Ten players with the most to gain at the NFL Combine
The players with the most to gain at the NFL Scouting Combine are also the ones with some of the biggest questions. Here are 10 players who can erase all doubt in Indianapolis:
1. Jason Pierre-Paul | Defensive end | South Florida
This is it for Pierre-Paul. Forget only playing one year of top-level football. Forget just getting 6.5 sacks. Indianapolis should be a showcase for the lanky pass rusher. Although the agility and speed test will be important for Pierre-Paul, interviews will be critical. His football acumen will be put to the test.
2. Jared Veldheer | Offensive tackle | Hillsdale
A lot is expected of the massive Veldheer. His agility is supposed to be excellent and his 40-yard dash time is rumored to be below five seconds. While Veldheer may need to learn a lot about playing tackle, this could show he has the athleticism to do so.
3. Taylor Mays | Safety | Southern California
Mays has been under intense scrutiny, and with just cause. He’s been exposed as taking poor angles and not being a sure tackler. But there may be no more impressive player in shorts and a t-shirt than Mays. Fair or not, the combine matters to personnel men and Mays could quiet some of the criticism with a good week.
4. Jevan Snead | Quarterback | Mississippi
With Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen, Tim Tebow and Dan LeFevour not throwing in Indianapolis, the combine is Snead’s to steal. No one is questioning his raw tools, which he’ll put on display. If he’s on rhythm in passing drills, don’t be shocked if Snead gets himself into the first three rounds.
5. Arrelious Benn | Wide receiver | Illinois
Benn has the chance to show that his down year in 2009 was because of bad quarterback play at Illinois. With Demaryius Thomas out with an injury, Benn can show he’s fast and has good hands. A good combine for the plus-size receiver could push him ahead of not only Thomas, but a player like Damian Williams whose size is average.
6. Armanti Edwards | Wide receiver | Appalachian State
Can the two-time Walter Payton Award winner transition from quarterback? Edwards is a playmaker who is just too short to be an NFL signal caller. But his open field agility is excellent. If he can display that in the wide receiver drills, Edwards can turn some heads.
7. Greg Hardy | Defensive end | Mississippi
It's not what Hardy will show on the field in Indianapolis, but what he'll show off it. How will he check out medically? How will he interview after being having his maturity and dedication questioned?
8. Jacoby Ford | Wide receiver | Clemson
Two years ago Chris Johnson stole the combine by running a 4.24 40-yard dash. What’s scary is that Ford may be faster. The reigning NCAA 60-meter champion is more of a football player that some other pure speed guys and that could entice some team into using a third-round pick on him.
9. Toby Gerhart | Running back | Stanford
No one doubts Gerhart as a power runner. But some wonder about his lateral movement and agility. By showing good footwork and quickness, Gerhart could elevate his stock greatly and maybe be one of the top three running backs selected.
10. Dez Bryant | Wide receiver | Oklahoma State
After being suspended most of the 2009 season, Bryant will have to answer plenty of questions about his character, fair or not. Bryant will also have to show he’s as quick and fast as he’s projected. If he times well, Bryant will cement his spot in the top 10 picks.
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How tall is armanti?
2009 NY Phin PhansFantasy League Champion
2009 Best Regular Season Record in NYPPL.
2010 The Jim Mandich NewsFlash Award Winner.
About 5’10
Mocking the Draft: Your NFL Draft source.
by Mocking Dan on Feb 22, 2010 10:18 PM EST up reply actions
Julian Edelman?
Scientific research has proven that you lose exactly 5.37 billion brain cells every time you listen to Todd McShay.
by TheRealSlimShady on Feb 22, 2010 11:07 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t know. I don’t think Edwards has Edelman’s toughness and moxy.
Mocking the Draft: Your NFL Draft source.
by Mocking Dan on Feb 22, 2010 11:10 PM EST up reply actions
FALSE! :)
Sorry about that, on CSR we are big Armanti fans. He is one of the tougher QB’s in college football, and has great intangibles. Drew Brees was short too. While I realize that’s said about every QB under six foot, my point is size isn’t everything. He’d be good in a WCO, where he can use his mobility to find a clear spot in the pocket, deliver the ball, or scramble for five or six yards. He is very accurate, and has a decent arm.
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
by Flowing Willow on Feb 23, 2010 2:50 AM EST up reply actions
He won’t be a QB in the NFL
Scientific research has proven that you lose exactly 5.37 billion brain cells every time you listen to Todd McShay.
by TheRealSlimShady on Feb 23, 2010 8:58 AM EST up reply actions
Want to give me some reasons why not?
Or should I know why not from the one sentence you gave me.
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
by Flowing Willow on Feb 23, 2010 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
bc he's going to the combine as a WR?
-Buffalo Rumblings resident Chan Gailey basher-
by norcaliangelsfan on Feb 23, 2010 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
That would be a decent reason.
Take notes Slim.
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
by Flowing Willow on Feb 23, 2010 12:45 PM EST up reply actions
5’11, not strong enough arm, dual threat guy.
Scientific research has proven that you lose exactly 5.37 billion brain cells every time you listen to Todd McShay.
by TheRealSlimShady on Feb 23, 2010 5:03 PM EST up reply actions
The truth about Colt McCoy
The statement that Colt McCoy will not throw at the Combine is false. The truth is, he will attempt to throw.
Yikes, I don’t know why I had McCoy there instead of Clausen.
Mocking the Draft: Your NFL Draft source.
by Mocking Dan on Feb 22, 2010 10:50 PM EST up reply actions
It's OK
But hey, Colt McCoy has a chance to shine at the Combine, too.
by medicineball on Feb 22, 2010 11:17 PM EST up reply actions
Benn has the chance to show that his down year in 2009 was because of bad quarterback play at Illinois.
How dare you.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
maybe he means after the Zooker benched Juice
Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.
by shake n bake on Feb 23, 2010 12:07 PM EST up reply actions
Is Starks from Buffalo in the combine?
Scientific research has proven that you lose exactly 5.37 billion brain cells every time you listen to Todd McShay.
by TheRealSlimShady on Feb 22, 2010 11:13 PM EST reply actions
What about Mount Cody
I think if weighs in around 350-360……and has a decent combine he would be a top 20 pick……but if hes still upwards of 370……he could slip into the 2nd(possibly late 2nd)
It would be great
if he can make it to 345 which is what he wants
by nicholas.rodriguez on Feb 22, 2010 11:48 PM EST up reply actions
I would say Cody has the most to lose. His game film and Senior Bowl play are all great, and the comparisons to Casey Hampton aren’t going to hurt him (despite him being in worse shape than Hampton ever was.) If he shows up in decent shape he’ll go where he belongs, up high, but with some caution. If he shows up and looks/performs badly he’ll plummet.
by Phantaskippy on Feb 23, 2010 10:06 AM EST up reply actions
I feel like
bryant and pierre paul are garanteed to go from 7-15 whther they have good or bad combines…….but cody on the other hand can drop a full rd(32 picks)…..I think right now he will go top ten in the 2nd round but if he got down to 350 i think he could go 10-20
I don’t know if he will get that high, losing a ton of weight that quick just shows he can do it if motivated. Teams would still question whether he will be motivated when millions of dollars aren’t immediately at hand. He signs a big contract and balloons back up and you got suckered.
by Phantaskippy on Feb 23, 2010 10:11 PM EST up reply actions
Who?
Scientific research has proven that you lose exactly 5.37 billion brain cells every time you listen to Todd McShay.
by TheRealSlimShady on Feb 23, 2010 8:58 AM EST up reply actions
The push up (the draft board)
Of all the players mentioned above the three that intrigue me the most are Benn, Taylor Mays and Armanti Edwards.
Arrelious Benn is the closet thing physically to Anquan Boldin that I have seen in some time. The guanlet drill will be a drill that could make or break the draft status of Benn. He needs to show naturals hands and the ability to catch the football cleanly with consistency. If he does he will secure definite 2nd round status and maybe low 1st round. A good 40 time wouldn’t hurt either.
Taylor Mays, I have questions about. The Trojans are always loaded defensively and teams are always playing from behind. So why did Mays not have more interceptions as a safety coming out of USC? Mays will be a workout warrior but I’m not sure he will be an impact player at the next level. He looks great getting off the bus though. The shuttle drill will impact where Mays is drafted as his change of direction skill will be on display.
Ah, Armanti Edwards. Watching this kid at Appalachian State was a treat. He is athletic enough to run some Wildcat and has the open field agility to compete for a roster spot as a WR and Kick-returner or Punt-returner. Hopefully, Edwards has made the decision to participate in some of the other position drills. It could only help his draft status. Edwards could move up from 7th/6th round status to the 5th round with a good showing at the Combine.
I guess with Mays it's all downside
If he doesn’t live up to his reputation as an absolutely superior physical specimen — hello fifth round!
by Suburban Shocker on Feb 23, 2010 1:10 PM EST reply actions
pretty much
I don’t think he has much to gain. Everyone is expecting him to run around a 4.4 at 6’3" 230. He wouldn’t be a probable first round pick if people didn’t think that.
by microwave donut on Feb 23, 2010 2:55 PM EST up reply actions
I Want
The Jags to either grab Armanti or Joe Webb. We are in desperate need of a slash player.
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
Damn!
I wish Ford would stay under the radar!
MileHighReport.com member since 02/06/07, promoted to "Position Coach" (i.e. new staff writer) on 02/16/10!
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