Day One: 2/25/2012 Offensive Linemen and Tight Ends
What I’m watching for:
Offensive Line: The important things to watch today for the offensive line are the vertical jump and the individual drills. The vertical jump drill shows explosion and the individuals will show basic skills for the line. These two things are important for the O line. I’m not watching the O line run the forty because a line man isn’t going to travel very far on most plays, I am interested in their time for the first ten yards but I wouldn’t expect much separation.
Tight Ends: With the tight ends, I am interested in their 40 times in addition to their vertical jump and the individual drills specifically the gauntlet drill. I want to see the tight ends run because in today’s NFL many tight ends are asked to split out and be a real threat in the passing game. The vertical jump drill will still be important for showing explosion for blocking, which tight ends still have to do. Many coaches don’t like the gauntlet drill but I do because it’s a quick way to show whether or not the player can catch.
Most Impressive:
Offensive Lineman: David Decastro
Offensive lineman David Decastro from Stanford had a great combine. His numbers were respectable but his real strength, as expected, came in the individual drills. Decastro is a technician and the coaches at the combine recognized this. He was often selected to demonstrate the on field drills which is a sign that the coaches respect his ability to follow directions and execute the drills. When he got out to the drills he looked fluid. Decastro is a guy I’d look to draft early on in April.
Tight End: James Hannah
James Hannah from Oklahoma had an impressive day on the field. He put up good times in the 60 yard shuttle, 20 yard shuttle, three-cone drill, and the 40 yard dash. The big knock on him coming into the combine was a lack of speed and he answered that question today.
Biggest Mover: David Molk
The man who has moved up the most through working out at the combine today didn’t even participate in most of the drills. He is coming off an injury that won’t allow him to run right now but the work he did in the weight room should be enough to move him up a couple of rounds. Prior to the combine Michigan’s David Molk was a fifth to seventh round pick but after putting up seven more bench reps than any other offensive line man he will probably be selected between the third and fourth rounds. He put up 41 reps on the bench press at 225.
Seahawks Focus: Nate Potter
If I was a member of the Seahawks front office, the gentleman working out today that I would make sure to watch is Nate Potter from Boise State. Nate Potter is not going to be a starting lineman in the NFL but he is a smart player who should be able to back up multiple positions. His vertical jump was not elite but he showed good quickness in the 3 cone drill.
Day Two: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and Receivers
What I’m watching for:
Quarterbacks: Unless your name is Robert Griffin the Third, I do not care what you run at the combine. I want to see the quarterbacks throw and that’s all I want to see from them. The problem is most of the QB’s won’t throw so there isn’t much you can learn from the combine with quarterbacks.
Running Backs: I need to see the running backs run the forty and the three cone drill. I want to see them run the forty because while top end speed is not a necessity for a good running back it is a nice bonus. What I’m really interested in is the three cone drill. A good time in the three cone drill will show the quickness necessary for making the cuts needed in today’s running game.
Receivers: I want to know their forty times and I want to see them run routes. A receiver with high end speed can take the top off of a defense, making it easier to run the ball and throw short passes. Seeing them run routes is the way you can learn the most about a receiver. A receiver who runs clean routes can make his way in the NFL without much speed or even the ability to catch the ball, look at Wes Welker.
Most Impressive:
Quarterback: Brandon Weeden
Most people are giving this spot to either Robert Griffin the Third or Andrew Luck, but they didn’t throw. I only care about how well the quarterbacks throw. The QB who impressed me most was Brandon Weeden. He may be old but he looked good throwing the ball, especially when he went deep and to the side line. He made one of the hardest throws in the NFL look easy. Robert Griffin the Third’s forty time, at 4.41, was impressive but his choice not to throw barred him from winning this award.
Running Back: LaMichael James
I’m not suggesting drafting LaMichael early on but he did have a good day at the combine. Of course he is the kind of guy who was always going to win at the combine. Anyone who has watched the ducks play the last couple of years knows that LaMichael can fly and he proved it at the combine. He was among the top performers in all of the running drills as was expected his 4.45 40 time was tied for the second fastest.
Receiver: Justin Blackmon
Blackmon didn’t participate in workouts but that didn’t stop him from having an impressive day. Blackmon did participate in route running and the gauntlet. He ran good clean routes and made some nice catches. He caught every ball in the gauntlet drill and he did it easily.
Biggest Mover: The value of the second overall pick
Robert Griffin the Third won the combine in a lot of people’s eyes. His athletic numbers impressed people and have led teams to be ready to shell out a lot of value for the Ram’s pick. Before the combine, the pick might have been worth a first and second round pick. Now there is speculation that the team trading for the second pick in this year’s draft is going to have to give up two firsts and two seconds. The Rams were the happiest team in the league after Griffin’s workout.
Seahawks Focus: Brock Osweiller.
I like big Brock and believe that the Seahawks should too. At 6 feet and almost 7 inches tall Brock will never have a problem seeing over his offensive linemen to throw the ball. If you watched him play at Arizona State you know that his height can only be seen as an advantage. Unfortunately a foot sprain kept him from running or throwing at the combine so we didn’t learn much about him. I’ll be watching his Pro Day to see if my faith is warranted.
Day Three: Defensive Linemen and Linebackers.
What I’m watching for:
Defensive Line: I want to see the defensive linemen running the individual drills above all else. I want to see how well they balance while moving and getting hit. If you can’t keep your balance as a defensive lineman you can’t play the game. I do care about the 40 yard dash for defensive linemen. A defensive lineman with a good forty yard dash time is going to be better off at pursuit than a slow defensive lineman.
Linebackers: I want to see the linebackers running the twenty yard shuttle. The twenty yard shuttle will show the linebackers ability to cover the field sideline to sideline. A linebacker who can cover sideline to sideline opens up opportunities for other players on the defense.
Most impressive:
Defensive Lineman: Dontari Poe
After his combine performance Poe is drawing comparisons to Baltimore’s Pro Bowl lineman Haloti Ngata. Poe ran a sub-five second forty at nearly three hundred and fifty pounds. He looked fluid in the individual drills and managed to keep his balance throughout all of the drills. His 44 reps on the bench press were the highest by far of all the defensive linemen.
Linebacker: Mychal Kendricks
He ran the fastest forty yard dash of all the linebackers. He jumped out of the gym in the vertical and jumped 10 feet seven inches in the broad jump. Athletically he blew it out of the water. Then came the individual drills and he looked fluid there too.
Biggest Mover: Dontari Poe
Poe’s game film didn’t show the kind of consistency on tape to warrant being a first round pick but he won at the combine. Teams are going to fall in love with the athleticism he showed and he may not only jump into the first round but all the way into the top ten.
Seahawks Focus: Devon Still
The Seahawks need pass rush help at the defensive end position. Prior to the combine people were talking about Devon still as a potential choice. I think it is time to forget that idea. Still weighed in at 303 and ran a 5.08 forty time. These numbers do not scream pass rusher to me.
Day Four: Defensive Backs
What I’m watching for: I want to see the forty times of the defensive backs and I want to see them back pedal. If I’m going to draft a defensive back I need him to be fast going forwards and backwards.
Most Impressive: Biggest Mover: Seahawks Focus: Josh Robinson
The guy ran a 4.33 forty yard dash. That ought to be enough to impress you but if it isn’t you ought to take a look at his jumping numbers. 11 feet and one inch in the broad jump and 38.5 in the vertical makes him a top performer in both events. Before his monster combine he might not have been drafted now he is a fourth or fifth round pick. The fourth or fifth round is where the Seahawks ought to be looking at a defensive back. The Seahawks are strong at the defensive back positions, particularly safety. This doesn’t make taking a flyer on a player this athletic a bad idea.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
