Pauline Five Players to Watch During Sunday’s Workout and Eight Observations from Saturday

[RS12]

1) Solomon Thomas/DL/Stanford: I was with Solomon Thomas on Wednesday evening and he looks like a man amongst boys. Thomas, who looks as ready for the Mr. Universe contest as he does for the NFL, already participated in the bench press and completed 30 reps. I would expect him to turn in some fast shuttle times Sunday and tear up position drills.

2) T.J. Watt/LB/Wisconsin: Watt proved himself as a linebacker who terrorized quarterbacks in college and did well against the run. Pass coverage could be his Achilles heel. As a result, it will be necessary for Watt to look sharp in coverage drills Sunday and turn in solid times for the short and long shuttle as well as the three-cone.

3) Tarell Basham/DE-OLB/Ohio: Basham tipped the scales at 269 pounds during combine weigh-ins, 10 more than he weighed during the Senior Bowl. His 40 time, 10-yard split and shuttle times will be interesting and should help decide whether teams will line Basham up out of a three-point stance or over tackle.

4) Jeremiah Ledbetter/DL/Arkansas: Ledbetter totaled 29 reps on the bench Saturday, slightly lower than the mid-30s he was expecting, but as posted earlier today there are issues with the bench press. He’s expecting fast times in the 40 as well as the shuttles, and I would expect Ledbetter to be one of the better linemen during drills.

5) Tanner Vallejo/LB/Boise State: Vallejo is one of the hidden gems at the linebacker spot. He’s a solid run stuffer who also holds his own in coverage. He could be one of the faster linebackers in the 40 and I would expect solid shuttle times.

Eight Observations from Day 2

1) Deshaun Watson had a terrific day while Mitch Trubisky and Davis Webb looked sharp at times, but overall it was not a good day for the signal callers. As one veteran of several combines said to me, “I’ve never seen so many passes hit the ground.”

2) It’s really too bad Jerod Evans did not return to Virginia Tech for another season. Had he done so and improved his game, he could’ve been a first-round pick in 2018. He offers superior arm strength and made some amazing throws Saturday. On other occasions, he looked pedestrian at best.

3) DeShone Kizer needs a lot of technical work, and I mean a lot. His footwork and foot placement are terrible at times. He hurt himself here Saturday.

4) I graded Isaiah Ford as a late fourth-round pick and may have overrated him. There is nothing special about his game, and the inability to run faster than 4.64s at 194 pounds is going to kill his draft stock.

5) As reported Friday, expect major red flags to start popping up on Dede Westbrook for his lack of participation here and at the Senior Bowl.

http://draftanalyst.com/five-players-watch-during-sunday’s-workout-and-eight-observations-saturday

 

[Plankton]

3) DeShone Kizer needs a lot of technical work, and I mean a lot. His footwork and foot placement are terrible at times. He hurt himself here Saturday.

Didn't need to see him at the combine to know this. Kizer's mechanics are not good - he has alarming bouts of inaccuracy.

 

[RS12]

On Friday evening I wrote about red flags potentially being raised on Oklahoma receiver Dede Westbrook. Then yesterday I wrote those flags have been raised. But for many teams it’s well past the red flag stage.

On Saturday evening I learned a number of teams have stamped Westbrook as undraftable for a variety of reasons.

Beside the reasons previously mentioned such as declining an invitation to the Senior Bowl then not participating in combine workouts, I’ve been told Westbrook’s interviews here in Indianapolis have been horrible. Those at the interviews say Westbrook has been guarded and seemed untruthful. There are also off the field issues, many well documented and some more of a personality nature.

Oklahoma’s pro-day is next Wednesday, March 8th, and will be Westbrook’s final chance to perform in front of scouts. It’s expected to be well attended as running back Joe Mixon, who was not invited to the combine, will be working out.

I feel Westbrook will eventually be selected in the draft but rather than a second day pick as his talents warrant, expect him to land in the very late rounds.

Despite the fact that he barely ran under 4.8 seconds in the 40, there are a number of teams and area scouts who feel tight end Adam Shaheen of Ashland will be selected in the third round. Based on Shaheen’s game film, they believe he’s sneaky-fast and has the ability to stretch the seam. They also love his pass-catching skills and feel he’s very natural snatching the ball from the air.

I’m hearing a lot of comparisons between Billy Brown of Shepherd and Thomas Duarte, the former UCLA receiver-turned-tight end who was selected in the seventh round of the 2016 draft by the Miami Dolphins.

Both are solid college pass catchers who’ll need time to acclimate to a new position.

Despite the fact that he ran poorly Saturday, a lot of teams are not downgrading Cooper Kupp of Eastern Washington.

Never known as a deep threat with vertical speed, one scouting consultant told me he’s still a terrific pass catcher who can create after the reception.

Some teams are concerned with the smaller frame of Solomon Thomas. He measured just under 6-foot-3 and 273 pounds, and there’s concern he may not have great growth potential. No one is arguing his playing ability.

While a number of mock drafts have the New York Jets taking Marshon Lattimore with the sixth pick of Round 1, a source close with the organization told me he fears the Ohio State junior could be injury-prone and spend as much time in the trainers room as he does on the football field.

Lattimore struggled with hamstring injuries during his first two seasons with the Buckeyes. The comparison was made to another cornerback taken in the early part of Round 1 by the Jets and someone who has spent more time nursing injuries than playing football, Dee Milliner.

Back on January 15 during our Shrine Week preview, I made mention that Toledo defensive tackle Treyvon Hester would miss both the Shrine Game and the combine after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum.

I was given an update Saturday and told that Hester, who had his surgery on December 8, is ahead of schedule and will work out for scouts sometime in early April. He’s expected to be 100 percent by training camp and will be ready to fully participate.

http://draftanalyst.com/combine-report-35-dede-westbrook-going-undrafted