War Room's 2011 Combine coverage....

After weight increase, USC's Smith is poised to move up boards

Russ Lande
Sporting News


INDIANAPOLIS — Although the on-field workouts don't begin until Saturday, the first group of players went through the weigh-in Thursday and there were some impressive and not-so-impressive prospects:

• USC junior OT Tyron Smith has been viewed as a first-round prospect ever since he declared early for the draft. There was concern about his size and potential to add bulk because he played in the 280-pound range last season. But Smith weighed in Thursday at 307 pounds, which should ease concerns about his ability to add the necessary weight. He also was measured at 6-5 with long arms (36 3/8 inches) and big hands (11 inches), so he clearly has the size to play left tackle in the NFL. If he performs well Saturday in the drills, he will lock up a spot in the top 15.
Despite not being able to workout, Kyle Rudolph impressed scouts with his measureables. (AP Photo)

• TCU OT/G Marcus Cannon and Florida G Carl Johnson didn't help themselves, as they both recorded weights too high for them to be effective in the NFL. Cannon, who played left tackle at TCU, is a very good athlete and has the physical tools to play tackle in the NFL when he's in shape and playing with great technique. But at 358, his weight on Thursday, he can't move well enough to play outside and would have to play guard. Johnson is already a late-round prospect, and by showing up at 361 pounds, he raised concerns about his work ethic.

• Regarded as a light interior lineman, Rodney Hudson helped his cause by arriving at 299 pounds. He was often dominant at Florida State despite rumors that he played in the high 280s. After weighing 291 at the Senior Bowl, he has added even more weight, which eases concerns that he can't carry enough weight to play inside. If he works out well this weekend and proves he can handle nearly 300 pounds on his frame without losing athleticism and movement skills, he could shoot up draft boards to lock up a spot in the high second round.

• Cincinnati C Jason Kelce has been called a sleeper, and scouts were eager to see him show off his athleticism in Indy. However, the enthusiasm about him waned when he weighed in at only 280 pounds with 32½-inch arms and 9½-inch hands. His lack of bulk and arm length could cause him to slide from the fourth round to the sixth or seventh round.

• Though he still has to pass all the medical tests to alleviate concerns about the hamstring he tore last season, Notre Dame TE Kyle Rudolph started off well by looking very good at the weigh-in. Rudolph has a solid all-around frame -- he measured in at 6-6 1/8, 259 pounds with no flab on his body -- that NFL teams love. When you add in 34-inch arms and 10¾ hands, he has the right measurables for the NFL. If he passes the medical exams without any issues, he could end up being a top-20 pick.

• By measuring at less than 6-3, Arkansas' D.J. Williams (6-2, 245) and Tulsa's Charles Clay (6-2 7/8, 249) showed why they are considered more H-back prospects than true in-line tight ends. However, we believe both Williams and Clay will display the athleticism and receiving skills this weekend to convince teams they have the talent to be productive receiving tight ends in the NFL.

• Villanova OL Ben Ijalana is one of the most intriguing small-school prospects because he is such a good athlete. Normally, when a lineman measures under 6-4 (Ijalana was 6-3 5/8), he is ticketed to play inside. But Ijalana has 36-inch arms and 10½-inch hands, which are ideal for an offensive tackle. Although he lacks ideal height, he will likely stay at tackle on most draft boards because he has the feet to play outside. And with his long arms and big hands, he should be able to make up for the height issue.

• Colorado OT Nate Solder and Florida Atlantic TE Rob Housler looked good in today's weigh-in, and scouts believe they could really shine in workouts as both are considered top athletes at their position. If Solder blows up his workout, he could enter the battle for the No. 1 tackle spot that includes Boston College's Anthony Castonzo and Smith. With a great workout, Housler could end up as the second tight end drafted behind Rudolph.

Why would guys show up at the combine out of shape like that?

That's just stunning.

Aaron Gibson part 2.

Watkins it is. I had hopes for Cannon.

Combine Dish: QBs clear up size concerns

Russ Lande
Sporting News


INDIANAPOLIS — Only the specialists hit the field Friday to work out, but it was still an interesting day at the Combine.

Here are some of the players who grabbed our attention.

Players who helped their standing

Cam Newton, QB, Auburn; Blaine Gabbert, QB Missouri: As underclassmen who entered the draft early, the NFL was concerned about both. But each showed good size and proved to be solidly built.

Randall Cobb, WR Kentucky: Cobb, also an underclassman, had already impressed scouts who saw him only on film. His size, an initial concern, should be cleared up after he measured 5-10¼ and 191 pounds and looked solid.

Matt Bosher, P Miami: Bosher showed a strong leg and the ability to turn the ball over and drive it with no trouble. One issue was that he showed only adequate quickness catching the ball and getting off the punt.

Ryan Donahue, P Iowa: Donahue showed a strong leg and drove the ball with ease. He displayed the elite leg strength that NFL teams want, and showed good hands in catching the ball and getting rid of the punt quickly.

Kai Forbath, K, UCLA: Forbath, an accurate placekicker at UCLA, needed to show scouts that he could kick off, something he struggled with in school. On Friday, he drove the ball well, likely easing those concerns.


Players who hurt their standing:

Jock Sanders, WR/RB West Virginia; Dion Lewis, RB Pittsburgh: Both measured at below 5-7 and looked it. They both showed they could struggle to stick in the NFL because they lack the size to be consistently effective in pass protection as third-down backs.

Charles Henry, P Florida: Henry struggled on Friday, and did not look like he would be able to play in the NFL. He lacked the leg strength to drive the ball or turn it over consistently.

Reid Forrest, P Washington State: Forrest did not show the explosive leg power to be an NFL punter.

Jacob Rogers, K Cincinnati: Rogers struggled with kickoffs, meaning any team that drafts and keeps him would need to employ a kickoff specialist.


Players who helped and hurt their standing

Jacquizz Rodgers, RB Oregon State: Rodgers measured at just 5-5 7/8, but weighed in at 196 pounds and looked strong for a short back. That should help him overcome his lack of ideal size.

After weight increase, USC's Smith is poised to move up boards

Russ Lande
Sporting News

• TCU OT/G Marcus Cannon and Florida G Carl Johnson didn't help themselves, as they both recorded weights too high for them to be effective in the NFL. Cannon, who played left tackle at TCU, is a very good athlete and has the physical tools to play tackle in the NFL when he's in shape and playing with great technique. But at 358, his weight on Thursday, he can't move well enough to play outside and would have to play guard. Johnson is already a late-round prospect, and by showing up at 361 pounds, he raised concerns about his work ethic.

Keep reading...

I don't know what this Lande is talking about, but I just got through watching Cannon run the 40 and he looked damn good for being the heaviest OLineman there. He's not blob that's for sure. He's a thick and squat guy, the kind you would want for an interior lineman, and he can move all 358 lbs. I believe he ran the 40 as fast as Constanzo at 5.25, and Constanzo is 315 lbs. One thing to read about a guy, but then you have to see for yourself.


And he is no Aaron Gibson part 2.

MichaelWinicki said:

Why would guys show up at the combine out of shape like that?

That's just stunning.

Keep reading...

sbk92 said:

Jacob Rogers, K Cincinnati: Rogers struggled with kickoffs, meaning any team that drafts and keeps him would need to employ a kickoff specialist.

Keep reading...

So the former gem of Parcells busted out, went back to school and moved to kicker?

Bill Parcells.

The only reason the Cowboys have any shot to contend today.

I think I might add the combine stuff thread to this one.

Cr122 said:

I think I might add the combine stuff thread to this one.

Keep reading...

Keep them separate. This is for the War Room stuff.

Stop bastardizing my threads.

sbk92 said:

Keep them separate. This is for the War Room stuff.

Stop bastardizing my threads.

Keep reading...

lol

Combine Dish: Castonzo, Solder help stock in O-line workouts

Russ Lande
Sporting News


INDIANAPOLIS — After tight ends and offensive linemen went through drills and tests Saturday — the first big workout day at the Scouting Combine —

Here are the players who made good and bad impressions:


Good impressions

Boston College OT Anthony Castonzo. Castonzo didn’t necessarily put up flashy numbers, but he had a very steady workout. He showed excellent knee bend and base and was technically sound in all drills.

Colorado OT Nate Solder. He had a complete day, recovering nicely after a poor showing on the weight bench Friday. Solder had the best broad jump among the linemen (9 feet, 2 inches) and was among the leaders in the 40-yard dash (5.03), the 20-yard shuttle (4.34) and vertical jump (32 inches). He demonstrated in drills that he has the capability of bending his knees and staying over his feet, something he struggled to do consistently on film.

USC TE Jordan Cameron. Though he has little experience, he showed excellent athleticism in all areas Saturday. He was extremely proficient catching the ball and was the most fluid route runner. Look for him to one of the big risers this spring, as teams are always looking for athletic receiving tight ends.

Rodney Hudson, C, Florida State. Hudson had an excellent workout, particularly in the position drills. He was clearly the most athletic lineman in his group, showing fluid hips and quick feet.

Arkansas TE D.J. Williams. Williams looked very athletic and showed the suddenness in his breaks that NFL personnel love to see in tight ends. He was also very consistent plucking the ball away from his body.

Arkansas State OT Derek Newton. We expected Newton to look good, and he delivered. He has excellent bulk and ran one of the fastest 40 times at 5.01. He did a nice job of maintaining balance and leverage during drills.

Florida Atlantic TE Rob Housler. A big, muscular specimen, Housler looks the part of an NFL tight end. On the field he ran good routes but seemed to fight the ball a bit with his hands.

Penn State C Stefen Wisniewski. Wisniewski looked very well built in both his upper and lower body. He was able to maintain a solid pad level in drills and looked fluid on his shuffle and redirect.

Wisconsin TE Lance Kendricks. Kendricks did an excellent job of sinking his hips to get in and out of his breaks efficiently. However, he needs to do a better job of catching the ball away from his body, as he dropped a couple of balls that he allowed to reach his chest.

Syracuse C Ryan Bartholomew. In terms of pure testing, he was the best among the offensive linemen. He led the line group in the bench press (34 reps), finished second in the 40 (4.97) and had the best 10-yard split (1.63), which is more important to linemen than the 40.


Bad impressions

Houston G Isaiah Thompson. He ran two 40-yard dashes with times of more than 6.00, easily the slowest of the day. He has very skinny lower legs, which is a major concern for a guard.

Nebraska G Ricky Henry. Henry struggled throughout the workout, looking out of place at times compared with his peers. He is a stiff, unathletic player who struggles to move side to side.

Arkansas OT/G DeMarcus Love. Even though he played primarily left tackle at Arkansas, he continues to look more like a guard. Love showed terrible footwork in the kick-slide drill and struggled to maintain his balance during his workout.

Iowa TE Allen Reisner. Reisner was more of a blocker than a receiver in college, and his workout Saturday showed why. He struggled to catch the ball and looked slow and unexplosive running routes.

Wisconsin OT Gabe Carimi. Carimi has had issues with balance and knee bend, so it was not surprising to see him fall in transition during a drill. He ran a respectable 40-yard dash (5.27), but his workout did nothing to prove he can play left tackle in the NFL.

Alabama's Julio Jones wows scouts; Newton misses mark in drills

Russ Lande
Sporting News


INDIANAPOLIS—The quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs took to the Lucas Oil Stadium turf on Sunday, and here is a look at the day's most notable workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine:


Good impressions

Julio Jones, WR, Alabama. He definitely had a good day and locked up the spot as the No. 2, at worst, receiver in the draft. He definitely is a well-built receiver who showed great speed in his 40 (4.39 seconds) and explosiveness in his vertical and broad jumps. He displayed good hands throughout the receiving skills, too. He also eased concerns about his lack of quickness/burst.

Jordan Todman, RB, UConn. He showed strong running and receiving skills during the position drills. He showed great agility and change-of-direction skills after putting-up a good 40-yard dash time (4.4 seconds).

Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech. Despite not running a great 40-time (4.58 seconds), he still had an impressive workout. He appeared quick and explosive with great balance and body control throughout the drills. He also showed soft hands, even though he wasn't utilized much as a receiver in college.

Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State. On a day where no QB displayed standout accuracy, Ponder seemed to be the most consistent. He showed strong footwork, smooth and easy passing mechanics and good enough arm strength to make all NFL throws.

Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky. He ran fast (4.45 seconds in the 40), showed excellent quickness in and out of cuts and caught the ball well. His size and receiving skills project as a perfect fit as an NFL slot receiver. Also an elite kickoff and punt returner, he could end up being a late first-round pick.

Dion Lewis, RB, Pitt. His lateral quickness was impressive during running drills. He changed directions suddenly and without losing speed. He did not run fast in a straight line but confirmed his exceptional agility, body control and balance.

Denarius Moore, WR, Tennessee. He ran well (4.45 seconds), and then followed-up with a strong positional workout. He showed a natural ability to locate passes over his shoulder, adjusting his body to catch the ball at full speed. He looked good running the gauntlet drill and quickly turned up the sideline.

Titus Young, WR, Boise State. He showed excellent hands with the ability to extend and pluck the ball away from his body on every route. He caught every ball and showed rare ability to sink his hips with explosive quickness and body control, as he turned up the sideline after passing through the gauntlet drill. Unfortunately, a leg cramp ended his day early.

Austin Pettis, WR, Boise State. He showed the best combination of route-running ability and hands. He lacks pure speed or acceleration to threaten a defense downfield, but he shows excellent body control, balance and quickness coming out of breaks to make plays on underneath and intermediate routes. He is smooth and fluid but not sudden or explosive in his movements.


Bad impressions

Cam Newton, QB, Auburn. Despite his multimillion dollar smile and charismatic personality, his on-field workout was unimpressive. Since he didn't take snaps from center in college, it was not surprising that he appeared slow and unnatural with three-, five- and seven-step drops. After overthrowing all three deep balls, he then sailed two consecutive "out" routes 10-yards over the head of the receivers. He clearly must improve his fundamentals and techniques.

Ricky Stanzi, QB, Iowa. After Newton sailed passes high, Stanzi stepped up and threw passes into the ground in front of his receivers. Stanzi had a poor week at the Senior Bowl and was equally unimpressive Sunday. He simply lacks athletic skills and accuracy.

John Clay, RB, Wisconsin. He lost a lot of weight -- down to 230 pounds -- to try and impress in the timed drills and failed miserably. He was outclassed by his peers. He looked slow and stiff, and some teams could well project him at fullback moving forward in the draft process.

Damien Berry, RB, Miami (Fla.). He ran poorly in the 40-yard dash and then showed little explosive athleticism in the position drills. He ran the first drill incorrectly, after the four players who went before him did it the right way.

Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pitt. Despite having great size and wingspan, he did not show the ability to quickly drop his hips to make sharp cuts. He lacks any special receiving skills, and his run-after-catch ability is barely average because it takes him so long to re-start after slowing down to make the catch. He had a drop and did not use his great length to catch a high pass away from his body downfield.

Edmond Gates, WR, Abilene Christian; Ricardo Lockette, WR, Fort Valley State. The two fastest receivers in a straight line -- both recorded 40 times at 4.37 seconds -- struggled as route-runners. Both had trouble getting into and out of breaks on horizontal routes. They also had trouble in dropping their weight and changing directions, especially when moving toward the sideline at full speed.


Other notable performances

Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada. With all of the attention given to Newton and Missouri's Blaine Gabbert, it is hard to understand why Kaepernick doesn't get more credit for having similar size and athletic skills. He followed up a strong showing at the Senior Bowl with a solid workout Sunday. He still shows some inconsistency because of an elongated throwing motion.

Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama. Although he did not run fast (4.62 seconds in the 40), he confirmed his outstanding quickness, body control and balance throughout the workout. His game tape and college production speak volumes. Strong, physical runners rarely impress during these workouts.

A.J. Green, WR, Georgia. He had a solid but unspectacular day. He ran well in the 40 -- 4.48 and 4.51 seconds -- and caught the ball well, but his route-running in some drills were not great. Still, he has the size and athleticism to remain as the No. 1 receiver on all teams' draft boards.

Defensive linemen show off at NFL Scouting Combine

Russ Lande
Sporting News


INDIANAPOLIS — A few defensive linemen have stood out in Monday morning's workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan has been the most impressive. Not only did he run in the low 4.7-second range at over 280 pounds, but in all the defensive line drills he has showed the excellent quickness, agility, explosiveness and all-around athleticism to be a top-15 pick.
California defensive end Cameron Jordan runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo)

In addition, Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley has shined this morning displaying very good quickness, agility and all-around athleticism.

Lastly, North Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin has shown excellent foot quickness, agility, balance, explosiveness and athleticism, which should help him move up into the second round.

Linebackers Moch, Wilson, Miller display great speed

Vinnie Iyer
Sporting News


Nevada's Dontay Moch officially was the fastest defensive lineman running at the NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, covering the 40-yard dash in a remarkable 4.44 seconds. Although a college end, he projects an outside linebacker in a 3-4 NFL scheme, where as a prospect he's a few notches below the No. 1 player at that position, Texas A&M's Von Miller.

Miller posted a best 40 of 4.53 seconds, looking as smooth as an experienced track star. His explosive lower body was also on display in the lateral mobility drills. As expected, as someone tabbed to thrive upfield as a 3-4 pass rusher, he wasn't quite as fluid in his pass coverage drills.
Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller makes a catch against his head as he runs a drill at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo)

At inside linebacker, Illinois' Martez Wilson led everyone with a 4.49-second 40-yard dash. Although he was a bit stiff in his hips, he also proved he is a premier athlete.

Miller is a surefire top-10 pick and will be the first linebacker off the board in April. Moch is bound to creep up many teams' rankings, and in a weak inside linebacker class Wilson should also get a nice bump from his straight-line speed.

Corners Amukamara, Brown stand out at Combine

Vinnie Iyer
Sporting News


With the high volume of defensive backs going through their workouts and position drills Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, the results are coming in waves. Among the early highlights:

— Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara unofficially ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds on Tuesday morning, the third-best time at the event. He and LSU rival Patrick Peterson are vying to be the top cornerback drafted. Peterson, scheduled to run later Tuesday, has said he expects run the 40 in the high 4.2-second range or low 4.3-second range.

— Texas cornerback Curtis Brown looked great in pass coverage drills. Brown was fluid in backpedaling and flipping his hips, also showing a nose for the ball and good hands to finish plays with interceptions. Brown is trying to move into the top five at his position.

— Virginia cornerback Ras-I Dowling injured his hamstring on Tuesday. Dowling was breezing through the 40-yard dash before coming up lame at the end with a pulled hamstring. Even with the deceleration in the last stretch, he managed to record an unofficial time of 4.40 seconds.

Combine notes: Chattanooga's Skrine, LSU's Peterson close Combine strong

Russ Lande
Sporting News


INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL Scouting Combine wrapped up Tuesday with the cornerbacks and safeties taking to the field at Lucas Oil Stadium to show off their speed and athleticism.

Here is a quick look at the most notable workouts — good and bad — and what it means to each prospect's draft stock:


Good impressions

Buster Skrine, CB, Tennessee-Chattanooga. After impressing everyone with his explosive 40-yard dashes (4.29 and 4.36 seconds), he also looked good throughout the positional drills. He showed excellent quickness, loose hips and great ball skills Tuesday. Despite facing a low level of competition in college, his unquestioned potential should have every secondary coach lobbying his G.M. to pick Skrine.

Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU. Already considered an elite talent, Peterson pretty much had nowhere to go but down. After witnessing his Combine performance, he eliminated any doubt about his tremendous physical and athletic skills to make an instant impact in the NFL. He ran the 40 in 4.34 seconds and moved around the field like a man 20-25 pounds lighter.

Rahim Moore, S, UCLA. He showed the speed, athleticism and ball skills to become the clear-cut favorite to be the first safety drafted. He was smooth, fluid and natural throughout all drills, making it all look easy.

Rashad Carmichael, CB, Virginia Tech. He ran the 40 in the high 4.4-second range and then showed good flexibility, agility and athleticism changing directions in drills. He looked his best in the drill where he backpedaled, drove forward, backpedaled again and drove forward a second time. He showed solid ball skills, extending his arms to catch passes from his body.

Curtis Brown, CB, Texas. He lived in Aaron Williams' shadow at bit in college and then ran a mediocre 40 (mid 4.5-second range) on Tuesday. In drills, he showed good, smooth athleticism and excellent ball skills. He didn't perform as well as others in the timed drills, but he clearly was one of the smoothest and most athletic cornerbacks on the field. He looked like a wide receiver in the way he attacked the ball.

Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado. On the field Tuesday, he proved worthy of being mentioned in the same conversation with Peterson and Prince Amukamara at the top of the cornerback class. Some teams will question his character, but he has rare athletic skills for a big corner and is capable of starting as a rookie. He shows some tightness in his hips and needs an extra step to change directions at times, but that's typical of taller corners. He has the size, length, speed and quickness to play in any defensive scheme.

Mark LeGree, S, Appalachian State. He played at a lower level in college but proved Tuesday that he belongs on the big stage. He ran well and looked smooth and explosive in all drills. He also showed soft hands and the change-of-direction ability to be a solid NFL starter and core special teams coverage man.

Chris Conte, S, Cal. He showed the smooth athleticism, loose hips and quick footwork throughout all drills. He was surprisingly good as flipping his hips to turn and run. He also showed soft hands with a natural ability to track downfield passes. Although he lacks explosiveness, he compensates with excellent body control, balance and agility.

Marcus Gilchrist, CB, Clemson. It was tough to gauge his explosiveness and speed on film, so some scouts thought he might have to move to safety. On Tuesday, he proved he can play cornerback in the NFL. He ran in the mid 4.4-second range in both 40s and displayed good athleticism in all drills.

Chris Culliver, CB/S, South Carolina. Culliver played safety in 2008 and 2009 and then moved to cornerback for his senior season, so personnel men wonder where he fits best. Based on his Combine workout, it looks like he can play either position in the NFL. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. His backpedal was a little slow, but he looked smooth flipping his hips and accelerating to full speed.


Bad impressions

Ahmad Black, S, Florida. He ran both his 40-yard dashes in the high 4.7-second range, and that alone is enough to be knocked way down many teams' draft boards. He also lacked the quickness, hip flexibility or explosiveness in position drills to overcome such a lack of speed.

Robert Sands, S, West Virginia. He looked far more like he belonged with the linebackers, unable to keep up with the defensive backs in any drill. He was stiff, slow and awkward throughout all drills. No defensive backs coach will want any part of trying to make him an NFL player.

Will Hill, S, Florida. He is a tall, long-limbed safety who looked awkward in nearly every drill Tuesday. He was upright, high and bounced in his backpedal and was not smooth flipping his hips to turn and run.

DeJon Gomes, CB, Nebraska. He is a thickly built cornerback who showed decent quickness and speed Tuesday. However, he looked tight and stiff, struggling to change directions. In addition, his ball skills were terrible.

Mario Butler, CB, Georgia Tech. He ran slowly, looked stiff and appeared afraid of the ball. He has a real narrow, angular frame, which makes a player slow to change directions. He will fall to the late rounds.

Chimdi Chekwa, CB, Ohio State. Despite running one of the fastest 40-times of the day (4.4 seconds), Chekwa proved to be the definition of a track guy trying to play football. His long-legged frame and stiff hips made changing directions an adventure in every drill.

DeMarcus Van Dyke, CB, Miami (Fla.). After posting the Combine's fastest 40-yard dash at 4.28 seconds, one might expect to find him on the "good impressions" list. However, he lacks lateral agility and ball skills. His pure speed is enticing to NFL coaches, but he moved Tuesday like a skinny robot.

A look back: Combine winners and losers

Russ Lande
Sporting News


INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL Scouting Combine is in the books.

Here's a look at the players who helped themselves the most and those who damaged their draft stock the most:


Winners

1. Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal. He was a star of the Senior Bowl and then ran the 40-yard dash in the low 4.7-second range. In other drills, he displayed rare explosiveness, quickness, agility and speed for a big defensive end. He showed excellent body control and fluidity when changing directions. Jordan proved he is a top-level athlete and now will be a top-15 pick by a team that plays a 3-4 defense.

2. Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State. Coming off December elbow surgery, he looked great throwing the ball. He lacks elite arm strength but clearly was the most consistent passer. He displayed great footwork and smooth passing mechanics. He lacks elite physical tools but is consistent and accurate and could be the third QB off the board.

3. Brooks Reed, DE/OLB, Arizona. This hard-nosed overachiever displayed good athleticism and now projects as a future NFL starter at outside linebacker. Throughout his workout, he displayed the quickness and agility to change directions smoothly and play well in the open field. He also displayed the hand usage and technique to be a consistent pass rusher. He now has a legit chance to be a second-round pick, surpassing Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan on some team's draft boards.

4. Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina. He wasn't deemed good enough to get invited to the Senior Bowl but showed up at the Combine in great shape despite not playing in 2010. He was quick and explosive throughout all drills, carrying his weight with surprising ease. He is moving up draft boards all over and should be a high second-rounder before it's over.

5. Titus Young, WR, Boise State. Despite sustaining a leg cramp and not finishing all the drills, Young still helped his draft stock. He was fast and displayed excellent hands, consistently extending to catch passes away from his body. He could sink his hips, cut and explode downfield in the "gauntlet" drill. He now is a second-round lock.

6. Rodney Hudson, C, Florida State. Hudson weighed in at 299 pounds, up eight pounds from the Senior Bowl, easing concerns about his ability to add the necessary bulk to handle NFL nose tackles. He clearly was the most athletic lineman in his group, showing the quickness and agility to move well in the open field. He should be a second-round pick.

7. Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky. He erased all concerns about a lack of elite athleticism, showing excellent quickness and explosiveness out of cuts. He should be a great NFL slot receiver. He all has the physical tools to be a big-play return man. He locked up a second-round spot and could move into the lower end of the first round.

8. Jordan Cameron, TE, Southern Cal. He is a raw prospect who was not very productive at USC, but he has the size and athleticism to excite NFL coaches. He was the most fluid and smooth route-runner of the tight ends and showed good hands. He now is a mid-round pick who could go much higher with a great on-campus workout March 30.

9. Buster Skrine, CB, Tennessee-Chattanooga. Although he played Division I-AA ball in college, Skrine proved he belongs. He made every NFL G.M. and coach take notice Tuesday. He had one of the fastest 40-yard dashes and proved he was much more than a track guy. He showed excellent quickness, loose hips and great ball skills throughout all cornerback drills. He has great potential and is flying up draft boards, perhaps into the second round.


Losers

1. John Clay, RB, Wisconsin. He made a big mistake leaving school to enter the 2011 draft. Even though he lost more than 30 pounds for the Combine, he still ran poorly (4.8 seconds in the 40) and lacked quickness in his workout. He looked much more like a fullback than a tailback and will have to make the NFL on his blocking skills. He will go undrafted unless he embraces the fullback role at Wisconsin's pro day on March 9.


2. Cam Newton, QB, Auburn. No player is under more scrutiny. He competed hard at the Combine but didn't "wow" anyone. He looked uncomfortable dropping back and throwing, showing poor footwork and causing his passes to sail high. Many coaches said he did poorly in team interviews at the blackboard, routinely failing to diagnose defenses and coverages. He shouldn't be a first-round pick but certainly will be, based on his potential.

3. Orie Lemon, ILB, Oklahoma State. He is a tough, smart and instinctive linebacker who showed a lack of NFL quickness and athleticism. He ran poorly and looked slow and unathletic in all drills, stumbling and struggling to stay on his feet.

4. DeMarcus Love, OT/G, Arkansas. He had a bad senior season and struggled at the Senior Bowl and again at the Combine, performing well below his potential. He showed slow and terrible footwork in drills and a real lack of balance. He showed first-round potential as a junior but now will be lucky to be drafted in the fifth or sixth round.

5. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas. He was solid throwing the ball but didn't "wow" anyone. And he bombed his media session and team interviews, coming off as someone who can't handle adversity or a leadership role. He created more questions at the Combine rather than answer them.

6. Isaiah Thompson, OT/G, Houston. He was bad at the Texas vs. The Nation Game and then worse at the Combine, and he likely will go undrafted. He ran the 40 in more than 6.0 seconds and has skinny legs, struggling to move around during drills. He lacked the agility and quickness to slide quickly and change directions.

7. Ricky Henry, G, Nebraska. He struggled from the start and looked out of place athletically. His footwork was slow, and he struggled to change directions in drills. He likely will not be drafted.

8. Jeremy Beal, DE/OLB, Oklahoma. He had a solid week at the Senior Bowl but struggled in Indianapolis. He is a tweener who seemingly lacks the explosiveness and pass-rush skills to play end in a 4-3 scheme or the quickness and agility to play outside linebacker in a 3-4. Throughout his workout, he looked outclassed athletically.

So much for Ahmad Black being the top steal in the Melsy.

You can't run that slow when you're a midget. He'll be lucky to be a 4th round pick.

I like Shiloh Keo. This guy is really under the radar.