Taylor Mays puts on a show in Indianapolis
Posted by Michael David Smith on March 2, 2010 12:19 PM ET
USC defensive back Taylor Mays ran a blazing 40-yard dash Tuesday morning at the NFL scouting combine, with an unofficial time of 4.24 seconds.
The official times have generally been a little slower than the announced unofficial times, but if the 4.24 holds up, it would tie the lightning-fast record set by Chris Johnson two years ago.
Whatever his official time, Mays' straight-line speed is extremely impressive. But NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said he's not convinced that Mays is as good in a football uniform as he is in his underwear.
"I know he's a specimen," Mayock said of Mays. "I know he's an unbelievable athlete. I know he's a freak. I get all that. What you've got to see on tape is him making a play."
Mayock said that Mays had just two interceptions, total, in the last three seasons, and he wonders why Mays isn't getting his hands on the ball more.
"You've got two picks in three years," Mayock said. "You've got to get around the football more often."
NFL Network's Deion Sanders, however, pointed out that the assembled coaches were sure to be impressed with Mays' time and his size, and they'll figure that even if he's not a great defensive back right now, they can turn him into one.
Said Sanders, "If a man runs a 4.24 here at 231 pounds, all these egos in these bleachers are thinking, 'I can work with that.'"
Mays' official time jumps to 4.43
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on March 2, 2010 1:07 PM ET
Taylor Mays'
blazing forty time wasn't quite as fast as it appeared.
Perhaps because of an itchy trigger finger by a NFL Network employee, Mays' unofficial time of 4.24 went all the way up to a 4.43.
Chris Johnson
was not amused on Twitter: "Man yall killsme me w/ ths 40's stevie wonder must B doing the unofficial times how u go from 4.24 2 4.43 I made em kissdababy," Johnson wrote. (The Network plans to replace Wonder next season.)
NFLN showed Mays only about a step behind Jacoby Ford's 4.28 when played side by side, which makes us
question these times even more.
Ultimately, Mays helped himself, but not that much. Tennessee safety Eric Berry ran an official 4.47 and had one of the
best vertical jumps in the history of the combine.
Texas safety Earl Thomas, Mike Mayock's favorite, ran unofficial times of 4.44 and a 4.53, which should allay any concerns about his speed. But his official time was something slower than a 4.47. He may be the most instinctive player of the three safeties.
With Thomas and Berry excelling and Florida cornerback
Joe Haden struggling Tuesday, it's possible we'll see two safeties drafted in April before a cornerback.