The media may have been entirely focused on Manti Te'o and his workout today, but there was far more to be gathered than just how the Notre Dame linebacker would perform. There were some quite notable outings among the defensive linemen and linebackers alike. Who helped (or hurt) themselves the most on Monday?
- Among several standout performances in the defensive lineman groupings was that of Missouri's Sheldon Richardson. He's listed as a defensive tackle, but at times he flashes the athleticism of an edge rusher. With the unfortunate news of Star Lotulelei's heart condition, there's an opportunity for Richardson to claim the title of being the top rated defensive tackle. He made the best of that opportunity today.
- Shariff Floyd wasn't about to let Richardson steal the spotlight, however. He looked agile and didn't lose steam as his workouts progressed, like many linemen did. With the questions surrounding Lotulelei's health, Floyd and Richardson probably leave the Indy tied in most people's minds.
- Ziggy Ansah is proving to be a defensive coach's dream. He showed off great athleticism, and more importantly looked smooth and comfortable in linebacker drills. An outstanding physical specimen and a blank slate technique wise, he may have some of the best upside in the draft.
- Not all the defensive linemen helped themselves. Damontre Moore's rough week continued. After disappointing on the bench press, he ran only a 4.95 on his first attempt and then injured his hamstring on his second run.
- Bjoern Werner looked stiff at times and stood up too much during drills. It's correctable, but it's still a concern in his game. It's also going to limit him exclusively 4-3 teams, whereas other prospects are more versatile.
- On the other hand, Barkevious Mingo looked to be, as expected, extremely athletic and versatile. His 4.58 forty speaks for itself, as did his 10'8 broad jump. His hips stood out the most though, as his looked every bit capable of playing as a linebacker.
- Manti Te'o's performance confirmed exactly what he'd shown on tape during his final year. He didn't perform well in any drills designed to test explosion, but as an inside linebacker who performs best against the run, no one expected him to.
- Dion Jordan worked out with defensive linemen, but he left no doubt that he projects to a great outside linebacker at the next level. In comparison to the other defensive linemen, Jordan's smooth hips and overall fluidity stood out even more.
- Alec Ogletree needed to have a great workout to bounce back from a DUI arrest, but he didn't necessarily get the result he was looking for. He looked uncomfortable in several position drills.
- Sio Moore had a great day in just about every respect. His numbers were great, but teams also had to love the leadership he displayed. He was constantly working to keep his group mates motivated. He also looked great in the shuffle drill, where many linebackers (such as Ogletree) struggled.
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