The 2011 NFL combine has come and gone. The numbers are crunched but the seemingly endless evaluations and ridiculing has just started to heat up. What do all the rumors and numbers really mean, though?
For some, the simple answer is nothing. Take the numbers and shove them in a dark, unholy place. Others, particularly the Oakland Raiders and Al Davis, will take them to heart. Workout warriors beware: I hope you look good in black and silver.
Whatever way you look at the combine, the event lays out a lot about each NFL prospect, and every year there are going to be risers and fallers at each position. Guys who improved their draft stock and guys who’ve seen their stock plummet. I’m still a firm believer in the tape tells all, but some athletic ability and measurables can’t hurt. Below is that list of the winners and losers of the 2011 NFL Combine:
Quarterback:
Riser: Christian Ponder – Florida State:
Ponder was once considered one of the top future NFL prospects at quarterback. After a shaky senior season and a year that ended with elbow surgery, Ponder’s stock plummeted. After an MVP Senior Bowl preformance, he used the combine as a tool to show scouts the injury is behind him, electing to throw in drills. His mechanics and footwork are some of the best in the 2011 group of quarterbacks and his accuracy was spot on. Ponder may not last past the second round come April.
Faller: Ricky Stanzi – Iowa
It’d be easy to go Cam Newton or Ryan Mallett because everyone wants to point the finger at them right now, but Stanzi was by far the most unappealing quarterback. His mechanics and release are slow. His footwork was sloppy and the accuracy just wasn’t there for Stanzi. A poor Senior Bowl performance was followed by a poor showing at the combine.
Running Back:
Riser: Jordan Todman – Connecticut:
I’ll admit it, I highly criticized Todman’s decision to turn pro after a stellar junior campaign. But Todman did nothing but impress in his first NFL interview. His cuts were smooth through drills and he had very quick feet. Everything looked to be natural for Todman. He turned in a solid 4.40 40-time and showed great explosion with a 38-inch vertical and 10’6’’ broad jump. He looked like a very clean runner with natural ability. Best of all, it was a good showing to match All-American college production.
Faller: John Clay – Wisconsin:
Like Todman, I questioned Clay’s decision to turn pro. He may not have wanted to get buried in the deep Badgers backfield, but Clay was a fairly productive college player who could have used another year. He showed up nearly 20 pounds lighter at the combine, at 230-pounds, but that was about the only good thing that happened for Clay. He clocked a 4.87 40-time, looked sluggish and even overweight through drills. His feet were like bricks and he was off balance in his cuts. Clay even fell through a non contact bag drill.
Wide Receiver:
Riser: Jerrel Jernigan – Troy:
Like a lot of the senior wideouts, Jernigan has gotten lost in the early enrollee shuffle. He measured in small, as expected, but was very explosive. Jernigan posted one of the top verticals at just over 37-inches, and looked very natural running drills. He attacked the ball in the air, using his hands rather than body to catch the ball. Anything past the mid-second round for Jernigan is a steal. He's a polished guy who can step into the slot right away.
Faller: Jock Sanders – West Virginia:
Not a lot of wideouts turned in bad performances at the combine, but Sanders didn’t necessarily turn in a good one. He measured in at a notably small 5-foot-6 and backed that up with a mid 4.5 40-time. His routes were rounded and he didn’t look to have the explosive ability often seen in the very small wideouts, i.e. Jacoby Ford.
Offensive Line:
Riser: Anthony Castonzo – Boston College:
One of the biggest questions of the draft thus far has been finding who the top offensive tackle is. Castonzo just might have put his name to the top of the list after a solid performance at the combine. He was light on his feet and turned in the best kick-slide of anyone in the two offensive line groups. At an even 6-foot-7, 317-pounds, Castonzo even looked slim and could add some weight. If Castonzo isn’t the first offensive linemen drafted, even over Colorado’s Nate Solder, it’d be a surprise.
Faller: Lee Ziemba – Auburn:
There were quite a few candidates for the faller spot on the offensive line, but Ziemba, who was already on a free fall, takes the cake. He looked sluggish and out of shape and turned up two inches shorter than listed at Auburn. His feet were slow and his kick-slide was even slower. Match that with just 20 reps in the bench and you've got a very poor preformance. Ziemba was never considered a high choice, but a sixth or seventh round pick might even be a reach for the college All-American.
Defensive Line:
Riser: Muhammad Wilkerson – Temple:
Wilkerson is a player more and more teams and fans are becoming aware of. He didn’t get a whole lot of attention at Temple, but he’s an intriguing NFL prospect. At 6-foot-4, 325-pounds, Wilkerson was quick on his feet and showed good athletic abilities. He had great flexibility and pop in drills, and got through bags like a linebacker. Capable of playing as a 4-3 tackle or 3-4 end, Wilkerson shouldn’t last past the first round.
Faller: Jeremy Beal – Oklahoma:
Beal was a very productive college player, but not someone who projects well for the next level. Small at just 6-foot-2, 262-pounds, Beal doesn’t have the size or explosiveness that would warrant a team to place him in a 4-3 scheme. Beal is also too slow to make a move to linebacker, turning in a time of 5.16 in the 40 at the combine. It’s getting harder and harder to find a place Beal will fit in the NFL.
Linebacker:
Riser: Mason Foster – Washington:
Linebacker was a tough position to find just one riser, as others like Colin McCarthy and Martez Wilson were clearly deserving. Foster seemed to really stand out, though. He turned in an impressive Senior Bowl week and an even more impressive combine. He showed natural ability to play the position in drills and the speed, size and intangibles needed for the position. Even better, he’s got the tape to back up his solid performance, after leading the PAC-10 in tackles last season. (AP Photo)
Lemon was a solid middle linebacker for Oklahoma State throughout his career, but couldn’t show professional abilities at the combine. He was slow, with a 4.99 40-time and looked like a defensive tackle in coverage drills. He wasn’t an athlete through any of the drills and may be at risk of being drafted now.
Defensive Back:
Riser: Brandon Harris – Miami (Fla.):
Like the talk of who’s the top offensive tackle, the corner position has been surrounded with finding the third best – behind Peterson and Amukamara. Harris made a pretty convincing argument at the combine, showing in as one of the more polished corners at the event. He stayed low through drills, broke on the ball quick without wasted movement or a false step and had excellent turn and run skills. He even had Deon Sanders, a Seminole alum, giving high praise.
Faller: Aaron Williams – Texas:
Before the combine, talk surrounded whether or not Williams will be able to stay at his college position of cornerback or if a move to safety seems likely. After his performance at the combine, a move to safety seems more clear, just like past NFL Draftee Antrel Rolle. Williams didn’t look fluid in his back peddle and showed stiff hips in his turns. Perhaps the biggest turn off, was his ball skills, as he dropped numerous balls and misjudged his jumps. They almost became comical.
No comments:
Post a Comment