Doomsday101
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 107,762
- Reaction score
- 39,034
INDIANAPOLIS - If you are a football purist, now that the NFL Network televises all the cone drills, 60-yard shuttles and vertical jumps at the league's scouting combine, you probably wonder if this is really football or some new fangled track and field competition.
I thought that Monday in the RCA Dome as I watched Bill Polian, general manager of the Super Bowl champion Colts, walk past me with the newest woman sports psychologist hired to test these draft hopefuls. It's like these young men are stuck under one big microscope.
The combine isn't about how any of these athletes play football, but what his "measurables" are. How fast and how strong and how quick and how smart he is and where do his best numbers compare to everyone else at his position. Often, a good player doesn't run well at the combine and his bad day drops him in the draft order. Or vice versa.
It's a cycle of testing events that seemingly never ends until the final Saturday in April and the draft selections begin. But these numbers do matter and here is my rundown of who helped and hurt himself by their performances here over the past five days.
The most secure are ...
1. Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech, WR
Most scouts were saying a month or two ago that he was probably the best overall player in this draft. When he weighed in here at a chiseled 239 pounds and then proceeded to run a 4.35 40-yard dash, well, he stamped himself as the genuine article.
He looks so strong and so fast and his game films are one highlight after another. I asked Bucs coach Jon Gruden, whose team selects fourth overall, if Johnson was his man.
"He is awfully impressive looking," Gruden said, "but we need so many players. I was wondering what the league would do if I submitted three names when they call our name on draft day?"
2. Gaines Adams, Clemson, DE
Adams looks skinny to me (lighter than 260 pounds) and more of a situational pass rusher, but scouts tell me I'm wrong. Going strictly by his numbers, Adams blew away his competition by running a 4.64 40-yard dash and also finishing no worse than third in his group in three other categories.
When going by these numbers, Adams could be this year's Mario Williams. He could go anywhere in the top 10 and possibly even the top five based on his overall performance. There wasn't one defensive coach yesterday who wasn't blown away by his 40 time.
Michigan defensive tackle Alan Branch, who weighs over 330 pounds, opened some eyes by running a 5.08 40-yard dash. He also pressed 225 pounds 33 consecutive times. He's awfully fast for a big, strong man. These two players will be the first defensive linemen taken if the draft was tomorrow.
3. Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma, RB
Because of his upright running style, Peterson has been favorably compared to Eric Dickerson, who still holds the NFL rookie rushing record of 1,808 yards.
And if you're not interested in a quarterback, Peterson may be the best all-around player in the draft. He proved that by running a 4.38 40-yard dash. Some scouts caught him at 4.35 and the NFL Network listed him at 4.4. But the majority had him under 4.4 which is very impressive for a power runner.
At the next level, Peterson should be a game-breaker and you have to wonder why Detroit would pass on a player who could touch the ball 25 times a game versus one who simply will be blocking (Wisconsin's Joe Thomas).
4. LaRon Landry, LSU, S
This draft doesn't appear to have a great shut-down cornerback — there is a hodge-podge of guys who can run fast, but can't cover and vice versa — and this makes Landry all the more valuable because he appears to have the ability to defend the slot receiver after running a 4.32 40-yard dash Tuesday. That number means he's faster than Johnson and Peterson, the draft's two premier offensive talents.
Landry is a playmaker and could be the league's next Ed Reed, Baltimore's All-Pro safety and former defensive player of the year. Landry never missed a game as a four-year starter at LSU and is the consummate football player. There doesn't seem to be any holes in his game or his personality
5. Chris Henry, Arizona, RB
A junior, Henry left school early because he was listed as the team's third-string running back after starting only six games in a three-year career. In Lindy's draft magazine, Henry wasn't ranked among the top 25 runners because in three seasons, he rushed for 859 yards and scored only nine touchdowns.
But teams will definitely go back and look at some of his game tapes after he wowed the scouts with an impressive workout. Henry, who is 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds, was a former 100-meter track champion in Stockton, Calif. and he ran the 40 in 4.43 seconds. Henry had a better 10-yard time (1.51 to 1.54) than Peterson, plus he bench-pressed 225 pounds 26 times, a number that was better than Penn State's Paul Posluszny, probably the best linebacker in the draft.
Dropped a little ...
1. Dwayne Bowe, LSU, WR
At one point, Bowe was the consensus second receiver in this draft, but his standing is definitely being questioned because he ran two subpar 40 times (4.51 and 4.53) here. Plus, he was behind some marginal receivers in some other drills.
Anybody can have a bad day and that's what happened to Bowe, who now must fight out USC's Dwayne Jarrett, who didn't run here, and Ohio State's Ted Ginn, Jr. to nail down the second receiver spot. Ginn probably has moved ahead because he is such a remarkable punt/kick returner and everyone says he could be as dynamic as Chicago's Devin Hester.
2. Marshawn Lynch, Cal, RB
Another who came to Indy as his position's number two and faltered a little. This is the time of year when teams start poking holes in players and Lynch, who could be a splendid receiver at his position in the NFL, slipped a little because he trailed guys like Henry and Auburn's Kenny Irons in several categories.
There is no question that Lynch may fit some team's west-coast offense, but he doesn't look like a Top 20 player today. His up-right running style is being criticized now, too.
3. Dwayne Jarrett, USC, WR
He didn't run here and who knows how fast he will on his pro day after complaining of a groin pull. There is no question that Jarrett has a chip on his shoulder, especially when he was asked repeatedly about Mike Williams, the bust former No. 1 pick of the Detroit Lions. Jarrett is tall like Williams, but definitely not as heavy.
He kept telling everyone that he caught 41 touchdowns, a USC record, and that should be worth something. Most scouts believe he has 4.6 speed and if he doesn't run better than that, he could fall out of the first round.
4. Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma, LB
He led the Sooners in tackling for consecutive seasons, but he simply didn't run well here, nor did he display exceptional agility for a player ranked among the top 35 and possibly the second or third outside linebacker.
He finished 10th in his group in the three-cone drill and the shuttle. Also, 11 linebackers out-lifted him in the bench press. Yes, he finished with 25, but Brown's Zak DeOssie did more and also looked pretty fluid. DeOssie is the son of former NFL linebacker, Steve DeOssie.
5. JaMarcus Russell, LSU, QB
Okay, okay, this young man probably is either the first choice to the Raiders or will be taken by the Browns with the third overall pick because he is a personal favorite of Cleveland GM Phil Savage. Russell says he can throw the ball 84 yards and coaches believe he has excellent touch on all the intermediate throws.
I simply didn't like the fact he showed up here at 265 pounds and out of shape. Why leave yourself open to criticism for being soft and pudgy and those inevitable, unfavorable comparisons to Ryan Leaf? Russell comes across as an engaging personality and he's definitely a smart kid, but when some scouts think he could weigh 280 pounds or more in a year, you have to wonder about his future in the NFL.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6512858
I thought that Monday in the RCA Dome as I watched Bill Polian, general manager of the Super Bowl champion Colts, walk past me with the newest woman sports psychologist hired to test these draft hopefuls. It's like these young men are stuck under one big microscope.
The combine isn't about how any of these athletes play football, but what his "measurables" are. How fast and how strong and how quick and how smart he is and where do his best numbers compare to everyone else at his position. Often, a good player doesn't run well at the combine and his bad day drops him in the draft order. Or vice versa.
It's a cycle of testing events that seemingly never ends until the final Saturday in April and the draft selections begin. But these numbers do matter and here is my rundown of who helped and hurt himself by their performances here over the past five days.
The most secure are ...
1. Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech, WR
Most scouts were saying a month or two ago that he was probably the best overall player in this draft. When he weighed in here at a chiseled 239 pounds and then proceeded to run a 4.35 40-yard dash, well, he stamped himself as the genuine article.
He looks so strong and so fast and his game films are one highlight after another. I asked Bucs coach Jon Gruden, whose team selects fourth overall, if Johnson was his man.
"He is awfully impressive looking," Gruden said, "but we need so many players. I was wondering what the league would do if I submitted three names when they call our name on draft day?"
2. Gaines Adams, Clemson, DE
Adams looks skinny to me (lighter than 260 pounds) and more of a situational pass rusher, but scouts tell me I'm wrong. Going strictly by his numbers, Adams blew away his competition by running a 4.64 40-yard dash and also finishing no worse than third in his group in three other categories.
When going by these numbers, Adams could be this year's Mario Williams. He could go anywhere in the top 10 and possibly even the top five based on his overall performance. There wasn't one defensive coach yesterday who wasn't blown away by his 40 time.
Michigan defensive tackle Alan Branch, who weighs over 330 pounds, opened some eyes by running a 5.08 40-yard dash. He also pressed 225 pounds 33 consecutive times. He's awfully fast for a big, strong man. These two players will be the first defensive linemen taken if the draft was tomorrow.
3. Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma, RB
Because of his upright running style, Peterson has been favorably compared to Eric Dickerson, who still holds the NFL rookie rushing record of 1,808 yards.
And if you're not interested in a quarterback, Peterson may be the best all-around player in the draft. He proved that by running a 4.38 40-yard dash. Some scouts caught him at 4.35 and the NFL Network listed him at 4.4. But the majority had him under 4.4 which is very impressive for a power runner.
At the next level, Peterson should be a game-breaker and you have to wonder why Detroit would pass on a player who could touch the ball 25 times a game versus one who simply will be blocking (Wisconsin's Joe Thomas).
4. LaRon Landry, LSU, S
This draft doesn't appear to have a great shut-down cornerback — there is a hodge-podge of guys who can run fast, but can't cover and vice versa — and this makes Landry all the more valuable because he appears to have the ability to defend the slot receiver after running a 4.32 40-yard dash Tuesday. That number means he's faster than Johnson and Peterson, the draft's two premier offensive talents.
Landry is a playmaker and could be the league's next Ed Reed, Baltimore's All-Pro safety and former defensive player of the year. Landry never missed a game as a four-year starter at LSU and is the consummate football player. There doesn't seem to be any holes in his game or his personality
5. Chris Henry, Arizona, RB
A junior, Henry left school early because he was listed as the team's third-string running back after starting only six games in a three-year career. In Lindy's draft magazine, Henry wasn't ranked among the top 25 runners because in three seasons, he rushed for 859 yards and scored only nine touchdowns.
But teams will definitely go back and look at some of his game tapes after he wowed the scouts with an impressive workout. Henry, who is 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds, was a former 100-meter track champion in Stockton, Calif. and he ran the 40 in 4.43 seconds. Henry had a better 10-yard time (1.51 to 1.54) than Peterson, plus he bench-pressed 225 pounds 26 times, a number that was better than Penn State's Paul Posluszny, probably the best linebacker in the draft.
Dropped a little ...
1. Dwayne Bowe, LSU, WR
At one point, Bowe was the consensus second receiver in this draft, but his standing is definitely being questioned because he ran two subpar 40 times (4.51 and 4.53) here. Plus, he was behind some marginal receivers in some other drills.
Anybody can have a bad day and that's what happened to Bowe, who now must fight out USC's Dwayne Jarrett, who didn't run here, and Ohio State's Ted Ginn, Jr. to nail down the second receiver spot. Ginn probably has moved ahead because he is such a remarkable punt/kick returner and everyone says he could be as dynamic as Chicago's Devin Hester.
2. Marshawn Lynch, Cal, RB
Another who came to Indy as his position's number two and faltered a little. This is the time of year when teams start poking holes in players and Lynch, who could be a splendid receiver at his position in the NFL, slipped a little because he trailed guys like Henry and Auburn's Kenny Irons in several categories.
There is no question that Lynch may fit some team's west-coast offense, but he doesn't look like a Top 20 player today. His up-right running style is being criticized now, too.
3. Dwayne Jarrett, USC, WR
He didn't run here and who knows how fast he will on his pro day after complaining of a groin pull. There is no question that Jarrett has a chip on his shoulder, especially when he was asked repeatedly about Mike Williams, the bust former No. 1 pick of the Detroit Lions. Jarrett is tall like Williams, but definitely not as heavy.
He kept telling everyone that he caught 41 touchdowns, a USC record, and that should be worth something. Most scouts believe he has 4.6 speed and if he doesn't run better than that, he could fall out of the first round.
4. Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma, LB
He led the Sooners in tackling for consecutive seasons, but he simply didn't run well here, nor did he display exceptional agility for a player ranked among the top 35 and possibly the second or third outside linebacker.
He finished 10th in his group in the three-cone drill and the shuttle. Also, 11 linebackers out-lifted him in the bench press. Yes, he finished with 25, but Brown's Zak DeOssie did more and also looked pretty fluid. DeOssie is the son of former NFL linebacker, Steve DeOssie.
5. JaMarcus Russell, LSU, QB
Okay, okay, this young man probably is either the first choice to the Raiders or will be taken by the Browns with the third overall pick because he is a personal favorite of Cleveland GM Phil Savage. Russell says he can throw the ball 84 yards and coaches believe he has excellent touch on all the intermediate throws.
I simply didn't like the fact he showed up here at 265 pounds and out of shape. Why leave yourself open to criticism for being soft and pudgy and those inevitable, unfavorable comparisons to Ryan Leaf? Russell comes across as an engaging personality and he's definitely a smart kid, but when some scouts think he could weigh 280 pounds or more in a year, you have to wonder about his future in the NFL.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6512858
