faba Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 28, 2006) -- This year's Scouting Combine has been a rousing success and it started with the outstanding participation of the talented athletes who were invited. From a standpoint of the media, this was the largest body ever assembled for the event. Over 300 members of the media were present and they were all happy with what they got from the prospects. Club personnel Jeff Foster, who runs the Combine, has done a tremendous job. All the coaches, scouts and the media were very pleased with what has transpired. At some time or another, all 32 head coaches were in Indy. Also present were owners from Dallas, Minnesota, Arizona, and Washington. This was happiest group we've ever had at the Combine. Faster and better The linebackers group produced an unbelievable amount of fast guys. This might have been the fastest group ever. There were three prospects that ran under 4.5 in the 40-yard dash: Thomas Howard of UTEP (4.46), Jon Alston of Stanford (4.45) and Ernie Sims of Florida State (4.46). Former Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk is an unbelievable player and competitor. What we saw him do in these drills were tremendous and he turned in a time 4.59. He was joined by three other athletes who also ran under 4.6: Brandon Johnson of Louisville (4.51), Miami's (Ohio) Tarna Nande (4.54) and Miami's (Fla.) Leon Williams (4.59) A total of 38 linebackers were on the list to work out and 34 of them ran. Four other did not run because of medical reasons. Thirteen linebackers will also work out as defensive backs/safeties, most notably Chad Greenway of Iowa and Howard of UTEP. The first group of defensive backs just finished running. Of the 30 players, 27 ran -- two were excused because of injury and one (Darnell Bing of Southern Cal) did not run but will do the position drills. Of the 30, four are going to work out at other positions, most notably Bing at linebacker and Miami's Devin Hester at wide receiver. The group of defensive backs blistered the track. Two guys ran under 4.3 -- Tye Hill of Clemson and Tim Jennings of Georgia. Four posted times below 4.4: South Carolina's Johnathan Joseph (4.36), Texas' Michael Huff (4.36), Tennessee's Jason Allen (4.35) and Florida State's Antonio Cromartie (4.39). And five were just above 4.4: Nebraska's Daniel Bullocks (4.40), Howard's Antoine Bethea (4.40), Miami's Devin Hester (4.41), Baylor's Willie Andrew (4.45) and Texas' Cedric Griffin (4.46). Jennings is the cousin of onetime Bucs and Jets cornerback Donnie Abraham. Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz gives each player a grade based on their weight and build, giving them a "plus" if they look ripped, a "0" if normal and a "minus" if there's excess baggage. He didn't give a single minus to any defensive backs or linebackers. There could have been two Landry brothers working out today. Dawan Landry, a safety at Georgia Tech, was here, but his younger brother LaRon decided to stay at LSU for his senior season. LaRon Landry, a free safety, made the All-SEC team in each of his first three seasons in Baton Rouge and was a third-team All-American in 2005. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Troll Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 I thought AJ Hawk was hell on two wheels? 4.59 is a good time for a linebacker, but it's nothing special when you look at the other 40 times. He actually clocked in slower than 5 other guys. Also, Jay Cutler benched more than him. Maybe I was too quick with my Boz comparison. AJ doesn't impress me in workouts either. I want no part of Hawk. He is a giant bust just waiting to happen. Let someone else make that mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barton Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 I remember reading reports this time last year that AJ Hawk was running a 4.45 at the OSU track. I called it at the time, pretty obvious......it was complete BS. He's still a good player, but he's not worthy of any consideration in the top 5. Darnell Bing and Bobby Carpenter - neither ran. Will be watching to see what they run at their prodays. Sink or Swim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R44 Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 Draft Daddy.com is reporting Greenway ran a 4.74, but that doesn't mean squat -- he's still a big time player.... Barton, 4.59 for a LB is outstanding for Hawk....These other fast LB's are mostly like 218 pounds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted February 28, 2006 Author Share Posted February 28, 2006 Draft Daddy.com is reporting Greenway ran a 4.74, but that doesn't mean squat -- he's still a big time player.... Barton, 4.59 for a LB is outstanding for Hawk....These other fast LB's are mostly like 218 pounds? Those other players are quasi LB's safety projects Hawk is a legitimate LB like R44 mentioned there is a big difference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Ferraro Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 Don't get too caught up in the combine stats. Hawk can play. He isn't going to be asked to run as fast as he can in a straight line on Sundays. He is a tackle machine, and he can play for me any day. I don't think he's a top five pick, but that's just because of the other talent in the draft, not because of his time in the 40. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R44 Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 By the way, biggest "MISTAKE", by far, we made in the 2005 at DD.com was Lofa Tatupu.... We were told by "2 insiders" that he was worthless before the Combine....Because he ran 4.84 40 and was 5' 11" at the Combine we were guarenteed he was "UNDRAFTABLE" While Denny Green got his a$$ kissed left and right by Kiper for taking all the Combine stars, Seattle got torn into big time for using a 2nd rounder on Lofa. Lofa was a Pro Bowler as rookie and had he stayed at USC, they beat Texas....Combine means something, but they are overrated.... Of course Ernie Sims is going to run fast, he's probably 5'11" and probably 220 pounds for the Combine....His playing weight is probably 215... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThunderbirdJet Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 The forty is meaningless for most players, especially LB's. Tell me what his shuttle time is, and what his 10 yard dash time was. Lb's need to be quick to react and fast to the ball.... the 40 has nothing to do with that. On field football speed is what matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonehands Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 I'll say it again, for those Hawk lovers, give me a 6'1", white, outside linebacker who has made an impact in the league worthy of a top ten pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.