2008 NFL Combine — Tight Ends Are Athletes Too

Today marked the beginning of the 2008 NFL Combine brow raising as the Offensive Linemen, Kickers, and Tight Ends went through their respective agility drills. Most NFL Draft geeks believe 2008 features a hefty crop of offensive linemen. But I really didn’t pay much attention to their performances as they’re…well, they’re boring. And I don’t necessarily pay attention to their performances throughout the season. So, naturally it would be unfair for me to add any opinions as far as their draft status. But for $#!ts and giggles, here are the top offensive line performances in the bench press:

1. Jake Long. LT/RT, Michigan Wolverines — 37 reps
2. Jeremy Zuttah. RT, Rutgers — 35 reps
3. Kirk Barton. RT, Ohio State — 34 reps
4. Carl Nicks. LT/RT/DE, Nebraska — 31 reps
5. Brandon Keith. LT, Northern Iowa — 31 reps
6. Mike Gibson. LT, Cal — 31 reps

Tight Ends
The tight end performances were actually enjoyable to watch. There were definitely a bunch of unorthodox tight ends in the mix, which just made the traditional slow, blocking tight ends look uncoordinated. With the emergence of the spread offense in the college game, it’s no surprise that the 2008 NFL Combine featured a bunch of Belgian Blues at the tight end position.

Sometimes (ok, alot) I look at Mike Mayock’s Top 5 Lists and can’t help but chuckle. This is definitely one of those times. However, I think Mayock will change his list around a bit after today’s performances.

• John Carlson, ND. Disappointed on-lookers with a 4.96 40-yd dash, and followed it up with a 4.89. Mike Mayock is in love with this guy for his all-around ability (blocking/catching). While he wasn’t the best TE at the Combine per se, he definitely displayed his ability to catch the football in the Gauntlet the way he did throughout the season. His so-so 40-yd dash performance will undoubtedly give scouts another reason to go back and look at some tape. He’s definitely one of the top 5 tight ends, but not #1.
• Kellen Davis, Mich State. K3 (I’m sure he’d punch me for calling him that) was one of my favorites before his Combine performance. He played both ways for the Spartans this season…occasionally at Defensive End. Great showing in the 40-yd dash (4.58) not to mention he could have run with a full glass of water on his head and not spilled a drop because his stride was so smooth. Despite his Spartan stature, he does come with some flaws. He’s been criticized for his blah work ethic, and he was arrested back in 2006 for fighting. Regardless, he’ll be a great addition to most rosters.
• Derek Fine, Kansas. Like John Carlson, Derek didn’t have a fine (I had to) showing in the 40 (4.89). But he exhibited his catching abilities in the Gauntlet, and he always looked like he was trying his hardest. This is the one tight end whose blocking abilities I can remember. He made a couple of key blocks for teammate Jake Sharp (RB) during their game against Kansas State this season. I’m not sure if he’ll be drafted, but worth the mention. And I like his name.
• Jermichael Finley, Texas. The perfect example of why you can’t quantify a player’s ability with other drills. Despite a slower 40-yd dash (4.82), he caught every ball thrown to him in the Gauntlet including a David Tyree-like head catch to finish it off. He’s also the youngest tight end in the NFL Combine this year; he left Texas as a Sophomore. If you haven’t watched much Texas football lately, watch any of his YouTube highlight videos and you might be as impressed as I am.
• Dustin Keller, Purdue. Dustin Keller is the poster child for using the Combine to improve your draft stock. He earned a golf clap for his 26 reps @ 225 lbs in the bench press (#2), then more for his consistent 40-yd sprints of 4.54 & 4.53 (#1, officially 4.55), his Dwight Howard-esque 38″ vertical leap (#1), 10’11″ in the broad jump (#1), 6.88 seconds in the 3-cone (#2), 4.14 seconds in the 20-yd shuttle (#1), and a nearly perfect Gauntlet (1 drop). No doubt he’ll be the first tight end drafted. Not simply for his almost flawless Combine performance, but for his prodigious 2007 season.
• Brad Cottam, Tennessee. At 6’7 1/2″, 270 lbs, this guy blew through the 40 in 4.68 seconds! Are you kidding me? I can’t remember many highlights from this season even though I did catch a number of Vols games, but who wouldn’t want to throw to a guy that tall that runs a 4.68? Mayock likes him as #5. Who knows?
• Fred Davis, USC. He didn’t wow alot of folks in the Combine (or me at least). He appeared to be a little gimpy, but he still managed to participate. He did finish with 24 reps @ 225 lbs (#3) and a very decent Gauntlet. And anyone that watched USC football this season knows about his many accolades including the distinction as the nation’s best tight end (2007 John Mackey Award recipient).

My Honorable Mention tight ends include Martellus Bennett from Texas A&M and Darrell Strong from Pitt. Strong looked pretty good in the Gauntlet, but finished fair in everything else. He’s had some off-field issues in the past. Apparently he showed up out of shape for preseason workouts and was forced to wear a pink t-shirt during workouts that said “I work out at Curves”. Martellus Bennett will get the short end of the stick in this year’s draft. He’s a great athlete with great hands, but was under-utilized in the “Run First, Run Second” Texas A&M offense. He clocked a 4.69 in the 40-yd dash (#7) and a 34-inch vertical jump (#3). And he can dunk over his coach.

My Top 5 Tight Ends

1. Dustin Keller, Purdue
2. Jermichael Finley, Texas
3. Fred Davis, USC
4. John Carlson, Notre Dame
5. Kellen Davis, Michigan State

Tomorrow is QBs, RBs, and WRs. I can’t wait. You can keep track of the 2008 NFL Combine Top Performers on NFLNetwork.com.

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2007 NFL Combine: DBs Take Center Stage on Tuesday

In what is usually a thin showing of DBs — based on quality, not quantity — the 2007 NFL Combine features a number of quality DBs ready to do the things necessary to raise their stock. For fans, it’s the day when 40 yard dash times are broken. Deion Sanders was on hand with the NFL Network crew to give his always colorful commentary on what are considered to be the elite athletes of the entire combine.

The bar had been set a couple of days before by WR Yamon Figurs (Kansas State) with a 4.30 40-yard dash. Top rated DB Leon Hall (Michigan) clocked a 4.39; the linebacker-sized Safety, LaRon Landry (LSU), ran a 4.35; and, cornerback Chris Houston (Arkansas) from LBJ HS in Austin, Texas ran a 4.32. Chris was the guy everyone thought would topple Figurs 40-yard dash time. Beyond the 40-yard dash, I’m not too excited about watching DBs run back peddle/pursue the RB coming out of the backfield/turn around and sprint down the field to catch the ball drills. So, I don’t really have any new opinions of these guys AFTER the NFL Combine drills…only based on what I’ve seen during the season. Free Safety Brandon Meriweather (Miami, aka “The U”) is a favorite of Mike Mayock’s, who has him as a 1st day guy. That evaluation goes against that of most scouts, but luckily Deion Sanders agrees with Mayock based primarily on his confidence and his “physicality”. Quick, Primetime…submit that one to Merriam-Webster!

I didn’t watch much of Monday’s NFL Combine performances, but there were definitely some players that were relatively low on the totum pole in their respective positions that vaulted to the top of that list. One of those players was Texas DE Brian Robison. He was a haus. I’ve always been a huge fan of the guy, but Draft Analyst, Mike Mayock, had him listed as a mid tier Defensive Lineman…one of the few times I’ve disagreed with a player appraisal. Robison’s drill results spoke for themselves: #1, Three Cone – 6.89 sec; #1, Vertical Jump – 40.5″ (2nd highest among defensive lineman was 36.5″ by C.J. Ah You of Oklahoma); #3, Shuttle – 4.26 sec; #1, Broad Jump – 10.1″; #3, 40-yard dash – 4.67 sec; and #T12, Bench Press – out of 40 defensive lineman with 27 reps. Um. Most of those numbers are RB and WR numbers.

Who’s The Fastest? Deion Sanders’ alleged 4.19 40-yard dash time is considered to be the fastest 40-yard dash ever recorded at the NFL Combine. He didn’t confirm nor deny that claim, but he did attest to running full-speed straight into the locker room without stopping. As I mentioned in my post about Sunday’s NFL Combine results, there’s an article (below) that shows a Bo Jackson 40-yard dash time of 4.12 sec. Who knows. All I know is anything below 4.30 is fast…really fast. Wikipedia has a list of the fastest 40-yard dash times ever recorded on its site…with sources. The one caveat: electronic timing did not begin until 1990 leaving a margin of human error to question times prior to that date.

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You can see the 2007 NFL Combine Results for Day 6 (DBs) at NFL.com. Day 5 Results (LBs and DLs).

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2007 NFL Combine: WRs, RBs, QBs — Just Some Observations

I’ve been parked in front of the TV the last couple of days watching the NFL Combine on the NFL Network. My main interest, as for most football fans, is in the WR-RB-QB day. Tuesday, the Defensive Backs will go through their drills…and that where the super fast 40 yard dash times happen. However, 9 of the 10 Wide Receivers ran a 4.3x. Very impressive in a largely 4.4-4.5 position. There are a handful of Running Backs trying to become part of the new 2-back trend now being used in the NFL. And with Jamarcus Russell (LSU) and Brady Quinn (Notre Dame) opting not to participate with the rest of the Quarterbacks, the competition is slim with one of the weakest QB classes that I can think of in awhile. At the same time there were surprises, which added a few names to watch besides Chris Leak, Troy Smith, and Drew Stanton.

Another thing people don’t know about the NFL Combine is the meticulous evaluations these guys go through during the 4-day process. Immediately after registration and an orientation, players suffer through Cybex testing, which is a strenuous physical strength exam, and even X-rays. During Day 2, the players participate in drug testing (urinalysis), a physical, height/weight/arm length/hand span measurements, the infamaous Wonderlic test, which is an intelligence test, and the always interesting bench press test where players throw up as many reps at 225 lbs as possible. Taped video interviews complete this day of activities. The third day starts off with the NFLPA meeting, where players learn about rules and regulations regarding pay, licensing, and hiring agents. (The NFLPA is the players union that protects the rights of the players.) This is followed by psychological testing…and rest. During the 4th and final day…THE DAY…players take a photo, and participate in various agility drills including the 40-yard dash, and individual position drills.

After watching today’s combine, here are a few thoughts and observations:

• QB Jared Zabranski (Boise State) looks like Scrubs star, James C. McGinley’s character in Nothing To Lose.
• QB Jamarcus Russell (LSU) did not participate but got measured and weighed. He tipped the scales at an enormous 265 lbs. It’s not too late to switch to Defensive End, JR. I can’t stand it when these guys don’t participate in the combine, and I guarantee you there are scouts that take offense as well. That means you, too, Brady Quinn (Notre Dame). Stanford QB Trent Edwards participated…and he was pretty much in bed from the moment he arrived in Indianapolis with the flu.
• QB Jordan Palmer (UTEP) is the brother of former No. 1 draft pick, Carson Palmer. Maybe Carson can hook a brother up with some pointers.
• I was happy to see that Hawaii RB Nate Ilaoa was out there. If you’ve never seen him play much less watch any Hawaii football, he’s kinda fun to watch. His running style is very similar to that of Ricky Williams.
• For the 40-yd dash, WR Calvin Johnson (Georgia Tech) borrowed shoes from East Carolina QB James Pinkney, who ran a 4.7…and ran a 4.35. Johnson was not going to participate, but decided within the last several minutes prior to the start of the drill to go for it. Calvin earned some brownie points for running, not to mention he made the stop watch hussle to keep up with him. Only Yamon Figurs (Kansas State, 4.30) and Jason Hill (Washington State, 4.32) ran faster times. Random tidbit: Yamon Figurs weighed in as the lightest WR at 174 lbs. Calvin Johnson weighed in as the heaviest WR at 239 lbs. And if you thought Dante Hall (Kansas City Chiefs) or Devin Hester (Chicago Bears) were good Special Teams guys, I guarantee you Deion Sanders will have Figurs on his speed dial this next season.
• Washington QB, Isaiah Stanback, has the most awkward release I’ve seen from a QB in the combine in awhile. Looks like this guy will be a WR if he wants to play in the NFL.
• QB 16, Drew Stanton (Michigan State), is arguably the most underrated QB in the combine not to mention he had a great Senior Bowl. And why Kevin Kolb from the University of Houston isn’t the #2 (behind Stanton) QB projected to go is still a mystery to me. Just another example that coming from a smaller program pulls your stock down — undeservingly.
• RB Darius Walker (Notre Dame), 5’10″, leaped just over 40″ in the Vertical Jump. But he ran a 4.56 40-yard dash, which is slower than was expected. But could he be next season’s Lawrence Maroney? Walker isn’t a Top 5 RB, but I like him. I think he’ll surprise people in The League. Perhaps it’ll have to be as a part of a 1-2 punch RB tandem.
• WR Sidney Rice from South Carolina has hands made by the Super Glue Corporation. I still like WR Ted Ginn, Jr, who did not participate because of a foot injury. And, of course, Calvin Johnson made his case to be the #1 WR after today. Pretty strong WR class in my humble opinion.
• I want to sit in the Bod Pod although I’m not excited about finding out what my body fat percentage might be.

Here’s a list of players invited to the 2007 NFL Combine. If you missed any of the action, you can catch the reruns on the NFL Network. And may I suggest that if your favorite event is the 40-yard dash, watch on Tuesday. I bet not one of them beat Bo Jackson’s 40 time. Just a hunch.

You can find the 2007 NFL Combine results for the WR, RB, and QB positions and the rest of the field at NFL.com.

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