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Blair White, Antonio Brown, Dan LeFevour try to shake stereotypes at NFL combine
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010//blair_white_antonio_brown_dan.html
By Tom Kowalski
February 27, 2010, 10:15PM
INDIANAPOLIS -- Unless you're Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy, where your draft status as a top-five pick has been pretty much solidified for months, all the players at the NFL scouting combine are struggling to improve their draft status.
Many players, including several from the state of Michigan, are trying to convince NFL scouts not to buy into the stereotypes that have dogged them early in this process.
Here's how a few of young players are trying to buck the system:
Blair White, Michigan State wide receiver
White was a highly productive receiver for the Spartans, but he doesn't want to get pigeon-holed as a player with limited ability.
"I've had some pretty good feedback (from NFL teams)," he said. "One of the main things I've heard is that a lot of people think that I'm just a possession receiver at the next level and it's tough to try to overcome that stereotype because I think I'm better than that. I just have to go out there and let my performance do the talking for me.
"That's one of the things with possession receivers is that they have lower 40 times so I've been working on my speed and hopefully I can come out and impress some people (this weekend)."
White has been training hard for the biggest job interview of his life and he knows an excellent speed in the 40-yard dash will improve his draft stock.
"I was hitting 4.4 a couple times I think my goal would be to break 4.4, so somewhere in the 4.3's would be my ultimate goal. You're probably thinking 'Is this guy crazy right now?' But that's fine. That's how I like it and that's kind of how it's been my whole life doing things people don't think I can do."
Antonio Brown, Central Michigan wide receiver
Like White, Brown has to show the NFL scouts his long speed, but he has other issues to deal with, too.
In CMU's spread offense, the passing game uses a lot of short, quick throws and scouts have questioned whether Brown is a good route-runner downfield.
"I've heard a lot about that," Brown said. "I've heard people say they thought I was a little guy, 5-8 maybe. I weighed in good. They want to see my top-end speed. I've heard a lot of little things but I can do it all."
Brown measured in at 5-10 1/2 and 186 pounds and, in addition to his receiving skills, his return ability should improve his value.
"I can change the complexion of the game at any point in time. If the other 10 guys give me some blocking, I'm capable of taking it the distance," said Brown, adding that he was initially recruited by larger schools such as the University of Miami, Michigan State and Rutgers.
Because of academic issues, though, Brown missed out on scholarship offers and decided to be a walk-on at Central. Brown said he was offered a scholarship during his first week of training camp.
Another issue with Brown is the fact that he left school early but considering all the major changes going on at Central, that's easily explained.
"A lot of factors played into my decision -- the head coach left, the receivers coach went to Florida, my quarterback was leaving, I had three great years, two MAC championships this was the best decision," Brown said.
Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan quarterback
Like Brown, LeFevour has to break the stigma that he's a product of the system, a spread offense that didn't require him to take the snap from center or make long, difficult throws.
LeFevour said he went through his first adjustment at the Senior Bowl and his education continues.
"Just being consistent and making good decisions and managing the offense and the things they want to see a little bit differently -- something they haven't seen: Going under center more, coming from the spread offense they want to see some lateral things, they want to see me attack downfield a little bit more. They want to see me go under center and do that," LeFevour said.
At the combine, LeFevour will do all the testing and all the throwing -- except when it comes to throwing to receivers. LeFevour will go through the dropback drills and throw to stationary targets but won't throw to receivers until his pro day on March 24.
LeFevour is continuing to work on his fundamentals with former NFL quarterback Zeke Bratkowski.
"Just fine-tuning mechanics here and there, from lead-foot placement to more compact release and better follow-through and little things like that. You can't really re-invent the wheel at this point, you can only change some little, minor things," LeFevour said. "It's just working on sharpening up a few little things and having a great pro day."
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010//blair_white_antonio_brown_dan.html
By Tom Kowalski
February 27, 2010, 10:15PM
INDIANAPOLIS -- Unless you're Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy, where your draft status as a top-five pick has been pretty much solidified for months, all the players at the NFL scouting combine are struggling to improve their draft status.
Many players, including several from the state of Michigan, are trying to convince NFL scouts not to buy into the stereotypes that have dogged them early in this process.
Here's how a few of young players are trying to buck the system:
Blair White, Michigan State wide receiver
White was a highly productive receiver for the Spartans, but he doesn't want to get pigeon-holed as a player with limited ability.
"I've had some pretty good feedback (from NFL teams)," he said. "One of the main things I've heard is that a lot of people think that I'm just a possession receiver at the next level and it's tough to try to overcome that stereotype because I think I'm better than that. I just have to go out there and let my performance do the talking for me.
"That's one of the things with possession receivers is that they have lower 40 times so I've been working on my speed and hopefully I can come out and impress some people (this weekend)."
White has been training hard for the biggest job interview of his life and he knows an excellent speed in the 40-yard dash will improve his draft stock.
"I was hitting 4.4 a couple times I think my goal would be to break 4.4, so somewhere in the 4.3's would be my ultimate goal. You're probably thinking 'Is this guy crazy right now?' But that's fine. That's how I like it and that's kind of how it's been my whole life doing things people don't think I can do."
Antonio Brown, Central Michigan wide receiver
Like White, Brown has to show the NFL scouts his long speed, but he has other issues to deal with, too.
In CMU's spread offense, the passing game uses a lot of short, quick throws and scouts have questioned whether Brown is a good route-runner downfield.
"I've heard a lot about that," Brown said. "I've heard people say they thought I was a little guy, 5-8 maybe. I weighed in good. They want to see my top-end speed. I've heard a lot of little things but I can do it all."
Brown measured in at 5-10 1/2 and 186 pounds and, in addition to his receiving skills, his return ability should improve his value.
"I can change the complexion of the game at any point in time. If the other 10 guys give me some blocking, I'm capable of taking it the distance," said Brown, adding that he was initially recruited by larger schools such as the University of Miami, Michigan State and Rutgers.
Because of academic issues, though, Brown missed out on scholarship offers and decided to be a walk-on at Central. Brown said he was offered a scholarship during his first week of training camp.
Another issue with Brown is the fact that he left school early but considering all the major changes going on at Central, that's easily explained.
"A lot of factors played into my decision -- the head coach left, the receivers coach went to Florida, my quarterback was leaving, I had three great years, two MAC championships this was the best decision," Brown said.
Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan quarterback
Like Brown, LeFevour has to break the stigma that he's a product of the system, a spread offense that didn't require him to take the snap from center or make long, difficult throws.
LeFevour said he went through his first adjustment at the Senior Bowl and his education continues.
"Just being consistent and making good decisions and managing the offense and the things they want to see a little bit differently -- something they haven't seen: Going under center more, coming from the spread offense they want to see some lateral things, they want to see me attack downfield a little bit more. They want to see me go under center and do that," LeFevour said.
At the combine, LeFevour will do all the testing and all the throwing -- except when it comes to throwing to receivers. LeFevour will go through the dropback drills and throw to stationary targets but won't throw to receivers until his pro day on March 24.
LeFevour is continuing to work on his fundamentals with former NFL quarterback Zeke Bratkowski.
"Just fine-tuning mechanics here and there, from lead-foot placement to more compact release and better follow-through and little things like that. You can't really re-invent the wheel at this point, you can only change some little, minor things," LeFevour said. "It's just working on sharpening up a few little things and having a great pro day."