2016 Combine

OK, stupid's too strong a word. It serves a purpose like I said in double checking what your first impression was when you watched tape.

I'll amend it to say "the combine is of very limited value to scouts."

Good example:

TEST: 40 YARD SPRINT ... Jerry Rice timed in 4.59 and was considered to have marginal speed for a starting NFL wide ...

I am of the opinion the NFL Combine is mostly a lot of fluff, hot air - Bull Shit.
But there is a narrow purpose for it and our GM Scot McCloughan stated it perfectly:

"This year we had 117 juniors come out, or underclassmen. Last year was 65. So that plays into it, too,” McCloughan said. “But that’s scary. That’s why it’s so important to be here and get measurable, get the medical, get the interview stuff with the juniors, the underclassmen. But it’s a strong draft, very strong.”

Medical exams, interviews and up close eye ball test is what this is really about. The rest is made for TV BS. If a players 40 time, bench press or other measurable changes your draft board, you are not a good GM. What they do on the field and against who (game film) is much more important than a Mike Mamula type work out.

Yeah there's what the fan thinks the combine's purpose is, and then there's what real GMs think the combine's purpose is. Getting to know the player and measure height and weight, get medical checks. Very valuable. But knowing how good a player is, you watch college football games for that.

robert nkemdiche , and reggie raglandI'm a fan of Ragland. He has good tape, comes from a team that runs NFL style defense and has produced quality LBs before. Ragland is versatile; he can play ILB and even has some OLB/edge rush ability at the Senior Bowl he played OLB.

Ragland's weight (he's reportedly gonna show up lighter then he was at the Senior Bowl), explosion and agility numbers are gonna be factors in whether he's available at 21 or long gone.

Player im on the look out for tomorrow: Procise tomorrow

DB Kevin Byard--Middle Tenn

I watched some of the OL and RB drills yesterday and I'd like to report (comment? express ignorant opinions?) on what I observed. Just so you know, I think there is value in watching these players work out at the Combine. You can get a direct comparison of the athleticism of players. So, here we go:

Of all the O-Lineman I saw, Laremy Tunsil and Ronnie Stanley were easily the most polished. Both of them have everything you could want in a LT. To keep it simple, I should just say "WOW!".

Jason Spriggs of Indiana also showed well at OT. Right now he's 6-6 301 and I'm sure he can carry more weight.

If we want a C in this draft, we'd better make our move early. Ryan Kelly and Nick Martin are both NFL starting material. After them, meh. Kelly is bigger and faster than Marin but hey are both very athletic and Martin has excellent quickness, if not speed. Kelly is a beast at 6-4 311 and although Martin came in at 6-4 299 he has the frame to play at 315 or thereabouts. So, two very fine center prospects, IMO.

At OG, Cody Whitehair and Chrisrian Westerman really stood out for their athleticism, especially Whitehair. Neither of them is big, as NFL guards go. That could be an issue for both of them. Westerman is very powerful and seems to be able to anchor against anybody.

Another OG who stood out was Sebastian Tretola. He's a bit slow but he has good quickness and an amazing lower body. Right now, he's 6-4 314 and I think he can improve his upper body. Tretola could become a real people mover.

At RB, Ezikiel Elliott is The Man! He has everything you want in a RB. He wowed me with his quick feet and his blinding lateral quickness. Derrick Henry is not far behind Elliot in athleticism. That really surprised me. Henry is 6-3 247. That is the kind of size than Scot M. loves. Those two were far and away the best looking RB prospects.

Kenneth Dixon has the best hands of any RB I saw. He's very athletic but he wasn't quite as fast as I expected. Nevertheless, he ran 4.55 at 5-10 216. I think he could become a very good 3rd Down back in the NFL.

C.J. Prosise was very solid at everything he did. At 6-0 220 he could handle some 1st and 2nd down carries, he's a very good receiver, he has very good speed, and he is supposed to be a ST maven. There is a lot to like about him.

Daniel Lasco may be the best athlete of the whole bunch. Does everything well. At 6-0 209, he's probably a 3rd Down back in the NFL. He's been hurt a lot.

Tyler Ervin of San Jose State is a good looking athlete. He can run and catch and he's been a good return man in college. He has a small frame at 5-10 192, so he would be limited to a 3rd down role and ST.

QBs I'm excited to see:

Paxton Lynch-underrated in my eyes, played under the same coach/system as Andy Dalton, for me he's as pro-ready as Goff or Wentz

Hackenberg, Jacoby B, Ark QB and Vernon Adams

WRs-
Tyler Boyd
Want to see him run a good 10 yard split and 40; if he does at least a 2nd round prospect

Similar question speed question about Higgins
Josh Doctsun and Corey Coleman- whose faster?

Shep from OU

Looking for who runs fluid but crisp routes with tight breaks little wasted movement

QBs I'm excited to see:

Paxton Lynch-underrated in my eyes, played under the same coach/system as Andy Dalton, for me he's as pro-ready as Goff or Wentz

Hackenberg, Jacoby B, Ark QB and Vernon Adams

WRs-
Tyler Boyd
Want to see him run a good 10 yard split and 40; if he does at least a 2nd round prospect

Similar question speed question about Higgins
Josh Doctsun and Corey Coleman- whose faster?

Shep from OU

Looking for who runs fluid but crisp routes with tight breaks little wasted movement

What is the appeal of Hackenberg? I watched a lot of Big Ten football and I thought he didn't play very well at all.

I watched some of the OL and RB drills yesterday and I'd like to report...Thanks for the breakdown. Didn't get to watch as much of the OL and haven't really been following them this year. Watched the re-cap and Spriggs stood out as lesser known (by me at least) OL with outstanding athleticism.

At RB, Ezikiel Elliott is The Man! He has everything you want in a RB. He wowed me with his quick feet and his blinding lateral quickness. Derrick Henry is not far behind Elliot in athleticism. That really surprised me. Henry is 6-3 247. That is the kind of size than Scot M. loves. Those two were far and away the best looking RB prospects.There have been some draftboards and mocks that have Elliott making to our pick at 21 but I side with the draftboards and mocks that think Zeke will be long gone.

I like Henry in the 2-3 round, big explosive back. His running style (not body type) reminds me of Murray; Eddie George size with speed. Not a lot of side to side wiggle but good downhill vision with speed and momentum. With an OL that keeps him clean in the backfield and build steam could put up good numbers.



C.J. Prosise was very solid at everything he did. At 6-0 220 he could handle some 1st and 2nd down carries, he's a very good receiver, he has very good speed, and he is supposed to be a ST maven. There is a lot to like about him.Alvin Walton? and I were discussing him a the RB thread. CJ backed up solid tape with good measurables. He's only been a RB for 1 season, so he's still learning he was a former WR.

Daniel Lasco may be the best athlete of the whole bunch.Explosive dude, that gets injured a bunch. Read that he's a special teams stud.
Fast dudes that can tackle and are tough build a solid special teams unit...gonna check him out on film

Tyler Ervin of San Jose State is a good looking athlete. He can run and catch and he's been a good return man in college. He has a small frame at 5-10 192, so he would be limited to a 3rd down role and ST.Never heard of this kid prior, so he's one of the people the combine will cause me to watch to on film. The NFLN guys were saying that despite his stature he toted the ball a ton some games 30+ carries. His quickness and speed are eye popping.