Author: Rob Staton (Page 403 of 423)

Yesterday I had Brooks Reed going 25th overall to the Seahawks in my latest mock. It got mixed reviews, but more and more people are talking about Reed as a first round pick. It was originally reported he ran a 4.68 forty yard dash at the combine with a 1.62 split. Rob Rang at CBS Sportsline quotes a 4.65 time with a 1.54 split, which was faster than Von Miller and AJ Green. Clay Matthews, who went 26th overall in 2009, ran a 1.58 split and a 4.62 forty despite weighing 8-10lbs more.

Rang also passes on information reporting that teams were satisfied with Ryan Mallett’s interviews during the combine.

Tony Pauline at TFY says it was a different story for Cam Newton, stating the Auburn star failed to impress during team interviews.

Gil Alcaraz at Yahoo pens a provocative piece on why he thinks Newton will never be a success in the NFL.

KC Joyner joins in the debate by arguing the case that Newton isn’t worthy of a first round grade.

Michael Lombardi and Steve Wyche make the case for Carolina drafting Blaine Gabbert first overall. It’s a realistic proposition.

Lombardi also has an updated top-ten mock draft.

Mel Kiper wraps up his weekly ESPN online chat. He thinks Ryan Mallett is an option for Seattle, but I’m not convinced he’ll be available at #25.

Todd McShay praises Chattanooga cornerback Buster Skrine for a solid combine work out. Skrine stood out for me, alongside fellow small school prospect Edmund Gates. Chris Carter at Fresno State is also one to watch. I’ll have a bigger look at these guys next week.

McShay and Kiper also offer their weekly draft podcast courtesy of ESPN.

Brandon Adams at 17 Power offers a second opinion on Ryan Mallett and Cam Newton.

I’ve updated the mock draft in reaction to the combine and you can see the latest projection by clicking here.

I’ll stress again that these are not intended to be accurate predictions. My intention is always to look at many possibilities mixed in with some opinions on players and directions I think a team would like to go.

The top-15 continues to be particularly difficult to project with limitless connotations. By this time last year we were pretty certain about the top three picks (Bradford, Suh and McCoy) and many had assumed Washington would draft the top offensive tackle on their board (which they did). When you’re sold on a few picks early on it helps set up a mock draft and we don’t that luxury this year.

For example – this week I really struggled to place Nick Fairley. There were a handful of spots in the top ten where he would be a logical and realistic fit, but then I can also see why those teams would go in a different direction. Putting him at #14 to St. Louis seems unlikely at this stage, yet is it improbable or even impossible? I’m not sure.

There are some things I remain confident about. I still think Mike Shanahan will invest his future in Jake Locker. Wherever Jimmy Smith ends up going, I think he’ll present real value and he could be the cornerback from this class to have the best career. Unlike many others, I actually think Ryan Mallett improved his stock over the weekend enough to secure a first round spot – Jacksonville at #16 seems like a really good fit. I’m also absolutely positive that like Colt McCoy last year, we will not see Christian Ponder going in the first round. They aren’t similar players, but they are going through similar levels of unwarranted hype.

So what about the Seahawks? Regulars will know I like to mix it up for Seattle and go through different possibilities. We’ve just about covered every angle by now (or at least every position) and I don’t want this to become a token gesture ‘let’s see who it is this week’. Part of the problem is we’re still trying to work out the new regime. Tim Ruskell had such a defined draft policy it wasn’t difficult to project outcomes. We’re not at the stage yet with Pete Carroll and John Schneider that we can call someone a ‘Seahawks type pick’.

Will they ever draft a quarterback in round one? Do they value the LEO enough to take the fourth or fifth best pass rusher in this class at #25? Is the interior line considered worthy of that first round investment?

I’ve gone with Brooks Reed this week – a rising defensive end from Arizona who would fit at the LEO. He’s not had an explosive career with the Wildcats (15 sacks in two fulls seasons) and his 2009 season was hampered through injury. He posted impressive numbers at the combine, running a 4.68 forty yard dash with a 1.62 ten yard split. As a comparison, Clay Matthews (drafted 26th overall in 2009) ran a 4.62 forty with a 1.58 split. He’s also about 8-10lbs lighter than Reed and didn’t enter the pro’s with much pass rush production due to his role at USC.

Reed also has Clay Matthews hair, but we’ll not count that as a positive part of the evaluation.

It raises similar questions to last week when I suggested Jabal Sheard could be an option at #25. There will be LEO ‘fits’ later on so do you look to boost the interior defensive line instead? There were options in this mock (Phil Taylor, Muhammed Wilkerson, Corey Liuget etc).

Take a look at the tape below courtesy of the invaluable Aaron Aloysius, have a gaze at the mock and let me know what you think.

Yes, this is a picture of Ryan Mallett and Snoop Dogg

Ryan Mallett significantly improved his stock at the combine. What’s wrong with that suggestion? It goes against the media consensus but maybe it’s true?   

Here’s the timeline for Mallett’s media massacre, dating all the way back to last year:   

January 2010– Mallett decides not to declare for 2010 draft andreturns for a second year starting in Bobby Petrino’s offense. High profile pundits criticise his height, touch, accuracy, lack of mobility and ability to win tough games on the road.   

February 2010– Breaks foot during conditioning drills and he’ll be forced to miss all of Spring practise. Critics voice concern about Mallett’s ability to work on his faults.   

September 2010– Mallett, now fully healed, throws for 1698 yards in his first five games (4-1) of the 2010 season – scoring thirteen touchdowns in the process. Arkansas win key games at Georgia and Texas A&M, but defeat to #1 ranked Alabama sticks in the throat when a double interception in the fourth quarter leads to defeat. Critics focus on the key final pick when, under pressure, Mallett is forced to re-adjust his feet and throw off balance – costing Arkansas a chance to win.   

September 2010 – Speculation begins surrounding potential off the field concerns. Wes Bunting from the NFP tweets: “I talked to a scout the other day that said, ‘I got stuff on Mallett that nobody knows about’ there are a lot of concerns on him personally.”   

October-December 2010– Arkansas doesn’t lose another regular season game under Mallett’s leadership. The Hogs only defeat comes against eventual BCS Champions Auburn when Mallett is forced to leave the game early with a concussion. Impressive wins against Mississippi State (A), South Carolina (A) and LSU (H) lead to a first BCS bowl appearance in the team’s history.   

January 2011– Mallett’s Arkansas lose the Sugar Bowl to Ohio State after a second-half comeback falls short. Deja vu strikes as Mallett throws another late interception off balance to kill the game, re-opening wounds from the Alabama defeat earlier that season. Critics continue to focus on the footwork problem despite a 3869 yard season that included 32 passing touchdowns and just 12 interceptions.   

January 2011– By the end of the 2010 season, Mallett made major strides across the board. He improved his completion percentage from 56% in 2009 to 65% in 2010. His accuracy and touch had greatly improved, as did his willingness to check down. He continued to show strongly progressing through reads and didn’t rely as much on his big arm. Mallett controlled the offense and was given responsibility to adjust plays at the line of scrimmage. The other issue – wins on the road – was improved with Arkansas’ only official road defeat coming in the Mallett-less shoot-out against #1 Auburn,   

January 2011 – A website called ‘Draft Monsters’ publishes an article suggesting Mallett has drug abuse problems, citing unnamed sources.   

January 2011– Mallett dramatically and suddenly drops out of Mel Kiper’s top-25 big board, despite being as high as #11 previously. Kiper claims mechanical problems are the issue, but the example he uses (vs Alabama) is a game he previously analysed in detail during the season.   

February 2011 – Negative publicity continues as drug rumors pick up pace. ESPN 101’s Tony Softli regurgitates the speculation. Doug Farrar in his ‘Shutdown 40’ series states: “As much as I don’t enjoy writing profoundly negative scouting reports of draft prospects, Mallett has as many warning flags as any potential first-round quarterback I’ve ever seen.”   

February 2011– Mallett heads to the scouting combine under a blaze of negative publicity. His introductory press conference is dominated by questions relating to speculated drug abuse:   

Farrar labels the conference ‘a meltdown’, listed Mallett among his combine ‘losers’ and wrote, “the way he handled his abbreviated press conference didn’t just add to the questions; it also perpetuated the perception of Mallett as a person who is defensive in all the wrong ways.” This was an opinion shared by many. Evan Silva lists Mallett as his #1 combine ‘faller’, using the term ‘train wreck’ and suggesting he could fall into round three. 

Follow the relevant media and you’d be forgiven for thinking Mallett’s last 12-14 months have been an utter train wreck.   

It leads us to today, March 2nd, with the combine in the books. The name Ryan Mallett hasn’t been barely mentioned since he left Indianapolis on a plane having completed quarterback drills at the combine. Attentions turned obviously to the defensive lineman, linebackers and defensive backs – but the Mallett soap opera was still conspicuous by it’s absence after Sunday.   

Am I missing something here? Is somebody sat on an enormous scoop that’s going to destroy the guy’s stock even more? This is a person the media have used as a pawn in their draft coverage – the evil villain so to speak among the Patrick Peterson’s, Von Miller’s and Prince Amukamara’s out there. After all – we need a bad news angle, right?   

So why has the Mallett character assassination (is that too strong? arguably not) ceased to such a grand halt? After his perceived poor public appearance on Saturday, I felt sure we’d hear all about how teams were repulsed by his performance and how it carried on into private team interviews. This was a story that had legs, so why would it stop?   

Len Pasquarelli at CBS Sportsline has a logical reason:   

“Despite a Saturday afternoon media session in which some felt that quarterback Ryan Mallett was caustic and evasive when questioned about the drug allegations surrounding him, most league franchises that subjected the former Arkansas star to a closed door interview came away impressed with him. Three teams that met with Mallett at the combine said they had no problems with his responses to the drug allegations or with his demeanor.”   

Admittedly this is focused on private team meetings and the media has no direct access to the productivity of those. Nobody is leaking that they went badly though and Pasquarelli’s sources suggest he actually performed well.   

My take on the introductory presser was rather than suffer a ‘meltdown’, Mallett almost certainly dealt with it in the best way possible. It was a tough situation and he knew it – what exactly would’ve been a good way of dealing with it? Denying allegations only to be labelled a liar if they prove true? Admitting mistakes and making it a public talking point? Teams don’t want to see him discussing such loaded topics with the press. After five questions on the subject, he politely calls a halt to proceedings and leaves the podium – he hardly storms off the stage as some outlets have suggested.   

Mallett performed well in drills – perhaps better than any other quarterback – and there have been no negative reports from his interviews. The conclusion? He’s poured ice-cold water all over the blazing fire surrounding his draft stock. Teams who may have had concern with his off the field persona might have been impressed with the way he handled himself.   

I’ve always considered Mallett a top-15 talent on the field with doubts off it. I felt the combine would define his stock because if anything was going to come out into the open – it’d be now. That hasn’t happened, no skeletons leaving the closet. We still don’t know if the reported drug abuse is true or to what extent it may be true but nobody has been able to nail down exact details. No journalist or team representative has put credence to the speculation.   

That in itself has to be constituted as a success. The fact he performed well and reportedly interviewed well is another significant bonus.  

It doesn’t mean I think he’ll be a top ten pick all of a sudden – he may easily drop into round two as I’ve projected for some time. Perspective is vital though and I don’t see many others willing to consider the possibility that actually – Mallett had a pretty good weekend.   

This tweet courtesy of ‘Sports by Brooks’ is interesting if unsubstantiated and lacking detail. Potential sabotage adds a nice twist to the tale, but it’s as ambitious at this point as those trying to claim Mallett suffered a meltdown during his presser.   

What I want to convey and will represent in my next mock (published later today, so stay tuned) is the argument that Mallett did have a more positive experience at the combine than some believe. I’m not saying a fall isn’t still possible, but let’s not rule out someone acknowledging his on-field talents and being satisfied enough with his off-field personality to roll the dice on a player with big-time potential.

The defensive backs complete the combine work outs this week. I’ll be blogging live throughout with the numbers, some thoughts and linked analysis.           

Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith is among those working drills

Regular visitors to the blog will know how highly I rate Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith. I’m looking forward to seeing how he checks out after an ‘eventful’ last couple of days to say the least.                 

Firstly, a lot of negative publicity was created by his introductory press conference:                 

The comment that he has ‘better ball skills’ than all-pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha caused a stir and maybe a few over reactions. I don’t mind stuff like that. It’s cocky, but ultimately harmless. It’s not like the top players don’t spend a lot of time calling each other out (see: Jets vs Patriots in the playoffs).                 

If the arrogance translates to a bad attitude or poor work ethic, then it becomes a concern. I didn’t see any evidence of that when scouting Smith in 2010.                 

A bit more digging brought up some other potential red flags – Smith had a positive drugs test in 2007 and some other issues several years ago. It led to articles like this by Tom Kowalski at Mlive.com who has now decided corner-desperate Detroit won’t consider drafting Smith. Generally I enjoy Kowalski’s work covering the Lions, but he’s also the reporter who persistently argued the team wouldn’t draft Matt Stafford in 2009. While he may have a valid point regarding Detroit’s draft policy, we also need to remember these incidents happened four years ago.                 

It is possible for a person to mature. As with several other highly talented prospects, teams will have to do their homework. Smith had 28 team interviews before today’s work out and he’ll have to answer some difficult questions. Even so, he’s without doubt one of the players with elite potential in this draft class. Running a time in the 4.3’s will help his stock just as much as an impressive set of interviews.                 

Smith benched 225lbs a credible 23 times. Patrick Peterson managed 15 reps and Ras-I Dowling had 19.                 

Cornerback (Group 1) forty yard dash times                  

Cortez Allen (Citadel): 4.45 & 4.47                 

Prince Amukamara (Nebraska): 4.37 & 4.44                 

Ahmad Black (Florida): 4.78 & 4.74                 

Curtis Brown (Texas): 4.51 & 4.57                 

Jalil Brown (Colorado): 4.55 & 4.56                 

Kedrick Burney (UNC): 4.75 & 4.72                 

Brandon Burton (Utah): 4.50 & 4.51                 

Rashad Carmichael (Virginia Tech): 4.49 & 4.53                 

Quinton Carter (Oklahoma): 4.62 & 4.63                 

Chimdi Chekwa (Ohio State): 4.33 & 4.37                 

Chris Culliver (South Carolina): 4.36 & 4.38                 

Ras-I Dowling (Virginia): 4.40 & DNP                 

Marcus Gilchrist (Clemson): 4.49 & 4.46                 

Eric Hagg (Nebraska): 4.68 & 4.64                 

Brandon Harris (Miami): 4.43 & 4.44                 

Will Hill (Florida): 4.64 & 4.63                 

Davon House (New Mexico State): 4.46 & 4.43                 

**NOTES**                 

Amukamara ran a 4.37 and a 4.44. Straight line speed was never an issue for him, this really just confirms the evidence on tape. The difference between Joe Haden (who ran in the 4.7’s) and Amukamara is recovery reactions and ball skills. I suspect despite the difference in forty times, Amukamara will be drafted lower than Haden.                 

Ras-I Dowling is a favorite on this blog as a potential sleeper who could slip due to injuries. He helped himself by running a 4.40 – then hurt himself by pulling a hamstring. A talented player, but his stock is all over the place because he can’t stay healthy.                 

Brandon Harris’ time was fine at 4.43 but he seems an unlikely option for Seattle after measuring 5-9 rather than his listed height of 5-11 at Miami. “He’s fairing the best from all of these drills” – Deion Sanders’ review of Harris working out.                 

Chimdi Chekwa ran two blazing 4.3’s but didn’t impress in drills. Deion Sanders and Mike Mayock were critical of Prince Amukamara back pedal – he stayed high and didn’t look fluid. “How tight are you in the hips? You can’t fix that.” – Mayock.                 

Curtis Brown flashed some nice hips and ball skills – he projects as a late second/early third round cornerback. Chris Culliver also looked good to back up a couple of nice times in the forty.                 

Cornerback (Group 2) forty times                 

DeAndre McDaniel (Clemson): 4.64 & 4.68                 

Rahim Moore (UCLA): 4.53 & 4.61                 

Johnny Patrick (Louisville): 4.53 & 4.57                 

Patrick Peterson (LSU): 4.32 & 4.37                 

Robert Sands (West Virginia): 4.56 & 4.53               

Buster Skrine (Chattanooga): 4.29 & 4.36                 

Jimmy Smith (Colorado): 4.38 & 4.44                  

Demarcus Van Dyke (Miami): 4.33 & 4.33           

Aaron Williams (Texas): 4.53 & 4.52                

Deunta Williams (UNC): DNP                 

Shareece Wright (USC): 4.47 & 4.46                 

Smith ran an impressive forty yard dash given his size (6-2, 211lbs)

**NOTES**                 

Patrick Peterson ran an outstanding forty yard dash which should ensure he’ll be the first cornerback off the board. Of course my main focus of attention was on Jimmy Smith and he too ran quickly. Both players have the perfect blend of size/speed and fluidity.                 

I still maintain that there’s little between the two players and both are top-10 talents. As I mentioned at the start of today, there’s a lot of character talk out there with Smith. The Denver Post today published a piece stating he’s more interested in becoming a celebrity than a football player.                 

Mike Mayock also mentioned on the NFL Network that he’s seen tape where Smith shows less than 100% effort – something I can’t say I’ve witnessed in the handful of Colorado games I have watched, but I haven’t seen every game tape.                 

Unless teams have serious and legitimate concerns on Smith, it’s hard to envisage too much of a drop – especially not to the #25 overall pick. As far as I’m concerned he’s the complete package at corner with limitless potential.                 

Aaron Williams ran in the 4.5’s – a time which led Mayock to project a move to free safety. He didn’t perform well in positional drills either. Shareece Wright helped himself by running a 4.4.        

Robert Sands looked tight in drills and struggled a little bit. It’s not a good safety class overall. Rahim Moore is clearly the best of the bunch and it showed in work outs. Buster Skrine showed nice quick feet and will find a team who likes him, but Jimmy Smith was quite tight in the hips.    

Elsewhere…         

Greg McElroy has been talking himself up on the Dan Patrick show. “I think I will get drafted higher than a lot of people suggest.” For the record, I think McElroy will be an undrafted free agent.         

Brandon Harris spoke to the NFL Network after his work out today.        

Closing thoughts – what I think we learned from the combine        

– Brandon Harris seems unlikely for Seattle after measuring at 5-9 instead of the 5-11 he was listed at Miami. Seattle wants size at cornerback.        

– We know the Seahawks were among the teams that interviewed Cam Newton. It was reported that Tom Cable spoke to Mike Pouncey and the team also met with Clemson defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins and Lehigh offensive tackle Will Rackley. 

– The Seahawks are covering their small school prospects. They were the only team to have a formal meeting with Mark LeGree (CB, Appalachian State) and also met with Abilene Christian wide receiver Edmund Gates. 

– Ryan Mallett may have impressed teams more than people think. It goes against popular opinion, but I think he solidified a first round grade in Indianapolis.        

– DeMarco Murray ran well and could’ve boosted his stock quite a lot with a 4.3. He needs to run harder, but he catches passes and will have a role at the next level.        

– Offensive tackle is such a premium position that it’s hard to see Tyron Smith not going in the top ten.        

– Chris Carter from Fresno State is a sleeper pick to keep an eye on.   

– Buster Skrine impressed more than possibly any other defensive back, running in the late 4.2’s and competing well in the drills.        

– The first round is going to be dominated by defensive lineman. The most surprising thing is how well they all ran the forty yard dash.        

– If you want to make a few headlines, post a ridiculous tweet listing the quarterbacks in a funky order. There’s no way Mallett should be down the order like that.        

– I ran through a mock draft I intend to publish tomorrow post-combine. The top-15 picks are still wide open and completely unpredictable. This is certainly the hardest class to project that I’ve ever covered. There are still so many different possibilities.

Defensive lineman day. Stay tuned throughout for up to date forty yard dash times, reaction and news as it happens.                                        

Group 1 forty yard dash times                                        

Sam Acho (Texas): 4.67 & 4.63                                        

Marvin Austin (UNC): 4.80 & 4.86                                        

Allen Bailey (Miami): 4.77 & 4.76                                        

Christian Ballard (Iowa): 4.70 & 4.75                                        

Jeremy Beal (Oklahoma): 5.13 & 5.18                                        

Da’Quan Bowers (Clemson): DNP                                        

Chris Carter (Fresno State): 4.67 & 4.66                                        

Jurell Casey (USC): 5.07 & 5.20                                        

Ugo Chinasa (Oklahoma State): 4.67 & 4.67                                        

Adrian Clayborn (Iowa): 4.81 & 4.82                                        

Marcell Dareus (Alabama): 4.94 & 4.92                                        

Kenrick Ellis (Hampton): 5.19 & 5.29                                        

Rick Elmore (Arizona): 4.91 & 4.93                                        

Nick Fairley (Auburn): 4.86 & 4.82                                        

Sione Fua (Stanford): 5.33 & 5.28                                        

Lawrence Guy (Arizona State): 4.95 & 5.04                                        

Cameron Heyward (Ohio State): DNP                                        

Jarvis Jenkins (Clemson): 4.98 & 5.13                                        

Cameron Jordan (California): 4.71 & 4.74                                        

Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue): 4.67 & 4.73                                        

Corey Liuget (Illinois): 4.95 & 5.06                                        

**NOTES**                                        

The first group of defensive lineman posted some very fast times. Marcell Dareus in particular ran well for a 320lbs defensive tackle – posting in the 4.9’s. Ryan Kerrigan helped his stock with an incredibly fast time, as did Marvin Austin and Sam Acho. Jeremy Beal and Rick Elmore were both disappointing.                                        

Pete Carroll and John Schneider watch the defensive lineman work out

Cameron Jordan impressed me the most during the bag drills and really his stock is limitless at the moment. Big personality, big potential. Christian Ballard made the most of his work out and could push himself further up the board. Chris Carter at Fresno State also performed well.                                    

Group 2 forty yard dash                                    

Cliff Matthews (Sout Carolina): 4.86 & 4.78                       

Terrell McClain (USF): 5.04 & 5.02                                    

Pernell McPhee (Miss. State): 4.94 & 5.00                                   

Dontay Moch (Nevada): 4.45 & 4.48                                  

Drake Nevis (LSU): 4.97 & 5.06                                

Stephen Paea (Oregon State): DNP                                

Jerrell Powe (Ole Miss): 5.27 & 5.41                              

Robert Quinn (UNC): 4.73 & 4.67                              

Brooks Reed (Arizona): 4.67 & 4.66                             

Greg Romeus (Pittsburgh): DNP                            

Jabal Sheard (Pittsburgh): 4.66 & 4.70                            

Aldon Smith (Missouri): 4.74 & 4.76                            

Phil Taylor (Baylor): 5.23 & 5.18                           

JJ Watt (Wisconsin): 4.78 & 4.85                         

Markus White (Florida State): 4.90 & 4.82                         

Muhammed Wilkerson (Temple): 4.99 & 5.00                        

**NOTES**                                

Last week I mocked Jabal Sheard to the Seahawks at #25. Today he ran a 4.66 – backing up the projection. He’s stout enough to hold up against the run and he’s proven at the combine he’s got the necessary speed and size to play the LEO. It’s a distinct possibility.                           

Robert Quinn ran a late 4.6 and a 4.7 which is fine. The problem with Quinn (aside from sitting out 2010) is not a lack of edge speed, it’s a limited repertoire of moves. He won’t be able to rely on the edge as often at the next level against better offensive lineman. The fact Cameron Jordan managed a 4.71 despite being much bigger speaks volumes.                

Dontay Moch didn’t get the mind blowing time but a 4.4 is still credible. He’s a difficult guy to project, I have him as a 4-3 OLB. Brooks Reed ran a blazing 4.6 and like Sheard could be an option at #25.                 

Jabal Sheard ran a 4.66 - he was Seattle's pick in my latest mock draft

Brooks Reed continued to impress during drills. He’s showing good foot work, foot speed and freedom in the hips to match the relentless style you see on tape. Jabal Sheard didn’t do the other drills due to an elbow injury. Robert Quinn looked a little stiff to me, as did Aldon Smith.            

Phil Taylor performed well on the bag drills, flashing a powerful punch, swim and great feet for a guy his size.          

The official times were announced shortly after with Dontay Moch (4.44) leading the way. Chris Carter (4.62), Sam Acho (4.68) and Brooks Reed (4.68) followed. Sheard posted the fifth fastest official time (4.69).          

The 10 yard splits made for interesting reading. Cameron Jordan (who posted an impressive 4.78) had a split of 1.69 seconds. That was actually faster than Sheard (1.70). Acho had the fastest split at 1.60 with several other posting in the 1.6-1.7 range. Robert Quinn’s 1.63 looks good as does Ryan Kerrigan’s 1.65. Brooks Reed had a 1.62, as did Chris Carter.         

Linebackers forty yard dash times         

Akeem Ayers (UCLA): 4.80 & 4.83       

Bruce Carter (UNC): DNP         

Mason Foster (Washington): 4.65 & 4.71        

Mark Herzlich (Boston College): 4.92 & 4.96         

Justin Houston (Georgia): 4.64 & 4.63        

Nate Irving (NC State): DNP         

Greg Jones (Michigan State): 4.76 & 4.75         

Von Miller (Texas A&M): 4.46 & 4.53        

Kelvin Sheppard (LSU): DNP         

Quan Sturdivant (UNC): DNP         

Martez Wilson (Illinois): 4.44 & 4.47     

**NOTES**    

It’s not a surprise that Von Miller and Martez Wilson posted eye catching times. Both excel with their speed and events like this are perfect for them. Wilson’s stock is rising as people wonder whether he could play 3-4 outside linebacker. I still see Miller as strictly a 4-3 OLB.    

Ayers’ times are a disappointment. He’s a playmaker but he’s shown quality as a pass rusher at UCLA. That time doesn’t translate to anything but a 4-3 OLB, which is what I’ve been mocking him as. He made up for slow times during linebacker drills, showing a good change of direction and great lateral movement.  

Justin Houston worked out with the linebackers although I think he’s better as a pure 4-3 defensive end. He needs to improve his range and run defense, but running in the low 4.6’s is good for his stock. 

Elsewhere… 

Len Pasquarelli is another journalist reporting teams were impressed with the way Ryan Mallett handled himself this week. And that’s all that matters. 

Da’Quan Bowers didn’t work out today and he explains why to the NFL Network. He’s an impressive guy who had a sensational 2010 season. I can’t see him getting past both Carolina and Denver. 

Robert Quinn had the opposite situation – he did work out, but didn’t even take the field in 2010. 

You can watch back the defensive lineman running the forty yard dash here.

Todd McShay runs through the defensive lineman drills today:

The quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs will go through drills today. I’ll be following events and updating the blog throughout the day as news comes in – whether it’s numbers, thoughts or breaking news.

Blaine Gabbert is the only quarterback who will not throw and Ryan Mallett was the only player at his position not to run the forty yard dash.

Quarterback (Group 1) forty yard dash times

Andy Dalton (TCU): 4.84 & 4.86

Pat Devlin (Delaware): 4.89 & 4.87

Nathan Enderle (Idaho): 5.32 & 5.18

Blaine Gabbert (Missouri): 4.63 & 4.61

Jerrod Johnson (Texas A&M): 4.75 & 4.79

Colin Kaepernick (Nevada): 4.53 & 4.61

Jake Locker (Washington): 4.52 & 4.52

Ryan Mallett (Arkansas): DNP

**NOTES**

It’s not a big surprise that Mallett chose not to run, it’s not a strength and wouldn’t have a positive impact on his stock. Jake Locker and Colin Kaepernick both ran well as expected. Gabbert also looked pretty fluid despite looking a lot bigger than the other quarterbacks out there.

Locker was later credited with a 4.59 official time, identical to Cam Newton. Kaepernick was officially timed at 4.53 and Gabbert at 4.62.

Throwing drills

Ryan Mallett looked good throwing the ball – a point made by TFY’s Tony Pauline.

“Ryan Mallett is killing his combine workout. Looks terrific with all his throws.”

It’s not a big surprise. Throwing in shorts under no pressure should be perfect for Mallett to flash his talents. Generally all the big names performed well in the throwing drills but it’s difficult to take too much out of it given the unnatural environment. Blaine Gabbert sat out drills.

Wide receiver (Group 1) forty yard dash times

Jonathan Baldwin (Pittsburgh): 4.52 & 4.45

Randall Cobb (Kentucky): 4.45 & 4.49

Tandon Doss (Indiana): DNP

Edmund Gates(Abilene Christian): 4.35 & 4.36

AJ Green (Georgia): 4.48 & 4.51

Leonard Hankerson (Miami): 4.47 & 4.45

Jerrel Jernigan (Troy): 4.51 & 4.47

Julio Jones (Alabama): 4.43 & 4.39

Greg Little (UNC): 4.56 & 4.58

**NOTES**

Julio Jones stole the show with two excellent times. He made major improvements at Alabama in 2010, showing a greater consistency and concentration level. His numbers were impressive given ‘Bama’s preference to run. I just wonder how those times will impact this receiver group. Leonard Hankerson and Jonathan Baldwin also made some waves in the 4.4 range.

Jones later made an excellent 11’3″ broad jump.

Quarterback (Group 2) Forty yard dash times

Cam Newton will be among those running in group two. He just registered a 10’6″ broad jump.

Adam Schefter is reporting that the Seahawks interviewed Cam Newton this weekend.

“For what it’s worth, teams that have interviewed Cam Newton at the Combine include the Dolphins, Titans, 49ers, Seahawks and Cowboys.”

Greg McElroy (Alabama): 4.84 & 4.95

Cam Newton (Auburn): 4.58 & 4.59

Christian Ponder (Florida State): 4.72 & 4.67

Ricky Stanzi (Iowa): 4.93 & 4.93

Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech): 4.52 & 4.45

Scott Tolzien (Wisconsin): 4.95 & 4.95

T.J. Yates (UNC): 5.04 & 5.03

**NOTES**

Cam Newton ran a very impressive time in the laye 4.5’s. Let’s not forget he’s 6-5 and 248lbs, considerably bigger than most of the other quarterbacks at the combine.

The Auburn QB was later given an official forty time of 4.59 – the same as Jake Locker. Tyrod Taylor was the fastest timed QB with a 4.51 official time. Christian Ponder was timed at 4.65.

Wide receiver (Group 2) forty yard dash times

Jeff Maehl (Oregon): 4.62 & 4.64

Denarius Moore (Tennessee): 4.37 & 4.44

Joe Morgan (Walsh): 4.39 & 4.43

Niles Paul (Nebraska): 4.59

Austin Pettis (Boise State): 4.59 & 4.56

Greg Salas (Hawaii): 4.49 & 4.57

Dane Sanzenbacher (Ohio State): 4.55

Torrey Smith (Maryland): 4.37 & 4.46

Terrance Toliver (LSU): 4.54

Titus Young (Boise State): 4.43 & 4.44

Running backs forty yard dash times

Allen Bradford (USC): 4.56 & 4.56

John Clay (Wisconsin): 4.77 & 4.84

Noel Devine (West Virginia): DNP

Stanley Havili (USC): DNP

Roy Helu (Nebraska): 4.43 & 4.42

Kendall Hunter (Oklahoma State): 4.47 & 4.53

Mark Ingram (Alabama): 4.58 & 4.61

Mikel Leshoure (Illinois): 4.56 & 4.62

Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh): 4.59 & 4.57

Owen Marecic (Stanford): 4.89 & 4.87

DeMarco Murray (Oklahoma): 4.38 & 4.40

Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon State): 4.64 & 4.67

Evan Royster (Penn State): 4.65 & 4.61

Da’Rel Scott (Maryland): 4.35 & 4.40

Daniel Thomas (Kansas State): DNP

Jordan Todman (Connecticut): 4.44 & 4.45

Shane Vereen (California): 4.51 & 4.47

Johnny White (UNC): 4.56 & 4.53

Ryan Williams (Virginia Tech): 4.55 & 4.59

**NOTES**

DeMarco Murray ran a surprisingly high 4.38 to begin. That’s an impressive number for a guy who can do a bit of everything in the backfield. If he ran a bit harder, he could be a s0lid round two pick.

Roy Helu also ran well and should be a solid mid round pick. Da’Rel Scott has some potential bat ball security is a big issue. Mark Ingram’s time wasn’t unexpected, but neither was it good enough to really blow up his stock.

I really liked watching Jordan Todman on tape and he managed a time in the 4.4’s.

Elsewhere…

Brandon Harris (CB, Miami) was measured at 5-9 today, despite being listed at 5-11 in college. That’s almost certainly taken him out of contention for Seattle.

Todd McShay and Kevin Wiedl combined for an interesting piece on how the CBA negotiations could impact the draft.

“As for the players who do get drafted, their growth will be stunted during a lockout. There would be no mini-camps during which they can get acclimated to new surroundings, schemes and teammates, and it would simply be too much to ask them to step into camp cold in late summer and become significant contributors when the season opens.”

If you want the #1 reason why the Seahawks would want to re-sign Matt Hasselbeck, this is it. They have no means of bringing in a veteran replacement because of the free agency lockout. Trying to force a pro-style scheme on a rookie in a fortnight is illogical. Hasselbeck’s value may be lower these days due to age and performance, but he has some degree of value to Seattle in that if preparations cannot take place as normal he can step in and play.

It won’t stop the Seahawks drafting a rookie QB, but it makes it highly unlikely that player would start in year one – leaving the Seahawks with very few alternatives to what they had in 2010.

Bob Cunningham has a good article on the media attention surrounding Ryan Mallett which has been nonsensical at times.

“He didn’t give the media a soundbite to work with, so they’re going to take to Twitter and their op-ed pieces like a six-year old who had his toy taken from him at daycare and try to make Mallett sound like the worst guy on the planet.”

Funnily enough a day after getting slammed in the media for a perfectly managed press conference in difficult circumstances, Mallett got rave reviews for his Sunday work outs at the combine.

The NFL Network highlights Cam Newton, who participated in all drills today. Newton also spoke to the network to review his performance.

Ryan Mallett discusses his day’s work out.

Mike Mayock provides a scouting report on Jake Locker.

Stephen Paea (DT, Oregon State) set a new record for the 225lbs bench press with 49 lifts. Incredible. His value comes as a run defender and his pure strength makes up for a lack of real size. Phil Taylor (DT, Baylor) managed 31 reps. His stock should rise after this weekend.

The offensive lineman and tight ends have been running drills today. More on that in a moment, because it’s taken a back seat at the combine.

All the headlines have been provided by Cam Newton and Ryan Mallett who gave interviews ahead of their work outs tomorrow. Here is a link to Newton’s ‘opening statement’ where he read a prepared speech on his recent comments about being an ‘icon’. I had no problem with the words Newton used and feel it’s a shame that the combine has come to this now. No personalities please, just robots churning out the same scripted answers. Yes this is a job interview, but it’s also just a bunch of guys working out in order to play football for a living. The hype and nonsense that blew up in reaction to what can only be described as a cocky yet harmless throwaway remark is astonishing.

Nobody forced Newton to make that address, but no doubt someone would’ve brought it up anyway. A shame for me, because brilliance stands alongside confidence.

But it’s Mallett who made the biggest waves. He abruptly ended a press conference after one too many questions about off the field rumors. Good for him I say. The media are well within their rights to ask Mallett about reported drug use, but repeated questions are unfair considering how much is at stake here. Let the teams do their work if the guy isn’t going to discuss it. I’ve already seen numerous negative ‘reviews’ of Mallett’s performance at the podium, but how on earth can the guy be expected to handle that subject matter with the world watching? He won’t be able to dodge questions in the interview rooms, but personally I think it’s time to let the teams do their work and give the guy a break.

Here’s an exert from ProFootball Talk on Mallett’s performance:

“Yes, he’s only a college kid.  But he had the opportunity to address the drug rumors directly Saturday and he chose not to.  There is a fine line between cocky and immature. How will he handle the spotlight when he faces adversity in the NFL? We hear it repeatedly this time of year: Film doesn’t lie.  Teams will watch the tape of Mallett’s press conference Saturday, and we doubt they will like what they see.”

Make up your own mind about this situation, no doubt NFL teams will. For me, the quote listed above is completely unfair. We can only guess if the rumors are true and if they are  – what level of seriousness they hold. It’s a shame that a guy as talented as Mallett has seen his off season dominated by stories that haven’t really been backed up.

Here’s what ESPN’s Chris Mortensen is reporting on the much more important team interviews:

Whereas Ryan Mallett is getting panned for his presser at Indy, reviews from some teams on his private interviews are pretty favorable.

The team interviews will define Mallett’s stock. It’s a commonly used phrase – but he only needs one franchise to buy in.

On a more positive note for both Newton and Mallett, I enjoyed watching this little video. It is ok to have fun at the combine too, right? Or is that a red flag these days?

The NFL Network provides tape on the lineman running the forty yard dash. I stil think it’s hard to trust the forty times when a simultaneous broadcast of Anthony Castonzo and Gabe Carimi clearly shows Castonzo finishing faster, yet he clocked a slower time than the Wisconsin lineman.

Bucky Brooks and Steve Wyche break down the first day of workouts at the combine.

It’s a shame Will Rackley didn’t perform through injury. He’s the top small school prospect at offensive tackle. Tyron Smith didn’t run a forty, but Nate Solder managed a 4.92 which was particularly impressive. He stood out today according to Mike Mayock.

Rodney Hudson carried his bigger 299lbs frame well and I’m still very high on the Florida State lineman. Here’s what he had to say after working out.

For full details on the offensive lineman work outs click this link courtesy of Walter Football.

Elsewhere…

Von Miller weighed in at 246lbs, which is good news for him if he performs well.

Can you tell Mark Ingram has been well coached at Alabama? He speaks as well as he runs – a thoroughly impressive prospect.

Larry McDaniel at With the First Pick has a nice piece on Maryland wideout Torrey Smith.

Jason La Canfora publishes a top-ten mock which looks incredibly similar to fellow NFL Network reporter Michael Lombardi’s (they were sat next to each other when these were broadcast). He has AJ Green going #8 to Tennessee which seems highly unlikely to me, especially with Blaine Gabbert still on the board. I doubt the Titans aren’t going to pass on a QB to draft another wide out in the top ten, but La Canfora justifies it by pointing to the team’s addition of Randy Moss during the 2010 season.

If Green does slip a bit as La Canfora and Lombardi suggest, it increases the possibility that maybe a team like St. Louis would move up to get him. That would be a great match for Sam Bradford and Josh McDaniels. It may also increase the possibility of another talented wideout falling – such as Julio Jones. The Seahawks still need to consider the position with their first round pick. Only two prospects are worth moving up for – Green and Jones. If either lingers in the teens, it could be the catalyst for a move up the board. Either falling as low as #25 (which seems unlikely) would be a gift.

Work outs begin tomorrow for the offensive lineman and tight ends. Today both positional groups took on the bench press, which is probably more relevant for these guys than anyone else.

Tyron Smith has a superb wing span and he’s edged over 300lbs for the combine after methodical weight gain. These things aren’t the greatest combination for bench pressing – long arms make it difficult to lift and if he’s added quick weight, it won’t necessarily translate to arm and chest muscle. Therefore, Smith’s 29 reps at 225lbs today is quite simply stunning.

Top-ten pick material and by far the offensive lineman with the most potential in this class.

Nate Solder has similar issues with long arms (he’s 6-8) and only managed 21 reps, which is understandable and just highlights Smith’s achievements further. Derek Sherrod and John Moffitt both benched 23 times, while small school diamond Will Rackley benched 29 reps – as did Baylor’s Danny Watkins. USC center Kris O’Dowd had an impressive 31 reps.

Two prospects I’m particularly high on – Rodney Hudson and James Carpenter – benched 27 and 23 reps respectively. Mike Pouncey didn’t participate.

Interior offensive line has been a big issue for a while for Seattle, in fact ever since the ill-fated day Steve Hutchinson left for Minnesota. The Seahawks are simply not good enough at the guard position. Being able to make aditions in free agency would indicate the level of importance the front office value the position in terms of the draft. Instead we’ll go into April’s event unsure as to the team’s intentions, with no new CBA on the horizon.

It’ll be hard to pass on Mike Pouncey. I often wrote on this blog during the 2010 season about his major improvents as a center for Florida after some initial concerns snapping the ball. He will start in year one at center or guard. He may not achieve the high levels witnessed by his brother Maurkice in Pittsburgh, but he will still have a fine career in the NFL and lock down a position for years (health permitting). Miami, Kansas City and Philadelphia all pick before Seattle and it’ll be something of a coup if he falls to #25.

Brian McIntyre passes along information that Pouncey met with Seattle’s new offensive line coach Tom Cable this week.

If the team don’t want to draft a guard in round one or haven’t the option, I still think Rodney Hudson is the best bet at #57. He’s 299lbs at the combine, he’s completely mastered his technique in college and for me he’s going to be a long term high-end starter in the NFL. I think he’s possibly the most polished offensive lineman in this class.

NFL.com is good for combine video at this time of year. Here’s some highlighted links:

Mike Mayock breaks down tape of Blaine Gabbert – who should remain a distinct possibility as the #1 overall pick.

Jake Locker spent some time with the NFL Network crew, including the sharply dressed Mayock again in a polished waistcoat number.

Michael Lombardi produces a top-ten mock draft minus AJ Green. The prospect of Green landing in St. Louis to catch passes from Sam Bradford is scary. On the plus side it could encourage a drop for Julius Jones – who is another hugely talented receiver.

Elsewhere, Brandon Adams at 17 Power breaks down GM John Schneider’s combine press conference.

Walter Cherepinsky’s latest mock has the Seahawks taking Jimmy Smith, which would be an absolute steal.

Candice Caldwell has a twitter review on the recent NFLPA/NFL discussions. It’s almost certain a new agreement won’t be in place before the draft and this appears to be a long way from a positive conclusion. What should be an exciting time just before free agency begins is anything but.

Todd McShay has a combine report for ESPN:

A heads up for the weekend combine coverage – work commitments mean only reaction will be possible to Saturday’s offensive line and tight end work outs. I will be watching closely work outs that take place on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. I’d like to hear your thoughts too in the comments section.

Today is technically the first day of the combine, although work outs won’t begin until Saturday. I noted the week’s schedule in full here. This is my least favorite time of the week in all honesty – a lot of hype, speculation and supposition. The work outs create nice talking points and are thoroughly enjoyable to follow, but they can’t begin soon enough.

The measurements are quite interesting for offensive lineman, although most passed through today without any headlines. Tyron Smith was the biggest story as he’s worked his way up to 307lbs which is to his credit– he always had the frame to add good bulk but maintain his athleticism. I wouldn’t have any issue playing him at 295lbs in the pro’s because of his arm length and explosive lateral agility.

Rodney Hudson was weighed at 299lbs, which is a further eight pound gain from the Senior Bowl. I still think he deserves a high grade as a brilliant technician and now his weight is much less of an issue.

A few links to follow:

Todd McShay says the combine will be the Cam Newton show. “Newton is the face of this draft.”

In my latest mock draft, I had Newton going first overall to Carolina.

Tony Pauline’s Draft Insider blog is updated with combine information throughout this week. It’s also one of the best places for information.

Gabe Carimi thinks he’s the best offensive lineman in the draft. I beg to differ – it’s Tyron Smith.

Mel Kiper previews the combine work outs:

To see the latest mock draft click here

I wanted to post a mock draft before the combine officially gets under way tomorrow (work outs begin on Saturday). I’ll make an update next Wednesday when it’s all finished. I suspect that a great deal won’t change but there are several prospects who can help or hinder their stock.

Robert Quinn is one of those guys. He’s getting a good press at the moment largely because Mike Mayock is talking up his 2009 tape (which admittedly is impressive). However, he hasn’t played for a year. A striking performance will pump his stock back towards the top ten range, but anything less than that and the concerns may surface. I suggested a fall in last week’s mock and that’s still a possibility.

There’s an opportunity for prospects like Ryan Williams or Mikel LeShoure to push themselves up the board by running strongly. Several pass rushers can impress with a good work out. Perhaps the player I’ve highlighted the most on this blog is Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith – he can confirm a top 10-15 grade over the next few days.

So what about the Seahawks pick this week? It’s changed again as we continue to review different options. More on that in a moment.

I was going to post a second round projection here but opted against it. I looked across the picks and just felt it was too convoluted. Trying to project the order of the top 64 prospects is like trying to pick the lottery numbers. You end up basing judgements entirely on needs. It doesn’t mean there won’t be a second round compilation in future, but I don’t want to put something out there I didn’t feel was worthy at this stage.

However, here are some of the prospects (in no particular order) that I considered would be off the board before #57:

Ryan Mallett, Muhammed Wilkerson, Mikel LeShoure, Ryan Williams, Quinton Carter, Rahim Moore, Martez Wilson, Titus Young, Drake Nevis, Rashad Carmichael, Jonathan Baldwin, Derek Sherrod, Aaron Williams, Jarvis Jenkins, Dontay Moch, Cortez Allen, Rodney Hudson, Christian Ballard, Davon House and Ben Ijalana.

I was undecided on a handful of prospects. Obviously some of these names will rise or fall and others will come into contention. What I take out of this is the 22-32 range in round one isn’t a great deal stronger (if at all) than a good half of round two.

So what about this week’s pick at #25…

Jabal Sheard isn’t even someone I’ve had in round one before. I’ve long viewed him as a very solid round two pick having enjoyed an impressive 2010 season on a largely disappointing Pittsburgh team.

For me there are two areas of strength in the bottom end of round one: defensive end/pass rusher and offensive tackle. We could see the 21-32 region dominated by those two positions. I remain unconvinced that right tackle will be a serious consideration for the Seahawks at #25, but clearly improving their interior offensive line would be welcome should a prospect like Mike Pouncey last until #25 (which I think is highly unlikely).

Out of the prospects potentially available that could be drafted, my favorite offensive tackle would be Derek Sherrod. Anthony Castonzo is a finesse player who I’m not convinced would suite the right hand side of the line. His struggles with leverage don’t translate to a dominating run blocker. Gabe Carimi is limited in that I don’t feel confident he could play left tackle well enough should Russell Okung suffer further injuries. Sherrod could work as a credible run blocker and has the lateral speed/agility to play the blind side if required.

It’s still a luxury for a position that doesn’t contain a high end value, watches the quarterbacks front view, gets a lot of tight end support and isn’t generally drafted that often in the first round.

We’ve long discussed whether the team will value LEO pass rushers highly enough to draft one in round one. Seattle found production from Chris Clemons and Raheem Brock in 2010, although most of their pressure (and sacks) came when the defense used a blitz package. Not relying on the blitz to create pressure will significantly boost the team’s defensive production.

I still think bolstering the interior (NT, 3-tech) and left end (5-tech) positions will help create better one-on-one match ups on the edge for the LEO, but I cannot rule out the team falling for a talented pass rusher if they stay at #25.

Sheard looks bigger than his size suggests (6-4, 260lbs). He’s capable of holding up against the run – an under rated quality for the smaller LEO right end. You’re not going to see the blistering speed of a Robert Quinn off the edge, but Sheard has a much greater repertoire of moves and he’s a notch faster than the likes of Brooks Reed and Ryan Kerrigan.

I chose Sheard instead of Justin Houston for that greater ability against the run and due to Houston’s reliance on edge speed. He’s a better technician and that will help as a rookie coming up against assured veteran lineman. Houston can’t be ignored here – he has a good skill set for the 4-3 scheme and he’s got the size and quicks for the LEO. His run defense and inability to mix things up could count against him, but he should find a home in round one.

Is it a wildcard? Sure. I like Sheard enough to put him in this bracket. Can he run well enough at the combine to justify this level of faith? We’ll find out on Monday when the defensive lineman and linebackers run through drills.

It’s still a chore to have the Seahawks passing on Ryan Mallett, someone who I believe deserves a lot more credit than he’s getting. Out of this quarterback class, he’s probably the most ready to start from day one and in fairness I think that would still be the case even if Andrew Luck had declared.

However, we all know the character concerns by now and how different teams react to them. When I look at the ‘all-in’ slogan of this regime and the way it’s being set up – can I see Mallett as the focal point of the Pete Carroll era? It doesn’t seem like a logical fit. Maybe I’ll be wrong there – part of me hopes that I am because I rate the guy higher than most.