Some Sleeper Picks to Learn More about

[Oviedo]

Source: http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Pro ... -love.html (http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Proday-risers-who-arent-getting-the-love.html)

Matthews (late round Center) definitely has the bloodlines. Would like to learn more about the Maryland QB.


With pro days now in full swing, big-time names and programs routinely take center stage, making it easy to miss top performances from some mid-level prospects. Today, the National Football Post takes a look at four top prospect workouts from last week that no one is really talking about and breaks down how much each player has improved his draft stock:


AP
Kentucky RB Alfonso Smith
• One running back to keep an eye on as we get closer to draft day is Kentucky’s Alfonso Smith. Smith is a 6-foot, 211-pound back who ran in the high 4.3 range and posted a 36-inch vertical at the Kentucky pro day. Although he has averaged over 4.0 yards per carry in each of the past four years, Smith has never carried the ball more than 75 times a year in that span. He’s battled his share of injuries but doesn’t have much wear and tear on his body at this point. Combine that with his size/speed numbers and Smith might be able to squeeze himself into the latter portions of the draft.

• Centers never seem to get much love at this time of the year, but Texas A&M pivot Kevin Matthews is one of the few guys who really seems to be building some positive momentum for himself. Matthews, the son of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, had a solid workout last week, posting 32 reps on the bench and a solid 5.27 time in the 40. However, it was his brilliant performance during position drills that really opened some eyes. Matthews isn’t the most impressive physical specimen on tape, but he gets his hands on opponents as quickly as any lineman in the country, plays with natural leverage and knows how to keep his base down through contact. He won’t get a ton of love on draft day, but he could end up fighting for a starting job down the line in the NFL.


• Maryland quarterback Chris Turner had a solid throwing session in front of scouts last week and is someone I think could end up being one of the dark horses in this poor QB class. Turner is a 6-4, 220-pound kid with a strong enough arm to make all the throws and has experience taking snaps from under center in a pro-style offense. He needs to improve as a decision-maker, but he’s an experienced three-year starter who played on a poor Maryland football team last year, knows how to battle through adversity and has an all-time record of 5-2 vs. top-25 teams. He isn’t an elite prospect by any stretch, but I still think he grades out similar to guys like Jevan Snead (Ole Miss) and Jonathan Crompton (Tennessee) and has a chance to make a roster right out of training camp.

• Finally, one guy who continues to intrigue is former Troy cornerback Jorrick Calvin. Calvin missed the 2009 season because of academic issues, but he has some impressive tape from the 2008 season and worked out well in front of scouts last week. Calvin, 5-10, 182 pounds, ran his 40 in 4.46-seconds and had a 33-inch vertical and a 4.54 short shuttle. Those aren’t exceptional numbers for the position, but they’re solid considering he didn’t see the field last season. He has some character issues, but the overall talent is there to warrant some attention as a late-round pick.

[Steel Life]

Here's more on the sleeper I've talking about alot...Joe Webb (QB/WR, UAB) -

• UAB receiver Joe Webb, who turned heads at the Senior Bowl in January, further impressed scouts today during his pro-day workout.

Webb started the day weighing 223 pounds, then completed 21 reps on the bench press. He posted a vertical jump of 42.5 inches then a broad jump of 11 feet, 5½ inches. Webb's 40 times were surprisingly fast, clocking under 4.5, with some watches reading 4.43. His three-cone time of 6.55 and short-shuttle mark of 3.91 represent some of the fastest marks of any receiver who participated in the combine. Webb has now entered the conversation as a top 100 pick with the combination of receiver skills he displayed at the Senior Bowl and athleticism shown at his pro day.

• Joe Webb spent the last two years as the starting quarterback at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), amassing 2,299 yards and 21 touchdowns through the air and 1,619 yards and 11 TDs on the ground in 2009. But Webb will attempt to make it in the NFL as a wide receiver.

Webb (6-foot-2 3/4, 223 pounds) ran 4.45 and 4.44-seconds in the 40-yard dash, had a 42.5-inch vertical leap, 11-foot, 5-inch broad jump (besting any combine participant by five inches), 4.04 short shuttle and a 6.71 three-cone drill. His arms measured in at 33 5/8 inches and he completed 21 bench press repetitions of 225 pounds.

Former NFL quarterback Darrell Hackney threw to Webb while Steelers wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery observed. Webb had a very good work out.

Seven of Webb’s teammates also worked out outdoors in 55 degree weather on FieldTurf for representatives from seven teams.

– Gil Brandt

• 03/12/10 - "It was a phenomenal workout, but I kind of expected it," said Dye, who said feedback from NFL teams has been very positive. "They love his athleticism, his body, his speed and quickness, his explosiveness. But it's a big move even to receiver if you're making it in college, much less the highest level there is." The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Webb will create a quandary for NFL teams when the draft rolls around. He has a quarterback pedigree, receiver speed and the size of a small tight end. He could wind up at receiver, tight end, H-back or wildcat quarterback. "That gives him added value," Dye said. Former UAB kicker Jake Arians, the sideline reporter on Blazers football radiocasts, has been around the NFL most of his life. Dad Bruce is the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. "There's not a receiver in an NFL locker room who looks better than that," he said as Webb worked out "Value wise, there won't be a better pick." While Webb missed out on a combine invitation, he did have an impressive workout at the Senior Bowl in January. He benched pressed 225 pounds for 21 reps -- only one other receiver turned in 20 reps. And his hands were measured as the second largest at the game behind Alabama's Terrence Cody. Working out with former UAB quarterback Darrell Hackney Thursday, Webb showed good hands, but got chastised occasionally for his lack of experience running routes. That, of course, is something most NFL teams expect going in. Webb worked out with a number of teammates, but one NFL prospect was noticeable by his absence. Center Jake Seitz was held out of workouts because of a nagging chest muscle pull. - Doug Segrest, The Birmingham News

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers | Have met with Bowling Green WR Freddie Barnes

Wed, 17 Mar 2010


Aaron Wilson, of the National Football Post, reports the Pittsburgh Steelers have met with Bowling Green WR Freddie Barnes.



Latest News

03/17/2010 - Bowling Green Pro Day

Barnes garnered national attention last fall after catching a NCAA record 155 passes for 1,770 yards, including 19 touchdowns. Such productivity certainly played a role in attracting scouts from 14 NFL teams, which included those from Detroit, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

Lions scout Shawn Jefferson, who worked with Sheehan and the receivers during some passing drills, liked what he saw from Barnes. "Freddie will definitely be playing on Sundays," Jefferson said. "The thing that sticks out about this kid when you watch film on him is he is fearless. He will go across that middle and he will sacrifice his body and will go up and catch it and come down with it and fight for yards.

- Donald Emmons, The Toledo Blade

[RuthlessBurgher]

Sure seems like an awful lot of attention being paid to wideout prospects, which is odd, since with Ward, Holmes, Wallace, Randle El, Battle, Sweed, and Greshem being 7 guys battling for what likely will be 5 roster spots, what is the point of drafting another WR if they have an extraordinarily slim chance at making the roster? I guess I could imagine them possibly drafting someone very late with the thought of stashing him on the practice squad perhaps :?:

[Oviedo]

Sure seems like an awful lot of attention being paid to wideout prospects, which is odd, since with Ward, Holmes, Wallace, Randle El, Battle, Sweed, and Greshem being 7 guys battling for what likely will be 5 roster spots, what is the point of drafting another WR if they have an extraordinarily slim chance at making the roster? I guess I could imagine them possibly drafting someone very late with the thought of stashing him on the practice squad perhaps :?:

I think we will definitely take a receivver in Rounds 3-5. Hines is an injury risk going forward and as much as a warrior as he is if he is starting to have hamstring problems and they recur that is really bad news. ARE is the Hines insurance policy. I think Battle was brought in exclusively for Special Teams. Sweed and Grisham hardly are locks for the roster.

Just makes sense to bring in a dvelopmental player like Webb or Barnes who won't be expected to start and can sit on the Practice Squad and learn. Could see us carry 6 WRs especially if a rookie you bring in shows potential as a returner which would move Logan off the roster. I thought I read somewhere that Webb has real potential as a returner.

[hawaiiansteel]

THE SLEEPER FILE

PROSPECTS TO WATCH FOR THE 2010 DRAFT

1. Cory Greenwood, LB, Concordia (Canada); 6-2, 236, 4.50 … Canadian universities have never been particularly fertile grounds for NFL teams looking for pro prospects, however, that may be changing ever so slowly. Last year, for example, former Western Ontario DT Vaughn Martin was a surprise 4th round pick by San Diego, while Bishop’s RB Jamall Lee also drew some interest and eventually signed as a free agent with Carolina. And earlier this month, the CIS got some attention from the NFL when Bishop’s WR Steven Turner blitzed a 4.31 40 clocking at the CFL’s draft evaluation camp. While some NFL teams could be attracted by Turner’s speed, he’s actually not all polished a receiver; in fact, the best prospect in Canadian college football this year is Concordia LB Cory Greenwood. Greenwood, the CIS defensive player of the year is a 6-2, 236-pound specimen who is an outstanding athlete. Indeed, Greenwood put up numbers at the CFL camp that would have put him among the top LBs at the combine. Greenwood, for example, ran a 4.50 40 which would have been the fastest time among players at the position; he also clocked a 4.22 short shuttle, which would have been the second best time among LBs at the combine, while posting a 40-inch vertical leap which also would have been #2 at the combine. For good measure, Greenwood also managed a more than adequate 24 reps in the bench press. While he is a workout warrior who is also known for the time he spends in the film room, Greenwood is a tough, physical player with sideline-to-sideline range and decent instincts in coverage. Overall, Greenwood had 72 tackles in 2009nwood, including a couple of sacks and three other tackles for loss in the short Canadian college 8-game schedule. Greenwood also held up reasnably well as one of the two Canadians invited to this year's Shrine game. The issue though for Greenwood is that while he is a good athlete, he is very raw and will clearly need some developmental time to make it at the next level. There is also a question whether he is better suited to play inside or outside. Greenwood has mostly played ILB in Canada, but may be atd undersized for that slot in the NFL, while he is not necessarily a natural pass rusher off the edge.

http://www.gbnreport.com/sleeperfile.html

[jj28west]

Thanks for sharing. That is why these NFL scouts get the big bucks is situations like these to where you would be able to tell if he has what "it" takes.