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.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by milkman

Your problem is that you looking at from a narrow view.

If Donald is the best interior pass rusher in this class, and you have the opportunity to take him, you adjust your subpackages to utilize the talent.

This team, as has been pointed out already, takes more snaps in subs than in base.

And, for the record, Tamba Hali played LDE in a 43 base and registered 9 sacks his rookie year.

This "doctor" can't:
A) Understand fronts
B) Understand techniques or gap integrity
C) Understand the importance of "sub" packages and what the Chiefs do from their sub alignments and personnel groupings.

Hooray.

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by Sorter

I just hope he can teach us more about gap integrity and fronts. He seems well-versed and quite knowledgeable.

thanks

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

thanks

.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

I agree, but he was not the only one on the list. All I was really trying to get across is that one man's take on a few players doesn't invalidate his take on all of them. Everyone was in love with Amaro, to look at your example. Then he did the combine. That poor showing doesn't mean he won't make it in the NFL, but it actually gives fuel to the NFL.com guy's analysis.


Pete Prisco is a national embarrassment, yet he still has a job. If he's not worthy of firing, nobody is.

Well, the big knock seems to be his hands. His hands weren't an issue when he was catching over 100 passes last year.

I don't think the combine hurt him as much as some do.

[ForeverChiefs58]

Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller runs a 4.49 in 40-yard dash

I wonder where Fuller will go?

[CleveSteve]

Here are my takeaways from the DB Drills:

http://www.cornerblitz.com/2014/Combine/DB.aspx

Defensive Back drills are my favorite event at the NFL Scouting Combine. I think you can learn more about the DBs in positional drills at the event than you can at any other position, short of maybe the medical or the team interviews (which obviously we as fans are not privvy to.) Seeing the way the participants react and move without contact best-translates, in my opinion, to the product seen on the field. Very little contact is permitted for these players, so as a defender, raw change-of-direction skills are paramount.

The Tuesday combine coverage started off with contradictions: Mike Mayock questioning whether Darqueze Dennard would be able to show the sub-4.5 speed he would need to justify a top pick, then the statistic was given that last year's average time was a 4.49. He stated Dennard had everything else you look for in a corner but needed to show better-than-average speed. Deion Sanders is celebrating his 25th-Combine Anniversary and stated "for corners... the 40 is everything. You have to run a 4.4." The NFL Network then showed a graphic with "notable CB 40 times", showing Pro Bowlers Brandon Flowers (4.55), Richard Sherman (4.60), and Joe Haden (4.62) all running well outside 4.4 range. Of course, that's not to say that speed doesn't matter, but it's far from the most-important skills on display for the DBs at the combine. The thing about the 40, is that a defensive back is never going to run a 40 unless he's on special teams or he's already been burned and he's trying to chase a player down. The most important thing for a DB is, again, change-of-direction.

Defensive Backs: Group 1

Florida State Free Safety Terrence Brooks ran a terrific 40 . Mike Mayock commented on Brooks, saying "I've got a second round grade on him, with an arrow pointing up." When Deion asked Rich Eisen if he also had an arrow, Mayock reiterated "I've gotta tell you... the arrow is pointing up." We get it, Mike... Brooks showed well in drills throughout the day.

Ross Cockrell of Duke really helped himself with a terrific 40 time in the low 4.4s. Most prognosticators have him as a 4th round pick, and if a team can pick him up there, they've got themselves a steal. I think he's a second-round talent. He was high in his backpedal all day.

Michigan State's Darqueze Dennard answered Mike Mayock's reservations with a 4.42 40 time. He stumbled pretty clearly in transition out of his backpedal, though. That's one thing I noticed about Dennard is that he doesn't backpedal in games, rather choosing to play press off the line and turn immediately.

Kyle Fuller of Virginia Tech, whom I agree with Mayock is a first-round talent, ran a 4.40 40 time.

Justin Gilbert of Oklahoma State clocked in at 4.35 unofficially. Mayock showed a very nice brief breakdown of Gilbert's body control and change-of-direction and said he is likely the first DB to be taken in the upcoming draft. Gilbert backpedaled and transitioned well, but as my wife said "he's got a goofy hand thing going on." Gilbert later made a spectacular, natural snatch catch in drills while covering deep in drills.

Vanderbilt's Andre Hal also ran in the low 4.4s. Hal is a guy with terrific ball skills and good ability to play in zone, but for some reason is not a good man cover corner. He lets receivers get right into him and turns too late. I think that can be coached, though, and he can become a regular contributor. Most projections have him in the 6th or 7th round, which would represent great value if the team is willing to coach him up.

Lindenwood's Pierre Desir is one of the more interesting defensive back prospects in that his skill floor and ceiling are so far apart. He is huge with a long wingspan and ran a 4.52 40 yard dash. He transitioned extremely well for his size in the backpedal-and-go drill. He showed hot and cold at the Shrine Game and Senior Bowl. A team with an extra pick in the 3rd or 4th round could do well to gamble on him.

Rice's Phillip Gaines timed the fastest of all the DBs in the first group, checking in at 4.34 unofficial times twice. He also covers a lot of ground in his backpedal. Very smooth in drills. He was clearly the most capable and prepared in executing the drills.

Clemson's Bashaud Breeland showed a very smooth flip in the backpedal-and-go drill.

Safety Deone Bucannon of Washington State stumbled a little in transition from backpedal in drills after running a good time in the 40.

Virginia Tech's Antone Exum is clumsy backpedaling and turning.

Wyoming's Marqueston Huff was too high in his backpedal and looked like he might trip. He didn't time his jumps well and didn't catch the ball.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix of Alabama showed good speed but was somewhat awkward in drills.

Victor Hampton of South Carolina performed really well in drills, especially the deep cover drill. He is completely ripped and looks like he can make a real mess in the defensive backfield.

Jonathon Dowling of Western Kentucky showed terrific ball skills, actually understanding and putting into practice the concept of "high-pointing" the ball, extending back behind his head to make a terrific catch at full extension.

Ahmad Brooks of Baylor showed pretty poor footwork, but his game is more reacting to the play than man coverage skills.

The throwing quarerbacks during the DB drills were terrible.

Defensive Backs: Group 2

Stanley Jean-Baptiste of Nebraska ran a 4.53. He has been the focus of a lot of the draft season coverage for the defensive secondary due to his 6'2 5/8" height and the success that Seattle has had with tall corners. He didn't get low in his backpedal, which essentially eliminates its usefulness. The purpose of a defensive back's backpedal is not to help them see the play, it is to allow them to plant and drive to the ball if the receiver breaks a route in front of them or if the ball is thrown in front of them. He did do a better job on his second run through the transition drill.

Immediately following Jean-Baptiste was NC State's Dontae Johnson, a 6'2" corner who ran a 4.45. Johnson showed some superior agility to Jean-Baptiste.

Florida State's Lamarcus Joyner isn't winning any contests with measurables. At 5'8" running a 4.53 isn't going to help him, but the guy just makes huge plays when the game starts. He reminds me a lot of Tyrann Mathieu in terms of his knack for creating in the defensive secondary without being a crazy person. Mike Mayock had the identical comparison on the broadcast. Joyner seems to have some really long arms. He moves very fluidly through positional drills.

Keith McGill of Utah ran terrific 40s at 6'3 1/2" at 4.47 and 4.44. He will probably get drafted in the top 75 on measureables and athleticism alone. Hos long legs did start to get a little clumsy in the deep cover drill.

Louchiez Purifoy of Florida exploded out of the blocks on the 40, but was a bit out of control and only managed a 4.55. He was also out of control in the backpedal drill.

Marcus Roberson of Florida turned up disappointing 40 times of a 4.66 and a 4.59. Both of the highly-rated Florida corners showed poorly. They've looked good every time I've seen them play, but in this apples-to-apples athleticism comparison, they looked plain bad.

Maine's Kendall James overcame some nervousness to show decent transition skills in positional drills.

Jason Verrett leans back in his backpedal, which again eliminates its usefulness. He was a grabby player at TCU and typically was in follow coverage, so it's not very natural for him. He did run a fast 40 at 4.38.

Calvin Pryor of Louisville, considered by many to be the top safety in the class had problems with his long speed in the deep cover drill. Pryor also had trouble coming forward out of his bakpedal with all that weight he carries around. While only listed at 207, he looks really bulky. He is not going to be a good centerfielder in the NFL.

[htismaqe]

Dontae Johnson made some money this weekend.

[CleveSteve]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Dontae Johnson made some money this weekend.

Yeah I agree.

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by ForeverChiefs58

Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller runs a 4.49 in 40-yard dash

I wonder where Fuller will go?

Probably late 1st or really early in the 2nd. It's between him and Verrett who the 3rd corner off the board is now that both Florida CBs tested poorly and looked shaky in drills.

[Jakemall]

Originally Posted by Sorter

.

I have no problem with people not knowing something or being incorrect...but you'd think if you get called out on it, you'd google the topic or something.


Especially someone who was willing to put in the time at med school.

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Dontae Johnson made some money this weekend.

He got beat repeatedly in coverage when they faced Clemson's WR core. Didn't matter if it was Watkins, Bryant, or one of their freshmen. Johnson just looked bad and was always late getting out of his pedal. Really flat footed. He was fine most of the time when he had to make a play in front of him, but he got burned repeatedly on routes that went past 10 yards.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by OldSchool

He got beat repeatedly in coverage when they faced Clemson's WR core. Didn't matter if it was Watkins, Bryant, or one of their freshmen. Johnson just looked bad and was always late getting out of his pedal. Really flat footed. He was fine most of the time when he had to make a play in front of him, but he got burned repeatedly on routes that went past 10 yards.

Right. But he's 6.2 and ran a sub-4.5. He probably raised his stock a full round.

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Right. But he's 6.2 and ran a sub-4.5. He probably raised his stock a full round.

I think teams are looking at him as a FS because he is a lot better playing with everything in front of him than in a trail technique. He just doesn't have the make-up speed on tape unless the QB underthrows the ball or floats it.

[CleveSteve]

Originally Posted by OldSchool

He got beat repeatedly in coverage when they faced Clemson's WR core. Didn't matter if it was Watkins, Bryant, or one of their freshmen. Johnson just looked bad and was always late getting out of his pedal. Really flat footed. He was fine most of the time when he had to make a play in front of him, but he got burned repeatedly on routes that went past 10 yards.

Cool, thanks for the info.

That being said, Bryant and Watkins are both studs. Still, you have to be able to hold up against studs every week in the NFL.

[saphojunkie]

Why don't they make DB's run the forty backwards for the first split?