2011 NFL Combine Report

The Combine is an exciting event during draft season. It gives prospects the opportunity to improve their draft stock and show off their skills to NFL teams.
Around all the excitement and the buzz that the Combine creates, there is a cautionary tale that every NFL team must keep in mind. The most important part of scouting is watching game tape not watching how fast they run the 40 yard dash in shorts and a tee shirt. Scouts and teams need to see through a lot of the hype that the Combine creates. With that being said, the Combine does a lot of good for the NFL and for future NFL players. It takes these future NFL stars, and creates a competitive atmosphere that gets people excited for the Draft.
It gives players a chance to show off their skills and competitiveness in from of their future employers. It is really an exciting time. So, let me give you a recap of this past Combine and what players are rising and what players are falling. Like always, please feel free to shoot me an email for any comments or questions.

QB

Who Impressed:

Christian Ponder, Florida St.
First off, Ponder ran faster than a lot of people thought he would (4.67 in the 40). Ponder is a little bit more athletic than people give him credit for. He threw the ball very well at the Combine. He has tremendous accuracy, and showed better arm strength than I was expecting. I really think Ponder helped himself last weekend, he could even be the third QB taken in the draft. I don't see him making it out of the second round.

Jake Locker, Washington
Locker looked completely comfortable throwing in Indianapolis. He had questions about his accuracy coming into the Combine, and he showed great poise and delivered good accurate throws. I know it's just throwing in shorts and tee shirts, but it's still a great sign for Locker. He also ran extremely well; but we already knew that Locker was a good athlete. The Combine definitely helped Locker; I believe his performance helped him get back into the first round.

Who Disappointed:

Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
Mallett did not disappoint me with the way he threw the football; he has first round talent when it comes to his ability to throw the football. He looked incredible at the Combine. What disappointed me was the bad impression I got when I was watching him get interviewed. Teams will really have to do their homework on him. He needs to be a leader on and off the field. Overall, Mallett really did not hurt himself at the Combine, but he did not help it. He will go in the second round.

RB

Who Impressed:

Mark Ingram, Alabama
Ingram solidified his status of being the number 1 RB in this draft at the Combine. He looked great during the drills, and his 40 time although isn't anything special, his 10 yard split was incredible (1.5). That means he can get 10 yards in 1.5 seconds; that's very impressive. He is a top 15 pick.

Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech
Williams had a down year this past season, so he needed a good Combine to improve his draft stock and I believe he did. He looked very good during the drills; showing tremendous cutback ability and quickness. I was very impressed at how quick and elusive he looked. He's got first round talent.

Jaquizz Rodgers, Oregon St.
He didn't run particularly well, but he did display excellent quickness and acceleration. He was very smooth in the drills and showed good athleticism.

Who Disappointed:

Bilal Powell, Louisville
Powell did not participate in the 40, which was disappointing to me. I personally have loved what I've seen out of Powell so far this off season; I was looking forward to watching more of him.

Daniel Thomas, Kansas St.
I was disappointed that Thomas wasn't able to perform. He can't help getting injured, I understand that, but I was looking forward to seeing him run and do the drills. Hopefully, he will be healthy for his Pro Day.

WR

Who Impressed:

Julio Jones, Alabama
I don't even really have to put his name down. If you have paid any attention to the Combine, everyone is talking about how amazing Julio Jones was. This praise is well earned though; Julio Jones really did have an incredible Combine. He ran a blazing 4.39 in the 40 which no one expected, jumped well, and caught well. Oh, and he did this all on a fractured foot. This kid will probably go to Washington at #10 if they don't want a QB. There is no way he makes it past St. Louis.

Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh
He measured in at 6-4 228 lbs and ran a 4.45, had a 42 inch vertical and a broad jump of 10-9. Those are crazy numbers. Baldwin had a down year at Pittsburgh, and he was already a high second round pick. After this Combine performance he will probably go in the first round. If it wasn't for Julio Jones, everyone would be talking about Baldwin. A receiver that big, that can run that fast, and jump that high; every team in the NFL will be interested in him.

Who Disappointed:

There wasn't any WR that I felt did so poorly that their stock was affected.

OL

Who Impressed:

Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
Castonzo showed great athleticism and looked very comfortable in drills. He showed really good technique and footwork as well. He drew praise from many different analysts including Mike Mayock. He definitely improved his stock.

Marcus Cannon, TCU
Cannon slimmed down to 358 and looked very athletic for a guy his size. He ran OK, but in the drills he looked very smooth. He is still a mid second round pick at best, but teams who like bigger linemen that can play multiple positions will have high grades on Marcus Cannon.

Ryan Bartholomew, Syracuse
Ryan Bartholomew posted some amazing numbers at the Combine. He ran well, showed great strength on the bench and looked good in drills. Bartholomew also has some good tape to add to his resume. He has talent. He is a bit undersized so that may scare teams away, but I believe he will offer good value later on during the draft.

Who Disappointed:

Nate Solder, Colorado
I am a fan of Solder, I think he will make a great Pro, but I was very disappointed in his bench at the Combine. 21 reps is not impressive and it will draw concerns about Solder's strength. However, despite doing poorly on the bench, he made up for it by running extremely well and looking very good in most drills. He is still a top 20 pick, but he may not be the first OT taken now.

DL & LB

Who impressed:

Marcell Dareus, Alabama
Dareus weighed in at 6-3 319 which is a huge stock up for him. He ran a 4.92 in the 40 with a 1.66 in 10 yard split (that's not that much slower than Mark Ingram). He looked phenomenal in all the drills too. Dareus is now the top DT. I believe he can play every position along the defensive line in both the 3-4 and 4-3 defensive schemes. He will be a top 3 pick.

Stephen Paea, Oregon St.
I had to add Paea's name to the impressive list; 49 reps on the bench is extremely impressive. This is a stock up for him, which is huge because he may fall due to his injury. Paea is not just a workout warrior either, he has solid game tape.

Marvin Austin, North Carolina
Marvin Austin helped his stock tremendously at the Combine. He weighted in very well at 6-2 309 lbs and ran a 4.80. He also had a 38 inch vertical; that's ridiculous for a guy his size. Austin showed his athleticism very well throughout the whole Combine. This is a huge help for him, considering he did not play at all last year due to a NCAA suspension.

Von Miller, Texas A&M
The man who needs no introduction; Von Miller had a great Combine. He ran a 4.46 in the 40 despite being 6-3 246 lbs. He looked incredibly comfortable in the drills and especially dropping into coverage. He could go anywhere in the Top 5.

J.J. Watt, Wisconsin
Watt is quickly becoming one of my favorite players in this draft. He showed off how athletic he is at the Combine, running a 4.7 in the 40 and getting a 37 inch vertical. He did 34 reps on the bench press, which shows this kid isn't afraid of spending time in the weight room. I love this young man's work ethic and drive; he is one of the premiere 3-4 DE's in this draft and he could go in the Top 10.

Who Disappointed:

Robert Quinn, North Carolina
Robert Quinn is currently my number 1 player overall, so maybe I had my expectations too high for him; but he kind of disappointed me at the Combine. I thought that he would run a little faster, and look a little more athletic than he did. His 22 reps on the bench press was not impressive either. I still think that Quinn is one of the most gifted players in this draft and he is a Top 5 pick. He didn't hurt his draft stock, but he didn't help it last weekend.

Justin Houston, Georgia
Houston really measured well and ran very well for his size, but he did not look good in drills at all. He disappointed me because teams will have serious doubt to whether he can make the transition to 3-4 OLB.

DB

Who Impressed:

Patrick Peterson, LSU
Peterson stole the show at the Combine. He has it all; size, speed, and playmaking ability. Teams are drooling over him and some even are calling him the next Charles Woodson. Peterson hands down improved his draft stock at the Combine.

Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
Amukamara had a great Combine. He ran very well, looked great in drills, and had an impressive vertical. Amukamara put up some nice numbers to go along with his stellar game tape. I had high expectations for Amukamara, and he exceeding them.

Jimmy Smith, Colorado
Smith measured at 6-2 211 lbs and ran 4.38 in the 40. There were questions about his speed coming into the Combine, so I think he answered them. I was very impressed. There arose the issue of Smith's character concerns during the Combine, so I am a little reluctant to put him on the impressed list, but with his talent, size and now speed. I think he helped himself more than he hurt himself last weekend.

Shiloh Keo, Idaho
Keo is another on of my favorite players in this draft. I was really impressed at how well he ran the drills. He had fluid hips and show tremendous hustle. I am really high on this young man; I would love to have him on my team.

Who Disappointed:

Ahmad Black, Florida
Black ran an extremely slow time in the 40 at the Combine (4.7). This is a big stock down for him. He is an undersized safety, so running slow is a big concern for teams. It is a shame for Black because he really is a good player. I still think he will make some team very happy next year.

Kendric Burney, North Carolina
He measured in at 5-9 186 lbs and only ran a 4.7 in the 40. I think Burney is very talented, but his performance hurt his draft stock last weekend.