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  1. #1
    Bruce Bowen 2.0 Horry For 3!'s Avatar
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    http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_yl...yhoo&type=lgns

    The combine had plenty of winners and losers. Here are some of the most prominent ones:

    THE WINNERS

    Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland – Davis produced the jaw-dropper moment of the combine, running a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash – a ridiculous feat for a guy who checked in at 6-foot-3 3/4 and 254 pounds. In terms of sheer shock, it rivaled Matt Jones' 4.38 time in the 40 last year. According to some scouts, Davis' physique was the most impressive, too. Davis did well in pass-receiving drills and actually looked dominant at times in pass-blocking drills. His 42-inch vertical jump amazed, and he won the broad jump for his position (10-8) by almost 10 inches over the next best effort. Davis likely pushed himself into the draft's top eight selections.

    Manny Lawson, DE, North Carolina State – He's been overshadowed by Mario Williams, but he could be a spectacular 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. Lawson, who may have moved himself into late first-round consideration, will have to make that move with his current size (6-5, 241). He played some linebacker as a freshman and sop re for the Wolfpack, but after seeing his performance in Indy, Lawson might be a star in the making. He ran 4.43 seconds in the 40, had a vertical of 39½ and had great times in the shuttle and cone drills. Remember Lawson's name.

    Ohio State and USC – While not all of their best players worked out, the Buckeyes and Trojans practically owned the combine with 26 total invitees (14 for USC and 12 for Ohio State). Most of those who did participate in drills were very impressive and also seemed to have scored high marks in team interviews. When it's all said and done, there could be as many as 10 first-round picks from these two schools.

    Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt – He had the potential to have a big week and really delivered. Cutler's passing drills weren't flawless, but they were very good. He showed he could make any pass asked of him and had the best arm. He finished second overall in ball speed (60 miles per hour), ran a 4.77-second 40 and then showed his compe ive nature by volunteering for the weight lifting portion and putting up a very impressive 23 reps. With USC's Matt Leinart and Texas' Vince Young taking voluntary passes on workouts, Cutler walked out of the combine having delivered a great argument why he should be the draft's No. 1 quarterback.

    Chad Jackson, WR, Florida – Jackson had to come in and run fast if he wanted to challenge for the draft's top receiver spot. He posted the fastest 40 time of the week (4.32) and had a good round of drills as well. It helps that Ohio State's Santonio Holmes skipped the workouts, giving Jackson the stage. It remains to be seen if he has supplanted Holmes as the No. 1 wideout, but the door is now wide open.

    San Francisco 49ers – The 49ers won the coin toss with Oakland to determine the owner of the sixth overall selection. They should be in position to take the guy they covet – Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk.

    Teams with top-10 picks – Unlike last year, there is a wealth of "elite" players at the top of this draft. It's also a very diverse group of both defensive and offensive players. There is at least one dominant player from almost everywhere on the field – quarterback, defensive line, offensive line, linebacker, tight end and the secondary. There is a lot of help waiting for needy NFL teams.

    Second-tier quarterbacks – With Clemson's Charlie Whitehurst deciding to throw (and looking very sharp), there now appears to be three second-tier quarterbacks who could be very worthwhile projects. Along with Whitehurst, Alabama's Brodie Croyle and Bowling Green's Omar Jacobs looked like guys who have the skills to be quality investments in Rounds 2, 3 and 4.

    Tight ends – Davis wasn't the only impressive tight end. Personnel people say this is the best tight end class they have seen in several years, and as many as three could be drafted in the first round: Maryland's Davis, Georgia's Leonard Pope and USC's Dominique Byrd.

    Offensive linemen – There is always one position that stands out as having the combine's best group of characters. This year, it was the offensive line. Virginia's D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Auburn's Marcus McNeill were two of the best interviews, while several others had media members buzzing with their charisma.

    Tamba Hali, DE, Penn State – His escape from war-torn Liberia and struggle to get his mother out of that country captivated everyone when he interviewed with the media. But it didn't end there. Several personnel people said they walked out of their individual talks with Hali simply amazed.

    Broderick Bunkley, DT, Florida State – Bunkley's physique had a lot of coaches buzzing about the athletic-looking tackle. Then he pumped out 44 reps at 225 pounds and ran a 4.95 in the 40. In a relatively weak defensive tackle class, he secured himself in the first round.

    NFL Network – The network was a winner for the second straight year, even though the festivities lacked the Maurice Clarett drama. While 26 hours of live coverage seemed excessive, it actually came off well. The analysts, player interviews and news updates kept the shows from being too bland, and the on-field cameras during drills gave fans a chance to hear what the coaches were teaching. One suggestion for next year, though: a handful of Hollywood-style feature stories – like those on typical pregame shows during the regular season. They would definitely add to the entertainment value.

    Running backs – This looks like a deeper position than originally thought with the quality times posted by LSU's Joseph Addai, UCLA's Maurice Drew and several others. Addai (4.4 seconds in the 40) may sneak into the first round, but if he ends up in the second round, someone may have found a steal. Drew (4.39) – who has the most muscular lower body of all the running backs – could be another one who surprises. More than likely, we'll see another productive NFL running back plucked after the first round.

    THE LOSERS

    Vince Young and Major Adams – Hardly anything positive came out of this week for Young, who skipped workouts and then had a plethora of personnel people question his ability to fit in a conventional offense. But the real blow came when his Wonderlic test issues got leaked out. Not only did almost 48 hours pass before Adams (Young's agent) started damage control, but it highlighted what has seemed to be utter mismanagement of one of the draft's elite players. No matter what Young's score is revealed to be, he clearly wasn't prepared for the test – which is unfathomable. Everybody is saying something different, and nobody knows who's telling the truth. This will rank as one of the worst public relations jobs ever for a top-five pick at the combine.

    National Scouting – Wonderlic test results always fall into the hands of the media, but those typically get leaked through team channels a few days after the combine concludes. Because of the environment of rumor-mongering at the combine, it's a disaster when scores get out before the combine is finished. And having Young's testing issues become news this week – no matter what those issues really were – is a black eye for the scouting service that runs the combine.

    Quarterbacks moving to receiver – There are at least three quarterbacks that are going to be forced to wide receiver because of accuracy issues: Texas A&M's Reggie McNeal, Penn State's Michael Robinson and Missouri's Brad Smith. But none of those guys took reps at the position, despite being encouraged to do so by coaches. Robinson didn't even work out, severely agitating a number of teams. These passers may not like the reality that they can't be NFL quarterbacks, but that's exactly what it is – reality.

    Marcus Vick, QB, Virginia Tech – Vick ran fast, but a handful of team sources said he failed to put his character issues to bed in individual interviews. While his physical talents will get him a look in the draft, he needed to come off as a saint when he met with teams. Apparently that didn't happen.

    New York Jets coach Eric Mangini – He was by far the most boring interview. If you could bottle what Mangini was dishing out, you could cure insomnia worldwide. You don't have to puke personnel information, but at least say something when you have a national platform. After all, your fans are watching.

  2. #2
    Bruce Bowen 2.0 Horry For 3!'s Avatar
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    I am watching the NFL Network and for Texas fans: Cedric Griffin and Michael Huff just ran their 40s

    Griffin had a 4.56 and Huff got a 4.37

    Michael Huff is freakin solid, with that 4.37 he will be able to play CB in the NFL

  3. #3
    Sleeping With The Original Axis of Evil hussker's Avatar
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    4.37, no pads, nobody bustin' his chops...Yeah...a true measure. Kinda like that VI for VY.

  4. #4
    Bruce Bowen 2.0 Horry For 3!'s Avatar
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    4.37, no pads, nobody bustin' his chops...Yeah...a true measure. Kinda like that VI for VY.
    Ummm, I guess you do not know anything about NFL Scouting.

    Jackson was the fastest time at 40 and he was 4.32

    Even the coaches and office personnel at the combine said if Huff runs in the 4.4s it will be damn good for his size and physical ability. He comes out and runs a 4.37. They are like wow that is great, that is why he is the #1 CB in the draft this year.


    You might want to study up on NFL Scouting a little more.

  5. #5
    Sleeping With The Original Axis of Evil hussker's Avatar
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    I guess that is why WE ARE NOT "Not For Long" SCOUTS. Like Combines really mean anything. You think CUTLER is better than VY? All the COMBINE SCOUTS seem to think so. Purely re ed. Prove it on the field, not in some stupid Superstars compe ion where many do not even show up. Who cares.

  6. #6
    Bruce Bowen 2.0 Horry For 3!'s Avatar
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    I guess that is why WE ARE NOT "Not For Long" SCOUTS. Like Combines really mean anything. You think CUTLER is better than VY? All the COMBINE SCOUTS seem to think so. Purely re ed. Prove it on the field, not in some stupid Superstars compe ion where many do not even show up. Who cares.
    All I am saying, people doubted Huff's speed that he would be in the 4.5s he comes out and runs a 4.37. That is damn good.

  7. #7
    Bruce Bowen 2.0 Horry For 3!'s Avatar
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    Also, combines do help coaches in determing things for the draft.

  8. #8
    Leonard Doody is my BITCH! Mr Dio's Avatar
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    I wasn't aware ANY combine has EVER had players run in pads.

  9. #9
    Bruce Bowen 2.0 Horry For 3!'s Avatar
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    Huff's official time is 4.34

  10. #10
    Bruce Bowen 2.0 Horry For 3!'s Avatar
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    Ty Hill CB out of Clemson has the fastest time of anyone so far at 4.30

  11. #11
    SIX...Quite frankly, that will be the round he goes to now! Kornheiser can get a six! Damn Honky-ass!

  12. #12
    Bruce Bowen 2.0 Horry For 3!'s Avatar
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    SIX...Quite frankly, that will be the round he goes to now! Kornheiser can get a six! Damn Honky-ass!
    Who?

  13. #13
    Veteran scott's Avatar
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    That's a great time for Huff - I think he'll still end up playing FS in the NFL. With that said, he has the ability to be the kind of impact FS that gets guys consideration for DPOY in the NFL (see Ed Reed). Jimmy Williams (VaTech) is the top CB in this year's class (which is one of the weaker CB classes in recent memory, not necessarily at the top, but in terms of depth) - although he may be moved to FS as well.

  14. #14
    Bruce Bowen 2.0 Horry For 3!'s Avatar
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    That's a great time for Huff - I think he'll still end up playing FS in the NFL. With that said, he has the ability to be the kind of impact FS that gets guys consideration for DPOY in the NFL (see Ed Reed). Jimmy Williams (VaTech) is the top CB in this year's class (which is one of the weaker CB classes in recent memory, not necessarily at the top, but in terms of depth) - although he may be moved to FS as well.
    They were talking about Huff playing CB rather than FS or SS.

  15. #15
    Veteran scott's Avatar
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    Good for whoever "they" is... like I said, I think he'll be a FS when all is said and done. He should never be considered for SS.

  16. #16
    Also, combines do help coaches in determing things for the draft.
    They made a great call with combine numbers on Mike Mamula a few years ago.

    Workout warriors don't necessarily become great NFL players. Huff has ability, though he's never shown the ability to line up at corner and cover big-time receivers in man coverages. While he's got speed that might suggest that he could do it, there are plenty of safeties who can't play corner. Huff is also a pretty solid tackler, and I'm not sure why a team would want to take that ability to the corner when that team could use that ability in the middle of the field.

    I'm with Scott -- I think Huff will be a very good pro, but I think he'll do most of his work as a safety.

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