2011 NFL Combine: Risers & Fallers

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: 2011 NFL Combine: Risers & Fallers

I'm sure this is why Jimmy Smith is off the Steelers' draft board, you don't want a guy who outright lies in his interviews.


Combine's Biggest Fallers




6. Colorado CB Jimmy Smith

Another athletic phenom with major character concerns, Smith did not disappoint in timed drills in Indy. The definition of a "size corner" at 6-foot-2 1/4 and 211 pounds, Smith blazed the track with an official 4.46 forty, unofficially timing as fast as 4.38. Smith also repped 225 pounds 24 times to rank second among cornerbacks at the Combine. Multiple reports have suggested Smith's poor football character will cost him dearly in April, however, and he admitted to only one past arrest in his media interview. Smith was arrested at least twice in college and failed multiple drug tests.

More Smith measurables: 9 3/4" hands, 36" vertical, 10'3" broad jump, 6.93 three cone


Where do yinz think he will go? I have seen him listed in some mock drafts at the end of the first round. If he is there at 31 (BPA) and all the first round rated OL,DL are gone to you take him there?

When would you take a chance on him? If he falls to the mid of the second round do you start asking about trading up to grab him?

Rumor has it that he has been removed from the Steeler draft board entirely.

[steeler_george]

Re: 2011 NFL Combine: Risers & Fallers

I am just as skeptic of him as you are, but no deinying it Smith has talent, just like Holmes does.

What is that LB for Cinc, M.....?, that dropped in the second. If I am not mistaken, he had first round grade, but his character dropped him in the second. I don't think he has been any trouble since being in Cincy, which is kind of odd. I am think maybe Smith would be like this kid.

Just wondering if Smith is a risk taking a look at during the draft.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: 2011 NFL Combine: Risers & Fallers

FCS Defensive Draft Possibilities

By Craig Haley, FCS Executive Director

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - There's not a lot of middle ground with the 2011 NFL Draft defensive possibilities from Football Championship Subdivision programs.

And we're not just talking about the lack of prospects at linebacker.

Teams probably have decidedly different opinions on some of the top prospects.

For example, some teams may find Hampton defensive end Kenrick Ellis too much of an athletic beast to pass up come the third round. To others, he might be too much trouble to consider using even a fifth-round pick on.

Richmond defensive tackle Martin Parker and Chattanooga cornerback Buster Skrine are examples of players who raised their perception at a postseason all-star game or the NFL Combine. That late boost might mean how one team perceives them is several rounds away from what other teams are thinking.

Time will tell who's right.

Following are capsules of the top FCS defensive draft possibilities for April 28-30:



Hampton's Kenrick Ellis projects to be a prototypical nose tackle in a 3-4 defense.

Kenrick Ellis, DT, Hampton, 6-5, 346

Projected Round: Fourth

The lowdown: The Jamaican-born Ellis has such a rare blend of size and athleticism that NFL scouts should be salivating over him. However, he has had enough off-the-field problems to push him down a few rounds. Keep in mind he was a major-college talent who first attended the University of South Carolina, but then was dismissed from the team in his freshman year, reportedly for multiple failed drug tests. He also reportedly was arrested for assault last April after punching another man in a fight. After being suspended for Hampton's season opener, he overcame his inconsistent career with a dominant senior season, racking up 15 tackles for loss for the second straight year. He enjoyed a big week at the NFLPA All-Star Game (formerly Texas vs. The Nation). He's a run-stopper who could be a prototypical nose tackle in a 3-4 defense, although Hampton used him in a 4-3. He possesses brute strength, but is so athletic that he doesn't always try to overpower offensive linemen with his size. His work habits have been questioned, yet another red flag with this major talent.

Korey Lindsey-Woods, CB, Southern Illinois, 5-11, 188

Projected Round: Fourth/Fifth

Southern Illinois CB Korey Lindsey-Woods should be a mid-round draft selection.
The lowdown: It remains puzzling that Lindsey-Woods was not invited to the NFL Combine. His former teammate, running back Deji Karim, didn't get a combine invite last year, but was drafted in the sixth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars and accounted for himself as a rookie. Lindsey-Woods' ball-hawking style is his biggest asset. He collected six interceptions in both his sophomore and junior seasons, but he's so good in coverage that opposing quarterbacks shied away from him this past season. He has excellent speed and is a sure tackler. The potential is there for him to develop into a NFL starter.

Martin Parker, DT, Richmond, 6-2, 303

Projected Round: Fifth/Sixth

The lowdown: NFL teams took more notice of Parker after he earned defensive player of the game honors for his disruptive play at the East-West Shrine Game (with a pair of sacks and a forced fumble). His athleticism and quickness give him a versatile style for shedding blockers. As a senior, he led all CAA defensive linemen in tackles per game (8.7) and was second in total sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (13.5). He was a two-time finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the FCS defensive player of the year. He's a sleeper if enough NFL teams aren't giving him his due.

Buster Skrine, CB, Chattanooga, 5-9 1/2, 186

Projected Round: Fifth/Sixth

The lowdown: Skrine (pronounced "screen") was under the radar at Chattanooga, and had several poor games last season, but he made himself more known because of the speed he blazed at the NFL Combine. He had unofficial times of 4.29 and 4.36 seconds in the 40, though a later clocking put the official time at 4.48. Still, SI.com called him the "fastest man from the 2011 combine". Despite possessing great ball skills, Skrine is small, so he probably will be pushed around by the many bigger receivers in the NFL. The two-time All-Southern Conference first-team selection would be the Mocs' first draft selection in 10 years.

Mark LeGree, FS, Appalachian State, 5-11 1/2, 210

Projected Round: Sixth

The lowdown: The three-time Buck Buchanan Award finalist possesses terrific instincts. Better against the pass than the run, he ended his career with 22 interceptions, which ranks second in Southern Conference history. He has a strong body. If he had a little more foot speed (4.56 seconds in the 40- yard dash), NFL teams would be lining up to convert him to a hard-hitting cornerback. A hamstring injury last November pull kept him out of a possible showcase game against the University of Florida, but he enjoyed one of the most decorated careers in App State history.

Cortez Allen, CB/FS, The Citadel, 6-1, 197

Projected Round: Sixth/Seventh

The lowdown: The Citadel coaches moved Allen around in their secondary, so he has versatile skills. His long arms allow him to play a physical style. He needs to be more efficient in his man-to-man coverage, but his speed, excellent hip movement and natural skills often allow him to overcome his mistakes. He performed well at East-West Shrine Game practices and then in the NFL Combine drills. NFLDraftScout.com has compared Allen to Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who played in the FCS at Tennessee State. It wouldn't be surprising if a team reaches up to select him.

Justin Rogers, CB/KR, Richmond, 5-10, 183

Projected Round: Sixth/Seventh

The lowdown: A poor showing in the measurables at the NFL Combine has dropped Rogers' perception. With 4.48 speed in the 40, his game is built on speed. His closing speed makes him outstanding in zone coverage, but he has shutdown abilities as well. He turned heads at East-West Shrine Game practices with his ability to break up passes, but then had the poor combine. He earned All- CAA Football first-team honors in each of the past four seasons and became the conference's all-time leader in kickoff return yardage as a senior.

Frank Kearse, DT, Alabama A&M, 6-4, 310

Projected Round: Seventh/Undrafted Free Agent

The lowdown: An intelligent player, Kearse would be particularly effective in a 3-4 defense. He is a run-stopper who makes good use of his hands. He dropped weight for his senior season and was highly productive with 57 tackles, including 14 for losses. Scouts have noted that he needs to play with a nastier streak, so he has been working to get stronger. The SWAC isn't producing NFL players like in years' past.

Tommy Irvin, SS, Wofford, 6-0, 205

Projected Round: Seventh/Undrafted Free Agent

The lowdown: There's no outstanding skill in Irvin's game, but all the good ones add up in a nice way. JBScouting.com considers Irvin to be one of the true sleepers of the draft after he did not receive invites to any all-star games or the NFL Combine. Irvin gets to the ball in both pass and run coverages. He picked off four passes as a senior and led Wofford in tackles in each of his final two seasons.

D.J. Smith, ILB, Appalachian State, 5-11, 237

Projected Round: Seventh/Undrafted Free Agent

The lowdown: Smith played mostly weakside linebacker at App State, but figures to make the move inside in a NFL camp, where he can cover running backs and tight ends in pass coverage. He should be valuable on return teams, too. He's an instinctive player who finished his career as the FCS's active leader with 525 tackles. With 4.7-plus speed in the 40, he isn't exceptionally fast for his position, hence the lower projection for a player of such productivity. He did nothing but experience winning in high school and college.

Other Key FCS Hopefuls: Isaiah Abdul-Quddus, SS, Fordham, 6-0, 200; Markell Carter, OLB, Central Arkansas, 6-4, 250; Jabara Williams, OLB, Stephen F. Austin, 6-2, 223; Ibrahim Abdulai, DT, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 6-1 1/2, 310; Erik Clanton, OLB, The Citadel, 6-2 1/2, 240; Anthony Walters, FS, Delaware, 6-0, 200; John Eddy, ILB, Northern Colorado, 6-2 1/2, 240; Josh Gatlin, CB, North Dakota State, 6-0, 195

BEST NFL DEFENSIVE PROSPECTS BY FCS CONFERENCE

Big Sky: John Eddy, ILB, Northern Colorado, 6-2 1/2, 240

Big South: Dominique Davenport, SS, Coastal Carolina, 5-11, 212

CAA Football: Martin Parker, DT, Richmond, 6-2, 303

Great West: Marty Mohamed, OLB, Cal Poly, 6-1, 233

Ivy League: Alex Gross, ILB, Columbia, 5-11, 225

MEAC: Kenrick Ellis, DT, Hampton, 6-5, 346

Missouri Valley: Korey Lindsey-Woods, CB, Southern Illinois, 5-11, 188

Northeast Conference: Alex DiMichele, ILB, Robert Morris, 6-0, 240

Ohio Valley Conference: Eugene Clifford, SS, Tennessee State, 6-0 1/2, 205

Patriot League: Isaiah Abdul-Quddus, SS, Fordham, 6-0, 200

Pioneer Football League: Dain Taylor, DE/OLB, Drake, 6-3, 251

Southern Conference: Mark LeGree, FS, Appalachian State, 5-11 1/2, 210

Southland Conference: Markell Carter, OLB, Central Arkansas, 6-4, 250

SWAC: Frank Kearse, DT, Alabama A&M, 6-4, 310

[url="http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2/misc/haley/index.htm"]http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnf ... /index.htm[/url]

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: 2011 NFL Combine: Risers & Fallers

Citadel's Allen sets bar high at NFL combine

BY JEFF HARTSELL
[email="jhartsell@postandcourier.com"]jhartsell@postandcourier.com[/email]
Wednesday, March 9, 2011


Through the luck of the alphabetic draw, Cortez Allen found himself going first in his group in all the drills at the NFL Scouting Combine last week.

First among the defensive backs to be prodded by a panel of doctors. First to bench press 225 pounds. And first to experience what might be the most important 4-point-something seconds of an NFL prospect's life, the 40-yard dash.



Michael Conroy/AP

Citadel defensive back Cortez Allen's broad jump of 10-9 was tops among cornerbacks at the NFL combine, as was his 60-yard shuttle time of 10.87 seconds.

"When I first saw that, I was like, 'Wow, I'm first at everything, I hope I don't mess up,' " Allen said. "But I tried to look at it like, I've got a chance to set the bar. I'm the first one up, the first one to get looked at. And as the days went by, it was cool that I was the first. I was the guy who set the standard."

The former Citadel cornerback set a fairly high standard at the combine, enhancing his rep as a small-school prospect, much like former Bulldogs teammate Andre Roberts. The 6-1 1/2, 197-pound Allen earned solid reviews for his performance in Indianapolis, and he might have earned middle to late-round money in the process.

In fact, he will reportedly work out for the New England Patriots today.

"(The combine) is a job interview like one you will never have again in your life," said Allen, a native of Ocala, Fla., who earned All-Southern Conference honors during his career at The Citadel. "But you are not just interviewing with one company. There are 32 different companies who are hiring. You are doing it all at once, and you have one chance to make your impression. It's pretty crazy."

Allen went in well prepared for this job interview. A good week of practice at the East-West Shrine Game in Orlando helped him earn an invitation to the NFL combine. And he trained for months with other athletes from XAM Sports, the agency that represents Roberts, who just finished his rookie season with the Cardinals.

"Andre's advice has been invaluable for me," Allen said. "He's been very helpful in this whole process. He told me, 'You are as good or better than everybody there. Just have faith in yourself and go all out.' "

Defensive backs were among the last groups to hit the field at the Colts' Lucas Oil Stadium for the bulk of their combine drills last Tuesday. But there was plenty for Allen to do before that, beginning with the doctors.

"As soon as you get off the plane in Indy, you go to your hotel room and then you are right back on the shuttle bus to the hospital," Allen said. "Blood, urine samples, MRIs, X-rays -- every test you can think of."

Doctors were particularly interested in the knee injury Allen suffered as a freshman at The Citadel, but everything checked out well. The second day brought a complete physical exam.

"You've got five doctors pulling your shoulders, legs, knees, making sure everything is stable," Allen said. "They check your vision, flexibility, everything."

Coaches and scouts from NFL teams were just as inquisitive. Allen estimated he spoke with about 25 teams.

"They want to know how and where you grew up, do you have any red flags like a criminal history or suspensions in high school," he said. "Some talk more about you as a person, some want you to go in there and talk about the defenses you've played, what you would do against this kind of route, to make sure you know the game."

The third day brought the bench press (Allen did 18 reps at 225 pounds) and the infamous Wonderlic test, a battery of 50 questions in 12 minutes.

"They don't tell you the score," he said. "But I wouldn't say the questions are hard. I feel like I did pretty well."

Last Tuesday was the big day for DBs, highlighted by the 40-yard dash. Allen was timed as low as 4.45 seconds, though his official time was recorded at 4.51.

His broad jump of 10 feet, 9 inches was tops among cornerbacks, as was his 60-yard shuttle time of 10.87 seconds. His 20-yard shuttle (4.01 seconds) and three-cone drill (6.76) were very competitive.

A report on SI.com included Allen among players who improved their stock at the combine:

"The small-school corner, who received a late invitation to the combine, proved his worth on the field," the report said. "His 40 times were solid, averaging 4.50 seconds and his position work was outstanding. Allen quickly moved in reverse displaying NFL caliber footwork and smooth hips. He looked athletic in all the routines and proved himself worthy of a middle-round selection."

Now that the combine is over, the work doesn't stop for Allen. His pro day is set for March at The Citadel, where former teammates such as Demetrius Jackson and Erik Clanton will also work out. Then there are individual workouts and interviews with interested teams in advance of the NFL draft, set for April 28-30.

"There's no slack-off after the combine," he said. "But it's all worth it to get where you want to go."

[url="http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/mar/09/citadels-allen-sets-bar-high-at-nfl-combine/"]http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011 ... l-combine/[/url]

[NJ-STEELER]

Re: 2011 NFL Combine: Risers & Fallers

I'm sure this is why Jimmy Smith is off the Steelers' draft board, you don't want a guy who outright lies in his interviews.


Combine's Biggest Fallers




6. Colorado CB Jimmy Smith

Another athletic phenom with major character concerns, Smith did not disappoint in timed drills in Indy. The definition of a "size corner" at 6-foot-2 1/4 and 211 pounds, Smith blazed the track with an official 4.46 forty, unofficially timing as fast as 4.38. Smith also repped 225 pounds 24 times to rank second among cornerbacks at the Combine. Multiple reports have suggested Smith's poor football character will cost him dearly in April, however, and he admitted to only one past arrest in his media interview. Smith was arrested at least twice in college and failed multiple drug tests.

More Smith measurables: 9 3/4" hands, 36" vertical, 10'3" broad jump, 6.93 three cone


Where do yinz think he will go? I have seen him listed in some mock drafts at the end of the first round. If he is there at 31 (BPA) and all the first round rated OL,DL are gone to you take him there?

When would you take a chance on him? If he falls to the mid of the second round do you start asking about trading up to grab him?

Wouldn't touch him. Don't need another Stupidio Holmes.

personally, i'd take another superbowl MVP at the # 31 overall pick

[The Sodfather]

Re: 2011 NFL Combine: Risers & Fallers

If he did lie about the number of arrest that will piss teams off more than anything.

He certainly is a first round talent.