| 15 March 2010
The national champions held their 2010 annual pro day down in Tuscaloosa on March 10th and many of the top prospects participated. Alabama, not surprisingly is loaded with some top NFL caliber players, with at least two players who could wind up going in the first round.
The Crimson Tide roster is so loaded in fact that they had a total of 10 players work out at the NFL combine earlier this month. Plus representatives from all 32 NFL teams showed up to see all 18 draft eligible NFL players work out. This is typically what you get when you experience the level of success that the Tide has recently. The story line though had to be the work out of middle linebacker/inside linebacker Rolando McClain who didn't work out for scouts at the combine due to a hamstring injury. McClain was in full effect inside the Tide's indoor practice facility measuring in at a solid 6-foot-4 259-pounds. McClain is built like a typical thumping inside linebacker, he can play down hill fill up the gaps shed blockers and make the tackle. He's obviously an ideal fit in the 3-4 scheme, but shouldn't be written off in the 4-3 scheme as a MIKE because he could hold up well at the point of attack in a one gap scheme.
McClain then went out and ran the 40-yard dash in a decent time in the 4.6 to low 4.7 range on both tries. This would be considered an acceptable time for a player of McClain's size. He also flowed naturally through the linebacker drills showing agility and ability to get quickly into zone if called upon.
To be clear though McClain's strength is a thumper, a gap filler stout stud at the point of attack. He's not going to make as many plays side line to side line or dropping back into zone coverage as he will coming up and punching you in the mouth. He's going to meet the fullback or guard head on in the hole, blow up the block and make the tackle. This is the strength to his game and given that he's played in Nick Saban's NFL friendly 3-4 defense he should be able to come in and make a contribution as a rookie.
Elsewhere Terrence Cody continues to show his dedication to dropping weight a very important aspect to his standing in the upcoming draft. Cody has dropped another five pounds since the NFL combine to 349-pounds down from his high of 370-pounds at the Senior Bowl.
The 349-pound weight appears to be an all-time low for Cody since arriving at Alabama and he could put himself into the latter part of the first round the further weight he drops. Cody is a pure 3-4 two-gap nose tackle and any team seeking to build the personnel for a stronger 3-4 defense could find Cody rather enticing. Cody will likely hold some more personal workouts prior to the NFL draft and it will be interesting to monitor his weight leading up to the draft in late April.
The other Crimson Tide member of note to go through some drills was offensive guard Mike Johnson. Johnson is a mid round projection who measures 6-5 312-pounds. Johnson ran the 40-yard dash and kept his time in the 5.3 range, same as he ran at the NFL combine. In the two agility drills Johnson ran a 5.05 short shuttle and 8.16 three-cone drill.
Johnson is a prospect who could clearly be on the Bears' radar come draft day. Johnson is projected as a guard but has played OT in his career for the Crimson Tide. He was a three game replacement for Andre Smith in 2008 at the left tackle spot, Smith wound up in the NFL. Johnson has the size to make it in the NFL as a right tackle so that type of versatility could make him the type of player that's right up the Bears' alley.
Johnson is a pretty solid prospect that doesn't have ideal athleticism but fits into that lunch pail type of player you look for at the next level. He's pretty storng, technicially proficient and hustles and falls in line with the old cliche of playing through the whistle. Johnson is similar to a prospect from the 2009 draft that I was pretty high on as a mid round O-Line prospect Kraig Urbik. He should have a long successful career in the NFL and will be one to keep an eye in either the third or fourth round.
YouTube High lights From Alabama's Pro Day can be found here
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