We will do a running update format here for a while as the Combine drill results begin to flow in from Indianapolis.
You want to know how many scouting files the Eagles have to manage while at the Combine? G.M. Howie Roseman said that the team has 3,000 reports in the Eagles’ draft database and at least four reports on each of the prospects who are projected to go in the first four rounds.
Howie and new head coach Doug Pederson were doing some serious gum-flapping at Indy in the days leading up to the physical drills. Here are some quotables:
On salary cap space— Eagles’ cap space is tight, but there is money to spend…according to OverTheCap.com, the Eagles are exactly in the middle of the league when it comes to salary cap space with approximately $26 million based on an estimated $155 million total cap (the final number is yet to be determined).
“It’s tight this year. It’s tighter next year. It’s tighter than it’s been,” Roseman said. The tight cap is one of the reasons why the Eagles have yet to make a determination on whether they will use either the franchise or transition tag. “We’ve got to build a team. We’ve got to add players and we’d like to add more than one player this offseason,” Roseman said.
On using a 3-running back system— At Kansas City Doug Pederson shaped the 2015 offense around his three running backs — Knile Davis, Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West. He says he plans to take the same approach with the Eagles running and short passing game:
“There’s three different running backs on the roster [Murray, Sproles, Mathews]. You can’t take three different running backs and make them one running back,” said Pederson explaining how the Eagles will run out of various formations in 2016. “The different style I’ll bring utilizes all three.”
On the future of veteran all-pro left tackle Jason Peters— “I think he can [be an elite left tackle] again. I’ve got the utmost confidence in Jason Peters,” said Pederson, who admitted that he will need to likely manage Peters differently than other players during the season. “I think he’s excited and ready to go come April 4 when we get started. I think there are several good years ahead for Jason Peters.”
Pederson didn’t come right out and say he is looking for new pieces at guard and a future replacement for Peters. But he said that it is a “good offensive line draft,” and that the team will also explore free agent options who can come in and help right away.
On drafting a quarterback in 2016— Pederson says he wants to groom a rookie QB and the Eagles will likely draft one this year.
“I think every team needs to draft a quarterback, and I’m a believer that you have to keep the pipeline coming,” Pederson said. “You need to consider drafting a quarterback, whether you need one or not, in the first, second or third round. … I still think you bring guys in to keep the pipeline of quarterbacks going.”
Welp, there’s a starting point for all our draftniks and Mach-arena contestants for guessing which position groups deserve most of your attention this weekend. I will stumble back in from time to time to add more Combine meat to this blurger.
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EARLY REVIEWS OF STANDOUT COMBINE PERFORMANCES
It was the O-Line guys and running backs on Friday. Here are the standouts as selected by Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net :
OT Jason Spriggs, Indiana: “It was predicted that Spriggs would be the top tester on the offensive line and he did not disappoint. After completing 31 reps on the bench he was fastest in the 40-yard dash timing in the low 4.9s, including a 10-yard split of 1.75 seconds. He jumped the farthest in the broad (9-5) and turned in one of the fastest short-shuttle times (4.44 seconds) of the day. During the drills Spriggs looked athletic, natural and enthusiastic. He’s cemented himself as a first-round pick.”
C/G Joe Thuney, North Carolina State: “Thuney was another lineman who tested as well as most anticipated. His numbers included 4.93 seconds in the 40-yard dash (1.70 10-yard split), 4.54 seconds in the short shuttle and a 3-cone time of 7.47 seconds, all terrific marks. Thuney stood out in drills displaying great fundamentals, quickness and explosion in his game.”
OT Jack Conklin, Michigan State: “Conklin started the day well with a 40-yard dash time that dipped under 5.0 seconds on a number of watches. During position drills he looked tenacious, powerful and did not show much stiffness in his game. Conklin also completed 25 reps on the bench press after his arms measured 35 inches. His 3-cone time (7.63 seconds) and short shuttle (4.57 seconds) were both very good marks.”
OL Caleb Benenoch, UCLA: “Benenoch was another offensive lineman who timed well in the 40-yard dash with a clocking of 4.96-seconds which included a 10-yard split of 1.67-seconds, a very good mark. He looked athletic during drills showing quick feet and excellent lateral movement skills.”
G Joe Dahl, Washington State: “Dahl’s testing numbers were solid and he really stood out during the drill segment. Dahl was fundamentally sound and very smooth. He showed great knee bend, easily moved laterally and showed great patience, not trying to out-guess coaches or opponents. Considering he’s still not 100 percent after breaking a bone in his foot last season, it was a terrific performance from Dahl.”
C Jacob Brendel, UCLA: “Brendel was one of the surprise participants this morning and looked much more athletic than scouts expected. His 40-yard dash time was right around 5.0 flat with a 10-yard split of 1.71 seconds. Brendel also posted the best short shuttle (4.27 seconds) and 3-cone (7.31 seconds) times of the day. He took to the coaching during position drills and showed next-level footwork and quickness.”
[Mississippi offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil did not participate in any of the testing events, but looked terrific in position drills according to Tony Pauline.]RB Tyler Ervin, San Jose State: “Ervin was fast, explosive and athletic during both the testing segment and the position drills. He clocked 4.39 seconds in the 40-yard dash, touched 39 inches in the vertical jump and posted a broad jump of 10-10. He translated that speed into position drills and displayed a good change of direction, quickly getting in and out of breaks. Finally, Ervin looked exceptional in pass catching drills.”
RB Derrick Henry, Alabama: “The Heisman Trophy-winner looked every bit the part and really improved his draft stock. Henry measured 6-2.5 and 247 pounds, timed in the low-to-mid 4.5s during the 40-yard dash while also touching 37 inches in the vertical jump as well as 10-10 in the broad. He looked terrific in drills displaying a natural, fluid style in all areas and caught the ball well in both the short and long field. Henry may have solidified himself as a first-round pick with his performance today.”
RB Daniel Lasco, California: “Lasco was one of the stars of testing from the running back group. His marks included 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash, a vertical jump of 41 inches and a broad jump which touched 11-3.”
FB Dan Vitale, Northwestern: “Vitale quietly had a terrific Combine. After weighing in at 239 pounds he ran the 40-yard dash as fast as 4.58 seconds, posted a 3-cone time of 7.12 seconds, touched 38.5 inches in the vertical jump, 10-3 in the broad and also completed 30 reps on the bench. During drills Vitale really looked good catching the ball. He’s set himself up as the premier West Coast fullback in this draft.”
[Georgia running back Keith Marshall surprised a lot of people timing 4.31 seconds in the 40-yard dash after weighing in at 219 pounds. Marshall was highly rated coming out of high school, but had a very inconsistent college career.] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Here are Tony Pauline’s standouts from the QB, Wide Receiver and Tight End groups on Saturday:
1. QB Jared Goff, Cal – “Goff made a statement at the Combine today as to why I think he’s the top-rated quarterback in the draft. The junior signal-caller stood out in every way. His timing and anticipation were on the money despite the fact Goff was throwing to receivers he was unfamiliar with. Goff showed great accuracy and pass placement, gently placing throws into receivers’ hands. It was a big-time performance by Goff, who was under a lot of pressure.”
2. QB Carson Wentz, North Dakota State – “Wentz had a stronger arm than Goff though he wasn’t as accurate. Still, he had a very impressive Combine workout. He showed the ability to make all the throws and, like Goff, his timing was incredibly impressive. Receivers were almost never waiting for passes to arrive and Wentz had the ball to them as they exited breaks. He showed great arm strength and the ability to power the ball into targets.”
3. WR Will Fuller, Notre Dame – “Fuller started the day with a 40-yard dash time in the low 4.3’s, the fastest in the receiver group. He then caught the ball very well, making several difficult receptions in contorted positions, which quelled the concerns over the inconsistency of his hands.”
4. WR Josh Doctson, TCU – “Doctson ran 4.5 seconds in the 40 which was expected, then later stood out in position drills. He ran quick, crisp routes, showed great balance as well as consistent hands. His 41-inch vertical jump was the best from the receiver class while his 10-11 broad jump ranked second. Doctson showed the skills required to line up as a No. 2 receiver in the NFL.”
5. WR Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh – “Boyd ran just under 4.6 seconds in the 40, but put on a clinic catching the ball. He was smooth, balanced and played with great efficiency. Boyd easily hauled in several over-the-shoulder receptions down the field and showed soft, supple hands.”
6. WR Ricardo Lewis, Auburn – “Lewis started the day by running the forty in 4.43 seconds, much faster than scouts expected. His other marks including a 38-inch vertical jump, 11-0 broad jump and 18 reps on the bench, all ranked as top five performances at the receiver position. Lewis then looked terrific in position drills. Formerly graded as a last-day pick, Louis could be selected as early as the third round now.”
7. WR Chris Moore, Cincinnati – “Moore was another receiver who tested well then stood out catching the ball. After a 40 time in the low 4.5s, he posted a 37-inch vertical jump, 10-10 broad jump and a swift 3-cone time of 6.7 seconds. Moore improved his draft stock at least a full round.”
8. WR Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia – “Scouts were well aware of Mitchell’s pass-catching skills, but questioned his speed. His 40 time was in the mid 4.4s, almost a full tenth faster than scouts expected. Mitchell’s 10-yard split of 1.55 was also one of the best from the receiver group.”
9. TE Jerell Adams, South Carolina – “Adams was the fastest tight end of the day and his 40 time of 4.64 seconds bettered many of the marks run by receivers. Adams looked good catching the ball and in blocking drills. He was smooth moving around the field and showed a lot of explosion hitting the bag. Adams, graded as a late-round pick entering the season, will not get out of the middle rounds.”
10. WR Johnny Holton, Cincinnati – “Holton put on one of the grittiest performances of the Combine on Saturday. Struggling with a lingering hamstring injury, it was recommended that he not run the 40, but Holton did so anyway and timed in the mid 4.5’s, faster than expected. Holton later looked good in position drills, catching everything thrown in his direction.”
11. WR Devon Cajuste, Stanford – “Cajuste measured 6-4 and 234 pounds, then timed 4.62 in the 40-yard dash. During position drills, he ran solid routes and caught the ball very well. Teams are talking about moving Cajuste to tight end, but at the Combine he looked like a natural wideout.”
12. WR Keyarris Garrett, Tulsa – “Garrett timed the 40 in the low 4.5’s after weighing in at 220 pounds. During position drills, he looked natural, fluid and had no wasted motion. Garrett effortlessly caught the deep pass and was dependable in the short field.”
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Let’s give Tony Pauline a break and go to the Jacksonville Jags’ reporter Mike Kaye for a review of the Defensive Line/Linebacker standouts on Sunday—
“While players like Joey Bosa, Noah Spence and A’Shawn Robinson have been hyped to no end, other competitors along the defensive line out-shined the poster boys at their positions. ”
“With several “tweener” talents impressing at the combine, plenty of prospects were asked to move around in drills they were unaccustomed to and they delivered. With the Jaguars running a hybrid-style defense, the impressive performances may have added to the team’s list of pass rushing options.”
“While Bosa and Spence underwhelmed in speed drills, they did show off their talent and athleticism in position drills. Bosa was actually asked to participate in “conversion drills” which put him at linebacker and he was able to drop into coverage with smooth and subtle movement. He lacks ball skills, which is to be expected, but showed he can handle dropping into space. His appeal won’t take a hit because of his 4.86 forty-yard dash.”
“Spence performed well in his position drills, as expected. However, he ran a 4.80 forty time, which was much slower than most pundits had him pegged. Spence wins with speed and athleticism on tape, but ran a pinch faster than Bosa, who is known more his power and technique. It’s likely a frustrating turn of events for Spence, but his 7.21-second 3 Cone drill, will keep smiles on faces.”
“Florida defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard and Oklahoma State defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah stood out with explosive burst and quick forty yard dash times for their size. They also showed up in position drills. Both could be on the Jaguars’ radar if they decide to trade down from the No. 5 pick or if they were to trade back into the bottom 1/3 of the first round in April.”
“As previously mentioned, Bullard was a standout on Sunday. He was joined by defensive end Alex McCalister, who ran a 4.80 forty yard dash and had an incredible broad jump (128 inches) to go along with a ridiculously-impressive 3 Cone drill (7.01). Florida State was represented by defensive tackle Nile Lawrence-Stample (who did not compete in movement drills), defensive end Giorgio Newberry and linebacker Terrance Smith.”
“Georgia’s top talent was on display with linebackers Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins and defensive tackle Chris Mayes. Floyd and Jenkins seem to be on the cusp of the first round but will likely be in consideration in the early selections of Day 2. Floyd ran a 4.60 forty yard dash, while Jenkins posted a 4.80 in the same drill.”
Lobbying for linebackers—
“Speed was the key for linebackers on Sunday. LSU’s Deion Jones, Ohio State’s Darron Lee and Vanderbilt’s Stephen Weatherly stood out in that regard. Lee is going to be a first round pick and has similar talent to Telvin Smith. While I have him pegged as a 4-3 weakside linebacker, I wouldn’t be surprised if 3-4 teams had interest in him as an inside linebacker.”
“A player that really stood out to me was linebacker B.J. Goodson of Clemson. He’s an intriguing middle linebacker prospect with strength and speed to make up for his 6-foot-1 height. He was the top linebacker prospect in the bench press with 30 reps and ran an impressive 4.69 forty yard dash. He will be a guy to watch on Day 2 of the draft if the Jaguars plan to find Paul Posluszny’s successor this offseason.”
“Georgia’s Jenkins, who I discussed above, screams Otto linebacker to me. If the Jaguars are looking for a legit playmaker at the position, Jenkins may be the guy in the 2nd round. He has good speed, plays well in space, can cover and most importantly, can blitz and rush the passer.”
- “A lot of Sunday’s media coverage revolved around Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche. He had the infamous fall from the window before his team’s bowl game and if that wasn’t bad enough, his media interviews have seemingly been trainwrecks. That said, getting upset about him alluding to Laremy Tunsil’s involvement in the incident is a bit foolish. NFL teams are very good about investigating prospects, especially top talent, and were likely aware of the details before Nkemdiche’s interviews. I remember hearing whispers of Tunsil’s inclusion at the East-West Shrine Game in January. I’m not sure that will hurt Tunsil’s draft stock at all.”
- “Jaguars linebacker coach Robert Saleh ran “conversion” drills for the defensive lineman group that featured Spence, McCallister and Ogbah. Saleh was at Dante Fowler’s pro day last offseason.”
- “Oklahoma defender Charles Tapper stood out in every drill. He will be interesting to watch moving forward. He could be a sleeper candidate at Otto linebacker for the Jaguars.”
- “I reported on Sunday that the Jaguars have met with Oregon offensive lineman Tyler Johnson. He ran very impressive 3 Cone at 7.31 seconds, which means he has the ability to pull and play in space. He could be an interesting player to watch as the process continues.”
Follow Mike Kaye on Twitter at @Mike_E_Kaye.
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