Combine Thread; Notes From Day One

[soulman]

NFL Combine: Prospect morning notes

Info gathered from day one at the NFL Combine… Wes Bunting

February 23, 2012 Share
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INDIANAPOLIS— News and notes from day one

• Offensive tackle Tom Compton from South Dakota spoke with me at length discussing his week at the East-West Shrine game and the overall jump in level of competition. He said he’s most comfortable as a run blocker at this stage and is working hard on his balance and hand placement in pass protection, referencing Boise State. DE Tyrone Crawford as the best pass rusher he faced during his week in St. Petersburg.

• Potentially the draft’s top punter prospect is Georgia’s Drew Butler discussed the relationship him and his father Kevin (former NFL kicker) have and how his Dad has been such a big help to him from a technique standpoint. (Butthead Jr.)
ICONAdams knows he has some work to do.


• When speaking with Ohio State OT Mike Adams he talked about his areas of needed improvement, mainly being his inconsistency with his technique in pass protection. He highlighted his hand placement as well as his tendency to overset and open up the door inside. (This remind anyone of someone else we know?)

• Georgia OC Ben Jones spoke on the top defensive linemen he faced during his time in the SEC. However, the guy he highlighted the most this year was LSU’s Michael Brockers.

• I had an enjoyable conversation with Southern Methodist’s OL Kelvin Beachum Jr. who talked about his future as a potential guard in the NFL. He said he feels comfortable in both an angle and zone scheme. However, because of his range when asked to get out into the second level he said the coaching staff at SMU liked to use him more in space getting out in front in the screen game and reaching targets downfield.


• Finally, Georgia OL Justin Anderson talked about his time bouncing back and fourth between the offensive and defensive line. He measured in at 6-4, 335 pounds and said he’s capable of playing both tackle and guard in the NFL.


Check out the NFP Draft page here...

[soulman]

Maybe just maybe Michael Adams is currently no better at pass blocking than Webb. It seems they share a similar issue.

[short faced bear]

Maybe just maybe Michael Adams is currently no better at pass blocking than Webb. It seems they share a similar issue.

Yeah sounds like it's a push esp. a rook. The only advantage seems smarts.

[soulman]

Yeah sounds like it's a push esp. a rook. The only advantage seems smarts.

You have to be at least somewhat suspect of the pass blocking skills of a LT out of OSU. That's not a program known for having a wild ass passing game. That may be why Martin rates ahead of him in the mock drafts but behind him as far as potential goes. Higher upside because that's how NFP ranks by position.

[short faced bear]

Agreed Soul. There already exists the wherewithal to solidify the position. The question is, is Tice going to have too much hubris to make a change or will Emery change it for him? Save the pick and make the change.

[soulman]

Senior Bowl talent to watch at the NFL Combine

What to look for at the Combine workouts. Matt Bowen

February 23, 2012 Share
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INDIANAPOLIS—While we wait for the rookie prospects to test on the field here inside of Lucas Oil Stadium, I want to go back and review my Senior Bowl notes. A group of players that stood out on the field from my perspective down in Mobile that can continue to increase their draft stock even more with an impressive Combine workout.

Here are the names in my notebook that I will be watching in Indy…


Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State: I expect the debate over Weeden to continue all the way up until draft day because of his age and the system he played in at Oklahoma State, But I saw a player that threw a very good ball down in Mobile and was the best QB prospect on the field. He could generate some buzz when he throws this week in Indy.
ICONUpshaw looked the part of a first-round talent at the Senior Bowl and now we get to see him test during Combine workouts.


Courtney Upshaw, OLB/DE, Alabama: Upshaw displayed power and used his hands at the point of attack during one-on-one pass rush. Talent to play OLB in a 3-4 front and after talking to scouts, some teams see him as a 4-3 DE. I’m interested the numbers the first round talent produces in the testing and what position he is targeted at. (Sox thought he didn't play well from a 3 point stance so we'll see after the combine what they think his primary position might be. He and Ingram are being looked both at LB and DE.)


Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina: At times, the competitive drills at the Senior Bowl looked easy for the DE. Coples displayed speed off the edge that wasn’t matched by any other prospects on the field and his overall athletic ability should stand out in the workouts in Indy. A Top 10 talent that.


Dwight Bentley, CB, Louisiana-Lafayette: Loved watching Bentley compete down in Mobile during one-on-ones, 7-on-7 and team drills. He isn’t considered a top tier prospect at the CB position, but if he puts together a solid workout, I think his stock starts to rise.


Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame: Had a good feel for the game on the practice field, took solid angles to the ball and was patient with his footwork. As I pointed out in my post on grading the safety position, range and the ability to read the QB are more important for safeties than a 40 time. However, we all know that Smith will see his stock start to climb if he runs in the low 4.5s and looks the part in the workouts. (This is the guy out of ND I'd like to see us draft)


Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State: Adams is being targeted as a rookie that can play on the right side, but I thought he displayed good enough technique to possibly be looked as a potential LT during his career. Now, we get to see what type of athlete he is and how he matches up against USC's Matt Kalil and Iowa's Riley Reiff. (Well unless Tice plans to move Carimi over to LT I'd say Adams won't be of immediate help at LT. I had a hunch he wasn't skilled enough yet with his pass blocking to be a first day starter at LT)


Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State: A lot of positives on Quick when talking to scouts after practice sessions. He displayed good body control, adjusted to the football and has size (6-3, 220) at the WR position. However, no different than a top prospect like Justin Blackmon, the league wants to see Quick run. His 40-time will impact his stock. (This is another guy initially rated for the middle rounds I'd like to see us look hard at. He has the size we want and if we're lucky he may develop a bit faster than some of the others. Maybe a bigger Johnny Knox)


Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama: I talked about Jenkins on Tuesday because he is a first round talent. Good feet and will use his hands when asked to play press-man, plus he wants to compete. The interviews will be big after off the field issues at Florida, but a solid workout is going to sell to NFL scouts.

Doug Martin, RB, Boise State: The RB was explosive through the hole and displayed good vision in practice. What does a solid workout do for Martin? I think it puts him in a position (with Miami’s Lamar Miller and Virginia Tech's David Wilson) as the second RB to come off the board after Alabama’s Trent Richardson. (I think this kid is gonna be a good NFL RB)

Click here for the NFP Big Board.
Follow me on Twitter: @MattBowen41

[soulman]

NFL Combine: Afternoon news and notes

What we learned from some of the nation’s top OL and TE prospects. Wes Bunting

February 23, 2012 Share
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INDIANAPOLIS— News and notes from day one...

• Iowa OT Riley Reiff said he weighed in at 6-5, 313-pounds with “33 and something” (his words not mine) inch arms. He also discussed his wresting background and how it helped him develop as an offensive lineman with hand placement, footwork and overall endurance.
ICONKalil is actually younger than Tyron Smith.


• It was funny to hear USC OT Matt Kalil mention the fact that he is actually older than former Cowboys 2011 first round pick Tyron Smith. However, he said Smith has been a big help to him during the draft process.

• Wisconsin OL Kevin Zeitler will be working out at both guard and center at his pro day. He said it’s important to show some versatility and he knows he can make the line calls at center. He also highlighted both Penn State DT Devon Still and Michigan State DT Jerel Worthy as the two top players he faced this year. (Depending on what we do earlier and how he ends up being ranked this kid could be a good pick in the middle rounds)

• Stanford OT Jonathan Martin isn’t in agreement that USC OT Matt Kalil is the best lineman in the class. Martin said that he’s a competitor and that he has to believe that he is the best left tackle prospect in the draft. (LOL, didn't Carimi say exactly the same thing last years.......copy cat! It's probably a good thing that he believes it because I think most everyone else doesn't)

• Martin’s teammate TE Coby Fleener will only be bench pressing and interviewing with teams over the next couple days, referencing his high ankle sprain he suffered during training.

• Finally, when talking with Georgia TE Orson Charles, he compared his talents to New England Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez and says he can do a lot of the similar things. He also pointed out that he likes to block and isn’t just a “flex” guy.


Check out the NFP Draft page here...

[soulman]

NFL Combine: Afternoon news and notes

What we learned from some of the nation’s top OL and TE prospects. Wes Bunting

February 23, 2012 Share
Print This

2


0

Share

INDIANAPOLIS— News and notes from day one...

• Iowa OT Riley Reiff said he weighed in at 6-5, 313-pounds with “33 and something” (his words not mine) inch arms. He also discussed his wresting background and how it helped him develop as an offensive lineman with hand placement, footwork and overall endurance.
ICONKalil is actually younger than Tyron Smith.


• It was funny to hear USC OT Matt Kalil mention the fact that he is actually older than former Cowboys 2011 first round pick Tyron Smith. However, he said Smith has been a big help to him during the draft process.

• Wisconsin OL Kevin Zeitler will be working out at both guard and center at his pro day. He said it’s important to show some versatility and he knows he can make the line calls at center. He also highlighted both Penn State DT Devon Still and Michigan State DT Jerel Worthy as the two top players he faced this year. (Depending on what we do earlier and how he ends up being ranked this kid could be a good pick in the middle rounds)

• Stanford OT Jonathan Martin isn’t in agreement that USC OT Matt Kalil is the best lineman in the class. Martin said that he’s a competitor and that he has to believe that he is the best left tackle prospect in the draft. (LOL, didn't Carimi say exactly the same thing last years.......copy cat! It's probably a good thing that he believes it because I think most everyone else doesn't)

• Martin’s teammate TE Coby Fleener will only be bench pressing and interviewing with teams over the next couple days, referencing his high ankle sprain he suffered during training.

• Finally, when talking with Georgia TE Orson Charles, he compared his talents to New England Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez and says he can do a lot of the similar things. He also pointed out that he likes to block and isn’t just a “flex” guy.


Check out the NFP Draft page here...

[Papa Bear]

Dwight Bentley, CB, Louisiana-Lafayette: Loved watching Bentley compete down in Mobile during one-on-ones, 7-on-7 and team drills. He isn’t considered a top tier prospect at the CB position, but if he puts together a solid workout, I think his stock starts to rise.

Same school as Tillman.

[WindyCity]

Maybe just maybe Michael Adams is currently no better at pass blocking than Webb. It seems they share a similar issue.

That is my main concern.