cowboyjoe
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 28,423
- Reaction score
- 733
Questions and answers about the NFL scouting combine
Dan Pompei | On the NFL
9:18 PM CST, February 19, 2009
As Indianapolis becomes the center of the NFL universe over the next five days for the league scouting combine, many questions will be answered. More will be raised.
Here are some we can try to answer now.
Who will be the fastest player?
The favorites in the 40-yard dash are Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin, Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and South Carolina cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, who has been working out with Deion Sanders.
Dan Pompei E-mail | Recent columns
Related links
Bears' options dwindling
Bears talk to offensive tackles at combine
Combine on TV Who could elevate his draft status with
a fantastic workout?
Here is a name to remember: Shawn Nelson. The Southern Mississippi tight end's play at the Senior Bowl was a revelation, and now scouts expect him to light up the combine.
Nelson could run a 4.4 40-yard dash at 6 feet 5 inches, 240 pounds, as well as show his athleticism in drills. If he does, he could move into the first round, as Purdue tight end Dustin Keller did a year ago.
Will many players sit out?
The word is a number of the marquee names will not be doing much at the combine other than taking physicals and going through interviews, including Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell and Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree.
Are there players whose draft stock depends on how they interview here?
Yes. Among those who need to interview well to convince NFL decision-makers about their character are Maclin, Southern California middle linebacker Rey Maualuga, Mississippi offensive tackle Michael Oher and Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith.
Which defensive ends have to prove they can drop and play linebacker in a 3-4 front?
Ends who will be asked to go through linebacker drills include Cody Brown of Connecticut, Larry English of Northern Illinois, Michael Johnson of Georgia Tech, David Martin of Virginia Tech, Aaron Maybin of Penn State, Brian Orakpo of Texas and Lawrence Sidbury of Richmond. If they show versatility they will open their market to appeal to the 10 teams that play a 3-4.
Which player has the most to gain at the combine?
That could be Tennessee defensive end Robert Ayers, who could lock himself into the first round. Volunteers coaches didn't think enough of him at the beginning of the year to alert NFL scouts to him. He wasn't even included in the preseason combine list, which features hundreds of players. But he performed well in the regular season and dominated at the Senior Bowl.
Is the weigh-in critical for anyone?
The scale told the tale for Alabama's Smith. He reportedly weighed in Thursday at 332 pounds. Scouts are concerned about his ability to manage his weight and rumors that he had ballooned to nearly 400 pounds.
Whose performances in drills should be largely ignored?
Rashad Johnson and Hakeem Nicks might not bowl anyone over in Indy, but that's OK. The Alabama safety and the North Carolina receiver are more football players than athletes.
Who are the most intriguing, under-the-radar
players at the combine?
Many eyes will be on Rice tight end James Casey, an underclassman who is expected to excel in many drills. Casey's calling card is athleticism. He spent three years in the White Sox's minor-league system after being drafted in the seventh round. After the White Sox released him and he returned to football, the former quarterback once played seven positions in one game. Last season, his 111 catches were second in the country. At 6-4, 235, Casey could be a wide receiver as well as a tight end.
San Jose State defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert is 6-5, 287 pounds, and he is so athletic he can jump out of 3 feet of water in a pool. You can look it up on YouTube. He had an impressive week at the East-West Shrine Game.
Will any free-agent deals be struck at the combine?
Absolutely. But you won't hear about them until the official start of free agency Feb. 27.
dpompei@tribune.com
Dan Pompei | On the NFL
9:18 PM CST, February 19, 2009
As Indianapolis becomes the center of the NFL universe over the next five days for the league scouting combine, many questions will be answered. More will be raised.
Here are some we can try to answer now.
Who will be the fastest player?
The favorites in the 40-yard dash are Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin, Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and South Carolina cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, who has been working out with Deion Sanders.
Dan Pompei E-mail | Recent columns
Related links
Bears' options dwindling
Bears talk to offensive tackles at combine
Combine on TV Who could elevate his draft status with
a fantastic workout?
Here is a name to remember: Shawn Nelson. The Southern Mississippi tight end's play at the Senior Bowl was a revelation, and now scouts expect him to light up the combine.
Nelson could run a 4.4 40-yard dash at 6 feet 5 inches, 240 pounds, as well as show his athleticism in drills. If he does, he could move into the first round, as Purdue tight end Dustin Keller did a year ago.
Will many players sit out?
The word is a number of the marquee names will not be doing much at the combine other than taking physicals and going through interviews, including Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell and Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree.
Are there players whose draft stock depends on how they interview here?
Yes. Among those who need to interview well to convince NFL decision-makers about their character are Maclin, Southern California middle linebacker Rey Maualuga, Mississippi offensive tackle Michael Oher and Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith.
Which defensive ends have to prove they can drop and play linebacker in a 3-4 front?
Ends who will be asked to go through linebacker drills include Cody Brown of Connecticut, Larry English of Northern Illinois, Michael Johnson of Georgia Tech, David Martin of Virginia Tech, Aaron Maybin of Penn State, Brian Orakpo of Texas and Lawrence Sidbury of Richmond. If they show versatility they will open their market to appeal to the 10 teams that play a 3-4.
Which player has the most to gain at the combine?
That could be Tennessee defensive end Robert Ayers, who could lock himself into the first round. Volunteers coaches didn't think enough of him at the beginning of the year to alert NFL scouts to him. He wasn't even included in the preseason combine list, which features hundreds of players. But he performed well in the regular season and dominated at the Senior Bowl.
Is the weigh-in critical for anyone?
The scale told the tale for Alabama's Smith. He reportedly weighed in Thursday at 332 pounds. Scouts are concerned about his ability to manage his weight and rumors that he had ballooned to nearly 400 pounds.
Whose performances in drills should be largely ignored?
Rashad Johnson and Hakeem Nicks might not bowl anyone over in Indy, but that's OK. The Alabama safety and the North Carolina receiver are more football players than athletes.
Who are the most intriguing, under-the-radar
players at the combine?
Many eyes will be on Rice tight end James Casey, an underclassman who is expected to excel in many drills. Casey's calling card is athleticism. He spent three years in the White Sox's minor-league system after being drafted in the seventh round. After the White Sox released him and he returned to football, the former quarterback once played seven positions in one game. Last season, his 111 catches were second in the country. At 6-4, 235, Casey could be a wide receiver as well as a tight end.
San Jose State defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert is 6-5, 287 pounds, and he is so athletic he can jump out of 3 feet of water in a pool. You can look it up on YouTube. He had an impressive week at the East-West Shrine Game.
Will any free-agent deals be struck at the combine?
Absolutely. But you won't hear about them until the official start of free agency Feb. 27.
dpompei@tribune.com