Scouting Combine update The NFL run pre draft events are now over with, the combine has come and gone (although while I write this I see that Devin Hester (CB/WR) has just run a very fast time at the Miami Pro day) This years combine was the most transparent to the NFL fan than any other thanks to the extensive coverage provided by the NFL Network, and if any of you have the stomach to watch 30 offensive tackles running the 40 yard dash then it is all available on the NFL’s web site. For about a week every draft eligible prospect (who is deemed worthy) is poked and prodded taking measurements that include height, weight, length of fingers etc, my favourite part of this has to be the measuring of an athletes body fat using a piece of diagnostic equipment called the ‘bod-pod’, which results in a top prospect like USC’s Reggie Bush in an oval capsule looking like his agent has got him an ill advised guest appearance on star trek and is about to be jettisoned into space. What is the scouting combine? The combine is some respects is truly a waste a everyone’s time, especially from a physical point of view, most teams go in to the combine process with a good idea of who they want to draft in the first couple of rounds. If the buccaneers brain trust have decided to target an offensive tackle with the first pick then they will head into the combine with a numbers of names on the draft board Justice, McNeil, Winston etc. If for example McNeil runs a poor 40 time (please tell me the last time you saw an offensive tackle running 40 yards at full speed on one play… coincidently McNeil ran a very good time and performed well in the agility drills) its probably not going to impact on his draft position dramatically and they will have seen enough game tape on the top 50 guys for some issues to become irrelevant. Today’s combine has evolved to have three functions in the NFL. Negotiations I think more shopping of expensive veterans and re-negotiating of the most cap unfriendly contracts goes on in Indianapolis than actual scouting. Interviews – Possibly the most important part of the combine especially in regards to the high picks. Only a few prospects talked about interviews with the Buccaneers these included TE T.J Williams (N.C State), DE Manny Lawson (N.C State) and LB Ernie Sims (Florida State) 2nd day picks It’s performances at these events that can vault a prospect up a team’s board or out of un-drafted free agency. The draft can however change perceptions of even the most high profile of prospects. Examples of this include Ricky Williams’s hand size, Terrell Suggs’s 40 time, Rex Grossman’s height, Kyle Boller’s arm strength and maybe even Vince Young’s Wonderlic score are all examples of results from the combine rumoured to have impacted an individuals draft stock. There are so many different opinions on every prospect that performed at the combine bellow are some of the names grabbing the headlines. Vernon Davis (Maryland) was amazing at the combine at 6-foot-3, 254 pounds. He ran a 4.38 40 yard dash, and scored off the charts in the agility tests, his stock won’t increase much because he was highly rated to start with. At this time he is grading out with scouts better than Kellen Winslow Jr did coming into the draft Chad Jackson (Florida) probably had the best combine in terms of potential earnings with a 4.34 40 time and putting on a pass catching clinic in the position specific drills Jackson is a certain 1st round pick now and may be the first wide out selected. Tye Hill (Clemson) The fastest man at the combine, this coupled with an excellent performance in recent all star games has vaulted Hill up the draft. Joseph Addai (LSU) Had a very inconsistent college career and nobody had an idea he would test this well, Addai was a late first day pick, he may now be one of the top 5 backs taken in the draft. Ernie Sims (Florida State) The scouts were amazed by has athletic ability especially in pass coverage. This should not be a surprise coming out of high school he was the #1 prospect (#2 was Reggie Bush) Rumours linked Tampa to Sims throughout the combine Chad Greenway (Iowa) A great competitor, but was very disappointing in many aspects at the combine especially in the gym could now be a late 1st round pick. Greg Lee (Pittsburgh) A number of experts had Lee quite highly ranked, while he is a possession receiver you would still expect his to break 4.6 in the 40, could be in the 4th or 5th rounder now. Davin Joseph (Oklahoma) was far more athletic than anyone expected, still a 2nd round pick but maybe pushing himself beyond the bucs reach in that round. Andrew Whitworth (LSU) Really stood out at the combine, a punishing run blocker and looked good doing drills without pads but still questions given his 6-foot-6, 325 frame that he may continue to struggle with speedy defensive ends. Derek Hagan (Arizona State) Viewed by many as a possession receiver, he ran one of the quicker times of the wide receivers but dropped a lot of passes in the drills. Sinorice Moss (Miami) As fast as every one thought, a short as everyone thought. Manny Lawson (N.C State) Performed well, was over shadowed by Mario Williams on the N.C State line, a lot of teams were rumoured to be interested in Lawson following the trip to the combine. He may project as a linebacker in some systems. Okay I’ll stop there, of course there were many others (it goes on for almost a week) I could list but I’ll save them or I might have nothing left to write about when actually doing specific positions. Lets hope the NFL can get all this CBA stuff out of the way and actually get down to the real business of the off season… the draft (and a bit of free agency) Wayne Maw, February 2006