D'Brickashaw is big enough for now (Pat Kirwan)

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D'Brickashaw is big enough for now

By Pat Kirwan

NFL.com Senior Analyst

INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 26, 2006) -- There are so many interesting stories emerging from each day of the NFL Combine that I thought I would take the time to mention a few of them and then tell you the reaction of a few NFL decision makers.

Virginia left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson came out of the collegiate season as the probable No. 1 offensive tackle in the draft. Then he went to the Senior Bowl and blocked every player the defense sent at him, and he did it with ease. Of course, a number of NFL scouts and personnel people told me they were concerned about his weight at 295 pounds and his "narrow" shoulders. As I said then and I repeat now, maybe we should be looking for narrow-shouldered tackles under 300 pounds because "Brick" blocked everything that moved. Well, he came to the Combine and weighed in at 312 pounds, and now I hear people wondering if he put weight on too fast and whether it was "good" weight. As I asked one GM, why are we pressuring the kid to add 17 pounds on a person who was already the best blocker in the country? And how could 17 pounds in a month not be good for him?

I like Ferguson to be a 10-12 year pro with a lot of accolades along the way, and I don't think he has to add cosmetic weight to his frame before he naturally grows into it. Lomas Brown went to more Pro Bowls than I can count and he played at 265-270 pounds his whole career.

MET A BUNCH OF THEM

Saturday afternoon turned into a series of great conversations with a number of the top draft picks. Nick Mangold, the center from Ohio State, was so impressive in our conversation about his knowledge of the game, attitude about competing, and measurables that he has to be entering the top 32 picks in this draft. His 4.36 short shuttle tells me that he can get to the linebacker level and mirror a quick LB, no mater which way he goes.

If nothing else, Nick Mangold should be ready for the NFL just by facing the OSU defense.

Mangold plays low and has the power to handle a stout nose tackle, and the more I pressed the issue that colleges don't play a lot of 3-4 defense, the more he pointed to his own defense that he went against everyday. Ohio State had a 3-4 package on third downs, and Mangold says he's ready for the NFL's 350-pound nose tackles. "It will not surprise me if we hear his name called near the bottom of the first round," according to an NFL line coach I watched his drills with on Saturday.

I just got done reading a report on the most productive NFL offenses over a five-year period, and the Kansas City Chiefs are the gold standard. Everyone is looking for that matchup tight end, especially for the red zone. Well, when Vernon Davis from Maryland sat down to talk with me, I was sure I met a guy that could turn around the fortunes of a mediocre offense looking for a spark.

Davis has the tools to play early and often, and his personality is just as impressive. Young Mr. Davis is a bright-eyed guy that just oozes confidence and has a light-hearted style which offensive coaches are going to love. Davis is a solid first-round pick that has to be moving up as he sits down with team executives and talks football.

The last player who really impressed me while we talked ball was Mathias Kiwanuka. The outstanding Boston College defensive end had 245 tackles, 65