Scouts Inc.'s 2011 Combine coverage....

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Combine Position Series: DB

Cornerback class has elite talent

Three corners could be top-10 picks, but no safety carries a first-round grade

By Kevin Weidl
ESPN.com


There are three elite prospects in this year's cornerback class -- LSU's Patrick Peterson, Nebraska's Prince Amukamara and Colorado's Jimmy Smith -- all of whom possesses a nice combination of size and athleticism and currently are ranked among Scouts Inc.'s top 10 overall prospects.

Miami's Brandon Harris and Texas' Aaron Williams hold high-second-round grades and have a chance to get into the first-round conversation with solid workouts at the NFL combine, but there is less top-shelf talent at safety.

Rahim Moore of UCLA is atop our safety board but carries a second-round grade. There is a drop-off after Moore because Quinton Carter (Oklahoma), DeAndre McDaniel (Clemson) and Robert Sands (West Virginia) all have good size but are limited in coverage and must prove their quickness and fluidity in Indianapolis.


Most to prove: CB Aaron Williams, Texas
Scouts will keep a close eye on Williams during drills to see if he has the fluidity, explosiveness and top-end speed to match up with NFL slot receivers and warrant fringe-first or high-second-round consideration.


Under the radar: CB Joshua Thomas, Buffalo
Thomas needs some coaching in terms of technique but he possesses a nice combination of size (5-foot-101, 196 pounds), speed and strength to hold up in press man coverage and develop into a valuable sub-package reserve.


Under the microscope

Just like a number of other prospects, this trio of cornerbacks will have to stand up to intense scrutiny to maintain their standing.


CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado
Smith will have to answer questions during the interview process relating to off-the-field baggage and character concerns to ease the concerns of teams considering him in the top half of the first round.


CB Ras-I Dowling, Virginia
Dowling will be under the microscope during the physical process after first suffering a lingering hamstring injury that hampered his production in 2010, and then fracturing his left ankle and sitting out the remainder of the season.


S DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson
McDaniel will be grilled during individual team interviews about character issues dating back to an assault and battery charge in June 2008.

Below is a look at our ranking of all defensive backs invited to the 2010 combine, plus those defensive backs who were Day 1 picks in the 2009 draft.


2011 NFL Combine Defensive Backs

Patrick Peterson CB LSU 6-1 211 97
Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska 6-0 203 96
Jimmy Smith CB Colorado 6-2 203 95
Rahim Moore S UCLA 6-1 196 89
Brandon Harris CB Miami 5-10½ 193 88
Aaron Williams CB Texas 6-0½ 192 87
Ras-I Dowling CB Virginia 6-1½ 201 81
Brandon Burton CB Utah 6-0 187 80
Quinton Carter S Oklahoma 6-0⅝ 211 80
DeAndre McDaniel S Clemson 6-0⅛ 213 79
Robert Sands S West Virginia 6-4⅞ 221 78
Curtis Brown CB Texas 5-11⅝ 180 74
Jaiquawn Jarrett S Temple 5-11⅞ 196 74
Kendric Burney CB North Carolina 5-9 181 73
Deunta Williams S North Carolina 6-1½ 204 73
Ahmad Black S Florida 5-9⅜ 183 72
Johnny Patrick CB Louisville 5-10½ 185 70
Rashad Carmichael CB Virginia Tech 5-9⅝ 185 68
Marcus Gilchrist CB Clemson 5-9⅞ 193 65
Tyler Sash S Iowa 6-1 210 64
Eric Hagg S Nebraska 6-0⅜ 206 63
Shareece Wright CB USC 5-11 182 63
Chimdi Chekwa CB Ohio State 5-11 192 61
Chykie Brown CB Texas 5-11½ 187 58
Davon House CB New Mexico State 6-0 190 57
Brandon Hogan CB West Virginia 5-10 194 56
Jermale Hines S Ohio State 6-1¼ 215 55
Devon Torrence CB Ohio State 5-11⅝ 190 55
Jerrard Tarrant S Georgia Tech 6-1 205 54
Joshua Thomas CB Buffalo 5-10⅛ 196 54
Chris L. Rucker CB Michigan State 6-1⅜ 196 53
Andrew McGee CB Oklahoma state 6-0 192 52
Curtis Marsh CB Utah State 6-0⅛ 194 51
Vance Cuff CB Georgia 5-10¼ 171 49
Chris Culliver CB South Carolina 6-0 197 47
Da'Norris Searcy S North Carolina 5-10⅝ 216 46
David Sims S Iowa State 5-9⅜ 208 45
Justin Rogers CB Richmond 5-10⅜ 183 44
Will Hill S Florida 6-0½ 205 42
Kevin Rutland CB Missouri 5-11⅞ 191 41
Shiloh Keo S Idaho 5-11½ 224 40
Byron Maxwell CB Clemson 6-0¾ 207 39
Mario Butler CB Georgia Tech 6-0⅜ 183 38
Joseph Lefeged S Rutgers 5-11¼ 208 37
Demarcus Van Dyke CB Miami 6-0¾ 168 36
Brandyn Thompson CB Boise State 5-9⅜ 188 35
Jalil Brown CB Colorado 6-0⅛ 202 34
Buster Skrine CB Tennessee-Chattanooga 5-9⅝ 186 33
Jeron Johnson S Boise State 5-10¼ 211 32
Mark LeGree S Appalachian State 6-0 211 31
Cortez Allen CB Citadel 6-1½ 197 30
Christopher Conte S California 6-2½ 223 30
Dejon Gomes S Nebraska 5-10¾ 203 30
Richard Sherman CB Stanford 6-2 212 30


2010 Defensive Backs in Rounds 1-2

Eric Berry S Tennessee Kansas City Chiefs 1 (5)
Joe Haden CB Florida Cleveland Browns 1 (7)
Earl Thomas S Texas Seattle Seahawks 1 (14)
Kareem Jackson CB Alabama Houston Texans 1 (20)
Devin McCourty CB Rutgers New England Patriots 1 (27)
Kyle Wilson CB Boise State New York Jets 1 (29)
Patrick Robinson CB Florida State New Orleans Saints 1 (32)
Chris Cook CB Virginia Minnesota Vikings 2 (34)
Nate Allen S South Florida Philadelphia Eagles 2 (37)
T.J. Ward S Oregon Cleveland Browns 2 (38)
Taylor Mays S USC San Francisco 49ers 2 (49)
Javier Arenas CB Alabama Kansas City Chiefs 2 (50)


The following is a graphic representation of the number of offensive linemen selected in each round of the previous three NFL drafts. Most NFL teams use this type of chart to study position trends when setting up their respective draft boards each year.


S Market Trend

Rnd...........2010.......2009.......2008.......... Average
1.................2............0............1..... ...........1
2.................3............5............1..... ...........3
3.................3............1............4..... ..........2.6
4.................2............3............2..... ..........2.3
5.................5............3............0..... ..........2.6
6.................2............3............5..... ..........3.3
7.................3............5............4..... ...........4
Total...........20..........20...........17...... . ......19


CB Market Trend

Rnd...........2010.......2009.......2008.......... Average
1.................5............2............5..... ...........4
2.................2............5............5..... ...........4
3.................5............9............3..... ..........5.6
4.................3............3............7..... ..........4.3
5.................7............5............4..... ..........5.3
6.................4............8............1..... ..........4.3
7.................7............5............3..... ...........5
Total...........33..........37...........28...... . .....32.6

 

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Offensive line group looks deep

Todd McShay and Kevin Weidl
Scouts Inc.


This year's offensive line crop lacks an elite talent like Jake Long (whom the Miami Dolphins drafted in 2008) or Joe Thomas (Cleveland Browns, 2007), but the overall depth of the group is much better than most realize. In fact, 20 offensive linemen currently have grades in the first three rounds.

The offensive linemen have not worked out yet, but it's obvious that this is a well-conditioned, mature group that has taken a business approach to its collective trip to Indy. Fewer sloppy bodies showed up at this year's weigh-ins than in recent memory, and so far, the early reports from the first two nights of interviews have been glowing.

Smith wins the day

Perhaps the biggest winner from Thursday's weigh-ins was USC OT Tyron Smith. After playing the college season at around 285 pounds, Smith eased concerns about his lack of size by checking in at 307 pounds. His body looked nearly flawless, and it was hard to ignore his exceptionally long arms (36⅜ inches).

It was a great start to the week for Smith, who will have a chance to cash in on a monster combine if he maintains the exceptional athleticism and balance that we've seen on film during Saturday's testing and drills.

Pouncey carrying on family tradition

Florida OC/OG Mike Pouncey appears ready to go for the week. His twin brother, Maurkice, was highly regarded last year because of his knowledge of the game, passion and overall talent, and Mike appears to be a carbon copy. Pouncey is off to a great start in Indianapolis, checking in at a healthy 6-foot-5 and 303 pounds. He should thrive over the next few days thanks to not only his football skills but also his focus, leadership and clean character.

Guard trio look good

Georgia OG Clint Boling, Ohio State OG Justin Boren and TCU OG Marcus Cannon also got off to good starts. Boling (6-4⅝, 308) is coming off an impressive Senior Bowl and appeared to have a solid and well-proportioned frame. Boren has trimmed down (6-2⅞, 309), and we will be watching to see whether this weight loss helps to improve his overall agility and movement skills during workouts.

Cannon (6-5, 358) is a mammoth prospect but carried his 358 pounds about as well as physically possible with very little fat. Cannon has restrictions athletically and likely will be forced inside after playing tackle in college, but his impressive frame has him off to a solid start at the combine.

Quartet of linemen raise concerns

Florida State OC/OG Rodney Hudson, Arkansas OG Ray Dominguez, Florida OG Maurice Hurt and Clemson OT Chris Hairston were all underwhelming during weigh-ins.

Hudson added much-needed bulk, checking in at 299 pounds, but there are concerns about how healthy this added weight is, as his body appeared a bit fleshy in the chest and midsection. Dominguez (6-4, 334) and Hurt (6-2⅝, 318) both appeared soft in the core with very little muscle tone.

Hairston (6-6⅛, 326) brings a physical presence with his overall size but is clearly high-cut, and the fact that he is a bit knock-kneed only enhances concerns about a lack of overall agility and balance that we've seen during film study.

 

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Size important for tight ends

Todd McShay and Kevin Weidl
Scouts Inc.


One of the biggest stories in the tight end class is the health of top prospect Kyle Rudolph (Notre Dame). The most important part of the combine for Rudolph will be his medical exams. Surgery for a shoulder injury cut short his 2009 season, and his 2010 season ended in October after a significant hamstring injury also required surgery.

Rudolph had a strong start, though, checking in at a solid 6-6⅛ and 259 pounds and measuring the biggest hands of the group (10¾ inches). As an underclassman, this will be the first real chance for scouts to size him up, and measuring well is a big positive as he heads into an important medical process.

Interviews important for Saunders

South Carolina TE Weslye Saunders is in a position similar to Rudolph's, but for Saunders, the most important part of the week will be his performance in the interview room. He will have to answer questions about off-the-field character concerns after multiple suspensions eventually led to his dismissal from the program before the 2010 season.

The week got off to a solid start, though, with Saunders checking in at 6-5 and 270 pounds and measuring the longest arms (35⅝) and second-biggest hands (10⅝) among tight ends. These impressive measurables and above-average athleticism are why we graded Saunders as a second-round prospect before character concerns surfaced.

If Saunders can handle the interview process well and win a few teams over, he can begin making strides in the right direction, because he is the second-best prospect in this year's class from a pure talent standpoint.

Concerns for Kendricks, Williams

Lance Kendricks (Wisconsin) and D.J Williams (Arkansas) did not help themselves much during weigh-ins. Kendricks checked in at just 6-2⅞ and was the lightest of the group at 243 pounds. Williams was just 2 pounds heavier and was the shortest of the group, measuring at just 6-2⅛.

In addition, both were among the bottom five in terms of arm length and overall wingspan. They will now be monitored closely during drills to find out whether they have the agility and top-end speed to be successful in a strictly H-back role at the next level.

Watch out for Green

We have been impressed with Nevada TE Virgil Green (6-3⅜, 249) during recent film study thanks to his above-average athleticism, top-end speed and the toughness to work the middle of the field. He also displays good overall ball skills and strong hands, so it came as a bit of a surprise when Green checked in with the smallest hands of the group (9¼). We will be keeping a close eye on how Green catches the ball this week to assess whether that will be an issue for him.

 

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Notable Measurements

Tallest offensive linemen
1. Colorado OT Nate Solder (6-foot-8¼)
2. Boston College OT Richard Lapham (6-8⅛)
T3. Georgia OT Josh Davis (6-7⅛)
T3. UCF OT Jah Reid (6-7⅛)
5. Wisconsin OT Gabe Carimi (6-7)


Heaviest offensive linemen
1. Florida OG Carl Johnson (361 pounds)
2. TCU OG Marcus Cannon (358)
3. Arkansas OG Ray Dominguez (334)
4. Georgia OT Josh Davis (331)
5. Florida OT Marcus Gilbert (330)


Lightest offensive linemen
1. Cincinnati OC Jason Kelce (280)
T2. Fresno State OG Andrew Jackson (299)
T2. Montana State OT Mike Person (299)
T2. Florida State OG Rodney Hudson (299)
T5. Missouri State OG David Arkin (300)
T5. Houston OG Isaiah Thompson (300)


Tallest tight ends
1. Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame (6-6⅛)
T2. Schuylar Oordt, Northern Iowa (6-5¾)
T2. Lee Smith, Marshall (6-5¾)
4. Robert Housler, Florida Altantic (6-5⅜)
5. Jordan Cameron, USC (6-5¼)


Heaviest tight ends
1. Weslye Saunders, South Carolina (270)
2. Lee Smith (266)
3. Schuylar Oordt (261)
4. Kyle Rudolph (259)
5. Luke Stocker, Tennessee (258)


Lightest tight ends
1. Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin (243)
2. Cameron Graham (244)
T3. D.J Williams, Arkansas (245)
T3. Charles Clay, Tulsa (245)
5. Julius Thomas, Portland State (246)

 

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Plenty of impressive weigh-ins for skill positions

Todd McShay and Kevin Weidl
Scouts Inc.


Friday marked the first day of full action at the NFL combine with kickers and specialists working out and offensive linemen, tight ends, quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends going through various stages of the pre-workout process. However, as had been the case leading up to the combine, the happenings with the quarterbacks were among the biggest news

Cam Newton (Auburn) and Blaine Gabbert (Missouri) looked the part during Friday's weigh-ins. Gabbert (6-foot4⅜, 234 pounds) carries his weight extremely well and his 10-inch hand span is a positive. Newton's hand span was just a bit smaller than Gabbert's but there's no question who wins the eyeball test at the quarterback position. At 6-5 and 248 pounds Newton is absolutely ripped and appears to have somewhere in the range of five-percent body fat.

Newton still plans on throwing and running during Sunday's quarterback workouts, and Gabbert will run but is electing to wait until his March 17th pro day at Missouri to throw in front of NFL general managers, scouts and coaches.

While teams would like to see Gabbert compete, if recent history is any indication his decision not to throw will have no affect on his draft status. Eight of the last 12 quarterbacks drafted in the first round chose to sit out the combine throwing drills.

The only other note regarding workout intentions for quarterbacks is that Florida State's Christian Ponder does in fact plan on throwing for the 32 teams in attendance. If that ends up being the case, Gabbert will be the only one of 15 quarterbacks in Indianapolis not to throw.


Other workout notes

• Alabama WR A.J. Green appears to be in terrific shape. He checked in at 6-35, 211 pounds with a muscular frame and appears to have room to add 10 more good pounds to help endure the punishment of a longer NFL season. Green also had the second longest arms (34⅜ inches) among the wide receivers.

• North Carolina's Greg Little, Pittsburgh's Jonathan Baldwin and Southern Miss' DeAndre Brown were three other imposing figures that stood out among the wide receiver crop during measurements on Friday. Little checked in at a chiseled 62½, 231 pounds, and appears to be taking the pre-draft prep process seriously after sitting out the 2010 season due to NCAA rules violations.

Baldwin (604⅜, 228) is a vertical wide receiver with huge hands (10⅛ inches) and a long wingspan (79⅞). Brown was the most impressive looking of the bunch at 6-5⅝ and 233 pounds. Unfortunately, his production has never matched his potential and he comes with some serious behavioral red flags. In fact, character and attitude issues are other ties that bind these three gifted wide outs, so the interview process will play a significant factor in where they come off the board.

• Indiana's Tandon Doss and San Diego State's Vincent Brown are two of the most sure-handed wide outs that we've studied on tape this year, so it comes as no surprise that they rank near the top of the class in hand span. Brown's hand span measures at 10¼ inches while Doss' is at 10⅛.

• On the flipside, one of the big questions surrounding Torrey Smith's potential to become an upper-echelon starter in the NFL is the consistency of his hands. His small hand span of 8⅝ inches does little to squelch that fear.

• The 2011 running back class is unusually small and 13 of the backs attending the combine checked in below the 5-foot-10 average for current NFL backs, including four under 5-8 (Jacquizz Rodgers, Dion Lewis, Kendall Hunter, Noel Devine). And while our top two backs also appear on the shorter-than-average list, Mark Ingram (5-9⅛) and Ryan Williams (5-9⅜) are built well and run hard.

 

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Bench press numbers good and bad

Todd McShay and Kevin Weidl
Scouts Inc.


The Day 1 bench press competition belonged to Syracuse C Ryan Bartholomew with 34 reps. Prospects with shorter arms are usually the ones who excel and Bartholomew (33¾) fits the mold. Still, Bartholomew displays outstanding upper-body strength for a small interior offensive lineman (6-1, 305) and his effort will only help his cause. The average over the last three years for interior offensive linemen is 26.6 reps.

Others who stood out with strong showings include USC OT Tyron Smith (29), Wisconsin OT Gabe Carimi (29), Baylor OG Danny Watkins (29), Boston College OT Anthony Costanzo (28), Georgia OG Clint Boling (28) and Florida State OC Rodney Hudson (27).

On the flip side, there were a few offensive linemen whose lack of strength on the bench press raises some questions. They include Colorado OT Nate Solder (21), Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod (23) and Alabama OT James Carpenter (23).

As for the tight ends, it came as no surprise that Michigan State's Charlie Gantt and Tennessee's Lucas Stocker led the group with 27 reps each. They are two of the better blockers in this year's tight end class and their upper-body strength shows up on tape. The same can be said for Marshall TE Lee Smith, who finished with 25.

Wisconsin's Lance Kendricks (25), USC's Jordan Cameron (23) and Nevada's Virgil Green (23) are among the smaller tight ends/H-back 'tweeners but turned in in surprisingly strong showing on the bench, while the 19 reps South Carolina's Weslye Saunders put up is underwhelming considering he's the heaviest tight end in this year's class.

 

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QB measurables
Tallest
1. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (6-6⅜)
2. Jeff Van Camp, FAU (6-5¼)
3. Jerrod Johnson, Texas AM (6-5⅛)
4. Cam Newton, Auburn (6-5)
5. Colin Kaepernick, Nevada (6-4⅝)

Shortest
1. Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech (6-0¾)
2. Greg McElroy, Alabama (6-1⅞)
T3. Scott Tolzien, Wisconsin (6-2)
T3. Andy Dalton, TCU (6-2)
T3. Christian Ponder, Florida Sate (6-2)

Heaviest
1. Ryan Mallett (253)
2. Jerrod Johnson (251)
3. Cam Newton (248)
4. Nathan Enderle, Idaho (240)
5. Blaine Gabbert, Missouri (234)

Lightest
1. Joshua Portis, California (PA) (211)
2. Scott Tolzien (212)
3. Andy Dalton (215)
4. Tyrod Taylor (217)
5. Jeff Van Camp (218)

WR measurables
Tallest
1. DeAndre Brown, Southern Miss (6-5⅝)
T2. Jonathan Badwin, Pittsburgh (6-4⅜)
T2. Andre Holmes, Hillsdale (6-4⅜)
4. Tori Gurley, South Carolina (6-4⅛)
5. A.J. Green, Georgia (6-3⅝)

Shortest
1. Jockee Sanders, West Virginia (5-6⅛)
2. Jerrel Jernigan, Troy (5-8⅞)
3. Jeremy Kerley, TCU (5-9½)
4. Al Robinson, SMU (5-9⅝)
5. Kealoha Pilares, Hawaii (5-9⅞)

Biggest wingspan
1. Tori Gurley (83½)
2. Julio Jones, Alabama (81¾)
3. Jonathan Bladwin (79⅞)
4. Demarco Sampson (79⅝)
5. DeAndre Brown (79⅜)

Smallest wingspan
1. Jock Sanders (68⅞)
2. Al Robinson (71)
3. Ryan Whalen, Stanford (71⅝)
4. Ronald Johnson, USC (71⅞)
5. Dane Sanzenbacher, Ohio State (72¼)

RB/FB measurables
Tallest
1. Shaun Chapas, Georgia (6-2⅛)
2. Anthony Allen, Georgia Tech (6-0¾)
3. John Clay, Wisconsin (6-0½)
T3. Owen Marecic, Stanford (6-0½)
5. Henry Hynoski, Pittsburgh (6-0⅜)

Shortest
1. Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State (5-5⅞)
2. Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh (5-6⅝)
3. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State (5-7¼)
4. Noel Devine, West Virginia (5-7½)
T5. Armando Allen, Notre Dame (5-8¼)
T5. Derrick Locke, Kentucky (5-8¼)

Heaviest
1. Henry Hynoski (257)
2. Owen Marecic (248)
3. Shaun Chapas (247)
T4. Anthony Sherman, Connecticut (242)
T4. Allen Bradford, USC (242)

Lightest
1. Noel Devine (179)
2. Derrick Locke (188)
3. Dion Lewis (193)
4. Taiwan Jones, E. Washington (194)
5. Jacquizz Rodgers (196)

Bench press repetitions
OL most
1. Ryan Bartholomew, Syracuse (34)
T2. Marcus Cannon, TCU (33)
T2. Chris Hairston, Clemson (33)
T2. Zane Taylor, Utah (33)
5. Kris O'Dowd, USC (31)

OL fewest
1. Maurice Hurt, Florida (18)
2. Ricky Henry, Nebraska (20)
2. Lee Ziemba, Auburn (20)
T4. Ray Dominguez (21)
T4. Mike Person (21)
T4. Nate Solder, Colorado (21)

TE most
T1. Charlie Gantt, Michigan State (27)
T1. Luke Stocker, Tennessee (27)
T3. Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin (25)
T3. Lee Smith, Marshall (25)
T5. Jordan Cameron, USC (23)
T5. Virgil Green, Nevada (23)

TE Fewest
1. Allen Reisner, Iowa (14)
2. Julius Thomas, Portland State (16)
T3. Charles Clay, Tulsa (18)
T3. Cameron Graham, Louisville (18)
T3. Daniel Hardy, Idaho (18)
T3. Schuylar Oordt, Northen Iowa (18)

 

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Nick Fairley doesn't measure up

By Todd McShay and Kevin Weidl


Auburn's Nick Fairley measured surprisingly small during Saturday morning's weigh-in for defensive linemen. Fairley is listed at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds but checked in at 6-3, 291 officially.

For comparison's sake, Alabama DT Marcell Dareus, who carries a nearly identical early-first-round grade, is also 6-3 but weighed in at 319 pounds.

Not many teams are in love with sub-300 defensive tackles and Fairley is obviously a little lighter in order to run well, but his frame did not measure as long as expected and you have to wonder how much more bulk he has room for.

This doesn't mean Fairley's stock will begin free-falling or anything close to it, but it's something for teams to consider as part of the evaluation process when comparing two different-style players at the same position with similar grades.

 

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Tyron Smith won't work out due to knee

By Steve Muench


Fast-rising OT prospect Tyron Smith (USC) won't take part in offensive line drills because he is still recovering from a knee injury. He will wait until USC's March 30 on-campus pro day workout to perform for scouts.

Smith did show up at 307 pounds, though, up from his listed weight of 285 during the season, and carried the weight well. He also put up 29 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press.

• Florida OT Marcus Gilbert and Florida State OC Rodney Hudson showed above-average body control and footwork when asked to redirect during the first drill of the day. It backs up what we have seen from both in pass protection on film.

Wisconsin OT Gabe Carimi didn't fare as well. He had a harder time transitioning when forced to change directions, again backing up what we saw on film. Carimi moves well enough to quickly develop into an quality starter but he projects as a right tackle because of his limited athletic ability. Texas OT Kyle Hix and Arizona OT Adam Grant, on the other hand, struggled to sink their hips and looked stiff in space.

 

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If you would have told me Tyron Smith would weigh more than Nick Fairley at the combine I would have never believed it.

 

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Anthony Castonzo moves well for his size

By Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl


A handful of offensive linemen and an under-the-radar tight end have stood out to us so far today:

• Boston College OT Anthony Castonzo stood out during the mirror-and-slide drill. He stayed balanced and showed quick feet when planting and redirecting. His ability to sink his hips at 6-foot-7 is impressive.

• While it's important not to put too much stock in combine performances, East Carolina OT Willie Smith looked more fluid and showed better balance than expected during position-specific drills. He may move better in shorts than he does in pads but he performed well enough for us to plan another look at the film. Smith also looked good in weigh-ins, creating some buzz with his 6-foot-5⅝, 319-pound frame and 35½-inch arms.

• Another tackle who should get another look is South Carolina's Jarriel King. He looked a little stiff in space and had some problems changing directions quickly. He may be a better fit on the right side than the left despite his impressive arm length.

• It's no surprise that Florida Atlantic's Robert Housler turned in the fastest 40-yard dash time among the tight ends. Housler ran 4.55 seconds officially, verifying the seam-stretching ability we've seen on film. However, there are still concerns about his hands, which were inconsistent during drills after Housler had some drops on film and at the Texas vs. Nation game.

 

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Weslye Saunders facing more questions

By Steve Muench


South Carolina TE Weslye Saunders aggavated a broken bone in his left foot on Saturday and dropped out of the remainder of combine drills after taking part in the vertical jump and broad jump.

The injury means he likely won't get a chance to work out for scouts before the draft, yet another setback for a player who was suspended for the entire 2010 season and faces plenty of questions about character and work ethic.

When healthy Saunders has a nice combination of size and speed, but he carries a mid-round grade because of the issues outlined above and if he is forced to remain idle in the coming weeks he will not have a chance to prove to scouts that he has stayed in shape.

• Michigan State TECharlie Gantt isn't the most explosive tight end here but he looked more fluid getting in and out of breaks than expected and he did a nice job of snatching the ball out of the air. He is also an effective wall-off blocker on film.

• Nevada TE Virgil Green let a pass slip though his hands during the gauntlet but he still caught the ball fairly well. He also looked more comfortable getting down the line and fluid turning upfield than the other tight ends.

• USC TE Jordan Cameron, who briefly played basketball for the Trojans, shined the week of the East-West Shrine game and his athletic ability is stood out during position-specific drills today . He is gearing down quickly on hitch routes and adjusting to passes thrown outside his frame.

It's important to keep his performance in perspective, though. Cameron is a former wide receiver who didn't catch a single pass until his senior year, when he caught just 16 passes. He's not a physical or powerful blocker, either, which is why he remains in the mid-round area

 

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Solder leads strong OL group

Todd McShay and Kevin Weidl
Scouts Inc.


The most disappointing aspect of the offensive line workouts was the absence of USC OT Tyron Smith, who is Scouts Inc.'s top-rated tackle prospect. Smith had a strong start to the combine, weighing in at 307 pounds (up from 285 in-season) and carrying the weight well. He also had 29 bench press reps at 225 pounds. The momentum ended when trainers found fluid in his knee and advised him to shut it down for the remainder of the weekend.

The fluid stems from a minor knee injury that Smith suffered late in the season and eventually had scoped in December. The good news is that Smith has already had the knee drained and is expected to make a full recovery in time to work out for NFL scouts at USC's pro day March 31.

Strong showings
• Colorado's Nate Solder, the No. 2 tackle on our board, stole the show Saturday. The 6-foot-8, 319-pounder displayed remarkable speed and explosiveness for a massive left tackle prospect. The 10-yard split is the most important part of the 40-yard dash when evaluating offensive linemen because it shows the initial burst and explosiveness that translates to their responsibilities in the trenches, and Solder had the top 10-yard split (1.62 seconds unofficial) among all offensive linemen and the fastest 40 (5.05) in the offensive tackle group.

Solder also proved his short-area explosiveness by turning in a broad jump of 9-foot-2, tops among all linemen, and he showed adequate flexibility and solid lateral agility during drills. There are some concerns about overall technique and natural knee-bend, but Solder showed enough athleticism and should improve with good coaching and hard work. Different teams will look for different skill sets at tackle, so Solder might not be the first or second tackle selected in the draft, but it's hard to imagine him slipping out of the top 20.

• Syracuse center Ryan Bartholomew capped a strong combine with a good performance Saturday. The 6-1, 302-pounder turned in strong times of 4.97 (official) in the 40-yard dash and 1.64 (unofficial) in his 10-yard split. Remember, Bartholomew also led all offensive linemen in the bench press test with 34 reps. He far exceeded expectations after our film study revealed some holes in terms of balance and lateral agility. Bartholomew has at least given scouts a reason to take another look at the tape and re-consider his standing.

• Miami guard Orlando Franklin quietly had a solid day, turning in an adequate 5.20 (official) in the 40 and showing good short-area quickness with a 1.72 (official) 10-yard split. At 6-5 and 316 pounds, he showed just average foot quickness during drills but did display good short-area lateral agility. He also looked balanced throughout and did a nice job staying low out of his stance during pulling drills. Franklin was clearly playing out of position at left tackle during the college season, but he has the strength and short-area capabilities to be a reliable starter on the inside at the next level.

• Boston College OT Anthony Castonzo, Florida OT Marcus Gilbert and Lehigh OG Will Rackley also helped their causes. Castonzo turned in an adequate 10-yard split (1.79 unofficial) while showing good flexibility and quick feet with his lateral slides. Gilbert turned in a subpar 40 time (5.43) but looked smooth during drills with short, compact movements that allowed him to stay in control and balanced. Rackley also opened eyes during drills, bending well at the knees, staying patient and balanced in his sets and showing good short-area lateral quickness.


Underwhelming
• Arkansas OT Demarcus Love did not have the workout he was hoping for. Love labored to get to the corner and failed to get his hands on the rushing defender during the kick-step drill. An earlier drill that called for prospects to change direction in space exposed the stiffness in Love's hips and raised concerns about his ability to redirect effectively at the next level. Love's arms are long even by offensive tackle standards, but teams shouldn't feel comfortable asking him to protect their quarterback's blind side, and he may even be a better fit at guard.

 

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Green gaining ground among TEs

Todd McShay and Kevin Weidl
Scouts Inc.


A pair of notable tight ends did not work out on Saturday. No. 1 prospect Kyle Rudolph (Notre Dame) is still recovering from surgery on a season-ending hamstring injury, while Weslye Saunders (South Carolina) aggravated a foot injury that turned out to be a fracture and bowed out after the broad jump and vertical jump. However, there were plenty of notable performances to fill the void.

Strong showings
• Nevada's Virgil Green (6-3, 249) is undersized for a traditional tight end but plays much bigger than his size and did an outstanding job as an inline blocker at the college level. He won't be able to work inline as often in the NFL, but his tape and combine workout lead us to believe he can at least match up in certain situations. Green's vertical jump (42½ inches) was just an inch shy of the combine record at his position and his broad jump (10-10) is a combine record for tight ends.

Green also turned in the third-best 40-yard dash time (4.64 official) in his group, which shows he has the speed to stretch the middle of the field as a receiver. While Green does show a lot of promise as a developmental prospect, he will need work as a route runner. We also see a lot of tightness in his movements, especially in his upper body. He struggled to track the ball thrown over his shoulder. Green will need good coaching and a bit more time than most prospects to develop, but he's worth the investment in the middle rounds.

• Basketball players making the move to tight end is a continuing trend in the 2011 class, thanks to the late emergence of USC's Jordan Cameron and Portland State's Julius Thomas.

Neither is ready to contribute early in his career, but both displayed enough speed and athleticism to warrant Day 3 consideration as developmental projects. Jordan displayed more natural athleticism, turning in the second-fastest 40 time of the group (4.59). He also showcased fluid hips and good body control as a route runner while flashing the ability to make the tough catch away from his frame. Jordan's game tape is not nearly as impressive as his showings during the combine and at the East-West Shrine Game, but he clearly has the tools to be developed if he's willing to pay the price.

Thomas is also gifted but even more raw. He was a four-year contributor on the basketball team and did not walk on to the football squad until his senior season, so he has just one year of playing experience under his belt. The 6-5, 246-pounder ran well in the 40 (4.68 official) and showed enough natural athleticism and ball skills for a team to invest a late-round pick and a couple years of coaching.


Underwhelming
• Wisconsin's Lance Kendricks is a good football player, but his lack of ideal measurables remains a concern as we project his potential role in the NFL. Kendricks is undersized (6-2⅞, 243), and while he is a tough, aggressive blocker on his college tape, he will obviously have some inline matchup limitations in the NFL. Kendricks is savvy as a route runner and his production was very good for the Badgers, but our tape study showed inconsistent ball skills and a lack of seam-stretching speed, both of which were evident during his workout Saturday. Kendricks dropped three passes during the gauntlet drill and he ran the eighth-best 40 among tight ends. Kendricks' stock is helped by the lack of quality options in this year's tight end crop, but we would have a hard time using a top-75 pick on a player with so many physical limitations.

• After a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, Marshall TE Lee Smith displayed a lack of top-end speed and athleticism at the combine. Smith showed off good inline blocking skills, savviness as an underneath route runner and strong hands in traffic during the Senior Bowl, but it's apparent on film that Smith's upside is limited by below- average top-end speed and athleticism. He helped confirm those assumptions during his underwhelming showing at the combine. His unofficial 40 time of 5.07 seconds is actually worse than anticipated and three-tenths slower than the three-year average for tight ends, and it will undoubtedly hurt his value come draft weekend.

 

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Size a question for Fairley?

Todd McShay and Kevin Weidl
Scouts Inc.


The deepest position group in the draft began the combine process Saturday and there was plenty of buzz surrounding some big-name defensive linemen.

• Auburn DT Nick Fairley, potentially the No. 1 overall pick, is surprisingly small. Listed at 6-5 and 300 pounds, Fairley checked in at 6-3 and 291 officially. Alabama's Marcell Dareus, the No. 2 defensive tackle on the board, is the same height and 28 pounds heavier. Not many teams are in love with sub-300 pound defensive tackles, and while Fairley is clearly light in order to run well, his frame isn't as long as expected and we wonder how much bulk he can safely add. This doesn't mean Fairley is free-falling or anything close, but it's something to consider as part of the evaluation process when comparing two different-style players at same position with nearly identical grades.

• Missouri DE Aldon Smith and Georgia DE/OLB Justin Houston were winners from Saturday's weigh-ins. Smith checked in at 6-4¼ and 263 pounds, but it was his freakishly long arms (35⅝ inches) that really turned heads. Houston showed off long arms of his own (34½) while checking in at an athletic-looking 6-2⅞ and 270 pounds, and his surprisingly big frame should help ease concerns for teams wondering about his ability to hold up as a traditional 4-3 defensive end.

• As an underclassman who did not get measured last spring and was suspended for the entire fall, North Carolina DE Robert Quinn needed to make a good impression more than most. Quinn looked good at 6-4 and 265 pounds, but he did not quite live up to expectations from a body-type standpoint. Three different scouts we spoke to said they were impressed with his frame and upper body but underwhelmed by the look of his lower half. In fact, one of those scouts described Quinn's lower-body as a bit lean and knock-kneed.

 

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OL times/jumps

Top 40-yard dashes
1. OC Ryan Kelce, Cincinnati (4.93)
2. OC Ryan Bartholomew, Syracuse (4.97)
3. OG Dererk Newton, Arkansas State (5.01)
4. OT Nate Solder, Colorado (5.05)
5. OT Jarriel King, South Carolina (5.09)

Top 10-yard splits
1. Nate Solder (1.63)
T2. Ryan Bartholemew (1.64)
T2. OT/OG James Brewer, Indiana (1.64)
4. OG Clint Boling, Georgia (1.69)
5. OT/OG Orlando Franklin, Miami (FL) (1.72)

Top vertical jumps
T1. OG Dan Kilgore, Appalachian St. (32½)
T1. OC Kristofer O'Dowd, USC (32½)
T3. OT Kyle Hix, Texas (32)
T3. Nate Solder (32)
5. OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin (31½)

Top broad jumps
1. Jarriel King (9-6)
2. OT Jah Reid, Central Florida (9-3)
T3. Jason Kelce (9-2)
T3. Nate Solder (9-2)
5. Gabe Carimi (9-1)


TE times/jumps

Top 40-yard dashes
1. Rob Housler, Florida Atlantic (4.55)
2. Jordan Cameron, USC (4.59)
3. Virgil Green, Nevada (4.64)
T4. Schuylar Oordt, Northern Iowa (4.67)
T4. D.J Williams, Arkansas (4.67)

Top vertical jumps
1. Virgil Green (42½)
2. Jordan Cameron (37½)
3. Rob Housler (37)
4. Schuylar Oordt (36)
5. Julius Thomas, Portland State (35½)

Top broad jumps
1. Virgil Green (10-10)
2. Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin (10-2)
T3. Jordan Cameron (9-11)
T3. Schuylar Oordt, Northern Iowa (9-11)
5. Charles Clay, Tulsa (9-10)

Top 3-cone drills
1. Jordan Cameron (6.82)
2. Schuylar Oordt (6.83)
3. Zack Pianalto, North Carolina (6.85)
T4. Virgil Green (6.90)
T4. Rob Housler (6.90)


Bench press numbers

Top 5 RBs
1. Anthony Sherman, Connecticut (32)
2. Shane Vereen, California (31)
3. Allen Bradford, USC (28)
4. Delone Carter, Syracuse (27)
5. Darren Evans, Virginia Tech (26)

Top 5 WRs
1. Greg Little, North Carolina (27)
2. Niles Paul, Nebraska (24)
3. Cecil Shorts, Mount Union (21)
4. Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh (20)
5. DeAndre Brown, Southern Miss (20)

 

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Eyes on Julio Jones, Cam Newton

By Todd McShay, Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl


Quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs took center stage on Sunday at the NFL combine. Here are some things our scouts have seen so far.

• Auburn QB Cam Newton was impressive in the workouts with a 4.59 40-yard dash and a 10'6"broad jump. He was a erratic throwing the ball, though. He showed good touch on the deep ball, but timing routes are an issue as he sailed three outs.

• Virginia Tech QB Tyrod Taylor ran the fastest 40 of the QBs with a 4.51. He looked timid thowing the ball, but had great workout numbers that would translate into a possible transition to wide receiver (even though he doesn't want to hear it).

• Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert did not throw, but he had a good workout though. He ran a 4.62 40 and broad jumped 9'9".

• TCU QB Andy Dalton showed good timing and accuracy on quick slants. He is also putting more than enough velocity and touch on his downfield passes.

• Florida State QB Christian Ponder made the right decision to throw. He was accurate and he put good zip on his passes. His footwork could have been crisper and he could have thrown in better rhythm, but some of that has to deal with working with unfamiliar receivers.

• Washington's Jake Locker, Arkansas' Ryan Mallett and Nevada's Colin Kaepernick all showed more than enough arm strength. The ball jumped out of their hands and they made it look effortless. In somewhat of a surprise, Idaho Nathan Enderle forced receivers to slow down and wait for the ball. He shows a strong arm on film and the underthrown passes could be a result of him trying to guide the ball. If that's the case, he needs to understand the purpose of the drill. Scouts want to see his arm strength on these throws, so it's better to miss long than short. Fresno State QB Ryan Colburn has done little to quiet concerns about his arm strength. One of his deeper passes died in the air and dropped to the turf.

• One of the biggest knocks on Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett, who measured 6-6¾, is his pocket mobility. While he does a nice job of keeping his eyes downfield, he doesn't have the foot speed to regularly sidestep pressure and can throw off balance when forced to move around. Mallett was just warming up and going through a footwork drill. On the plus side, identifying weaknesses and working on them is essential to developing as a player, so stressing these drills is important. On the downside, Mallet still didn't look as fluid and/or effortless as we would prefer. Moving to his left appeared to give him the most trouble.

• Before we get into the receivers, here's a quick explanation of the gauntlet drill they run (and will be referenced here many times). The receivers start by spinning around and catching the ball. They spin again and catch another ball before they start running down the line and catching the ball from alternate sides. The pace of the receiver, his ability to locate the ball quickly without drifting off the line and his ability to extend arms to catch ball away from frame are all factors. They also have to finish the drill by turning upfield and trying to stay in bounds.

• Georgia WR A.J. Green and Miami WR Leonard Hankerson unexpectedly struggled in their first trips through the gauntlet drill. Green dropped a pass, stumbled and never got his head snapped around to catch the next pass. Hankerson dropped more passes (four) in one trip through the gauntlet than he did the entire week of the Senior Bowl. It appeared that both receivers struggled to recover after the first drop. Alabama WR Julio Jones, who is having a strong day, looked more comfortable getting down the line and caught every pass his first time through. However, all three could be more aggressive, extending their arms and snatching the ball instead of waiting for it to get to them.

• Green is still the best receiver on the board based on his film, but Alabama's Julio Jones had a better day in my opinion. Green struggled in the gauntlet, as noted earlier, and stumbled twice trying to make crisp cuts on quick outs. Kentucky WR Randall Cobb didn't look as crisp as expected on the quick outs either. Both are quick and agile enough to improve their route running so it's important not to put too much weight in their workouts this morning.

Jones, meanwhile, ran a 4.40 in the 40, had a 38" vertical jump and broad jumped 11'3".

• Hankerson turned in a 4.43 40-yard dash, which will help ease concerns about him being only a possession receiver as this time shows he has the speed to stretch the field.

• Big receivers generally have trouble sinking their hips and exploding out of cuts. Pittsburgh's Jonathan Baldwin (6-4⅝, 224 pounds) and Southern Miss' DeAndre Brown (6-6, 239 pounds)) are no exceptions. Baldwin rounded off his cuts on the quick outs, while Brown geared down and took too long to transition at the top of his stem.

• Indiana WR Terrance Turner flashes good ball skills on film, but he's inconsistent. He dropped too many passes during practices of the East-West Shrine Game and he let the ball get to his frame too much during the gauntlet drill today.

• LSU WR Terrence Tolliver's position specific drills went about as well as expected. He looked good tracking the deep ball and caught the ball well during the gauntlet, but he stumbled out of a break on a quick out. It looked like he tried to make the turn going full speed instead of sinking his hips and exploding off his inside foot at the top of the stem.

• Boise State WR Titus Young could have shown more urgency working down the line. but he didn't drift and caught the ball well during the gauntlet drill. He also looked fluid and explosive on his quick outs. Fellow Bronco Austin Pettis isn't as explosive or fluid, and he uncharacteristically dropped two passes on one trip through the gauntlet. Still, he showed he can extend his arms and snatch the ball out of the air. He could have done better, but he could have done worse.

• Maryland WR Torrey Smith is backing up what we have seen on film. He posted a good 40-yard dash time (4.43 unofficially) and tracked the deep ball, but he had a hard time making crisp cuts and even stumbled out of one break.

• Tennessee WR Denarius Moore ran better than expected and stood out on vertical routes. Most receivers got caught drifting outside and it's a natural move because it allows them to track the ball. The problem is it also makes it easier for safeties to make a play on the ball. Moore drifted inside and caught the ball over his outside shoulder, which forces the safety to go through him to make a play on the ball.

• Hawaii WR Greg Salas dropped the first pass on one trip through the gauntlet. Dropping a pass can affect a receiver's confidence and one drop has frequently turned into two or more drops today, but Salas recovered well and finished the drill by catching every other pass. He also looked good transitioning out of his break on the quick outs.

• Cal RB Shane Vereen is having a monster showing. He ran his two 40s in the high-4.4s (4.48 and 4.49). He had the most reps of any RB on the 225-pound bench press and also had a top-10 result in the vertical jump (34").

• Georgia Tech RB Anthony Allen had a 41.5" vertical jump, which ties him with Donald Brown (Colts) for best result for a running back since 2006.

• On a non-QB/RB/WR notes, Oregon State DT Stephen Paea just set the record for 225-pound bench press reps with 49. Wow.

• Alabama's Mark Ingram's 40-time (4.63) was only decent, but his 10-yard split (1.51) is very good. The average of the last three years was 1.63 seconds. • None of our top-three backs -- Ingram, Ryan Williams (Virginia Tech) and Mikel LeShoure (Illinois) -- were in the top-10 40-yard dash results. Williams and LeShoure both ran in the low 4.6s official 40 times. • Our fourth rated running back, Kansas State's Daniel Thomas, did not workout due to a hamstring injury suffered while working out several weeks ago. He is expected to workout for NFL scouts at his pro day (March 15).

• Ingram, Williams, Derrick Locke (Kentucky), Johnny White (North Carolina), and Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh) really stood out during running back drills. They all ran with great balance and lateral agility for their respective sizes. On the flipside, Damien Berry (Miami) and John Clay (Wisconsin) struggled during the same drills.

 

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Nick Fairley surprises in coverage

By Todd McShay, Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl


Defensive linemen were on display Monday at the NFL combine, working drills that simulate dropping into coverage. Here are some things our scouts have seen so far.

• No one is thinking about moving Auburn DT Nick Fairley outside, so this drill shouldn't carry as much weight for him as it will for some of the other prospects. However, his strong performance didn't hurt. He did a better job of bending and redirecting than most interior defensive linemen.

• Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan did not perform as well as hoped during the week of the Senior Bowl, when he lined up at outside linebacker, and he doesn't have elite athletic ability. However, he did a better job of moving in space on Monday, and teams looking for help at outside linebacker late in the first round should take note of his improved body control in space.

• Cal's Cameron Jordan impressed with his athletic ability in college and he's doing it again in Indianapolis. His best position is clearly at end, but he's surprisingly smooth and fluid for a 287-pound prospect.

• Though he primarily lined up at end, Fresno State's Christopher Carter (6-1, 248 pounds) saw some time at linebacker and he's expected to line up there at the next level, making this an important drill for him. However, he didn't look as fluid opening his hips or as comfortable in space as hoped.

• TCU's Wayne Daniels (6-0, 260 pounds) is another player teams might think about moving to outside linebacker but he struggled to sink his hips and get to depth when backpedaling.

• Miami DE Allen Bailey (6-3, 285 pounds) showed above-average lateral mobility during bag work but struggled to open his hips and reverse direction while backpedaling. That's OK, because he has the frame and strength to develop into a starting end.

• Oklahoma DE Jeremy Beal (6-2, 262 pounds) struggles to anchor against the run at end, so it's important that he show he can make the jump to outside linebacker. However, he has struggled to do so during the draft process. He struggled the week of the Senior Bowl and the drills here exposed the tightness in his hips.

 

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Robert Quinn could make position change

By Todd McShay, Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl


Defensive line workouts continue at the NFL combine and Scouts Inc. is breaking down the top prospects. Here's what we've seen through midday.

• North Carolina DE Robert Quinn has to improve his footwork. He took a quarter-count too long to open up and change directions during drills, but there's no question he has the athletic ability and quickness to transition to outside linebacker in a base three-man front. It just looks like he needs more experience playing in space, which isn't all that surprising for an underclassman who lined up at end in a four-man front in college and missed the entire 2010 season.

• Arizona DE Brooks Reed looked explosive without losing body control when forced to change directions and he's shown on film that he can drop into underneath coverage. His lower body flexibility when asked to bend around cones or bags was a notch below elite but still above-average. He could play end in a four-man front or move to outside linebacker in a 3-4 front.

• South Florida DT Terrell McClain played well enough at the East-West Shrine Game to earn an invite to the Senior Bowl, and at the combine he continues to capitalize on his opportunities to impress. He showed above-average foot speed weaving in and out of pads and violent hands on another drill that required the defensive linemen to shed heavy bags.

• LSU DT Drake Nevis didn't look as explosive or agile as expected and he had to restart two different drills. It's important not to exaggerate the mistakes he made in those two drills. They could mean nothing in the long run, but scouts will check their notes on them and may even further investigate how well he responds to coaching.

• Baylor's Phil Taylor (6-foot-3, 344) has the better film and continues to separate himself from fellow NT Jerrell Powe (6-16, 335) of Ole Miss. Taylor has the bigger frame and looks to be in better shape. He is moving well for his size and not wearing down as quickly as Powe during drills.

• It is being reported that Oregon ILB Casey Matthews injured his left shoulder while bench pressing and will not work out on the field. Matthews is an instinctive inside linebacker with a great motor and turned in a solid week of practice at the Senior Bowl, but he's not an elite athlete so we didn't expect him to make waves with his workout anyway.

As long as the injury isn't serious and he works out well at his pro day, this setback should not have a substantial impact on Matthews' draft stock. Oregon's pro day is March 10, which will be cutting it close, but he could always work out at another school's pro day or hold his own personal workout.

 

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Von Miller stumbles but still looks good

By Todd McShay, Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl


The linebackers are in the spotlight late in the day and several have made good impressions on scouts.

• Texas A&M OLB Von Miller got caught crossing over instead of shuffling his feet in space and he slipped on a pad when he failed to stay square in his backpedal during bag drills, but he still had an excellent overall workout. Miller's footwork could have been crisper and he wasted motion at times, but he showed teams he is capable of planting his outside foot, opening his hips and changing directions quickly. Miller also showed better body control as the drills progressed.

• Georgia OLB/DE Justin Houston showed some stiffness in his hips and isn't nearly as fluid as Miller. Houston even stumbled to the ground when asked to open his hips while dropping in coverage drills, but like Miller he did a better job of staying under control and opening up as the drills progressed.

• Illinois ILB Martez Wilson posted an official 40-yard dash time of 4.49 seconds at 250 pounds, and he did more than just show off his straight-line speed. Wilson did a good job of bending his knees and sliding from side to side during bag drills.

• Miami ILB Colin McCarthy didn't explode out of his cuts and could have been more fluid but he showed good balance and body control in space. He also showed good balance and did a better job of keeping his head up working in and out of bags.

• Durability concerns will likely cost Connecticut OLB Scott Lutrus on draft weekend and Lutrus isn't the most explosive linebacker in the draft, but he did show that he could offer excellent value in the middle rounds.

Lutrus looked comfortable changing directions and showed good burst out of his cuts. While he dropped a ball today and didn't make many big plays in coverage his last three seasons at Connecticut, he did pick off four passes as a redshirt freshman and has the big hands (10 inches) to improve his ball skills.