Who will the combines benefit most?

[shakes]

The obvious choices are Williams and Clarret. They've had two years to prepare for this workout, so it better be good.

 

A couple names I think it will help:

 

Justin Tuck DE-ND - An immense physical talent who is a natural fit for a 3-4 scheme. May sneak into 1st round.

 

Kyle Orton QB-Purdue - Has the arm strength teams covet. His type of deep ball potential has moved up lesser QB's in past drafts, i.e. Dave Ragone.

 

Antrell Rolle CB-Miami - Great athlete, if he can increase his forty time, he can hop into the top 10.

 

Just a few IMHO.

 

On the reverse side, who will it hurt?

[Palehosefan]

I think it will help Troy Williamson because I've been touting that it would for a while now, don't fail me TROY!!!

 

I think it will hurt Cedric Benson, I don't think his 40 time will be what people expect. Yes I know I'm out on a big limb, but we will see.

[AddisonStSox]

Well, a lot of the guys ranking anywhere from 8-15 ay any given position really look to impress at combines; a lot of times, its guys you would expect, but more times than not, the no-name prospects are the ones that put together really outstanding combines.

 

Believe it or not, a lot of teams already have their minds set on who they like or don't like by just having watched film. I know we stress the importance of combines, but really, they are for guys coming off injuries or stuck behind the depth charts at stacked universites.

 

Some guys to watch: Gore (RB Miami), Williams (WR ex-USC), Clarett (RB ex-OSU), Spears (DL LSU), Merriman (DE MARY), Rodgers (QB CAL), McPherson (QB Arena), Jones (CB WVU), Rolle (CB Miami)

 

I also threw a quick list together on the guys I think are going to get exposed during combines.

 

Orovsky (QB UConn)

McLendon (RB NCST)

McFadden (CB FSU)

 

Look for all three of those guys to get nailed with the "overrated" tag.

 

Personally, I want to see what kind of combines Gore, Williams, Clarett, Alex Smith, Derrick Johnson, and Antrel Rolle...also Cedric Benson and Ronnie Brown to a lesser degree have.

[AddisonStSox]

Great call on Orton.

 

Another QB to watch will be Andrew Walter of ASU; a lot of scouts expect him to have an awesome combine.

[soxhawks]

i think charlie frye and orton, much like rivers last year they are expected to go late first to second round, and i think frye has a better shot because of the way he played at the senior bowl

[Confederate_48]

I see some of you are listing Mike Williams but I heard hes not going to work out at the combine opting to have private workouts instead.

[T R U]

Well, a lot of the guys ranking anywhere from 8-15 ay any given position really look to impress at combines; a lot of times, its guys you would expect, but more times than not,  the no-name prospects are the ones that put together really outstanding combines.

 

Believe it or not, a lot of teams already have their minds set on who they like or don't like by just having watched film.  I know we stress the importance of combines, but really, they are for guys coming off injuries or stuck behind the depth charts at stacked universites.

 

Some guys to watch: Gore (RB Miami), Williams (WR ex-USC), Clarett (RB ex-OSU), Spears (DL LSU), Merriman (DE MARY), Rodgers (QB CAL), McPherson (QB Arena), Jones (CB WVU), Rolle (CB Miami)

 

I also threw a quick list together on the guys I think are going to get exposed during combines.

 

Orovsky (QB UConn)

McLendon (RB NCST)

McFadden (CB FSU)

 

Look for all three of those guys to get nailed with the "overrated" tag.

 

Personally, I want to see what kind of combines Gore, Williams, Clarett, Alex Smith, Derrick Johnson, and Antrel Rolle...also Cedric Benson and Ronnie Brown to a lesser degree have.

 

Benson chose not to work out...

 

Ronnie Brown just ran a 4.40 40

[AddisonStSox]

Per Footballsfuture.com

 

 

 

2005 NFL Combine Review

By: Andy Silvester

 

When flicking across the internet at the moment looking for combine news, the most common phrase seems to be “opted not to workout”. Aaron Rodgers, Alex Smith, Jamaal Brown, Channing Crowder and Antrel Rolle, to name a few, all abandoned the RCA Dome’s unforgiving turf and it’s position drills and will instead show off their wares at Pro Days. The results that came from those who did take part, however, were more than enough to keep tongues waggling for some time. Here, I’ll look at ten big winners – and five losers.

 

Winners

 

Adrian MacPherson, FSU, QB

He said he was a great athlete. His AFL performance suggested he was a great athlete. And now we know for sure – he’s a great athlete. He ran 4.69 in the 40 despite pulling a quad on his opening burst and generally showed off a hell of a body to anyone interested. He was strong in interviews, and he was probably the best in the position drills. His gambling misdemeanors aside, there’s no reason why he can’t go in the early rounds.

 

Aaron Rodgers, California, QB

It seems strange that a guy who didn’t take part in any position drills was the biggest winner at the Combine. After numerous scouts had panic attacks about his height, his 6’2 reading keeps him just ahead in the race to be the top QB off the board. There were also a boatload of questions about his mobility, and while his 4.71 40 won’t bring on Mike Vick comparisons it’s certainly good enough for the watching scouts.

 

Ronnie Brown, Auburn, RB

If you think about Ronnie Brown, you think of a big bruising back who’s more suited to running into rather than around defenders. But, what’s this? He clocked in at a bulky 233 lbs, but yet blazed a 4.44 in the 40 and may well have pushed himself right to the front of the pack in the backfield.

 

Troy Williamson, South Carolina, WR

His sub 4.4 time may well have pushed him over the bubble and secured him a spot in the top 20. While he wasn’t too impressive in both the drills and in interviews (not bad – just not exceptional) his speed will be a coveted factor come draft day.

 

Khalif Barnes, Washington, OT

Top-rated tackle Alex Barron sat out the combine, and Barnes took full advantage of his chance to vault over Barron in the tackle rankings. A 4.93 40 from a big tackle is nothing to be embarrassed about and he may now be the first tackle off the big board.

 

Luis Castillo, Northwestern, DT

Neither of the two biggest tackle prospects worked out in Indianapolis (Travis Johnson, FSU and Mike Patterson, USC). There’s a great opportunity for an “unknown” to punch right into the group, and it certainly appeared that this guy has done well. He weighed in at a solid 303lbs and ran his 40 in the good time of 4.79. His stock will certainly rise.

 

Demarcus Ware, Troy State, OLB

After a really strong Senior Bowl, Ware continued to impress visiting scouts with a first-rate showing at the Combine. At over 250lbs some scouts were concerned about his speed but a 4.56 40 will certainly alleviate their concerns. Although Texas’ Derrick Johnson will be the first outside linebacker taken, Ware has moved up into the 2 spot.

 

Robert McCune, Lousiville, ILB

Wow. In one of the most impressive displays by any linebacker in recent years in Indy, this quite frightening athletic specimen racked up 34 reps (more than all but one on defense) and ran 4.5 dead. If you want to talk about workout warriors, McCune’s your man, and his stock will surely soar after this stellar performance.

 

Fabian Washington, Nebraska, CB

Washington did the seemingly impossible in the last week; namely, breaking Deion Sanders’ longtime speed record at the combine. His 4.25 40 was probably the most astounding of all the astounding feats accomplished this year and he will now sprint up the rankings. Washington certainly made the most of his performance and has almost certainly got into second or third round consideration.

 

Carlos Rogers, Auburn, CB

Rogers may have cemented his position in the first round with a speedy 4.35 run and strong interviews. He certainly gave scouts lots to think about and it’s been reported that he’s first on a few teams draft boards.

 

Honorable mentions

Jamaal Brown, OT, Oklahoma

Jonothan Goddard, DE, Marshall

Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas

Darryl Blackstock, LB, Virginia

Chris McKenzie, CB, Arizona State

 

Every year at the combine, there are those who show up and do fabulously. Then again, there’s always a few who suffer big time and can never quite make up for a bad combine.

 

Maurice Clarett, Ohio State, RB

In the tumultuous life of Clarett, he can’t have many weeks as bad as the past one. After seeming at ease and impressing teams in both the media and personal interviews, it was time to show them what that body he’s been working on could do. The answer, it turned out, was not a lot. His two 40 times, 4.72 and 4.82, are simply not good enough for an NFL running back. Coming back from this woeful showing will not be easy, and it got a whole lot harder today with the news that he won’t be allowed to work out at Ohio State’s Pro Day. A second-day pick for sure, but it wouldn’t shock the world to see him on the street after the draft.

 

Richie Incognito, Nebraska, C

It was hard not to feel sympathy for Incognito after his injury on the dangerous RCA Dome turf caused mass hysteria among the scouts who were looking at him. He had been great in workouts and in interviews despite his troubled past, and he seemed to be making a fabulous impression. Though his MRI was negative, very few NFL teams will gamble an early pick on an injury concern.

 

Antajj Hawthorne, Wisconsin, DT

Hawthorne comes with a reputation for being a superb run-stuffer and a rock in the middle of the line. After his 5.25 40 time, the reason he’s a rock in the middle seems to be he lacks the mobility to go anywhere. His stock has plummeted as a result, and he’ll have to be awesome at the Pro Day to show he can compete.

 

Marlin Jackson, Michigan, CB

In the company of the awesome speeds clocked up by the other corners, Jackson’s performance was not a good sight. A “slow” 4.59 40 certainly has cost him any shot at the first round and many now struggle to get back into the 2nd round. Not a good combine for the ex-Wolverine.

 

Thomas Davis, Georgia, S

Disappointing seemed to be the buzz word concerning Davis and his sub-par running time (4.65) and low weight (230) has scouts wondering if he’ll be able to face the rigors of the NFL secondary. He’ll now most likely have to switch positions to LB and it would be something of a surprise to see him go in the first round, unless Brodney Pool and Ernest Shazor really screw up their Pro Days.

[witesoxfan]

Luis Castillo, Northwestern, DT

Neither of the two biggest tackle prospects worked out in Indianapolis (Travis Johnson, FSU and Mike Patterson, USC). There’s a great opportunity for an “unknown” to punch right into the group, and it certainly appeared that this guy has done well. He weighed in at a solid 303lbs and ran his 40 in the good time of 4.79. His stock will certainly rise.

 

lolz

 

So Maurice, how does it feel to be outrun by a 300 pound defensive tackle?