? Ingram doesn't run away from too many defenders, but he bounces off a lot of tacklers, doesn't fumble & has a real knack for finding the endzone. His 4.58 is slightly quicker than Emmitt ran & I think he's the only running back that carries a 1st round grade.
Shane Vereen/RB/Cal
This 5' 10" blazer ran 4.43 at 210-pounds & followed that up with a 34" vertical jump & a position 2nd best 31 bench press reps. I saw this Cal RB 6 times this past season & when healthy, he runs thru arm tackles & can leave defensive backs in the dust. Staying healthy has been the problem. Like his predecessor at Berkley, Jahvid Best, another speedster, Vereen missed a lot of snaps in 2010. When healthy, he's a real weapon running or receiving.
Kendall Hunter/RB/Oklahoma State
Another undersized runner at 5' 7" & 199. Hunter ran 4.47 & jumped 35". He has a plate in his ankle from a 2009 injury but showed no ill effect last season. In the Cowboy games I saw, Hunter is fearless picking up blitzers, he just steps up & hits them.
An overview of a decent group of receivers:
Jonathan Baldwin/Pittsburgh
Huge at 6' 4" & 228, Baldwin looked great in the measured tests, running a 4.45 forty & recording a 42" vertical jump. He looked really stiff running routes & changing directions.
Jerrel Jernigan/Troy
Fast at 4.47, big, soft hands & the ability to not gear down going into his breaks. Looked very quick.
Vincent Brown/San Diego State
Not fast(4.66) or big(5' 11" 187) but silky smooth running routes & catching the ball with large, dependable hands. This kid will find a spot in the NFL despite not having the impressive measurables.
Titus Young/Boise State
Pretty small at 5' 11" & 174, but he's a blazer(4.43) & is very quick into his breaks. Excellent hands & a good route runner but had a couple of team suspensions in '08 & '09.
Austin Pettis/Boise State
Big, dependable possession receiver. At 6' 3" & 209, he uses his body to shield defenders & has excellent hands. He ran a respectable 4.56 & was very impressive running the gauntlet.
Leonard Hankerson/Miami
Made himself some money Sunday, probably a 2-round move with his workout. The 6' 2" 209-pound wideout ran well(4.45) & looked good in all the position drills, catching the ball with his hands every time.
A.J. Green/Georgia
The most NFL-ready wide receiver in the draft, Green just reinforced his ranking with a solid workout Sunday. At 6' 4" & 211, Green ran a stout 4.48 in the forty-yard dash & tho he dropped a couple of passes, he also made a couple of his patented one-handed grabs as well. He's a top-5 selection IMO.
Edmund Gates/Abilene Christian
Decent size at 6' & 192, gates is the fastest prospect at the combine so far at 4.35. He was also best in the standing broad jump & 2nd in the vertical jump but all these great measurables don't translate on the field, at least from what I saw Sunday. He gears way down to make his cut allowing a DB to close on him. He runs fast, but doesn't play fast.
Niles Paul/Nebraska
I mentioned last fall this Cornhusker appeared to have very small hands. It's official, he does, in fact the 2nd smallest at the combine at 8 7/8". He looked too heavy at 229 pounds. His forty time of 4.59 was also disappointing, I'd say Paul could drop to the 6th round.
Jeff Maehl/Oregon & Greg Salas/Hawaii
This pair is like a mirror image. Same size, same speed, same leaping ability & same smarts. Excellent route runners who consistently get open, catch the ball with ease & move the chains.
More combine news & reviews tomorrow.
Comments