The Combine's Here, Bitch!

[Direckshun]

http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2014/2...-list-workouts

2014 NFL Combine schedule: TV channel, online streaming, invite list, workouts and more
By Matt Conner
on Feb 20 2014, 10:12a

he road to the NFL Draft is longer in 2014 than any other offseason given the league's decision to push it back a few weeks to May 8-10. For the next three months, draftniks will circle around prospects like hawks, analyzing their every move and weighing the pros and cons of each player.

The process starts en masse this week with the start of the 2014 NFL Combine in Indianapolis. If you love the Draft, then this is a big week for you.

For those who are new to the NFL Combine, it's a seven-day event broken up into four-day shifts for each position group (quarterbacks to punters). Each group comes to Indy for four days to meet with representatives from each NFL team for medical assessments, interviews and a number of workouts. It's termed the Underwear Olympics for that reason, as teams fall in and out of love with prospects based on 40-yard dash times and vertical leaps.

The quick guide to the Combine

• NFL Network will televise; NFL.com will stream
• Andy Reid (Thursday, 2:15 p.m.) and John Dorsey (Friday, 12:15 p.m.) will speak to the media (full schedule here)
• Workouts take place Saturday-Tuesday
• Here are the players invited

Now that you have the basics, let's dive into a little more what's going down this week in Indianapolis.

The Combine workout schedule

Here are the days the actual workouts for each position group:

Saturday, Feb. 22: Tight Ends, Offensive Linemen, Special Teams

Sunday, Feb.23: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers

Monday, Feb. 24: Defensive Line, Linebackers

Tuesday, Feb. 25: Defensive Backs

There are four groups of players arriving as shown above. Each group has four days of events.

Day 1: Travel to Indianapolis* ~ Registration ~ Hospital Pre-Exam & X-rays ~ Orientation ~ Interviews

Day 2: Measurements ~ Medical Examinations ~ Media ~ Interviews

Day 3: NFLPA Meeting ~ Psychological Testing ~ PK/ST Workout ~ Bench Press ~ Interviews

Day 4: On-Field Workout (timing, stations, skill drills) ~ Departure from Indianapolis

With the first arrivals coming on Wednesday, that puts the first day of workouts on Saturday.

The players invited

Every top college football player will likely be in attendance in Indianapolis, even if some of the top athletes won't participate in the workouts. The NFL invited over 300 players to attend. Teddy Bridgewater to Jadeveon Clowney, your favorite college players will likely be there.

Who is eligible to be invited to the Combine? Basically, seniors without college eligibility left and those who have declared early.

And how are players selected to the Combine? Read this:

Participants are determined annually by a Selection Committee. The Directors of both National and BLESTO scouting services, which combined represent twenty-five NFL teams, are joined by members of various NFL player personnel departments to form the committee. The participating NFL executives can rotate on a yearly basis, and remain anonymous. ALL eligible players are reviewed and voted on by the committee members. Each athlete receiving the necessary number of votes, by position, is then extended an invitation. While it is not a perfect science, the goal of the committee is to invite every player that will be drafted in the ensuing NFL Draft.

You can find the full list of players expected to attend at the bottom of this post. While the list is comprehensive, there are a few players every year who are drafted but didn't get invited to the Combine.

The workouts

The most important one is not a workout -- it's the interview. Teams will have the opportunity to interview players where they'll get about 15 minutes with them. With so little time, the questions have to be precise and all have a purpose.

The second most important item there is getting the medical check-up -- essentially confirming that the player is healthy or checking out previous injuries. Team doctors will want this information so the GMs and coaches can make an informed decision.

Some of the other workouts, via Big Blue View:

40-yard dash: Measures straight line speed over a distance. Not very important for non-skill position players, but coming from the 40-yard dash is the "10-yard split." That is the time it takes to travel the first 10 yards of the event and gives a measurement as to the player's explosion and first step. Very important for defensive and offensive linemen. Dontari Poe had a 10-yard split of 1.7 at 330 pounds, which is decent for a linebacker.Bruce Irvin at 235 pounds had a 10-yard split of 1.57, which is a good number for a defensive back. Both help push those players into the middle of the first round.

Bench press: Fairly simple, it measures upper body strength. Moreso it shows if you have stayed in good condition over the offseason. Poor numbers here possibly indicate not working hard enough.

Vertical and Broad jump: Another measurement of explosion and lower body strength. Also important for wide receivers and defensive backs to show off their leaping ability.

3-cone drill: Essentially a change of direction drill. Most important for skill position players. Shows off lateral agility and ability to accelerate out of a turn. One of the drills that translates best on the field. A good score in the 3 cone is often a marker for a high draft pick.

20/60-yard shuttles: Shows the ability to come to a complete stop and accelerate. Obviously important for any position and a good score here is indicative of explosion and body control. As you can see, explosion is a big factor here and one that the NFL is keen to see.

Position-specific drills: Each position has specific drills that test for many different attributes. Change of direction and hip swing for defensive backs, hands skills for wide receivers during the "gauntlet," kick slide drills for the offensive linemen, power for the defensive linemen in hitting bag drills and accuracy for quarterbacks in throwing drills.

How do I watch the Combine?

NFL Network will televise some of it.

NFL.com will stream the action.

KCChiefs.com will have full video of Andy Reid and John Dorsey's press conferences but will not stream them live.

[Direckshun]

Hageman looks great in the 3 cone. Drool.

Jernigan didn't, but he destroyed the piss**** out of those bags.

[Direckshun]

Demarcus Lawrence looks fantastic in the 3 cone.

[OldSchool]

Clowney ran about as fast as I thought he would.

[Direckshun]

http://www.nfl.com/combine/story/0ap...writers_brooks

Blake Bortles, Mike Evans headline Sunday's combine winners

By Bucky Brooks
NFL Media analyst
Published: Feb. 23, 2014 at 08:13 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The second day of on-field workouts at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine featured the glamour positions: quarterback, running back and wide receiver (a high-interest group, to say the least). Here are my thoughts on the prospects who stood out, for better or for worse:

Winners









Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida: As the only member of the "Big Three" quarterbacks (Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel and Bortles) to throw in front of the scouts, Bortles took advantage of his opportunity to convince everyone that he's a legitimate franchise quarterback. Bortles certainly impressed evaluators with his statuesque frame and prototypical physical dimensions (6-foot-5, 232 pounds). Additionally, his athleticism was better than anticipated, as the Central Florida product logged nice marks in the vertical leap (32.5 inches) and broad jump (9-7).

In throwing drills, Bortles showed above-average arm strength and touch on vertical tosses, dropping the ball down the chute on go-routes and post-corners. He also flashed superb anticipation on intermediate routes by routinely delivering the ball right in the strike zone on digs and speed outs. Although he was slightly off target on a handful of throws, Bortles' ball placement was on point for most of the session. With a few more workouts (including his pro day) to strut his stuff, Bortles' draft stock should just continue to rise.

Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson: Watkins delivered on his promise to put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Clemson standout clocked a 4.43 40-yard dash, while also displaying exceptional quickness in change-of-direction drills. Most importantly, Watkins showed strong hands and excellent ball skills while snatching live throws in the positional workout. He is more polished than I expected as a route runner, displaying balance and body control while getting in and out of breaks. With a strong resumé backing up his athletic exploits, it's a virtual lock that Watkins will be the first receiver to come off the board on draft day.








Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M: Big-bodied receivers are all the rage in today's NFL, with the likes of Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, A.J. Green, Larry Fitzgerald and Julio Jones setting the standard at the position. Following his strong performance at the combine this weekend, Evans could be next in line. Standing 6-4 3/4 and 231 pounds, Evans clocked a 4.53-second 40 and posted a 37-inch vertical jump. While those numbers don't jump off the stat sheet at first glance, when you consider his massive frame, the marks reveal a dynamic big guy with exceptional lower-body explosion. Evans also displayed better-than-anticipated fluidity and body control in his route running. He was efficient getting in and out of the breaks, and flashes a burst tracking balls down on intermediate routes. Most importantly, Evans caught the ball well in drills, exhibiting strong hands while snatching everything in his sizable strike zone. Given the impact big receivers are making on the league nowadays, Evans is an intriguing prospect with the potential to be a true No. 1 receiver.

Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State: The Biletnikoff Award winner continues to impress scouts with his combination of speed, quickness and burst. Cooks led all receivers in the 40-yard dash (4.33), 20-yard shuttle (3.82) and 60-yard shuttle (10.72). He continued to impress in positional drills by exhibiting noteworthy polish as a route runner. Cooks is not only smooth and fluid coming out of breaks, but he shows terrific awareness in finding the ball at the last minute. These traits are uncommon in young receivers, which is why the buzz should build around Cook's game and potential following his solid performance in Indianapolis.



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Odell Beckham, WR, LSU: The LSU star has rarely been mentioned as a top prospect, but he should get plenty of burn after posting impressive times in the 40 (4.43), 20-yard shuttle (3.94) and 60-yard shuttle (10.93). This confirms the explosiveness displayed by Beckham on tape, solidifying his status as one of the most dynamic offensive weapons in the draft. Additionally, Beckham caught the ball well and was more polished as a route runner than I expected. With Beckham also regarded as one of the top returners in college football, it's quite possible he enters the discussion as a Day 1 selection.

Losers


Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville: Bridgewater is considered the most pro-ready QB prospect by many evaluators, but his decision to bypass much of the workout has led to questions about his athleticism and arm talent. No throwing drills, no 40-yard dash, no 60-yard shuttle -- these voluntary absences have scouts wondering about his overall competitiveness. Bridgewater can certainly erase doubts by performing well at his personal workout, but questions about a possible diva-like attitude could linger.








Ka'Deem Carey, RB, Arizona: The Arizona standout was unquestionably one of the top runners in college football, as evidenced by his 3,814 rushing yards over the past two seasons, but his pedestrian 40 time (4.70) will scare some teams off. Carey looked lethargic running down the track, casting doubt upon his home-run speed at the next level. Although Carey's track record and film suggest he will not have a problem generating production as a pro, the disappointing time on the stopwatch could diminish his value on draft boards around the league.

Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU: Landry entered the weekend viewed as a solid Day 2 selection, but his disappointing 40 time (4.77) and vertical leap (28.5 inches) spawn concerns about his overall explosiveness. Teams now view Landry as a possession receiver with limited big-play potential, despite his impressive flashes on tape. Given the depth and talent of the 2014 receiver class, this lackluster showing in Indy could push Landry into Day 3 consideration.

Guys in the spotlight on Day 3









Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina: Breathless Clowney hype has been replaced recently by questions about his work ethic, desire and leadership skills. Teams wonder if he has the intangibles needed to be a great player at the next level, despite his freakish athletic talent. With cautionary flags beginning to pop up in conversations about Clowney's worthiness as the top overall pick, the South Carolina star must put on a show Monday to tip the risk-reward ratio in his favor.

Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA: A short time ago, Barr was considered the biggest challenger to Clowney's status as the No. 1 defender in the draft, but the buzz has subsided in recent weeks. Questions about Barr's technique and polish have led some to designate Buffalo's Khalil Mack as the top contender to Clowney's throne. Given the recent slide down the charts, Barr needs a strong performance in drills to put himself back into the conversation about 2014's top defensive prospect.

[Direckshun]

lmao

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-dra...animal-combine

[Direckshun]

Beckham fans, prepare to cream thy shorts:

http://breakingdowntheplay.com/2014/...ham-jr-vs-uab/

[Direckshun]

I don't know anything about Howard Jones, but he is a fantastic looking athlete.

[Direckshun]

Demarcus Lawrence and Antony Johnson are looking very smooth.

Edit: Then again...

Joe Marino ‏@TheJoeMarino · 2m
Let's stop referring to LSU DT Anthony Johnson as the "Freak." Completely unwarranted overstatement. He is so average.

[Titty Meat]

Some shitty loser team like the Jets will draft Beckham before we pick. ****!

[Direckshun]

Edebali looks like he could translate to 3-4 OLB well.

IK Enamkpali doesn't feel great there, though.

Jeffcoat was a natural I nthat 3-4 OLD drill.

Howard Jones was a tad stiff, but mostly fine.

Demarcus Lawrence, flawless.

Cassius Marsh, pretty good. Very fluid.

[Direckshun]

Matt Miller ‏@nfldraftscout · 1m
DeMarcus Lawrence looked great dropping into the flats there. That's all you need for a 34OLB.

[Exoter175]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Edebali looks like he could translate to 3-4 OLB well.

IK Enamkpali doesn't feel great there, though.

Jeffcoat was a natural I nthat 3-4 OLD drill.

Howard Jones was a tad stiff, but mostly fine.

Demarcus Lawrence, flawless.

Cassius Marsh, pretty good. Very fluid.

Watching Marsh on the bags, I liked his natural angle when he'd attack them, very, very solid.

[jonzie04]

Demarcus Lawrence looked great to me. he'd be a nice pickup if available in the 3rd. no idea where hes projected. I've seen some 2nds and some 3rds. but on a side note. what do you guys guess Michael sam's going to run? i'm guessing 4.79.

also guessing 1.64 10 for tuitt.

[Direckshun]

I think Lawrence is more of a 2nd rounder, but it's possible he could last to us in the 3rd.

I think Sam's going to run a 4.8.

Tuitt's out of drills, unfortunately. Medical issue turned up.

[Exoter175]

Originally Posted by jonzie04

Demarcus Lawrence looked great to me. he'd be a nice pickup if available in the 3rd. no idea where hes projected. I've seen some 2nds and some 3rds. but on a side note. what do you guys guess Michael sam's going to run? i'm guessing 4.79.

also guessing 1.64 10 for tuitt.

I think Sam'll be a hair faster than a 4.79, probably in that 4.69-4.73 range