The NFL Scouting Combine The annual NFL meat market has taken place for the last time in the RCA Dome, while just about every observer of the NFL will tell you that the results of the combine are overrated, that 40 times have little relevance to success in the NFL and while these claims may be correct there is little escaping the fact that the combine has become a significant event in the NFL calendar and the decision makers of the NFL teams pay attention to the results. During the combine Bruce Allen was quoted as saying that an impressive 40 time can vault one prospect over another on a draft board. Here are some of the notable performances at this years combine. Quarterback Joe Flacco (Delaware) was the star of the show at quarterback, he got to demonstrate his rocket like arm and looked excellent in all of the quarterback drills, this combine performance confirms his elevating draft status and if the buzz around him continues to build, we may see a quarterback needy team trading up into the back of the first round to take him. Disappointing to see Andre Woodson (Kentucky) skip the combine, claiming that it was a hamstring issue, which of course will be completely healed by his pro day, he is falling down the draft at an alarming rate so he couldn’t really afford to miss the combine. Colt Brennan (Hawaii) showed much more arm strength than he has on tape all year. Chad Henne (Michigan) and Brian Brohm (Louisville) both performed well in the position drills and helped there stock. Matt Ryan’s only participation was to run the 40, which is irrelevant but if you are the consensus top QB then you can probably miss the combine and nobody is surprised. Josh Johnson showed off his athleticism and his raw skills as a qb, the feeling is that he is moving up many draft boards and may go higher than some expect but he will need a few years to be ready. Running Back Darren McFadden (Arkansas) got all the headline with his incredibly fast 40 time (his change of direction drills were also excellent) and really the fact that he’s fast wasn’t a surprise, McFadden is a high calibre athlete and one of the most naturally talented backs in college. For me the more impressive combine results came from the two other big names in the draft. Jonathan Stewart (Oregon) and Rashad Mendenhall (Illinois) both performed well. Stewart showed a great combination of size, speed, strength and ability to change direction, while Mendenhall showed that he maybe the most complete back n the draft and can do everything a team will ask of a starting back (especially catching the ball). No surprises that Chris Johnson was the fastest running back this type of speed will elevate his draft stock but I’m always concerned by pure speed running backs. Most of the other backs ran as were expected with Kevin Smith (UCF) and Jammal Charles (Texas) probably slightly better than expected and Mike Hart (Michigan) who looked small (no surprise) and very slow, that said Mike Hart has been wrote off many times in his football career but has always produced. Wide Receiver When Desean Jackson showed up and measured 5-9 and less than 170 his stock plummeted his fast time may have helped him recover some, what concerns me is that this is the weight he showed up on campus as a freshman, have to wonder if he can get any bigger, if he can’t how will he last in the NFL. Andre Caldwell (Florida) helped himself a bigger and taller receiver than Jackson who ran a similar time and recorded similar production at the college level. James Hardy (Indiana) clocked in at 4.47 which for his size is a great time, looked good throughout the combine. Dexter Jackson (Appalachian State) was the fastest wide receiver at the combine and from a pure numbers point of view Arman Shields (Richmond) showed off some great athleticism. The biggest disappointment had to be Mario Manningham (Michigan) for a receiver well known for stretching the field his time of 4.59 has to hurt his draft stock. Tight End Not a big fan of this tight end class and they didn’t show much at the combine to change that view. Dustin Keller (Purdue) put up the best numbers, known as a pass catching tight end, he showed he could be a vertical passing threat. Jon Carlson (Notre Dame) and Fred Davis (USC) both were disappointing Carlson was slow but performed as well as any in the pass catching drills and Davis whose blocking skills are almost non-existent dropped almost everything thrown to him. Offensive Line The big news is that Jake Long (Michigan) is the real deal, big strong and has excellent technique, still feel he is more of a right tackle. Jeff Otah (Pitt) ran a 5.5 50, now I know that an offensive tackle is unlikely to be running 40 yards but this is way below the levels accepted. The most impressive lineman not named Long could have been Rutgers Jeremy Zuttah, a big strong guard that showed good athleticism and excelled in the position drills. Mike Pollack (Arizona State) and Chris Williams (Vanderbilit) both looked good in the position drills. King Hunter (Auburn) showed a lack of strength during the bench press and sure first round pick Ryan Clady (Boise State) only managed 24 reps before he left with an injury. Defensive Line The defensive linemen probably put on the most eye-opening display of the combine were Chris Long (Virginia) and Vernon Gholston (Ohio State) who both showed off top level athleticism, especially Gholston who is a physical specimen and has the potential to be a dominant pass rusher. Undersized Marcus Howard (Georgia) was the fasted defensive lineman at the combine. Quentin Groves (Auburn) looked amazing in the physical drills but chose not to take part in the position drills. Sedrick Ellis was a disappointment in the 40 but during the position drills he was a beast, he could be my favourite lineman in this draft. Derrick Harvey (Florida) looked good but has put some weight on since he finished college. Calais Campbell (Miami) was slow and showed a lack of strength, along with a poor junior year, I’m thinking he should have stayed in school. Linebackers Not much name value taking part as Keith Rivers (USC) and Dan Conner (Penn State) decided not to take part. Jonathan Goff (Vanderbilt) surprised onlookers with his speed, because he never looked fast when playing for the Commodores, concerns me that he has the speed but hasn’t show it on the field, looked good in the position drills. Ali Highsmith (LSU) who looks a good fit as a linebacker in the Tampa defensive schemes couldn’t run under five seconds which will hurt his draft grade, a prospect who’s primary weapons are his speed and athletic ability cannot be this slow at the combine. Most of the other linebackers did just about what was expected of them Secondary As some may have gathered from last week I quite like the corner class but I am concerned by the speed of some of them, so the testing of the secondary was an important event. Mike Jenkins (South Florida) looked the most fluid corner at the combine. After Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Tennessee State) played like a first round pick at the senior bowl he tested like on at the combine, showing top level physical ability and elite speed. Justin King showed the raw talent and speed by posting the fasted time by a corner. Leodis McKelvin (Troy) was probably the most underwhelming of the corners, didn’t do anything to hurt his stock I just though others helped themselves more at the combine. Antoine Cason (Arizona), I said didn’t have enough speed, he ran a 4.9 which some will say that’s good enough, he didn’t hurt himself but I’m not sure how much he helped himself much either. Brandon Flowers (Virginia Tech) looks like a perfect cover-2 corner but at 4.58 he might have dropped in the eyes of some teams, NFL receivers will take advantage of a corner with that level of speed. None of the safeties looked that good, with Kenny Phillips (Miami), Marcus Griffin and DaJuan Morgan all having disappointing showings which will push him down the draft even further.