2011 NFL Scouting Combine: Running Backs

Image: Jordan Todman

The running backs were also on display Sunday (February 27th) at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine and quite honestly I wasn't very impressed. This 2011 NFL Draft won't be real strong at the running back position.

2009 Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram came in a little lighter than his playing weight of 225 pounds. He weighed in at the combine at 5' 9" 215 pounds. The weight loss didn't help him however as he ran a very mediocre 4.62 forty yard dash. Ingram is explosive though, he had an excellent 10 yard split and has never been known as a breakaway threat.

Even though he wasn't the fastest, I think the best running back at the combine was Connecticut's junior running back Jordan Todman (5' 9" 203 lbs). His 40-yard dash time of 4.40 was impressive and he also had a 38" vertical jump and a 10' 6" broad jump. Todman isn't as well known as 2009 Heisman Trophy Winner Mark Ingram, but Todman's 1,695 rushing yards last year was #2 in the nation. He also rushed for 14 touchdowns so he known what to do with the rock.

Oklahoma RB DeMarco Murray also helped himself at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine. He ran his 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds, he also recorded a 10' 4" broad jump and 4.18 in the 20 yard shuttle. Murray also had an excellent season on the field last year where he rushed the ball 282 times for 1,214 yards and 15 TDs. Todman and Murray could easily come off the board in the second or third round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Maryland's Da Rel Scott (5' 11" 211 lbs) actually holds the record as the fastest running back at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine. He ran his 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.34 seconds. Not super productive at Maryland, but he should get drafted in the middle rounds based off his excellent size speed combination.

2011 NFL Scouting Combine: The Wide Recievers

Image: Edmund Gates

The receivers worked out on Sunday (27 February 2011) and as expected there were some very fast prospects on the field. Alabam WR Julio Jones pretty much stole the show with a fantastic performance, he will now compete with Georgia WR A.J. Green to be the first receiver selected in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Jones was much faster than anticipated, at 6' 3" 220 pounds he ran his 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds. His broad jump was off the charts when he almost cleared 12 feet, he lost his balance and tried two more times and ended up with an amazing broad jump of 11' 3". Jones also had a decent time of 6.66 seconds in the 3-cone drill and looked smooth and fluid in the drills. People don't give Jones enough credit for his on the field performance last season (2010), despite battling injuries he recorded 78 catches for 1,133 yards and 7 TDs, including a 10 catch 199 yard, 1 TD performance against eventual national champion Auburn.

Kentucky WR Randall Cobb looked very smooth and fluid in the gauntlet and at 5' 10" 191 pounds, his 40-yard dash time of 4.45 seconds was impressive. Cobb is no workout warrior, he had an excellent 2010 season catching 84 passes for 1,017 yards and 7 TDs. He also ran the ball as a running back and wild-cat QB and rushed the ball 55 times for 446 yards and another 5 TDs.

The fastest receiver at the combine this year was Abeline Christian (Division II) Edmund Gates, who ran his 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds. Gates had a very productive season on the field where he caught 66 passes for 1,182 yards and 13 TDs. Gates also performed excellent in the other drills, he recorded a 40" vertical jump, and a 10' 11" broad jump. He also possesses decent size at 6' 0" 192 pounds.

Speaking of late first round grades, Maryland WR Torrey Smith looked absolutely fantastic at the combine. His 40-yard dash time initially came in at 4.37 but was later downgraded to 4.43, which is still impressive. Not just a speed guy though, he has superb hands and caught everything thrown his way during the gauntlet drill. Smith weighed in at 6' 1" 204 pounds and also performed well in the vertical jump and broad jump where he recorded 41" and 10' 6" respectively. Only a junior, but Smith still had an excellent year in 2010 where he caught 67 passes for 1,055 yards and 12 TDs.

Division III Mount Union WR Cecil Shorts is an interesting prospect. He measured in at 6' 0" 205 pounds and looked very smooth and quick in the drills. He recorded a decent 6.50 seconds in the 3-cone drill. Shorts is a pretty versatile prospect playing some QB and receiver at Mount Union, he did catch 70 passes in 2010 for 1,196 yards and 18 TDs. Shorts might end up as the 2nd small school prospect drafted after Villanova's gifted offensive tackle Ben Ijalana, who carries a late first round grade.

WR Terrance Tolliver was highly rated entering the 2010 season but didn't catch the ball particularly well. Tolliver will still get drafted however due to his size and speed, he measured in at 6' 4" 212 pounds and ran his 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds. He looked quick in the 3-cone drill where he ranked 3rd best among receivers with a time of 6.48 seconds. Tolliver also had an excellent time in the 20 yard shuttle when he ran it in 4.03 seconds.

WR Leonard Hankerson (6' 2" 209 lbs) continued his rise up the draft boards, after an excellent performance at the Senior Bowl, Hankerson ran a nice 4.43 second forty yard dash, that's pretty good for a tall receiver. Hankerson also quietly had an excellent season last year for the Miami Hurricaines. In 2010 he caught 72 passes for 1,156 yards and 13 TDs.

SMU WR Aldrick Robinson is a speed demon, he had an excellent combine recording a 4.43 second forty yard dash, 40" vertical jump, 10' 6" broad jump and an impressive 6.65 seconds in the 3-cone drill. In 2010 Robinson showed everyone he is not just a track guy either, he recorded 65 catches for 1,301 yards and 14 TDs.

Some other notable performances were WR Jonathan Baldwin who recorded a 42" vertical jump and 10' 9" broad jump. WR Austin Pettis also had some decent numbers, he recorded the fastest time among recievers n the 3-cone drill with a time of 3.88 seconds.

Check back tomorrow and I'll cover the running backs.

Robert Bryant

2011 NFL Scouting Combine: Tight Ends

The tight ends were on display today at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine and we didn't have any Vernon Davis like performances. If you remember during the 2006 Combine, Davis, measuring at 6' 3" 254 pounds ran a 4.38 forty yard dash. He ended up being drafted in the first round (6th overall) and signed a 5-year 23 million dollar deal with the San Francisco 49ers. He hasn't exactly set the world on fire in the NFL, but that's a story for a different day.

The fastest tight end today was also one of the lightest, Rob Housler from Florida Atlantic is only 248 pounds, but at 6' 5" tall he has the frame to put on a few pounds. Housler ran his 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds. He (Housler) was also the 4th best in the 3-cone with a time of 6.90 seconds and 3rd best in the vertical jump with a jump of 37 inches. The other workout warrior of the day was Nevada's Virgil Green, Green weighed in at 6' 3" 249 pounds and ran his 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds. Green's vertical jump and broad jump were off the charts at 42 inches and 10' 10" respectively.

Wisconsin's Lance Kendricks was the top rated tight end at the combine, he could be a 2nd round draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He (Kendricks) looked very smooth running his routes and catching the ball and had some decent numbers. Kendrick's 20-yard shuttle run was 3rd best among tight ends at 4.15 seconds, and his 40-yard dash time of 4.75 seconds was decent. Kendrick's broad jump measured an impressive 10' 2", which was 2nd best among tight ends. Kendrick is about the same size as the other two tight ends mentioned previously (6' 3" 243 lbs), but he looked much more athletic and fluid.

The other tight end that really stood out to me was USC's Jordan Cameron, he has very quick feet for a kid 6' 5" 254 pounds and recorded the best 3-cone time of 6.82 seconds. Cameron isn't much of a blocker, but his size/speed combination should get him drafted late. He ran his 40-yard dash in 4.59 seconds and his vertical jump was an impressive 37.5, which were second best among tight ends. His (Cameron) 20 yard shuttle was actually the best among tight ends at 4.03 seconds. Another top rated tight end that looked good at the combine was Arkansas's D.J. Williams. He is a very good route runner and has great hands. He (Williams) is about the same size as the first three mentioned (6' 2" 245 lbs) and his 40-yard dash of 4.67 seconds was decent.

The top rated tight end Notre Dame's Kyle Rudolph didn't work out as he is still recovering from a torn hamstring. Rudolph is one of the few complete tight ends in the draft at 6' 6 265 pounds.

"I'm about 75 to 85 percent but I feel great and I expect to do everything on my pro day, Rudolph said Friday.

Notre Dame's pro day will be held 7 April 2011. With a strong workout, Rudolph might make a late push into the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. I will be covering the entire NFL Scouting Combine all this week so check back often.

2011 NFL Scouting Combine: Offensive Line

The tight ends and and offensive linemen were on the field Saturday (26 February 2011) going through various drills, getting measured, jumping and running.

Offensive Linemen: OT Nate Solder looks the part, tall at 6' 8" 319 pounds, he plays high and needs to do a better job anchoring against the bull rush, but the former tight end has excellent feet and power. Solder ran the 40 yard dash in 5.05 seconds, recorded a 32 inch vertical jump, 9' 2" in the broad jump and 7.44 seconds in the 3-cone. His best event however was his time of 4.34 seconds in the 20 yard shuttle which was the second best time among offensive lineman.

Boston College OT Anthony Castonzo weighed in at 6' 7" 311 pounds and looked to be in great shape, he looked good in drills and excelled in the 3-cone and 20 yard shuttle. He had the second best 3-cone at 7.25 and the 3rd best 20 yard shuttle at 4.40. Neither have particularly long arms Castonzo (34.5) or Solder (35.5) for their height and neither did well in the bench press. Solder only completed 21 reps. Both tackles however will be top 20 selections in the 2011 NFL Draft, both players are tall and will be projects, and they will both need to play with a lower pad level, get stronger and bend their knees better to be top notch NFL stars.

Three more offensive lineman stood out to me at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine, two are household names and one unknown. Wisconsin offensive tackle Gabe Carimi weighed in at 6' 7" 314 pounds and displayed excellent power in the bench press, vertical jump and broad jump. Carimi ran a 5.27 in the forty, 29 reps in the bench press and had the 5th best broad jump at 9' 1". USC offensive tackle Tyron Smith is a former tight end, he weighed in at 6' 5" 307 pounds, has huge 11 inch hands and a long wingspan with 36 3/8" arms. Smith completed an impressive 29 reps in the bench, but didn't run due to some swelling in his knee. Smith will reportedly do a complete workout during USCs pro day on March 30th 2011. The workout warrior from the offensive linemen at the 2011 Scouting Combine was Syracuse Center Ryan Bartholomew. He is a little Small at 6' 1" 302 pounds, but he had the best performance in the bench press (34) and second best in the 40 yard dash (4.97). Bartholomew also looked quick in the 20 yard shuttle with a time of 4.62 seconds.

Check back later, I'll be posting updates throughout the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine.

Robert Bryant
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To Critique an NFL Mock Draft

Its not every day I publicly critique an NFL Mock Draft, but a young man named Jack Mitchell just started a new NFL Draft Website called The Mitchell Draft Company and he asked me to check out his 2011 NFL Mock Draft.

I like the layout of his website and his mock draft looked pretty solid. A lot of Draftniks have recently raised Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller and Jack has him all the way up to the number three slot to the Bills. Miller did look spectacular at he Senior Bowl, but number three seems a little high for him and the Bills desperately need help at receiver and A.J. Green is still available. I checked KFFL and the two starting receivers are Donald Jones and Steve Johnson. I don't know about you but I don't think defensive coordinators stay up at night worrying about those two guys.

At number 11 he has Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith going to the Texans, and yes the Texans do need help at corner, but I have Smith rated as a late second or third round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. I even have Miami cornerback Brandon Harris rated higher than Smith.

At 31 he has the Steelers drafting Baylor nose-tackle Phil Taylor, I love this pick for the Steelers, Taylor is a 6' 4" 335 pound beast and the Steelers' current starting nose-tackle Casey Hampton is getting long in the tooth.

Lastly, Mr. Mitchell has the Superbowl Champion Packers taking Iowa defensive lineman Christian Ballard. I love Ballard, I am a Hawkeye and NFL Draft Dog was the first media outlet promoting Ballard, I had him as a first rounder on my pre-season 2011 NFL Mock Draft. I actually know his mom and I wish the best for him, but I wonder if maybe he isn't being over hyped a little since he recently showed up in Mel Kipers' 2011 Mock NFL Draft?

So in closing, welcome fellow Draftnik Jack Mitchell, nice website and NL Mock Draft and keep up the good work.

Top Small School Quarterbacks for the NFL Draft

This April’s upcoming NFL Draft is one deprived of top tier talent at the quarterback position. The skill level is thin at both the top part and in the later rounds, where only a handful of prospects are graded as legitimate NFL-type passers.

Due to the lack of overall talent, a number of quarterbacks from smaller schools could find their name called in this years' NFL Draft.

Here is a list of the top 5 passers from small schools projected to be drafted.

1.Colin Kaepernick 6-5, 226 Nevada
He is far from a finishing product with a plethora of mechanical problems to correct before he could develop as a passer, but his talent is tantalizing. He has breathtaking speed and has been clocked in the low 4.4s in the forty.

Has average arm strength, can get adequate zip on out routes but can’t fit the football into tight spots as well as some of the elite passer in this class. He also must improve his delivery and must get rid of the ball more quickly. He has trouble checking off primary targets and is erratic on the short dump off passes. On the plus side, he throws a very catchable ball.

His strength is in his mobility, not only he is fast, but elusive in the pocket and in the open field.

He needs to bulk up and of course and to get more experience as a passer, but the Nevada native should be one of the most sough out prospects in the NFL Draft after the second round.

2.Pat Devlin 6-4 221 Delaware
No, he is no Joe Flacco, another Delaware great passer who is now leading the Baltimore Ravens offense, but he is a close as a prospect.

He possesses one of the strongest arms in the draft. Can make any NFL throw. Is accurate in the short-to-intermitted areas of the field but ball tend to miss too many open receivers beyond the 15 yard range.

Is quick than fast and can throw on the run but is not a great overall athlete or running threat.

Needs more polish and game experience, but Devlin is a sound prospect with good upside. He should not last past the third round.

3.Andy Dalton 6-2 211 TCU
A great career and an amazing Rose Bowl performance has elevated Dalton from a borderline prospect to possibly going as high as the fourth round.

Yes, he has accuracy issues, especially in long passes. He locks in too often on primary receivers and misses others wide open, but his intangibles are off the charts.

He is a poised pocket passer with a quick release, good timing and accuracy in the short area. He shows quickness in the pocket and can create outside the hash marks.

Dalton is a true leader who has the ability to become a good game manager but he lacks physical tools and great arm strength. He will would probably scare some NFL scouts come draft day.

4.Nathan Enderle 6-5 243 Idaho
Is big, tall and strong. Has the arm to make every NFL throw and have shown good zip on all passes. Played in a pro-style offense for the Vandals, which should help him at the next level.

Throws one of the most catchable deep ball of any quarterback prospect in this draft.

He is slow (5.05), isn’t a threat to run. His decision-making is sloppy and is inconsistent in his throwing motion. He needs to improve his readings and the speed of his release.

Enderle have some great natural skills but would need at least a few years of seasoning before he can even attempt to managed an NFL game.

Far too raw for selection prior to the fifth round.

5.Jeff Van Camp 6-5 210 Florida Atlantic
Big, strong and with some mobility, the 2010 Owls passer have a very intriguing make up which should gathered some recognition by pro scouts.

Despite great size, Van Camp does not posses a powerful arm. Locks too often on primary target. Struggle to read coverages at times and tends to scramble too early in a play before looking for his secondary option. Doesn’t display leadership skills.

Overall, Van Camp has good physical make up, but his inconsistency and sometimes erratic passing makes him a borderline prospect.

2012 NFL Mock Draft

Every year about this time I start my mock draft for the following year, all the underclassmen have already declared so we already know most of the top talent that will be available.

Yes it's early, we haven't even had the 2011 NFL Draft, but doing the research to put together a 2012 NFL Mock Draft gives Draftniks like myself a chance to identify the top college football talent very early, plus it's fun.

The 2011 NFL Draft looks like the year of the defensive linemen with probably 3 being taken with the first five picks. Nick Fairley, Da' Quan Bowers and Marcell Dareus all should be gone within the first five picks.

Its early still, but The 2012 NFL Draft might end up being known as the year of the wide receiver. We normally see 3 or 4 receivers taken in the first round, but if most of these talented juniors declare early, the 2012 NFL Draft might have 5 or 6 players selected in the first round.

Here is a quick snapshot of 7 receiver with first round potential for the 2012 NFL Draft:

1. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
2. Ashlon Jeffrey, South Carolina
3. Rueben Randle, LSU
4. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
5. Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers
6. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
7. DeVier Posey, Ohio State

LSU marching with the Zach 'attack'

Zach Mettenberger is in a great position to unseat Jordan Jefferson as the LSU Tigers starting QB this spring and eventually lead the supremely talented Tigers to its first national title since 2007.

If that was to be the case, Mettenberger would have completed an incredible turnaround that saw him being kicked out of Georgia last April while serving as a redshirt freshman signal caller for violating team rules.

At the time of his dismissal, Mettenberger has just upended current starter and highly regarded Aaron Murray for the Bulldogs’ quarterback job.

Physical speaking, the 6-foot-5, 245 pound Mettenberger is an impressive athlete. He has cannon for an arm and is surprisingly nimble for his size which helps him elude the rush in his only year as started in the JUCO ranks.

Despite throwing 299 footballs for the Grizzlies of the Butler Community College in Kansas, Mettenberger was sacked only 32 times (for a net loss of 220 yards).

The sack total would have been much higher if not at least eight amazing showings of athleticism in several games during the year.

Overall, the product of El Dorado, KS. passed for 2,678 yards (176-299) for a 58.1 completition percentages, 32 TDs and 4 interceptions, accumulating a 166.74 passing efficiency rating in 13 games played, including a 6 TD, 382-yards effort against the Hutchinson Blue Dragons.

His team went undefeated until they met Navarro Community College (TX) in the Citizen’s Bank Bowl, which the Grizzlies lost 13-12.

Mettenberger went 17-28 for 168 yards and one score against one of the stingiest defenses in the JUCO ranks last fall.

That loss aside, Mettenberger demonstrated during his sole season in Junior College why he was highly recruited out of high school in 2009.

He showed go zip on deeps out and a strong command of the middle of the field beyond the 15 yard range. The problem is that his accuracy tends to diminish in close, a surprising development for a young quarterback.

Nearly 45 percent of his incompletion came to TEs running crossing routs less than 15 yards from the line of scrimmage.

Mettenberger needs to work on his slow release that tend to make his passes more deliberate, allowing fast defensive backs, such as the ones he would be facing in the South Eastern Conference, to break and close fast on the football.

He also does not stride in his throws which also limit his accuracy and velocity in the short area allowing defenders better angles at the pass.

Still, his is an overall better prospect than Jefferson because he can provide the Tigers with something they have lacked for three years, a consistent vertical passing attack.

By Raul Colon

2011 Senior Bowl Review

2011 Senior Bowl

29 January 2011

Christian Ponder started at quarterback for the South, he isn't flashy, doesn't have a canon but gets rid of the ball quickly. Miami WR Leonard Hankerson (6' 3" 205 lbs.) made a nice play on an under thrown ball.

Lee Ziemba played right tackle for the south, he has got great potential. DT Sione Fua (6' 2" 306) from Stanford made excellent penetration on a few plays. North QB Jake Locker had trouble with accuracy, he overthrew his first pass. Locker has some nice potential, but accuracy issues are haunting him right now.

OLB Von Miller made a nice play stopping a screen, he can play OLB in the NFL. Miller was probably the best defensive player in the game, he ran down speedy QB Colen Kaepernick.

The North's Anthony Castonzo played left guard. South Charles Clay, 6' 2" 240 lbs. Tulsa. H- back good blocker, good hands. South WR Leonard Hankerson made a nice TD catch in the first quarter. DE Sam Acho (6' 3 260 lbs) abused Colorado LT Solder for a sack and strip of the football. North DE Jeremy Beal looks very quick and moves well in space. At one point I had him in the first round of my 2011 NFL Mock Draft.

Miami LB Colin McCarthy (6' 2" 240 lbs) is looking good on special teams and at linebacker. McCarthy could be a 3 rd or 4th round steal in the 2011 NFL Draft. Castonzo moved to left tackle and got beat by Arizona's Brooks Reed (6' 3" 262 lbs) for a sack on QB Ricki Stanzi. Arkansas offensive lineman DeMarcus Love gets beat badly around the end by DE Ryan Kerrigan on one play, then gets knocked on his butt on the next, he didn't help himself.

North QB Colen Kaepernick threw a couple good balls on the run. North WR Titus Young was very quick in and out of his breaks. RB Da' Rel Scott, (5' 11" 205 lbs) Maryland, made a nice 32 yard catch and run. Mississipi State DT Pernell McPhee (6" 4" 287 lbs) showed nice hustle and stripped Locker from behind.

DB Kendrick Burney made a lot of plays and looks like a special teams demon. North QB Ricky Stanzi made a couple nice throws in the 4th quarter, he displayed leadership in the huddle and has excellent pocket awareness. Stanzi however, didn't play well in the practices leading up to the Senior Bowl. Baylor DT Phil Taylor is a massive (6' 4" 330) pound nose tackle, he consistently got a great push up the middle. If he (Taylor) keeps his weight under 320 he could be special in the NFL. South WR Jeremy Kerley (TCU) ran a nice route and caught a pass from QB Christian Ponder to put the game out of reach as the South went ahead 24-10. QB Christian Ponder was named the games MVP.