| 28 February 2010
NFL Network starts out their coverage a little behind actual live coverage of the combine so the first group of receivers has already run their 40-yard dash times. The times I'll be providing aren't live actual times they're on a tape delayed basis from the NFL Network, however it's only Group 1 of the WRs that have run. The groups go in alphabetical order and some of the big names that have already run include Arrellious Benn from Illinois who measured 6-foot-1 219-pounds he runs 4.48 unofficial time on his first 40-yard dash attempt.
Another big name Mardy Gilliard WR from Cincinnati and their big time passing offense up there, Gilliard not much faster than Benn runs a 4.50 unofficially. These times will likely be added to by a few hundredths of a second here and there once the official times come in. Not very impressive times from either of these two top rated receivers in the 2010 NFL Draft. One could argue that it's disappointing to see them running a slower time than expected in the 40-yard dash.
Two of the fastest times came from two players that weren't rated amongst the top-10 WRs in the draft, Brandon Banks from Kansas State with a 4.34 time unofficially. Banks is about as small as they come measuring only 5-foot-7 149-pounds. Jacoby Ford another small WR 5-9 189-pounds runs a 4.27 unofficially....currently stands as the fastest time run to this point of the day.
NFL Network immediately transitions to live coverage of the group one wide outs running the gauntlet. The gauntlet drill is where the receivers run down the line from one side line to another and catch passes about every 10-yards or so. They turn from one end-zone to the next transitioning from one side to the other and catching passes in between.
First up in the gauntlet drill from the big name wide receivers is Arrelious Benn from Illinois he struggles in catching the ball, sort of an average performance. The ball gets more into his body than you'd like to see, you'd prefer to see him catching the ball more out front so there is less risk of a bouncing off his breast plate. A natural hands catcher does more to snatch the ball rather than trap it into his body.
Nyan Boateng from Cal is up next he comes in at 6-2 204-pounds, and isn't rated amongst the top receivers in the draft. One almost has to wonder why Boateng was even invited to the combine because even if he has a good performance there's not a lot of film on him catching passes over his career. Career stats are 47 receptions for 707 yards which is a below average season for a lot of these receivers out here. There's just not a lot you're going to learn from Boateng. That being said he shows the best hands to this point in the drill, catching each and every pass out away from his body. Naturally snatching the ball out of the air setting the standard for any of the players running this drill.
Dezmon Briscoe from Kansas 6-2 207-pounds is up next and he runs a pretty average drill here. Nothing special or remarkable let's the ball get into his body more than you'd like to see.
Antonio Brown from Central Michigan 5-10 186-pounds runs a decent drill shows good hands catching the ball out away from his body. Another low round guy 7th round free agent type of receiver.
Dez Bryant not working out today, he would be up next.
Riley Cooper from Florida 6-foot-3 222-pounds from Florida is up next to run the gauntlet. Another average performance, Boateng still setting the standard for the drill amongst all of the receivers. Cooper a decent physical specimen rated as a mid round receiver, he could probably do some good to help his stock here today depending on his overall performance.
Marcus Easley from UConn another good sized prospect 6-3 210-pounds sets the bar along with Boateng for this drill today. He catches each and every one of the passes out in front of his body. Snatches the ball out of the air rather than letting it get into his body. Easley is a mid to late round prospect who could do a lot to help his stock with good workouts here at the combine. I'm a bigger fan of the big receivers like this the 6-3 athletes and I'm less of a fan of the Golden Tate type WRs who are only in the 5-10 range.
Jacoby Ford 5-9 186-pounds from Clemson a third to fourth round level selection is up next in the gauntlet. Not as solid as some of the other prospects running this drill. Not as natural of a hands catcher as we've seen from some of the other prospects.
David Gettis 6-3 217-pounds from Baylor, average performance some balls he's catching out front, some balls he's letting get into his body.
Mardy Gilliard 6-foot 187-pounds the other highly regarded receiver in this group one of receivers is up next. Most of the ball thrown to Gilliard are thrown straight at him making it easy for him to catch the passes. Gilliard's last throw is out in front a nice pass maybe a little hard to reach but you still want him to haul in the pass like this. Gilliard drops the pass and is clearly frustrated with himself.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx End of group on gauntlet and 40-yard dash.
QBs up and throwing now Jarrett Brown 6-3 224-pounds from West Virginia, is up first and throwing. His first two passes are zipped in there a 15-yard out route. Zips the ball to the receiver on target looks good throwing the ball, foot work looks pretty good too.
Sean Canfield from Oregon State up next same route same ball and he misses the receiver completely. Canfield looks like a bundle of nerves and I think the pressure is getting to him on these first two throws.
Daryll Clark from Penn State up next 6-2 235-pounds from Penn State up next throwing to Nyan Boateng. Boateng with another good catch showing good body control and hands. Problem is and I have to emphasize this when you have a kid that shows up today with a good performance and then makes you go back and look at the tape, you see Boateng has like ZERO tape to look at over his career so that will simply hurt his stock.
Max Hall from BYU up and going 6-1 209-pounds might be the most underrated QB coming out right now that gets little respect. Hall has had to face doubters his whole career so he's used to people questioning his size, his arm strength and his ability. However he's quick and accurate with the football and his fundamentals are top notch. Hall shows that again here with his superb throw on this pass pattern.
Stop the presses Tim Tebow is doing his vertical jump...
Brandon Banks from Kansas State with a nice catch he really snatches this ball out of the air here. Good catch.
Deep in on the next pass pattern here, seven step drop with a hitch and then throw.
Sean Canfield from Oregon State to throw first, thrown the ball behind the receiver on the first throw. Canfield is struggling to this point in the combine. Disappointed I really liked Canfield as a prospect coming out of Oregon State. Canfield's second pass is a lot better more on target, in a place where only the receiver could make the play on the ball.
Daryll Clark throwing the deep in next and he makes his first a bit up and behind the receiver, the receiver makes a nice adjustment and makes the catch. Clark's second throw is really nice solidly on target one of the better throws I've seen today. So far Max Hall would have to have the best throw I've seen to this point of the workouts.
They do an extreme slow motion replay of Canfield's throwing motion and it's gorgeous. His arm is up very high and his follow through is awesome. I must confess to being maybe a bit biased but his throwing motion on this replay before they went to commercial was superb. Too bad it didn't translate to much accuracy.
Tim Tebow with a 38.5 inch vertical leap, higher than any other recorded vertical leap amongst QBs...higher than Michael Vick's leap back in 2001.
QBs throwing the 9 route right now Max Hall throwing the deep ball overthrows both of his receivers by mere inches, they should have ran through and made the catch but didn't. Not bad throws from Hall who is supposed to be one of the weaker arms on display today.
Mike Kafka from Northwestern throwing the nine route first time I've seen him throw today, I think he looks decent throwing the ball here.
Canfield throws better on his next two throws when they change the direction they're throwing the ball. Throwing back to the right for some reason Canfield is more on target and looks more comfortable.
Max Hall a little high on his first throw, but his second throw is more on target, looks more crisp with his footwork and his delivery.
Stop everything Tim Tebow with his broad jump....9-7 for a broad jump.
Matt Kafka looking average throwing the football nothing bad nothing special.
I think it was Boateng that just ran a flat out awful corner route. He flattened the route almost into a nine route rather than getting out to the corner.
Brown from West Virginia severely under throws his receiver on this corner route.
Well from the workouts and throws and routes I've seen from GROUP 1 I'm completely underwhelmed by the receiving talent on display today. No one really looked good or stepped up their game. As has been the talk since before the combine started the players out there today just didn't look great even really good. Overall I would say the talent on display today was below the NFL standards.
QBs running the 40-yard dash time, I'm going to be honest I could care less about the 40-yard dash times of QBs. I'm not going to write about Tebow's 40-yard dash time or any other QBs 40-time period end of discussion. If you want to know Tebow's 40-yard dash time google it, you'll find the unofficial time listed everywhere.
Now on to the WRs, some of the WRs that are of better talent than the players in group one. Brandon LaFell from LSU 6-2 211-pounds one of the more highly regarded prospects, just hurt his draft status by running a 4.6 40-yard dash unofficially. Expectations were that he'd run a faster 40-yard dash time so that may hurt his stock a little bit.
Brandon Long WR from Louisville had some ACL injury problems in his career, 6-2 216-pounds runs a 4.46 40-yard dash. Long running faster than expected by most accounts should be one to keep an eye on given that nice size and speed combination you see with him.
Carlton Mitchell from South Florida 6-3 215-pounds runs a 4.4 40-yard dash, Mayock is talking this kid up a lot. He looks good on tape a big play guy gets down the field. Nice size speed combination you have to like what he looks like in person he passes the eye ball test.
Jordan Shipley runs a 4.57 unofficially at 5-11 193-pounds from Texas. Doesn't help his stock since he's not running as well as you'd like to see from a smaller WR like that. Mike Haas anyone?
Golden Tate from Notre Dame up next 5-10 199-pounds, Tate needs to run a big 40-yard dash time to help improve his stock. Unofficial time Tate runs a 4.36 that really opens up some eyes and makes coaches go back and watch the tape on him. He was really productive at Notre Dame so he can fit in somewhere as a slot receiver and could be a big play maker in the NFL.
Damian Williams from USC comes in right at about what you would expect 6-1 197-pounds 4.53 40-yard dash, nothing disappointing nothing exciting, pencil him in as an average joe. Nothing wrong with that just go out run good routes catch the ball with your hands and move up the draft boards.
Mike Williams from Syracuse who by some scouts is rated as high as a second round kid, 6-1 221-pounds 4.49 40-yard dash.
Kyle Williams from Arizona State 5-10 188-pounds 4.36 40-yard dash for Williams....laying it down one of the best times of the day. Williams is a very versatile receiver, quick in open space, a return guy good wiggle son of Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams. He may move up some draft boards with his versatility and then speed.
WR Group 2 is struggling with absolutely struggling with the gauntlet. Not really anyone stepped up to make solid catches from this group of receivers.
| Next > |
|---|
