RB Jahvid Best
This year’s Combine, much like it did in 2008, could send a couple of running backs, once viewed as middle of the pack material, to the upper part of the NFL Draft.
Much like in 2008 when Chris Johnson vaulted to the first round with an amazing workout in Indianapolis, this year, Cal’s Jahvid Best could do the same. Other that helped himself enormous was Joe McKnight. The former Trojan put to rest concerns about his strength with a solid bench press mark.
The biggest loser at Indianapolis has to be Stanford’s Toby Gerhart who did not qualm scouts reservations about his explosiveness. In fact, he placed another on the scouts’ mind with his average bench pressing mark.
Here’s a list of who helped himself and who falter at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine.
On the Rise:
Jahvid Best (Cal): The 5-foot-10 dynamo of a runner was viewed by many scouts as a mid to late second rounder with top, thanks to his excellent outside speed and corner explosiveness. His eye-popping 40 yard time (4.35) coupled with his 3-Cone Drill time of 6.75, both tops among RBs, were to be expected, but the way he ran, with authority and passion, caught the eye of all personnel men.
He impressed the scouts with his new bulk-up physic. Listed at 195 pounds in the media guide, Best showed up at the Combine a rock solid 199 ponder. The added bulk helped him post a better-than-expected bench pressing (18 times at 225 pounds) mark. The added weight and newly display strength will make him an attractive, mid first round candidate.
Projection: San Francisco 49ers at 17th or San Diego Chargers at 28th
C.J. Spiller (Clemson): The class best prospect did nothing to hurt his chances of being the top back selected. Besides posting the second best 40-yard Dash time (4.37), he bench pressed the same number (18) as Best. Proving that despite his reputation as an explosive playmaker with little pop, he could manage tackles at the second level. Spiller may have drawn some flack regarding his absence at the Vertical and Broad Jump drills, but he is still the draft’s best RB prospect.
Projection: Seattle at #14
Joe McKnight (USC): No one helped himself more than the former Trojan standout. Entering the Combine, McKnight was viewed as a fast and elusive, open field runner with little pop inside the tackle box. But his performance at Indianapolis squashed that profile. Aside his speed (4.47), which was expected, the former high school star posted an impressive Bench Pressing effort (18 reps) and the Combine’s best Broad Jump (10.8).
He was also one of the few RBs that participated in almost all the drills. His Q&A session was also a home run. All in all, he probably posted the best mark among the scouts and in the processed, cementing his place as the class’ third best back.
Projection: Solid second rounder, maybe as high as 35 to the Tampa Bay Bucs.
On the Decline
Toby Gerhart (Stanford): The darling of the Cardinals magical 2009 season flamed out somewhat at the Combine. Coming in to Indianapolis, Gerhart, who was projected as a strong, inside the tackles runner with little to offer outside, needed to prove he has the explosiveness to be an every down back. He failed in both instances.
His 40 time of 4.53, which felt slower than that, did not help him as much as his pedestrian effort in the Bench Press Drill hurt him. Packing a solid 235 pounds, Gerhart was supposed to blow away at the strength drill. Unfortunately for him that was not the case. His 22 reps, with the last two looking extremely iffy, were lower than anticipated. In fact, Fresno State’s seldom use Lonyae Miller (26) posted better numbers despite being outweigh by Gerhart by fifteen pounds.
His much better-than-anticipated speed did not translate into explosiveness as he posted an average 3-Cone Drill time (6.94). That, coupled with a lower bench press number, probably pushes him to the later stages of Day 1.
Projection: A late third rounder, at best.
One of the few surprises at the Combine has to be Lonyae Miller. Despite having a solid career with the Bulldogs, the 225 pounder was relegated to backup duties with the emergence of Ryan Mathews.
Running a crisp, 4.53 in the 40 yard dash and posting the event’s top score in the Bench Pressing drill, has elevated Miller’s draft status from a borderline, late Day 2 pick, to a very solid, fourth rounder.
By Raul Colon
3 comments:
In my eyes Spiller is the best RB in the draft. I like his running style and his big play ability. He sort of reminds me of Reggie Bush...
Wow we must of watched different combines. You must be one of the numerous pundits that judge Gerhart by his race. Majority of everyone said that Gerhart had a good combine and whats funny is you mention nothing of Dwyer or McCluster on the decline especially Dwyer who had a terrible combine.
I agree, Gerhart did just fine at the combine and in my mind there were no questions about his explosiveness at all. He will be an outstanding NFL running back.
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