Mack Injured, No go at Combine

[calmkiller]

Per PFT

CAL’S MACK SIDELINED FOR COMBINE
Posted by Aaron Wilson on February 18, 2009, 9:55 a.m.

Highly-regarded Cal center Alex Mack won’t be able to endure the rigors of the NFL scouting combine this week due to a sprained ankle he suffered Monday, NFL Network’s Adam Schefter reports.

Mack is considered one of the top interior offensive line prospects in the draft and has been projected as a first-round pick by many draft analysts.

Now, Mack will be limited to the meet-and-greet aspect of the scouting combine, which is also important in the mass job interview that will go on in Indianapolis this week. Mack said he’ll rehab his injury and prepare for his Pro Day in Berkeley, Calif., on March 18.

“While preparing for the combine on Monday with my trainer, I suffered a sprained ankle,” Mack said. “The injury isn’t serious, but unfortunately, it is going to keep me from working out this week in Indianapolis.

“No one is more disappointed than me, as I have been working tirelessly to further prove myself as a first-round pick. However, I don’t want to perform at anything less than 100 percent.”

That makes sense.

Although NFL teams would undoubtedly be impressed if Mack was to gut it out and go through the drills on a bad ankle, it’s possible he could wind up making the injury worse and hurt his draft stock.

Hopefully the slide will start. Come on baby....

[WoodleyofTroy]

Re: Mack Injured, No go at Combine

Heath Miller part 2.

[Oviedo]

Re: Mack Injured, No go at Combine

I guess you can't bench press with a sprained ankle.

We need warriors not prima donas trying to game the system.

[WoodleyofTroy]

Re: Mack Injured, No go at Combine

If he doesn't participate, I think it's safe to say that this will be our pick at #32. I haven't felt this confident in a pick since Ben and Heath, especially this soon.

Here's to not blowing the 2nd round.

[WoodleyofTroy]

Re: Mack Injured, No go at Combine

On a day when most teams used almost all of the 15 minutes allotted for their first-round picks, there were more than 10 minutes remaining when NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue stepped to the podium to announced Pittsburgh's selection in the NFL Draft.

Steelers fans in attendance roared in approval at the announcement of Virginia tight end Heath Miller.

Pittsburgh took Miller with the 30th pick overall, making him the Cavaliers' first first-round draft pick since running back Thomas Jones in 2000 and the first of coach Al Groh's four-year UVa coaching tenure.

"Two players really fell to teams that had to have their fingers crossed, [Oklahoma wide receiver] Mark Clayton falling to Baltimore at No.22, and Heath Miller," draft analyst Mel Kiper said on ESPN. "This was a player looked at and targeted as a Steeler two [or] three months ago."

Miller was the first tight end selected and might have gone higher if not for January surgery for a "sports hernia," a groin condition caused by persistent twisting. Miller did not participate in the NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis and has not participated in individual workouts.

"Heath has been given a timetable that we feel very comfortable with," coach Bill Cowher said. "We feel that he will be ready to go, maybe not in the mini-camp we've got coming up, but certainly by training camp. The same doctor performed the same surgery on [Steelers' defensive back] Deshay Townsend and he's recovering very nicely."

"We just feel he's a great fit for what we want to do."

Miller had been projected as a New York Jets pick in many mock drafts, but the Jets traded the 26th pick for Oakland tight end Doug Jolley.

[stlrz d]

Re: Mack Injured, No go at Combine

I guess you can't bench press with a sprained ankle.

We need warriors not prima donas trying to game the system.

If you have your feet on the floor when benching it puts pressure on your ankles and knees. If you don't put your feet on the floor you can't bench as much.

I don't blame a guy for protecting himself. If he tries to bench and hurts himself he costs himself money. If he tries to bench and can't bench as much because he's not putting pressure on his ankle he costs himself money.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: Mack Injured, No go at Combine

I guess you can't bench press with a sprained ankle.

We need warriors not prima donas trying to game the system.

Unger up! If Mack doesn't work out at all he slides to 2nd round. Unger could pass him with a strong combine and be the 1st INTERIOR OL off the board.

[WoodleyofTroy]

Re: Mack Injured, No go at Combine

I guess you can't bench press with a sprained ankle.

We need warriors not prima donas trying to game the system.

Unger up! If Mack doesn't work out at all he slides to 2nd round. Unger could pass him with a strong combine and be the 1st INTERIOR OL off the board.

Or it just means Mack falls to us at #32.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Mack Injured, No go at Combine

The Steelers will conduct a 15 minute long one-on-one interview him at the combine (which is the most important part of the combine anyway...talking to these kids instead of getting essentially meaningless numbers like 40 times, broad jumps, and vertical leaps).

The Steelers will attend his Pro Day on 3-18-08.

The Steelers will invite Mack to their facility prior to the draft as well.

We will get plenty of information on this kid whether he works out this weekend or not.

[Ozey74]

Re: Mack Injured, No go at Combine

Miller had been projected as a New York Jets pick in many mock drafts, but the Jets traded the 26th pick for Oakland tight end Doug Jolley.

This worked out great!

[Jom112]

Re: Mack Injured, No go at Combine

I guess you can't bench press with a sprained ankle.

We need warriors not prima donas trying to game the system.

Unger up! If Mack doesn't work out at all he slides to 2nd round. Unger could pass him with a strong combine and be the 1st INTERIOR OL off the board.

I hope is that you guys take Unger and let Mack drop to the 2nd round. Mack is far and away better than Unger.

People are toting Unger's versatility but in reality does anyone think Unger is going to be able to play OT in the NFL? Just because he did it in college a couple of seasons ago doesn't mean he can do it in the NFL. Mack has shown that he is the better Center and Guard than Unger. I don't see Unger being better than Mack in the NFL...

[Lebsteel]

Re: Mack Injured, No go at Combine

I guess you can't bench press with a sprained ankle.

We need warriors not prima donas trying to game the system.

Unger up! If Mack doesn't work out at all he slides to 2nd round. Unger could pass him with a strong combine and be the 1st INTERIOR OL off the board.

I hope is that you guys take Unger and let Mack drop to the 2nd round. Mack is far and away better than Unger.

People are toting Unger's versatility but in reality does anyone think Unger is going to be able to play OT in the NFL? Just because he did it in college a couple of seasons ago doesn't mean he can do it in the NFL. Mack has shown that he is the better Center and Guard than Unger. I don't see Unger being better than Mack in the NFL...

Jom, pardon my ignorance, but, are you a respectable Bungal fan? I totally agree about Mack, but I hope we grab him at #32.

What is up with Mike Mayock at NFL.com? He has Mack ranked as the #3 center behind Unger and Wood. I think everywhere else I have looked, Mack is the top center. I seriously doubt that Unger could play LT or even RT in the NFL. First of all, he seems a little too slow and secondly, he would have to put on another 20 lbs. to play tackle, so if he is slow now, what will the extra weight do to him?

[steelsnis]

Re: Mack Injured, No go at Combine

We need warriors not prima donas trying to game the system.

That's a bit shortsighted isn't it??? From what I recall, Lamar Woodley was invited to the combine but had a hamstring injury and chose not to workout. He worked out later at his own pro day.

I'd challenge anyone who thinks Woodley's a prima donna. In fact, it's funny how overrated the combine actually is. Here's a recap of Woodley from before the draft from Scout.com:

Lamarr Woodley/Michigan: We wrote last week that Woodley's workout performances had been so poor it was decided he would not participate at the combine. That is exactly what happened today as he did nothing. People close to the situation told us Woodley has been intimidated since the first day of Senior Bowl practice, when he was beat up on then came up lame with a hamstring injury. That injury is questionable to many. The same people told us there is a fear on Woodley's behalf of performing poorly. Regardless, his stock is taking a major tumble and right now he is a stretch to stay in the top 60 picks.

I'd have a hard time negatively judging Mack because he isn't working out in Indy.

[Jom112]

Re: Mack Injured, No go at Combine

I guess you can't bench press with a sprained ankle.

We need warriors not prima donas trying to game the system.

Unger up! If Mack doesn't work out at all he slides to 2nd round. Unger could pass him with a strong combine and be the 1st INTERIOR OL off the board.

I hope is that you guys take Unger and let Mack drop to the 2nd round. Mack is far and away better than Unger.

People are toting Unger's versatility but in reality does anyone think Unger is going to be able to play OT in the NFL? Just because he did it in college a couple of seasons ago doesn't mean he can do it in the NFL. Mack has shown that he is the better Center and Guard than Unger. I don't see Unger being better than Mack in the NFL...

Jom, pardon my ignorance, but, are you a respectable Bungal fan? I totally agree about Mack, but I hope we grab him at #32.

What is up with Mike Mayock at NFL.com? He has Mack ranked as the #3 center behind Unger and Wood. I think everywhere else I have looked, Mack is the top center. I seriously doubt that Unger could play LT or even RT in the NFL. First of all, he seems a little too slow and secondly, he would have to put on another 20 lbs. to play tackle, so if he is slow now, what will the extra weight do to him?

I'm not sure what Mike Mayock was thinking. It could just be a case of someone having different rankings just for the sake of having different rankings. I do think Wood is the second best Center though right behind Mack. I would be happy with Mack or Wood.

And yes I am a Bengals fan...

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: Mack Injured, No go at Combine

I guess you can't bench press with a sprained ankle.

We need warriors not prima donas trying to game the system.

Unger up! If Mack doesn't work out at all he slides to 2nd round. Unger could pass him with a strong combine and be the 1st INTERIOR OL off the board.

Or it just means Mack falls to us at #32.

I want Mack...I am picking him in my mock. I like him better than Unger. My statement might be misunderstood. It was meant more on the line of your statement. Maybe I should have said "Mack slides to the 2nd round...If the Steelers were not picking #32!" I hope he doesn't work out at his Proday! Someone help me hold this net!!!!