Eye on Combine
The NFL Combine is just days away, and it is time for predictions. This is a list of a few people I think you should keep an eye on during this week’s events. I will talk about the players I expect to shine, and the prospects that absolutely must have a good showing to not only get drafted, but to make a push to become one of the top players at their position.
Derrick Morgan is a player that projects very well to the defensive end positions in the four three. However, after the underclassmen runs close to a four six in the forty yard dash, I think teams will maybe consider him as a possible three four hybrid outside linebacker. Due to the fact that he is about two hundred and seventy five pounds, most teams are not giving him enough credit for his freakish athleticism. Morgan is the top defensive end prospect on most boards, and will make a push to become one of the top hybrid guys.
Chris Johnson, Jamaal Charles, Steve Slaton, and several other guys are paving the way for smaller more athletic running backs. This year’s draft has a lot of guys that fit that mold. The top two are Clemson’s C.J. Spiller and California’s Jahvid Best. I believe that Best is the faster of the two, but C.J. is a better all around prospect in the eyes of most. I think Jahvid will wow scouts this week with his speed, athleticism, and vision. If Best can prove to scouts that he’s healthy, he will pass Spiller on some draft boards.
The Hybrid outside linebacker has become one of the most important positions in the NFL. I know that less than half of the league runs a three four defense, but I think the Hybrid spot is the second or third most important position in the three four next to nose tackle. My prototypical Hybrid would be in between six four and six seven, two hundred and fifty or sixty pounds, and able to run a four six in the forty. Jason Pierre-Paul is just that. He will go into the Combine and show maybe the best speed of any end/linebacker, and the perfect size. In my eyes he is a lock for the first round, and next week he may prove to be a lock for the top fifteen.
The forty yard dash is one of the biggest events at the Combine, and for receivers and corners backs it can make or break the draft. Not every wide-out relies on speed, but for those who do; this is the most important part of the process. Andre Roberts, Jacoby Ford, Taylor Price, and several others are the kind of receiver that depends on their forty. Both Roberts and Price are from smaller schools and did not compete against top tear talent, so their forty is going to greatly affect their draft status. The Clemson product, Ford, never really had great numbers, although he was on a team that had problems with the quarterback nearly every year he played. All in all, these are guys that need to have a good showing at the combine, especially in the forty, to solidify a spot in the 2010 draft.
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A player with just about everything you could ask for is former Missouri star Sean Weatherspoon. He is a tad over six one, about two forty five, and with hundreds of tackles throughout his college career, he has all the statistics you could ask for. On top of all that Sean had a fantastic showing at the Senior Bowl in both practice and the game. Following the ’09 season, I considered him a mid second rounder. After the Sr. Bowl and finding out how big he was, I thought late first round could be a definite possibility. If Spoon can show the strength to play the inside in a three four, he could be the second or third linebacker off the board.
Out of all the positions that speed massively effects, the defensive backs from last year’s class left much to be desired. Malcolm Jenkins was one of those DB’s that had a terrible time in the forty, and was still a top fifteen pick, this year it will be very different. Prospects like Joe Haden, Patrick Robinson, and Donovan Warren should all run close to a four, four five. A few that I’m expecting to not quite fair that well, would be Kyle Wilson and Syd’ Quan Thompson. Wilson had a perfect week at the Senior Bowl and with a good forty could lock up his spot as the true number two in this draft. Syd is the one that could really suffer if he does not produce. He is the best in the class at supporting the run, but lacks the elite skills to be a great shut down corner. However, if he could run well, scouts and teams may be willing to take a chance on him in the second or third round. With a bad forty, Thompson could plummet into the ladder part of the draft. Due to the strength of the position, there’s even a slight possibility he could become a rookie free agent, if he runs like an offensive linemen.
This year as well all know is really no different from the last five or ten, in the fact that the Combine will decide that fait of many of these young men. Although, one could make the argument that this is the best draft that we’ve seen in twenty of more years. I’m one that believes that argument and think we are in for an awesome week long show, this coming Wednesday.
By: Sam Lockett
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer