The offensive segment of As The Combine Turns is in the books. And for the most part we can breathe a big sigh of relief and hope for bigger and better things on Sunday, especially with the DL groups Sunday morning.
As expected the WR group turned into another version of ‘Where’s The Speed’ to paraphrase the late, great, departed CLARA PELLA, spokesgirl for Wendy’s. I fear we have all been spoiled by the quality, diversity and depth of the last two WR Draft Groups. Welcome back to planet earth Draftniks. Almost everyone’s top WR prospect LAQUON TREADWELL/Ole Miss chose not to run his 40 in Indy. But he did show up out on the field, baseball cap on backwards and all. And he looked like I expected him to. He’s a smart player who runs good routes ad displays good, strong hands. I found it interesting that TREADWELL weighed in at 220 lbs., which was about 10 lbs. over his program weight at Ole Miss last season. Will he weigh that at his Pro Day or lose a few pounds to run faster?
Maybe he should have run, because the speed numbers were pretty pedestrian to say the least. Only two wideouts were able to un sub-4.40 on the day:
WILL FULLER/Notre Dame 4.32
KOLBY LISTENBEE/TCU 4.35
Ironically, both of these fastest guys, had very smallish hands at 8 1/4″.
FULLER had an impressive day overall running good patterns and catching almost everything thrown his way. FULLER may be the guy most likely to come in and take the top off of defenses right away as a Rookie. I don’t see how he doesn’t get drafted in Round 1 after his work this week.
To add to the misery of NFL personnel people who just luv speed, the entire receiver group of 37 who ran their 40’s produced only 8 other guys who were able to even break the 4.50/40 mark.
But despair not if your team needs a receiver to bolster their receiving corps. There is some nice size, excellent hands and quickness within this receiving class.
JOSH DOCTSON/TCU posted impressive numbers all the way around. He measured in well at 6’2, 202 lbs., 31 7/8″ arms & 9 7/8″ hands. He did post a 4.50/40 time and flashed a 41″ vertical jump. His 10’11” broad jump was exceptional as well. He showed excellent, soft hands during receiving drills and I’d take him in Round 1 if I had a later pick and needed WR help… in a heartbeat!
STERLING SHEPARD/Oklahoma, also had a solid day out on the artificial turf today. His 4.48/40, when his quickness is taken into account was a good number for him. Even his arms are not long (30 3/8″) his 9 3/4″ hand spread is encouraging. Like DOCTSON he also posted a 41″ vert, with a 10’3″ broad jump. I also have it on good authority that he was impressive in interview rooms.
My top sleeper coming out of the WR group is Probably MARQUEZ NORTH/Tennessee. I had not seen him on anyone’s top WR prospect list. His measurables were most impressive for the 6’3/223 wideout. He ran a solid 4.48/40 at this size. Then he was taped with 10 1/4″ hands spread and 33 3/8″ long arms. The underclassman came out early, even though he only played in 7 games with 6 catches in 2015. He was selected to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2015. His career high in receptions was in 2013 as a true freshman, with 38. His numbers now have him firmly in front of NFL personnel departments. Here’s hoping his Combine medical went well with a torn labrum on his records from 2014.
usual
URBAN MEYER made a cameo appearance on NFLN coverage today, in part to celebrate a whopping 14 Buckeyes being present in the Combine’s 333 participants. He did not look like a Head COach concerned a whole lot abut losing that much talent to the pro game. Clearly recruiting is going well these days as usual in Columbus.
His comment was most interesting when Mike Mayock asked him the most impressive aspect of EZEKIEL ELLIOTT/RB during his career as a Buckeye. MEYER said it was watching what ELLIOTT did when he did not have the ball in his hands; running routes as a decoy, carrying out ball fakes and blocking to protect his QB. Just what NFL personnel people wanted to hear.
The 2016 TE group was the smallest I can remember with only 16 players, and several of them were limited because of physical issues. Would it be safe to suggest that teams in serious need of TE help give some serious attention to the VFA lists for this year. On top of that 6 of the 16 chose not to run their 40’s today.
My most impressive performer in this group was JERELL ADAMS?South Carolina. All of his numbers were good. He measured 6’5″, 247 lbs., 34 3/8″ arms & 9 3/4″ hands. He also ran, posting a 4.64/40, which was the best in the TE group.
My sleeper was TEMARRICK HEMINGWAY/S. Carolina State. He posted the second best 40-time at 4.71, and was 6’5″, 244 lbs., 34″ arms & 10″ hands. He looked decent in receiving drills and will have yours truly taking another look at my game tape form the NFLPA Game.
As often happens, the QB group sent out some conflicting messages between their measurables and their throwing work. The week started in a bizarre manner when both BRANDON ALLEN & VERNON ADAMS showed up with bigger hands than they had previously registered at All-Star Games. And when Saturday rolled around all the top QB participated fully in on-field drills.
Consensus seems to be that CARSON WENTZ, the small school wunderkind, created just a bit of separation as the best overall QB prospect for this Draft during his time in Indy. He had great numbers all the way around including a 4.77/40 which tied him for second best with TREVONE BOYKIN, who may be moving to WR. WENTZ was reportedly top notch in interviews and at the chalk board for teams. His 10″ hands are also appealing. He even showed better footwork than most of the big school QB in town.
PAXTON LYNCH and JARED GOFF were not quite as impressive overall, but are both still pegged as First Rounders as well. I think that BRANDON DOUGHTY/Western Kentucky probably lost the most ground here. His 5.22/40 was snail like and his small, 9 1/8″ hands were also disappointing.
My biggest mystery man in the QB group is still JOEL STAVE/Wisconsin. Based on his measurables this guy should be elite. He stands 6’5, weighs 236 lbs., has 10 3/4″ hands and 33 1/4″ long arms FBS. He also ran a very respectable 4.80/40. He did a lot of throwing in the field work today, and throws a nice ball overall. But then you look at his on-field play at Wisconsin and wonder how he ends up throwing 11 TD and 11 INT as a senior under QB whisperer Head Coach PAUL CHRYST. There seems to be a serious disconnect between what should be and what is. Maybe someone will think they can fix this guy and he’ll get drafted in Round 7.
I wonder how long TEXANS HC BILL O’BRIEN thinks he can wait in the Draft before he picks his Penn State protege’ CHRISTIAN HACKENBERG. HACKENBERG still shows flashes of NFL talent and he did hid best work as a freshman for O”BIREN in Happy Valley. HACK has been the most sacked QB in FCS football over the last two years. Can O”BRIEN, who needs a franchise QB draft HACKENBERG, fix him and save his job as the TEXANS coach? Only time will tell.
Biggest disappointment in the QB group today was CARDALE JONES/Ohio State who pulled a hamstring in his second 40-yard dash and was unable to do anything else on the field. But his size and athleticism still make him a target for additional study as his health permits. He may be the big fish at the Buckeyes Pro Day.
My top sleeper coming out of this group is a guy who had a really solid season in 2015 and shined in Mobile during Senior Bowl week. JEFF DRISKEL was the top ranked QB recruit in the nation when he signed at Florida, just before URBAN MEYER left town. He has always been ranked as a great athlete, with a major league arm. But it never clicked in Gainesville. He responded well to LA TECH HC SKIP HOLTZ after transferring there. And his numbers this week indicated he’s lost none of the physical attributes he flashed coming out of high school. DRISKEL is 6’4″, 234 LBS, with 9 3/4″ hands. He ran the fastest 40 today by far in the QB group at 4.56. He’s the real deal and on the rise.
Pigskin Paul
