Combine countdown: potential 1st Round picks

[hawaiiansteel]

February 19, 2010

Combine countdown: Thomas, Williams and Williams

Continuing our look at the first-round picks and what those players need to show at next week's scouting combine. Thanks to NFL Draft Scout's Rob Rang, who helped me compose these thoughts ...

Earl Thomas, S, Texas, 5-10, 195
Thomas' biggest test in Indianapolis will be stepping on the scale. The Texas safety has tremendous range and great ball skills, but there are durability questions about Thomas, who is listed as 195 pounds. That's light for an NFL safety. Thomas also had some problems making tackles in the open field, leading scouts to wonder if he wouldn't be better off at cornerback in the NFL. Aside from Florida's Joe Haden, there aren't a lot of can't-miss cornerback prospects at the top of the draft. If Thomas runs his 40 in the low 4.4s or 4.3s, he would help convince teams he could make the conversion. There are certainly some talented NFL safeties who don't have a lot of size. The Colts' Bob Sanders, Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu and Baltimore's Ed Reed come to mind. All three of those players, however, were sidelined with injuries this past season and Reed is contemplating retirement. Said Rang of Thomas: "Durability is absolutely something teams have to consider."

Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee, 6-2, 329
On film, Williams was one of the strongest players in the nation last season, and Rang said he has no doubt he'll show that strength at the combine. Williams is not in the same category as defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy, but he might be the next-best interior defender in a draft that, for the first time in many years, is deep with them. Williams came on strong during his senior season. Mel Kiper, Jr., in fact, said that Williams' senior season catapulted him a round and a half higher than the level he had played his first three seasons. To Rang, that's the biggest question about Williams and one NFL teams will attempt to answer at the combine. "Was that (improvement) because of Monte Kiffin or is it because you want to get paid because you're a senior?"

Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma, 6-5, 318
The 49ers are almost a lock to take an offensive tackle in the first round, and Williams seems to be the one most prognosticators believe will land in red and gold. Williams' biggest issue as a senior was inconsistency. He played very well at right tackle as an underclassman, but when he switched to the left side as a senior, he struggled. Rang said he would look like a Top 10 pick on one play and then get beaten badly the next. "He'd be one of the guys I'd love to get in an interview room and ask, 'What were you thinking on this play?'" Rang said. There is also some concern that Williams is not as big as he was listed at Oklahoma. Meanwhile, Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford will not throw during the combine because he's still recovering from the shoulder injury he suffered early in 2009.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Combine countdown: potential 1st Round picks

February 18, 2010

Combine countdown: McClain, Odrick and Spiller

Continuing our look at potential first-round picks and what those players need to show at next week's scouting combine. Thanks to NFL Draft Scout's Rob Rang, who helped me with these thoughts ...

Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama, 6-4, 256
Like Texas' Sergio Kindle, McClain is another linebacker who promises to light up Indianapolis - both in the drills and in the meeting rooms. He's a big, long-armed linebacker with excellent upper body strength. Some teams think he's fast enough to be an outside linebacker, so scouts will pay close attention to his 40-yard dash time and other indicators of quickness. Rang admits that he isn't as jazzed about McClain as some other evaluators. He said that in game film the linebacker would look very instinctive one moment and not so instinctive the next. What scouts would like to see most from McClain is an ability to fight through blocks, something he would have to do as the 49ers' "Ted" linebacker and something that isn't tested at the combine. There's a sense that McClain was the beneficiary of an NFL-caliber defensive line at Alabama that included 370-pound nose tackle Terrence Cody. "He was so protected," Rang said. "I just feel like he hasn't passed every test that NFL scouts would like to see him pass."



Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State, 6-5, 301
Odrick is a safe pick. There's plenty of tape on him. He played well at the Senior Bowl. And he's consistent. His game film shows he plays with strength in the trenches, but scouts will be curious as to the type of weight he puts up on the bench press. Odrick is the type of guy who, if he dazzled with his athleticism, could climb higher into the first round. He appears to be a very good fit at defensive end in a 3-4 defense.


C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson, 5-11, 195.
The C.J. Spiller bandwagon is beginning to rev its engines and it should get even louder at the combine. Why? First, Spiller is expected to run a very fast 40 time (cross your fingers that he doesn't decide to put that off for his pro day) Second, this is a weak year for running backs and Spiller will get a lot of attention. As is the case with most running backs, Spiller's biggest obstacle in Indianapolis may be the battery of medical examinations he'll be subjected to. Teams will want to know whether he has an injury building up like Glenn Dorsey in 2008 or Michael Crabtree in 2009. Spiller had nagging foot and ankle injuries while at Clemson, but he fought through them, never missing a game in four seasons. Spiller is a four-year starter, which usually is a red flag when it comes to running backs. However, he only spent his senior season as the featured back, having split carries with James Davis his first three seasons. Spiller did not attend the Senior Bowl and his weigh in also will draw interest. Teams don't want to see a running back - even a third-down runner - too far below 200 pounds.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Combine countdown: potential 1st Round picks

February 14, 2010

Combine countdown: Graham, Iupati and Kindle


Brandon Graham, DE-OLB, Michigan, 6-1, 263
Graham had perhaps the best Senior Bowl of any player in Mobile, Ala. last month. And he has plenty of solid game film that proves his Senior Bowl performance was no fluke. What Graham needs to do in Indianapolis is show that he can drop back into coverage as a linebacker, something he rarely did in Ann Arbor and in Mobile. Drills that show Graham's agility - backpedaling, moving laterally - will be critical for him, especially with more teams moving to a 3-4 defense every year. Graham needs to show flexibility in his hips, something the 3-cone drill will help determine. He also would benefit from a strong 40-yard dash. ... In his latest mock draft, Rang doesn't even have Graham in the first round. But that's not because he's not impressed with the Michigan product, whom he says easily has performed like a first-round pick. Instead Rang notes that vertically challenged defensive ends typically are downgraded by NFL teams. "There's a ridiculous willingness to ignore talent and rely too much on the fact that he's too short," Rang said. "He's the exact same guy LaMarr Woodley was two years ago, and he dropped to the second round." I should add that Elvis Dumervil - a Barrows' draft crush in 2006 - fell to the fourth round. Dumervil, who stands 5-11, led the league in 2009 with 17 sacks. Woodley finished with 13 ½ sacks.



Mike Iupati, G, Idaho, 6-5, 325.
Iupati is another guy who showed what he can do at the Senior Bowl. He's strong, and it will be intriguing to see what he can do on the bench press. But he also has long arms, so he's not expected to produce mind-boggling numbers. The only thing that would raise eyebrows is if he finishes the bench press with a number in the teens. To Rang, Iupati's most crucial segment will be the interview section. He comes off as a very nice guy, and that's not always a desirable attribute in NFL circles. Teams that are willing to use a first-round pick on Iupati want to make sure he has an edge and that he has a true passion for football. Iupati could go in the middle of the first round - where the 49ers are picking - if a team is convinced he has what it takes to move to tackle, a la the Chiefs' Branden Albert a couple of years ago. However, it might be hard to see a team taking Iuapti that high if they see him purely as a guard. The basis of comparison is Steve Hutchinson, who was taken 17th overall by the Seahawks in 2001. Hutchinson was ferocious and consistently dominant at a big-time college program, Michigan. There were few doubts about him being dominant at the NFL level. Iupati has flashed Hutchinson-like ability, but has not had the consistency nor has he faced the same caliber of competition.


Sergio Kindle, DE-OLB, Texas, 6-4, 255
Kindle promises to be one of the stars of the combine because his game is based on athleticism. He gets off the line of scrimmage as fast as anyone and his vertical jump - which measures explosiveness - should be impressive. For Kindle, however, the question is instincts. According to Rang, Kindle just didn't seem to find the ball very well, and scouts and general managers will try to get a read on his football intelligence, perhaps having him draw up some Xs and Os on a white board in the meeting rooms. Kindle will have to prove that he's not more of an athlete than he is a football player. He'll also be asked why he decided not to take part in the Senior Bowl.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Combine countdown: potential 1st Round picks

February 12, 2010



Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa, 6-6, 312, junior.
Because Bulaga is an underclassmen, he did not take part in the Senior Bowl and was not weighed and measured there. Scouts obviously will be interested to find out exactly how he and the other underclassmen stack up. Bulaga's biggest question mark is medical. He was diagnosed with a thyroid condition three days after the season opener and missed three games. Bulaga suffered from shortness of breath in practice and was briefly hospitalized. The good news is that he seems to have overcome the issue. His play steadily improved as the year went on, and he had a very good showing in the Orange Bowl against a Georgia Tech team that had one of the best defenses in the country last year. Of all the offensive linemen projected as first-round picks, Bulaga and Maryland's Bruce Campbell seem to have the best feet for zone blocking.


Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland, 6-7, 310, junior.
When I visited the Maryland campus last year for a story on Vernon Davis, I, of course, had to check in with Terps strength coach Dwight Galt. As predicted, Galt gushed about Davis' weight-room prowess. But he also mentioned he had another pupil in Davis' mold. That's Campbell, who like Davis is a muscular, freakish athlete who will put up eye-popping numbers in the weight room. Rang said that Campbell is expected to perform so well in the 40-yard dash and agility tests that if he doesn't it could take him down the boards. In that way, he is a victim of high expectations. The most important part of the combine for Campbell, however, may be the interview process. Campbell only has 17 career starts at Maryland. He missed three starts as a junior last season --his first season as a full-time starter - due to an MCL sprain and turf toe, and he probably could have benefited from another full season. Because of that, there was some surprise that he chose to enter the draft as an underclassmen. Teams will be very interested in how he responds when they ask, "So, why are you here?"



Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers, 6-6, 325, junior.
The interview portion will be perhaps more critical with Davis than any prospect I'll be writing about. There's no question the big offensive lineman has talent, but he didn't have the best work ethic at Rutgers and struggled to maintain his weight. In that way, he's similar to former Alabama offensive lineman Andre Smith. The Bengals, who ended up selecting Smith sixth overall last year, reportedly have a "weight clause" in his contract. Davis, meanwhile, was suspended a game for violating team rules in 2008 and missed a team meeting in 2009. You can bet he'll get grilled about those incidents in Indianapolis. "Those are the types of questions they're going to hit him with," Rang said. "It's all going to come down to the interview with him."

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Combine countdown: potential 1st Round picks

you want to help our secondary next year? get more pressure on the opposing QB...

Miami Dolphins In Depth
Miami Herald


Brandon Graham, Michigan DE / 3-4 OLB


Maybe the Dolphins draft Rolando McClain because everyone loves the guy and everyone says he's going to be a star. Maybe they take Eric Berry (if he's there) because they need a playmaking free safety. Maybe they reach for a nose tackle or a wide receiver.

I still love Michigan's Brandon Graham.

Have I made that point to you guys enough this week? Even as the adoption papers are being drawn up, I wanted to share with you yet more reasons I think this star DE-OLB from Michigan is the real deal and should be considered at No. 12 overall -- contrary opinions from Mel Kiper and Todd McShay and all the other draft pundits notwithstanding.

I direct you to this interview Graham did with Scout.com during Senior Bowl week -- before he went off and won the game MVP award with five tackles and two sacks.

In the interview Graham says a couple of things that caught my attention:

He expects to run in the 4.5s at the Indianapolis Combine next week. And he loves the idea of playing 3-4 outside linebacker.

"Oh yeah, I feel real good," Graham says about dropping in coverage. "I've been working on my hips, working on my drops every day in practice for Michigan ... With a little coaching from the NFL guys, I believe I can get it done."

Graham has no shortage of confidence. And he couples that with something of a chip that dares naysayers to disbelieve he can do whatever he sets out to do. That's why he says he wants to run in the 4.5s at the Combine.

"I'm excited because I like it when people doubt me," he says. "That's just a challenge and I like challenges and I'm going to try to fulfill it. And if I don't, then I gave it my all and that's all I can say."

One thing Graham has shown in all his games and all the practices at the Senior Bowl was a seemingly infinite desire. He wants to be good. He wants to improve. He wants to get to the quarterback. He wants to be an NFL star.

"[I'm] just trying to show that my motor's always going," he says, "I love football and I want to make plays and sack the quarterback."

You combine want-to and talent and you know what you have?

A very good NFL player.

[Shawn]

Re: Combine countdown: potential 1st Round picks

I'm convinced that one of these three guys will be the pick unless a freak falls...

Thomas...Yes his size is an issue but he brings many things we need to the table. The guy is an elite ball hawk. He has a nose for big plays. He is a safety that covers like a corner. He can play DB, SS or FS. Even if we re-sign Clark he is the logical choice. He would provide instant depth at safety and even some competition to Gay. Thomas fresh out of school has to be better than Gay.

Williams-Though I'm a Cody fan...I don't believe Tomlin will be as impressed. He set a tone for his players...come in shape or don't come at all. I loved that he took Hampton to task about his weight. Cody with all his upside will not be a Tomlin guy. Williams is the safe bet...and you want safe bets with your #1 pick. You can find good FS's in the lower rounds but it's a bit harder to find the right guy to anchor your 3-4. This will certainly come into play with the decision making process. Williams is solid...strong...and is an immovable presence in the middle. He has Hampton potential. Considering this draft is weak with NT talent...there will be an early run on NTs. If you want your guy...you will need to grab him in the first. It would not shock me in the least if the Steelers went with the safest bet in the draft and that's Williams.

Odrick- I really like this guy and honestly would pick him over Williams. He is disruptive and probably the best fit for our system. His run stopping ability is elite. We have to get younger on our DL. I'm in the camp that we need to bring more pressure...and do it later in games. The only way we can do that is to spell our vets and keep em fresh in the 4th.

If I was in charge of the draft and had to pick with the info I have today...I would go with

1) Thomas
2) Odrick
3) Williams

[steelblood]

Re: Combine countdown: potential 1st Round picks

I love the doubt that this reviewer is putting around McClain. I hope that gathers steam and he silps.

[calmkiller]

Re: Combine countdown: potential 1st Round picks

I think Thomas will be our pick if he is there. Unless McClain drops somehow.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Combine countdown: potential 1st Round picks

Three Combine prospects, one goal: the first round

by Clifton Brown
Monday, Feb. 22, 2010

For the first time, the NFL draft will be a three-day event. Only 32 players will hear their name called April 22, when the draft begins with only the first round.

Some players are already first-round locks, such as Tennessee safety Eric Berry and Florida cornerback Joe Haden. Here are three not-so surefire prospects who need to improve their first-round standing this week, when the NFL Combine begins Wednesday in Indianapolis:


Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland. At least two offensive tackles are rated higher than Campbell, Rutgers' Anthony Davis and Oklahoma State's Russell Okung. However, Kiper believes Campbell has the athleticism to spike his stock.

"His numbers at the Combine and individual workout wise should be spectacular," Kiper said. "Even though he didn't always play like a first-round pick, his physical gifts and his potential will almost put him in the late first-round area."

Campbell's job is to convince scouts that he can play left tackle in the NFL, and that he is better than two other tackles who are first-round candidates, Oklahoma's Trent Williams and Iowa's Bryan Bulaga.

A good showing by Campbell would make him intriguing for the Packers (No. 23), who need to do a better job protecting Aaron Rodgers, or the Cowboys (No. 27), who were manhandled by the Vikings' front four during the playoffs.


Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama. Many believe Cody has already eaten himself out of the first round, after weighing in at 370 pounds at the Senior Bowl. If he weighs closer to 350 in Indianapolis, he could regain first-round consideration faster than you can say "hold the French fries."

Remember this: Cody can play. He projects very well as a run-stopping nose tackle in a 3-4. That makes him valuable to a team such as the Chargers (No. 2.

Nobody's weight at the Combine will carry more weight than Cody's. The heavier he is, the further he may slide, but if he stays in decent shape leading up to the draft, teams looking for nose tackles will need to look Cody's way.

"He's the space-eater that certain teams in the first round will target," Kiper said. "Some teams will say third or fourth round. Whether it's Pittsburgh at 18, San Diego at 28, or somewhere in between, there you could see Cody come off the board. I think he's a late first-round pick.

"There's value with Cody, there's no question about that. He occupies, he frees up the linebackers, and he loves to play the game. His weight's always going to fluctuate, and that's going to be an issue."


Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers. His twin brother, Jason McCourty, was a drafted in the sixth round by the Titans last year, and contributed immediately as a backup cornerback. Devin is regarded as the better player, and after a strong Senior Bowl, McCourty has a chance to be a first-round pick if he impresses scouts in Indianapolis.

"I think he's one of those guys who'll probably go in the second or third round, but he'll play a long time for you," said Gil Brandt, former Cowboys vice president of player personnel and NFL.com analyst. "He has good ball skills. I'd never compare him to Darrelle Revis, but he has ball skills that in some ways remind you of Revis."


These five offensive players will also have much at stake this week at the Combine:

Colt McCoy, QB, Texas. With Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen, and Tim Tebow not throwing in Indy, McCoy can move up to at least the second round by displaying an NFL ready arm. "We are a quarterback driven league," said Bills coach Chan Gailey, a team with quarterback issues. "You have to have a quality player there."

Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech. If he erases concerns about his weight and pass-catching ability, he has the talent to be one of the first five running backs selected.

Jahvid Best, RB, California. He suffered a severe concussion last season. He could be a first-rounder, but concerns about his health after medical evaluations could cause him to drop.

Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa. Bulaga, a likely first-rounder, needs to assure scouts he can handle left tackle in the NFL.

Maurkice Pouncey, G/C, Florida. By showing the aptitude and ability to play both center and guard, he could sneak into the late first round.

[Shawn]

Re: Combine countdown: potential 1st Round picks

Yeah Cody would be a real possibility if Tomlin was Cowher. But, by history he isn't going there with his first round pick. If he decides to go with NT...he will grab Williams...the sure thing despite the lower ceiling.

[Oviedo]

Re: Combine countdown: potential 1st Round picks

Yeah Cody would be a real possibility if Tomlin was Cowher. But, by history he isn't going there with his first round pick. If he decides to go with NT...he will grab Williams...the sure thing despite the lower ceiling.

I disagree that Williams has a lower ceiling. Williams is reliable whereas Cody will be a nightmare trying to keep on the field from an injury and conditioning standpoint. IMO Cody has reached his ceiling and will be nothing more than a two down run stuffer in a league that passes more than it runs. Cody will be a total non-factor in pass defense where Williams can get after the QB.

[SteelerSal]

Re: Combine countdown: potential 1st Round picks

Yeah Cody would be a real possibility if Tomlin was Cowher. But, by history he isn't going there with his first round pick. If he decides to go with NT...he will grab Williams...the sure thing despite the lower ceiling.

I disagree that Williams has a lower ceiling. Williams is reliable whereas Cody will be a nightmare trying to keep on the field from an injury and conditioning standpoint. IMO Cody has reached his ceiling and will be nothing more than a two down run stuffer in a league that passes more than it runs. Cody will be a total non-factor in pass defense where Williams can get after the QB.

I agree.....if we do go after a DT, I want a full timer, not one that comes out in pass situations (like Hampton).

[ramblinjim]

Re: Combine countdown: potential 1st Round picks

Some good NFL coaching could knock the fat off of that boy. Take the big NT in the first and Pouncey in the second and let them beat the crap out of each other for a year while the vets play. Then pick up Rolle in the third...

I see the makings of a bad mock draft!

[stlrz d]

Re: Combine countdown: potential 1st Round picks

Yeah Cody would be a real possibility if Tomlin was Cowher. But, by history he isn't going there with his first round pick. If he decides to go with NT...he will grab Williams...the sure thing despite the lower ceiling.

I disagree that Williams has a lower ceiling. Williams is reliable whereas Cody will be a nightmare trying to keep on the field from an injury and conditioning standpoint. IMO Cody has reached his ceiling and will be nothing more than a two down run stuffer in a league that passes more than it runs. Cody will be a total non-factor in pass defense where Williams can get after the QB.

I agree.....if we do go after a DT, I want a full timer, not one that comes out in pass situations (like Hampton).

With the rules favoring the pass in the NFL LeBeau likes to go to packages that have more linebackers and d-backs on the field in obvious passing situations.

[SteelerSal]

Re: Combine countdown: potential 1st Round picks

Yeah Cody would be a real possibility if Tomlin was Cowher. But, by history he isn't going there with his first round pick. If he decides to go with NT...he will grab Williams...the sure thing despite the lower ceiling.

I disagree that Williams has a lower ceiling. Williams is reliable whereas Cody will be a nightmare trying to keep on the field from an injury and conditioning standpoint. IMO Cody has reached his ceiling and will be nothing more than a two down run stuffer in a league that passes more than it runs. Cody will be a total non-factor in pass defense where Williams can get after the QB.

I agree.....if we do go after a DT, I want a full timer, not one that comes out in pass situations (like Hampton).

With the rules favoring the pass in the NFL LeBeau likes to go to packages that have more linebackers and d-backs on the field in obvious passing situations.

I understand that and thats what I want to continue to happen, but if we take a guy in the first round and pay him the big bucks, I want him to be the complete package...not a part timer by only being a run stuffer but also being able to get to the quarterback.